H*3121(Rat #0030, Act #0006 of 2009)  General Bill, By J.E. Smith, E.H. Pitts, 
T.R. Young, Hutto, M.A. Pitts, Allison and Parker
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 50-15-75 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON OR A GROUP OF
 INDIVIDUALS TRAVELING IN ONE VEHICLE TO REMOVE, OR ATTEMPT TO REMOVE, FROM
 THIS STATE MORE THAN A SPECIFIED NUMBER OF CERTAIN NAMED SPECIES OF TURTLES,
 TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS. - ratified
 title

   12/16/08  House  Prefiled
   12/16/08  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs
   01/13/09  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-56
   01/13/09  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-56
   01/27/09  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: T.R.Young
   02/03/09  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hutto
   02/19/09  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: M.A.Pitts
   02/19/09  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental
                     Affairs HJ-2
   02/24/09  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Allison,
                     Parker
   02/26/09  House  Debate adjourned HJ-119
   02/26/09  House  Amended HJ-144
   02/26/09  House  Read second time HJ-146
   02/26/09  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-146
   02/27/09  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-2
   03/03/09  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-11
   03/03/09  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-11
   04/01/09  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment Fish,
                     Game and Forestry SJ-15
   04/02/09  Senate Committee Amendment Adopted SJ-12
   04/02/09  Senate Read second time SJ-12
   04/06/09         Scrivener's error corrected
   04/14/09  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-36
   04/22/09  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-50
   04/22/09  House  Roll call Yeas-95  Nays-0 HJ-50
   04/30/09         Ratified R 30
   05/06/09         Signed By Governor
   05/15/09         Effective date 05/06/09
   05/19/09         Act No. 6

(A6, R30, H3121)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-15-75 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON OR A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TRAVELING IN ONE VEHICLE TO REMOVE, OR ATTEMPT TO REMOVE, FROM THIS STATE MORE THAN A SPECIFIED NUMBER OF CERTAIN NAMED SPECIES OF TURTLES, TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.

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

Removal of turtle species unlawful

SECTION    1.    Chapter 15, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-15-75.        (A)    It is unlawful for a person, or a group of individuals traveling in one vehicle, to remove, or attempt to remove from this State more than ten, either in one species or a combination of species, of the named species of turtles at one time with a maximum of twenty turtles of these species, either individually or in combination in any one year: yellowbelly turtle (Trachemys scripta), Florida cooter (Pseudemys floridana), river cooter (Pseudemys concinna), chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia), eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina), eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera), Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox), and common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina).

(B)    The provisions of this section do not prohibit the sale, offer for sale, or purchase of the yellowbelly turtle (Trachemys scripta) species and the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) species if these turtles were taken from a permitted aquaculture facility or a private pond pursuant to a permit issued by the department at the request of the owner or owner's agent. Any person transporting more than ten yellowbelly turtle (Trachemys scripta) species or common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) species must be in possession of a permit pursuant to which the turtles were taken or acquired and, upon request, must provide it to authorized agents of the department. A person selling, offering to sell, or purchasing these species must have documentation from the aquaculture facility as to the origin of the turtles. The department may charge twenty-five dollars for a permit.

(C)    A person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine of up to two hundred dollars or up to thirty days in jail, or both. A violator also must have his permit permanently revoked and may never be issued another one. Each turtle removed or in possession of a person attempting to remove them is a separate violation of this section."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 30th day of April, 2009.

Approved the 6th day of May, 2009.