Bill 2949

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               2949
Ratification Number:       292
Act Number                 203
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Inspection of ethyl or methyl alcohol
                           sold for fuel or production of gasohol

(A203, R292, H2949)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 39-41-220, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE INSPECTION OF ETHYL OR METHYL ALCOHOL SOLD FOR FUEL OR PRODUCTION OF GASOHOL, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF GASOHOL, PROVIDE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MOTOR FUEL, AND PROVIDE FOR THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN LIMITING OXYGENATES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-620, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEES, SO AS TO REDUCE THE FEE FOR PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF SIXTY-FIVE YEARS FOR PRIVATE PASSENGER-CARRYING VEHICLES FROM SEVENTEEN TO TWELVE DOLLARS, TO REDUCE THE LICENSE FEE FOR PERSONS SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER FROM TWELVE TO TEN DOLLARS AND TO REESTABLISH THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE FOR PROPERTY-CARRYING VEHICLES WITH A GROSS WEIGHT OF FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS OR LESS TO FIFTEEN DOLLARS FOR PERSONS SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.

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

Inspection of alcohol motor fuel

SECTION 1. Section 39-41-220 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 39-41-220. Ethyl, methyl, and any other alcohol sold or offered for sale as motor fuel or to be blended with gasoline for the purpose of producing motor fuel are subject to inspection, sampling, and testing by the Department of Agriculture. Gasohol is defined as a blend of gasoline and at least ten percent ethyl alcohol. The department may limit the total oxygenates in the motor fuel blends consistent with industry practices and acceptable consumer motoring performance."

Registration fee

SECTION 2. Section 56-3-620 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-3-620. (1) For persons sixty-five years of age or older, or persons who are handicapped as this term is defined in Section 56-3-1950, the annual registration fee for every private passenger-carrying vehicle is ten dollars.

(2) Beginning July 1, 1987 for all persons under the age of sixty-five years, the annual registration fee for every private passenger-carrying vehicle is twelve dollars.

(3) For persons sixty-five years of age or older, the annual registration fee for any property-carrying vehicle with a gross weight of five thousand pounds or less is fifteen dollars."

Time effective

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