SOUTH CAROLINA REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE
S
TATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT
WWW.RFA.SC.GOV • (803)734-3793
This fiscal impact statement is produced in compliance with the South Carolina Code of Laws and House and Senate rules. The focus of
the analysis is on governmental expenditure and revenue impacts and may not provide a comprehensive summary of the legislation.
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S. 0427
Fiscal Impact Summary
This bill increases the associated penalty schedules related to the mistreatment or injury of police
animals.
This bill may impact the caseload in circuit court, and potentially the number of incarcerations,
which may increase the workload of the court system and the Commission of Indigent Defense,
the Commission on Prosecution Coordination, the Department of Corrections (Corrections), and
the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (PPP). Judicial indicates that the
increase in the caseload in court is expected to be managed within existing appropriations.
Additionally, the potential increase in expenses for each agency will depend upon the increase in
the number of cases and number of incarcerations. These agencies anticipate that the potential
increase in workload can be managed within existing appropriations. Further, the State Law
Enforcement Division (SLED) indicates the bill requires the agency to perform activities that
will be conducted in the normal course of agency business. As a result, this bill does not have an
expenditure impact. For information, according to Corrections, in FY 2023-24, the annual total
cost per inmate was $40,429, of which $36,553 was state funded and Judicial reports there were
only six cases that were disposed of from the existing statute during FY 2023-24.
The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office (RFA) surveyed the counties and contacted the Municipal
Association of South Carolina (MASC) as to the potential expenditure impact of the bill and
received a response from MASC, Dorchester County, Florence County, and Horry County. All
report that any change in workload due to the provisions of the bill can be managed with existing
staff and resources.
This bill levies increased fines of up to $20,000 against persons convicted of certain violent
crimes to animals, which may result in an increase in the amount of fines collected by the court.
Court fines are distributed to the General Fund, Other Funds, and local funds. Therefore, RFA
anticipates this bill may result in an undetermined increase to General Fund, Other Funds, and
local revenue due to the unknown increase in fine collections by the court.
Bill Number: S. 0427 Introduced on March 5, 2025
Subject: Mistreatin g Horses Prohibited
Requestor: Senate Judiciary
RFA Analyst(s): Gardner
Impact Date: March 20, 2025
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S. 0427
Explanation of Fiscal Impact
Introduced on March 5, 2025
State Expenditure
This bill increases the associated penalty schedules related to the mistreatment or injury of police
animals as follows:
Current Penalty Schedule: Section 47-3-630
Misdemeanor Offense Penalty
Violation of Section 47-3-610, willful
taunting, tormenting, teasing, beating,
striking, or administering a desensitizing
substance to a dog or horse used by law
enforcement
Fine of ≥$500 but ≤$1,000, imprisonment for ≥30
days but ≤6 months, or both
Felony Offense Penalty
Violation of Section 47-3-620, willful
torturing, mutilating, injuring, disabling,
poisoning, or killing a dog or horse used by
law enforcement
Fine of ≥$2,000 but ≤$5,000 and imprisonment for
≥1 year but ≤5 years
New Penalty Schedule: Section 47-3-610(B), replaces misdemeanor offense penalty listed above
Misdemeanor Offense Penalty
Violation of Section 47-3-610(A), willful
taunting, tormenting, teasing, beating,
striking, or administering a desensitizing
substance to a dog or horse used by law
enforcement
Fine of ≥$2,000 but ≤$5,000, imprisonment for
≥30 days but ≤5 years, or both
New Penalty Schedule: Section 47-3-620(B), replaces felony offense penalty listed above
Misdemeanor Offense Penalty
Violation of Section 47-3-620(A), willful
torturing, mutilating, injuring, disabling,
poisoning, or killing a dog or horse used by
law enforcement
Fine of ≥$2,000 but ≤$20,000 and imprisonment
for ≥2 years but ≤10 years, plus payment of
restitution to affected law enforcement agency and
possible sentencing of one year of animal-related
community service
This bill may impact the caseload in circuit court, and potentially the number of incarcerations,
which may increase the workload of the court system and the Commission of Indigent Defense,
the Commission on Prosecution Coordination, the Department of Corrections (Corrections), and
the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (PPP). Judicial indicates that the
increase in the caseload in court is expected to be managed within existing appropriations.
__________________________________
Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director
DISCLAIMER: THIS FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT REPRESENTS THE OPINION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE
AGENCY OFFICIAL WHO APPROVED AND SIGNED THIS DOCUMENT. IT IS PROVIDED AS INFORMATION TO
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN EXPRESSION OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
Page 3 of 3
S. 0427
Additionally, the potential increase in expenses for each agency will depend upon the increase in
the number of cases and number of incarcerations. These agencies anticipate that the potential
increase in caseload can be managed within existing appropriations. Further, the State Law
Enforcement Division (SLED) indicates the bill requires the agency to perform activities that
will be conducted in the normal course of agency business. As a result, this bill does not have an
expenditure impact. For information, according to Corrections, in FY 2023-24, the annual total
cost per inmate was $40,429, of which $36,553 was state funded and Judicial reports there were
only six cases that were disposed of from the existing statute during FY 2023-24.
State Revenue
This bill may result in an increase in the amount of fines collected by the court. Court fines are
distributed to the General Fund, Other Funds, and local funds. Therefore, RFA anticipates this
bill may result in an undetermined increase to General Fund and Other Funds revenue due to the
increase in fine collections by the court.
Local Expenditure
RFA surveyed the counties and contacted the MASC as to the potential expenditure impact of
the bill and received a response from MASC, Dorchester County, Florence County, and Horry
County. All report that any change in workload due to the provisions of the bill can be managed
with existing staff and resources.
Local Revenue
This bill may result in an increase in the amount of fines collected by the court. Court fines are
distributed to the General Fund, Other Funds, and local funds. Therefore, RFA anticipates this
bill may result in an undetermined increase to local revenue due to the increase in fine
collections by the court. For information, this bill includes a fine of restitution to the affected
law enforcement agency in an amount that would cover the full cost of restoring or replacing the
animal that was injured or killed. Horry County notes the most recent canine purchase was in
excess of $18,000.