South Carolina General Assembly
125th Session, 2023-2024

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H. 3538

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Hixon, Nutt, Haddon, Kirby and Forrest
Document Path: LC-0091PH23.docx

Introduced in the House on January 10, 2023
Introduced in the Senate on February 8, 2023
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry

Summary: Harvest reporting

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number
12/15/2022 House Prefiled
12/15/2022 House Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
1/10/2023 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 203)
1/10/2023 House Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 203)
2/1/2023 House Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 5)
2/2/2023 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Kirby
2/2/2023 Scrivener's error corrected
2/7/2023 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Forrest
2/7/2023 House Read second time (House Journal-page 42)
2/7/2023 House Roll call Yeas-112 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 43)
2/8/2023 House Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 19)
2/8/2023 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 45)
2/8/2023 Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry (Senate Journal-page 45)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

12/15/2022
02/01/2023
02/02/2023



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Indicates New Matter

Committee Report

February 1, 2023

H. 3538

Introduced by Reps. Hixon, Nutt and Haddon

S. Printed 02/01/23--H.

Read the first time January 10, 2023

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The committee on House Agriculture, Natural Res. and Environmental Affairs

To who was referred a Bill (H. 3538) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 50-11-546, relating to electronic harvest reporting, so as to include references to big game species;, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

WILLIAM HIXON for Committee.

________

A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 50-11-546, relating to Electronic harvest reporting, so as to INCLUDE REFERENCES TO BIG GAME SPECIES; and by amending Section 50-9-1120, relating to the Point system for violations, so as to make conforming changes.

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

SECTION 1.   Section 50-11-546 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   Section 50-11-546.   (A) In order to document the harvest of wild turkeys big game species and to assist with the enforcement of seasons, methods of harvest, and bag limits, the department must implement an electronic harvest reporting system.

   (B) A person who harvests a wild turkey big game species must report the harvest to the electronic harvest reporting system as prescribed by the department. A harvest report must be submitted by midnight of the day a wild turkey is taken of harvest unless a person is incapable of accessing the reporting system, in which case a report must be submitted prior to the carcass leaving the person's possession.

   (C) Upon completion of the harvest reporting process, a harvest report confirmation number will be provided by the department, which must be recorded by the person submitting the harvest report. Processors receiving big game carcasses must be provided with the confirmation number. The processor must record and maintain the confirmation number until the processed meat is received by the hunter or their designee.

   (D) The department must promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this section, including the methods of telephonic and electronic reporting, contents of the report, and recording and maintenance of the harvest report confirmation number.

   (E) The department is prohibited from requesting or acquiring the geolocation data of a person submitting a harvest report through electronic means and from requesting a person to self-report location information to the harvest reporting system more specific than the county in which a turkey big game species is harvested. The department may request the Wildlife Management Area of the harvest.

   (F) There is no cost to a person for reporting a harvest, and the department may exempt the harvest reporting requirement for persons who harvest wild turkeys big game species under specific conditions or department programs.

   (G) Deer taken pursuant to Deer Quota Program permits are exempt from this section.

   (H) A person who violates this section or provisions established by the department for electronic harvest reporting is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than twenty-five dollars.

SECTION 2. A.   Section 50-9-1120(2)(t) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

      (t) failing to report the harvest of wild turkey big game species as required by Section 50-11-546: 6.

B. This SECTION takes effect on July 1, 2024.

SECTION 3.   This act takes effect on July 1, 2023.

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This web page was last updated on February 9, 2023 at 9:54 AM