Bill Text: SC H3702 | 2019-2020 | 123rd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Animal ownership forfeited due to cruelty
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 8-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-22 - Referred to Committee on Judiciary [H3702 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2019-H3702-Introduced.html
A BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 47-1-170, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO FORFEITING OWNERSHIP OF AN ANIMAL TREATED CRUELLY, SO AS TO PROHIBIT A PERSON CONVICTED OF A REPEAT OFFENSE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY FROM OWNING AN ANIMAL FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED FIVE YEARS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 47-1-170 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 47-1-170. The owner or person having charge or custody of an animal cruelly used who is convicted of any violation of this chapter forfeits ownership, charge, or custody of the animal and at the discretion of the court, the person who is charged with or convicted of a violation of this chapter must be ordered to pay costs incurred to care for the animal and related expenses. A person who, after his first conviction, is convicted of any violation of this chapter forfeits ownership, charge, or custody of all animals and may not own an animal for up to five years from the date of the conviction."
SECTION 2. The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
