H*3065(Rat #0211, Act #0094 of 1997)  General Bill, By Limehouse, Altman, 
J.M. Baxley, Harrell, Hinson, Seithel, Simrill, Vaughn and Whatley
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-852, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL MOLESTING OR KILLING OF BIRDS OF PREY, SO AS TO
 INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION FOR BIRDS OF PREY AND A BALD EAGLE, AND
 PROVIDE THAT THE PERSON CONVICTED SHALL LOSE HIS HUNTING LICENSE AND BE
 PROHIBITED FROM HUNTING IN THE STATE FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS IF THE BALD
 EAGLE WAS KILLED AND FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS IF THE BALD EAGLE WAS
 MOLESTED.-AMENDED TITLE

   12/18/96  House  Prefiled
   12/18/96  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs
   01/14/97  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-35
   01/14/97  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-35
   02/26/97  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental
                     Affairs HJ-2
   02/27/97  House  Amended HJ-14
   02/27/97  House  Read second time HJ-15
   02/27/97  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-15
   02/28/97  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-1
   03/04/97  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-14
   03/04/97  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-14
   04/24/97  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Fish,
                     Game and Forestry SJ-22
   04/29/97  Senate Amended SJ-56
   04/29/97  Senate Read second time SJ-56
   04/29/97  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-56
   04/30/97  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-23
   05/06/97  House  Non-concurrence in Senate amendment HJ-35
   05/14/97  Senate Senate insists upon amendment and conference
                     committee appointed Sens. Cork, Gregory, Hutto SJ-54
   05/14/97  House  Conference committee appointed Rhoad, Limehouse &
                     Witherspoon HJ-103
   06/05/97  Senate Free conference powers granted SJ-184
   06/05/97  Senate Free conference committee appointed Sens. Cork,
                     Gregory, Hutto SJ-184
   06/05/97  Senate Free conference report received and adopted SJ-184
   06/05/97  House  Free conference powers granted HJ-118
   06/05/97  House  Free conference committee appointed Reps.
                     Limehouse, Rhoad & Witherspoon HJ-119
   06/05/97  House  Free conference report received and adopted HJ-119
   06/05/97  House  Ordered enrolled for ratification HJ-128
   06/09/97         Ratified R 211
   06/11/97         Signed By Governor
   06/11/97         Effective date 06/11/97
   06/24/97         Copies available
   06/24/97         Act No. 94

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-852, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL MOLESTING OR KILLING OF BIRDS OF PREY, SO AS TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION FOR BIRDS OF PREY AND A BALD EAGLE, AND PROVIDE THAT THE PERSON CONVICTED SHALL LOSE HIS HUNTING LICENSE AND BE PROHIBITED FROM HUNTING IN THIS STATE FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS IF THE BALD EAGLE WAS KILLED AND FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS IF THE BALD EAGLE WAS MOLESTED.

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

Bald eagle penalties increased

SECTION 1. Section 50-11-852 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 50-11-852. It is unlawful for any person to molest or kill any of the birds of prey within this State. Birds of prey include all hawks, eagles, falcons, kites, vultures, owls, and ospreys. Anyone violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. However, if the bird of prey is a bald eagle, the person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or be imprisoned for not less than thirty days nor more than one year, or both.

If the bird of prey is a bald eagle, the person convicted shall also lose his privilege to hunt in this State for a period of five years from the date he is convicted of this offense if the bald eagle was killed and for a period of five years if the bald eagle was molested. 'Convicted' for purposes of this section includes a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to the offense."

Effective date

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 11th day of June, 1997.