(D) If the department receives less than three hundred biennial applications and renewals for a particular special license plate authorized under this section, it shall not produce additional special license plates in that series. The department shall continue to issue special license plates of that series until the existing inventory is exhausted. (E) The Department of Agriculture annually shall provide an accounting and summary of this program to the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and to the Chairman of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee before September first. (F) A local private nonprofit animal spaying and neutering program that requests reimbursement for services related to this program shall provide to the SCACCA the name and address of each person who brought the animal to the program. Before the Department of Agriculture may send a reimbursement to the SCACCA, the SCACCA shall provide the Department of Agriculture a list of each individual who brought a pet in for spaying or neutering and the number of animals brought in by that individual for spaying or neutering.” SECTION 5. (A) There is established the Pet Care and Humane Treatment Study Committee to review, study, and make recommendations concerning the need for improved oversight and regulation in the State. (B) The study committee shall: (1) identify issues relating to pets including, but not limited to, breeding, adoption, purchase, veterinary care, transportation, and sale of pets out of this State; (2) identify and categorize a statewide estimate of the historical and current private nonprofit animal shelters in this State, rescue shelters, county animal shelters, and municipal animal shelters; (3) identify and categorize the range of services offered in an animal shelter including kenneling, grooming, and veterinary services; (4) identify and categorize any limitations on services based on income status or other poverty measures; (5) identify any underserved areas of the State for basic veterinary services; (6) identify concerns related to unhealthy breeding practices; (7) identify and quantify the sale of pets by animal shelters to out of state individuals or organizations;
(8) identify how animals are transported to other states and any regulation that might apply; (9) review the animal cruelty laws and determine if the enforcement and penalties are working; (10) review appointments to the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to determine if it needs any updating or structural change; and (11) recommend changes to public policy, regulations, or statutes that would improve the overall health and safety of animal shelters, breeding practices, sale, and transportation of pets. (C) The study committee must be composed of eleven members. (1) The Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee shall appoint the following five members: (a) a member of the Senate; (b) a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine residing in South Carolina; (c) a representative from an animal shelter located in this State; (d) a representative from the American Kennel Club; and (e) a representative of the Municipal Association of South Carolina. (2) The Chairman of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Committee shall appoint the following four members: (a) a member of the House of Representatives; (b) a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine residing in South Carolina; (c) a representative from the National Humane Society; and (d) a representative of the South Carolina Association of Counties. (3) The Governor shall appoint one member to represent the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. (4) The Commissioner of Agriculture shall appoint one member. (D) The appointed Senator shall serve as the study committee chairman. The members of the study committee shall serve without compensation and may not receive mileage or per diem. Staff from the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and staff from the House Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Committee shall provide support for the study committee.