S*1044(Rat #0225, Act #0207 of 2018)  General Bill, By Shealy
 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-13-260, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A "CATCH AND RELEASE" FISHERY FOR TROUT, SO
 AS TO ESTABLISH A YEAR-ROUND "CATCH AND RELEASE" ZONE ON THE LOWER REACH OF
 THE SALUDA RIVER; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SHALL
 MAKE A STUDY OF THE LOWER SALUDA RIVER TROUT FISHERY; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE
 REPEAL OF THIS ACT. - ratified title

   02/22/18  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 6)
   02/22/18  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry
                     (Senate Journal-page 6)
   03/21/18  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Fish,
                     Game and Forestry (Senate Journal-page 13)
   03/28/18  Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 18)
   03/28/18  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 18)
   03/28/18  Senate Roll call Ayes-41  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 18)
   03/29/18  Senate Read third time and sent to House
                     (Senate Journal-page 25)
   04/03/18  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 81)
   04/03/18  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs
                     (House Journal-page 81)
   05/03/18  House  Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs
                     (House Journal-page 40)
   05/08/18  House  Debate adjourned until Wed., 5-9-18
                     (House Journal-page 53)
   05/09/18  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 35)
   05/09/18  House  Roll call Yeas-105  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 36)
   05/10/18  House  Read third time and enrolled (House Journal-page 19)
   05/14/18         Ratified R 225
   05/17/18         Signed By Governor
   05/24/18         Effective date 07/01/18
   05/31/18         Act No. 207

(A207, R225, S1044)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-13-260, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A "CATCH AND RELEASE" FISHERY FOR TROUT, SO AS TO ESTABLISH A YEAR-ROUND "CATCH AND RELEASE" ZONE ON THE LOWER REACH OF THE SALUDA RIVER; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SHALL MAKE A STUDY OF THE LOWER SALUDA RIVER TROUT FISHERY; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE REPEAL OF THIS ACT.

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

Catch and release zone

SECTION    1.    Section 50-13-260 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately lettered new subsection to read:

"(    )    In order to establish a year-round 'catch and release' zone on the lower reach of the Saluda River, it is unlawful to take and retain trout from the eastbound I-20 bridge downstream to Stacey's Ledge."

Study of the lower Saluda River

SECTION    2.    The Department of Natural Resources shall make a study of the lower Saluda River trout fishery and make recommendations on any needed modifications to the fishery by November 1, 2023.

Repeal

SECTION    3.    The provisions of this act are repealed on June 30, 2025.

Time effective

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect on July 1, 2018.

Ratified the 14th day of May, 2018.

Approved the 17th day of May, 2018.