H*3131(Rat #0184, Act #0177 of 2008)  General Bill, By Harrell and Umphlett
 AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE 22, CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF
 SPECIAL MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES TO CERTAIN CURRENT AND RETIRED ELECTED
 OFFICIALS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES TO
 FORMER MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DELEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS,
 AND CERTAIN RETIRED JUDICIAL OFFICERS, AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES. -
 ratified title

   12/13/06  House  Prefiled
   12/13/06  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
   01/09/07  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-72
   01/09/07  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-72
   03/06/07  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works HJ-2
   03/08/07  House  Amended HJ-24
   03/08/07  House  Read second time HJ-26
   03/08/07  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-26
   03/09/07  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-2
   03/13/07  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-13
   03/13/07  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-13
   05/17/07  Senate Committee report: Favorable Transportation SJ-5
   06/06/07  Senate Amended SJ-46
   06/06/07  Senate Read second time SJ-46
   01/09/08  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-12
   01/16/08  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-20
   01/31/08         Ratified R 184
   02/07/08         Became law without Governor's signature
   02/12/08         Copies available
   02/12/08         Effective date 02/07/08
   02/15/08         Act No. 177

(A177, R184, H3131)

AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE 22, CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES TO CERTAIN CURRENT AND RETIRED ELECTED OFFICIALS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES TO FORMER MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DELEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, AND CERTAIN RETIRED JUDICIAL OFFICERS, AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES.

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

Congressional and judicial special license plates

SECTION    1.    Article 22, Chapter 3, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Article 22

Special License Plates: Former Members of the South Carolina Delegation of the United States Congress, Retired Judicial Officers, Members of Municipal and County Councils, Coroners, Mayors, and Members of the General Assembly Receiving Retirement Benefits

Section 56-3-2150.    The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue special motor vehicle license plates to former members of the South Carolina Delegation of the United States Congress, retired judicial officers elected by the General Assembly or confirmed by the United States Senate respectively, members of municipal and county councils, county coroners, and mayors of this State for private passenger motor vehicles owned by them. The department also may issue special motor vehicle license plates to former members of the General Assembly who are eligible to receive retirement benefits under the General Assembly Retirement System for private passenger motor vehicles and vehicles classified as private passenger motor vehicles in Section 56-3-630 owned by them. The biennial fee for these special license plates is the same as the fee provided in Section 56-3-2020, and only one plate may be issued to former members of the South Carolina Delegation of the United States Congress, retired judicial officers elected by the General Assembly or confirmed by the United States Senate respectively, councilman, coroner, mayor, or member of the General Assembly who is receiving retirement benefits. The plate must be issued or revalidated biennially for the regular registration and licensing period.

Section 56-3-2160.    The special plates must be of the same size as regular motor vehicle license plates, but must be of a distinctive design and bear letters and numerals the Department of Motor Vehicles prescribes. The plates must be issued or revalidated biennially for the regular registration and licensing period.

Section 56-3-2170.    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 to and approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles. It is unlawful for a person to whom this plate has been issued to knowingly permit it to be displayed on a vehicle except the one authorized by the department. If a holder of this plate ceases to be a member of the municipal or county council or ceases to be county coroner, or mayor he immediately shall return the plate to the department.

Section 56-3-2180.    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 violating the provisions of this article or a person who fraudulently gives false or fictitious information in any application for a special license plate, as authorized in this article, conceals a material fact, or otherwise commits a fraud in any application or in the use of a special license plate issued is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 31st day of January, 2008.

Became law without the signature of the Governor -- 2/7/08.