H 4562 General Bill, By Hicks, Chumley, Burns, Clyburn, Henegan, Yow, Gilliard and 
Gagnon
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 53-3-75 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE MONTH OF APRIL OF EACH YEAR IS DECLARED
 "MOVE OVER AWARENESS MONTH" IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF
 TRANSPORTATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS DURING
 THIS MONTH THAT EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVERS MOVING OVER
 INTO AN ADJACENT LANE WHENEVER POSSIBLE WHEN APPROACHING OR PASSING THROUGH A
 HIGHWAY WORK ZONE, AN EMERGENCY SCENE, OR ANY OTHER HIGHWAY TRAFFIC INCIDENT.

   12/10/15  House  Prefiled
   12/10/15  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
   01/12/16  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 105)
   01/12/16  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 105)
   03/01/16  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Yow
   03/10/16  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works (House Journal-page 7)
   03/14/16         Scrivener's error corrected
   03/16/16  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     Gilliard, Gagnon
   03/16/16  House  Amended (House Journal-page 36)
   03/16/16  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 36)
   03/16/16  House  Roll call Yeas-99  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 37)
   03/17/16  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 11)
   03/17/16  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 5)
   03/17/16  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation
                     (Senate Journal-page 5)
   03/17/16         Scrivener's error corrected

AMENDED

March 16, 2016

H. 4562

Introduced by Reps. Hicks, Chumley, Burns, Clyburn, Henegan, Yow and Gilliard

S. Printed 3/16/16--H.    [SEC 3/17/16 3:10 PM]

Read the first time January 12, 2016.

Fiscal Impact Summary

This bill would have no expenditure impact to the general fund, federal funds, or other funds.

Explanation of Amendment by House Education and Public Works on March 14, 2016

State Expenditure

This bill declares April of every year Move Over Awareness Month and requires the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety to conduct programs and to emphasize the importance of moving over when approaching a work zone, an emergency scene, or any other traffic accidents. This amendment adds Section 56-5-1539 to require a state government entity that maintains a wrecker or tow truck rotation to allow the driver of the wrecker or towing service vehicle to take traffic incident management training free of charge. The amendment also requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to print information referencing the move over law in future driver's manuals and online editions regarding the requirements of the law.

Department of Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicles, and Department of Public Safety. These agencies report that this bill will have no expenditure impact to the general fund, federal funds, or other funds.

Explanation of Bill Filed on December 12, 2016

State Expenditure

This bill declares April of every year "Move Over Awareness Month." The bill also requires the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety to conduct programs and to emphasize the importance of moving over when approaching a work zone, an emergency scene, or any other traffic accidents.

Department of Transportation and Department of Public Safety. These agencies report that this bill will have no expenditure impact to the general fund, federal funds, or other funds.

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 53-3-75 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE MONTH OF APRIL OF EACH YEAR IS DECLARED "MOVE OVER AWARENESS MONTH" IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS DURING THIS MONTH THAT EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVERS MOVING OVER INTO AN ADJACENT LANE WHENEVER POSSIBLE WHEN APPROACHING OR PASSING THROUGH A HIGHWAY WORK ZONE, AN EMERGENCY SCENE, OR ANY OTHER HIGHWAY TRAFFIC INCIDENT.

Amend Title To Conform

Whereas, law enforcement officers, highway construction workers, and first responders face many dangers in their honorable mission to protect and serve the citizens of and visitors to the Palmetto State; and

Whereas, the number of law enforcement officers, highway construction workers, and first responders who have been struck and killed while working along our highways remains high; and

Whereas, the State has made great strides toward reducing the number of fatalities through its move over campaign by erecting signs around the State that contain the words "Move Over or Reduce Speed For Stopped Emergency Vehicles", media interviews, public safety announcements, and printed materials; and

Whereas, through awareness and proper education, members of the public can make additional strides toward reducing the number of injuries and deaths along our highways by enhancing the state's move over campaign by dedicating the month of April of every year toward achieving this goal. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 3, Title 53 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 53-3-75. The month of April of every year is declared 'Move Over Awareness Month' in South Carolina. The Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety shall conduct programs during the month of April that emphasize the importance of motor vehicle drivers moving over into an adjacent lane whenever possible when approaching or passing through a highway work zone, an emergency scene, or any other traffic incident."

SECTION    2.    Article 11, Chapter 5, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-5-1539. A state governmental entity that maintains a wrecker or tow truck rotation must allow a driver of a wrecker or towing service vehicle to take traffic incident management training free of charge."

SECTION    3.    Section 56-5-1538 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding the following appropriately lettered subsection:

"( )        The Department of Motor Vehicles shall print in future Driver's Manuals, and as soon as practical, for online editions, information referencing the state's 'Move Over Law' S.C. Code Section 56-5-1538, setting forth the requirements of the law regarding motorists on an interstate highway approaching an emergency scene."

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.