South Carolina General Assembly
121st Session, 2015-2016

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H. 4701

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Pitts, White, G.M. Smith, Simrill, Willis, Hardee, Corley, Duckworth, Fry, Goldfinch, Jordan, Erickson, Delleney, Long, Lowe, Sandifer, McCoy, Newton, Herbkersman, Bradley, Bowers, Finlay, Huggins, Hicks, Johnson, Hixon, Taylor, Loftis, Burns, G.R. Smith, Yow, Limehouse and Clemmons
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gt\5032cm16.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 125, 4628, 4668

Introduced in the House on January 19, 2016
Introduced in the Senate on March 8, 2016
Currently residing in the Senate

Summary: Second Amendment Preservation Act

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1/19/2016  House   Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 20)
   1/19/2016  House   Referred to Committee on Judiciary 
                        (House Journal-page 20)
    2/2/2016  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: McCoy
   2/11/2016  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Newton, Rivers, 
                        Herbkersman, Bradley, Bowers, Finlay, Huggins
   2/24/2016  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hicks
   2/25/2016  House   Committee report: Favorable Judiciary 
                        (House Journal-page 2)
    3/1/2016  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Johnson, Hixon, 
                        Taylor
    3/2/2016  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Loftis, Burns, 
                        G.R.Smith, Yow
    3/2/2016  House   Requests for debate-Rep(s). Whipper, Pitts, Delleney, 
                        Jefferson, WJ McLeod, Whitmire, Tinkler, Douglas, 
                        King, Cobb Hunter, MS McLeod, HA Crawford, Bamber, 
                        Alexander, RL Brown, Henderson, Henegan, Loftis, 
                        Robinson Simpson, Dillard, Nanney, GR Smith, VS Moss, 
                        Clary, Hixon, Taylor, Corley, Weeks, Knight 
                        (House Journal-page 19)
    3/2/2016  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Limehouse, 
                        Clemmons
    3/2/2016  House   Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Rivers
    3/2/2016  House   Read second time (House Journal-page 52)
    3/2/2016  House   Roll call Yeas-69  Nays-27 (House Journal-page 53)
    3/3/2016  House   Read third time and sent to Senate 
                        (House Journal-page 32)
    3/3/2016  House   Roll call Yeas-64  Nays-30 (House Journal-page 33)
    3/8/2016  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 6)
    3/8/2016  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary 
                        (Senate Journal-page 6)
   3/11/2016  Senate  Referred to Subcommittee: Hutto (ch), Bright, Gregory, 
                        Shealy, M.B.Matthews
   5/11/2016  Senate  Committee report: Majority favorable, minority 
                        unfavorable Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 17)
   5/12/2016          Scrivener's error corrected

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/19/2016
1/21/2016
2/25/2016
5/11/2016
5/12/2016

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

COMMITTEE REPORT

May 11, 2016

H. 4701

Introduced by Reps. Pitts, White, G.M. Smith, Simrill, Willis, Hardee, Corley, Duckworth, Fry, Goldfinch, Jordan, Erickson, Delleney, Long, Lowe, Sandifer, McCoy, Newton, Herbkersman, Bradley, Bowers, Finlay, Huggins, Hicks, Johnson, Hixon, Taylor, Loftis, Burns, G.R. Smith, Yow, Limehouse, Rivers and Clemmons

S. Printed 5/11/16--S.    [SEC 5/12/16 12:47 PM]

Read the first time March 8, 2016.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4701) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 9 to Chapter 31, Title 23 so as to enact the "Second Amendment Preservation Act", etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

Majority favorable.    Minority unfavorable.

BRAD HUTTO    MARLON E. KIMPSON

For Majority.    For Minority.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

Fiscal Impact Summary

This bill would have no expenditure impact on the general fund, federal funds, or other funds.

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill requires that the State shall not enforce any federal law, rule, or regulation taking effect after January 1, 2016, that would limit the right of a person to own, possess, or use a firearm, ammunition, or firearm accessories. It also provides that the State will neither accept federal funds nor expend state funds related to any federal law, rule, or regulation taking effect after January 1, 2016, that would require firearms to be registered or confiscated.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division reports that this bill would have no expenditure impact on the general fund, federal funds, or other funds.

Local Expenditure

The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office contacted all forty-six counties regarding the expenditure impact of this bill. We received responses from Horry and Florence Counties. Both responding counties indicate that this bill will have no expenditure impact on their localities. Although only two responses were received from the surveyed counties, we do not expect this bill to impact county governments.

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 9 TO CHAPTER 31, TITLE 23 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SECOND AMENDMENT PRESERVATION ACT" AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE SHALL NOT ENFORCE CERTAIN LAWS, RULES, OR REGULATIONS THAT LIMIT THE RIGHT OF A PERSON TO OWN, POSSESS, OR USE A FIREARM, AMMUNITIONS, OR FIREARM ACCESSORIES, ACCEPT CERTAIN FEDERAL FUNDS THAT REQUIRE FIREARMS TO BE REGISTERED OR CONFISCATED, OR EXPEND ANY STATE FUNDS TOWARD THE ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN FEDERAL LAWS, RULES, OR REGULATIONS THAT REQUIRE FIREARMS TO BE REGISTERED OR CONFISCATED.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Chapter 31, Title 23 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 9

Second Amendment Preservation Act

Section 23-31-900.    The General Assembly finds that the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution protects an individual's right to 'keep and bear arms' and further provides that the right to keep and bear arms may not be infringed.

Section 23-31-910.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State shall not:

(1)    enforce any federal law, rule, or regulation that took effect after January 1, 2016, that limits the right of a person to own, possess, or use a firearm, ammunition, or firearm accessories;

(2)    accept any federal funds related to any law, rule, or regulation that took effect after January 1, 2016, that requires firearms to be registered or confiscated; or

(3)    expend any state funds toward the enforcement of any federal law, rule, or regulation that took effect after January 1, 2016, that requires firearms to be registered or confiscated."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on May 12, 2016 at 1:08 PM