The Committee on Finance proposes the following amendment (LC-3858.SA0008S):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-5 and inserting:

 Section 50-23-5. For purposes of this article, as it relates to the taxing authority of county officials, "watercraft" means anything used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water, including any affixed outboard motor, but does not include: a seaplane regulated by the federal government, water skis, aquaplanes, surfboards, windsurfers, tubes, rafts, and similar devices or anything that does not meet construction or operational requirements of the state or federal government for watercraft.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, Section 50-23-10, by striking the first undesignated paragraph and inserting:

 Each entity desiring to be a marine dealer shall apply for a permit each year. A permit is valid from January first to December thirty-first. The permit cost is ten dollars. Applications for renewals must be received by December fifteenth each year. A marine dealer shall have an established place of business with a street address separate from a residence. A marine dealer shall have a valid business license and permit for each separate facility. A facility is separate if it is not within the same compound or has a separate street address. Marine dealers who sell new or used watercraft shall sell a minimum of ten watercraft or outboard motors a year in order to renew the permit. A dealer who fails to meet minimum requirements each year may request in writing a review of the permit and sales. After review of the dealer's records and after good cause has been shown by the dealer for not meeting the minimum requirements, the department may renew the permit for the calendar year. Permitted marine dealers may apply for demonstration numbers. Marine dealers permitted under this article consent to inspections of the business and its records during regular business hours by department personnel and other law enforcement officers. A dealer who fails to cooperate with department inspections forfeits his permit. A marine dealer permit is invalid when a change is made to one or more of the following:

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-11(B) and inserting:

 (B) The demonstration numbers must not be permanently attached to the vessel but must be on board at all times. Marine dealers who sell watercraft are allowed nine demonstration numbers. Marine dealers who only service watercraft or outboard motors are allowed one demonstration number.
 If a dealer allows the operation of a watercraft with demonstration numbers, the dealer shall execute a form identifying the date and time, the specific watercraft, the dealer's permit number, the demonstration number, the purpose for which the watercraft is being operated and if for a prospective sale, the form must include the name of the prospective buyer, the date, the specific watercraft, the dealer's permit number, and the demonstration number. The form and the dealer demonstration number must be on board during operation but need not be attached. Operations with dealer demonstration numbers are limited to seventy-two consecutive hours. This form is not required of owners, employees, or corporate officers who carry dealer identification and who are authorized to use demonstration numbers as provided herein.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-11(F) and inserting:

 (F) Manufacturer demonstration numbers are limited to watercraft or outboard motors that are being operated for the purpose of testing. Manufacturer demonstration numbers are valid from the date of issue until December thirty-first inclusive of each year.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-12 and inserting:

 Section 50-23-12. A permitted marine dealer that accepts any watercraft or outboard motor as a trade-in must obtain from the owner a completed change in status form indicating the trade-in. The dealer must submit the form to the department within thirty days in the manner prescribed.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-70(A) and inserting:

 (A) The fee for a certificate of title for a watercraft is tentwenty dollars, and the fee for a certificate of title for an outboard motor is ten dollars.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-70(E) and inserting:

 (E) The department must not issue a duplicate document for a certificate of number decal, certificate of number card, outboard motor registration decal, or watercraft title decal if the department has notice that ad valorem taxes are due.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-90(A)(5) and inserting:

  (5) a description of the watercraft or outboard motor, including its make, model, model year, or year of manufacture, horsepower, registration number, and manufacturer's serial number or, hull number assigned to the watercraft by the department, length, and the principal material used in construction;

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-110(A) and inserting:

(A) No dealer shall acquire a new watercraft or outboard motor without obtaining from the seller a manufacturer's or importer's statement of origin.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-110(C)(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) and inserting:

  (1) for a watercraft, the description of watercraft including its make, year of manufacture, or model year, and manufacturer's hull identification number, length, and construction, for an outboard motor the description including its make, model, year of manufacture, or model year, manufacturer's serial number, and horsepower;
  (2) certification of date of transfer of watercraft or outboard motor, and name and address of transferee;
  (3) certification that this was a transfer of watercraft or outboard motor in ordinary trade and commerce;
  (4) the signature and address of a representative of the transferor; and
  (5) on the reverse side of each manufacturer's or importer's statement of origin an assignment form, including the name and address of the transferee, a certification that the watercraft or outboard motor is new, and a warranty that the title at the time of delivery is subject only to liens and encumbrances set forth and described in full in the assignment.; and
  (6) on the reverse side of each manufacturer's or importer's statement of origin an assignment form including the name and address of the transferee and a certification that the outboard motor is new.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-130(A) and inserting:

(A) If the ownership of a watercraft or outboard motor is transferred by operation of law, such as by inheritance, Transfer on Death, devise or bequest, order in bankruptcy, insolvency, replevin, or execution sale, or satisfaction of mechanic's lien, or repossession upon default in performance of the terms of a security agreement, the transferee shall, except as provided in subsection (b), promptly mail or deliver to the department the last certificate of title, if available, or the manufacturer's or importer's statement of origin or, last outboard motor registration or, if that is not possible, satisfactory proof of the transfer of ownership, and his application for a new certificate of title accompanied by the required fee, and upon the appropriate form or forms prescribed and furnished by the department.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-150(B) and inserting:

 (b)(B) The duplicate certificate of title shall be a certified copy plainly marked "duplicate" across its face. An application for and issuance of a duplicate certificate of title is complete when the department invalidates the current certificate of title number and issues a new certificate of title number for the watercraft. It shall be mailed to the first lienholder named in it or, if none, to the owner. Issuing a duplicate title number does not modify the status of ad valorem taxes noticed to the department by county officials under the previous title number.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-170(A) and inserting:

 (A) If a watercraft contains a permanent identification number placed on it by the manufacturer, the manufacturer's serial number must be used as the builder's hull number. If there is no manufacturer's serial number, if the manufacturer's serial number has been removed or obliterated, or if the watercraft is homemade, the department, upon application, shall assign a permanent identification number which must be used as the builder's hull number for the watercraft. This assigned number must be affixed permanently to or imprinted by the applicant at the place and in the manner designated by the department upon the watercraft for which the builder's hull number is assigned. "Homemade watercraft or outboard motor" means a watercraft or outboard motor which is built by an individual for personal use from raw materials which does not require the assignment of a federal hull identification number or serial number by a manufacturer pursuant to federal law. An individual may build or furnish raw materials to a builder under a contract to build a homemade watercraft or outboard motor to desired specifications. A copy of the contract, specifications, and bill of sale for raw materials must accompany registration and title application. The person furnishing materials under a contract may be considered the builder. A rebuilt or reconstituted watercraft or outboard motor must not be construed to be homemade. Every homemade watercraft must be certified as meeting safety standards of the United States Coast Guard before it can be sold by the builder. Certification must be furnished to the purchaser and a copy accompany applications for transfer to the department.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-170(C) and inserting:

 (C) No newly-manufactured newly manufactured watercraft or outboard motor may be sold or offered for sale by a person in this State unless the watercraft or outboard motor has a hull identification number or serial number permanently affixed, and the number also must be affixed permanently in a hidden place.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-170(E) and inserting:

 (E) No person may destroy, remove, alter, cover, or deface the manufacturer's serial number or hull identification number or part of it, or plate bearing the number, or a serial number or hull identification number or part of it assigned by the department or be in possession of an affected watercraft or outboard motor unless authorized in writing by the department and the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-180(A), (B), (C), and (D) and inserting:

(A) Every law enforcement agency, peace officer, owner, or insurer in the State, having knowledge of a stolen or converted watercraft or outboard motor, immediately shall furnish the department with full information concerning the theft or conversion.
 (b)(B) The department, whenever it receives a report of the theft or conversion of a watercraft or outboard motor, shall make a record of it, including the make of the stolen or converted watercraft or outboard motor and its hull number or serial number, and shall file the same in the numerical order of the hull number or serial number with the index records of the watercraft or outboard motors of such make. The department shall prepare a report listing watercraft and or outboard motors stolen and recovered as disclosed by the reports submitted to it, to be distributed as it deems advisable.
 (c)(C) In the event of the recovery of a stolen or converted watercraft or outboard motor, the owner or insurer immediately shall notify the department in writing.
 (d)(D) Law enforcement agencies shall notify the department of recovery of any stolen watercraft or outboard motor immediately.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, Section 50-23-185, by striking the second undesignated paragraph and inserting:

 The physical inspection must be conducted while an employee or owner is present and must be for the purpose of locating stolen watercraft or outboard motors, investigating the titling or registration of watercraft or outboard motors wrecked or dismantled.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-190(4) and inserting:

 (4) sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of a watercraft or an outboard motor without delivering to the purchaser or transferee a certificate of title, bill of sale, or a manufacturer's or importer's statement of origin assigned to the purchaser or transferee as required by this chapter;

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-190(6) and inserting:

 (6) dispose of a rejected or defective watercraft hull or outboard motor in the manufacturing process except by upgrading the hull to meet United States Coast Guard requirements or destroying the hull or outboard motor.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-200(1) and (2) and inserting:

 (1) alter, forge, or counterfeit a certificate of title, bill of sale, or manufacturer's or importer's statement of origin for a watercraft or for an outboard motor;
 (2) alter or falsify an assignment of a certificate of title, bill of sale, or an assignment or cancellation of a security interest on a certificate of title to a watercraft or to an outboard motor;

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-200(4) and (5) and inserting:

 (4) have possession of, buy, receive, sell or offer for sale, or otherwise dispose of a watercraft or an outboard motor knowing or having reason to believe the watercraft or outboard motor has been stolen. No person may procure or attempt to procure a certificate of title to a watercraft or an outboard motor or pass or attempt to pass a certificate of title or an assignment to a watercraft or an outboard motor knowing or having reason to believe the watercraft or the outboard motor has been stolen;
 (5) have possession of, buy, receive, sell or offer for sale, or otherwise dispose of in this State a watercraft or an outboard motor on which a manufacturer's hull identification number or part of it or assigned serial number has been destroyed, removed, covered, altered, or defaced, knowing or having reason to believe of the destruction, removal, covering, alteration, or defacement of the manufacturer's hull identification number or part of it or assigned serial number; or

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-205 and inserting:

 Section 50-23-205. (A) A stolen or abandoned, junked, adrift, destroyed, or salvaged watercraft or outboard motor, a watercraft or outboard motor for which the true owner is not determined, or a watercraft or outboard motor on which the manufacturer's or assigned serial number has been destroyed, removed, covered, altered, or defaced may be seized.
 (B) Upon seizure of the watercraft or outboard motor, the department shall notify a person claiming an interest in it, and the person has the right to prove his interest before the circuit court in the county where the property was seized. If no action is filed within sixty days of notification, the department may retain the property for official use or transfer the property to another public entity for official use, sell the property at public auction, or, if the watercraft or outboard motor is determined to be unsafe, destroy it. The proceeds derived from the sale must be deposited in the Boating Operating Fund of the department for administration of the program.
 (C) When the department determines the owner of a seized watercraft or outboard motor and related marine equipment, it shall notify the owner by certified mail of the procedure, the location, and the fact that he has not less than thirty days from the date of the certified letter to remove the equipment from the department's storage facility. If a security interest has been perfected, the department must notify the lienholder by certified mail allowing thirty days to respond. Failure to respond within thirty days or remove the watercraft or outboard motor by the date designated forfeits the equipment to the department to be used or disposed of according to law. Reserved.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-210(A) and inserting:

(A) The department shall have the authority to suspend or revoke a certificate of title to a watercraft, or to an outboard motor, or registration of an outboard motor, upon reasonable notice and hearing, when authorized by any other provision of law or if he finds:
  (1) The certificate of title was fraudulently procured or erroneously issued, or
  (2) The watercraft, or outboard motor, has been scrapped, dismantled, or destroyed, or transferred and registered in another state.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-210(C) and (D) and inserting:

 (c)(C) When the department suspends or revokes a certificate of title, or registration of an outboard motor, the owner or person in possession of it shall, immediately upon receiving notice of the suspension or revocation, mail or deliver the certificate to the department; or.
 (d)(D) The department may seize and impound any certificate of title or registration of an outboard motor which has been suspended and revoked.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-220(B) and inserting:

 (B) To the extent fees collected pursuant to Section 50-23-70, in connection with titling a boat, are attributable to fee increases beginning July 1, 1999, revenues from those increases must be used by the department for its law enforcement responsibilities. Any surplus may be carried forward for that use.Revenues from each of the following revenue sources must be used by the department as described below:
  (1) fees from each certificate of title, seventy percent must be used for law enforcement responsibilities and the balance for the purposes provided for in subsection (A);
  (2) fees from each watercraft registration and renewal, sixty-seven percent must be used for law enforcement responsibilities and the balance for the purposes provided for in subsection (A);
  (3) fees from each duplicate document, sixty percent must be used for law enforcement responsibilities and the balance for the purposes provided for in subsection (A);
  (4) fees from each decal and duplicate decal, one hundred percent for the purposes provided for in subsection (A);
  (5) fees from each outboard motor registration, one hundred percent for the purposes provided for in subsection (A); and
  (6) fees from each Freedom of Information Act inquiry related to watercraft and outboard motor records, one hundred percent for the purposes provided for in section (A).
 (C) Fund balances may be retained and carried forward to the following years for the purposes described in this Title.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Sections 50-23-250, 50-23-260, 50-23-270, and 50-23-275 and inserting:

 Section 50-23-250. The director, for the purpose of more effectively carrying out the provisions of this chapter, shall have the power to employ and appoint the necessary enforcement officers for enforcement of this chapter. The duties of such enforcement officers shall include but not be limited to investigating applications for certificate of title, inspecting watercraft, or outboard motors, in or at public facilities for purposes of locating stolen property, and investigating and reporting thefts of watercraft, or outboard motors. With respect to the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, such enforcement officers shall have and may exercise throughout this State all of the powers of peace officers.

 Section 50-23-260. The department shall annually, between January first and January thirty-first, furnish to each county auditor a list of motors and watercraft registered and titled pursuant to this chapter in the previous year to residents of such auditor's county, which list shall include the names and addresses of the owners of such watercraft and motors and sufficient additional information as will permit the auditors to identify the chattels titled for tax purposes. Reserved

 Section 50-23-270. A transfer of a watercraft or outboard motor is subject to this chapter. A person making a false statement in a document or other submission to the department is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days.

 Section 50-23-275. A watercraft not previously required to be titled for which a title is required by this chapter must be titled at the time of renewal of the registration of the watercraft or transfer of the watercraft whichever occurs first. An owner of such a watercraft must secure a title for the watercraft within three years from the effective date of this section.Reserved.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, Section 50-23-290, by striking the first undesignated paragraph and inserting:

 Any person coming into possession of a watercraft or outboard motor without proper proof of ownership must apply to the department for a title, or outboard motor registration using the form prescribed by the department. The application must be supported by an affidavit setting forth the circumstances under which the watercraft or outboard motor was acquired. The applicant must attempt to notify the last known titled or registered owner and any lienholder of record by certified mail of the application. The applicant must provide the department with proof of mailing.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 50-23-295(A), (B), and (C) and inserting:

 (A) A certificate of title to watercraft or an outboard motor registration may not be transferred if the department has notice that property taxes for property tax years beginning after 1999, are owed on the watercraft or outboard motor. If transfer of title or outboard motor registration has been denied pursuant to this section, a tax receipt on the watercraft or outboard motor registration from the person officially charged with the collection of ad valorem taxes in the county where the taxes are due must be accepted as proof that the taxes have been paid. The bill of sale or title to watercraft or an outboard motor must require certification that property taxes that are due and payable for property tax years beginning after 1999, have been paid and are current as of the date of sale.
 (B) A person who knowingly sells a watercraft or outboard motor for which he owes unpaid and outstanding property taxes, or on which he knows there is a property tax lien, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days. In addition to all applicable criminal penalties, a seller who falsely signs the certification required by subsection (A), that property taxes are current and paid on a watercraft transferred to the buyer, is liable to the buyer for three times the amount of damages directly associated with the false certification, as well as applicable costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
 (C) The county treasurer or other appropriate official annually, or more frequently as the county considers appropriate, shall transmit a list of delinquent taxes due on watercraft and outboard motors to the department. The list may be transmitted in any electronic format considered acceptable by the department.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 50-23-345(F) and inserting:

 (F) A transferee may operate a newly acquired outboard motor for sixty days while application for title an outboard motor registration number is pending provided the bill of sale is in possession while operating the motor.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 3, by striking Section 50-23-375 and inserting:

 Section 50-23-375. It is unlawful to display a registration number or a validation decal or an outboard motor title decal or sailboat title decal on any watercraft or outboard motor except on the watercraft or outboard motor for which it was issued. It is unlawful to display an outboard motor registration decal on any outboard motor except on the outboard motor for which it was issued.

Amend the bill further, by adding appropriately numbered SECTIONS to read:

SECTION X. Section 50-23-425 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 50-23-425. A registration of watercraft or outboard motor may not be renewed pursuant to this chapter if the department has notice that property taxes are owed on the watercraft or outboard motor. If renewal of registration has been denied pursuant to this section, a tax receipt from the person officially charged with the collection of ad valorem taxes in the county of residence must be accepted by the department as proof that the taxes have been paid.

SECTION X. Article 3, Chapter 23, Title 50 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 Section 50-23-430. Any outboard motor held or principally used in this State must be registered with the department. An owner of an outboard motor registered in this State must notify the department within thirty days if ownership is transferred to another person, entity, or transferred out of state or otherwise disposed.

 Section 50-23-440.  (A) An outboard motor is not required to be registered under this chapter if the vessel it is attached to is:
  (1) a federally approved watercraft numbering system of another state. However, this vessel must not be held or used in this State for more than sixty consecutive days;
  (2) from a country other than the United States and temporarily using the waters of this State;
  (3) a vessel whose owner is the United States except recreational type vessels;
  (4) a vessel whose owner is the United States, a state, or political subdivision to a state used for governmental purposes and which is clearly identifiable as such;
  (5) a vessel's lifeboat if the boat is used solely for lifesaving purposes;
  (6) a vessel's tender;
  (7) a boat designed, constructed, and used for racing;
  (8) a vessel belonging to a class of boats which has been exempted from numbering by the department after the department has found that the federal government has exempted the vessel or class of vessels from their numbering provisions or as otherwise permitted by the federal government;
  (9) documented by the United States Coast Guard or a federal agency successor to it; or
  (10) used under authority of a valid temporary registration number issued by the department.

 Section 50-23-450. (A) Every person who acquires an outboard motor required to be registered under this article shall register with the department within thirty days of the date of acquisition. The registration must be completed on forms required by the department. The fee for registration is ten dollars. The registration must be signed by the person who acquires the watercraft or outboard motor and must contain:
  (1) the applicant's name, domiciled address including the county, date of birth, and the county where the outboard motor is principally located, state issued identification number, and state of issue;
  (2) its make, model, and horsepower, and manufacturer's serial number, whether the outboard motor is new or used;
  (3) the date of acquisition by the applicant, the name and address of the person from whom the outboard motor was acquired; and
  (4) a bill of sale.
 (B)(1) When a Transfer of Death (TOD) beneficiary is designated, the registration must contain each TOD beneficiary's name, domiciled address, including the county, date of birth, state-issued identification number, and state of issue.
  (2) In the case of one or more TOD beneficiaries receiving the title and registration to an outboard motor, a bill of sale may not be required for the department to issue a title, but such TOD beneficiaries shall establish the death of all owners of outboard motors.
  (3) The fee to establish, modify, or revoke a Transfer of Death designation upon a registration is ten dollars.
 (C) Every dealer selling or exchanging an outboard motor subject to registration under this article shall complete the registration in the name of the purchaser at the time of delivery of the outboard motor to the purchaser. The registration must be signed by the dealer showing the assigned dealer permit number, as well as by the owner, and the dealer shall submit the application to the department within thirty days of the sale. However, permitted marine dealers are not required to obtain registrations for new or used outboard motors held in their inventory for sale until they are sold or exchanged as long as a proper manufacturer's or importer's statement of origin or title is held by the dealer. The fees for registration may not exceed those required by this article and if requested must be itemized on the bill of sale to the new owner. This does not prohibit a dealer from charging an administrative fee for registration.
 (D) If a dealer buys or acquires an outboard motor for resale and the outboard motor is already covered by a registration, the dealer need not send the registration until the watercraft or outboard motor is transferred.
 (E) When an application for a watercraft title and certificate of number includes an application for an outboard motor registration number, and the application is filed thirty-one days or later after the acquisition date, only late fees for the watercraft title must be assessed.
 (F) A registration, except those from permitted marine dealers, submitted after thirty days is subject to a late penalty of fifteen dollars.
 (G) A registration submitted after sixty days is subject to a late penalty of thirty dollars.
 (H) The provisions of this section requiring a fee do not apply to outboard motors owned by volunteer rescue squads used exclusively for the purpose of the squads.

 Section 50-23-460. (A) Except as otherwise provided, an outboard motor registration number awarded pursuant to this chapter continues in effect for one year unless sooner terminated or discontinued in accordance with this chapter. An outboard motor registration number may be renewed by the owner as provided in subsection (B). The department shall fix a month of the year on which a registration number expires unless renewed pursuant to this chapter.
 (B)(1) Beginning January 1, 2028, each county auditor annually shall mail outboard motor registration number renewal notices to the owners of outboard motors in the county as determined by the Department of Natural Resources no later than forty-five days before expiration of the registration. The renewal notices, including the fees upon completion, must be returned to that county which shall:
   (a) process the application and, if granting the renewal, notify the department to issue a renewed registration number and decal;
   (b) transmit the processed renewal notices to the department within seven days; and
   (c) transmit the fees, including any late fees, to the appropriate state fund.
  (2) Each county auditor must have access to the registration records of the department as applicable to the county auditor in the manner the county auditor and department agree for the purpose of the county auditor performing the functions required in item (1).
  (3) The department may not charge counties for online access network fees for watercraft and owner information.
  (4) If a registration number is not approved immediately by the department, an owner may operate under a paid tax receipt for thirty days.
 (C)(1) A renewal application for a registration number, except those from marine dealers, presented after thirty days from its expiration date is subject to a late penalty of fifteen dollars.
  (2) A renewal application for a registration number presented after sixty days from its expiration date is subject to a late penalty of thirty dollars.

 Section 50-23-470. (A) The department shall file each registration which is received by it, provided it is accompanied by the required fee and complies in all other respects with this article.
 (B) The department shall maintain a record of all registrations and each registration shall contain:
  (1) the date issued;
  (2) the name and address of the owner;
  (3) the registration number assigned to the outboard motor;
  (4) a description of the outboard motor including its make, model, horsepower, and manufacturer's serial number or, serial number assigned to the outboard motor by the department; and
  (5) any other data the department prescribes.
 (C) All records of the department relating to the registration of outboard motors are public records.

 Section 50-23-480. A valid outboard motor registration decal must be affixed to the right side of the motor casing, when looking toward the bow, for each outboard motor required to be registered. A permitted marine dealer demonstrating an outboard motor must display the dealer demonstration number assigned by the department while conducting demonstrations.

SECTION X. If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this act is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this act, the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this act, and each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise ineffective.

Amend the bill further, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

SECTION X. Sections 50-23-350 and 50-23-380 of the S.C. Code are repealed.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 7, by striking Section and inserting:

SECTION 7. This act takes effect on January 1, 2028 2027, and first applies to property tax years beginning after 2026.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.