South Carolina S 775: Foster Care Awareness Month declared as May 2021

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 775 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 13, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 775

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 
ARTICLE 11 OF CHAPTER 3, TITLE 47, RELATING TO TAUNTING, TORMENTING, INJURING, 
OR KILLING POLICE DOGS OR HORSES, SO AS TO EXPAND THE CONDUCT THAT RESULTS IN A 
VIOLATION, INCREASE THE PENALTIES, REQUIRE RESTITUTION TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT 
DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY, AND MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES.

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

SECTION 1. Article 11, Chapter 3, Title 47 of the S.C. Code is 
amended to read:

Article 11

Teasing, Maltreating, and Injuring Police Dogs or Horses Prohibited

 Section 
47-3-610. (A) It is unlawful for a person to wilfully and 
maliciously taunt, torment, tease, beat, strike, or administer or subject a 
desensitizing drug, chemical, or substance to a dog or horse used by a law 
enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties 
of the department or agency or when a dog is placed in a kennel off duty or a 
horse is placed in a stable off duty, or to interfere or meddle with a dog or 
horse used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the 
functions or duties of the department or agency.

 (B) A person who violates a provision 
of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined 
not less than two thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or 
imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than five years, or both.

 Section 
47-3-620. (A) It is unlawful for a person to wilfully or maliciously 
torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison, shoot car 
while inside, hit while running in pursuit, or kill a dog or horse used 
by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions 
or duties of the department or when a dog is placed in a kennel off duty or a 
horse is placed in a stable off duty. However, a police officer or veterinarian 
may perform euthanasia in emergency situations when delay would cause the dog 
or horse undue suffering and pain.

 (B) A person who violates a provision 
of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not 
less than two thousand dollars nor more than twenty thousand dollars, and 
imprisoned for not less than two years nor more than ten years. In addition to 
any other penalty provided in this section, the court shall order a person 
convicted of a violation of this section to pay restitution to the law 
enforcement department or agency in an amount that would cover the full cost of 
restoring or replacing the animal that was injured or killed, including all 
related purchase, training, and veterinary expenses incurred as a result of the 
incident; and the court also may sentence the person to one year of 
animal-related community service.

 Section 
47-3-630. A person who violates any of the provisions of 
this article, except for Section 47-3-620, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon 
conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one 
thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than six 
months, or both. A person who violates the provisions of Section 47-3-620 is 
guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two 
thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars and imprisoned not less than 
one year nor more than five years. Nothing in this 
article may be construed to deny a person the right to assert the legal defense 
of self-defense.

SECTION 2. The repeal or amendment by this act 
of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect 
pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, 
discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred 
under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision 
shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all 
laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in 
full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested 
right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal 
existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of 
rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the 
repealed or amended laws.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on January 13, 2026 at 12:34 PM