Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

As Passed By The Senate

May 10, 2023

H. 3538

Introduced by Reps Hixon, Nutt, Haddon, Kirby and Forrest

 

S. Printed 05/10/23--S.

Read the first time February 08, 2023

 

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A bill

 

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 50-11-546, relating to Electronic harvest reporting, so as to INCLUDE REFERENCES TO BIG GAME SPECIES; and by amending Section 50-9-1120, relating to the Point system for violations, so as to make conforming changes.

    Amend Title To Conform

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 50-11-546 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    Section 50-11-546. (A) In order to document the harvest of wild turkeys big game species and to assist with the enforcement of seasons, methods of harvest, and bag limits, the department must implement an electronic harvest reporting system.

    (B) A person who harvests a wild turkey big game species must report the harvest to the electronic harvest reporting system as prescribed by the department. A harvest report must be submitted by midnight of the day a wild turkey is taken of harvest unless a person is incapable of accessing the reporting system, in which case a report must be submitted prior to the carcass leaving the person's possession.

    (C) Upon completion of the harvest reporting process, a harvest report confirmation number will be provided by the department, which and it must be recorded by the person submitting the harvest report. A person who takes a big game carcass to a processor must provide the tag number and harvest report confirmation number to the processor at the time the carcass transfers from the person to the processor. The processor must record and maintain the harvest report confirmation number until the processed meat is received by the hunter or their designee.

    (D) The department must promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this section, including the methods of telephonic and electronic reporting, contents of the report, and recording and maintenance of the harvest report confirmation number.

    (E) The department is prohibited from requesting or acquiring the geolocation data of a person submitting a harvest report through electronic means and from requesting a person to self-report location information to the harvest reporting system more specific than the county and Wildlife Management Area, if applicable, in which a turkey big game species is harvested.

    (F) There is no cost to a person for reporting a harvest, and the department may exempt the harvest reporting requirement for persons who harvest wild turkeys big game species under specific conditions or department programs.

    (G) A person who violates this section or provisions established by the department for electronic harvest reporting is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than twenty-five dollars.

 

SECTION 2.  Section 50-11-320(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    (B)(1) Deer taken pursuant to individual deer tags, during any season regardless of weapon, must be tagged with a valid individual deer tag. Each tag must be attached to the deer as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill.

       (2) Deer taken pursuant to Deer Quota Program tags must be tagged with a valid Deer Quota Program tag and reported to the department as prescribed electronic harvest reporting system pursuant to the provisions of Section 50-11-546. Each tag must be attached to the deer as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill.

 

SECTION 3.  Section 50-11-390(D) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    (D) Deer taken pursuant to a Deer Quota Program permit must be tagged with a valid Deer Quota Program tag and reported to the department as prescribed electronic harvest reporting system pursuant to the provisions of Section 50-11-546. Each tag must be attached to the deer as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill.

 

SECTION 4.  Section 50-9-1120(2)(t) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

       (t) failing to report the harvest of wild turkey big game species as required by Section 50-11-546:  6.

 

SECTION 5.  This act takes effect on July 1, 2024.

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