S*0495(Rat #0056, Act #0055 of 2001)  General Bill, By Wilson, Verdin and 
McConnell
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 56-3-1265 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY MUST DISPLAY
 IN ALL DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLE OFFICES WHERE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES OR
 STICKERS MAY BE OBTAINED OR RENEWED EXAMPLES OF ALL TYPES OF SPECIAL LICENSE
 PLATES WHICH INDIVIDUALS OF A PARTICULAR GROUP MAY OBTAIN, AND TO PROVIDE
 EXCEPTIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-1230, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO
 SPECIFICATIONS OF LICENSE PLATES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NEW LICENSE PLATES
 MUST BE PROVIDED AT LEAST EVERY SIX YEARS, AND TO REQUIRE THAT A PORTION OF
 CERTAIN LICENSE PLATE OR REGISTRATION FEES MUST BE USED FOR THE COSTS
 ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCTION AND ISSUANCE OF NEW PLATES.-AMENDED TITLE

   03/22/01  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-14
   03/22/01  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-14
   04/04/01  Senate Committee report: Favorable Transportation SJ-13
   04/05/01  Senate Read second time SJ-11
   04/05/01  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-11
   04/10/01  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-15
   04/11/01  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-8
   04/11/01  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-8
   05/03/01  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works HJ-4
   05/09/01  House  Amended HJ-24
   05/09/01  House  Read second time HJ-25
   05/10/01  House  Read third time and returned to Senate with
                     amendments HJ-14
   05/14/01  Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled SJ-15
   05/23/01         Ratified R 56
   05/29/01         Signed By Governor
   06/12/01         Effective date 05/29/01--The set aside of two
                     dollars of each biennial fee & one dollar of
                     each annual fee & its placement into a special
                     restricted account must begin with collections
                     on and after 7/1/02
   06/12/01         Copies available
   07/03/01         Act No. 55

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-3-1265 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY MUST DISPLAY IN ALL DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLE OFFICES WHERE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES OR STICKERS MAY BE OBTAINED OR RENEWED EXAMPLES OF ALL TYPES OF SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES WHICH INDIVIDUALS OF A PARTICULAR GROUP MAY OBTAIN, AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-1230, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO SPECIFICATIONS OF LICENSE PLATES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NEW LICENSE PLATES MUST BE PROVIDED AT LEAST EVERY SIX YEARS, AND TO REQUIRE THAT A PORTION OF CERTAIN LICENSE PLATE OR REGISTRATION FEES MUST BE USED FOR THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCTION AND ISSUANCE OF NEW PLATES.

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

Display of special license plates

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-3-1265. The Department of Public Safety must display in all Division of Motor Vehicle offices where motor vehicle license plates or stickers may be obtained or renewed examples of all types of special license plates which individuals of a particular group may obtain. The provisions of this section do not apply to special personalized motor vehicle license plates which individuals may obtain from the department under Section 56-3-2010."

Issuance of new plates; fees used for this purpose

SECTION 2. Section 56-3-1230(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 497 of 1994, is further amended to read:

"(A) License plates must be at least six inches wide and not less than twelve inches in length and must show in bold characters the year of registration, the serial number, the full name or the abbreviation of the name of the State, and other distinctive markings the department may consider advisable to indicate the class of the weight of the vehicle for which the license plate was issued. The plate must be of a strength and quality to provide a minimum service of five years. A new license plate including personalized and special plates must be provided by the department at intervals the department considers appropriate, but at least every six years. Beginning with the vehicle registration and license fees required by this title which are collected after July 1, 2002, two dollars of each biennial fee and one dollar of each annual fee collected from the vehicle owner must be placed by the Comptroller General in a special restricted account to be used solely by the Department of Public Safety for the costs associated with the production and issuance of new license plates. The department is not authorized to use this set aside money for any other purpose. License plates issued for vehicles in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds must be issued biennially, and no revalidation sticker may be issued for the plates. License plates issued as permanent may be revalidated and replaced at intervals determined by the department."

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. The set aside of two dollars of each biennial fee and one dollar of each annual fee and its placement into a special restricted account must begin with collections on and after July 1, 2002.

Ratified the 23rd day of May, 2001.

Approved the 29th day of May, 2001.