South Carolina General Assembly
120th Session, 2013-2014

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A128, R133, H3623

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Atwater and Toole
Document Path: l:\council\bills\agm\19910ab13.docx

Introduced in the House on February 26, 2013
Introduced in the Senate on April 16, 2013
Last Amended on April 11, 2013
Passed by the General Assembly on February 25, 2014
Governor's Action: March 4, 2014, Signed

Summary: Automobile insurance

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2/26/2013  House   Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 10)
   2/26/2013  House   Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry 
                        (House Journal-page 10)
   3/21/2013  House   Committee report: Favorable with amendment Labor, 
                        Commerce and Industry (House Journal-page 5)
    4/9/2013  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Toole
   4/10/2013  House   Debate adjourned until Thur., 4-11-13 
                        (House Journal-page 39)
   4/11/2013  House   Amended (House Journal-page 56)
   4/11/2013  House   Read second time (House Journal-page 56)
   4/11/2013  House   Roll call Yeas-109  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 57)
   4/11/2013  House   Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative 
                        day (House Journal-page 58)
   4/12/2013  House   Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 2)
   4/16/2013  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 17)
   4/16/2013  Senate  Referred to Committee on Transportation 
                        (Senate Journal-page 17)
   2/19/2014  Senate  Committee report: Favorable Transportation 
                        (Senate Journal-page 23)
   2/20/2014  Senate  Read second time (Senate Journal-page 15)
   2/20/2014  Senate  Roll call Ayes-39  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 15)
   2/25/2014  Senate  Read third time and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 15)
   2/27/2014          Ratified R 133
    3/4/2014          Signed By Governor
   3/11/2014          Effective date 03/04/14
   3/14/2014          Act No. 128

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

2/26/2013
3/21/2013
4/11/2013
2/19/2014


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

(A128, R133, H3623)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-77-127 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN AUTOMOBILE INSURER MAY VERIFY THE COVERAGE OF AN INSURED BY ELECTRONIC FORMAT TO A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE UPON REQUEST OF THE INSURED, AND TO PROVIDE A NECESSARY DEFINITION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-10-225, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR MAINTAINING PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN AN AUTOMOBILE, SO AS TO PERMIT THE USE OF A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE TO SATISFY THESE REQUIREMENTS, TO PROVIDE AN INSURER IS NOT REQUIRED TO ISSUE THIS VERIFICATION IN AN ELECTRONIC FORMAT, TO PROVIDE THAT PRESENTING AN ELECTRONIC MOBILE DEVICE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SATISFY PROOF OF AUTOMOBILE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DOES NOT SUBJECT INFORMATION CONTAINED OR STORED IN THE DEVICE TO SEARCH ABSENT A VALID SEARCH WARRANT OR CONSENT OF THE LAWFUL OWNER OF THE DEVICE.

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

Insurer may provide proof electronically

SECTION    1.    Article 3, Chapter 77, Title 38 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 38-77-127.    (A)    An automobile insurer may issue verification concerning the existence of coverage it provides an insured in an electronic format to a mobile electronic device upon request of the insured.

(B)    For purposes of this section, 'mobile electronic device' means a portable computing and communication device that has a display screen with touch input or a miniature keyboard and is capable of receiving information transmitted in an electronic format."

Insured may prove electronically, device not subject to search, exceptions

SECTION    2.    Section 56-10-225(B) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(B)    The owner of a motor vehicle must maintain proof of financial responsibility in the motor vehicle at all times, and it must be displayed upon demand of a police officer or any other person duly authorized by law. Evidence of financial responsibility may be provided by use of a mobile electronic device in a format issued by an automobile insurer. This section does not require that an automobile insurer issue verification concerning the existence of coverage it provides an insured in an electronic format. Information contained or stored in a mobile electronic device presented pursuant to this subsection is not subject to a search by a law enforcement officer except pursuant to the provisions of Section 17-13-140 providing for the issuance, execution, and return of a search warrant or pursuant to the express written consent of the lawful owner of the device."

Savings clause

SECTION    3.    The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.

Time effective

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

Ratified the 27th day of February, 2014.

Approved the 4th day of March, 2014.

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This web page was last updated on May 13, 2014 at 10:47 AM