H 4579 General Bill, By T.L. Farr, R.L. Altman, Anderson, Bailey, R.A. Barber, 
J.M. Baxley, D.M. Beasley, L.E. Bennett, A.W. Byrd, Cato, C.D. Chamblee, Cooper, 
K.S. Corbett, J.L.M. Cromer, Delleney, Elliott, L.L. Elliott, R.C. Fulmer, 
H.M. Hallman, Harvin, B.H. Harwell, Jennings, Keegan, Kennedy, Koon, Lanford, 
Littlejohn, Martin, L.M. Martin, McCraw, J.T. McElveen, A.C. McGinnis, McKay, 
M. McLeod, Neilson, Phillips, Quinn, J. Rama, Rhoad, Riser, L.W. Ross, Sharpe, 
J.R. Shirley, J.S. Shissias, R. Smith, J.J. Snow, E.C. Stoddard, Townsend, 
J.W. Tucker, D.C. Waldrop, C.C. Wells, J.M. White, J.B. Wilder, D. Williams, 
S.S. Wofford, D.A. Wright, R.M. Young and Young-Brickell
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 56-3-675 so as to provide that a person engaged in bona fide farming
 operations may obtain not more than three special agricultural license plates
 which may be transferred among and affixed to the trucks of that person used
 in his farming operations at the time they are being operated upon the
 highways of this State, to provide for the cost of these special agricultural
 license plates, the manner and conditions of their use, and to provide
 penalties for violation.

   03/19/92  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-7
   03/19/92  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-8

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-3-675 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON ENGAGED IN BONA FIDE FARMING OPERATIONS MAY OBTAIN NOT MORE THAN THREE SPECIAL AGRICULTURAL LICENSE PLATES WHICH MAY BE TRANSFERRED AMONG AND AFFIXED TO THE TRUCKS OF THAT PERSON USED IN HIS FARMING OPERATIONS AT THE TIME THEY ARE BEING OPERATED UPON THE HIGHWAYS OF THIS STATE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE COST OF THESE SPECIAL AGRICULTURAL LICENSE PLATES, THE MANNER AND CONDITIONS OF THEIR USE, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-3-675. (A) As an alternative to any other type of registration and licensing authorized by this chapter, a person engaged in bona fide farming operations may annually obtain not more than three special agricultural license plates, the form of which and design of which must be prescribed by the department. These special agricultural plates may be affixed to any truck required to be registered and licensed by law and which is used by that person in his farming operations. These special agricultural plates may be transferred among all such trucks of the farmer and affixed to them at the time they are being operated upon the highways of this State. Each truck is required to be individually insured or the person must have provided proof of financial responsibility.

(B) The cost of each special agricultural license plate is one hundred dollars, twenty-five dollars of which the department shall retain and seventy-five dollars of which must be deposited to the credit of the South Carolina Reinsurance Facility to offset the expenses and losses, if any, of the facility.

(C) For a truck to be eligible for the special agricultural license plates authorized by this section, it must be owned by the farmer individually or by a farming corporation or entity at least a majority of which is owned by him or by members of his immediate family.

(D) The person engaged in farming operations, to be eligible for the special agricultural license plates authorized herein, must have filed a schedule of farm income and expenses (Schedule F) on his most recent federal income tax return. The department may also require that other proof it considers necessary that the person is legitimately engaged in farming operations and the decision of the department in this regard is final.

(E) Ad valorem property taxes on the trucks to which the special agricultural license plates may be affixed in the manner authorized by this section must be paid annually to the treasurer of the county wherein the trucks are principally located in the same manner other personal property taxes are paid as provided by law and shall not be paid at the time of obtaining the special agricultural license plates.

(F) Any person affixing the special agricultural license plates to a truck or vehicle not eligible to have it or who operates a truck without the required insurance or proof of financial responsibility is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars or a term of imprisonment not exceeding thirty days. In addition, the person forfeits the right to receive any future special agricultural license plates. The money derived from the fines authorized in this subsection must be deposited to the credit of the South Carolina Reinsurance Facility to offset the expenses and losses, if any, of the facility."

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