S*1244 Session 109 (1991-1992)
S*1244(Rat #0367, Act #0327 of 1992) General Bill, By Land
A Bill to amend Title 47, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to
animals, livestock, and poultry, by adding Chapter 21 so as to enact the Farm
Animal and Research Facilities Protection Act, and provide penalties for
violations; and to amend Section 16-1-10 so as to add to the list the offenses
designated felonies in the Farm Animal and Research Facilities Protection Act.
02/04/92 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-4
02/04/92 Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
Resources SJ-4
03/11/92 Senate Polled out of committee Agriculture and Natural
Resources SJ-11
03/12/92 Senate Read second time SJ-32
03/17/92 Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-9
03/18/92 House Introduced and read first time HJ-19
03/18/92 House Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-19
03/18/92 House Recalled from Committee on Agriculture, Natural
Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-36
04/01/92 House Read second time HJ-12
04/02/92 House Read third time and enrolled HJ-17
04/07/92 Ratified R 367
04/10/92 Signed By Governor
04/10/92 Effective date 04/10/92
04/10/92 Act No. 327
05/12/92 Copies available
(A327, R367, S1244)
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 47, CODE OF LAWS OF
SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ANIMALS,
LIVESTOCK, AND POULTRY, BY ADDING CHAPTER 21 SO
AS TO ENACT THE FARM ANIMAL AND RESEARCH
FACILITIES PROTECTION ACT, AND PROVIDE
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION
16-1-10 SO AS TO ADD TO THE LIST THE OFFENSES
DESIGNATED FELONIES IN THE FARM ANIMAL AND
RESEARCH FACILITIES PROTECTION ACT.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South
Carolina:
Farm Animal and Research Facilities Protection Act
enacted
SECTION 1. Title 47 of the 1976 Code is amended by
adding:
"CHAPTER 21
Farm Animal and Research Facilities
Protection Act
Section 47-21-10. This chapter may be cited as the Farm
Animal and Research Facilities Protection Act.
Section 47-21-20. As used in this chapter:
(1) `Actor' means a person accused of any of the offenses
defined in this chapter.
(2) `Animal' means a warm or cold-blooded animal used in
food or fiber production, agriculture, research, testing, or
education, including poultry, fish, and insects.
(3) `Animal facility' includes a vehicle, building, structure, or
premises where an animal is kept, tested, handled, housed,
exhibited, bred, or offered for sale and includes a research facility
where research or testing on animals is conducted.
(4) `Consent' means assent in fact, whether express or
apparent.
(5) `Deprive' means:
(a) to withhold an animal or other property from the
owner permanently or for such an extended time that a major
portion of the value or enjoyment of the animal or property is lost
to the owner;
(b) to restore the animal or other property only upon
payment for reward or other compensation; or
(c) to dispose of an animal or other property in a manner
that makes recovery of the animal or property by the owner
unlikely.
(6) `Effective consent' includes consent by a person legally
authorized to act for the owner. Consent is not effective if:
(a) induced by force, threat, false pretenses, or fraud;
(b) given by a person the actor knows is not legally
authorized to act for the owner;
(c) given by a person who by reason of youth, mental
disease or defect, or intoxication is known by the actor to be
unable to make reasonable decisions; or
(d) given solely to detect the commission of an
offense.
(7) `Owner' means a person who has title to the property,
possession of the property, whether lawful or not, or a greater
right to possession of the property than the actor.
(8) `Person' means an individual, corporation, association,
nonprofit corporation, joint-stock company, firm, trust,
partnership, two or more persons having a joint or common
interest, or other legal entity.
(9) `Possession' means actual care, custody, control, or
management.
Section 47-21-30. A person commits an offense if, without the
effective consent of the owner, the person acquires or otherwise
exercises control over an animal facility, an animal from an
animal facility, or other property from an animal facility with the
intent to deprive the owner of the facility, animal, or property, and
to disrupt or damage the enterprise conducted at the animal
facility.
Section 47-21-40. A person commits an offense if, without the
effective consent of the owner, the person damages or destroys an
animal facility or an animal or property in or on an animal facility
with the intent to disrupt or damage the enterprise conducted at
the animal facility.
Section 47-21-50. A person commits an offense if, without the
effective consent of the owner and with the intent to disrupt or
damage the enterprise conducted at the animal facility, the
person:
(1) enters an animal facility, not then open to the public,
with intent to commit an act prohibited by this section;
(2) remains concealed, with intent to commit an act
prohibited by this section, in an animal facility; or
(3) enters an animal facility and commits or attempts to
commit an act prohibited by this section.
Section 47-21-60. (A) A person commits an offense if,
without the effective consent of the owner, the person enters or
remains in an animal facility with the intent to disrupt or damage
the enterprise conducted at the animal facility, and the person:
(1) had notice that the entry was forbidden; or
(2) received notice to depart but failed to do so.
(B) For purposes of this section, `notice' means:
(1) oral or written communication by the owner or
someone with apparent authority to act for the owner;
(2) fencing or other enclosure obviously designed to
exclude intruders or to contain animals; or
(3) a sign or signs posted on the property or at the
entrance to the building, reasonably likely to come to the attention
of intruders, indicating that entry is forbidden.
Section 47-21-70. This chapter does not apply to, affect, or
otherwise prohibit actions taken by the Department of
Agriculture, any other federal, state, or local department or
agency, or an official or employee of these entities while in the
exercise or performance of a power or duty imposed by law or
regulation.
Section 47-21-80. (A) A person violating Sections 47-21-30,
47-21-40, and 47-21-50 is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction,
must be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars
or by imprisonment for not more than three years, or both.
(B) A person violating Section 47-21-60 is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine of
not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not
more than one year, or both."
Felonies
SECTION 2. The offenses established pursuant to Sections
47-21-30, 47-21-40, and 47-21-50 of the 1976 Code, as added by
this act, are added to the list of felonies enumerated in Section
16-1-10 of the 1976 Code.
Time effective
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the
Governor.
Approved the 10th day of April, 1992. |