S 0664 General Bill, By Drummond
 A Bill to amend Chapter 9 of Title 50, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 by adding Article 2 so as to require the South Carolina Department of Wildlife
 and Marine Resources to establish a mandatory hunter education program for
 persons purchasing hunting licenses who were born after June 30, 1975, to
 allow reciprocity for successful completion of comparable courses in other
 jurisdictions, and to provide a penalty for violations.

   02/14/91  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   02/14/91  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-7

A BILL

TO AMEND CHAPTER 9 OF TITLE 50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 2 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND MARINE RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH A MANDATORY HUNTER EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR PERSONS PURCHASING HUNTING LICENSES WHO WERE BORN AFTER JUNE 30, 1975, TO ALLOW RECIPROCITY FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF COMPARABLE COURSES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 9 of Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 2

Section 50-9-60. The South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department shall establish programs in instruction on the safe use of firearms and archery tackle for hunting and hunter responsibility. The programs must include, but not be limited to, the selection, training, and certification of instructors, course materials and content, and criteria for successful course completion. The department shall authorize the issuance of a certificate of completion to all persons successfully completing the course. The department may establish a schedule of fees for program participants sufficient to offset the cost of program administration.

Section 50-9-70. No resident or nonresident born after June 30, 1975, may be issued a hunting license in this State unless he first exhibits the certificate of completion he has received pursuant to Section 50-9-60 to the authorized hunting license agent from whom he desires to buy a license. A certificate of successful completion of a hunter's education program issued by other states or territories of the United States, Canadian provinces, or other nations is valid for purposes of this article if the South Carolina Department of Wildlife and Marine Resources has approved the course as comparable to the program required by this article. Any license issued in violation of this section is invalid.

Section 50-9-80. A person violating the provisions of Section 50-9-70 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days."

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