Senate Transportation Committee Amendment
H 4674 - Session 125 (2023-2024)
License plates

The Committee on Transportation proposes the following amendment (SR-4674.KM0002S):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding appropriately numbered SECTIONS to read:

SECTION X. Chapter 3, Title 56 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 Section 56-3-15020. The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue "Hearing Impaired" special motor vehicle license plates to owners of private passenger-carrying motor vehicles or motorcycles registered in their names who are hearing impaired. The application for this special motor vehicle license plate must include an original certificate from a licensed physician, as defined in Section 40-75-5, that certifies that the applicant has a permanent, uncorrectable hearing loss of forty decibels or more in one or both ears. The fee for each special license plate is the regular motor vehicle license fee set forth in Article 5. Each special license plate must be of the same size and general design of regular motor vehicle license plates. Each special license plate must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period which expires twenty-four months from the month the special license plate is issued.

SECTION X. Chapter 3, Title 56 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Article 150

South Carolina Equine Industry Special License Plates

 Section 56-3-16000. (A) The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue "South Carolina Equine Industry" special license plates to owners of private passenger-carrying motor vehicles or motorcycles registered in their names. Each special license plate must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period that expires twenty-four months from the month the special license plate is issued.
 (B) This special license plate must be the same size and general design as regular motor vehicle license plates.
 (C) The requirements for production, collection, and distribution of fees for the plate are those set forth in Section 56-3-8100. The biennial fee for each special license plate is thirty dollars plus the regular motor vehicle license fee set forth in Article 5, Chapter 3, Title 56. Any portion of the thirty-dollar fee in excess of the costs of production and distribution of the license plates must be distributed to the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of promoting of the equine industry in the State.

SECTION X. Section 56-3-7340 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 56-3-7340. (A) The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue "Native American" special license plates to owners of private passenger motor vehicles or motorcycles registered in their names. The requirements for production and distribution of the plate are those set forth in Section 56-3-8100. The biennial fee for this plate is the regular registration fee set forth in Article 5, Chapter 3 of this title plus an additional fee of thirty dollars. Any portion of the additional thirty-dollar fee not set aside by the Comptroller General to defray costs of production and distribution must be distributed to the Native American Prison Program of South Carolina.

SECTION X. Chapter 3, Title 56 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Article 151

Catawba Indian Nation Special License Plates

 Section 56-3-16010. The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue "Catawba Indian Nation" special license plates to owners of private passenger motor vehicles or motorcycles registered in their names. Only members of the Catawba Indian Nation are eligible to receive a license plate produced pursuant to this section. A member of the Catawba Indian Nation applying for the license plate must produce with the license plate application an official document from the Catawba Indian Nation verifying membership. The requirements for production and distribution of the plate are those set forth in Section 56-3-8100. The biennial fee for this plate is the regular registration fee set forth in Article 5, Chapter 3 of this title plus an additional fee of thirty dollars. Any portion of the additional thirty-dollar fee not set aside by the Comptroller General to defray costs of production and distribution must be distributed to the Native American Prison Program of South Carolina.

SECTION X. Chapter 3, Title 56 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Article 152

Cherokee Indian Nation Special License Plates

 Section 56-3-16110. The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue "Cherokee Indian Nation" special license plates to owners of private passenger motor vehicles or motorcycles registered in their names. Only members of the Cherokee Indian Nation are eligible to receive a license plate produced pursuant to this section. A member of the Cherokee Indian Nation applying for the license plate must produce with the license plate application an official document from the Cherokee Indian Nation verifying membership. The requirements for production and distribution of the plate are those set forth in Section 56-3-8100. The biennial fee for this plate is the regular registration fee set forth in Article 5, Chapter 3 of this title plus an additional fee of thirty dollars. Any portion of the additional thirty-dollar fee not set aside by the Comptroller General to defray costs of production and distribution must be distributed to the to the Museum of the Cherokee in Oconee County.

SECTION X. Chapter 3, Title 56 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Article 153

South Carolina Beekeepers Association Special License Plates

 Section 56-3-16210. (A) The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue "South Carolina Beekeepers Association" special license plates to owners of private passenger carrying motor vehicles, as defined in Section 56-3-630, or motorcycles registered in their names. Each special license plate must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period that expires twenty-four months from the month the special license plate is issued.
 (B) This special license plate must be the same size and general design as regular motor vehicle license plates.
 (C) The requirements for production, collection, and distribution of fees for the plate are those set forth in Section 56-3-8100. The biennial fee for each special license plate is forty dollars plus the regular motor vehicle license fee set forth in Article 5, Chapter 3, Title 56. Any portion of the forty-dollar fee not set aside by the Comptroller General to defray costs of production and distribution of the license plates must be distributed to the South Carolina Beekeepers Association to be used for research and education.

Amend the bill further, by striking SECTION 2 and inserting:

SECTION 2. This act takes effect six months after approval by the Governor.