H 3601

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-9-665, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF BEAR HUNTING TAGS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, SO AS TO DELETE LANGUAGE WHICH PROVIDES THAT IN GAME ZONES OTHER THAN GAME ZONE 1, APPLICANTS FOR BEAR TAGS, UPON THE PAYMENT OF AN APPLICATION FEE, MUST BE CHOSEN BY RANDOM DRAWING WHICH ARE VALID FOR A SPECIFIED GAME ZONE; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-430, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE HUNTING OF BEAR, SO AS TO DELETE STATUTORY LANGUAGE AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO ISSUE BEAR TAGS TO ALLOW THE HUNTING AND TAKING OF BEAR IN ANY GAME ZONE WHERE BEAR OCCUR, WITH SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR GAME ZONES 2, 3, AND 4, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MUST PROMULGATE REGULATIONS TO SET THE CONDITIONS FOR TAKING OF BEAR, INCLUDING METHODS OF TAKE, AREAS, TIMES, LIMITS, SEASONS, AND OTHER CONDITIONS TO PROPERLY CONTROL THE HARVEST OF BEAR, TO PROVIDE OTHER PROVISIONS, PROCEDURES, AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HUNTING AND HARVESTING OF BEAR IN GAME ZONES 2, 3, AND 4, TO PROVIDE A REQUIREMENT THAT ANY BEAR TAKEN MUST BE TAGGED AND REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT BY MIDNIGHT OF THE DAY OF THE HARVEST, TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO FAIL TO REPORT A BEAR HARVEST IN THE MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW, TO PROVIDE THAT THE MAGISTRATE'S COURT RETAINS JURISDICTION FOR OFFENSES MADE UNLAWFUL BY THIS SECTION; AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT, BY JULY 1, 2018, SHALL PROVIDE TO SPECIFIED RECIPIENTS A REPORT OF A ONE-YEAR STUDY INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE HARVEST SUMMARY OF BLACK BEAR IN GAME ZONES 1 THROUGH 4. - ratified title