Bill Text: SC H4788 | 2011-2012 | 119th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Free fishing days
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-21 - Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs [H4788 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2011-H4788-Introduced.html
A BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 50-9-730, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES' ABILITY TO DESIGNATE "FREE FISHING DAYS" AND SANCTION FISHING EVENTS EXEMPT FROM FISHING LICENSE REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT ALLOWS THE DEPARTMENT TO DESIGNATE "FREE FISHING DAYS", TO DESIGNATE JULY FOURTH AND MEMORIAL DAY AS DAYS WHEN A RESIDENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO POSSESS A LICENSE OR PERMIT FOR FRESHWATER RECREATIONAL FISHING, TO LIMIT DEPARTMENT-SANCTIONED EVENTS THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM FISHING LICENSE REQUIREMENTS TO FRESHWATER EVENTS, AND TO EXEMPT CERTAIN COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN FROM THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 50-9-730 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 50-9-730. (A) The department may designate up to two days a year as 'free fishing days' during which state residents may fish without procuring the necessary licenses and permits. These days need not be consecutive. This subsection does not apply to commercial fishing privileges. A resident is not required to possess a license or permit for recreational fishing in the freshwaters of this State on the following days:
(1) the fourth day of July; and
(2) the date observed by the State for National Memorial Day.
(B) The department also may designate department-sanctioned fishing events in the freshwaters of the State as exempt from recreational freshwater fishing license requirements. However, the events may not exceed one for each county a year.
(C) This section does not apply to individuals fishing for a commercial purpose or when a commercial fishing license is required to use certain nongame fishing devices."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
