Current Status Bill Number:4886 Ratification Number:485 Act Number:347 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19980325 Primary Sponsor:Sharpe All Sponsors:Sharpe and Witherspoon Drafted Document Number:gjk\21397sd.98 Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19980603 Date of Last Amendment:19980602 Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:19980608 Subject:Crossbows may be used to hunt game by certain handicapped persons, not bow and arrow or archery; Fish and Game
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
------ 19980617 Act No. A347
------ 19980608 Signed by Governor
------ 19980604 Ratified R485
Senate 19980603 Concurred in House amendment,
enrolled for ratification
House 19980602 Senate amendments amended,
returned to Senate with amendment
Senate 19980526 Read third time, returned to House
with amendment
Senate 19980513 Read second time
Senate 19980513 Committee amendment adopted
Senate 19980512 Committee report: Favorable with 07 SFGF
amendment
Senate 19980423 Introduced, read first time, 07 SFGF
referred to Committee
House 19980422 Read third time, sent to Senate
House 19980421 Amended, read second time
House 19980415 Committee report: Favorable with 20 HANR
amendment
House 19980325 Introduced, read first time, 20 HANR
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
(A347, R485, H4886)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-11-565 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH AND CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH CROSSBOWS MAY BE USED BY CERTAIN PERSONS IN THE HUNTING AND TAKING OF GAME.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Use of crossbows
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 50-11-565. (A) As used in this section:
(1) 'Archery equipment' and 'bow and arrow' mean either a longbow, recurve bow, or compound bow that propels an arrow by means of limbs and a string, that is hand-held, hand-drawn, and held in a drawn position by hand or hand-held release mechanism and that has no mechanical device to enable the shooter to lock or prop the bow at full or partial draw. Other than energy stored by the drawn bow, no device to propel the arrow is permitted.
(2) 'Crossbow' means a device for propelling an arrow or bolt by means of a bow or other limbs affixed transversely to a stock which utilizes a nonhand-held locking mechanism to maintain the device in a drawn, partially drawn, or ready to fire condition. A crossbow is not archery equipment or a bow and arrow.
(3) 'Upper limb disability' means an impairment certified by a licensed neurologist or orthopedist which prevents a person from holding the mass weight of archery equipment or a bow and arrow at arms length perpendicular to the body, or drawing or pulling the string of archery equipment or a bow and arrow of a minimum draw weight of forty pounds.
(B) Crossbows are legal for use statewide during any open season for deer, turkey, or bear by a person who suffers from an upper limb disability, provided the person, while hunting, has in immediate possession a written statement certifying the disability. The statement, based on a physical examination by the certifying neurologist or orthopedist, shall describe the disability and shall state the person is not capable of operating archery equipment or a bow and arrow. A copy of the statement must be provided to the department prior to hunting with a crossbow.
(C) Except as provided in subsection (B), the use of crossbows during any open season for wild turkeys is unlawful and the use of crossbows during any archery equipment or bow and arrow only season is also unlawful. The use of a crossbow on private property statewide during the firearms or muzzleloader season for deer and bear is not prohibited.
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Approved the 8th day of June, 1998.