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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-15-65 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO BUY, SELL, OFFER FOR SALE, OR OFFER TO BUY CERTAIN SPECIES OF TURTLES, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS MORE THAN FIVE OF EACH OF THESE SPECIES AND NO MORE THAN AN AGGREGATE OF FIFTEEN OF ALL SPECIES WITHOUT A PERMIT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 15, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 50-15-65. (A) It is unlawful to buy, sell, offer for sale, or offer to buy any turtles of the following species: yellowbelly turtle (Trachemys scripta), Florida cooter (Pseudemys floridana), river cooter (Pseudemys concinna), chicken turtle (deirochelys reticularia), eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera), Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox), and common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentine). It also is unlawful for a person to possess more than five of each of these named species of turtles and no more than an aggregate of fifteen turtles of all species without a permit from the Department of Natural Resources. A person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine of two hundred dollars. Each turtle bought, sold, or possessed in violation of this section constitutes a separate offense.
(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 serpentine) species if these turtles were taken from a private pond that is a permitted aquaculture facility."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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