H 3099 General Bill, By Kirsh
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 47-3-780 so as to provide a tax on the ownership of a dangerous dog; and to
 amend Section 47-3-760, relating to penalties for persons who violate Article
 13, Chapter 3, Title 47 (Dangerous Dogs), so as to increase the penalties for
 violation and provide that the owner of a dangerous dog is strictly liable in
 civil damages for injuries or property damage the dog inflicts on a person,
 his property, or another animal.

   12/27/90  House  Prefiled
   12/27/90  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
   01/08/91  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-64
   01/08/91  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-65

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 47-3-780 SO AS TO PROVIDE A TAX ON THE OWNERSHIP OF A DANGEROUS DOG; AND TO AMEND SECTION 47-3-760, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR PERSONS WHO VIOLATE ARTICLE 13, CHAPTER 3, TITLE 47 (DANGEROUS DOGS), SO AS TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION AND PROVIDE THAT THE OWNER OF A DANGEROUS DOG IS STRICTLY LIABLE IN CIVIL DAMAGES FOR INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE THE DOG INFLICTS ON A PERSON, HIS PROPERTY, OR ANOTHER ANIMAL.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 47-3-780. There is imposed upon every owner of a dangerous dog an annual privilege tax of one hundred dollars a dog. This tax must be collected by the county in which the dog is located. The county shall deposit one-half of the net proceeds of the tax in the county's general fund and shall deposit the remaining net proceeds of the tax with the State Treasurer who shall deposit it in the general fund. As used in this section, `net proceeds' means gross proceeds less the cost to the county of collecting and administering the tax."

SECTION 2. Section 47-3-760(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(A) Whoever violates this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, for a first offense, must be fined not more than two hundred five thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days two years and, upon conviction of a second or subsequent offense, must be fined one thousand dollars none of which may be suspended or remitted."

SECTION 3. Section 47-3-760(D) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(D) All violations of this article are within the magistrate's jurisdiction. The owner of a dangerous dog is strictly liable in civil damages for injuries or property damage the dog inflicts on a person, his property, or another animal."

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.