H 4617 {Rat #218} General Bill, By Hixon, Davis, M.M. Smith, Bannister, Pope, 
Wooten, Haddon, Brewer, Burns, Thayer, Kirby, Oremus, Hager, Hyde, Sessions, 
Carter, McDaniel, Magnuson, Hayes, W. Newton, Bauer, Trantham, J.L. Johnson, 
Henegan, Guffey, Chapman, Leber, Kilmartin, Robbins, Felder, Jefferson, Caskey, 
Ligon and Vaughan

Similar(S 849)
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-53-230,
 RELATING TO SCHEDULE III CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, SO AS TO ADD XYLAZINE AS A
 SCHEDULE III CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE;  BY ADDING SECTION 44-53-372 SO AS TO
 PROHIBIT THE PRODUCTION, MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION, OR POSSESSION OF XYLAZINE,
 WITH EXCEPTIONS, AND TO ESTABLISH ASSOCIATED CRIMINAL PENALTIES; AND BY ADDING
 SECTION 44-53-373 SO AS TO CREATE AN EXCEPTION FOR VETERINARY USE OF XYLAZINE.
 - RATIFIED TITLE

   11/16/2023  House  Prefiled
   11/16/2023  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs
   1/9/2024  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 100)
   1/9/2024  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 100)
   1/9/2024  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Kilmartin
   1/10/2024  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Robbins,
                      Felder
   1/10/2024  House  Committee report: Favorable Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 1)
   1/11/2024  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     Jefferson,  Caskey,  Ligon,  Vaughan
   1/11/2024  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 15)
   1/11/2024  House  Roll call Yeas-103  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 15)
   1/11/2024  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day (House Journal-page 17)
   1/12/2024  House  Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 1)
   1/16/2024  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 4)
   1/16/2024  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 4)
   1/19/2024  Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Hutto (ch), Rice, Senn,
                     Adams, Tedder
   5/1/2024  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 12)
   5/8/2024  Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 145)
   5/8/2024  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 145)
   5/8/2024  Senate Roll call Ayes-44  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 145)
   5/9/2024  Senate Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 125)
   5/9/2024  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 106)
   5/9/2024  House  Roll call Yeas-104  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 107)
   5/15/2024         Ratified R 218

H 4617 General Bill, By Hixon, Davis, M.M. Smith, Bannister, Pope, Wooten, Haddon, Brewer, Burns, Thayer, Kirby, Oremus, Hager, Hyde, Sessions, Carter, McDaniel, Magnuson, Hayes, W. Newton, Bauer, Trantham, J.L. Johnson, Henegan, Guffey, Chapman, Leber, Kilmartin, Robbins, Felder, Jefferson, Caskey, Ligon and Vaughan

(R218, H4617)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-53-230, RELATING TO SCHEDULE III CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, SO AS TO ADD XYLAZINE AS A SCHEDULE III CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE; BY ADDING SECTION 44-53-372 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE PRODUCTION, MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION, OR POSSESSION OF XYLAZINE, WITH EXCEPTIONS, AND TO ESTABLISH ASSOCIATED CRIMINAL PENALTIES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 44-53-373 SO AS TO CREATE AN EXCEPTION FOR VETERINARY USE OF XYLAZINE.

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

Schedule III controlled substances

SECTION 1.    Section 44-53-230(c) of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

13. Xylazine.

Prohibited acts, xylazine

SECTION 2.    Article 3, Chapter 53, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 44-53-372.    (A)(1) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly or intentionally produce, manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent to produce, manufacture, or distribute xylazine for a use other than a nonhuman use.

(2) A person who violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than ten years or fined not more than fifteen thousand dollars, or both.

(B)(1) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly or intentionally possess xylazine.

(2) A person who violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than one hundred eighty days or fined not more than five hundred dollars, or both.

(C) The provisions of this section do not apply to any of the following:

(1) the production, manufacturing, distribution, or possession of xylazine for use in legitimate veterinary practice;

(2) the production, manufacturing, distribution, or possession of a xylazine bulk chemical for pharmaceutical compounding by a licensed pharmacist or veterinarian for use in a nonhuman species;         (3) the possession of xylazine pursuant to a valid prescription from a licensed veterinarian for use in a nonhuman species; or

(4) the possession of xylazine in an injectable form for use in a nonhuman species.

(D) For purposes of this section, "xylazine" means xylazine and any salt, sulfate, isomer, homologue, analogue, or other preparation of xylazine, and any salt, isomer, compound, derivative, precursor, homologue, analogue, or other preparation thereof that is substantially chemically equivalent or identical to xylazine.

Xylazine, authorized uses

SECTION 3.    Chapter 53, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 44-53-373.    Nothing in this article applies to veterinarians in connection with the practice of their profession and the legitimate use of xylazine within the veterinary practice, including:

(A) the distribution or possession of xylazine by a licensed veterinarian for use in legitimate veterinary practice;

(B) the possession of xylazine pursuant to a valid prescription from a licensed veterinarian; or

(C) the possession of xylazine in an injectable form for use in nonhuman species.

Time effective

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

Ratified the 15th day of May, 2024.

Approved the _____________ day of _________________________________________2024.

This web page was last updated on May 15, 2024 at 11:13 PM