S*0688(Rat #0301, Act #0276 of 1996)  General Bill, By G. Smith
 A Bill to amend Section 50-13-1750, as amended, Code of Laws of South
 Carolina, 1976, relating to game fish breeders, so as to provide that licensed
 individuals may sell, offer for sale, and transport certain cultured game fish
 to stock or restock cultured game fish that exceeds four inches in overall
 length, to provide a definition for cultured game fish, and to make other
 grammatical and technical changes.

   03/30/95  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-12
   03/30/95  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-12
   04/20/95  Senate Committee report: Favorable Fish, Game and
                     Forestry SJ-17
   04/25/95  Senate Read second time SJ-30
   04/26/95  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-39
   04/26/95  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-102
   04/26/95  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-102
   05/11/95  House  Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-4
   05/17/95  House  Objection by Rep. Limbaugh, Tucker, D. Smith,
                     Hodges, Spearman, Sharpe, Witherspoon, Riser,
                     Meacham, Lanford, Simrill, R. Smith, Felder,
                     Robinson & Hines HJ-14
   05/18/95  House  Objection withdrawn by Rep. Tucker, Robinson, R.
                     Smith, Hines, Witherspoon, Simrill, Riser, D.
                     Smith, Spearman, Limbaugh & Sharpe HJ-56
   05/18/95  House  Recommitted to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-56
   03/27/96  House  Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-7
   03/28/96  House  Read second time HJ-68
   03/28/96  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-69
   03/29/96  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-5
   04/30/96         Ratified R 301
   05/06/96         Signed By Governor
   05/06/96         Effective date 05/06/96
   05/21/96         Copies available
   05/21/96         Act No. 276

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-13-1750, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO GAME FISH BREEDERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT LICENSED INDIVIDUALS MAY SELL, OFFER FOR SALE, AND TRANSPORT CERTAIN CULTURED GAME FISH TO STOCK OR RESTOCK CULTURED GAME FISH THAT EXCEEDS FOUR INCHES IN OVERALL LENGTH, TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION FOR CULTURED GAME FISH, AND TO MAKE OTHER GRAMMATICAL AND TECHNICAL CHANGES.

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

Game fish breeders

SECTION 1. Section 50-13-1750 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 50-13-1750. (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 50-13-1610, it is lawful for a person holding a valid game fish breeder's license to sell, offer for sale, and transport cultured game fish for stocking and restocking. A game fish breeder's license is valid for the fiscal year in which issued. An application fee of twenty-five dollars must accompany each application on a form as prescribed by the department.

(B) The department and its agents may inspect the premises of the business of a licensee. The department may require licensees to keep such records as it deems necessary. Any cultured game fish, with the exception of the Florida largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides floroidanus, four inches or larger shall be lawful to sell, offer for sale, and transport for stocking or restocking purposes. All fish transported by a licensee must be clearly marked as to their source and species as well as other identification which the department shall require.

(C) Cultured game fish sold, ordered, or transported by a licensee must be used solely for stocking or restocking.

(D) As used in this section, `cultured game fish' means those game fish which have been propagated by an individual holding a fish breeder's license in environmental conditions consistent with normal fish husbandry practices.

(E) A person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars and the license must be suspended. A person convicted pursuant to this section is ineligible for a game fish breeder's license for three years from the date of conviction."

Time effective

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

Approved the 6th day of May, 1996.