TO AMEND SECTION 47-3-920, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS THAT PERTAIN TO THE PROTECTION OF GUIDE DOGS, SO AS TO DELETE THE TERM "SERVICE ANIMAL" AND REPLACE IT WITH THE TERM "SERVICE CANINE" AND TO REVISE ITS DEFINITION.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 47-3-920(4) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 37 of 2003, is amended to read:

"(4)    'Service animal canine' means an animal that is trained for the purposes of assisting or accommodating the sensory, mental, or physical disability of a disabled person a canine that is specially trained or equipped to help a person with a disability. An animal that provides only comfort or emotional support to a person is not a service animal pursuant to this article. The tasks that a service animal may perform in order to help a person with a disability must be directly related to the person's disability and may include, but are not limited to:

(a)    guiding a person who has a visual impairment;

(b)    alerting a person who has a hearing impairment or who is deaf;

(c)    pulling a wheelchair;

(d)    alerting and protecting a person who has a seizure disorder;

(e)    reminding a person who has a mental illness to take prescribed medication; and

(f)    calming a person who has post-traumatic stress disorder."

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founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action,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of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.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.