South Carolina General Assembly
123rd Session, 2019-2020

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Bill 820


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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 SECTION 50-25-1320, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON LAKE WILLIAM C. BOWEN, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NOTWITHSTANDING ANOTHER PROVISION OF LAW, THE GOVERNING BODY OF A MUNICIPALITY, COUNTY, SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT, OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF MAY NOT ENACT OR ENFORCE ANY ORDINANCE, RESOLUTION, OR REGULATION THAT LIMITS, RESTRICTS, OR CURTAILS THE RIGHTS OF LAKE BOWEN ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS TO BOAT, FISH, ACT AS CARETAKERS OF CERTAIN PROPERTY, OR OTHERWISE ENJOY MAXIMUM RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT DO NOT CONFLICT WITH STATE OR FEDERAL LAW.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 50-25-1320 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 50-25-1320.    (A)    On Lake William C. Bowen:

(1)    No boat, watercraft, or any other type of vessel with an outboard motor having a horsepower rating in excess of one hundred fifteen horsepower is permitted.

(2)    No boat, watercraft, or any other type of vessel with an outboard motor in excess of the United States Coast Guard rating, with Coast Guard rating plate missing or changed, is permitted.

(3)    No boat, watercraft, or any other type of vessel powered by an outdrive or inboard motor having an engine automotive horsepower rating in excess of one hundred ninety horsepower is permitted. This restriction does not apply to towboats which have been approved by the American Waterski Association or any Coast Guard approved boat commonly referred to as an inboard boat designed by the manufacturer for towing waterskiers with the motor or engine located near the midpoint of the boat between the bow and stern, propeller driven by a single rod drive shaft extending through the hull with the propeller located under the boat in front of a rudder.

(4)    There is no minimum or maximum restriction on length of boats, watercraft, or any other type of vessel. Boats, watercraft, and other vessels operated for law enforcement, emergency medical services, or dam maintenance and repair are exempted from the restrictions in items (1) and (3) of this section.

(B)    Notwithstanding another provision of law, the governing body of a municipality, county, special purpose district, or any political subdivision thereof may not enact or enforce any ordinance, resolution, requirement, or regulation that limits, restricts, or curtails the rights of Lake Bowen property owners whose property adjoins the strip of land between the water line and contour line 827 (adjoining property owners) to boat, fish, act as caretakers of said property, including the strip of land between the water line and contour line 827, or otherwise enjoy maximum recreational opportunities that do not conflict with state or federal law."

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

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