South Carolina General Assembly
123rd Session, 2019-2020

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Bill 3359

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COMMITTEE REPORT

February 7, 2019

H. 3359

Introduced by Rep. Yow

S. Printed 2/7/19--H.

Read the first time January 8, 2019.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND PUBLIC WORKS

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3359) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 56-1-151 so as to provide that an applicant for a driver's license may apply, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

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.    Section 56-1-140 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-1-140.    (A)    Upon payment of a fee of twenty-five dollars for a license that is valid for eight 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, residence address, a brief description and laminated colored photograph of the licensee, any marking otherwise required or in compliance with law, and a facsimile of the signature of the licensee. 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.

(B)    An applicant for a new, renewed, or replacement driver's license may apply to the department to obtain a veteran designation on the front of his driver's license by providing a:

(1)    United States Department of Defense discharge certificate, also known as a DD Form 214, Form 4, that shows a characterization of service, or discharge status of 'honorable' or 'general under honorable conditions' and establishes the person's qualifying military service in the United States armed forces;

(2)    National Guard Report of Separation and Record of Service, also known as an NGB Form 22, that shows a characterization of service, or discharge status of 'honorable' or 'general under honorable conditions' and establishes the person's qualifying military service of at least twenty years in the National Guard; or

(3)    Veterans Identification Card (VIC). A Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) may not be accepted.

(C)    The department may determine the appropriate form of the veteran designation on the driver's license authorized pursuant to this section.

(C)(D)    The fees collected pursuant to this section must be credited to the Department of Transportation State Non-Federal Aid Highway Fund."

SECTION    2.    Section 56-1-3350(B) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(B)    An applicant for a new, renewed, or replacement South Carolina driver's license identification card may apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain a veteran designation on the front of his driver's license identification card by providing a:

(1)    United States Department of Defense discharge certificate, also known as a DD Form 214, that shows a characterization of service, or discharge status of 'honorable' or 'general under honorable conditions' and establishes the person's qualifying military service in the United States Armed Forces; and

(2)    payment of a one dollar fee that must be collected by the department and placed by the Comptroller General into the State Highway Fund as established by Section 57-11-20, to be distributed as provided in Section 11-43-167 National Guard Report of Separation and Record of Service, also known as an NGB Form 22, that shows a characterization of service, or discharge status of 'honorable' or 'general under honorable conditions' and establishes the person's qualifying military service of at least twenty years in the National Guard; or

(3)    Veterans Identification Card (VIC). A Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) may not be accepted."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect six months after approval by the Governor.        /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

MERITA A. ALLISON for Committee.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

Amended by House Education and Public Works Motor Vehicle Subcommittee on January 29, 2019

State Expenditure

This bill as amended allows DMV to issue a driver's license or an identification card with a veteran designation to an applicant who can provide one of three forms of proof. Currently, the applicant must provide a United States Department of Defense discharge certificate (DD Form 214) that shows a characterization of service or discharge status of honorable or general under honorable conditions and establishes the person's qualifying military service in the United States Armed Forces. However, the bill adds two other forms of proof an applicant may provide: a Veterans Identification Card (VIC) or a National Guard Report of Separation and Record of Service (NGB Form 22) that shows a characterization of service or discharge status of honorable or general under honorable conditions and establishes qualifying military service of at least twenty years in the National Guard.

DMV indicates that any modifications to current forms and changes in process can be managed within current appropriations. Therefore, the bill will have no expenditure impact on the agency.

State Revenue

The amended bill deletes the $1 fee which was charged to applicants to obtain a veteran designation on the front of new, renewed, or replacement driver's licenses. In addition, this amendment removes the reference to driver's licenses within subsection 56-1-3350(B) and replaces it with identification card in order to remain consistent with the subject matter contained in this subsection.

DMV collected approximately $1,200 in revenue from adding veteran designations to identification cards in FY 2017-18. The $1,200 was allocated to the State Highway Fund of DOT. Assuming a similar pattern, revenue of the State Highway Fund would be reduced by approximately $1,200 in FY 2019-20 and each year thereafter.

Introduced on January 8, 2019

State Expenditure

This bill allows DMV to issue a driver's license with a veteran's designation to a qualifying member of the National Guard. The applicant must provide a National Guard separation report, also known as an NGB Form 22 that shows a characterization of service or discharge status of honorable or general under honorable conditions and establishes twenty or more years of service. DMV currently issues driver's licenses with veteran designations to qualifying members of the United States Armed Forces with a United States Department of Defense discharge certificate, also known as a DD Form 214. However, the bill adds that a DD Form 214 received solely from participation in training activities will not be valid for the purpose of this bill.

DMV indicates that any modifications to current forms can be managed within current appropriations. Therefore, the bill will have no expenditure impact on the agency.

State Revenue

This bill deletes the provision that allows DMV to place veteran designations on identification cards of qualifying members of the United States Armed Forces. The fee to add a veteran designation on an identification card is $1, and the revenue is allocated to the State Highway Fund of DOT.

Based upon data from DMV, the agency collected approximately $1,200 in revenue from adding veteran designations to identification cards in FY 2017-18. The $1,200 was allocated to the State Highway Fund of DOT. Assuming a similar pattern, revenue of the State Highway Fund would be reduced by approximately $1,200 in FY 2019-20 and each year thereafter.

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-1-151 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN APPLICANT FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE MAY APPLY TO OBTAIN A VETERAN DESIGNATION ON HIS DRIVERS LICENSE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-3350, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS AND DRIVERS' LICENSES THAT CONTAIN A VETERAN DESIGNATION, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT PROVIDES THAT AN APPLICANT FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE MAY APPLY TO OBTAIN A VETERAN DESIGNATION ON HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE.

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

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

"Section 56-1-151.        An applicant for a new, renewed, or replacement South Carolina driver's license may apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain a veteran designation on the front of his driver's license. The department may place the designation on the driver's license of a person who presents a:

(1)    United States Department of Defense discharge certificate, also known as a DD Form 214, that shows a characterization of service or discharge status of 'honorable' or 'general under honorable conditions' and establishes the person's qualifying military service in the United States Armed Forces. A DD Form 214 indicating medical retirement that meets the characterization of service requirements will be valid for purposes of this section. However, a DD Form 214 received solely from participation in training activities will not be valid for purposes of this section; or

(2)    National Guard Separation Report, also known as a NGB Form 22, that shows a characterization of service or discharge status of 'honorable' or 'general under honorable conditions' and establishes that the person has served for twenty or more years."

SECTION    2.    Section 56-1-3350 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-1-3350.    (A)    Upon application by a person five years of age or older, who is a resident of South Carolina, the department shall issue a special identification card as long as the:

(1)    application is made on a form approved and furnished by the department;

(2)    applicant presents to the person issuing the identification card a birth certificate or other evidence acceptable to the department of his name and date of birth; and

(3)    applicant, who wishes to obtain a special identification card that indicates the applicant is autistic, complies with subsections (A)(1) and (2) and provides documentation that he is autistic from a physician licensed in this State, as defined in Section 40-47-20(35). The special identification requested must be indicated by a symbol designated by the department on the person's special identification card.

(B)    An applicant for a new, renewed, or replacement South Carolina driver's license may apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain a veteran designation on the front of his driver's license by providing a:

(1)    United States Department of Defense discharge certificate, also known as a DD Form 214, that shows a characterization of service, or discharge status of "honorable" or "general under honorable conditions" and establishes the person's qualifying military service in the United States Armed Forces; and

(2)    payment of a one dollar fee that must be collected by the department and placed by the Comptroller General into the State Highway Fund as established by Section 57-11-20, to be distributed as provided in Section 11-43-167 (Reserved).

(C)(1)    The fee for the issuance of the special identification card is five dollars for a person between the ages of five and sixteen years.

(2)    An identification card must be free to a person aged seventeen years or older.

(D)    The identification card expires five years from the date of issuance.

(E)    Special identification cards issued to persons under the age of twenty-one must be marked, stamped, or printed to readily indicate that the person to whom the card is issued is under the age of twenty-one.

(F)    The fees collected pursuant to this section must be credited to the Department of Transportation State Non-Federal Aid Highway Fund."

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

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This web page was last updated on February 7, 2019 at 4:08 PM