H*3483(Rat #0104, Act #0083 of 2009)  Joint Resolution, By White, M.A. Pitts, 
Toole, Willis, Barfield, Clemmons, Hardwick and Hearn
 A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE CONSTITUTION OF
 SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE DECLARATION OF RIGHTS UNDER THE STATE'S
 CONSTITUTION, BY ADDING SECTION 25 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT HUNTING AND FISHING
 ARE VALUABLE PARTS OF THE STATE'S HERITAGE, IMPORTANT FOR CONSERVATION, AND A
 PROTECTED MEANS OF MANAGING NONTHREATENED WILDLIFE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE
 CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO HUNT, FISH, AND HARVEST
 WILDLIFE TRADITIONALLY PURSUED, SUBJECT TO LAWS AND REGULATIONS PROMOTING
 SOUND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT AS PRESCRIBED BY THE GENERAL
 ASSEMBLY; AND TO SPECIFY THAT THIS SECTION MUST NOT BE CONSTRUED TO ABROGATE
 ANY PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS, EXISTING STATE LAWS OR REGULATIONS, OR THE
 STATE'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER ITS NATURAL RESOURCES. - ratified title

   02/10/09  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-9
   02/10/09  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-10
   04/01/09  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental
                     Affairs HJ-5
   04/02/09  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     Barfield, Clemmons, Hardwick, Hearn
   04/21/09  House  Amended HJ-42
   04/21/09  House  Read second time HJ-42
   04/21/09  House  Roll call Yeas-106  Nays-1 HJ-46
   04/22/09  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-28
   04/23/09  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   04/23/09  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-7
   05/05/09  Senate Referred to Subcommittee: L.Martin (ch), Malloy,
                     Williams, Campsen, Massey
   05/14/09  Senate Committee report: Favorable Judiciary SJ-13
   05/20/09  Senate Amended SJ-27
   05/20/09  Senate Read second time SJ-27
   05/21/09  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-16
   05/21/09         Scrivener's error corrected
   05/21/09  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-126
   05/21/09  House  Roll call Yeas-106  Nays-0 HJ-126
   05/27/09         Ratified R 104
   05/27/09         No signature required
   05/27/09         Effective date 05/27/09
   07/21/09         Act No. 83

(A83, R104, H3483)

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE DECLARATION OF RIGHTS UNDER THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION, BY ADDING SECTION 25 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT HUNTING AND FISHING ARE VALUABLE PARTS OF THE STATE'S HERITAGE, IMPORTANT FOR CONSERVATION, AND A PROTECTED MEANS OF MANAGING NONTHREATENED WILDLIFE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO HUNT, FISH, AND HARVEST WILDLIFE TRADITIONALLY PURSUED, SUBJECT TO LAWS AND REGULATIONS PROMOTING SOUND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT AS PRESCRIBED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; AND TO SPECIFY THAT THIS SECTION MUST NOT BE CONSTRUED TO ABROGATE ANY PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS, EXISTING STATE LAWS OR REGULATIONS, OR THE STATE'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER ITS NATURAL RESOURCES.

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

Right to hunting and fishing

SECTION    1.    It is proposed that Article I of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding:

"Section 25.    The traditions of hunting and fishing are valuable parts of the state's heritage, important for conservation, and a protected means of managing nonthreatened wildlife. The citizens of this State have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife traditionally pursued, subject to laws and regulations promoting sound wildlife conservation and management as prescribed by the General Assembly. Nothing in this section shall be construed to abrogate any private property rights, existing state laws or regulations, or the state's sovereignty over its natural resources."

Question presented

SECTION    2.    The proposed amendment in Section 1 must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Must Article I of the Constitution of this State, relating to the declaration of rights under the state's constitution, be amended by adding Section 25 so as to provide that hunting and fishing are valuable parts of the state's heritage, important for conservation, and a protected means of managing nonthreatened wildlife; to provide that the citizens of South Carolina shall have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife traditionally pursued, subject to laws and regulations promoting sound wildlife conservation and management as prescribed by the General Assembly; and to specify that this section must not be construed to abrogate any private property rights, existing state laws or regulations, or the state's sovereignty over its natural resources?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."

Ratified the 27th day of May, 2009.