South Carolina H 3279: Boating safety

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3279 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3279

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 ADDING CHAPTER 
23 TO TITLE 47 SO AS TO CREATE THE "SOUTH CAROLINA EQUINE PROMOTION ACT," TO 
DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO ESTABLISH THE EQUINE PROMOTION BOARD, TO PROVIDE FOR 
THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD AND THE TERMS OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, TO IMPOSE AN 
ASSESSMENT ON ALL COMMERCIAL FEED AND CUSTOM BLENDS LABELED FOR EQUINE USE, TO 
PROVIDE HOW THE FUNDS MAY BE USED TO PROMOTE THE EQUINE INDUSTRY IN SOUTH 
CAROLINA, AND TO REQUIRE AN ANNUAL AUDIT OF THE EQUINE PROMOTION FUND.

Whereas, the General 
Assembly finds that the equine industry contributes billions of dollars to 
South Carolina through the value of the animals, the land on which they are 
housed, jobs, and taxes; and

Whereas, seeking to 
foster this economic asset, the "South Carolina Equine Promotion Act" shall 
promote and improve economic development of this important industry through a 
board funded by fees collected from the sale of commercial horse feed. Now, 
therefore, 

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

SECTION 1. Title 47 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

CHAPTER 23

"South Carolina Equine Promotion Act"

 Section 
47-23-10. As used in this chapter:

 (1) 
"Board" means the Equine Promotion Board established pursuant to Section 47-23-20.

 (2) 
"Commercial horse feed" means a commercial feed, as defined in Section 46-27-20, 
and labeled for equine purposes.

 (3) 
"Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture.

 (4) 
"Department" means the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

 (5) 
"Equine" means a horse, pony, mule, donkey, or hinny.

 (6) 
"Equine industry" applies to both commercial and recreational aspects of equine 
activities.

 Section 
47-23-20. (A) There is established 
under the auspices of the department the Equine Promotion Board. The 
membership of the promotion board must be composed of nine members who have a 
direct association with the equine industry and operate and reside in this 
State. The members of the board must be appointed as follows:

 (1) 
the South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture shall appoint one member;

 (2) 
the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee shall 
appoint one member;

 (3) 
the Chairman of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental 
Affairs Committee shall appoint one member;

 (4) 
the South Carolina Horsemen's Council shall appoint one member;

 (5) 
the President of the South Carolina Farm Bureau shall appoint one member;

 (6) 
the Director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism 
shall appoint one member;

 (7) 
the South Carolina Veterinary Association shall appoint one member; and

 (8) 
two at large members shall be appointed through a process determined by the 
initial seven appointees.

 No one equine breed, 
discipline, or special interest group shall have more than two representatives 
on the board.

 The Equine Marketing 
Specialist within the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and an appointed 
equine specialist from Clemson University shall serve as advisory members. 
These members serve ex officio in an advisory capacity with no voting 
privileges.

 (B) Of 
the initial members of the Equine Promotion Board created pursuant to this 
section, three members shall serve terms of four years, two members shall serve 
terms of three years, and two members shall serve terms of two years. These 
initial terms randomly must be determined by a method chosen by the board 
chairman. After the initial terms all new members shall serve four-year terms. 
The Commissioner of Agriculture shall designate the initial term of a member 
when the member is appointed.

 (C) In 
making these appointments, race, gender, and other demographic factors must be 
considered by the appointing authorities to ensure nondiscrimination and to 
ensure, to the greatest extent possible, inclusion and representation of all 
segments of the population of the State; however, consideration of these 
factors in making a selection in no way creates a cause of action or the basis 
for a grievance by a person appointed or by a person who fails to be appointed. 
Vacancies must be filled in the manner of the original appointment. All members 
shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualify. The board shall 
elect a chairman, vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer from among its 
members. The board shall meet at least quarterly or upon the call of the 
chairman. Members of the board are not entitled to compensation but shall 
receive mileage, per diem, and subsistence as provided by law for members