Current Status Bill Number:964 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19960109 Primary Sponsor:Thomas All Sponsors:Thomas, Richter, Rose, Elliott, Bryan, Ryberg, Courtney, Waldrep, Saleeby, Giese, Land, O'Dell, Martin, Matthews, Mescher, Hayes Drafted Document Number:DKA\3398CM.96 Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Transportation Committee 15 ST Subject:Drivers license, beginner's permits; age increased
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
Senate 19960110 Referred to Committee 15 ST
Senate 19960110 Recalled from Committee 04 SED
Senate 19960109 Introduced, read first time, 04 SED
referred to Committee
Senate 19951204 Prefiled, referred to Committee 04 SED
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TO AMEND SECTIONS 56-1-40 AND 56-1-50, BOTH AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF DRIVER'S LICENSES AND BEGINNER'S PERMITS, SO AS TO INCREASE THE AGE FROM FIFTEEN TO SIXTEEN WHEN A PERSON MAY RECEIVE A LICENSE OR PERMIT; TO AMEND SECTION 59-39-320, RELATING TO HIGH SCHOOL DRIVER EDUCATION AND TRAINING COURSES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL REQUIRE A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT TO COMPLETE SUCCESSFULLY A DRIVER EDUCATION COURSE BEFORE RECEIVING A DIPLOMA AND TO PROVIDE THAT THIS COURSE SHALL COST TWENTY DOLLARS WHICH MUST BE DIVIDED EQUALLY BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 56-1-180 RELATING TO SPECIAL RESTRICTED DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR CERTAIN MINORS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 56-1-40(1) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Section 121D, Part II, Act 497 of 1994, is further amended to read:
"(1) who is under sixteen years of age. However, the department may issue a beginner's or instruction permit as provided in Sections 56-1-50 and 56-1-60 to a person who is at least fifteen years of age, and the department may issue a special restricted driver's license to a person who is at least fifteen years of age and less than sixteen years of age as provided in Section 56-1-180;"
SECTION 2. The first paragraph of Section 56-1-50 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Section 121E, Part II, Act 497 of 1994, is further amended to read:
"A person who is at least fifteen sixteen years of age may apply to the department for a beginner's permit. After the applicant has passed successfully all parts of the examination other than the driving test, the department may issue to the applicant a beginner's permit which entitles the applicant having the permit in his immediate possession to drive a motor vehicle on the public highways for not more than twelve months. While driving the permittee must be accompanied by a licensed driver eighteen years of age or older who has had at least one year of driving experience, and who is occupying a seat beside the driver, except when the permittee is operating a motorcycle. A three-wheel vehicle requires the accompanying driver to be directly behind the driver on a saddle-type seat or beside the driver on a bench-type seat. A beginner's permit may be renewed or a new permit issued for additional periods of twelve months, but the department may refuse to renew or issue a new permit where the examining officer has reason to believe the applicant has not made a bona fide effort to pass the required driver's road test or does not appear to the examining officer to have the aptitude to pass the road test. The fee for every a beginner's or renewal permit is two dollars and fifty cents, and the permit must bear the full name, date of birth, and residence address and a brief description and color photograph of the permittee and a facsimile of the signature of the permittee or a space upon which the permittee shall write his usual signature with pen and ink immediately upon receipt of the permit. No permit is valid until it has been so signed by the permittee."
SECTION 3. Section 59-39-320 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-39-320. (A) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations for establishment by local school districts of approved driver education and training courses, and when duly promulgated shall have full force and effect of law. Such These regulations shall require that credit for completion of a driver education training course shall not be given unless the course shall have has included not less than thirty classroom hours of instruction in driver education, and not less than six hours of actual behind-the-wheel driving, and require that a student shall complete successfully a driver education training course before receiving a high school diploma.
(B) A local school district must charge a student enrolled in a driver education and training course a twenty dollar fee. One-half of this fee must be deposited in the general fund of the State and one-half of the fee must be retained by the local school district."
SECTION 4. Section 56-1-180 of the 1976 Code is repealed.
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.