South Carolina General Assembly
123rd Session, 2019-2020

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Bill 3449

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Indicates New Matter


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

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 46-55-70 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REGULATION OF HEMP IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS AND PRACTICES ESTABLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE; AND TO REPEAL SECTIONS 46-55-20 THROUGH 46-55-60, ALL RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL HEMP.

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

SECTION    1.    A.     Chapter 55, Title 46 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 46-55-70.    The Department of Agriculture is responsible for the regulation of hemp in South Carolina and is authorized to promulgate regulations in order to remain in strict compliance with the standards and practices established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The provisions of this section may not be construed as to grant the department the authority to develop standards or practices that are stricter than those developed and promulgated by the USDA."

B.    Sections 46-55-20 through 46-55-60 of the 1976 Code are repealed.

C.    This SECTION takes effect thirty days after the approval of the State's industrial hemp plan.

SECTION    2.    The Department of Agriculture must develop a regulatory structure to effectively regulate hemp in South Carolina in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the USDA in accordance with the provisions of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018.

SECTION    3.    Except as otherwise provided, this act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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