Current Status Bill Number:3135 Ratification Number:87 Act Number:21 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19970114 Primary Sponsor:Webb All Sponsors:Webb Drafted Document Number:gjk\23181sd.97 Companion Bill Number:265 Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19970506 Date of Last Amendment:19970429 Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:19970521 Subject:Photographs of fish or wildlife used in violations of laws may be used in prosecution, Natural Resources
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________ ------ 19970604 Act No. A21 ------ 19970521 Signed by Governor ------ 19970515 Ratified R87 House 19970506 Concurred in Senate amendment, enrolled for ratification Senate 19970430 Read third time, returned to House with amendment Senate 19970429 Read second time Senate 19970429 Committee amendment adopted Senate 19970424 Committee report: Favorable with 07 SFGF amendment Senate 19970312 Introduced, read first time, 07 SFGF referred to Committee House 19970311 Read third time, sent to Senate House 19970303 Read second time House 19970226 Committee report: Favorable 20 HANR House 19970114 Introduced, read first time, 20 HANR referred to Committee House 19970108 Prefiled, referred to Committee 20 HANRView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
(A21, R87, H3135)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-1-285 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN ANY PROSECUTION FOR A VIOLATION OF STATE FISH, GAME, WILDLIFE, OR NATURAL RESOURCES LAWS, PHOTOGRAPHS OF EITHER WILDLIFE OR FISH ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN, POSSESSED, SOLD, TRANSPORTED, OR IMPORTED ILLEGALLY ARE CONSIDERED COMPETENT EVIDENCE OF THE WILDLIFE OR FISH AND ARE ADMISSIBLE IF PROPERLY AUTHENTICATED IN ANY PROCEEDING OF THE CASE TO THE SAME EXTENT AS IF THE WILDLIFE OR FISH HAD BEEN INTRODUCED AS EVIDENCE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Photographs admissible as evidence
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 50-1-285. In any prosecution for a violation of state fish, game, wildlife, or natural resources laws, photographs of either wildlife or fish alleged to have been taken, possessed, sold, transported, or imported illegally are considered competent evidence of the wildlife or fish and are admissible if properly authenticated in any proceeding of the case to the same extent as if the wildlife or fish had been introduced as evidence. The photographer shall affix his signature and the date to the back of each photograph for identification purposes. When the photograph is so identified, is authenticated, and is admitted, it shall constitute substantive evidence."
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Approved the 21st day of May, 1997.