S 0393 General Bill, By Fair
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-210, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO THE EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE, SO AS TO
 PROVIDE THAT A DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUED TO OR RENEWED FOR CERTAIN PERSONS WHO
 ARE LESS THAN SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE IS VALID FOR TEN YEARS, AND TO ALLOW
 CERTAIN PERSONS TO HAVE THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE EXPIRATION DATE EXTENDED FOR AN
 ADDITIONAL FIVE YEARS AND NOT REQUIRE THEM TO COMPLETE A VISION TEST; TO AMEND
 SECTION 56-1-140, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE FEE FOR AND CONTENTS OF A
 DRIVER'S LICENSE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE FEE FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT IS
 VALID FOR FIVE YEARS OR WHOSE EXTENDED VALIDITY IS FOR FIVE YEARS IS TWELVE
 DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE FEE FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE
 THAT IS VALID FOR TEN YEARS IS TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS.

   02/19/03  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   02/19/03  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-7

TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-210, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUED TO OR RENEWED FOR CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE LESS THAN SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE IS VALID FOR TEN YEARS, AND TO ALLOW CERTAIN PERSONS TO HAVE THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE EXPIRATION DATE EXTENDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL FIVE YEARS AND NOT REQUIRE THEM TO COMPLETE A VISION TEST; TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-140, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE FEE FOR AND CONTENTS OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE FEE FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT IS VALID FOR FIVE YEARS OR WHOSE EXTENDED VALIDITY IS FOR FIVE YEARS IS TWELVE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE FEE FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT IS VALID FOR TEN YEARS IS TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS.

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

SECTION    1.    The first paragraph of Section 56-1-210 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 459 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Every A license issued to or renewed for a person who is sixty-five years of age or older expires on the licensee's birth date on the fifth calendar year after the calendar year in which it is issued. Beginning on July 1, 2003, a license issued to or renewed for a person who is less than sixty-five years of age expires on the licensee's birth date on the tenth calendar year after the calendar year in which it is issued. However a person who is less than sixty-five years of age who obtained or renewed his license before July 1, 2003, may have the expiration date extended for an additional five-year period by the department. Every A license is renewable on or before its expiration date upon application and the payment of the required fee. The department shall require a vision test of the applicant. The vision examination may be waived upon the submission of a certificate from a person authorized by law to examine eyes, and for a person who is less than sixty-five years of age who obtained or renewed his license before July 1, 2003, and has the expiration date of his license extended for an additional period of five years by mail. The department may renew a driver's license of a resident by mail upon payment of the required fee, if the renewal is a digitized license."

SECTION    2.    Section 56-1-140 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 497 of 1994, is further amended to read:

"Section 56-1-140.    Upon the payment of a fee of twelve dollars and fifty cents for a driver's license that is valid for five years or whose extended validity is for five years, the department shall issue to every qualified applicant a driver's license as applied for. Upon the payment of twenty-five dollars for a driver's license that is valid for ten years, the department shall issue to every qualified applicant a driver's license as applied for. The license must bear on it a distinguishing number assigned to the licensee, the full name, date of birth, and residence address and a brief description and laminated colored photograph of the licensee, and a facsimile of the signature of the licensee or a space upon which the licensee shall write his usual signature with pen and ink immediately upon receipt of the license. No license is valid until it has been so signed by the licensee. The license authorizes the licensee to operate only those classifications of vehicles as indicated on the license."

SECTION    3.    The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.

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