Reference is to Printer's Date 02/25/15-H.
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. Section 47-3-420 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 293 of 2000, is further amended to read:
"Section 47-3-420.
(A) Only the following methods of
euthanasia may be used to kill animals impounded or quarantined
in animal shelters, and the procedure applicable to the method
selected must be strictly followed:
(1)
Barbituric acid derivatives Sodium
pentobarbital or a derivative of it by means of:
(a)
intravenous or intracardial injection
by hypodermic needle of a lethal solution;
(b)
intraperitoneal injection by hypodermic needle of
lethal solution as a last resort only when location of an
injection into the vein is difficult or impossible;
(c)
oral ingestion of powdered barbituric acid
derivatives in capsules mixed with food or by manual
administration of a solution intracardial injection
by hypodermic needle if the dog or cat is unconscious;
(d)
intravenous injection of these solutions must be
specifically injected according to the directions of the
manufacturers for intravenous injections;
(e)
intracardial injection of these solutions must
only be administered if the animal has been tranquilized with an
approved, humane substance and the animal, at the time of the
intracardial injection, is anesthetized or comatose
an animal may be sedated with an approved and humane
substance before euthanasia is performed;
(f)
the solutions may not be administered via
intraperitoneal, intrathoracic, intrapulmonary,
subcutaneous, intramuscular, intrarenal, intrasplenic, or
intrathecal routes or in any other nonvascular injection route
except as provided above;
(g)
administration of injections must be done only by a
licensed veterinarian or by a euthanasia technician or
Department of Natural Resources employee, trained and certified
for this purpose in a euthanasia training class taught by a
licensed South Carolina veterinarian or an individual or
entity approved by the State Board of Veterinary Examiners,
which must include training in tranquilizing animals. A person
certified pursuant to this subitem must continue to maintain his
proficiency by successfully completing a training course taught
by a licensed South Carolina veterinarian or an individual or
entity approved by the State Board of Veterinary Examiners
every five years;
(h)
all injections must be administered using an undamaged
hypodermic needle of a size suitable for the size and species of
animal;
(i)
an animal shelter, governmental animal control agency, or
the Department of Natural Resources (department) may obtain
a barbituric acid sodium pentobarbital or
a derivative or tranquilizing agent by direct licensing.
The animal shelter, governmental animal control agency, or
department must apply for a Controlled Substance Registration
Certificate from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) and a State Controlled Substances Registration from the
Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). If an
animal shelter, governmental animal control agency, or the
department is issued a certificate by the DEA and a registration
by DHEC pursuant to this subitem, the animal shelter,
governmental animal control agency director or his designee, and
the department's applicant are responsible, for maintaining
their respective records regarding the inventory, storage, and
administration of controlled substances. An animal shelter,
governmental animal control agency and its certified euthanasia
technician, and the department and its certified employees are
subject to inspection and audit by DHEC and the DEA regarding
the recordkeeping, inventory, storage, and administration of
controlled substances used under authority of this
article;
(j)
oral administration of sodium pentobarbital is
permitted for the purpose of anesthetizing animals, provided a
lethal dose of sodium pentobarbital is administered to euthanize
the animal; and
(k)
carbon monoxide gas, carbon dioxide gas, or
other non-anesthetic inhalants may not be used to perform
euthanasia.
(2) Carbon
monoxide gas: A
substance which is clinically proven to be as humane as sodium
pentobarbital and which has been officially recognized as such
by the American Veterinary Medical Association may be used in
lieu of sodium pentobarbital to perform euthanasia on dogs and
cats, but succinylcholine chloride, curate, curariform mixtures,
carbon monoxide gas, carbon dioxide gas, or any substance which
acts as a neuromuscular blocking agent may not be used on a dog
or cat in lieu of sodium pentobarbital for euthanasia
purposes.
(a) dogs and cats, except animals under sixteen weeks of age,
may be killed by bottled carbon monoxide gas administered in a
tightly enclosed chamber. The chamber must be equipped with:
(i) internal lighting and a window providing direct visual
surveillance of the collapse and death of any animal within the
chamber;
(ii) the gas concentration process must be adequate to achieve a
carbon monoxide gas concentration throughout the chamber of at
least six percent within five minutes after any animal is placed
in the chamber. The chamber must have a functioning gas
concentration gauge attached to the chamber and a strong
airtight seal must be maintained around the door;
(iii) the unit shall include an exhaust fan connected by a
gas-tight duct to the outdoors capable of completely evacuating
the gas from the chamber before it is opened after each use,
except that this provision does not apply to chambers located
out-of-doors;
(iv) animals must be left in the chamber for a period of no less
than fifteen minutes from the time the gas concentration
throughout the chamber reaches six percent.
(b) no person may euthanize an animal by gas emitted from any
engine exhaust system.
(c) in all instances where a carbon monoxide chamber is used:
(i) no incompatible or hostile animals, or animals of different
species, may be placed in any chamber simultaneously;
(ii) every chamber must be thoroughly cleaned after the
completion of each full cycle. No live animals may be placed in
the chamber with dead animals;
(iii) all animals must be examined by a veterinarian or
certified euthanasia technician to ensure they are dead upon
removal from the chamber;
(iv) all chambers must be inspected quarterly by an independent,
qualified technician who is thoroughly knowledgeable with the
operation and maintenance of the particular euthanasia chamber
being used;
(v) an operational guide and maintenance instructions must be
displayed in the room with the euthanasia chamber.
Shooting: Shooting may be
used in a location other than a shelter as a means of
euthanasia only in an emergency situation to prevent extreme
suffering or in which the safety of people or other animal life
is threatened or where it is considered necessary by the South
Carolina Department of Natural Resources to eliminate or control
the population of feral animals.
(4)
In cases of extraordinary circumstance where a
dog or cat poses an extreme risk or danger to the veterinarian,
physician, or lay person performing euthanasia, the person is
allowed the use of any other substance or procedure that is
necessary to perform euthanasia on a dangerous dog or cat.
(B) In any of the
previously listed methods, an animal may not be left unattended
between the time euthanasia procedures have commenced and the
time death occurs, and the animal's body may not be disposed of
until death is confirmed by a certified euthanasia
technician.
(C) Under no
circumstance shall a chamber using commercially bottled carbon
monoxide gas or other lethal gas or a chamber which causes a
change in body oxygen by means of altering atmospheric pressure
or which is connected to an internal combustion engine and uses
the engine exhaust for euthanasia purposes be
permitted."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.