Bill 4754

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    4754
Ratification Number:            469
Act Number:                     342
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               House
Introduced Date:                19980304
Primary Sponsor:                Witherspoon
All Sponsors:                   Witherspoon, Sharpe, Bailey,
                                Clyburn, Simrill, Meacham, Seithel,
                                Inabinett, Mason, Littlejohn, McKay,
                                Rodgers, Miller, Rhoad, Walker, Battle,
                                Lloyd, Barfield, McMahand, J. Hines,
                                Dantzler, Stille and Leach 
Drafted Document Number:        dka\4833mm.98
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19980520
Date of Last Amendment:         19980513
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19980608
Subject:                        Deer, exotic farm-raised; sale of
                                in food establishments allowed;
                                Businesses, Agriculture; Fish and
                                Game

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

------  19980617  Act No. A342
------  19980608  Signed by Governor
------  19980604  Ratified R469
House   19980520  Concurred in Senate amendment,
                  enrolled for ratification
Senate  19980514  Read third time, returned to House
                  with amendment
Senate  19980513  Amended, read second time
Senate  19980421  Committee report: Favorable              07 SFGF
Senate  19980324  Introduced, read first time,             07 SFGF
                  referred to Committee
House   19980320  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19980319  Read second time, unanimous
                  consent for third reading on
                  Friday, 19980320
House   19980319  Amended
House   19980318  Committee report: Favorable with         20 HANR
                  amendment
House   19980304  Introduced, read first time,             20 HANR
                  referred to Committee

(A342, R469, H4754)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-1920, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SALE OF VENISON IN EATING ESTABLISHMENTS, SO AS TO ALLOW SALE OF EXOTIC FARM-RAISED DEER BY OFFICIAL FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS AND WHOLESALE FOOD DISTRIBUTORS WHO COMPLY WITH INSPECTION, RECORDKEEPING, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.

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

Sale of exotic farm-raised deer

SECTION 1. Section 50-11-1920 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 147 of 1997, is further amended to read:

Section 50-11-1920. (A) The proprietor of a permitted food service establishment may purchase and sell exotic farm-raised venison which is processed through an official establishment, certified by the State Livestock-Poultry Health Commission or the United States Department of Agriculture. The food service establishment first must obtain a permit from the department, at no cost, and must maintain adequate records to provide department personnel, law enforcement officers, and other food service inspectors information as to the source of the venison. The premises of the permitted food service establishment must be open for inspection by enforcement officers, department personnel, and food service inspectors at reasonable times or whenever employees are present.

(B) The owner of a permitted food service establishment is responsible for compliance with the terms of the permit and with this section. If the food service establishment or its employees violate the terms of the permit or this section, the permit is invalid, and the owner of the food service establishment is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(C) An official establishment or a wholesale food distributor may obtain a permit, at no cost, to buy and sell exotic farm-raised venison to a permitted food service establishment. A permittee must maintain adequate records to provide department personnel, law enforcement officers, and other food service inspectors information as to the source of the venison. The premises must be open for inspection at reasonable times or whenever employees are present. If the permittee or its employees violate the terms of the permit or this section, the permit is invalid, and the permittee is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(D) The sale of whitetail deer, wild or farm raised, is prohibited.

(E) The Department of Natural Resources may promulgate regulations to enforce the provisions of this section.

Time effective

SECTION 2. Upon approval by the Governor, this act takes effect May 1, 1998.

Approved the 8th day of June, 1998.