Current Status Bill Number:3845 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19970409 Primary Sponsor:Mullen All Sponsors:Mullen Drafted Document Number:bbm\9311djc.97 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Agriculture, Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs Com 20 HANR Subject:Marine or estuarine fish, mollusk, etc.; importation of, Fish and Game
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
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House 19970409 Introduced, read first time, 20 HANR
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO AMEND SECTION 50-16-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION OF IMPORTING WILDLIFE FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISIONS PROHIBITING IMPORTATION OF SPECIES OF MARINE OR ESTUARINE FISH, CRUSTACEAN, MOLLUSK, OR OTHER MARINE INVERTEBRATE NOT ALREADY FOUND IN THE WILD OR NATIVE TO THIS STATE WITHOUT A PERMIT ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 50-16-25 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE IMPORTATION OF SPECIES OF MARINE OR ESTUARINE FISH, CRUSTACEAN, MOLLUSK, OR OTHER MARINE INVERTEBRATE NOT ALREADY FOUND IN THE WILD OR NATIVE TO THIS STATE WITHOUT A PERMIT ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 50-16-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 458 of 1992, is further amended to read:
"Section 50-16-20. (A) It is unlawful for a person to import, possess, or transport for the purpose of release or to introduce or bring into this State any live wildlife of the following types without a permit from the department:
(1) a furbearer, a member of the family Cervidae, a nondomestic member of the families Suidae (pigs), Tayassuidae (peccaries), Bovidae (bison, mountain goat, mountain sheep), coyote, bear, or turkey (genus Meleagris). Furbearer includes, but is not limited to, red and gray fox, raccoon, opossum, muskrat, mink, skunk, otter, bobcat, weasel, and beaver;
(2) a species of marine or estuarine fish, crustacean, mollusk, or other marine invertebrate not already found in the wild, or not native to this State.
(3) a species of freshwater fish, crustacean, mollusk, or other freshwater invertebrate not already found in the wild or not native to this State.
(B) A permit may be granted only after the investigations and inspections of the wildlife have been made as the department considers necessary and the department approves the possession, transportation, or importation into the State. The department may not issue a permit unless it finds:
(1) the wildlife was taken lawfully in the jurisdiction in which it originated;
(2) the importation, release, or possession of the wildlife is not reasonably expected to adversely impact the natural resources of the State or its wildlife populations."
SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 50-16-25. It is unlawful for a person or state agency to import, possess, or transport for the purpose of release or to introduce or bring into this State any live species of marine or estuarine fish, crustacean, mollusk, or other marine invertebrate not already found in the wild, or not native to this State without a permit from the Department of Health and Environmental Control."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.