South Carolina General Assembly
111th Session, 1995-1996

Bill 3447


                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    3447
Ratification Number:            469
Act Number:                     382
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               House
Introduced Date:                19950201
Primary Sponsor:                Sharpe 
All Sponsors:                   Sharpe 
Drafted Document Number:        pfm\7121bdw.95
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19960528
Date of Last Amendment:         19960521
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19960604
Subject:                        Dangerous animals

History



Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

------  19960613  Act No. A382
------  19960604  Signed by Governor
------  19960530  Ratified R469
House   19960528  Concurred in Senate amendment, 
                  enrolled for ratification
Senate  19960522  Read third time, returned to House
                  with amendment
Senate  19960521  Amended, read second time
Senate  19960404  Committee report: Favorable with         01 SANR
                  amendment
Senate  19950228  Introduced, read first time,             01 SANR
                  referred to Committee
House   19950224  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19950223  Unanimous consent for third
                  reading on the next Legislative day
House   19950223  Read second time
House   19950222  Committee report: Favorable              20 HANR
House   19950201  Introduced, read first time,             20 HANR
                  referred to Committee

View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A382, R469, H3447)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 47-3-730 AND 47-3-760, BOTH AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE RESTRAINT OF DANGEROUS ANIMALS AND PENALTIES, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS OF RESTRAINT, TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF A SECURITY BOND IN THE REGISTRATION OF DANGEROUS ANIMALS, AND TO EXPAND OFFENSES TO WHICH PENALTIES APPLY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 47-3-750, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO SEIZURE AND IMPOUNDMENT OF DANGEROUS ANIMALS, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE VARIOUS ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS TO SEIZE AND IMPOUND SUCH ANIMALS.

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

Restraint of dangerous animals

SECTION 1. Section 47-3-730 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 374 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"Section 47-3-730. No person owning or harboring or having the care of a dangerous animal may permit the animal to go beyond his premises unless the animal is safely restrained and the requirements of Section 47-3-760(E) are met."

Registration of dangerous animals

SECTION 2. Section 47-3-760(E) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 374 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"(E) A person owning a dangerous animal shall register the animal with the local law enforcement authority of the county in which the owner resides. The requirements of the registration must be determined by the county governing body. However, the registration application must be accompanied by proof of liability insurance or surety bond of at least fifty thousand dollars insuring or securing the owner for personal injuries inflicted by the dangerous animal. The county governing body shall provide to the owner registering the dangerous animal a metal license tag and a certificate. The metal license tag at all times must be attached to a collar or harness worn by the dangerous animal for which the certificate and tag have been issued."

Seizure and impoundment of dangerous animals

SECTION 3. Section 47-3-750 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 374 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"Section 47-3-750. (A) If a law enforcement agent, animal control officer, or animal control officer under contract with a county or municipal government to provide animal control services has probable cause to believe that a dangerous animal is being harbored or cared for in violation of Section 47-3-720 or 47-3-740 or 47-3-760(E), the agent or officer may petition the court having jurisdiction to order the seizure and impoundment of the dangerous animal while the trial is pending.

(B) If a law enforcement agent, animal control officer, or animal control officer under contract with a county or municipal government to provide animal control services has probable cause to believe that a dangerous animal is being harbored or housed in violation of Section 47-3-730, the agent or officer may seize and impound the dangerous animal while the trial is pending."

Penalties

SECTION 4. Section 47-3-760(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 184 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"(B) A person who is the owner of a dangerous animal which attacks and injures a human being in violation of Section 47-3-710(A)(2)(a) or a person who violates Section 47-3-740:

(1) for a first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than three years;

(2) for a second or subsequent offense, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years."

Time effective

SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 4th day of June, 1996.