Seashells

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 54-7-665 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS NOT ILLEGAL FOR AN INDIVIDUAL FOR A NONCOMMERCIAL PURPOSE WITHOUT A HOBBY LICENSE BELOW THE MEAN HIGH WATER MARK TO GATHER ON A PUBLIC BEACH SEASHELLS, SHARK OR FISH TEETH, DRIFTWOOD, OR ANY OTHER LIKE ITEMS THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE CONSIDERED ARTIFACTUAL MATERIAL IF THESE ITEMS ARE NATURALLY FOUND FROM TIME TO TIME ON A BEACH AS A RESULT OF THE TIDAL OR OTHER FLOW OF THE OCEAN OR OTHER BODIES OF SALT, BRACKISH, OR FRESH WATER, AND TO REQUIRE A NONEXCLUSIVE COMMERCIAL LICENSE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DESIRES TO ENGAGE IN THIS ACTIVITY FOR A COMMERCIAL PURPOSE; TO AMEND SECTION 54-7-670, RELATING TO HOBBY LICENSES AND REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO HOBBY DIVERS UNDER THE UNDERWATER ANTIQUITIES ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE FEES FOR A HOBBY LICENSE FOR RESIDENTS AND NONRESIDENTS, TO INCREASE THE DURATION OF A HOBBY LICENSE FROM SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR, TO PROVIDE THAT IF AN APPLICATION FOR A HOBBY LICENSE IS DENIED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY OR IF A HOBBY DIVER DISAGREES WITH A DECISION BY THE INSTITUTE, THE PERSON MAY APPEAL THE DECISION OR DENIAL TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA UNDERWATER LICENSE APPELLATE BOARD HEREINAFTER CREATED WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF THE DECISION OR DENIAL, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE BOARD MAY UPHOLD OR REVERSE THE DECISION OF THE INSTITUTE OR REMAND THE MATTER TO THE INSTITUTE FOR FURTHER ACTION CONSISTENT WITH INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE BOARD; AND BY ADDING SECTION 54-7-675 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA UNDERWATER LICENSE APPELLATE BOARD AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP, DUTIES, AND FUNCTIONS.