Current Status Bill Number:525 Ratification Number:108 Act Number:68 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19950215 Primary Sponsor:Courtney All Sponsors:Courtney Drafted Document Number:JUD\6017.CTC Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19950529 Date of Last Amendment:19950524 Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:19950612 Subject:Police dogs
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
------ 19950612 Act No. A68
------ 19950612 Signed by Governor
------ 19950606 Ratified R108
Senate 19950529 Concurred in House amendment,
enrolled for ratification
House 19950525 Read third time, returned to Senate
with amendment
House 19950524 Amended, read second time
House 19950518 Committee report: Favorable with 25 HJ
amendment
House 19950223 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ
referred to Committee
Senate 19950222 Amended, read third time,
sent to House
Senate 19950221 Read second time, notice of
general amendments
Senate 19950215 Introduced, read first time,
placed on Calendar without reference
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
(A68, R108, S525)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 47-3-610, 47-3-620, AND 47-3-630, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PROHIBITING THE TEASING, MALTREATING, OR INJURING OF POLICE DOGS, AND PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE ACTIVITIES, SO AS TO EXTEND THESE PROHIBITIONS TO POLICE HORSES AND TO REVISE THE PENALTIES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Penalties
SECTION 1. Section 47-3-630 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 47-3-630. A person who violates any of the provisions of this article, except for Section 47-3-620, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than six months, or both. A person who violates Section 47-3-620 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than one year nor more than three years, or both."
Harassing a police dog or horse
SECTION 2. Section 47-3-610 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 512 of 1988, is amended to read:
"Section 47-3-610. It is unlawful for a person to wilfully and maliciously taunt, torment, tease, beat, strike, or administer or subject a desensitizing drug, chemical, or substance to a dog or horse used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency or when a dog is placed in a kennel off duty or a horse is placed in a stable off duty, or to interfere or meddle with a dog or horse used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency."
Torturing a police dog or horse
SECTION 3. Section 47-3-620 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 512 of 1988, is amended to read:
"Section 47-3-620. It is unlawful for a person to wilfully or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison, or kill a dog or horse used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or when a dog is placed in a kennel off duty or a horse is placed in a stable off duty. However, a police officer or veterinarian may perform euthanasia in emergency situations when delay would cause the dog or horse undue suffering and pain."
Time effective
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Approved the 12th day of June, 1995.