Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Committee Report

May 01, 2024

S. 955

Introduced by Senators Campsen and Matthews

S. Printed 05/01/24--H.                                                                           [SEC 5/6/2024 4:25 PM]

Read the first time April 09, 2024

________

The committee on House Agriculture, Natural Res. and Environmental Affairs

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 955) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 50-5-400 so as to establish the limited commercial blue crab license and the requirements for obtaining, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

    Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-5-400(C)(1) and inserting:

       (1) an individual who possessed a valid commercial equipment license for traps during the 2023-2024 license year and who has verifiable documentation of at least five hundred pounds of commercial blue crab landings by March 31, 2025, the entirety of the 2022-2023 license year, or the entirety of the 2021-2022 license year;

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, Section 50-5-400(C), by adding an item to read:

       (4) An individual with an existing limited commercial blue crab license may not receive a transfer of another limited commercial blue crab license.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-5-400(G) and (H) and inserting:

    (G) Upon signature of the Governor, a moratorium on the issuance of new commercial equipment licenses to use traps for the taking of blue crab takes effect, at which time the department may not issue any new commercial equipment licenses to use traps for the taking of blue crab. This moratorium expires on June 15, 2025. Existing commercial equipment licenses are extended and do not expire until June 30, 2025.

    (H) If the 2024-2025 license year or 2023-2024 license year is used to determine the highest number of traps that may be licensed under subsection (F), then only the first six months of the 2023-2024 license year must be used in the determination.

    (I) A limited commercial blue crab license must be renewed annually. Prior to every fourth license year, a licensee must have verifiable documentation of at least four thousand pounds of commercial blue crab landings in at least one of the three previous license years. If a licensee does not meet the documented landings threshold, then the licensee's limited commercial blue crab license must not be renewed by the department.

Amend the bill further, by adding appropriately numbered SECTIONS to read:

SECTION X. Section 48-14-40(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    (A) Land disturbing activities on agricultural land for production of plants and animals useful to man, including but not limited to:  forages and sod crops, grains and feed crops, tobacco, cotton, and peanuts;  dairy animals and dairy products;  poultry and poultry products;  livestock, including beef cattle, sheep, swine, horses, ponies, mules, or goats, including the breeding and grazing of these animals;  bees and dairy products;  fur animals and aquaculture; agricultural structures used to house livestock, poultry, crops, or other agricultural products, materials, or equipment, except that the construction of another types of agricultural structurestructures of one or more acres, such as broiler houses, machine sheds, repair shops, and other major buildings and which require the issuance of a building permit shall require the submittal and approval of a stormwater management and sediment control plan prior to the start of the land disturbing activity.

SECTION X. For the purpose of implementing this act, the Department of Natural Resources must extend the expiration date for existing commercial equipment licenses for traps until June 30, 2025.

Amend the bill further, by striking SECTION 11 and inserting:

SECTION 11. This act takes effect on July 1, 2025, except for the moratorium in Section 40-5-400(G) which takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

WILLIAM "BILL" HIXON for Committee.

_______

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 50-5-400 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE LIMITED COMMERCIAL BLUE CRAB LICENSE AND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING THE LICENSE; BY AMENDING SECTION