South Carolina General Assembly
125th Session, 2023-2024

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H. 4871

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Haddon, Ligon and Forrest
Document Path: LC-0318PH24.docx

Introduced in the House on January 17, 2024
Introduced in the Senate on April 2, 2024
Last Amended on April 17, 2024
Currently residing in the House

Summary: Protecting farm animals in transport

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

 1/17/2024 House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 15)  1/17/2024 House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 15)  3/7/2024 House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 5)  3/20/2024 House  Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 69)  3/21/2024 House  Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 41)  3/26/2024 House  Amended (House Journal-page 12)  3/26/2024 House  Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 12)  3/27/2024 House  Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 17)  3/27/2024 House  Amended (House Journal-page 27)  3/27/2024 House  Read second time (House Journal-page 27)  3/27/2024 House  Roll call Yeas-109 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 28)  3/28/2024 House  Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 21)  4/2/2024 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 16)  4/2/2024 Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources (Senate Journal-page 16)  4/11/2024 Senate Committee report: Favorable Agriculture and Natural Resources (Senate Journal-page 3)  4/17/2024 Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 77)  4/17/2024 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 77)  4/17/2024 Senate Roll call Ayes-44 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 77)  4/18/2024 Senate Read third time and returned to House with amendments (Senate Journal-page 13)  4/24/2024 House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled (House Journal-page 18)  4/24/2024 House  Roll call Yeas-76 Nays-27 (House Journal-page 18)  5/8/2024 Ratified R 164

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/17/2024
3/7/2024
3/26/2024
3/27/2024
4/11/2024
4/17/2024

NOTE: THIS IS A TEMPORARY VERSION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL REMAIN IN THIS VERSION UNTIL FINAL APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(R164, H4871)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 47?9?420 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE INTERFERENCE OR INTERACTION WITH FARM ANIMALS BEING TRANSPORTED BY A MOTOR VEHICLE WITHOUT PERMISSION.

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

Prohibition of the interference or interaction with farm animals being transported by a motor vehicle

SECTION 1.    Article 1, Chapter 9, Title 47 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 47?9?420.    (A) No person may interfere with a motor vehicle transporting farm animals. For purposes of this subsection, "interfere" shall be defined as intentional, knowing, or reckless acts that disrupt or otherwise impede the transportation of farm animals without prior consent of the driver of the motor vehicle.

(B) No person may harass a farm animal while being transported by a motor vehicle without the prior consent of the driver of the motor vehicle. For purposes of this subsection, "harass" shall be defined as intentional, knowing, or reckless acts having the effect of causing apparent emotional distress or fear.

(C) Prior consent of the driver of a motor vehicle transporting farm animals may not be inferred by a person seeking to interfere or interact with a farm animal being transported solely because the driver has not specifically prohibited the person from doing so.

(D) Consent to interfering or interacting with a farm animal is invalid if it is obtained from the driver of the motor vehicle transporting the farm animal using duress or under false pretenses.

(E) The prohibitions of this section do not apply to:

(1) a law enforcement officer if the person is acting within the scope of his duties;

(2) a firefighter, paramedic, or other emergency personnel if the person is acting within the scope of his duties; or

(3) any other person permitted by law, if the person is acting within the scope of his duties.

(F) Any person convicted under the provisions of this section is subject to a penalty of one hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding thirty days, or both, in the discretion of the court. In case such offender repeats the same or commits a like offense, upon conviction is subject to a penalty of two hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both, in the discretion of the court.

Time effective

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

Ratified the 8th day of May, 2024.

______________________________________________________________________

President of the Senate

_____________________________________________________________________

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Approved the _____________ day of _________________________________________2024.

____________________________________________________________________

Governor

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This web page was last updated on May 8, 2024 at 5:38 PM