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A74, R110, H3719

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Burns, Hiott, Hixon, Chumley, Bannister and G.R. Smith
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gt\5291cm17.docx

Introduced in the House on February 9, 2017
Introduced in the Senate on February 28, 2017
Last Amended on February 23, 2017
Passed by the General Assembly on May 9, 2017
Governor's Action: May 19, 2017, Signed

Summary: Fires

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2/9/2017  House   Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 15)
    2/9/2017  House   Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources 
                        and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 15)
   2/14/2017  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hixon, Chumley, 
                        Bannister, G.R.Smith
   2/16/2017  House   Committee report: Favorable with amendment Agriculture, 
                        Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs 
                        (House Journal-page 3)
   2/22/2017  House   Requests for debate-Rep(s). JE Smith, Gilliard, 
                        Jefferson, Ott, Mack, Robinson-Simpson, Williams 
                        (House Journal-page 13)
   2/23/2017  House   Amended (House Journal-page 22)
   2/23/2017  House   Read second time (House Journal-page 22)
   2/23/2017  House   Roll call Yeas-94  Nays-6 (House Journal-page 25)
   2/23/2017  House   Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative 
                        day (House Journal-page 26)
   2/24/2017  House   Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 2)
   2/28/2017  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 17)
   2/28/2017  Senate  Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry 
                        (Senate Journal-page 17)
    5/3/2017  Senate  Recalled from Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry 
                        (Senate Journal-page 4)
    5/8/2017  Senate  Read second time (Senate Journal-page 24)
    5/8/2017  Senate  Roll call Ayes-40  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 24)
    5/9/2017  Senate  Read third time and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 11)
   5/15/2017          Ratified R 110
   5/19/2017          Signed By Governor
   5/25/2017          Effective date 5/19/17
   5/31/2017          Act No. 74

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

2/9/2017
2/16/2017
2/23/2017
5/3/2017

(A74, R110, H3719)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 48-35-50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE STATE FORESTER'S AUTHORITY TO DIRECT THAT CERTAIN FIRES NOT BE STARTED, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE FORESTER MAY PROHIBIT ALL OPEN BURNING EXCEPT FIRES USED FOR NONRECREATIONAL PURPOSES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 48-35-60, RELATING TO PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE STARTING OF UNLAWFUL FIRES, SO AS TO REVISE THESE PENALTIES.

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

State Forester's authority to regulate fires

SECTION    1.    Section 48-35-50 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 48-35-50.    The State Forester may direct at any time, when deemed necessary in the interest of public safety, that fires covered by this chapter not be started. The State Forester also may prohibit all open burning regardless of whether a permit or notification is required, including campfires, bonfires, and other fires for recreational purposes. This prohibition shall not apply to fires used for nonrecreational purposes such as those for human warmth or for the preparation of food for immediate consumption."

Penalties

SECTION    2.    Section 48-35-60 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 48-35-60.    Any person violating the provisions of this chapter may be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days for a first offense. For any second or subsequent offense, a fine of not less than five hundred dollars or imprisonment for not more than sixty days, or both may be imposed in the discretion of the court. 'Subsequent offense', as used in this section, shall mean an offense committed within ten years of a previous offense."

Time effective

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 15th day of May, 2017.

Approved the 19th day of May, 2017.

This web page was last updated on June 21, 2017 at 3:59 PM