South Carolina General Assembly
112th Session, 1997-1998

Bill 1049


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    1049
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               Senate
Introduced Date:                19980219
Primary Sponsor:                Mescher 
All Sponsors:                   Mescher 
Drafted Document Number:        res1623.wcm
Residing Body:                  Senate
Date of Last Amendment:         19980423
Subject:                        Deer Farming Operations Act, Fish
                                and Game, Natural Resources Department,
                                Agriculture

History

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

Senate  19980429  Placed on the Calendar
Senate  19980429  Reconsidered vote whereby
                  read third time
Senate  19980428  Read third time, sent to House
Senate  19980423  Read second time
Senate  19980423  Committee amendment adopted
Senate  19980421  Committee report: Favorable with         07 SFGF
                  amendment
Senate  19980219  Introduced, read first time,             07 SFGF
                  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.)

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ADOPTED

April 23, 1998

S. 1049

Introduced by Senator Mescher

S. Printed 4/23/98--S.

Read the first time February 19, 1998.

A BILL

TO AMEND CHAPTER 16, TITLE 50 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS, 1976, RELATING TO IMPORTATION OF WILDLIFE, BY ADDING ARTICLE 3, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE DEER FARMING; TO PROVIDE FOR IMPORTATION AND REGULATION OF FARMED DEER; TO PROVIDE FOR LICENSURE OF DEER FARMING OPERATIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-1910 RELATING TO SALE OF DEER PARTS SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF FARMED DEER PRODUCTS AND BY-PRODUCTS IN THE STATE.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 16, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 3

Deer Farming Operation Act

Section 50-16-310. This article may be cited as the 'Deer Farming Operation Act of 1998'.

Section 50-16-320. The purpose of this article is to provide for the production of farmed deer and to provide for the importation, production, control, and eradication of disease in farmed deer.

Section 50-16-330. As used in this article, the term:

(1) 'Deer farming' means the raising and production of farmed deer for the commercial production of food and fiber.

(2) 'Farmed deer' means fallow deer (Dama dama), red deer and elk (Cervus elaphus) only and hybrids between these farmed deer species raised for the commercial sale of meat and other parts or for the sale of live animals. White-tailed deer is classified as unacceptable species and is not included within the definition of farmed deer. Deer that may be under the authority of Title 50, Part 23, Subpart C, Section 23.23 of the Code of Federal Regulations, implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, 27 U.S.T. 1087, TIAS 8249, must meet the requirements set forth in the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C.1531, et seq.

(3) 'Director' means the Director of the Department of Natural Resources.

(4) 'Department' means the Department of Natural Resources.

(5) 'Division' means the Administrative Law Judge Division.

Section 50-16-340. (A) A person may not possess, buy, import, or transport farmed deer or engage in or carry on the business of deer farming without first obtaining a deer-farming license from the Department of Natural Resources.

(B) The department shall issue a deer farming license to individuals who qualify under the provisions of this article or any regulation promulgated pursuant to this article. A deer-farming license is valid from the date of issuance to March thirty-first of each calendar year. A deer-farming license shall not be issued by the department to any deer-farming operation which has not been inspected and approved by the department; provided, that any facility expansion must be preapproved before renewal of a deer-farming license.

(C) The license of any deer farm operator who violates this article or any regulation promulgated by the department pursuant to this article is subject to revocation following notice and hearing. A deer-farming license of any licensee whose facility does not meet the definition of deer farming shall be revoked, and the license may be revoked if the licensee violates any provision of Title 50 relating to farmed deer. Upon revocation or nonrenewal of a license, the holder of farmed deer under that license shall, within forty-five days, remove the farmed deer from the facility and dispose of the deer legally within the State or outside the State. If the licensee fails to dispose of the animals within forty-five days, he forfeits all rights, ownership, and claim to the deer and shall relinquish to the department any claim to the deer immediately. The department may then dispose of the deer in any way it chooses. The holder of farmed deer under any license issued by the department shall compensate the department for any expense incurred by the department or its agent during disposition of the deer after revocation or nonrenewal of a permit or a license.

(D) Deer farm operators shall maintain up-to-date inventory records of their deer herds and any transactions or movements including, but not limited to, natural additions, purchased additions, sales, loans, trades, and deaths. Records must be kept in accordance with specifications of the department and the Livestock-Poultry Health Commission and are subject to review by representatives of either agency. Upon application for renewal of a deer farming license, the applicant must include a complete annual record of all transactions involving movement of deer off of or on to the facility, and of any births or deaths on the facility.

(E) Deer farm operators shall construct and maintain premises and facilities used in deer farming in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department, provided that:

(1) the facility must be constructed of such material and of such strength as appropriate for the animals involved;

(2) housing facilities must be structurally sound and must be maintained in good repair to protect and contain the animals;

(3) the facilities must be designed in such manner, including the inclusion of barriers of sufficient dimensions and conformation, to safeguard both the animals and the public against injury or the transmission of diseases by direct contact;

(4) Any portion of the facility within which farmed deer are maintained must be surrounded by a perimeter fence with a minimum height of ten feet with no less than the bottom six feet made of woven mesh and constructed of a design, strength, gauge, and mesh approved by the department and which is sufficient to prevent escape of farmed deer and to prevent white-tailed deer from entering. Supplemental wire to attain a height of ten feet may be smooth, barbed, or woven wire of a gauge and mesh approved by the department with strands no more than six inches apart. Perimeter posts, stays or supports, and perimeter gates must be of a design and strength approved by the department. All trees and other structures which pose an imminent threat, as determined by the department, to the integrity of the fencing must be removed unless fencing is constructed so as to prevent the breach of the fence from the fall of a tree or structure;

(5) the pastures or paddocks within the facility must be of such a size and so constructed with the vegetation managed in such a way that all animals held within the enclosure are readily observable on a daily basis;

(6) native white-tailed deer must be removed from within a facility operating pursuant to this article before the introduction of farmed deer. Upon initial inspection if it is determined that white-tailed deer have been inadvertently confined within a proposed deer-farming facility, the department, in cooperation with the facility operator, shall take any action it considers necessary to remove the white-tailed deer from the facility;

(7) the operator of any deer farm immediately shall notify the department as to the ingress of white-tailed deer into the licensed facility. The department shall take any action it considers necessary to dispose of the white-tailed deer;

(8) farmed deer may not be held within an enclosure unless the enclosure includes a handling facility adequate to gather, hold, and individually restrain animals in a safe and efficient manner for any inspection, testing, quarantine, or other management action pursuant to this article;

(9) Deer farm operators shall register a unique brand, tattoo, approved combination of permanent ear tags, or other approved mark with the department. All farmed deer must be clearly identified with this approved mark. This unique mark must be placed or implanted on animals within fourteen days of birth or purchase if the unique mark is not present when the animal was purchased. The unique mark must be recorded in the facility operator's records, and must be noted in any transfer records or reports or other transaction records or reports referring to each animal.

(F) The department may inspect an applicant's facilities to ensure that the facilities meet the department's guidelines. The department shall report to the Livestock-Poultry Health Commission within thirty days of receipt of the application. The department shall transmit a copy of any license issued pursuant to this article to the Livestock-Poultry Health Commission. The department shall notify the Livestock-Poultry Health Commission of the revocation, nonrenewal, cancellation, or lapse of any license issued pursuant to this article. All notifications must be made in writing and as promptly as possible, but in no event shall the notification be given more than seventy-two hours after the event giving rise to the requirement of notice.

(G) For purposes other than deer farming, farmed deer species must be held under a permit issued by the department. Anyone holding, possessing, importing, or transporting farmed deer species without a deer-farming license or a permit issued by the department is in violation of this article.

Section 50-16-350. Health and transportation requirements for any farmed deer shall comply with the health requirements established by regulation of the Livestock-Poultry Health Commission. Those animals specifically used for deer farming must meet the requirements of the Uniform Methods and Rules of the Code of Federal Regulations for Tuberculosis and Brucellosis in Cervidae.

Section 50-16-360. (A) Any farmed deer which escapes from a deer farm is subject to the jurisdiction of the department and may be treated as a wild animal.

(B) As a condition for maintaining a deer-farming license, it is the duty of the owner or operator of a licensed deer farm to notify the department immediately upon discovery of the escape of a farmed deer, and the owner or operator shall recapture or destroy the escaped animal or animals at his own expense within twenty-four hours. A person must not be held liable for killing or wounding an escaped farmed deer.

(C) If the licensee does not capture or destroy the escaped animal or animals within twenty-four hours, the department or a designated agent may capture or destroy the animal or animals. Holders of farmed deer held under any license issued by the department are responsible for all expenses incurred in recovering, maintaining, or disposing of the animal or animals, as well as any damage to the state's natural resources and shall, upon written demand, reimburse the department in full within thirty days of the date of the written demand. Holders of farmed deer are responsible for all damage done to private property by escaped farmed deer resulting from such holders' negligence.

Section 50-16-370. It is unlawful to hunt or attempt to hunt farmed deer held under a deer farming license within a deer farming facility, except that animals may be euthanized or destroyed for scientific, health, or safety concerns as considered necessary by the department or by the Livestock-Poultry Health Commission. The owner of farmed deer may slaughter farmed deer for personal use only after the farmed deer have been gathered into an approved holding area.

Section 50-16-380. Deer farm operators shall allow entry on to the deer farm, at reasonable times or whenever employees are present, of representatives of the department, the Livestock-Poultry Health Commission, or other departments or agencies having authority or duties involving farmed deer or wild animals to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws.

Section 50-16-390. Facilities intentionally commingling farmed deer with white-tailed deer must not be licensed as deer farming operations.

Section 50-16-400. The department shall promulgate regulations necessary to effectuate the purpose of this article. The regulations must be designed to ensure the health and safety of wildlife, prevent the escape of farmed deer species, and prevent the spread of animal diseases between wildlife, wild animals, domestic animals, farmed deer, and humans. The department and the Livestock-Poultry Health Commission shall communicate and consult on matters of mutual concern so as to ensure the health and safety of farmed deer, wildlife, wild animals, domestic animals, and humans and to prevent, control, and eradicate animal diseases within this State.

Section 50-16-410. (A) It is unlawful for a person intentionally to release a farmed deer from captivity or to import, transport, sell, transfer, or possess a farmed deer in a manner causing its release or escape from captivity. If a person imports, transports, sells, transfers, or possesses a farmed deer in a manner which poses a reasonable possibility that the farmed deer may be released accidentally or escape from captivity, the department may revoke the license of that person.

(B) A holder of farmed deer held under any license issued by the department shall notify the department immediately of the release of these deer and shall recapture or destroy the released animal or animals at his own expense within twenty-four hours. A person must not be held liable for killing or wounding an escaped farmed deer.

(C) If the licensee does not capture or destroy the released animal or animals within twenty-four hours, the department or a designated agent may capture or destroy the animal or animals. A holder of farmed deer held under any license issued by the department is responsible for all expenses incurred in recovering, maintaining, or disposing of the animals, as well as any damage to the state's natural resources, and, upon written demand, shall reimburse the department in full within thirty days of the date of the written demand. A holder of farmed deer is responsible for all expenses related to damages caused to private property by released farmed deer.

Section 50-16-420. (A) Products and by-products derived from farmed deer may be offered for sale and purchase in this State if all of the requirements established pursuant to the provisions of this article are satisfied.

(B) Animals must be slaughtered according to regulations of the Livestock-Poultry Health Commission or the United States Department of Agriculture currently in force for the product. Any meat or meat by-product must be sold, offered for sale, or purchased in accordance with Section 50-11-1920. The meat or meat by-product must bear an official inspection mark, tag, or package label as required by the state or by the federal government when inspected, or a tag or label of facility origin if not inspected.

Section 50-16-430. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person violating the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined up to five thousand dollars or imprisoned for sixty days, or both, in the discretion of the court.

Section 50-16-440. In addition to any other remedy provided in this article and notwithstanding the existence of any adequate remedy at law, the director or his designee is authorized to apply to the Administrative Law Judge Division for an injunction. The division has jurisdiction, upon a hearing and for cause shown, to grant a temporary or permanent injunction, or both, restraining a person from violating or continuing to violate a provision of this article or for failing or refusing to comply with the requirements of this article or a regulation promulgated pursuant to this article. An injunction issued under this section does not require a bond.

Section 50-16-450. (A) The director, in order to enforce this article or any orders or regulations promulgated pursuant to this article, may issue an administrative finding of a violation and impose a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars for each violation whenever the director determines that a person has violated a provision of this article or any quarantine, order, or regulation promulgated pursuant to this article.

(B) The initial hearing and any administrative review of the hearing must be conducted before the division in accordance with the procedure for contested cases in accordance with the 'South Carolina Administrative Procedures Act' (Section 1-23-310, et seq.). A person who has exhausted all administrative remedies available to him and who is aggrieved or adversely affected by any final order or action of the director has the right of judicial review in accordance with Chapter 23 of Title 1. All penalties recovered by the director as provided for in this article must be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit by him in the general fund. The penalty prescribed in this section is concurrent, alternative, or cumulative with all other civil, criminal, or alternative rights, remedies, forfeitures, or penalties provided, allowed, or available to the director with respect to any violation of this article or any quarantine, order, or regulations promulgated pursuant to this article."

SECTION 2. Section 50-11-1910 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 50-11-1910. It is unlawful to buy or sell, offer for sale, barter, or have in possession for sale any deer or part of a deer except the hide of legally taken deer. Hides from legally taken deer may be bought, sold, or bartered during the earliest open season for the taking of deer and for thirty calendar days following the end of the latest deer season. For a violation of this section, upon conviction, the guilty party for a first offense must be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than three hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than thirty days; for a second offense within three years of the date of conviction for a first offense, the person must be fined not less than three hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than thirty days; for a third offense within three years of the date of conviction for a first offense, the person must be fined one thousand dollars or be imprisoned for not more than sixty days.

(A) Unless specified in this section, the sale of deer parts is not prohibited.

(B) It is unlawful to buy or sell, offer for sale, barter, or have in possession for sale live deer, except as provided in Article 3 of Chapter 16 of this title.

(C) It is unlawful to buy or sell, offer for sale, barter, or have in possession for sale the venison of deer, except as provided in Section 50-11-1920 and Article 3 of Chapter 16 of this title.

(D) It is unlawful to buy or sell, offer for sale, barter, or have in possession for sale white-tailed deer antlers or parts of white-tailed deer antlers.

(E) For a violation of this section, upon conviction of each offense the guilty party, for a first offense, must be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than three hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or both; for a second offense, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or be imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or both; for a third and any subsequent offense, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or be imprisoned for not more than sixty days, or both.

(F) The provisions of subsections (A) through (E) of this section do not apply to deer-farming operations licensed in this State pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of Chapter 16 of this title or those operations which are lawfully licensed and regulated as deer-farming facilities in any other state; provided, that live deer, deer products, or deer by-products meet the definition of farmed deer pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 16 of this title and that live deer, deer products, or deer by-products are properly marked or labeled pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 16 of this title in order that the origin of the item may be easily and readily ascertained."

SECTION 3. Sections 50-16-10 through 50-16-70 of the 1976 Code are designated as Article 1 of Chapter 16, Title 50 and entitled "General Provisions".

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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