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Panel backs updates to child fatality advisory committee to improve quorum and community outreach
Summary
The subcommittee favorably reported SB 845 to update membership and quorum rules for the state Child Fatality Advisory Committee and add the executive director of the Commission for Community Advancement and Engagement, with testimony stressing quorum shortfalls and disparities in child deaths.
The Domestic Relations Business and Probate Law Subcommittee voted to give a favorable report to Senate Bill 845, which updates membership, agency references and quorum rules for the state Child Fatality Advisory Committee.
Chair Rep. Beth Bernstein said the bill does not change the child-fatality review process itself but adds targeted updates: including the executive director of the South Carolina Commission for Community Advancement and Engagement, conforming public-health agency references after DHEC restructuring, clarifying that some members may serve ex officio with qualified designees, limiting holdover service to 100 days after a term ends, and tying quorum to the majority of appointed, duly qualified members (excluding legislative members).
Sarah Knox, senior director of policy at Children's Trust of South Carolina and vice chair of the child fatality advisory committee, testified that quorum problems led the committee to combine its 2024–25 report after missing quorum at three meetings. "We meet every other month... We had in 2024 95 unsafe sleep deaths in this state of of infants, which translates to about 1 every 4 days," Knox said, adding nearly 30% of the deaths involved gun violence and over 64% of teenage driving-age victims were unbuckled.
Knox said adding the Commission for Community Advancement and Engagement would help the committee reach communities facing disparities and improve prevention efforts. With no amendments offered, the subcommittee ordered roll call and recorded three ayes, none against and two not voting; SB 845 received a favorable report.
The bill advances to the next legislative stage with the subcommittee’s recommendation.
