S 1261 Session 111 (1995-1996)
S 1261 General Bill, By Leventis, Courson, Gregory, Jackson, Land, McConnell,
McGill, Moore, Passailaigue, L.E. Richter, Russell, G. Smith and Thomas
A Bill to amend Section 47-1-40, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina,
1976, relating to ill-treatment of animals, so as to, among other things,
change various penalties, including making certain misdemeanor offenses
felonies, allow certain first offense violations to be tried in municipal
court, and delete the exemption providing that this Section does not apply to
fowl.
03/20/96 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-3
03/20/96 Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
Resources SJ-3
04/24/96 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Agriculture and Natural Resources SJ-49
04/25/96 Senate Amended SJ-44
04/25/96 Senate Read second time SJ-44
04/25/96 Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
amendments SJ-44
04/29/96 Senate Amended SJ-26
04/29/96 Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-26
04/30/96 House Introduced and read first time HJ-21
04/30/96 House Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-22
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
AS PASSED BY THE SENATE
April 29, 1996
S. 1261
Introduced by SENATORS Leventis, McGill, Moore, Richter,
McConnell, Gregory, Russell, Jackson, Greg Smith, Passailaigue,
Courson, Land and Thomas
S. Printed 4/29/96--S.
Read the first time March 20, 1996.
A BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 47-1-40, AS AMENDED, CODE OF
LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO
ILL-TREATMENT OF ANIMALS, SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER
THINGS, CHANGE VARIOUS PENALTIES, INCLUDING
MAKING CERTAIN MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES FELONIES,
ALLOW CERTAIN FIRST OFFENSE VIOLATIONS TO BE
TRIED IN MUNICIPAL COURT, AND DELETE THE
EXEMPTION PROVIDING THAT THIS SECTION DOES NOT
APPLY TO FOWL.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South
Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 47-1-40 of the 1976 Code, as last
amended by Act 430 of 1992, is further amended to read:
"Section 47-1-40. (A) Whoever overloads, overdrives,
overworks, or ill-treats any animal, or deprives any animal of
necessary sustenance or shelter, or inflicts unnecessary pain or
suffering upon any animal, or causes these things to be done, for
every offense is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction,
must may be punished by imprisonment not
exceeding sixty days or by a fine of not less than one hundred
dollars nor more than four five hundred dollars,
or both, for a first offense; by imprisonment not exceeding
ninety days or by a fine not exceeding eight hundred dollars, or
both, for a second offense; is guilty of a felony and may be
punished or by imprisonment not exceeding two
five years or by a fine not exceeding two
five thousand dollars, or both, for a third or subsequent
offense. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a first offense
under this subsection shall be tried in magistrate's or
municipal court.
(B) Whoever tortures, torments, needlessly mutilates, cruelly
kills, or inflicts excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering
upon any animal or causes the acts to be done for any of the
offenses is guilty of a misdemeanor felony and,
upon conviction, must may be punished by
imprisonment of not less than one hundred eighty days and not to
exceed two five years and by a fine of five
thousand dollars.
(C) This section does not apply to fowl, accepted animal
husbandry practices of farm operations, and the
training of animals, the practice of veterinary medicine, or activity
authorized by Title 50."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the
Governor.
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