H*3642(Rat #0081, Act #0042 of 2001)  General Bill, By Witherspoon, Sharpe, 
Allison, Askins, Bales, Barfield, Barrett, J. Brown, Chellis, Clyburn, Dantzler, 
Edge, Frye, Gilham, Gourdine, Harvin, Hayes, Hosey, Huggins, Keegan, Kelley, 
Koon, Law, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Martin, McCraw, Moody-Lawrence, Ott, Phillips, 
Quinn, Rhoad, Riser, Rivers, Sandifer, Snow, Stille, Taylor, Townsend, Walker, 
Weeks and Whipper

Similar(S 440)
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-13-1630, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH
 CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SPECIAL PERMITS FOR IMPORTING CERTAIN FISH, SO AS
 TO AUTHORIZE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND TO AUTHORIZE THE
 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDITION PERMITS TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC
 SAFETY AND WELFARE AND PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION INTO THE WILD OR RELEASE OF
 NONNATIVE SPECIES OF FISH OR OTHER ORGANISMS INTO THE WATERS OF THIS STATE.

   02/28/01  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-22
   02/28/01  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-23
   03/28/01  House  Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-3
   03/29/01  House  Read second time HJ-18
   03/29/01  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-19
   03/30/01  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-2
   04/03/01  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-17
   04/03/01  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-17
   04/19/01  Senate Committee report: Favorable Fish, Game and
                     Forestry SJ-11
   05/01/01  Senate Read second time SJ-25
   05/02/01  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-14
   05/23/01         Ratified R 81
   05/29/01         Signed By Governor
   06/05/01         Act No. 42
   06/14/01         Effective date 05/29/01
   06/14/01         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-13-1630, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SPECIAL PERMITS FOR IMPORTING CERTAIN FISH, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDITION PERMITS TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE AND PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION INTO THE WILD OR RELEASE OF NONNATIVE SPECIES OF FISH OR OTHER ORGANISMS INTO THE WATERS OF THIS STATE.

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

Research permits conditioned to safeguard public safety

SECTION 1. Section 50-13-1630 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 50-13-1630. (A) No person may possess, sell, offer for sale, import, bring or cause to be brought or imported into this State or release into the waters of this State the following fish:

(1) carnero or candiru catfish (Vandellia cirrhosa);

(2) freshwater electric eel (Electrophorus electricus);

(3) white amur or grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella);

(4) walking catfish or a member of the clariidae family (Clarias, Heteropneustea, Gymnallabes, Channallabes, or Heterobranchus genera);

(5) piranha (all members of Serrasalmus, Rooseveltiella, and Pygocentrus genera);

(6) stickleback;

(7) Mexican banded tetra;

(8) sea lamprey;

(9) rudd (Scardinius erythrophtalmu-Linneaus).

(B) The department may issue special import permits to qualified persons for research and education only.

(C) The department may issue special permits for the stocking of nonreproducing white amur or grass carp hybrids in the waters of this State.

(D) It is unlawful to take grass carp from waters stocked as permitted by this section. Grass carp caught must be returned to the water from which it was taken immediately.

(E) The department must prescribe the qualifications, methods, controls, and restrictions required of a person or his agent to whom a special permit is issued. The department must condition all permits issued under this section to safeguard public safety and welfare and prevent the introduction into the wild or release of nonnative species of fish or other organisms into the waters of this State. The department may promulgate regulations necessary to effectuate this section and specifically to prohibit additional species of fish from being imported, possessed, or sold in this State when the department determines the species of fish are potentially dangerous."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 23rd day of May, 2001.

Approved the 29th day of May, 2001.