A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 47-1-170, relating to THE PENALTIES FOR A CRUELTY TO ANIMALS CONVICTION, so as to REQUIRE THE PAYMENT OF ALL REASONABLE COSTS INCURRED RELATED TO THE CONVICTION AND TO PROHIBIT A PERSON CONVICTED OF A SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS FROM OWNING AN ANIMAL FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED FIVE YEARS.

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

SECTION 1.   Section 47-1-170 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   Section 47-1-170.   The owner or person having charge or custody of an animal cruelly used who is convicted of any violation of this chapter forfeits ownership, charge, or custody of the animal and at the discretion of the court, the person who is charged with or convicted of a violation of this chapter must be ordered to pay costs incurred to care for the animal and related expenses all reasonable costs incurred in removing, housing, treating, or euthanizing an animal confiscated from the person convicted of animal cruelty. A person who, after his first conviction, is convicted of any subsequent violation of this chapter forfeits ownership, charge, or custody of all animals and may not own an animal for up to five years from the date of the subsequent conviction.

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founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action,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of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.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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