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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
S. 833
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Knotts
Document Path: l:\council\bills\nbd\11756ac07.doc
Introduced in the Senate on June 7, 2007
Introduced in the House on April 1, 2008
Last Amended on March 27, 2008
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary
Summary: Dogs
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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6/7/2007 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-22
6/7/2007 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-22
6/20/2007 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Hawkins (ch), Sheheen, Lourie,
Vaughn
3/5/2008 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
SJ-12
3/19/2008 Senate Committee Amendment Amended and Adopted SJ-57
3/20/2008 Senate Amended SJ-9
3/20/2008 Senate Read second time SJ-9
3/27/2008 Senate Amended SJ-21
3/27/2008 Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-21
4/1/2008 House Introduced and read first time HJ-11
4/1/2008 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-11
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
6/7/2007
3/5/2008
3/19/2008
3/20/2008
3/27/2008
Indicates Stricken Matter
Indicates New Matter
AS PASSED BY THE SENATE
March 27, 2008
S. 833
S. Printed 3/27/08--S.
Read the first time June 7, 2007.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 47-1-45 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE TETHERING, FASTENING, CHAINING, TYING, OR RESTRAINING A DOG TO A STATIONARY OBJECT FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS A DAY OR FOR MORE THAN SIX HOURS A DAY ON A TROLLEY SYSTEM; TO PROVIDE CLASS I MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL PENALTIES; AND TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BY ORDINANCE TO VARY THESE REGULATIONS.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Title 47 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 47-1-45. (A) It is unlawful to knowingly or intentionally confine or restrain an animal in a cruel manner or knowingly or intentionally cause such cruel confinement or restraining of an animal.
(B) For purposes of this section:
(1) 'Confine an animal in a cruel manner' or 'cruel confinement of an animal' means confining an animal by means of a pen or similar confinement under circumstances in which the person intends to endanger the animal's health or safety, or the person reasonably should have known would endanger the animal's health or safety. 'Confine an animal in a cruel manner' or 'cruel confinement of an animal' includes, but is not limited to, a confinement that:
(a) confines an animal for such an unreasonable period of time that the animal's health or safety is endangered;
(b) does not permit an animal to stand, turn around, sit, and lie down in a normal position;
(c) causes bodily injury to an animal;
(d) does not permit an animal access to sustenance;
(e) does not permit proper ventilation for an animal; or
(f) is not kept in a sanitary condition.
(2) 'Restrain an animal in a cruel manner' or 'cruel restraining of an animal' means tethering, fastening, chaining, tying, attaching, or otherwise restraining an animal to a tree, fence, post, or other stationary object or a running line, pulley, cable trolley system, or similar system by means of a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or similar restraint under circumstances in which the person intends to endanger the animal's health or safety, or the person reasonably should have known would endanger the animal's health or safety. 'Restrain an animal in a cruel manner' or 'cruel restraining of an animal' includes, but is not limited to, a restraint that:
(a) restricts an animal's movement for such an unreasonable period of time that the animal's health or safety is endangered;
(b) is of a weight that excessively burdens an animal;
(c) causes an animal to choke or causes bodily injury to an animal;
(d) is too short for an animal to move around or for an animal to urinate or defecate in a separate area from the area where the animal must eat, drink, or lie down;
(e) is situated such that an animal will likely become entangled;
(f) does not permit an animal access to sustenance and shelter;
(g) does not permit an animal to escape reasonably foreseeable harm;
(h) is attached to an animal by means of a collar, harness, or similar device that is not properly fitted for the age and size of the animal such that the collar, harness, or similar device causes trauma or injury to the animal; or
(i) is attached to an unsupervised animal by means of a choke-type or pronged collar.
(C) A person who knowingly or intentionally violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by imprisonment not exceeding sixty days or by a fine not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or both, for a first offense; by imprisonment not exceeding ninety days or by a fine not exceeding eight hundred dollars, or both, for a second offense; or by imprisonment not exceeding two years or by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, or both, for a third or subsequent offense. A person may be issued a correction warning in lieu of an infraction requiring the person to correct the cruel confinement or restraining of an animal within seventy-two hours unless the violation endangers the health or safety of the animal, the animal has been wounded as a result of the violation, or a correction warning has previously been issued to the person.
(D) This section does not apply to fowl, accepted animal husbandry practices of farm operations and the training of animals, animal exhibitions or shows, pet shops, the practice of veterinary medicine, agricultural practices, forestry and silvacultural practices, wildlife management practices, and to activities, exhibitions, transportation, and other events related to activities authorized by Title 50.
(E) Nothing in this section prohibits local governments from adopting more stringent local ordinances governing the confinement or restraining of an animal; however, a local government may assess only civil penalties for such ordinances."
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 2008.
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