H 5016 General Bill, By Stuart and Townsend
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-8100, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION GUIDELINES FOR SPECIAL LICENSE
 PLATES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPOSIT REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
 SAFETY OF AN INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION SEEKING ISSUANCE OF A SPECIAL LICENSE
 PLATE BE PLACED INTO A SPECIAL RESTRICTED ACCOUNT TO BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT
 TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE DIVISION, TO PROVIDE THAT THE
 DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE APPLICANTS TO APPLY FOR A SPECIAL
 LICENSE PLATE BY MAIL OR ELECTRONIC FORMAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO
 REVISE THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DISCONTINUE THE
 PRODUCTION OF A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE.

   04/04/02  House  Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference HJ-3
   04/10/02  House  Read second time HJ-41
   04/11/02  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-12
   04/11/02  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-8
   04/11/02  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-8

Indicates New Matter

INTRODUCED

April 4, 2002

    H. 5016

S. Printed 4/4/02--H.    [SEC 4/8/02 3:41 PM]

Read the first time April 4, 2002.

TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-8100, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION GUIDELINES FOR SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPOSIT REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OF AN INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION SEEKING ISSUANCE OF A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE BE PLACED INTO A SPECIAL RESTRICTED ACCOUNT TO BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE DIVISION, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE APPLICANTS TO APPLY FOR A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE BY MAIL OR ELECTRONIC FORMAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO REVISE THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DISCONTINUE THE PRODUCTION OF A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 56-3-8100 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 63 of 1999, is amended to read:

    "Section 56-3-8100.    (A)    Before the Department of Public Safety produces and distributes a special license plate created by the General Assembly after January 1, 2000, it must receive:

        (1)    four hundred prepaid applications for the special license plate or a deposit of four thousand dollars from the individual or organization seeking issuance of the license plate. If a deposit of four thousand dollars is made by an individual or organization pursuant to this section, the department must refund the four thousand dollars once an equivalent amount of license plate fees is collected for that organization's license plate. If the equivalent amount is not collected within one year of the first issuance of the license plate, then, the department must retain the deposit notwithstanding another provision of law, the Comptroller General shall place the deposit into a special restricted account to be used by the department to defray the expenses of the Motor Vehicle Division; and

        (2)    a plan to market the sale of the special license plate which must be approved by the department.

    (B)    If the department receives less than fifty biennial applications and renewals for a special license plate within one year of the first issuance of the special license plate, or less than twenty-five applications and renewals in any subsequent year, the department may require that applicants apply by mail or electronic format for additional special license plates in that series. If the department receives less than three hundred biennial applications and renewals for a particular special license plate within four years of the first issuance of the special license plate, it shall not produce additional special license plates in that series. The department shall continue to issue special license plates of that series until the existing inventory is exhausted.

    (C)    If the department receives less than fifty biennial applications and renewals for license plates created pursuant to Article 12, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 14, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 31, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 39, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 40, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 43, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 45, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 49, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 50, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 60, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 70, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 72, Chapter 3, Title 56; and Article 76, Chapter 3, Title 56, within one year of the first issuance of the special license plate, or less than twenty-five applications and renewals in a subsequent year, it may require that applicants apply by mail or electronic format for additional special license plates in that series. If the department receives less than three hundred biennial applications and renewals for plates created pursuant to Article 12, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 14, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 31, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 39, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 40, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 43, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 45, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 49, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 50, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 60, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 70, Chapter 3, Title 56; Article 72, Chapter 3, Title 56; and Article 76, Chapter 3, Title 56, within four years of the first issuance of the special license plate, it shall not produce additional special license plates in that series. The department shall continue to issue special license plates of that series until the existing inventory is exhausted."

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