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TO AMEND SECTION 51-3-60, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO USE OF FACILITIES, CAMPSITES, AND OVERNIGHT LODGING FACILITIES AT STATE PARKS AT REDUCED RATES BY THE AGED, BLIND, OR DISABLED, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH PERSONS MAY USE THESE FACILITIES AT ONE-HALF THE PRESCRIBED FEE, INCLUDING CAMPSITE FACILITIES AND OVERNIGHT LODGING FACILITIES IF VACANCIES EXIST, AND TO PROVIDE THAT DISABLED VETERANS MAY GAIN ADMISSION TO STATE PARKS WITHOUT CHARGE AND MAY USE THE CAMPING FACILITIES AND OVERNIGHT LODGING FACILITIES OF STATE PARKS IF VACANCIES EXIST WITHOUT CHARGE; AND BY ADDING SECTION 51-3-75 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BASED ON A REVIEW OF BUSINESS AND PERSONAL USE OF A PARTICULAR STATE PARK OR FACILITY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND TOURISM, AND THE LABOR AND INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS IT SUSTAINS AT THAT FACILITY, IT MAY ALTER THE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THAT PARK OR FACILITY BY PERMITTING THE RELETTING OF CAMPSITES, CAMPING FACILITIES, OR OTHER AMENITIES BEFORE THE RENTAL TERM OF THE ORIGINAL RENTER HAS EXPIRED IF VACATED BY THE ORIGINAL RENTER BEFORE THE END OF THE STATED TERM, AND TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT ALSO MAY WAIVE THE CHARGES FOR ITS REUSE AND FOR THE USE OF THESE AND OTHER AMENITIES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 51-3-60 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 51-3-60 . Any A South Carolina resident who is over sixty-five years of age or disabled or legally blind as defined in Section 43-25-20 of the 1976 Code may use any a facility of a state park except campsites, overnight lodging and recreation buildings without charge. Such residents may also use, including campsite facilities and overnight lodging facilities if vacancies exist, at one-half of the prescribed fee. A person exercising this privilege on the basis of age shall present his Medicare card or other card approved by the South Carolina Commission on Aging to the employee of the State Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism who is in charge of the particular state park, and a person who is disabled or legally blind shall present to such person in charge of the park a certificate to that effect from a licensed doctor of medicine or an official of an agency authorized by law to make determinations of disability or blindness. The authorization for use of the facilities as provided by this section shall not be effective if it conflicts with any federal law, rule or regulation.
The term 'disabled' as used herein in this section shall mean means the inability to perform substantial gainful employment by reason of a medically-determinable impairment, either physical or mental, which has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of twelve months or more.
Any A South Carolina resident who is a veteran and who has been classified by the Veterans Administration as permanently and totally disabled may also may enter any state park without charge and may use camping facilities and overnight lodging facilities if vacancies exist without charge upon presentation to the person in charge of the park of an identification card from the county veterans affairs officer stating the veteran's permanent and total disability. A statement of age or disability may not be made for any a person whose age and disability records are not maintained in the veterans affairs office at which the request is made."
SECTION 2. Chapter 3, Title 51 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 51-3-75. Based on a review of business and personal use of a particular state park or facility by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, and the labor and insurance requirements it sustains at that facility, it may alter the management plan for that park or facility by permitting the reletting of campsites, camping facilities, or other amenities before the rental term of the original renter has expired if vacated by the original renter before the end of the stated term. The department also may waive the charges for its reuse and for the use of these and other amenities."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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