H*2178(Rat #0362, Act #0343 of 1986)  General Bill, By A.V. Rawl, J.D. Bradley, 
P.T. Bradley, J.V. Gregory, T.A. Limehouse, Russell, P.E. Short and 
D.E. Winstead
 A Bill to amend Chapter 3 of Title 47, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to dogs and other domestic pets, by adding Article 2, so as to
 provide for liability for the damages suffered by any person as a result of
 having been bitten or otherwise attacked by a dog, provide for the conditions
 and circumstances under which the liability is applicable, and provide, among
 other things, that if a person provokes a dog into attacking him then the
 owner of the dog is not liable.-amended title

   01/17/85  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-336
   01/17/85  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-336
   02/13/85  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-677
   02/20/85  House  Objection by Rep. Alexander, Beasley, Mattos &
                     McLella HJ-907
   03/19/85  House  Debate adjourned HJ-1461
   03/21/85  House  Debate adjourned HJ-1575
   06/04/85  House  Amended HJ-3907
   06/04/85  House  Read second time HJ-3908
   06/05/85  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-3965
   06/05/85  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-2823
   06/05/85  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-2823
   01/29/86  Senate Committee report: Favorable Judiciary SJ-289
   02/19/86  Senate Read second time SJ-643
   02/19/86  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-643
   02/27/86  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-769
   03/04/86         Ratified R 362
   03/10/86         Signed By Governor
   03/10/86         Effective date 03/10/86
   03/10/86         Act No. 343
   03/18/86         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 3 OF TITLE 47, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DOGS AND OTHER DOMESTIC PETS, BY ADDING ARTICLE 2 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR LIABILITY FOR THE DAMAGES SUFFERED BY ANY PERSON AS A RESULT OF HAVING BEEN BITTEN OR OTHERWISE ATTACKED BY A DOG, PROVIDE FOR THE CONDITIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE LIABILITY IS APPLICABLE, AND PROVIDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT IF A PERSON PROVOKES A DOG INTO ATTACKING HIM THEN THE OWNER OF THE DOG IS NOT LIABLE.

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

Liability for dog bites

SECTION 1. Chapter 3 of Title 47 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 2

Liability to Person Bitten or Otherwise

Attacked by a Dog

Section 47-3-110. Whenever any person is bitten or otherwise attacked by a dog while the person is in a public place or is lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog or other person having the dog in his care or keeping, the owner of the dog or other person having the dog in his care or keeping is liable for the damages suffered by the person bitten or otherwise attacked. For the purposes of this section, a person bitten or otherwise attacked is lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog or other person having the dog in his care or keeping, when the person bitten or otherwise attacked is on the property in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by the laws of this State, by the ordinances of any political subdivision of this State, by the laws of the United States of America, including, but not limited to, postal regulations, or when the person bitten or otherwise attacked is on the property upon the invitation, express or implied, of the owner of the property or of any lawful tenant or resident of the property. If a person provokes a dog into attacking him then the owner of the dog is not liable."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.