South Carolina H 3848: Rabies Control Act

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3848 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 30, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3848

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 47-5-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO DEFINE "COMPENDIUM"; BY 
AMENDING SECTION 47-5-60, RELATING TO INOCULATION OF PETS, SO AS TO PERMIT A 
CERTIFIED VACCINE TECHNICIAN TO ADMINISTER RABIES INOCULATIONS WHEN SUPERVISED 
BY A VETERINARIAN LICENSED TO PRACTICE IN THIS STATE; BY AMENDING SECTION 
47-5-90, RELATING TO REPORTS OF ANIMAL BITES TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SO AS TO 
REQUIRE THE DATE OF BIRTH OF THE PERSON BITTEN BY A PET OR OTHER ANIMAL; BY 
AMENDING SECTION 40-69-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO DEFINE "CERTIFIED 
VACCINE TECHNICIAN"; AND BY ADDING SECTION 40-69-310 SO AS TO PROVIDE WHO MAY 
ADMINISTER VACCINES TO ANIMALS.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 47-5-20 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 (9) "Compendium" means the most current 
version of the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control published by 
the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians.

SECTION 2. Section 47-5-60 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
47-5-60. A pet owner must have his pet inoculated against rabies at a frequency 
to provide continuous protection of the pet from rabies using a vaccine approved by the department and licensed by the United 
States Department of Agriculture. The rabies inoculation for pets must be 
administered by a licensed veterinarian, a certified 
vaccine technician, as defined in Section 40-69-20, or someone under a 
licensed veterinarian's direct supervision, as defined in Section 40-69-20. 
Evidence of rabies inoculation is a certificate signed by a licensed 
veterinarian or a certified vaccine technician working 
under the supervision of a veterinarian licensed to practice in this State that 
includes the name of the supervising veterinarian. The rabies 
vaccination certificate forms may be provided by the licensed veterinarian or 
by the department or its designee. The veterinarian or a 
certified vaccine technician working under the supervision of a veterinarian 
licensed to practice in this State may stamp or write histhe licensed veterinarian's 
name and address on the certificate. The certificate must include information 
recommended by the National Association of State Public 
Health Veterinarians most recent version of the compendium. 
The licensed veterinarian administering or supervising the administration of 
the vaccine, or a certified vaccine technician working 
under the supervision of a veterinarian licensed to practice in this State, 
shall provide one copy of the certificate to the owner of the pet and must 
retain one copy in his files for not less than three years. With the issuance 
of the certificate, the licensed veterinarian or the 
certified vaccine technician working under the supervision of a veterinarian 
licensed to practice in this State shall furnish a serially numbered 
metal license tag bearing the same number and year as the certificate with the 
name and telephone number of the veterinarian, veterinary hospital, or 
practice. The metal license tag at all times must be attached to a collar or 
harness worn by the pet for which the certificate and tag have been issued. 
Annually before February first, the veterinarian shall report to the department 
the number of animals inoculated against rabies during the preceding year. The 
department, in conjunction with licensed veterinarians, shall promote annual 
rabies clinics. The fee for rabies inoculation at these clinics may not exceed 
ten dollars, including the cost of the vaccine, and this charge must be paid by 
the pet owner. Fees collected by veterinarians at these clinics are their 
compensation.

SECTION 3. Section 40-69-20 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 (22) "Certified vaccine technician" 
means a person trained and certified for this purpose in a vaccine 
administration training class taught by a licensed South Carolina veterinarian 
or taught by an individual or entity approved by the State Board of Veterinary 
Medical Examiners. The certification must include training in vaccinating pets 
and six months of experience in vaccinating pets under the direct supervision 
of a licensed veterinarian. A person certified pursuant to this item must work 
under the direct or indirect supervision, as defined in this chapter, and 
continue to maintain his pruriency by successfully completing a training course 
every two years taught by a licensed South Carolina veterinarian or taught by 
an individual or entity approved by the State Board of Veterinary Medical 
Examiners. A person certified pursuant to this item must work