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H. 4696
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Bennett, Chellis, Taylor, Felder, Davis, Robinson, Erickson, Brawley and Howard
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gt\5757cm20.docx
Introduced in the House on January 14, 2020
Last Amended on March 4, 2020
Currently residing in the House
Summary: School bus stops
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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11/20/2019 House Prefiled
11/20/2019 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
1/14/2020 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 70)
1/14/2020 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
(House Journal-page 70)
2/27/2020 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education and
Public Works (House Journal-page 6)
3/3/2020 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Erickson
3/3/2020 Scrivener's error corrected
3/4/2020 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Brawley, Howard
3/4/2020 House Amended (House Journal-page 30)
3/4/2020 House Requests for debate-Rep(s). Hayes, Caskey, Hill, Ott,
Atkinson, Wheeler, Jordon, Lowe, Hart, Magnuson, Fry,
Blackwell, Johnson, Hiott, DC Moss, Bryant, Pendarvis,
S Williams, Moore, Weeks, Thayer, Chellis, McDaniel
(House Journal-page 30)
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
11/20/2019
2/27/2020
3/3/2020
3/4/2020
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
AMENDED--NOT PRINTED IN THE HOUSE
Amt. No. 1 (4696C001.GT.CM20)
March 4, 2020
H. 4696
Introduced by Reps. Bennett, Chellis, Taylor, Felder, Davis and Robinson
S. Printed 2/27/20--H.
Read the first time January 14, 2020.
TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2780, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH UNLAWFULLY PASSING A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS, SO AS TO REVISE THE PENALTIES AND MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-67-512 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION MAY OVERRULE THE DECISION OF A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT REGARDING THE PLACEMENT OF CERTAIN STUDENT SCHOOL BUS STOPS.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 56-5-2780 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 56-5-2780. (A) A driver of a vehicle violating Section 56-5-2770 (A) or (C) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or forfeiture of bail for a first offense, must be fined not less than five hundred one thousand dollars or and not more than two thousand dollars and imprisoned not more than thirty days. In lieu of imprisonment, the court may require that the individual complete an appropriate term of community service of not fewer than ten days upon terms and conditions the court considers proper. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a first offense for a violation of Section 56-5-2770 (A) or (C) may be tried in magistrate's court magistrates court. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall suspend the driver's license of a person convicted pursuant to this subsection for thirty days. If he is imprisoned, the suspension shall run for the term of imprisonment plus thirty days.
(B) Upon conviction, entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or forfeiture of bail for a second or subsequent violation of Section 56-5-2770 (A) or (C), a person is guilty of a misdemeanor and must be fined not less than two five thousand dollars or more than five ten thousand dollars or and imprisoned for not fewer than thirty days six months and not more than sixty days one year.
The Department of Motor Vehicles shall suspend the driver's license of a person convicted pursuant to this subsection for six months. If the person is imprisoned, the suspension shall run for the term of imprisonment plus six months.
(B)(C) If a driver of a vehicle violates Section 56-5-2770 (A) or (C), and the violation proximately causes great bodily injury or death to a pedestrian, the person is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or forfeiture of bond, the person must be:
(1) fined not less than five ten thousand dollars or more than ten fifteen thousand dollars and imprisoned for not less than sixty days six months or more than one year when great bodily injury results;
(2) fined not less than ten fifteen thousand dollars or more than twenty-five thousand dollars and imprisoned for not less than one year or more than five years when death results.
As used in this subsection, 'great bodily injury' means bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
The Department of Motor Vehicles shall suspend the driver's license of a person who is convicted or who receives a sentence upon a plea of guilty or nolo contendere pursuant to this subsection for the term of imprisonment plus one year.
(D) A violation of the provisions of this section also requires successful completion of a classroom course in driver's safety before reinstatement of driving privileges."
(E) All fines collected pursuant to this section shall be received and administered by the South Carolina Department of Education for the purchase of digital recording devices mounted on school buses as provided in Section 56-5-2770 and school bus extended stop arms.
(F) The month of August of each year is declared 'School Bus Safety Month' in South Carolina.
SECTION 2. Article 3, Chapter 67, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-67-512. The State Superintendent of Education has the discretion to overrule the decision of a local school district regarding the placement of a student school bus stop. The exercise of this discretion is limited to school bus stops that the Superintendent determines to be dangerous."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect ninety days after approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on June 18, 2020 at 2:07 PM