H*4271(Rat #0313, Act #0284 of 2000)  General Bill, By Cato
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-31-30, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE RENTAL OF PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOMOBILES, RENTAL RATES, AND
 PERMITTED AND PROHIBITED CHARGES, SO AS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO ELIMINATE THE
 PROHIBITION UPON A RENTAL COMPANY OF CHARGING AN ADDITIONAL FEE AS A CONDITION
 OF RENTING, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FUEL SURCHARGES, TO ELIMINATE THE
 REQUIREMENT THAT THE MEANS OF AVOIDING AIRPORT SURCHARGES MUST BE DISCLOSED
 CLEARLY AND CONSPICUOUSLY IN ALL ADVERTISEMENTS OF A RENTAL RATE TO WHICH
 AIRPORT SURCHARGES MAY APPLY, AND TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY AIRPORT FEES THAT ARE
 REMITTED TO THE AIRPORT MANAGEMENT ARE PERMITTED TO BE SEPARATELY STATED AND
 COLLECTED.

   06/30/99  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-3
   06/30/99  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-3
   02/09/00  House  Committee report: Favorable Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-3
   02/15/00  House  Read second time HJ-32
   02/16/00  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-19
   02/17/00  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-17
   02/17/00  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-17
   05/03/00  Senate Polled out of committee Transportation SJ-16
   05/03/00  Senate Committee report: Favorable Transportation SJ-16
   05/04/00  Senate Read second time SJ-63
   05/04/00  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-63
   05/05/00  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-120
   05/16/00         Ratified R 313
   05/19/00         Signed By Governor
   05/19/00         Effective date 05/19/00
   06/07/00         Copies available
   06/07/00         Act No. 284

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 56-31-30, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE RENTAL OF PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOMOBILES, RENTAL RATES, AND PERMITTED AND PROHIBITED CHARGES, SO AS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO ELIMINATE THE PROHIBITION UPON A RENTAL COMPANY OF CHARGING AN ADDITIONAL FEE AS A CONDITION OF RENTING, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FUEL SURCHARGES, TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE MEANS OF AVOIDING AIRPORT SURCHARGES MUST BE DISCLOSED CLEARLY AND CONSPICUOUSLY IN ALL ADVERTISEMENTS OF A RENTAL RATE TO WHICH AIRPORT SURCHARGES MAY APPLY, AND TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY AIRPORT FEES THAT ARE REMITTED TO THE AIRPORT MANAGEMENT ARE PERMITTED TO BE SEPARATELY STATED AND COLLECTED.

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

Prohibition, requirement eliminated; airport fees; etc.

SECTION 1. Section 56-31-30(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(A) A rental company may advertise, quote, or charge only a rental rate that includes the entire amount, except taxes, airport fees, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter pays to rent the vehicle for the period of time to which the rate applies. Airport fees must be disclosed clearly and conspicuously in all advertisements of a rental rate for an applicable location either as a specific fee or as a range of fees. Only airport fees that are remitted to the airport management entity are permitted to be separately stated and collected. The company may charge an additional fee for an item or service provided for in the rental agreement if the charge is optional for the renter. The items and services include, but are not limited to, insurance and accessories requested by the renter unless otherwise prohibited as provided in this chapter, charges incident to the renter's optional return of the vehicle to a location other than to where it was rented, and charges for refueling the vehicle at the conclusion of the rental period if the renter did not return the vehicle with the same amount of fuel that was in the vehicle at the beginning of the rental period. A company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria it establishes."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 16th day of May, 2000.

Approved the 19th day of May, 2000.