H 3041 General Bill, By Kelley, Edge and Rodgers
 A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING, BY ADDING ARTICLE 51 SO
 AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF "SOUTH CAROLINA: FIRST IN GOLF" LICENSE
 PLATES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF THE FEES COLLECTED.

   12/09/98  House  Prefiled
   12/09/98  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
   01/12/99  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-21
   01/12/99  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-21

TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING, BY ADDING ARTICLE 51 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF "SOUTH CAROLINA: FIRST IN GOLF" LICENSE PLATES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF THE FEES COLLECTED.

Whereas, a 1994 study by South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism reported that the state's economy gained more than 644 million dollars from golf course operations alone from 1992-1993; and

Whereas, when expenditures for transportation, hotels, restaurants, and other related items are considered, the state's economy gained more than 1.5 billion dollars from the sport of golf; and

Whereas, as the number one golf destination in the country, according to Golf Digest, South Carolina attracts visitors from throughout the world; and

Whereas, the state's golf course operations have created more than fourteen thousand full-time jobs with an annual payroll of more than 277 million dollars, annual direct tax revenues of 5.7 million dollars, and over 16.7 million dollars in combined tax revenues. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

Section 56-3-5200. The department may issue a special commemorative 'South Carolina: First In Golf' motor vehicle license plate to establish a special fund to be used by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism to provide grants to promote the South Carolina Junior Golf Association.

The biennial fee for the commemorative license plate is seventy dollars. Twenty-four dollars of this amount must be deposited in the state general fund. Forty-six dollars of this amount must be placed in a special 'South Carolina: First In Golf' fund established within and administered by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism to promote the South Carolina Junior Golf Association.

The commemorative plate must be of the same size and general design of a regular motor vehicle license plate and must be imprinted with the words 'South Carolina: First in Golf'. The plates must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period which expires twenty-four months from the month they are issued."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.