South Carolina General Assembly
121st Session, 2015-2016

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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

S. 158

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Shealy
Document Path: l:\s-res\ks\010bear.kmm.ks.docx

Introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2015
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary

Summary: Bear-baying

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   12/3/2014  Senate  Prefiled
   12/3/2014  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   1/13/2015  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 107)
   1/13/2015  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary 
                        (Senate Journal-page 107)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

12/3/2014

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 16-27-80 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE EXEMPTIONS OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES FROM THE ANIMAL FIGHTING AND BAITING ACT, TO DELETE THE EXEMPTION OF "BEAR-BAYING"; AND TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-430, RELATING TO BEAR HUNTING AND UNLAWFUL ACTS IN REGARD TO BEARS INCLUDING A PROVISION THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS A CAPTIVE BEAR EXCEPT BY PERMIT ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, TO PROVIDE THAT A CAPTIVE BEAR FOR WHICH A PERMIT HAS BEEN ISSUED AND WHICH UPON INFORMATION AND BELIEF OF THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN OR IS BEING USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF "BEAR-BAYING" MUST BE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY THE DEPARTMENT, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PLACE THESE BEARS IN A SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING ZOOS OR ANIMAL PARKS WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THIS STATE.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 16-27-80(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 16-27-80.    (A)    This chapter does not apply to dogs used for the purpose of hunting, including, but not limited to, hunting on shooting preserves or wildlife management areas authorized pursuant to Title 50, or to dogs used in field trials, including events more commonly known as 'water races', 'treeing contests', 'coon-on-a-log', 'bear-baying', or 'fox-pen-trials'. Such 'fox-pen-trials' must be approved by permit for field trials by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources."

SECTION    2.    Section 50-11-430(D)(6) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(6)    possess a captive bear except pursuant to a permit issued by the department. A captive bear, for which a permit has been issued and which upon information and belief of the department has been or is being used for the purpose of 'bear-baying', must be taken into custody by the department. The department shall make every effort to place these bears in a suitable environment, including zoos or animal parks within or outside this State. A violation of the terms of the permit may result in revocation or a civil penalty of up to five thousand dollars, or both. An appeal must be made in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act;"

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on January 20, 2015 at 9:30 AM