South Carolina General Assembly
113th Session, 1999-2000

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Bill 118


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Indicates Matter Stricken

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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ADOPTED

January 27, 1999

S. 118

Introduced by Senators Mescher and Reese

S. Printed 1/27/99--S.

Read the first time January 12, 1999.

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 THEM FROM THE PROHIBITION, AND TO PROVIDE FOR NOTICES THAT FERRETS HAVE A PROPENSITY TO MAKE UNPROVOKED ATTACKS THAT CAUSE BODILY INJURY TO A HUMAN BEING.

Amend Title To Conform

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

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

"Section 47-5-50. (A) No carnivores, which are normally are not domesticated, may be sold as a pet in this State. Such The carnivores shall include animals known to be reservoirs of rabies, such as raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bobcats and such related species, including, but not limited to, coyotes, wolves, weasels, ferrets, civet cats, spotted skunks, or and lynx. Any such An animal provided for in this section and kept by an individual shall must not be allowed to run at large and then be returned to confinement. A normally wild animal indigenous to this State may, 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.' "

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

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