A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 57-25-40, RELATING TO COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENT BENCHES AND APPLICATIONS BY REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY OR PUBLIC TRANSIT OPERATOR TO INSTALL BENCHES, SO AS TO ALLOW A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENT BENCHES, TO REMOVE THE PROVISION THAT REQUIRES A BENCH TO BE LOCATED AT THE APPLICANT'S BUS STOP, AND TO REMOVE THE EXPIRATION DATE OF PERMITS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.

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

SECTION 1.  Section 57-25-40 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    Section 57-25-40.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, upon proper application, the Department of Transportation may issue appropriate permits to a regional transit authority, or public transit operator, or political subdivision to install and maintain benches upon which commercial advertisements are placed provided that each bench will be located at one of the applicant's bus stops, the proposed location for the bench is within the right-of-way of a public road, and the applicant otherwise meets all relevant federal statutory and regulatory requirements. The department may charge a permit fee of twenty-five dollars for each permit application. All permits issued pursuant to this section expire on July 1, 2010.

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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