H*3135(Rat #0087, Act #0021 of 1997)  General Bill, By Webb

Similar(S 265)
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 50-1-285 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN ANY PROSECUTION FOR A VIOLATION OF STATE
 FISH, GAME, WILDLIFE, OR NATURAL RESOURCES LAWS, PHOTOGRAPHS OF EITHER
 WILDLIFE OR FISH ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN, POSSESSED, SOLD, TRANSPORTED, OR
 IMPORTED ILLEGALLY ARE CONSIDERED COMPETENT EVIDENCE OF THE WILDLIFE OR FISH
 AND ARE ADMISSIBLE IF PROPERLY AUTHENTICATED IN ANY PROCEEDING OF THE CASE TO
 THE SAME EXTENT AS IF THE WILDLIFE OR FISH HAD BEEN INTRODUCED AS
 EVIDENCE.-AMENDED TITLE

   01/08/97  House  Prefiled
   01/08/97  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs
   01/14/97  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-56
   01/14/97  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-56
   02/26/97  House  Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-2
   03/03/97  House  Read second time HJ-13
   03/11/97  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-22
   03/12/97  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-11
   03/12/97  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-11
   04/24/97  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Fish,
                     Game and Forestry SJ-22
   04/29/97  Senate Amended SJ-57
   04/29/97  Senate Read second time SJ-57
   04/30/97  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-23
   05/06/97  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-35
   05/15/97         Ratified R 87
   05/21/97         Signed By Governor
   05/21/97         Effective date 05/21/97
   06/02/97         Copies available
   06/02/97         Act No. 21

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-1-285 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN ANY PROSECUTION FOR A VIOLATION OF STATE FISH, GAME, WILDLIFE, OR NATURAL RESOURCES LAWS, PHOTOGRAPHS OF EITHER WILDLIFE OR FISH ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN, POSSESSED, SOLD, TRANSPORTED, OR IMPORTED ILLEGALLY ARE CONSIDERED COMPETENT EVIDENCE OF THE WILDLIFE OR FISH AND ARE ADMISSIBLE IF PROPERLY AUTHENTICATED IN ANY PROCEEDING OF THE CASE TO THE SAME EXTENT AS IF THE WILDLIFE OR FISH HAD BEEN INTRODUCED AS EVIDENCE.

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

Photographs admissible as evidence

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-1-285. In any prosecution for a violation of state fish, game, wildlife, or natural resources laws, photographs of either wildlife or fish alleged to have been taken, possessed, sold, transported, or imported illegally are considered competent evidence of the wildlife or fish and are admissible if properly authenticated in any proceeding of the case to the same extent as if the wildlife or fish had been introduced as evidence. The photographer shall affix his signature and the date to the back of each photograph for identification purposes. When the photograph is so identified, is authenticated, and is admitted, it shall constitute substantive evidence."

Time effective

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

Approved the 21st day of May, 1997.