Source: https://www.animallaw.info/statute/sc-ecoterrorism-chapter-21-farm-animal-and-research-facilities-protection-act
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 17:57:19+00:00

Document:
Full Statute Name: Code of Laws of South Carolina 1976 Annotated. Title 47. Animals, Livestock and Poultry. Chapter 21. Farm Animal and Research Facilities Protection Act.
The set of law comprises South Carolina's Farm Animal and Research Facilities Protection Act. A person commits an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner, the person exercises control over an animal facility or the property located there, or if that person damages the facility or its property. A person also commits an offense if he or she enters a facility without the effective consent of the owner and remains concealed with the intent to disrupt or damage the enterprise conducted at the animal facility. Violation for disruption or damage to a facility or its property is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $10,000 and/or 3 years imprisonment. Violation for illegal entry is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $5,000 and/or 1 year imprisonment.
§ 47-21-30. Offense of unauthorized acquisition or control over animal facility or animal or property thereof; intent.
§ 47-21-40. Offense of damage to or destruction of animal facility or animal or property thereof; intent.
§ 47-21-50. Offense of unauthorized entry or concealed presence; attempt to commit prohibited act.
§ 47-21-60. Offense of unauthorized entry or presence with notice to leave or not to enter; what constitutes notice.
§ 47-21-70. Inapplicability to official acts of government employees or agencies.
§ 47-21-90. Damages; attorney fees and costs.
This chapter may be cited as the “Farm Animal, Crop Operation, and Research Facilities Protection Act”.
HISTORY: 1992 Act No. 327, § 1, eff April 10, 1992; 2012 Act No. 220, § 1, eff June 7, 2012.
The 2012 amendment inserted “, Crop Operation,”.
(1) “Actor” means a person accused of any of the offenses defined in this chapter.
(2) “Animal” means a warm- or cold-blooded animal used in food or fiber production, agriculture, research, testing, or education, including poultry, fish, and insects.
(3) “Animal facility” includes a vehicle, building, structure, or premises where an animal is kept, tested, handled, housed, exhibited, bred, or offered for sale and includes a research facility where research or testing on animals is conducted.
(4) “Consent” means assent in fact, whether express or apparent.
(5) “Crop operation” includes a vehicle, building, structure, or premises where a crop is raised, maintained, tested, handled, housed, exhibited, or offered for sale and includes a research facility where research on or testing of crops is conducted.
(c) to dispose of an animal or other property in a manner that makes recovery of the animal or property by the owner unlikely.
(8) “Owner” means a person who has title to the property, possession of the property, whether lawful or not, or a greater right to possession of the property than the actor.
(9) “Person” means an individual, corporation, association, nonprofit corporation, joint-stock company, firm, trust, partnership, two or more persons having a joint or common interest, or other legal entity.
(10) “Possession” means actual care, custody, control, or management.
The 2012 amendment inserted item (5) and renumbered former items (5) through (9) as (6) through (10).
Without the effective consent of the owner, it is unlawful for a person to acquire or otherwise exercise control over an animal facility, an animal from an animal facility, or other property from an animal facility with the intent to deprive the owner of the facility, animal, or property, and to disrupt or damage the enterprise conducted at the animal facility.
The 2012 amendment rewrote this section.
Without the effective consent of the owner, it is unlawful for a person to damage or destroy an animal facility, an animal, or property in or on an animal facility with the intent to disrupt or damage the enterprise conducted at the animal facility.
(3) enter an animal facility and commit or attempt to commit an act prohibited by this section.
(3) a sign or signs posted on the property or at the entrance to the building, reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders, indicating that entry is forbidden.
(3) a person holding a legal interest in an animal facility, an animal from an animal facility, or other property in or on an animal facility who has an interest in the facility, animal, or other property superior to the interest held by the person incurring damages.
(A) A person violating Sections 47-21-30, 47-21-40, and 47-21-50 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
(B) A person violating Section 47-21-60 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
HISTORY: 1992 Act No. 327, § 1, eff April 10, 1992; 1993 Act No. 184, § 102, eff January 1, 1994; 2012 Act No. 220, § 1, eff June 7, 2012.
The 1993 amendment rewrote this section so as to change portions from felonies to misdemeanors, to conform to the new crime classification system.
The 2012 amendment made no apparent changes.
A person who suffers damages resulting from the commission of an act prohibited by this article has a civil cause of action for treble the amount of his actual damages, for consequential damages, for punitive damages, an injunction, and any other appropriate relief in law or equity. Upon prevailing in the civil action, the plaintiff may recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
HISTORY: 2012 Act No. 220, § 1, eff June 7, 2012.

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