H 3585 Session 113 (1999-2000)
H 3585 General Bill, By J. Smith, Lourie and Altman
A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-1-60, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
1976, RELATING TO VIOLENT CRIMES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ILL-TREATMENT OF
ANIMALS IS A VIOLENT CRIME; TO AMEND SECTION 47-1-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO
ILL-TREATMENT OF ANIMALS, SO AS TO CHANGE THE OFFENSE OF TORTURING,
TORMENTING, NEEDLESSLY MUTILATING, CRUELLY KILLING, OR INFLICTING EXCESSIVE OR
REPEATED UNNECESSARY PAIN OR SUFFERING UPON ANY ANIMAL FROM A MISDEMEANOR TO A
FELONY, AND TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION.
02/23/99 House Introduced and read first time HJ-7
02/23/99 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-8
A BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 16-1-60, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO VIOLENT CRIMES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ILL-TREATMENT OF ANIMALS IS A VIOLENT CRIME; TO AMEND SECTION 47-1-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO ILL-TREATMENT OF ANIMALS, SO AS TO CHANGE THE OFFENSE OF TORTURING, TORMENTING, NEEDLESSLY MUTILATING, CRUELLY KILLING, OR INFLICTING EXCESSIVE OR REPEATED UNNECESSARY PAIN OR SUFFERING UPON ANY ANIMAL FROM A MISDEMEANOR TO A FELONY, AND TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 16-1-60 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 402 of 1988, is further amended to read:
"Section 16-1-60. For purposes of definition under South Carolina law, a violent crime includes the offenses of murder (Section 16-3-10); criminal sexual conduct in the first and second degree (Sections 16-3-652 and 16-3-653); criminal sexual conduct with minors, first and second degree (Section 16-3-655); assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct, first and second degree (Section 16-3-656); assault and battery with intent to kill (Section 16-3-620); kidnapping (Section 16-3-910); voluntary manslaughter (Section 16-3-50); armed robbery (Section 16-11-330(A)); attempted armed robbery (Section 16-11-330(B)); carjacking (Section 16-3-1075); drug trafficking as defined in Sections 44-53-370(e) and 44-53-375(C); arson in the first degree (Section 16-11-110(A)); arson in the second degree (Section 16-11-110(B)); burglary in the first degree (Section 16-11-311); burglary in the second degree (Section 16-11-312 (B)); engaging a child for a sexual performance (Section 16-3-810); homicide by child abuse (Section 16-3-85(A)(1)); aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse (Section 16-3-85(A)(2)); accessory before the fact to commit any of the above offenses (Section 16-1-40); ill-treatment of animals (Section 47-1-40); and attempt to commit any of the above offenses (Section 16-1-80). Only those offenses specifically enumerated in this section are considered violent offenses."
SECTION 2. Section 47-1-40(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 367 of 1988, is further amended to read:
"(B) Whoever tortures, torments, needlessly mutilates, cruelly kills, or inflicts excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering upon any animal or causes the acts to be done for any of the offenses is guilty of a misdemeanor felony and, upon conviction, must be punished by imprisonment of not less than one hundred eighty days year and not to exceed two five years and by a fine of five thousand dollars."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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