H 4871 {Rat #164} General Bill, By Haddon, Ligon and Forrest
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 47-9-420 SO
 AS TO PROHIBIT THE INTERFERENCE OR INTERACTION WITH FARM ANIMALS BEING
 TRANSPORTED BY A MOTOR VEHICLE WITHOUT PERMISSION. - RATIFIED TITLE

   1/17/2024  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 15)
   1/17/2024  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 15)
   3/7/2024  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental
                     Affairs (House Journal-page 5)
   3/20/2024  House  Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 69)
   3/21/2024  House  Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 41)
   3/26/2024  House  Amended (House Journal-page 12)
   3/26/2024  House  Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 12)
   3/27/2024  House  Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 17)
   3/27/2024  House  Amended (House Journal-page 27)
   3/27/2024  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 27)
   3/27/2024  House  Roll call Yeas-109  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 28)
   3/28/2024  House  Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 21)
   4/2/2024  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 16)
   4/2/2024  Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
                     Resources (Senate Journal-page 16)
   4/11/2024  Senate Committee report: Favorable Agriculture and
                     Natural Resources (Senate Journal-page 3)
   4/17/2024  Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 77)
   4/17/2024  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 77)
   4/17/2024  Senate Roll call Ayes-44  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 77)
   4/18/2024  Senate Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 13)
   4/24/2024  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 18)
   4/24/2024  House  Roll call Yeas-76  Nays-27 (House Journal-page 18)
   5/8/2024         Ratified R 164
   5/13/2024         Signed By Governor

(R164, H4871)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 47?9?420 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE INTERFERENCE OR INTERACTION WITH FARM ANIMALS BEING TRANSPORTED BY A MOTOR VEHICLE WITHOUT PERMISSION.

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

Prohibition of the interference or interaction with farm animals being transported by a motor vehicle

SECTION 1.    Article 1, Chapter 9, Title 47 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 47?9?420.    (A) No person may interfere with a motor vehicle transporting farm animals. For purposes of this subsection, "interfere" shall be defined as intentional, knowing, or reckless acts that disrupt or otherwise impede the transportation of farm animals without prior consent of the driver of the motor vehicle.

(B) No person may harass a farm animal while being transported by a motor vehicle without the prior consent of the driver of the motor vehicle. For purposes of this subsection, "harass" shall be defined as intentional, knowing, or reckless acts having the effect of causing apparent emotional distress or fear.

(C) Prior consent of the driver of a motor vehicle transporting farm animals may not be inferred by a person seeking to interfere or interact with a farm animal being transported solely because the driver has not specifically prohibited the person from doing so.

(D) Consent to interfering or interacting with a farm animal is invalid if it is obtained from the driver of the motor vehicle transporting the farm animal using duress or under false pretenses.

(E) The prohibitions of this section do not apply to:

(1) a law enforcement officer if the person is acting within the scope of his duties;

(2) a firefighter, paramedic, or other emergency personnel if the person is acting within the scope of his duties; or

(3) any other person permitted by law, if the person is acting within the scope of his duties.

(F) Any person convicted under the provisions of this section is subject to a penalty of one hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding thirty days, or both, in the discretion of the court. In case such offender repeats the same or commits a like offense, upon conviction is subject to a penalty of two hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both, in the discretion of the court.

Time effective

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

Ratified the 8th day of May, 2024.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Approved the _____________ day of _________________________________________2024.

This web page was last updated on May 8, 2024 at 5:38 PM