H 3614 General Bill, By Miller, Askins, Bales, Bingham, Bowers, R. Brown, Cato, 
Chellis, Clyburn, Coates, Coleman, Davenport, Delleney, Emory, Fleming, Freeman, 
Gilham, Gourdine, Harvin, Hayes, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, 
Kirsh, Law, Leach, Limehouse, Lloyd, Loftis, Lucas, Mack, McCraw, McGee, 
Moody-Lawrence, J.M. Neal, Ott, D. Owens, Parks, Phillips, Rhoad, Riser, Rivers, 
Rodgers, Scarborough, Scott, Simrill, Sinclair, G.M. Smith, J.E. Smith, Snow, 
Thompson, Tripp, Vaughn, Webb, Weeks, Whatley, Whipper, Wilder, J. Young and 
Knotts
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-1120, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF A SPECIAL LICENSE TAG BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
 SAFETY TO A DISABLED AMERICAN VETERAN, SO AS TO SUBSTITUTE "TAG" WITH "PLATE"
 AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE LICENSE PLATE MUST INCLUDE THE WORDS "DISABLED
 VETERAN" AND HAVE A SPECIAL NUMBER IMPRINTED ON IT SHOWING THAT THE LICENSE
 PLATE WAS ISSUED TO A DISABLED AMERICAN VETERAN.

   02/21/01  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-26
   02/21/01  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-26
   03/29/01  House  Committee report: Favorable Education and Public
                     Works HJ-3
   04/04/01  House  Read second time HJ-15
   04/05/01  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-23
   04/10/01  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-8
   04/10/01  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-8
   04/24/01  Senate Committee report: Favorable Transportation SJ-26
   05/01/01  Senate Amended SJ-23
   05/01/01  Senate Read second time SJ-23
   05/01/01  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-23
   06/07/01  Senate Recommitted to Committee on Transportation SJ-273

Indicates New Matter

AMENDED

May 1, 2001

    H. 3614

Introduced by Reps. Miller, Askins, Bales, Bingham, Bowers, R. Brown, Cato, Chellis, Clyburn, Coates, Coleman, Davenport, Delleney, Emory, Fleming, Freeman, Gilham, Gourdine, Harvin, Hayes, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Kirsh, Law, Leach, Limehouse, Lloyd, Loftis, Lucas, Mack, McCraw, McGee, Moody-Lawrence, J.M. Neal, Ott, Owens, Parks, Phillips, Rhoad, Riser, Rivers, Rodgers, Scarborough, Scott, Simrill, Sinclair, G.M. Smith, J.E. Smith, Snow, Thompson, Tripp, Vaughn, Webb, Weeks, Whatley, Whipper, Wilder, J. Young and Knotts

S. Printed 5/01/01--S.    [SEC 5/2/01 3:39 PM]

Read the first time April 10, 2001.

TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-1120, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF A SPECIAL LICENSE TAG BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO A DISABLED AMERICAN VETERAN, SO AS TO SUBSTITUTE "TAG" WITH "PLATE" AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE LICENSE PLATE MUST INCLUDE THE WORDS "DISABLED VETERAN" AND HAVE A SPECIAL NUMBER IMPRINTED ON IT SHOWING THAT THE LICENSE PLATE WAS ISSUED TO A DISABLED AMERICAN VETERAN.

    Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    Section 56-3-1120 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

    "Section 56-3-1120.    The department may issue a special license tag plate with the words 'Disabled Veteran' and a special number imprinted on it showing that such the license tag plate was issued to a disabled American veteran."

SECTION    2.    Section 56-3-1960(2), as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

    "(2)    An agency, organization, private individual, or facility that transports a disabled or handicapped person or any a person who is handicapped as defined in this article may apply to the department for issuance of a temporary or permanent distinguishing placard to be designed by the department. The department, if necessary, may design another distinguishing placard for an agency, organization, private individual, or facility that is eligible for a placard,. However, all placards must be at least three inches by nine and one-half inches in size and must hang from the rearview mirror of a vehicle or be displayed on the driver's side dashboard when there is no hanging apparatus. The placard must be used on vehicles transporting the disabled person in lieu of the distinguishing license plate issued pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. When the placard is displayed on the driver's side dashboard of a vehicle, all parking rights and privileges extended to vehicles displaying a distinguishing license plate issued pursuant to subsection (1) of this section are applicable to the vehicle. The department shall establish procedures for the issuance of distinguishing placards, and the procedures shall permit applicants to apply by mail. Each application must be accompanied by a certificate from a licensed physician as defined in Section 40-47-5 that the applicant is handicapped as defined in this article, except that a physician's certificate is not required for applications by an agency, organization, private individual, or facility which must include sufficient documentation as may be prescribed by the department that the applying agency, organization, private individual, or facility transports handicapped or disabled persons. The physician shall state on the certificate whether the applicant is handicapped temporarily or permanently. If the applicant is temporarily handicapped, the physician shall state the length of time for which the applicant is temporarily handicapped. A placard issued for a temporary disability is valid only for the anticipated length of time of the disability specified by the physician in the certificate. No An applicant may not be denied a placard if the applicant follows the procedures established by the department and if the completed application is accompanied by a certificate from a licensed physician as defined in Section 40-47-5, as required by this subsection. The department shall charge a fee of one dollar a placard and may issue two placards to an individual applicant upon request. An agency, organization, private individual, or facility may receive a placard for each vehicle registered upon payment of the appropriate fees.

    The permanent placards may be issued and renewed only for a maximum period of four years renewable on the owner's birth date; however, placards issued to an agency, organization, or facility must be renewed every four years. The placards must be of a color as determined by the department which is easily recognizable by law enforcement personnel. The placard shall indicate on its face when it expires."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.