2015-2016 Bill 3917: Animal Cruelty - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly

121st Session, 2015-2016

H. 3917

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill

Sponsors: Reps. Atwater, Long, Horne and Erickson

Document Path: l:\council\bills\nl\13503sd15.docx

Companion/Similar bill(s): 3835

Introduced in the House on March 25, 2015

Introduced in the Senate on April 29, 2015

Last Amended on April 28, 2015

Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources

Summary: Animal cruelty

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

DateBodyAction Description with journal page number

3/25/2015HouseIntroduced and read first time (House Journalpage72)

3/25/2015HouseReferred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs(House Journalpage72)

4/22/2015HouseCommittee report: Favorable with amendment Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journalpage4)

4/28/2015HouseRequests for debateRep(s).Hill (House Journalpage18)

4/28/2015HouseAmended (House Journalpage18)

4/28/2015HouseRead second time (House Journalpage18)

4/28/2015HouseRoll call Yeas89 Nays1 (House Journalpage18)

4/29/2015HouseRead third time and sent to Senate (House Journalpage9)

4/29/2015SenateIntroduced and read first time (Senate Journalpage16)

4/29/2015SenateReferred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources (Senate Journalpage16)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

3/25/2015

4/22/2015

4/28/2015

AMENDED

April 28, 2015

H.3917

Introduced by Reps. Atwater, Long, Horne and Erickson

S. Printed 4/28/15--H.

Read the first time March 25, 2015.

[3917-1]

ABILL

TO AMEND SECTION 47110, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN REGARD TO CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM “COMPANION ANIMAL”; AND BY ADDING SECTION 47145 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE TATTOOING OR PIERCING OF A COMPANION ANIMAL EXCEPT FOR SPECIFIED REASONS AND TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION WHICH IS A MISDEMEANOR.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION1.Section 47110 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 259 of 2008, is further amended by adding a new item to read:

“(4)‘Companion animal’ means any animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling and any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept. ‘Companion animal’ does not include livestock, fowl, or any wild animal.”

SECTION2.Chapter 1, Title 47 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

“Section 47145.(A)A person shall not pierce or tattoo a companion animal unless the piercing or tattooing provides for the identification of the companion animal or the piercing or tattooing provides a medical benefit to the companion animal. Piercing or tattooing authorized pursuant to this subsection must be completed by a licensed veterinarian or under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

(B)A person violating the provisions of subsection (A) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or both.

(C)Each violation of subsection (A) is deemed a separate offense.

(D)The provisions of this section do not apply to a person who is the owner or possessor of a companion animal that has any piercing or tattooing before the effective date of this section.

(E)As contained in this section ‘tattoo’ or ‘tattooing’ has the same meaning as contained in Section 443410(4).”

SECTION3.This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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