H*3538 Session 125 (2023-2024) H 3538 {Rat #81, Act #65 of 2023} General Bill, By Hixon, Nutt, Haddon, Kirby and Forrest AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 50-11-546, RELATING TO ELECTRONIC HARVEST REPORTING, SO AS TO INCLUDE REFERENCES TO BIG GAMES SPECIES AND TO OUTLINE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PERSON WHO TAKES A BIG GAME CARCASS FOR PROCESSING AND OF THE PROCESSOR; BY AMENDING SECTION 50-11-320, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF TAGS FOR HUNTING AND TAKING DEER, SO AS TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO THE ELECTRONIC HARVEST REPORTING SYSTEM; BY AMENDING SECTION 50-11-390, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENTAL AUTHORITY OF GAME ZONES, SO AS TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO THE ELECTRONIC HARVEST REPORTING SYSTEM; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 50-9-1120, RELATING TO THE POINT SYSTEM FOR VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO BIG GAME SPECIES. - RATIFIED TITLE AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 50-11-546, RELATING TO ELECTRONIC HARVEST REPORTING, SO AS TO INCLUDE REFERENCES TO BIG GAMES SPECIES AND TO OUTLINE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PERSON WHO TAKES A BIG GAME CARCASS FOR PROCESSING AND OF THE PROCESSOR; BY AMENDING SECTION 50-11-320, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF TAGS FOR HUNTING AND TAKING DEER, SO AS TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO THE ELECTRONIC HARVEST REPORTING SYSTEM; BY AMENDING SECTION 50-11-390, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENTAL AUTHORITY OF GAME ZONES, SO AS TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO THE ELECTRONIC HARVEST REPORTING SYSTEM; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 50-9-1120, RELATING TO THE POINT SYSTEM FOR VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO BIG GAME SPECIES. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina: Electronic harvest reporting system SECTION 1. Section 50-11-546 of the S.C. Code is amended to read: Section 50-11-546. (A) In order to document the harvest of big game species and to assist with the enforcement of seasons, methods of harvest, and bag limits, the department must implement an electronic harvest reporting system. (B) A person who harvests a big game species must report the harvest to the electronic harvest reporting system as prescribed by the department. A harvest report must be submitted by midnight of the day of harvest unless a person is incapable of accessing the reporting system, in which case a report must be submitted prior to the carcass leaving the person's possession. (C) Upon completion of the harvest reporting process, a harvest report confirmation number will be provided by the department and it must be recorded by the person submitting the harvest report. A person who takes a big game carcass to a processor must provide the tag number and harvest report confirmation number to the processor at the time the carcass transfers from the person to the processor. The processor must record and maintain the harvest report confirmation number until the processed meat is received by the hunter or their designee. (D) The department must promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this section, including the methods of telephonic and electronic reporting, contents of the report, and recording and maintenance of the harvest report confirmation number. (E) The department is prohibited from requesting or acquiring the geolocation data of a person submitting a harvest report through electronic means and from requesting a person to self-report location information to the harvest reporting system more specific than the county and wildlife management area, if applicable, in which a big game species is harvested. (F) There is no cost to a person for reporting a harvest, and the department may exempt the harvest reporting requirement for persons who harvest big game species under specific conditions or department programs. (G) A person who violates this section or provisions established by the department for electronic harvest reporting is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than twenty-five dollars. Issuance of tags for hunting and taking deer SECTION 2. Section 50-11-320(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to read: (B)(1) Deer taken pursuant to individual deer tags, during any season regardless of weapon, must be tagged with a valid individual deer tag. Each tag must be attached to the deer as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill. (2) Deer taken pursuant to Deer Quota Program tags must be tagged with a valid Deer Quota Program tag and reported to the electronic harvest reporting system pursuant to the provisions of Section 50-11-546. Each tag must be attached to the deer as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill. Departmental authority over game zones SECTION 3. Section 50-11-390(D) of the S.C. Code is amended to read: (D) Deer taken pursuant to a Deer Quota Program permit must be tagged with a valid Deer Quota Program tag and reported to the electronic harvest reporting system pursuant to the provisions of Section 50-11-546. Each tag must be attached to the deer as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill. Point system for violations SECTION 4. Section 50-9-1120(2)(t) of the S.C. Code is amended to read: (t) failing to report the harvest of big game species as required by Section 50-11-546: 6. Time effective SECTION 5. This act takes effect on July 1, 2024. Ratified the 17th day of May, 2023. Approved the 19th day of May, 2023.
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