H*4754(Rat #0469, Act #0342 of 1998)  General Bill, By Witherspoon, Bailey, 
Barfield, Battle, Clyburn, Dantzler, J. Hines, Inabinett, Leach, Littlejohn, 
Lloyd, Mason, McKay, McMahand, Meacham, Miller, Rhoad, Rodgers, Seithel, Sharpe, 
Simrill, Stille and Walker
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-1910, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH
 CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE SALE OF VENISON IN EATING ESTABLISHMENTS, SO
 AS TO ALLOW SALE OF EXOTIC FARM-RAISED DEER BY OFFICIAL FOOD SERVICE
 ESTABLISHMENTS AND WHOLESALE FOOD DISTRIBUTORS WHO COMPLY WITH INSPECTION,
 RECORDKEEPING, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.-AMENDED TITLE

   03/04/98  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-6
   03/04/98  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-6
   03/18/98  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental
                     Affairs HJ-3
   03/19/98  House  Amended HJ-15
   03/19/98  House  Read second time HJ-15
   03/19/98  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-15
   03/20/98  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-1
   03/24/98  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-11
   03/24/98  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-11
   04/21/98  Senate Committee report: Favorable Fish, Game and
                     Forestry SJ-35
   05/13/98  Senate Amended SJ-48
   05/13/98  Senate Read second time SJ-48
   05/14/98  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-28
   05/20/98  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-115
   06/04/98         Ratified R 469
   06/08/98         Signed By Governor
   06/19/98         Effective date 05/01/98
   06/19/98         Copies available
   06/17/98         Act No. 342

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-1920, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SALE OF VENISON IN EATING ESTABLISHMENTS, SO AS TO ALLOW SALE OF EXOTIC FARM-RAISED DEER BY OFFICIAL FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS AND WHOLESALE FOOD DISTRIBUTORS WHO COMPLY WITH INSPECTION, RECORDKEEPING, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.

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

Sale of exotic farm-raised deer

SECTION 1. Section 50-11-1920 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 147 of 1997, is further amended to read:

Section 50-11-1920. (A) The proprietor of a permitted food service establishment may purchase and sell exotic farm-raised venison which is processed through an official establishment, certified by the State Livestock-Poultry Health Commission or the United States Department of Agriculture. The food service establishment first must obtain a permit from the department, at no cost, and must maintain adequate records to provide department personnel, law enforcement officers, and other food service inspectors information as to the source of the venison. The premises of the permitted food service establishment must be open for inspection by enforcement officers, department personnel, and food service inspectors at reasonable times or whenever employees are present.

(B) The owner of a permitted food service establishment is responsible for compliance with the terms of the permit and with this section. If the food service establishment or its employees violate the terms of the permit or this section, the permit is invalid, and the owner of the food service establishment is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(C) An official establishment or a wholesale food distributor may obtain a permit, at no cost, to buy and sell exotic farm-raised venison to a permitted food service establishment. A permittee must maintain adequate records to provide department personnel, law enforcement officers, and other food service inspectors information as to the source of the venison. The premises must be open for inspection at reasonable times or whenever employees are present. If the permittee or its employees violate the terms of the permit or this section, the permit is invalid, and the permittee is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(D) The sale of whitetail deer, wild or farm raised, is prohibited.

(E) The Department of Natural Resources may promulgate regulations to enforce the provisions of this section.

Time effective

SECTION 2. Upon approval by the Governor, this act takes effect May 1, 1998.

Approved the 8th day of June, 1998.