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COMMITTEE REPORT
March 5, 2002
H. 4383
Introduced by Reps. Limehouse, Altman, Campsen, Chellis, Harvin, J.R. Smith, Snow, Whatley, Taylor, Rodgers and Barfield
S. Printed 3/5/02--H.
Read the first time January 8, 2002.
To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4383) to amend Chapter 3, Title 56, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to motor vehicle registration and licensing, by adding Article 62 so as to provide for the issuance of Artificial Reef special license plates, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 56-3-7300. (A) The department may issue 'Artificial Reef' special motor vehicle license plates to owners of private passenger-carrying motor vehicles or light pickups having an empty weight of seven thousand pounds or less and a gross weight of nine thousand pounds or less registered in their names. The special license plate must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period which expires twenty-four months from the month it is issued. The fee for this special license plate is the regular motor vehicle license fee contained in Article 5, Chapter 3 of this title and a special motor vehicle license fee of fifty dollars.
(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, from the fees collected pursuant to this section, the Comptroller General shall place sufficient funds into a special restricted account to be used by the department to defray the expenses of the Motor Vehicle Division in producing and administering the special license plates. The remaining funds collected from the special motor vehicle license fee must be deposited in a special account, separate and apart from the general fund, established within and administered by the Department of Natural Resources to support artificial reef development, maintenance, and management.
(C) Before the department produces and distributes a plate authorized under this section, it must receive:
(1) four hundred or more prepaid applications for the special license plate or a deposit of four thousand dollars from the individual or organization seeking issuance of the license plate. If a deposit of four thousand dollars is made by an individual or organization pursuant to this section, the department must refund the four thousand dollars once an equivalent amount of license plate fees is collected for that organization's license plate. If the equivalent amount is not collected within four years of the first issuance of the license plate, then the department must retain the deposit; and
(2) a plan to market the sale of the special license plate that must be approved by the department.
(D) If the department receives less than three hundred biennial applications and renewals for a particular special license plate authorized under this section, it shall not produce additional special license plates in that series. The department shall continue to issue special license plates of that series until the existing inventory is exhausted."
SECTION 2. Section 56-3-8100 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 63 of 1999, is amended by adding at the end:
"(D) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of the fees collected for the special license plate, the Comptroller General shall place sufficient funds into a special restricted account to be used by the Department of Public Safety to defray the expenses of the Motor Vehicle Division in producing and administering the special plate."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Amend title to conform.
RONALD P. TOWNSEND for Committee.
TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING, BY ADDING ARTICLE 62 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF ARTIFICIAL REEF SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROCEEDS OBTAINED FROM THE ISSUANCE OF THE LICENSE PLATES WOULD BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN ARTIFICIAL REEFS ALONG THE STATE'S COASTLINE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 56 of the l976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 56-3-7300. (A) The Department of Public Safety may issue 'Artificial Reef' special motor vehicle license plates to owners of private passenger-carrying motor vehicles in their names. The special license plate must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period which expires twenty-four months from the month it is issued. The fee for this special license plate is fifty dollars.
(B) From the fees collected pursuant to this section, the Comptroller General shall place sufficient funds into a special restricted account to be used by the Department of Public Safety to defray the expenses of producing the special license plates. The remaining funds must be deposited in a special account, separate and apart from the general fund, established within and administered by the Department of Natural Resources to support artificial reef development, maintenance, and management.
(C) Before the Department of Public Safety produces and distributes special license plates pursuant to this section, it must receive four hundred prepaid applications for the license plates or a deposit of four thousand dollars from the individual or organization that seeks issuance of the license plates. If a deposit of four thousand dollars is made by an individual or organization pursuant to this section, the Department of Public Safety must refund the four thousand dollars once an equivalent amount of license plate fees is collected. If the equivalent amount is not collected within four years of the first issuance of the license plates, then the department shall retain the deposit.
(D) If the Department of Public Safety receives less than three hundred biennial applications and renewals for the special license plates, it may choose not to produce additional special license plates in this series. However, the department shall continue to issue special license plates of this series until the existing inventory is exhausted."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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