South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004

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Bill 342

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Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

AMENDED

May 15, 2003

S. 342

Introduced by Senator McConnell

S. Printed 5/15/03--H.

Read the first time April 10, 2003.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING, BY ADDING ARTICLE 41 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SHALL ISSUE "SOUTH CAROLINA ELKS ASSOCIATION" SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF FEES COLLECTED FOR THESE SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 3, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 41

South Carolina Elks Association Special License Plates

Section 56-3-4100.    (A)    The Department of Public Safety may issue special motor vehicle license plates to owners of private passenger 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 which shall have imprinted on the plate the words 'South Carolina Elks Association'. The fee for this special license plate is the regular motor vehicle license fee set forth in Article 5 and the special fee required by Section 56-3-2020. This special license plate must be of the same size and general design of regular motor vehicle license plates. The special license plates must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period which expires twenty-four months from the month they are issued.

(B)    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 license plate. Any remaining funds must be deposited in a special account, separate and apart from the general fund, designated for use by the South Carolina Elks Association to be used to support its Alzheimer's state project.

(C)    Before the Department of Public Safety produces and distributes a special license plate pursuant to this section, it must receive four hundred 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 and, a plan to market the sale of the special license plate must be approved by the department. If the equivalent amount is not collected within four years of the first issuance of the license plate, the department shall retain the deposit.

(D)    If the department receives less than three hundred biennial applications and renewals for the 'South Carolina Elks Association' special license plate, it may not produce additional special license plates in that series. However, the department shall continue to issue special license plates of that series until the existing inventory is exhausted."

SECTION    2.    Sections 2 through 20 of this bill may be cited as the Department of Motor Vehicles Reform Act of 2003.

SECTION    3.    Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-1-5.    (A)    The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles is hereby established as an administrative agency of the state government.

(B)    Upon the signature of the Governor, all functions, powers, duties, responsibilities, and authority statutorily exercised by the Motor Vehicle Division and the State Transport Police Division within the Department of Public Safety are transferred to and devolved upon the Department of Motor Vehicles.

(C)    The Executive Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

(D)    The executive director is the executive and administrative head of the Department of Motor Vehicles. The executive director shall administer the policies defined by the department and the affairs of the department.

(E)    The executive director may appoint assistants, deputies, and employees as the executive director considers necessary and proper to administer the affairs of the department and may prescribe their duties, powers, and functions.

(F)    The Legislative Audit Council shall conduct an independent review of the Department of Motor Vehicles every three years."

SECTION    4.    (A)    The employees, funds, appropriations, assets, liabilities, bonded indebtedness if applicable, real and personal property, contractual rights and obligations of the Motor Vehicle Division and the State Transport Police Division of the Department of Public Safety are transferred to and become part of the Department of Motor Vehicles unless otherwise specially provided. All classified or unclassified personnel of these divisions, on the effective date of this act, either by contract or by employment at will, shall become employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles, with the same compensation, classification, and grade level, as applicable. Where the functions of the Department of Public Safety and the divisions have been devolved on more than one department or division, the general support services of the Department of Public Safety must be transferred to the restructured Department of Public Safety and Department of Motor Vehicles. The Budget and Control Board shall cause all necessary actions to be taken to accomplish this transfer and shall in consultation with the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Motor Vehicles prescribe the manner in which the transfer provided for in this section shall be accomplished.

(B)    Employees or personnel transferred to the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to the terms of this act shall continue to occupy the same office locations and facilities which they now occupy unless or until otherwise changed by appropriate action and authorization. If the Department of Public Safety transfers office locations and facilities which it now occupies, then the employees or personnel transferred to the Department of Motor Vehicles shall transfer with the Department of Public Safety to the new locations and facilities unless or until otherwise changed by appropriate action and authorization. The rent and physical plan operating costs of the offices and facilities occupied by the employees and personnel transferred to the Department of Motor Vehicles shall continue to be paid by the Department of Public Safety until otherwise provided by the General Assembly. Any existing contracts or agreements entered into by the Department of Public Safety regarding office locations and facilities of employees or personnel transferred to the Department of Motor Vehicles will continue in force and effect and will be binding upon the Department of Public Safety.

(C)    The personnel records and files of the Department of Public Safety shall continue to remain the property of the Department of Public Safety, except that these personnel shall have complete access to these records and files in the performance of their duties as new employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

(D)    Unless otherwise provided in this section or by law, all fines, fees, forfeitures, or revenues imposed or levied by the Motor Vehicle Division and the State Transport Division so transferred to the Department of Motor Vehicles must continue to be used and expended for those purposes provided before the effective date of this act. If a portion of these fines, fees, forfeitures, or revenues were required to be used for the support, benefit, or expense of personnel transferred, these funds must continue to be used for these purposes.

(E)    The Budget and Control Board, in consultation with the appropriate standing committees of the General Assembly as designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall provide the manner in which the provision of subsections (A), (B), (C), and (D) must be implemented where agreement between the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Motor Vehicles cannot be obtained.

SECTION    5.    Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-1-15.    (A)    The Department of Motor Vehicles must enter into contracts with persons, corporations, or governmental subdivisions, including public schools, in localities throughout the State to administer the portion of the driver's license examination that tests the driver's license applicant's ability to read and understand highway signs that regulate, warn, and direct traffic, and his knowledge of the traffic laws of the State, and the actual demonstration of his ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of the type of motor vehicle for which the license is sought as contained in Section 56-1-130(A). The department must supervise the provision of services contained in this subsection. The department must supply driver education instructors appropriate testing materials to administer the examinations contained in this section. A person or corporation administering an examination pursuant to this section may charge a fee in excess of the fee charged by the department for the examination.

(B)    The department must randomly test driver's license applicants who successfully complete the driver's license examinations pursuant to subsection (A) to ensure that the driver's license instructors are properly certifying that their students have successfully completed a driver's license examination.

(C)    If through testing or other review procedures, the department determines that a contractor is not conforming to the law and regulations applicable to licensing it may:

(1)    suspend the authority of a particular individual or entity operating under the contract to administer the tests;

(2)    suspend the contract;

(3)    cancel the contract."

SECTION    6.    Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-1-125.    (A)    Upon receiving proper authority from the United States Government, a United States male citizen or immigrant who is less than twenty-six years of age must be registered for the United States Selective Service when applying to the Department of Motor Vehicles for the issuance, renewal, or a duplicate copy of:

(1)    a driver's license;

(2)    a commercial driver's license; or

(3)    an identification card.

(B)    The department shall forward in an electronic format the necessary personal information required for registration of individuals identified in this section to the Selective Service System.

(C)    An individual's submission of an application contained in subsection (A) serves as an indication that the individual has registered with the Selective Service System or that he is authorizing the department to forward to the Selective Service System information necessary for his registration.

(D)    The department shall inform the individual who is at least eighteen years of age and less than twenty-six years of age, on his application, that his submission of the application for a license or identification card serves as his consent to be registered with the Selective Service System, if required by federal law.

(E)    The department shall inform the individual who is less than eighteen years of age, on his application, that his submission of the application for a license or identification card serves as his consent to be registered with the Selective Service System upon attaining eighteen years of age, if required by federal law. His application also must be signed by his parent or guardian. By signing the application, the parent or guardian authorizes the department to register the applicant with the Selective Service System upon attaining eighteen years of age, if required by federal law. The applicant, parent, or guardian may decline the Selective Service System registration. If the applicant, parent, or guardian declines the Selective Service System registration, the department may issue a license or identification card, but the applicant must renew the license or identification card upon attaining eighteen years of age.

(F)    This section takes effect upon the department's receipt from the federal government of the funds necessary to implement this section."

SECTION    7.    Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-1-345.    The Department of Motor Vehicles may charge and collect fees in accordance with Section 30-4-30 of the Freedom of Information Act for providing copies of registration, title, and driver's license information records maintained by the department."

SECTION    8.    Section 1-30-90 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 459 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 1-30-90.    The following agencies, boards, and commissions, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated, or related entities as well as the employees, funds, property and all contractual rights and obligations associated with any such agency, except for those subdivisions specifically included under another department, are hereby transferred to and incorporated in and shall be administered as part of the Department of Public Safety to be initially divided into divisions for Highway Patrol, State Police, and Training and Continuing Education, and Motor Vehicle.

(A)    Law Enforcement Hall of Fame, formerly provided for at Section 23-25-10, et seq.;

(B)    State Highway Patrol, formerly provided for at Section 23-5-10, et seq.;

(C)    Public Service Commission Safety Enforcement, formerly provided at Section 58-3-310;

(D)    Law Enforcement Training Council, formerly provided for at Section 23-23-30, et seq.;

(E)    Public Safety Division, formerly of the Governor's Office;

(F)    The vehicle inspection, administrative services, drivers records, and financial responsibility sections and other offices of the Division of Motor Vehicles, formerly provided for at Section 56-1-10, et seq.;

(G)    The motor vehicle licensing, registration, and titling sections, formerly provided for at Section 1-30-95(B)."

SECTION    9.    Section 23-6-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 459 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 23-6-20.    (A)    The Department of Public Safety is established as an administrative agency of state government which is comprised of a Motor Vehicle Division, a South Carolina Highway Patrol Division, a South Carolina State Police Division, and a Division of Training and Continuing Education.

(B)    The functions, powers, duties, responsibilities, and authority statutorily exercised by the following offices, sections, departments, or divisions of the following state agencies as existing on the effective date of this act are transferred to and devolved on the department to include the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the Drivers Training Schools within the Department of Licensing of the Division of Motor Vehicles, the Driver Records Section within the Division of Motor Vehicles, the Financial Responsibility Section within the Division of Motor Vehicles, the Reciprocity Office of the Registration and Reciprocity Section within the Division of Motor Vehicles, the Administrative Services Section of the Division of Motor Vehicles, the Motor Vehicle Sections transferred to the Department of Revenue pursuant to Act 181 of 1993, and the Safety Office Section of the Division of Finance and Administration of the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation; the Safety Enforcement Officers of the Office of Enforcement within the Transportation Division of the South Carolina Public Service Commission, and the Governor's Office of Public Safety, together with all assets, liabilities, records, property, personnel, unexpended appropriations, and other funds shall be transferred to the control of the department. All rules, regulations, standards, orders, or other actions of these entities shall remain in effect unless specifically changed or voided by the department in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, or otherwise provided."

SECTION    10.    Section 23-6-30 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 459 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 23-6-30.    The department shall have the following duties and powers:

(1)    carry out highway and other related safety programs;

(2) license suspensions and revocations, including related administrative hearings;

(3) title and register motor vehicles; license motor vehicle operator's; administer the collection of license, registration, titling and other fees; maintain an automated system for the storage and retrieval of all motor vehicle and motor vehicle operator records, including vehicle and registration and operator licensing, violations and accidents;

(4)engage in driver training and safety activities;

(5)(3)    enforce the traffic, motor vehicle, commercial vehicle and related laws;

(6)(4)    enforce size, weight, and safety enforcement statutes relating to commercial motor vehicles;

(7)(5)    operate a comprehensive law enforcement personnel training program;

(8)(6)    promulgate such rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act and Article 7 of this chapter for the administration and enforcement of the powers delegated to the department by law, which shall have the full force and effect of law;

(9)(7)    operate such programs and disseminate information and material so as to continually improve highway safety;

(10)(8)    receive and disburse funds and grants, including any donations, contributions, funds, grants, or gifts from private individuals, foundations, agencies, corporations, or the state or federal governments for the purpose of carrying out the programs and objectives of this chapter; and

(11)(9)    do all other functions and responsibilities as required or provided for by law."

SECTION    11.    Section 56-1-10(4) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 459 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"(4)    'Department' means the Department of Public Safety Motor Vehicles."

SECTION    12.    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 license that is valid for five years, or twenty-five dollars for a license that is valid for ten years, the department shall issue to every qualified applicant a driver's license as applied for by law. 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    13.    Section 56-1-210 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 459 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 56-1-210.    (A)    Every A license issued or renewed before October 1, 2003, expires on the licensee's birth date on the fifth calendar year after the calendar year in which it is issued. A license issued or renewed on or after October 1, 2003, expires on the licensee's birth date on the tenth calendar year after the calendar year in which it is issued. Once a licensee becomes sixty-five years of age or older, the license expires on the licensee's birth date on the fifth calendar year after the calendar year in which it is issued.

(B)    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.

(C)    The department may renew a driver's license of a resident by mail or electronically upon payment of the required fee, if the renewal is a digitized license.

(D)    No A license may not be renewed until the licensee is reexamined as provided in Section 56-1-130, except that the licensee is not required to take the road test provided in Section 56-1-130; provided, further, that only the visual examination vision screening is required of those persons who have no more than five points for moving traffic violations in the two years prior to making application for renewal. For cause shown, the department may require the submission by the applicant of evidence satisfactory to the department of the applicant's mental and physical fitness to drive and his knowledge of traffic laws and regulations. If the evidence is not satisfactory to the department, the department may require an examination of the applicant as upon an original application. Parallel parking is not required as a part of the driver test.

(E)    If a person's license expires and he is unable to renew it before its expiration date because he is on active military duty outside this State for a continuous period of at least thirty days immediately before the expiration date or because he is the spouse or dependent living for a continuous period of at least thirty days immediately before the expiration date with a person on active military duty outside this State, within sixty days after returning to this State, the person may renew his license in the manner permitted by this section as though the license had not expired. The department may require proof from the person that he qualifies for renewal of his license under this paragraph. Upon request, the person shall provide the department with a copy of his military service record, a document of his branch of military service showing the date of active military duty outside the State, or other evidence presented by the person showing the dates of service."

SECTION    14.    Section 56-1-220 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 56-1-220.    (a)(A)    Eye examinations shall be Vision screenings are required for all persons prior to before having their licenses renewed by the department. Such examinations may be made by any person authorized by law in this State to examine eyes or by designated personnel of the department. The vision screening may be waived upon the submission of a certificate dated within the previous twelve months from a person authorized by law in this State to screen eyes.

(B)    During the fifth year of a ten-year license, the licensee must submit by mail to the department a certificate from a person authorized by law in this State to screen eyes or appear in person at a department office to complete a vision screening. If a licensee fails to submit a certificate or fails to appear in person, the licensee must be fined fifty dollars. The department shall waive the fine if the person completes the requirements of this section within ninety days after the end of the fifth year of a ten-year license. This fine must be placed by the Comptroller General into a special restricted account to be used by the department to defray the expenses incurred by this section. Interest accrued by this account must remain in this account.

(C)    A vision screening will not be required before October 1, 2008, if a licensee is less than sixty-five years of age, his license expires on his birth date on the fifth calendar year after the calendar year in which it is issued, and his license is renewed for an additional five years by mail or electronically. If a licensee is sixty-five years of age or older and his license expires on his birth date on the fifth calendar year after the calendar year in which it is issued, then he may renew his license by mail for an additional five years upon submission of a certificate from a person authorized by law in this State to screen eyes.

(b)(D)    The renewal license forms distributed by the department shall must be designed so as to contain a certification that the vision of the person examined screened meets the minimum standards required by the department or have been corrected to meet such these requirements. Such The certification shall must be executed by the person conducting the examination screening. Provided, that The minimum standards of the department shall not require a greater degree of vision than 20/40 corrected in one eye.

(c)(E)    Any A person whose vision is corrected to meet such the minimum standards shall have such the correction noted on his driver's license by the department.

(d)(F)    It shall be is unlawful for any a person whose vision requires correction in order to meet the minimum standards of the department to drive a motor vehicle in this State without the use of such the correction.

(e)(G)    Unless otherwise provided in this section, any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days."

SECTION    15.    Section 56-2-2740 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 40 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 56-2-2740.    (A)    The department Department of Motor Vehicles must refuse to renew the driver's license and motor vehicle registration of a person who has not paid property taxes within the time limits prescribed in this chapter. A county treasurer or municipal clerk treasurer must forward notification to the department of persons violating the provisions of this chapter. Notification of individuals violating this chapter must be forwarded to the department in the time and manner determined by the department for the proper administration of this section.

(B)    The Department of Public Safety department shall issue biennial license plates and revalidation decals. The department may enter into contracts with persons, corporations, or governmental subdivisions to issue license plates and revalidation decals. The department, person, corporation, or governmental subdivision shall give a motor vehicle owner a license plate or revalidation decal for the tax year to for which personal property taxes and biennial fees have been paid pursuant to Section 56-3-253.

(C)    All validation decals must be issued for a period not to exceed twelve months.

(D)    A person or corporation that issues license plates or revalidation decals pursuant to this section may charge a fee in excess of the fee charged by the department.

(E)    A governmental subdivision that issues license plates or revalidation decals pursuant to this section may charge a one dollar fee to defray the expenses associated with the issuance of license plates and revalidation decals.

(F)    The department shall supervise the provision of services contained in this section."

SECTION    16.    Section 23-6-35 and Article 7, Chapter 6, Title 23 of the 1976 Code are repealed.

SECTION    17.    Wherever the terms Department of Public Safety, Motor Vehicle Division, Motor Vehicles Division, or Division of Motor Vehicles appear in Title 56 of the 1976 Code, they shall mean Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Code Commissioner is directed to change these references at a time and in a manner that is timely and cost effective.

SECTION    18.    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    19.    The Department of Motor Vehicles is prohibited from hiring additional employees during the ninety day period following the effective date of this act, except with the specific written approval of the State Budget and Control Board.

SECTION    20.    Chapter 1, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-1-215.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a person's license expires, the person may have his license renewed without taking the road test or a written examination required pursuant to Section 56-1-130 if the person applies for his license within nine months of the expiration of his license."

SECTION    21.    SECTIONS 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 of this act take effect upon approval by the Governor. SECTIONS 5 and 15 of this act take effect at least sixty days after approval by the Governor.

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