S*1491(Rat #0522, Act #0438 of 1992)  General Bill, By Wilson and M.T. Rose
 A Bill to amend Title 56, Chapter 3, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by
 adding Article 49 so as to provide for special license plates for South
 Carolina firefighters.

   04/21/92  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-5
   04/21/92  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-5
   05/27/92  Senate Recalled from Committee on Transportation SJ-20
   05/27/92  Senate Read second time SJ-20
   05/27/92  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-20
   05/28/92  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-40
   06/02/92  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-15
   06/02/92  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-15
   06/03/92  House  Committee report: Favorable Education and Public
                     Works HJ-18
   06/03/92  House  Amended HJ-18
   06/03/92  House  Read second time HJ-19
   06/04/92  House  Read third time and returned to Senate with
                     amendments HJ-23
   06/04/92  Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled SJ-123
   06/04/92         Ratified R 522
   06/15/92         Signed By Governor
   06/15/92         Effective date 06/15/92
   06/15/92         Act No. 438
   07/10/92         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 56, CHAPTER 3, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 49 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES FOR SOUTH CAROLINA FIREFIGHTERS.

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

South Carolina firefighter license plates

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

"Article 49

Section 56-3-4910. (A) The South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation shall issue special motor vehicle license plates to active and retired South Carolina firefighters who request them in the manner provided in this article and who are residents of the State for private motor vehicles registered in their respective names. The special license plates, which must be of the same size and general design of regular motor vehicle license plates, must be imprinted with the words `SOUTH CAROLINA FIREFIGHTER' together with a fire service emblem and with numbers as the department may determine. The plates are for annual periods as provided by law. The fee for this special license plate is thirty-five dollars each year which is in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee as set forth in Article 5, Chapter 3 of this title.

(B) The fees collected pursuant to this section must be deposited in a separate fund for the South Carolina Fire Academy. The fund must be administered by the Budget and Control Board Division of State Fire Marshal and must be used only to train in-state public firefighters, paid and volunteer, to comply with state and federal mandated training standards. Funds collected must be deposited with the State Treasurer. The distribution of the funds is based on the total number of special license plates sold as follows:

(1) one thousand or less total special license plates sold: twenty-six dollars to the department and nine dollars to the academy for each special license plate sold;

(2) more than one thousand and less than two thousand total special license plates sold: twenty-one dollars to the department and fourteen dollars to the academy for each special license plate sold;

(3) two thousand or more total special license plates sold: fifteen dollars to the department and twenty dollars to the academy for each special license plate sold.

(C) The department must receive one hundred or more applications requesting a special license plate for the South Carolina Firefighters before a specialized license plate may be developed.

Section 56-3-4920. The license plate issued pursuant to this article may be transferred to another vehicle of the same weight class owned by the same person upon application being made and approved by the department. It is unlawful for any person to whom the special plate has been issued knowingly to permit it to be displayed on a vehicle except the one authorized by the department.

Section 56-3-4930. The provisions of this article do not affect the registration and licensing of motor vehicles as required by other provisions of this chapter, but are cumulative to them. A person who violates the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days."

Time effective

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

Approved the 15th day of June, 1992.