S*0118(Rat #0213, Act #0217 of 2000)  General Bill, By Mescher and Reese

Similar(H 4374)
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION ON THE SALE OF WILD CARNIVORES AS PETS, SO AS TO
 DELETE THE REFERENCE TO FERRETS, EXEMPT DOMESTICATED FERRETS FROM THE
 PROHIBITION, PROVIDE FOR VACCINATION OF FERRETS AGAINST RABIES, AND TO PROVIDE
 NOTICES THAT FERRETS HAVE A PROPENSITY TO MAKE UNPROVOKED ATTACKS THAT CAUSE
 BODILY INJURY TO A HUMAN BEING.-AMENDED TITLE

   11/18/98  Senate Prefiled
   11/18/98  Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
                     Resources
   01/12/99  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-48
   01/12/99  Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
                     Resources SJ-48
   01/26/99  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Agriculture and Natural Resources SJ-12
   01/27/99  Senate Amended SJ-15
   01/27/99  Senate Read second time SJ-15
   01/28/99  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-10
   02/02/99  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-6
   02/02/99  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-6
   05/11/99  House  Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-16
   05/13/99  House  Requests for debate-Rep(s). Kirsh, Hinson,
                     Chellis, Seithel and Law HJ-15
   05/18/99  House  Requests for debate removed-Rep(s). Law, Chellis
                     and Hinson HJ-39
   05/19/99  House  Requests for debate-Rep(s). Moody- Lawrence, F.
                     Smith, McMahand, Lee, Hinson, Kennedy,
                     Witherspoon, Kelley, Edge, Davenport, J. Hines
                     and Barrett HJ-81
   05/26/99  House  Requests for debate removed-Rep(s). Davenport HJ-65
   05/27/99  House  Requests for debate removed-Rep(s). McMahand and
                     Kennedy HJ-51
   05/27/99  House  Requests for debate removed-Rep(s). J. Hines and
                     Lee HJ-55
   05/27/99  House  Requests for debate removed-Rep(s). Barrett HJ-160
   06/01/99  House  Requests for debate removed-Rep(s). Seithel,
                     Witherspoon, Edge and Kelley HJ-58
   06/01/99  House  Objection by Rep. Breeland and McMahand HJ-96
   06/02/99  House  Requests for debate removed-Rep(s). F. Smith
   06/02/99  House  Objection withdrawn by Rep. Breeland and McMahand HJ-89
   06/03/99  House  Debate adjourned HJ-26
   06/03/99  House  Debate adjourned until Tuesday, June 8, 1999 HJ-82
   06/30/99  House  Debate adjourned HJ-9
   01/12/00  House  Debate adjourned until Wednesday, January 26,
                     2000 HJ-24
   01/26/00  House  Read second time HJ-12
   01/27/00  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-19
   02/23/00         Ratified R 213
   02/25/00         Signed By Governor
   02/25/00         Effective date 02/25/00
   03/13/00         Copies available
   05/02/00         Act No. 217

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION ON THE SALE OF WILD CARNIVORES AS PETS, SO AS TO DELETE THE REFERENCE TO FERRETS, EXEMPT DOMESTICATED FERRETS FROM THE PROHIBITION, PROVIDE FOR VACCINATION OF FERRETS AGAINST RABIES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR NOTICES THAT FERRETS HAVE A PROPENSITY TO MAKE UNPROVOKED ATTACKS THAT CAUSE BODILY INJURY TO A HUMAN BEING.

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

Prohibition on sale of wild carnivores as pets; sale of domesticated ferrets permitted

SECTION 1. Section 47-5-50 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 47-5-50. (A) No carnivores, which normally are not domesticated, may be sold as a pet in this State. The carnivores include animals known to be reservoirs of rabies such as raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bobcats and related species including, but not limited to, coyotes, wolves, weasels, civet cats, spotted skunks, and lynx. An animal provided for in this section and kept by an individual must not be allowed to run at large and then returned to confinement. A normally wild animal indigenous to this State, if held captive for a period of time, may be released to the wild. This section does not apply to domesticated ferrets. However, no ferret may be sold in this State without proper and current vaccination against rabies. Evidence of rabies vaccination is a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian. A person who purchases or possesses a domesticated ferret shall maintain proper vaccination treatment for it annually.

(B) Purchasers of a domesticated ferret must be provided with a notice not less than eight inches by eleven inches which shall bear the following inscription in letters not less than three-fourths inch high:

'FERRETS HAVE A PROPENSITY TO MAKE UNPROVOKED ATTACKS THAT CAUSE BODILY INJURY TO A HUMAN BEING.'

(C) Each business establishment in this State, to which has been issued a retail sales tax license, which offers ferrets for sale must prominently display a notice not less than eight inches by eleven inches which shall bear the following inscription in letters not less than three-fourths inch high:

'FERRETS HAVE A PROPENSITY TO MAKE UNPROVOKED ATTACKS THAT CAUSE BODILY INJURY TO A HUMAN BEING.' "

Time effective

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

Ratified the 23rd day of February, 2000.

Approved the 25th day of February, 2000.