A BILL

TO AMEND SECTIONS 56-3-10110, 56-3-10210, AND 56-3-10310, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES TO VETERANS OF OPERATION DESERT STORM-DESERT SHIELD, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, AND OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, SO AS TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE GENERAL FUND ARE ALLOCATED A PORTION OF THE FEES COLLECTED FROM THE SALE OF THE LICENSE PLATES, AND TO PROVIDE THE INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION SEEKING ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE PLATE IS NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT A FEE AND A MARKET PLAN BEFORE THE LICENSE PLATE IS PRODUCED.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 56-3-10110 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

    "Section 56-3-10110.    (A)    The department may issue 'Operation Desert Storm-Desert Shield Veteran' special motor vehicle license plates to owners of private passenger-carrying motor vehicles or light pickups as defined in Section 56-3-630 registered in their names who are veterans of Operation Desert Storm-Desert Shield who served on active duty in the Persian Gulf at anytime during the period of August 2, 1990, to February 28, 1991. The motor vehicle owner must present the department with a DD214, or other official documentation that states that he served on active duty during Operation Desert Storm-Desert Shield, along with his application for this special license plate. The special license plate may have imprinted on it an emblem, a seal, or other symbol that honors veterans of Operation Desert Storm-Desert Shield. The special license plate must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period which expires twenty-four months from the month it is issued. The fee for this special license plate is the regular motor vehicle registration fee contained in Article 5, Chapter 3 of this title and a special motor vehicle license fee of twenty dollars.

    (B)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, from the fees collected pursuant to this section, the Comptroller General shall place sufficient funds into a special restricted account to be used by the Department of Motor Vehicles to defray the expenses of the department in producing and administering the special license plates. The remaining funds collected from the special motor vehicle license fee must be placed in the state's general fund. The provisions contained in Section 56-3-8100(A)(1) and (2) do not apply to the production and distribution of this special license plate.

    (C)    The guidelines for the production of a special license plate under this section must meet the requirements of Section 56-3-8100."

SECTION    2.    Section 56-3-10210 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

    "Section 56-3-10210.    (A)    The department may issue 'Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran' special motor vehicle license plates to owners of private passenger-carrying motor vehicles or light pickups as defined in Section 56-3-630 registered in their names who are veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom who served on active duty fighting against terrorism at anytime following September 11, 2001, until the operation is completed. The motor vehicle owner must present the department with a DD214, or other official documentation that states that he served on active duty during Operation Enduring Freedom, along with his application for this special license plate. The special license plate may have imprinted on it an emblem, a seal, or other symbol that honors veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom. The special license plate must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period which expires twenty-four months from the month it is issued. The fee for this special license plate is the regular motor vehicle registration fee contained in Article 5, Chapter 3 of this title and a special motor vehicle license fee of twenty dollars.

    (B)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, from the fees collected pursuant to this section, the Comptroller General shall place sufficient funds into a special restricted account to be used by the Department of Motor Vehicles to defray the expenses of the department in producing and administering the special license plates. The remaining funds collected from the special motor vehicle license fee must be placed in the state's general fund. The provisions contained in Section 56-3-8100(A)(1) and (2) do not apply to the production and distribution of this special license plate.

    (C)    The guidelines for the production of a special license plate under this section must meet the requirements of Section 56-3-8100."

SECTION    3. Section 56-3-10310 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

    "Section 56-3-10310.    (A)    The department may issue 'Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran' special motor vehicle license plates to owners of private passenger-carrying motor vehicles or light pickups as defined in Section 56-3-630 registered in their names who are veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom who served on active duty in Iraq or the Persian Gulf at anytime from March 20, 2003, until the operation is completed. The motor vehicle owner must present the department with a DD214, or other official documentation that states that he served on active duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, along with his application for this special license plate. The special license plate may have imprinted on it an emblem, a seal, or other symbol that honors veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The special license plate must be issued or revalidated for a biennial period which expires twenty-four months from the month it is issued. The fee for this special license plate is the regular motor vehicle registration fee contained in Article 5, Chapter 3 of this title and a special motor vehicle license fee of twenty dollars.

    (B)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, from the fees collected pursuant to this section, the Comptroller General shall place sufficient funds into a special restricted account to be used by the Department of Motor Vehicles to defray the expenses of the department in producing and administering the special license plates. The remaining funds collected from the special motor vehicle license fee must be placed in the state's general fund. The provisions contained in Section 56-3-8100(A)(1) and (2) do not apply to the production and distribution of this special license plate.

    (C)    The guidelines for the production of a special license plate under this section must meet the requirements of Section 56-3-8100."

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.