Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format
A186, R235, H5246
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Wetmore, Brittain, M.M. Smith, Stavrinakis, Hartnett, Leber, Gilliard, Bustos, Pendarvis, Jefferson, Landing and Garvin
Document Path: LC-0538SA24.docx
Introduced in the House on March 7, 2024
Introduced in the Senate on April 25, 2024
Last Amended on May 8, 2024
Currently residing in the House
Governor's Action: May 20, 2024, Signed
Summary: State seabird
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
| Date | Body | Action Description with journal page number |
|---|---|---|
| 3/7/2024 | House | Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 12) |
| 3/7/2024 | House | Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works (House Journal-page 12) |
| 4/17/2024 | House | Recalled from Committee on Education and Public Works (House Journal-page 10) |
| 4/23/2024 | House | Read second time (House Journal-page 16) |
| 4/23/2024 | House | Roll call Yeas-104 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 17) |
| 4/24/2024 | House | Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 13) |
| 4/25/2024 | Senate | Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 6) |
| 4/25/2024 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Family and Veterans' Services (Senate Journal-page 6) |
| 4/30/2024 | Senate | Polled out of committee Family and Veterans' Services |
| 4/30/2024 | Senate | Committee report: Favorable Family and Veterans' Services |
| 5/8/2024 | Senate | Amended (Senate Journal-page 95) |
| 5/8/2024 | Senate | Read second time (Senate Journal-page 95) |
| 5/8/2024 | Senate | Roll call Ayes-45 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 95) |
| 5/9/2024 | Senate | Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 85) |
| 5/9/2024 | House | Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 117) |
| 5/9/2024 | House | Roll call Yeas-106 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 117) |
| 5/15/2024 | Ratified R 235 | |
| 5/20/2024 | Signed By Governor | |
| 5/29/2024 | Effective date 05/20/24 | |
| 5/29/2024 | Act No. 186 |
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
03/07/2024
04/17/2024
04/30/2024
05/08/2024
(A186, R235, H5246)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 1-1-612 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE BROWN PELICAN IS THE OFFICIAL SEABIRD OF THE STATE.
Whereas, the first known eastern brown pelican was described in 1789 and at the Charleston Harbor; and
Whereas, the brown pelican is one of the largest birds found on the east coast and is known for its long bill and underlying throat pouch; and
Whereas, eastern brown pelicans are the only pelicans in the world that are not entirely white. The front of a brown pelican's head is white, but its feathers fade to dark brown. During breeding season, the bird swaps white for a vibrant yellowish gold and exchanges dark brown for a silver-grey; and
Whereas, in 1970, the eastern brown pelican was listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act, when populations plummeted to less than one hundred; and
Whereas, unlike most birds that warm their eggs with the skin of their breasts, pelicans incubate their eggs with the skin of their feet, standing on them and holding the eggs under the webbing of their feet. Widespread use of a pesticide known as DDT caused the chemical to leak into the food chain and caused the eastern brown pelican's eggs to have thinner shells, which caused them to break during incubation, leading to the populations decline; and
Whereas, the United States' ban of DDT in 1972 and the Brown Pelican Recovery Plan of 1979 helped the brown pelican population recover, and the brown pelican is no longer considered endangered; and
Whereas, designating the brown pelican as the state seabird of South Carolina will highlight the importance of preserving and enhancing the habitat of this species and other seabirds along our coastline and serve as a symbol of our commitment to environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation; and
Whereas, eastern brown pelicans and other similar South Carolina coastal birds add to the unique and beautiful character of South Carolina, increasing quality of life. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Official seabird
SECTION 1. Article 9, Chapter 1, Title 1 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:
Section 1-1-612. The eastern brown pelican is the official seabird of the State.
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Ratified the 15th day of May, 2024.
Approved the 20th day of May, 2024.
This web page was last updated on June 25, 2024 at 3:19 PM