South Carolina General Assembly
124th Session, 2021-2022

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Bill 4570

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

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COMMITTEE REPORT

February 3, 2022

H. 4570

Introduced by Reps. Calhoon, Bustos, McGarry, W. Cox, Erickson and Bradley

S. Printed 2/3/22--H.    [SEC 2/4/22 3:40 PM]

Read the first time January 11, 2022.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND PUBLIC WORKS

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4570) to amend Section 56-3-14970, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the issuance of special license plates to service members associated with various military, 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 56-3-14970(A) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 38 of 2021, is amended to read:

"(A)    The department may issue the following special license plates reflective of military service for private passenger vehicles and motorcycles to active or prior service members associated with the following military components or designations:

(1)    Veteran or Veteran wheelchair if the registrant qualifies for handicapped parking pursuant to Section 56-3-1910(H)

(2)    Female Veteran or Female Veteran wheelchair if the registrant qualifies for handicapped parking pursuant to Section 56-3-1910(H)

(3)    Combat-Related Disabled Veteran - the registrant must have a combat-related disability as evidenced by a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs defining a combat and operations-related disability

(4)    Army

(5)    Marine Corps

(6)    Navy

(7)    Air Force

(8)    Coast Guard

(9)    US Space Force

(10)    National Guard- Army

(10)(11)    National Guard- Air

(11)(12)    National Guard- Retired

(12)(13)    US Military Reserve- Army

(13)(14)    US Military Reserve- Marine Corps

(14)(15)    US Military Reserve- Navy

(15)(16)    US Military Reserve- Air Force

(16)(17)    US Military Reserve- Coast Guard

(17)(18)    US Armed Forces Retired

(18)(19)    State Guard."

SECTION    2.    Section 56-3-14940(B) of the 1976 Code as added by Act 38 of 2021, is amended to read:

"(B)    The qualifying service member or veteran must be one of the registrants of the vehicle. No more than three license plates may be issued to the award recipient. License plates for medals specified in subsection (A) are subject to exempt from the regular motor vehicle registration fee contained in Article 5, Chapter 3, Title 56 but no additional specialty plate fee. These special license plates must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period which expires twenty-four months from the month they are issued."

SECTION    3.    Section 56-3-14960(A) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 38 of 2021, is amended to read:

"(A)    The department may issue the following special license plates reflective of meritorious service for private passenger vehicles and motorcycles to active or prior service members who received the following awards:

(1)    Air Medal

(2)    Bronze Star (service)

(3)    Meritorious Service Medal."

SECTION    4.    Section 56-3-14980(A) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 38 of 2021, is amended to read:

"(A)    The department may issue the following types of special license plates showing support for military-related private organizations for private passenger vehicles and motorcycles to members of the general public that will financially benefit the following organizations:

(1)    Blue Star Family

(2)    Veterans of Foreign Wars

(3)    American Legion

(4)    Disabled American Veterans

(5)    American Veterans

(6)    Marine Corps League

(7)    Chief Petty Officer

(8)    Support Our Troops."

SECTION    5.    Section 56-3-14990 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 38 of 2021, is amended to read:

"Upon the death of an award recipient, a surviving spouse may apply to the department for a license plate issued under the provisions of Sections 56-3-14710, 56-3-14720, or 56-3-14730(A)(3) 56-3-14910, 56-3-14920, or 56-3-14930(A)(3). The surviving spouse may apply to the department to transfer a license plate previously issued to the award recipient under the provisions of Sections 56-3-14710, 56-3-14720, or 56-3-14730(A)(3) 56-3-14910, 56-3-14920, or 56-3-14930(A)(3) pursuant to Section 56-3-210(G). The surviving spouse must turn the plate into the department when the surviving spouse is no longer eligible for surviving spouse military benefits."

SECTION    6.    Section 56-3-15000 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 38 of 2021, is amended to read:

"License plates first issued to registrants under previous award criteria requirements are not subject to the revised award documentation requirements that a person must provide the department upon applying meet to apply for a plate specified in this article."

SECTION    7.    Article 20, Chapter 3, Title 56 is repealed.

SECTION    8.    This act takes effect on May 6, 2022.            /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

MERITA A. ALLISON for Committee.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill allows DMV to issue US Space Force license plates for private passenger motor vehicles or motorcycles to active or prior service members. These plates are exempt from the $6,800 application fee normally required in Section 56-3-8100(A). Therefore, DMV will be responsible for the cost of producing each new license plate, which is $800 per plate. The agency will manage these costs within its existing appropriations if the plates are requested.

State Revenue

The new license plates in this bill are exempt from the biennial registration fee and special plate fee required in Section 56-3-8100(D). These fees are apportioned to the Plate Replacement Fund of DMV, the Infrastructure Maintenance Trust Fund and the State Highway Fund of DOT, and the State Transportation Infrastructure Bank. Since the bill exempts the license plates from these fees, there is no impact on general fund revenue, other funds revenue of DOT, other funds revenue of DMV, or revenue of the State Transportation Infrastructure Bank.

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-14970, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES TO SERVICE MEMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH VARIOUS MILITARY COMPONENTS OR DESIGNATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF "UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE" SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 56-3-14970(A) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 38 of 2021, is amended to read:

"(A)    The department may issue the following special license plates reflective of military service for private passenger vehicles and motorcycles to active or prior service members associated with the following military components or designations:

(1)    Veteran or Veteran wheelchair if the registrant qualifies for handicapped parking pursuant to Section 56-3-1910(H)

(2)    Female Veteran or Female Veteran wheelchair if the registrant qualifies for handicapped parking pursuant to Section 56-3-1910(H)

(3)    Combat-Related Disabled Veteran - the registrant must have a combat-related disability as evidenced by a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs defining a combat and operations-related disability

(4)    Army

(5)    Marine Corps

(6)    Navy

(7)    Air Force

(8)    Coast Guard

(9)    US Space Force

(10)    National Guard- Army

(10)(11)    National Guard- Air

(11)(12)    National Guard- Retired

(12)(13)    US Military Reserve- Army

(13)(14)    US Military Reserve- Marine Corps

(14)(15)    US Military Reserve- Navy

(15)(16)    US Military Reserve- Air Force

(16)(17)    US Military Reserve- Coast Guard

(17)(18)    US Armed Forces Retired

(18)(19)    State Guard."

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

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