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Senate unanimously approves ban on swimming near certain public boat landings on Santee Cooper lakes
Summary
The Senate approved S.463 to prohibit swimming within 50 feet of public boat landings or ramps maintained by the South Carolina Public Service Authority when signage prohibits swimming; the measure passed by roll-call vote 39–0.
The Senate approved S.463 to add a provision prohibiting swimming within 50 feet of public boat landings or ramps maintained by the South Carolina Public Service Authority when signs explicitly prohibit swimming.
Senators said the change was requested by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), citing safety concerns after incidents involving children swimming near ramps. The amendment adopted on the floor was described as addressing concerns raised by members from Orangeburg and others and limiting the law’s application to the Santee Cooper lake system under Santee Cooper’s control.
A roll-call vote was recorded on third reading; the clerk tabulated 39 yeas, 0 nays and the bill received its third reading. The floor exchange noted the amendment was intended as a safety measure consistent with rules already applied at other freshwater lakes and to bring the Santee Cooper system into parity with those rules.
The bill will proceed to the next steps in the legislative process after the Senate’s approval on third reading.
