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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
H. 3917
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Atwater, Long, Horne and Erickson
Document Path: l:\council\bills\nl\13503sd15.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 3835
Introduced in the House on March 25, 2015
Introduced in the Senate on April 29, 2015
Last Amended on April 28, 2015
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Summary: Animal cruelty
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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3/25/2015 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 72)
3/25/2015 House Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources
and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 72)
4/22/2015 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment Agriculture,
Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
(House Journal-page 4)
4/28/2015 House Requests for debate-Rep(s). Hill (House Journal-page 18)
4/28/2015 House Amended (House Journal-page 18)
4/28/2015 House Read second time (House Journal-page 18)
4/28/2015 House Roll call Yeas-89 Nays-1 (House Journal-page 18)
4/29/2015 House Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 9)
4/29/2015 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 16)
4/29/2015 Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
Resources (Senate Journal-page 16)
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
AMENDED
April 28, 2015
H. 3917
S. Printed 4/28/15--H.
Read the first time March 25, 2015.
TO AMEND SECTION 47-1-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN REGARD TO CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "COMPANION ANIMAL"; AND BY ADDING SECTION 47-1-45 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE TATTOOING OR PIERCING OF A COMPANION ANIMAL EXCEPT FOR SPECIFIED REASONS AND TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION WHICH IS A MISDEMEANOR.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 47-1-10 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 259 of 2008, is further amended by adding a new item to read:
"(4) 'Companion animal' means any animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling and any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept. 'Companion animal' does not include livestock, fowl, or any wild animal."
SECTION 2. Chapter 1, Title 47 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 47-1-45. (A) A person shall not pierce or tattoo a companion animal unless the piercing or tattooing provides for the identification of the companion animal or the piercing or tattooing provides a medical benefit to the companion animal. Piercing or tattooing authorized pursuant to this subsection must be completed by a licensed veterinarian or under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
(B) A person violating the provisions of subsection (A) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or both.
(C) Each violation of subsection (A) is deemed a separate offense.
(D) The provisions of this section do not apply to a person who is the owner or possessor of a companion animal that has any piercing or tattooing before the effective date of this section.
(E) As contained in this section 'tattoo' or 'tattooing' has the same meaning as contained in Section 44-34-10(4)."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on May 5, 2015 at 11:52 AM