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TO AMEND SECTIONS 57-1-310, 57-1-320, 57-1-325, AND 57-1-330, ALL AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE COMMISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ALL THE COMMISSIONERS MUST BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE GOVERNOR, TO PROVIDE THAT APPOINTEES MUST BE SCREENED BY THE JOINT TRANSPORTATION REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT NO PERSON MAY SERVE AS A COMMISSIONER FOR MORE THAN TWELVE YEARS AND NO COUNTY MAY HAVE A RESIDENT COMMISSIONER FOR MORE THAN TWELVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS; TO AMEND SECTION 57-1-410, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, INSTEAD OF THE GOVERNOR, SHALL APPOINT THE SECRETARY; TO AMEND SECTIONS 57-1-730 AND 57-1-740, AS AMENDED, RELATING RESPECTIVELY TO THE DUTIES OF THE JOINT TRANSPORTATION REVIEW COMMITTEE, BOTH SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COMMITTEE TO SCREEN APPOINTEES TO THE COMMISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN A SIMILAR MANNER AS CURRENTLY ELECTED COMMISSIONERS ARE SCREENED; BY ADDING SECTION 57-1-95 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE COMMENCEMENT OF ANY NEW ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN THIS STATE UNTIL JULY 1, 2020; TO AMEND SECTION 11-43-140, RELATING TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE BANK, SO AS TO INCREASE THE BOARD TO THIRTEEN MEMBERS AND TO SET FORTH THE MEMBERSHIP, AND TO PROVIDE THAT NO MEMBER MAY SERVE MORE THAN TWELVE YEARS; TO AMEND SECTION 11-43-180, RELATING TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GIVEN BY THE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK, SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE BANK FROM PROVIDING ANY LOANS OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ANY PROJECT UNLESS THE ELIGIBLE COSTS OF THE PROJECT ARE AT LEAST TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS; BY ADDING SECTION 11-43-265 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK TO PRIORITIZE ALL PROJECTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRIORITIZATION CRITERIA ESTABLISHED IN ACT 114 OF 2007, AND TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION; BY ADDING SECTION 57-1-100 SO AS TO SET FORTH THE OPTIONAL PROCESS BY WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TRANSFERS CERTAIN STATE ROADS TO THE COUNTIES OF THIS STATE, TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT DISTRIBUTED TO THE PARTICIPATING COUNTIES OVER TIME, TO PROVIDE THAT EACH PARTICIPATING COUNTY MUST RECEIVE ONE MILLION DOLLARS BEFORE THE FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED BASED ON A FORMULA, TO AMEND SECTION 12-28-2740, RELATING TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE GASOLINE USER FEE TO THE COUNTIES OF THIS STATE, TO ABOLISH THE CURRENT COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES AND THEN RECONSTITUTE THEM WITH THE ADDITION OF MUNICIPAL REPRESENTATION, AND TO SPECIFY THE MANNER IN WHICH "C" FUNDS MUST BE EXPENDED; TO AMEND SECTION 12-28-310, RELATING TO THE USER FEE ON GASOLINE, SO AS TO REDUCE THE FEE TO TEN CENTS A GALLON; TO AMEND SECTION 56-11-410, RELATING TO THE ROAD TAX, SO AS TO REDUCE THE TAX TO TEN CENTS A GALLON; TO AMEND SECTION 56-11-450, RELATING TO THE CREDIT AGAINST ROAD TAX, SO AS TO REDUCE THE CREDIT TO TEN CENTS A GALLON; TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2110, RELATING TO THE MAXIMUM TAX, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM TAX FROM THREE HUNDRED TO FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ON THE SALE OR LEASE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2647, RELATING TO THE TAX REVENUES COLLECTED FROM THE SALE OR LEASE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, SO AS TO CREDIT ALL THE REVENUES TO THE STATE HIGHWAY FUND EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN AMOUNTS THAT ARE USED FOR THE EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT; BY ADDING ARTICLE 4 TO CHAPTER 28, TITLE 12 SO AS TO IMPOSE AN EXCISE TAX ON THE WHOLESALE PRICE OF MOTOR FUEL EQUAL TO THE CUMULATIVE STATE SALES TAX RATE, TO PROVIDE THAT THE REVENUE MUST BE CREDITED TO THE STATE HIGHWAY FUND, TO PROVIDE THAT THE EXCISE TAX MAY NOT EXCEED THE EQUIVALENT OF SIXTEEN CENTS A GALLON, AND TO PROVIDE THE MANNER IN WHICH THE EXCISE TAX IS CALCULATED AND ADMINISTERED; BY ADDING ARTICLE 9 TO CHAPTER 11, TITLE 57 SO AS TO IMPOSE AN EXCISE TAX ON MOTOR CARRIERS IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE EXCISE TAX ON MOTOR FUEL; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-220, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO EXEMPT FROM PROPERTY TAX FORTY-TWO AND SEVENTY-FIVE ONE HUNDREDTHS PERCENT OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF MANUFACTURING PROPERTY, TO EXEMPT FROM PROPERTY TAX FORTY-TWO AND SEVENTY-FIVE ONE HUNDREDTHS PERCENT OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED AND RETURNED ANNUALLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE OR COUNTY AUDITORS, AND TO PHASE IN THESE EXEMPTIONS OVER FOUR YEARS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Sections 57-1-310 through Section 57-1-330 of the 1976 Code, all as last amended by Act 114 of 2007, are further amended to read:
"Section 57-1-310. (A) The congressional districts of this State are constituted and created Department of Transportation Districts of the State, designated by numbers corresponding to the numbers of the respective congressional districts. The Commission of the Department of Transportation shall be composed of one member from each transportation district elected by the delegations of the congressional district and one member appointed by the Governor from the State at large, all appointed by the Governor. Such elections or appointment, as the case may be, Appointments shall take into account race and gender so as to represent, to the greatest extent possible, all segments of the population of the State; however, consideration of these factors in making an appointment or in an election in no way creates a cause of action or basis for an employee grievance for a person appointed or elected or for a person who fails to be appointed or elected.
(B)(1) Candidates for election to the commission must be screened by the Joint Transportation Review Committee, as provided in Article 7 of this chapter, and determined to meet the qualifications contained in subsection (C) in order to be eligible for election.
(2) The at-large appointment All appointments made by the Governor must be transmitted to the Joint Transportation Review Committee. The Joint Transportation Review Committee must determine whether the at-large appointee meets the qualifications in subsection (C) screen each appointee, as provided in Article 7, and report its findings to the General Assembly and the Governor. Until the Joint Transportation Review Committee finds a gubernatorial appointee qualified, the appointee must not take the oath of office and the full rights and privileges and powers of the office shall not vest. An appointee may not take the oath of office until the Joint Transportation Review Committee notifies the Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives that the appointee is qualified pursuant to Section 57-1-740(B)(2)(b).
(C) The qualifications that each commission member must possess, include, but are not limited to:
(1) a baccalaureate or more advanced degree from:
(a) a recognized institution of higher learning requiring face-to-face contact between its students and instructors prior to completion of the academic program;
(b) an institution of higher learning that has been accredited by a regional or national accrediting body; or
(c) an institution of higher learning chartered before 1962; or
(2) a background of at least five years in any combination of the following fields of expertise:
(a) transportation;
(b) construction;
(c) finance;
(d) law;
(e) environmental issues;
(f) management; or
(g) engineering.
(D) No A member of the General Assembly or member of his immediate family shall may not be elected or appointed to the commission while the member is serving in the General Assembly; nor shall a member of the General Assembly or a member of his immediate family be elected or appointed to the commission for a period of four years after the member either:
(1) ceases to be a member of the General Assembly; or
(2) fails to file for election to the General Assembly in accordance with Section 7-11-15.
Section 57-1-320. (A) A county that is divided among two or more Department of Transportation districts, for purposes of electing a commission member, is deemed to be considered in the district which contains the largest number of residents from that county.
(B) No A county within a Department of Transportation district shall may not have a resident commission member for more than one consecutive term twelve consecutive years and in no event shall any two persons from the same county serve as a commission member simultaneously except as provided hereinafter.
Section 57-1-325. Legislators residing in the congressional district shall meet upon written call of a majority of the members of the delegation of each district at a time and place to be designated in the call for the purpose of electing a commissioner to represent the district. A majority present, either in person or by written proxy, of the delegation from a given congressional district constitutes a quorum for the purpose of electing a district commissioner. No person may be elected commissioner who fails to receive a majority vote of the members of the delegation.
The delegation must be organized by the election of a chairman and a secretary, and the delegations of each congressional district shall adopt such rules as they consider proper to govern the election. Any absentee may vote by written proxy. When the election is completed, the chairman and the secretary of the delegation shall immediately transmit the name of the person elected to the Secretary of State who shall issue to the person, after he has taken the usual oath of office, a certificate of election as commissioner. The Governor shall then issue a commission to the person, and pending the issuance of the commission, the certificate of election is sufficient warrant to the person to perform all of the duties and functions of his office as commissioner. Each commissioner shall serve until his successor is elected and qualified.
Section 57-1-330. (A) For the purposes of electing a commission member, a legislator shall vote only in the congressional district in which he resides. All commission members are elected to a term of office of four years which expires on February fifteenth of the appropriate year. All commission members serve at the pleasure of the Governor, but a commission member may not serve more than twelve years, regardless of when the term was served. Commissioners shall continue to serve until their successors are elected appointed and qualify, provided that a commissioner may only may serve in a hold-over capacity for a period not to exceed six months. Any vacancy occurring in the office of commissioner shall be filled by election or appointment in the manner provided in this article for the unexpired term only. Except for the at-large member, no a person is not eligible to serve as a commission member who is not a resident of that district at the time of his appointment. Failure by an elected such commission member to maintain residency in the district for which he is elected appointed shall result in the forfeiture of his office.
(B) The at-large commission member shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The at-large commission member may be appointed from any county in the State unless another commission member is serving from that county. Failure by the at-large commission member to maintain residence in the State shall result in a forfeiture of his office.
(C) All elected commission members may be removed from office as provided in Section 1-3-240(C)(1)."
SECTION 2. Section 57-1-410 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 114 of 2007, is further amended to read:
"Section 57-1-410. The Governor commission shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, a Secretary of Transportation who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor commission. A person appointed to this position shall possess practical and successful business and executive ability and be knowledgeable in the field of transportation. The Secretary of Transportation shall receive such compensation as may be established under the provisions of Section 8-11-160 and for which funds have been authorized in the general appropriations act."
SECTION 3. Section 57-1-730 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 114 of 2007, is amended to read:
"Section 57-1-730. The review committee has the following powers and duties:
(1) to screen each candidate applying for election each person appointed to the commission;
(2) in screening candidates appointees and making its findings, the review committee must give due consideration to:
(a) ability, area of expertise, dedication, compassion, common sense, and integrity of each candidate appointee; and
(b) the impact that each candidate appointee would have on the racial and gender composition of the commission, and each candidate's appointee's impact on other demographic factors represented on the commission, such as residence in rural or urban areas, to assure nondiscrimination to the greatest extent possible of all segments of the population of the State; and
(3) to determine if each candidate appointee is qualified and meets the requirements provided by law to serve as a member of the Department of Transportation Commission, make findings concerning whether each candidate appointee is qualified, and deliver its findings to the Clerk of the Senate, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and the Governor; and
(4) to submit the names of all qualified candidates to the congressional district delegation for election."
SECTION 4. Section 57-1-740 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 253 of 2010, is further amended to read:
"Section 57-1-740. (A) For purposes of this section, a vacancy is created on the commission when a term expires, a new congressional district is created, or a commission member resigns, dies, or is removed from office as provided in Section 57-1-330(C). If known in advance, the review committee may provide notice of a vacancy and begin screening prior to the actual date of the vacancy.
(B) Whenever a commission member must be elected to fill a vacancy is appointed:
(1) The review committee must forward a notice of the transportation commission district member vacancy appointment to:
(a) a newspaper of general circulation within the congressional district from which a commission member must be elected is appointed with a request that it be published at least once a week for four consecutive weeks;
(b) any person who has informed the committee that he desires to be notified of the vacancy appointment; and
(c) to each member of the congressional district delegation.
The committee may provide such additional notice that it deems appropriate.
(2) The review committee may not accept a notice of intention to seek the office from any candidate conduct an investigation of an appointee until the review committee certifies to the Clerk of the Senate, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and the Governor that the proper notices, required by this section, have been requested to be published or provided as required in this subsection.
(3) The cost of the notification process required by this section must be absorbed and paid from the approved accounts of the Senate and the House of Representatives as contained in the annual appropriations act.
(C) Any person desiring to be a candidate for election to fill a vacancy on the commission must file a notice of intention with the review committee no later than five business days after the last date the published notice appeared in a newspaper of general circulation. Upon the expiration of the notice of intention filing period, the review committee must provide every member of the affected congressional district delegation with a complete list of the people who filed a notice.
(D)(B)(1) When the notice of intention filing period closes certifications are made pursuant to subsection (A)(2), the review committee shall begin to conduct an investigation of candidates an appointee, as it considers appropriate, and may utilize the services of any agency of state government to assist in the investigation. Upon request of the review committee for assistance, an agency shall cooperate fully.
(2)(a)(i) Upon completion of the candidate an appointee's investigations investigation, the chairman of the review committee shall schedule a public hearing concerning the qualifications of the candidates appointee. Any person who desires to testify at the hearing, including the candidates appointee, must furnish a written statement of his proposed testimony to the chairman of the review committee. This statement shall be furnished no later than forty-eight hours prior to the date and time set for the hearing. The review committee shall determine the persons who shall testify at the hearing. All testimony, including documents furnished to the review committee, shall be submitted under oath and persons knowingly furnishing false information either orally or in writing shall be subject to the penalties provided by law for perjury and false swearing.
(ii) During the course of the investigation, the review committee may schedule an executive session at which the candidates appointee, and other persons who the review committee wishes to interview, may be interviewed on matters pertinent to the candidate's appointee's qualification for the office to be filled.
(iii) The review committee shall render its tentative findings as to whether the candidates are appointee is qualified to serve on the commission as a district member and its reasons for making the findings within a reasonable time after the hearing. If only one person applies to fill a vacancy or if the review committee concludes there are fewer candidates qualified for a vacancy than those who initially filed, it shall submit to the congressional district delegation for election only the names and qualifications of those who are considered to be qualified. The nominations of the review committee for any candidate for the election to the commission are binding on the congressional district delegation, and it shall not elect a person not nominated by the review committee. Nothing shall prevent the congressional district delegation from rejecting all persons nominated. In this event, the review committee shall submit another group of names and qualifications for that position. Further nominations in the manner required by this chapter must be made until the office is filled.
(b) As soon as possible after the completion of the hearing, a verbatim copy of the testimony, documents submitted at the hearing, and findings of fact, including whether the appointee is qualified, shall be delivered to the Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives to be transcribed and published in the journals of both houses or otherwise made available in a reasonable number of copies to the members of both houses and a copy must be furnished to each candidate the Governor and the appointee.
(c)(i) The review committee must transmit to the congressional district delegation the names of all qualified candidates.
(ii) No member of the congressional district delegation may pledge his vote to elect a candidate until the review committee has released its written report concerning the qualifications of the candidate to the members of the appropriate congressional district delegation. The release of the written report of qualifications shall occur no earlier than forty-eight hours after the names of the qualified candidates have been initially released to members of the appropriate congressional district delegation.
(iii) No candidate may directly or indirectly seek the pledge of a vote from a member of the candidate's congressional delegation or, directly or indirectly, contact a statewide constitutional officer, a member of the General Assembly, or the Joint Transportation Review Committee regarding screening for the commission until the review committee has released its written report as to the qualifications of all candidates in a particular congressional district. For purposes of this section, "indirectly seek the pledge" means the candidate, or someone acting on behalf of and at the request of the candidate, requests another person to contact a member of the General Assembly, a statewide constitutional officer, or a member of the review committee on behalf of the candidate before the review committee's release of the written report of qualifications.
(iv) The prohibitions of this section do not extend to an announcement of candidacy by the candidate and statements by the candidate detailing the candidate's qualifications.
(d) A candidate An appointee may withdraw at any stage of the proceedings, and in this event no further inquiry, report on, or consideration of his candidacy appointment shall be made.
(3) All records, information, and other material that the review committee has obtained or used to make its findings of fact, except materials, records, and information presented under oath at the public hearing, shall be kept strictly confidential. After the review committee has reported its findings of fact, or after a candidate an appointee withdraws his name from consideration, all records, information, and material required to be kept confidential must be destroyed.
(4)(a) The review committee may, in the discharge of its duties, administer oaths and affirmations, take depositions, and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, and other records considered necessary in connection with the investigation of the review committee.
(b) No A person shall may not be excused from attending and testifying or from producing books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, or other records before the review committee on the ground that the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, required of him may tend to incriminate him or subject him to a penalty or forfeiture. However, no an individual shall may not be prosecuted or subjected to any criminal penalty based upon testimony or evidence submitted or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter, or thing concerning which he is compelled, after having claimed his privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or produce evidence, documentary or otherwise, except that the individual so testifying shall not be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury and false swearing committed during testimony.
(c) In case of contumacy by any person or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to any person, any circuit court of this State or circuit judge thereof within the jurisdiction of which the person guilty of contumacy or refusal to obey is found, resides, or transacts business, upon application by the review committee, may issue to the person an order requiring him to appear before the review committee to produce evidence, if so ordered, or to give testimony concerning the matter under investigation. Any failure to obey an order of the court may be punished as contempt. Subpoenas shall be issued in the name of the review committee and shall be signed by the review committee chairman. Subpoenas shall be issued to those persons as the review committee may designate.
(5) The privilege of the floor in either house of the General Assembly may not be granted to a candidate an appointee, or any immediate family member of a candidate an appointee unless the family member is serving in the General Assembly, during the time the candidate's appointee's application is pending before the review committee and during the time the candidate's appointee's election is pending."
SECTION 5. Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 57 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 57-1-95. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no new road construction projects may commence in this State until July 1, 2020. This section must not be construed to prohibit the expansion of roads that existed on June 30, 2015. This section applies to the department and any other entity authorized to construct roads in this State."
SECTION 6. (A) Sections 1 and 2, as contained in this Part, take effect January 1, 2016, at which time the Commission of the Department of Transportation must be made up of members appointed pursuant to Section 57-1-310, as amended by this act. The members of the Commission of the Department of Transportation as of December 31, 2015, must no longer serve on the commission unless the member is reappointed pursuant to Section 57-1-310, as amended by this act, and found qualified by the Joint Transportation Review Committee, as set forth in Sections 57-1-325 and 57-1-330, as amended by this act.
(B) Sections 3 and 4, as contained in this Part, take effect upon approval by the Governor, and first apply to the screening of persons appointed to the Commission of the Department of Transportation thereafter. To ensure an efficient transition to the reconstituted Commission of the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2016, upon the effective date of this act, the Governor may begin making appointments to the Commission of the Department of Transportation for membership that takes effect January 1, 2016. These appointees must be screened pursuant to Sections 57-1-325 and 57-1-330, as amended by this act.
SECTION 7. A. Section 11-43-140 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 11-43-140. The board of directors is the governing board of the bank. The board consists of seven thirteen voting directors as follows: the Chairman of the Department of Transportation Commission, ex officio; one director appointed by the Governor who shall serve as chairman; one director appointed by the Governor the seven members of the Commission of the Department of Transportation that represent a transportation district, ex officio; one director two directors appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker, ex officio; one director two directors appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and one member of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, ex officio. All directors serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Directors appointed by the Governor, the Speaker, and the President Pro Tempore shall serve terms coterminous with those of their appointing authority. The terms for the legislative members are coterminous with their terms of office. The Governor shall designate which member of the Commission of the Department of Transportation shall serve as chairman. The vice chairman must be elected by the board. A director may not serve more than twelve years, regardless of when the term was served. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy must be appointed in the same manner as the original appointee for the remainder of the unexpired term."
B. This section takes effect January 1, 2016, at which time the board of directors of the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank must be made up of members appointed pursuant to Section 11-43-140, as amended by this act. The members of the board of directors of the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank as of December 31, 2015, only may continue to serve on the board if they were legislatively appointed, and the legislative appointing authority, in writing, expresses the desire for the member to continue serving, and otherwise qualify. To ensure an efficient transition to the reconstituted board of trustees of the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank on January 1, 2016, upon the effective date of this act, the appointing authorities may begin making appointments to the board of trustees of the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank for membership that takes effect January 1, 2016.
SECTION 8. A. Section 11-43-180 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately lettered subsection to read:
"( ) The bank may not provide any loans or other financial assistance, including bond proceeds, to any project unless the eligible costs of the project are at least twenty-five million dollars."
B. This SECTION takes effect upon approval by the Governor and only applies to projects selected by the bank thereafter.
SECTION 9. A. Article 1, Chapter 43, Title 11 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 11-43-265. (A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to the provisions of subsection (B), the bank must prioritize all projects in accordance with the prioritization criteria provided in Section 57-1-370(B)(8).
(B) The General Assembly may enact a joint resolution allowing the bank to fund a project without using the prioritization criteria provided in subsection (A). The joint resolution must be specific as to the project and the amount authorized to be funded."
B. This SECTION takes effect upon approval by the Governor and only applies to projects selected by the bank thereafter.
SECTION 10. A. Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 57 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 57-1-100. (A) This section is intended to set forth the process by which the Department of Transportation transfers certain state roads, or portions thereof, to the counties of this State.
(B) The department must determine which state roads to transfer to county control by selecting roads that are most appropriately considered local or rural routes. The department may not select more than a total of nineteen thousand centerline miles of road to transfer. By July 1, 2015, the department must notify each county transportation committee of the roads selected for transfer within the county. The department shall transfer the roads selected pursuant to the process set forth in subsection (C).
(C) Subject to subsection (E), on January 1, 2016, of the roads selected pursuant to subsection (B), the department must transfer at least one-third of the selected centerlines miles within each county to that respective county. However, if the county transportation committee notifies the department by November 1, 2015, the county transportation committee may designate the specific local routes to be transferred. If the county transportation committee does not notify the department or does not designate at least one-third of the centerline miles, or if the department administers the county's 'C' funds, then the department shall determine which local routes to transfer. However, the department may not transfer to a county more than one-third of the selected centerline miles within the county, unless the respective county transportation committee agrees to the transfer of the excess.
(D) On January 1, 2018, and on January 1, 2020, the department shall transfer the remaining local routes in the same manner as set forth in subsection (C), mutatis mutandis.
(E) A county transportation committee may elect not to accept the transfer of any state roads by notifying the department of its refusal by November 1, 2015. The provisions of this section do not apply to any county that refuses to participate pursuant to this subsection.
(F)(1) Notwithstanding Section 12-28-2740, beginning July 1, 2016, for counties participating in the road transfer pursuant to this section, the proceeds from an additional one and thirty-four hundreths cents a gallon of the user fee on gasoline only as levied and provided for in this chapter must be deposited with the State Treasurer in a separate 'C' funds account and expended for purposes set in Section 12-28-2740. Beginning July 1, 2018, the proceeds credited to the State Treasurer for the purposes of this subsection must be increased to two and thirty-four hundreths cents a gallon. Also, the amount must be increased again beginning July 1, 2020, to three and thirty-four hundreths cents a gallon.
(2) First, the monies in the separate fund must be distributed to each participating county equally until each county receives one million dollars of distributions. The remaining monies in the separate account must be apportioned among all the counties of the State in the same manner as provided in Section 12-28-2740(A), except that any money apportioned to a county that is not participating instead must be credited to the State Highway Fund.
(G) Notwithstanding Section 12-28-2740, for counties participating in the road transfer pursuant to this section, to account for the additional monies pursuant to subsection (F), beginning July 1, 2016, for any new 'C' fund allocations received on or after this date, the balance of uncommitted funds carried forward from one year into the next may not exceed three hundred percent of the county's total apportionment for the most recent year. Also, to account for the graduated increased monies pursuant to subsection (F) that begin on July 1, 2018, and July 1, 2020, the July 1, 2016, date in this subsection is deemed to be July 1, 2018 beginning on July 1, 2018, and July 1, 2020, beginning on July 1, 2020.
(H) As used in this section:
(1) 'Centerline miles' means the length of the road, as measured by miles, so that the total length of the road is the same regardless of the numbers of lanes.
(2) 'County transportation committee' means the committee appointed by each county's legislative delegation to adopt a countywide transportation plan and administer 'C' funds pursuant to Section 12-28-2740.
(3) 'Road' has the same meaning as provided in Section 57-3-120."
B. This section takes effect July 1, 2015, except that the amendment to Section 57-1-100(G), as contained in this section, does not take effect until July 1, 2016.
SECTION 11. A. Section 12-28-2740(B), (C), and (O) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(B) The funds expended must be approved by and used in furtherance of a countywide transportation plan adopted by a county transportation committee. The county transportation committee must be appointed by the county legislative delegation and must be made up of fair representation from municipalities within the county and unincorporated areas of the county. The municipal representation must include at least a mayor, a municipal council member, and a municipal employee, all representing different municipalities. Any mayor or municipal council member shall serve ex officio. County transportation committees may join in approving a regional transportation plan, and the funds must be used in furtherance of the regional transportation plan. This subsection does not prohibit the county legislative delegation from making project recommendations to the county transportation committee. A county transportation committee may expend from the funds allocated under this section an amount not to exceed two thousand dollars for reasonable administrative expenses directly related to the activities of the committee. Administrative expenses may include costs associated with copying, mailings, public notices, correspondence, and recordkeeping but do not include the payment of per diem or salaries for members of the committee.
(C) At least 'C' funds only may be used within the public right of way for paving, resurfacing, bridge construction or replacement, street and traffic signs, traffic signals, street lighting, and other road and bridge infrastructure projects. 'C' funds also may be used for labor, mowing, ditching, and other general maintenance. A maximum of twenty-five percent of a county's apportionment of 'C' funds, based on a biennial averaging of expenditures, must may be expended on the state highway system for construction, improvements, and maintenance. The Department of Transportation shall administer all funds expended on the state highway system unless the department has given explicit authority to a county or municipal government or other agent acting on behalf of the county transportation committee to design, engineer, construct, and inspect projects using their own personnel. The county transportation committee, at its discretion, may expend up to seventy-five percent of 'C' construction funds for activities including other local paving or improving county roads, for street and traffic signs, and for other road and bridge projects.
(O) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the legislative delegation of a county may by delegation resolution abolish the county transportation committee and devolve its powers and duties on the governing body of the county. Upon the abolition, the governing body of the county must appoint a 'C' funds advisory committee that must include representation from municipalities within the county and unincorporated areas of the county. The municipal representation must include at least a mayor, a municipal council member, and a municipal employee, all representing different municipalities. The advisory committee shall make recommendations to the governing body of the county regarding the expenditure of the county's 'C' funds. This devolution may be reversed and the county transportation committee reestablished by a subsequent delegation resolution. The exercise of county transportation committee powers and duties by a county governing body is not deemed to constitute dual office holding."
B. Effective July 1, 2015, all existing county transportation committees are abolished and the authority of each county transportation committee is devolved upon the legislative delegation of each county. Upon the authority being devolved, the legislative delegation of each county shall appoint a new county transportation committee pursuant to Section 12-28-2740(B), devolve the duties of the county transportation committee upon the local governing body of the county pursuant to Section 12-28-2740(O), or request the Department of Transportation to administer the county's 'C' funds. Nothing in this subsection prohibits a county legislative delegation from appointing a member to the county transportation committee that previously served on the committee.
SECTION 12. Section 12-28-310(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(A) Subject to the exemptions provided in this chapter, a user fee of sixteen ten cents a gallon is imposed on:
(1) all gasoline, gasohol, or blended fuels containing gasoline that are used or consumed for any purpose in this State; and
(2) all diesel fuel, substitute fuels, or alternative fuels, or blended fuels containing diesel fuel that are used or consumed in this State in producing or generating power for propelling motor vehicles."
SECTION 13. Section 56-11-410 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 56-11-410. A road tax for the privilege of using the streets and highways in this State is imposed upon every motor carrier. The tax is equivalent to sixteen ten cents a gallon, calculated on the amount of gasoline or other motor fuel used by the motor carrier in its operations within this State. Except as credit for certain taxes as provided for in this chapter, taxes imposed on motor carriers by this chapter are in addition to taxes imposed upon the carriers by any other provision of law."
SECTION 14. Section 56-11-450(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(A) Every motor carrier subject to the tax imposed under this chapter is entitled to a credit on the tax equivalent to sixteen ten cents per gallon on all gasoline or other motor fuel purchased by the carrier within this State for use in operations either within or without this State and upon which gasoline or other motor fuel the tax imposed by the laws of this State has been paid by the carrier. Evidence of the payment of the tax in such form as may be required by or is satisfactory to the Department of Motor Vehicles must be furnished by each carrier claiming the credit."
SECTION 15. Section 12-36-2110 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding a new subsection at the end to read:
"(F) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (A), after June 30, 2015, the maximum tax imposed pursuant to this chapter on the sale, lease, or registration of a motor vehicle is increased from three hundred dollars to five hundred dollars, mutatis mutandis."
SECTION 16. Section 12-36-2647 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 98 of 2013, is amended to read:
"Section 12-36-2647. (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 59-21-1010, fifty one hundred percent of the revenues of sales, use, and casual excise taxes derived pursuant to Sections 12-36-2620(1) and 12-36-2640(1) on the sale, use, or titling of a motor vehicle required to be licensed and registered by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, otherwise required to be credited as provided pursuant to Section 59-21-1010, instead must be credited to the State Non-Federal Aid Highway Fund established pursuant to Section 57-11-20 State Highway Fund. Revenues credited to the State Non-Federal Aid Highway Fund State Highway Fund pursuant to this section must be used exclusively for highway, road, and bridge maintenance, construction, and repair.
(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 59-21-1010, any increase in revenue attributable to Section 12-36-2120(F) from the sales, use, and casual excise taxes derived pursuant to Sections 12-36-2620(2) and 12-36-2640(2) on the sale, use, or titling of a motor vehicle required to be licensed and registered by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, otherwise required to be credited as provided pursuant to Section 59-21-1010, instead must be credited the State Highway Fund. Revenues credited to the State Highway Fund pursuant to this section must be used exclusively for highway, road, and bridge maintenance, construction, and repair."
SECTION 17. Chapter 28, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 12-28-410. (A) There is imposed an excise tax on motor fuels subject to the user fee imposed pursuant to this chapter. The excise tax must be levied against the wholesale price of the motor fuels, as determined pursuant to subsection (B).The excise tax rate is equal to the cumulative sales tax rate imposed by the State.
(B)(1) Each calendar year is divided into two base periods. The department must determine the wholesale price for each base period based on the wholesale price of the motor fuels. The two base periods are six-month periods, with one ending on September thirtieth and one ending on March thirty-first. The wholesale price set by the department using information for the base period that ends on September thirtieth applies to the six-month period that begins the following January first. The wholesale price set by the department using information for the base period that ends on March thirty-first applies to the six-month period that begins the following July first.
(2) To determine the wholesale price of the motor fuels for each base period, the department must use information on refiner and gas plant operator sales prices of finished motor gasoline and diesel fuel for resale, published by the United States Department of Energy in the 'Monthly Energy Review', or equivalent data. The department must use a weighted average of the results for each motor fuel based on the proportion of excise tax collected on each pursuant to subsection (A) to the base period. The department must then convert the weighted average price to a cents-per-gallon price for all motor fuel and round the price to the nearest one-tenth of a cent. If the converted cents-per-gallon price is exactly between two-tenths of a cent, the department must round the price up to the higher of the two. Then, the department must round the cents-per-gallon price to the nearest whole cent.
(3) Notwithstanding item (2), for purposes of this article, the wholesale price of the motor fuels may not change by more than twenty-five percent from one base period to the next.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the excise tax, when applied to the wholesale price of motor fuels for the applicable base period, must never exceed the equivalent of sixteen cents a gallon.
Section 12-28-420. All revenue collected pursuant to this article must be credited to the State Highway Fund.
Section 12-28-430. Except where specified otherwise, the excise tax imposed pursuant to this article shall be imposed, collected, and administered in the same manner as the user fee imposed pursuant to Section 12-28-310.
Section 12-28-440. The department may promulgate regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this article."
SECTION 18. Chapter 11, Title 57 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 57-11-910. There is an excise tax for the privilege of using the streets and highways in this State imposed upon every motor carrier. The excise tax must be levied against the wholesale price of the motor fuels, as determined in the same manner as the excise tax imposed pursuant to Article 4, Chapter 28, Title 12. The excise tax rate is equal to the cumulative sales tax rate imposed by the State. The excise tax must be calculated on the amount of gasoline or other motor fuel used by the motor carrier in its operations within this State.
Section 57-11-920. All revenue collected pursuant to this article must be credited to the State Highway Fund.
Section 57-11-930. Except where specified otherwise, the excise imposed pursuant to this article shall be imposed, collected, and administered in the same manner as the road tax imposed pursuant to Section 56-11-410, including the credit provisions of Section 56-11-450, mutatis mutandis.
Section 57-11-940. The department may promulgate regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this article."
SECTION 19. A. Section 12-37-220(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 259 of 2014, is further amended by adding a new item at the end to read:
"( ) Forty-two and seventy-five one hundredths percent of the property tax value, as defined pursuant to Section 12-37-3135(A)(5) of manufacturing property assessed for property tax purposes pursuant to Section 12-43-220(a)(1)."
B. Notwithstanding the exemption amount allowed pursuant to the unnumbered item added pursuant to subsection A of this section, the percentage exemption amount is phased in in four equal and cumulative percentage installment amounts of 10.6875 percent applicable for property tax years beginning after 2015.
SECTION 20. A. Section 12-37-220(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 259 of 2014, is further amended by adding a new item at the end to read:
"( ) Forty-two and seventy-five one hundredths percent of the property tax value of business personal property required to be reported and returned annually to the Department of Revenue or county auditors assessed for property tax purposes pursuant to Section 12-43-220(f)."
B. Notwithstanding the exemption amount allowed pursuant to the unnumbered item added pursuant to subsection A of this section, the percentage exemption amount is phased in in four equal and cumulative percentage installment amounts of 10.6875 percent applicable for property tax years beginning after 2015.
SECTION 21. Except where otherwise provided, this act takes effect July 1, 2015.
This web page was last updated on February 12, 2015 at 12:35 PM