S*0525(Rat #0108, Act #0068 of 1995)  General Bill, By Courtney

Similar(H 3704)
 A Bill to amend Sections 47-3-610, 47-3-620, and 47-3-630, Code of Laws of
 South Carolina, 1976, relating to prohibiting the teasing, maltreating, or
 injuring of police dogs, and penalties associated with these activities, so as
 to extend these prohibitions to police horses and to revise the
 penalties.-amended title

   02/15/95  Senate Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference SJ-11
   02/21/95  Senate Read second time SJ-14
   02/21/95  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-14
   02/22/95  Senate Amended SJ-16
   02/22/95  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-16
   02/23/95  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-12
   02/23/95  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-12
   05/18/95  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary HJ-41
   05/24/95  House  Amended HJ-31
   05/24/95  House  Read second time HJ-32
   05/25/95  House  Read third time and returned to Senate with
                     amendments HJ-8
   05/29/95  Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled SJ-10
   06/06/95         Ratified R 108
   06/12/95         Signed By Governor
   06/12/95         Effective date 06/12/95
   08/10/95         Copies available
   08/10/95         Act No. 68

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 47-3-610, 47-3-620, AND 47-3-630, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PROHIBITING THE TEASING, MALTREATING, OR INJURING OF POLICE DOGS, AND PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE ACTIVITIES, SO AS TO EXTEND THESE PROHIBITIONS TO POLICE HORSES AND TO REVISE THE PENALTIES.

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

Penalties

SECTION 1. Section 47-3-630 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 47-3-630. A person who violates any of the provisions of this article, except for Section 47-3-620, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than six months, or both. A person who violates Section 47-3-620 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than one year nor more than three years, or both."

Harassing a police dog or horse

SECTION 2. Section 47-3-610 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 512 of 1988, is amended to read:

"Section 47-3-610. It is unlawful for a person to wilfully and maliciously taunt, torment, tease, beat, strike, or administer or subject a desensitizing drug, chemical, or substance to a dog or horse used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency or when a dog is placed in a kennel off duty or a horse is placed in a stable off duty, or to interfere or meddle with a dog or horse used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency."

Torturing a police dog or horse

SECTION 3. Section 47-3-620 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 512 of 1988, is amended to read:

"Section 47-3-620. It is unlawful for a person to wilfully or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison, or kill a dog or horse used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or when a dog is placed in a kennel off duty or a horse is placed in a stable off duty. However, a police officer or veterinarian may perform euthanasia in emergency situations when delay would cause the dog or horse undue suffering and pain."

Time effective

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

Approved the 12th day of June, 1995.