South Carolina H 5599: Nonferrous metals

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5599 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 28, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5599

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 16-17-680, RELATING TO SECONDARY METALS RECYCLERS PERMITS TO PURCHASE 
NONFERROUS METALS, AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE STATUTE TO 
INCLUDE A REQUIREMENT FOR AFFIRMATIVE DETERMINATIONS OF WHETHER A SECONDARY 
METALS RECYCLER HAS A PREVIOUS CONVICTION, TO PROVIDE FURTHER POSSIBLE 
VIOLATIONS WHEN A SECONDARY METALS RECYCLER HAS CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE OF STOLEN 
NONFERROUS METALS, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR THE ADDED OFFENSES.

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

SECTION 
1.A. Section 16-17-680(B) of the S.C. Code is 
amended to read:

 (B)(1) A secondary metals recycler shall 
obtain a permit to purchase nonferrous metals. A secondary metals recycler's 
employee is not required to obtain a separate permit to purchase nonferrous 
metals provided that the employee is acting within the scope and duties of 
their employment with the secondary metals recycler. A secondary metals 
recycler's employee who intends to purchase nonferrous metals on behalf of the 
secondary metals recycler at a location other than a fixed site shall have a 
copy of the secondary metals recycler's permit readily available for 
inspection.

 (2) 
If a secondary metals recycler intends to purchase nonferrous metals at a fixed 
site or fixed sites, the secondary metals recycler shall obtain a permit from 
the sheriff of the county in which each of the secondary metals recycler's 
fixed sites are located. The sheriff may issue the permit to the secondary 
metals recycler, if the secondary metals recycler:

 (a) 
has a fixed site or fixed sites located in the sheriff's county;

 (b) 
has not been convicted of a violation of Section 16-11-523 or this section; 
and

 (c) 
declares on an application provided by the sheriff that the secondary metals 
recycler is informed of and will comply with the provisions of this section.

 (3) 
If a secondary metals recycler intends to purchase nonferrous metals at a 
location other than a fixed site, the secondary metals recycler shall obtain a 
permit from the sheriff of each county in which the secondary metals recycler 
intends to purchase nonferrous metals. The sheriff may issue the permit to the 
secondary metals recycler if the secondary metals recycler:

 (a) 
can sufficiently demonstrate to the sheriff the secondary metals recycler's 
ability to comply with the provisions of this section;

 (b) 
has not been convicted of a violation of Section 16-11-523 or this section; 
and

 (c) 
declares on an application provided by the sheriff that the secondary metals 
recycler is informed of and will comply with the provisions of this section.

 (4) 
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division shall develop the application and 
permit in consultation with the state's sheriffs and representatives from the 
secondary metals recyclers' industry.

 (5) 
A sheriff maymust 
investigate a secondary metals recycler's background prior to issuing a permit 
for purposes of determining if the secondary metals recycler qualifies to be 
issued a permit. The sheriff must affirmatively determine 
whether the secondary metals recycler has been convicted of a violation of 
Section 16-11-523 or this section, and if such a conviction exists, the sheriff 
must deny the permit pursuant to item (9).

 (6) 
A sheriff may charge and retain a two hundred dollar fee for each permit.

 (7) 
A sheriff shall keep a record of all permits issued containing, at a minimum, 
the date of issuance, and the name and address of the secondary metals 
recycler.

 (8) 
A permit is valid for twenty-four months.

 (9) 
A permit may be denied, suspended, or revoked at any time if a sheriff 
discovers that the information on an application is inaccurate, a secondary 
metals recycler does not comply with the requirements of this section, or a 
secondary metals recycler is convicted of a violation of Section 16-11-523 or 
this section.

 (10) 
A sheriff shall issue permits during regular business hours.

B. Section 16-17-680(D) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (D)(1) It is unlawful to purchase 
nonferrous metals in any amount for the purpose of recycling the nonferrous 
metals from a seller unless the purchaser is a secondary metals recycler who 
has a valid permit to purchase nonferrous metals issued pursuant to subsection 
(B) and the seller has a valid permit to transport and sell nonferrous metals 
issued pursuant to subsection (C). A secondary metals recycler may hold a 
seller's nonferrous metals while the seller obtains a permit to transport and 
sell nonferrous metals pursuant to subsection (C).

 (2) 
A secon