A bill

TO AMEND the SOUTH CAROLINA code of laws BY ADDING SECTION 31-18-65 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EVERY SHOOTING RANGE ESTABLISHED OR EXPANDED ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2023, MUST DEVELOP AND CONTINUOUSLY MAINTAIN A WRITTEN SAFETY PLAN FOR THE PROTECTION OF SHOOTING RANGE PARTICIPANTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHICH ENUMERATES SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SHOOTING RANGE AND SHOOTING RANGE PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING ITS HOURS OF OPERATION, THE TYPES OF WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION WHICH MAY BE USED, AND THE MANNER OF CLEANUP AND DISPOSAL OF DISCHARGED SHELL CASINGS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND GROUNDWATER, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE SAFETY PLAN MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION DURING REASONABLE BUSINESS HOURS WHEN THE RANGE IS OPEN AND TO PROVIDE FOR A CIVIL PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS BY ANY SHOOTING RANGE WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION.

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

SECTION 1.   Chapter 18, Title 31 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

   Section 31-18-65.   (A) In addition to all other requirements of this chapter and of law, a shooting range established or expanded after July 1, 2023, at the time of its establishment or any expansion thereafter must develop and continuously maintain a written safety plan for the protection of shooting range participants and the general public which enumerates the safety requirements of the shooting range and its participants including its hours of operation, the types of weapons and ammunition which may be used, and the manner of disposal of discharged shell casings to protect the environment and groundwater. The shooting range must retain and consult with a certified engineer that specializes in ballistics when developing its plan.

   (B) The safety plan must be available for public inspection on the premises of the shooting range during reasonable hours when the range is open and failure to develop and maintain a written safety plan as required by this section subjects the shooting range to a civil fine of five hundred dollars which may be imposed by the governing body of the jurisdiction where the shooting range is located. A violation of more than thirty days constitutes a separate violation. A copy of the current safety plan also must be filed with the governing body of the jurisdiction in which the shooting range is located and available for public inspection.

   (C) Except as provided in subsection (B) and except to ensure that the shooting range and its groundwater is free of lead or other contaminants, state or local law enforcement or other officials do not have jurisdiction to enforce the terms and conditions of the safety plan.

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

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