H 3373  General Bill, By Huggins, Wooten and Ridgeway
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 15-3-710 SO AS PROVIDE THAT A FIRST RESPONDER IS IMMUNE FROM CIVIL LIABILITY
 FOR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM PROVIDING FIRST AID SERVICES TO A DOMESTIC ANIMAL IN
 THE COURSE OF RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY.
3373.htm">View full text
   12/18/18  House  Prefiled
   12/18/18  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/08/19  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 213)
   01/08/19  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 213)
   03/04/20  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ridgeway

H. 3373

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 15-3-710 SO AS PROVIDE THAT A FIRST RESPONDER IS IMMUNE FROM CIVIL LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM PROVIDING FIRST AID SERVICES TO A DOMESTIC ANIMAL IN THE COURSE OF RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 5, Chapter 3, Title 15 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 15-3-710.    (A)    A first responder acting without malice, recklessness, or gross negligence who renders emergency care or treatment to a domestic animal is immune from civil liability for injuries or harm to the domestic animal resulting from the rendering of such care in the course of responding to an emergency prior to transferring the domestic animal to a licensed veterinarian for further treatment.

(B) As used in this section, the term 'first responder' means an emergency medical services provider, a law enforcement officer, or a fire department worker directly engaged in examining, treating, or directing persons during an emergency."

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