Bill 4327

                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               House
Bill Number:                    4327
Primary Sponsor:                Rudnick
Committee Number:               15
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        License plates, deceased
                                spouse, transfer of
Residing Body:                  Senate
Current Committee:              Transportation
Computer Document Number:       JIC/5145HC.94
Introduced Date:                19940111
Date of Last Amendment:         19940412
Last History Body:              Senate
Last History Date:              19940414
Last History Type:              Introduced, read first time,
                                referred to Committee
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Rudnick
                                Harvin
                                Harrell
Type of Legislation:            General Bill

Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
____  ______  ____________  ______________________________  ___  ____________

4327  Senate  19940414      Introduced, read first time,    15
                            referred to Committee
4327  House   19940413      Read third time, sent to
                            Senate
4327  House   19940412      Amended, read second time
4327  House   19940406      Debate adjourned until
                            Thursday, April 7, 1994
4327  House   19940324      Committee Report: Favorable     21
                            with amendment
4327  House   19940111      Introduced, read first time,    21
                            referred to Committee
4327  House   19931201      Prefiled, referred to           21
                            Committee

AMENDED

April 12, 1994

H. 4327

S. Printed 4/12/94--H.

Read the first time January 11, 1994.

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-3-1275 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AT THE OPTION OF THE PERSON TO WHOM A VEHICLE IS LEFT BY A DECEASED SPOUSE, THE LICENSE PLATE ON THAT VEHICLE MAY BE RETAINED ON THE VEHICLE BY THE NEW OWNER AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE REREGISTRATION OF THE VEHICLE IN THE NEW OWNER'S NAME; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-900, RELATING TO REFUNDS OF REGISTRATION FEES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR REFUNDS WHEN A VEHICLE IS SOLD DURING THE REGISTRATION PERIOD.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. Article 9, Chapter 3, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-3-1275. In lieu of the provisions of Sections 56-3-1260 and 56-3-1270, when the owner of a registered and licensed vehicle dies and his ownership in the vehicle, by will or operation of law, is bequeathed to the owner's spouse, the spouse has the option of retaining the license tag attached to that vehicle. To do so, the spouse shall notify the department in writing within thirty days of receipt of the vehicle, giving his name, address, and the date of death of the former owner. In that case, the license plate issued for the vehicle shall remain attached to the vehicle, except that the registration card must be returned concurrently to the department with an application for transfer to and reregistration in the new owner's name.

The department, upon being furnished with sufficient proof that the applicant is the spouse of the deceased owner and is the new owner of the vehicle, shall record the transfer and issue a new registration card to the new owner. A charge of six dollars may be made by the department for every such transfer and reregistration.

The property tax year for the vehicle remains the same as it was the year before the former owner's death in the event of the transfer of the license plate in the manner authorized by this section."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect on the first day of the second month following approval by the Governor.