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H. 3118
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Kirsh, M.A. Pitts and Duncan
Document Path: l:\council\bills\ms\7011ahb05.doc
Companion/Similar bill(s): 3613
Introduced in the House on January 11, 2005
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary
Summary: Common Sense Consumption Act
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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12/8/2004 House Prefiled
12/8/2004 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
1/11/2005 House Introduced and read first time HJ-86
1/11/2005 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-87
1/12/2005 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: M.A.Pitts,
Duncan
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 7 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 15 SO AS TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS FOR THE TERMS "CLAIM", "FEDERAL ACT", "GENERALLY-KNOWN CONDITION ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY OR ALLEGEDLY LIKELY TO RESULT FROM LONG-TERM CONSUMPTION", "KNOWING AND WILFUL", AND "ANOTHER PERSON"; TO PROVIDE THAT MANUFACTURERS, PACKERS, DISTRIBUTORS, CARRIERS, HOLDERS, SELLERS, MARKETERS, AND ADVERTISERS OF FOOD ARE NOT LIABLE FOR CLAIMS RELATING TO WEIGHT GAIN OR OBESITY, TO PROVIDE FOR EXCEPTIONS FOR CLAIMS BASED ON ADULTERATION OR MISBRANDING OF FOOD LABELS, AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR THOSE CLAIMS.
SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 15 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 15-3-800. This article may be cited as the "Common Sense Consumption Act".
Section 15-3-810. As used in this article:
(1) 'Claim' means a claim by or on behalf of a natural person or a derivative or other claim arising from, asserted by, or on behalf of another person;
(2) 'Federal act' means the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act pursuant to Title 21 U.S.C. Section 301, et seq, 52 Stat. Section 1040, et seq.;
(3) 'Generally-known condition allegedly caused by or allegedly likely to result from long-term consumption' means a condition generally known to result or likely to result from the cumulative effect of consumption and not from a single instance of consumption;
(4) 'Knowing and wilful' means that the:
(a) conduct constituting a violation of federal or state law was committed with the intent to deceive or injure consumers or with actual knowledge that the conduct was injurious to consumers; and
(b) conduct constituting the violation was not required by regulations, orders, rules, or other pronouncement of, or a statute administered by a federal, state, or local government agency; and
(5) 'Another person' means any individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, joint-stock company, or other entity, including a governmental entity or private attorney general.
Section 15-3-820. (A) Except as provided in subsection (B), a manufacturer, packer, distributor, carrier, holder, seller, marketer, or advertiser of a food, as defined in Section 201(f) of the federal act, or an association of one or more of these entities is not subject to civil liability arising under a law of the State for a claim arising out of weight gain, obesity, a health condition associated with weight gain or obesity, or another generally-known condition allegedly caused by or allegedly likely to result from long-term consumption of food.
(B) The limitation of liability provided in subsection (A) does not preclude civil liability where the claim is based on:
(1) a material violation of an adulteration or misbranding requirement prescribed by statute or regulation of state or federal law and the claimed injury is proximately caused by the violation; or
(2) another material violation of state or federal law applicable to the manufacturing, marketing, distribution, advertising, labeling, or sale of food provided that the violation is knowing and wilful and the claimed injury is proximately caused by the violation.
(C) A complaint initiating an action pursuant to the provisions of subsection (B)(1), must state the following:
(1) statute, regulation, or other state or federal law that was allegedly violated;
(2) facts that are alleged to constitute a material violation of the statute, regulation, or other state or federal law; and
(3) facts alleged to demonstrate that the violation proximately caused actual injury to the person.
(D) A complaint initiating an action pursuant to the provisions of subsection (B)(2), in addition to the requirements of subsection (C), must state the facts sufficient to support a reasonable inference that the violation was knowing and wilful.
Section 15-3-830. In an action pursuant to the provisions of Section 15-3-820(B), all discovery and other proceedings are stayed while a motion to dismiss is pending unless the court finds, upon motion of a party, that discovery is necessary to preserve evidence or to prevent undue prejudice to that party. A party with actual notice of the allegations contained in the complaint shall treat all documents, data compilations, including electronically recorded or stored data, and tangible objects that are in the custody or control of that party and that are relevant to the allegations, as if they were the subject of a continuing request for production of documents from an opposing party."
SECTION 2. The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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