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COMMITTEE REPORT
May 4, 2022
S. 1045
S. Printed 5/4/22--H.
Read the first time April 7, 2022.
To whom was referred a Bill (S. 1045) to amend Section 58-23-20 of the 1976 Code, relating to regulations for transportation by motor vehicle, to provide regulations for the operation of transportation vehicles; to, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:
/ SECTION __. A. Section 23-9-25 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 23-9-25. (A) It is the purpose of this section to create the 'Volunteer Strategic Assistance and Fire Equipment Program' (V-SAFE) within the Division of State Fire Marshal.
(B) This section is contingent upon the General Assembly appropriating funds for the offering of grants of not more than thirty thousand dollars to eligible volunteer and combination fire departments for the purpose of protecting local communities and regional response areas from incidents of fire, hazardous materials, terrorism, and to provide for the safety of volunteer firefighters.
(C)(1) As contained in this section:
(a) 'chartered Fire department' means a public or governmental sponsored organization providing fire suppression activities with a minimum of a Class 9 rating from the Insurance Services Office;
(b) 'chartered Volunteer fire department' means a fire department whose personnel serve for no compensation or are paid on a per-call basis; and
(c) 'chartered Combination fire department' means a fire department with both members who are paid and members who serve as volunteer firefighters.
(2) Chartered Volunteer fire departments and chartered combination fire departments with a staffing level that is at least fifty percent volunteer are eligible to receive grants pursuant to this section. A chartered fire department that receives a grant must comply with the firefighter registration provisions of Act 60 of 2001 and sign the statewide mutual aid agreement with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.
(D) The amount of the grants awarded shall not exceed thirty thousand dollars per year for each eligible chartered fire department, with no matching or in-kind money required. A chartered An eligible fire department may be awarded only one grant in a three-year period annually.
(E) The grant money received by a chartered fire department must be used for the following purposes:
(1) fire suppression equipment;
(2) self-contained breathing apparatus;
(3) portable air refilling systems;
(4) hazardous materials spill leak detection, repair, and recovery equipment;
(5) protective clothing and equipment;
(6) new and used fire apparatus;
(7) incident command vehicles;
(8) special operations vehicles;
(9) training;
(10) rescue equipment;
(11) medical equipment;
(12) decontamination equipment; and
(13) safety equipment;
(14) real properties or improvements thereto including upgrades and rehabilitations; and
(15) communications equipment.
(F)(1) The State Fire Marshal shall administer the grants in conjunction with a peer-review panel.
(2) The peer-review panel shall consist of nine voting members who shall serve without compensation. Seven members must be fire chiefs from each of the seven regions of the State as defined by the State Fire Marshal. The Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee shall appoint fire chiefs from Regions 1, 2, and 7. The Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee shall appoint fire chiefs from Regions 3, 4, and 6. The Governor shall appoint one fire chief from Region 5 and one fire chief from the State at large. The State Fire Marshal also shall serve as a member. The President of the South Carolina State Firefighters' Association shall serve as a nonvoting member and chairman of the committee. The peer-review panel shall act as an oversight panel and act to ensure compliance, relevance, and adherence to the prescribed intent of the grants as set forth in this section.
(3) An applicant for grant money must submit justification for their project that provides details regarding the project and the project's budget. the benefits to be derived from the project, the applicant's financial need, and how the project would affect the applicant's daily operations in protecting lives and property within their community. Each application must be judged on its own merit. The panelists must consider all expenses budgeted, including administrative or indirect costs, as part of the cost-benefit review. An applicant may demonstrate cost-benefit by describing, as applicable, how the grant award will:
(a) enhance a regional approach that is consistent with current capabilities and requests of neighboring organizations or otherwise benefits other organizations in the region;
(b) implement interoperable communications capabilities with other local, state, and federal first responders and other organizations;
(c) allow first responder organizations to respond to all hazards, including incidents involving seismic, atmospheric, or technological events, or chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive incidents, as well as fire prevention and suppression.
Applications that best address the grant funding priorities shall score higher than applications that are inconsistent with the priorities. During the panel review process, panelists shall provide a subjective but qualitative judgment on the merit of each request.
Panelists shall evaluate and score the proposed project's clarity, including the project's budget detail, the organization's financial need, the benefits that would result from an award relative to the cost, and the extent to which the grant would enhance daily operations or how the grant will positively impact an organization's ability to protect life and property. Each element shall be equally important for purposes of the panelists' scores. Panelists must review each application in its entirety and rate the application according to the evaluation criteria.
Applications shall be evaluated by the panelists relative to the critical infrastructure within the applicant's area of first-due response. Critical infrastructure includes any system or asset that, if attacked or impacted by a hazardous event, would result in catastrophic loss of life or catastrophic economic loss. Critical infrastructure includes public water or power systems, major business centers, chemical facilities, nuclear power plants, major rail and highway bridges, petroleum and natural gas transmission pipelines or storage facilities, telecommunications facilities, or facilities that support large public gatherings such as sporting events or concerts. Panelists shall assess the infrastructure and the hazards confronting the community to determine the benefits to be realized from a grant to the applicant.
Applicants that falsify their application, or misrepresent their organization in any material manner, shall have their applications deemed ineligible and referred to the Attorney General for further action, as the Attorney General deems appropriate.
(4) The project period for any award grant shall be twelve months from the date of the award. Any equipment purchased with the grant must meet all mandatory regulatory requirements, as well as, all state, national, and Department of Homeland Security adopted standards.
Award recipients must agree to:
(a) perform, within the designated period of performance, all approved tasks as outlined in the application;
(b) retain grant files and supporting documentation for three years after the conclusion and close out of the grant or any audit subsequent to close out;
(c) ensure all procurement actions are conducted in a manner that provides, to the maximum extent possible, open and free competition. In doing so, the recipient must follow its established procurement law when purchasing vehicles, equipment, and services with the grant. If possible, the recipient must obtain at least two quotes or bids for the items being procured and document the process used in the grant files. Sole-source purchasing is not an acceptable procurement method except in circumstances allowed by law;
(d) submit a performance report to the peer-review panel six months after the grant is awarded. If a grant's period of performance is extended for any reason, the recipient must submit performance reports every six months until the grant is closed out. At grant closeout, the recipient must report how the grant funding was used and the benefits realized from the award in a detailed final report. An accounting of the funds also must be included; and
(e) Any fire department that fails to submit the required progress and close-out reports shall be deemed ineligible for future grants until the required reports are submitted and for a period of not less than one grant cycle. Any fire department that is found to have fraudulently expended funds or misrepresented how the funds were utilized will be referred to the Attorney General for further action.
(f) make grant files, books, and records available, if requested by any person, for inspection to ensure compliance with any requirement of the grant program.
(5) A recipient that completes the approved scope of work prior to the end of the performance period, and still has grant funds available, may:
(a) use the greater of one percent of their award amount or three hundred dollars to continue or expand, the activities for which they received the award without submitting an application to amend the grant request;
(b) use excess funds to create or expand, a fire or injury prevention program. Excess funds above the amounts discussed in subitem (a) must be used for fire or injury prevention activities or returned to the program. In order to use excess funds for fire or injury prevention activities, a recipient must submit an amendment to its grant. The amendment request must explain fire or injury prevention efforts currently underway within the organization, where the use of excess funds would fit within the existing efforts, the target audience for the fire or injury prevention project and how this audience was identified, and how the effectiveness of the requested fire or injury prevention project will be evaluated;
(c) use a combination of subitems (a) and (b); or
(d) submit an application to the peer-review panel to amend the grant request to redirect funds to another eligible project; or
(e) return excess funds to the program. To return the excess funds, a recipient must close out its award and state in the final performance report that the remaining funds are not necessary for the fulfillment of grant obligations. The recipient also must indicate that it understands that the funds will be unavailable for future expenses.
(6) The State Fire Marshal shall:
(a) develop a grant application package utilizing the established guidelines;
(b) establish and market a written and electronic version of the grant application package;
(c) provide an annual report of all grant awards and corresponding chartered fire department purchases to the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Governor;
(d) provide all administrative support to the peer-review panel; and
(e) provide a grants web page for electronic applications; and
(f) determine the annual maximum amount of grant funding an eligible fire department may receive based on the total amount of grant funding received divided by the total number of eligible fire departments.
(G) Two percent of these funds may be awarded to the South Carolina State Firefighters' Association annually for the express purpose of establishing and maintaining a recruitment and retention program for volunteer firefighters. The association must apply for the grant to the peer-review panel.
(H) Up to three percent of these funds must be retained by the State Fire Marshal for the express purpose of funding costs associated with the administration of the program.
(I) The State Fire Marshal has the authority to receive and distribute to eligible fire departments all grant funds according to this section.
(J) Grant funds that are not distributed may be carried forward to the next fiscal year to be used for the same purposes."
B. Section 38-7-20(B)(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 149 of 2020, is further amended to read:
"(2) one four percent must be transferred to the V-SAFE program pursuant to Section 23-9-25;"
C. A. Section 12-37-935(B) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(B) Annually as provided in Section 11-11-150, there is credited to the Trust Fund for Tax Relief an amount sufficient to reimburse all local taxing entities the amount of revenue not collected as a result of the additional depreciation more than eighty percent allowed for manufacturer's machinery and equipment pursuant to this section; however, one percent of such funds must be credited to the V-SAFE program, established pursuant to Section 23-9-25. No reimbursement is allowed for any depreciation allowed in connection with custom molds and dies used in the conduct of manufacturing electronic interconnection component assembly devices for computers and computer peripherals and equipment used in the manufacture of tires by manufacturers who employ more than five thousand employees in this State and have over one billion dollars in capital investment in this State. Reimbursements must be paid from the fund in the manner provided in Section 12-37-270, mutatis mutandis."
B. Section 11-11-150(A)(3) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(3) Section 12-37-935(B) for manufacturer's additional depreciation, including such amounts credited to the V-SAFE program;"
D. This act takes effect July 1, 2022. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
WILLIAM E. SANDIFER III for Committee.
TO AMEND SECTION 58-23-20 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO REGULATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION BY MOTOR VEHICLE, TO PROVIDE REGULATIONS FOR THE OPERATION OF TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-23-25 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION'S MOTOR CARRIER REGULATORY AUTHORITY, TO PROVIDE FOR THE STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHAPTER RELATED TO THE LIMITATION OF CERTAIN AUTHORITY VESTED WITH PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION'S MOTOR CARRIER REGULATORY AUTHORITY; TO AMEND SECTION 58-23-30 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF COMPENSATION, TO DEFINE TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES ACCORDINGLY; TO AMEND SECTION 58-23-60(5) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO AREAS IN WHICH THIS CHAPTER IS NOT APPLICABLE TO BUSINESSES, TO INCLUDE VEHICLES OPERATED BY A MUNICIPALITY; TO AMEND SECTION 58-23-210 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO CLASSES OF CERTIFICATES, TO PROVIDE A TIMELINE FOR THE APPLICATION OF A COMMISSION'S DIRECTIVES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-23-220 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO CLASS A CERTIFICATES, TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION SHALL ISSUE DIRECTIVES TO ISSUE CLASS A CERTIFICATES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-23-230 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO CLASS B CERTIFICATES, TO REGULATE THE POWERS OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF; TO AMEND SECTION 58-23-240 THROUGH SECTION 58-23-290 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO CERTIFICATES, TO ALTER LANGUAGE; TO AMEND SECTION 58-23-330 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR ISSUANCE OR DENIAL OF CERTIFICATE, TO PROVIDE REGULATIONS FOR ISSUING OR DENYING A CERTIFICATE UPON RECEIPT OF AN APPLICATION; TO AMEND SECTION 58-23-560 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO LICENSE FEES FOR CERTIFICATE HOLDERS, TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY REGULATIONS FOR CERTIFICATE HOLDERS; TO AMEND SECTION 58-23-590 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO CARRIERS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND HAZARDOUS WASTE FOR DISPOSAL, TO PROVIDE THE POWERS OF THE COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 58-23-600 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO TIME FOR PAYMENT OF FEES, TO PROVIDE REGULATIONS FOR FEES REQUIRED OF CERTIFICATE HOLDERS; TO AMEND SECTION 58-23-910 AND SECTION 58-23-930 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO INSURANCE OR BOND, TO PROVIDE INSURANCE, BOND, OR CERTIFICATE OF SELF-INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATE HOLDERS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 58-23-1010, 58-23-1020, 58-23-1080, AND 58-23-1090 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO RIGHTS AND DUTIES GENERALLY, TO PROVIDE REGULATIONS FOR FEES, LICENSES, AND OTHER MARKERS; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-60(B)(1) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO EXPENSES BORNE BY REGULATED UTILITIES, TO REFERENCE THE PROVISIONS IN THE CODE GENERATING FEES THAT ARE TO BE USED TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSES OF THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF; AND TO AMEND CHAPTER 23, TITLE 58 OF THE 1976, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE CARRIERS, TO REPEAL SECTIONS 58-23-300, 58-23-530, 58-23-540, 58-23-550, AND 58-23-1060.
SECTION 1. Section 58-23-20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-20. No corporation or person, his lessees, trustees, or receivers may operate a motor vehicle for the transportation of persons, hazardous waste for disposal, or household goods or property for compensation on an improved public highway in this State except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, except where the use of a motor vehicle is incidental only to the operation, and any such operation is subject to control, supervision, and regulation by the commission in the manner provided by this chapter. The commission may not fix or approve the rates, fares, or charges for buses Class A, B, C, D, E, or F certificates. Provided, however, nothing herein shall affect the commission's jurisdiction to regulate street railway service or any successor to street railway service under Chapter 5 of Title 58."
SECTION 2. Section 58-23-25 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-25. Nothing in this chapter, unless specifically provided, must may be construed as granting authority to the Public Service Commission to regulate, approve, fix, or charge a fee on a matter of rates, prices, changes, routes, or services of a motor vehicle carrier of property, including private carriers, except certificate carriers of household goods or hazardous wastes for disposal."
SECTION 3. Section 58-23-30 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-30. 'For compensation' as used in Section 58-23-20 means a return payment in money or property for transportation of persons, hazardous waste for disposal, or household goods or property by motor vehicle over public highways within the State of South Carolina., whether paid, received or realized, and shall specifically include any profit realized on the delivered price of cargo where title or ownership is temporarily vested during transit in the carrier as a subterfuge for the purpose of avoiding regulation under this chapter. Where the profit is equal to or less than the regularly established rate applicable to the transportation of property by common carriers authorized by law to transport property for compensation, such scheme or device shall be presumed to be a subterfuge for the purpose of avoiding regulation under this chapter for those other than certificated carriers within their operating authority; provided, however, nothing herein shall prohibit the vendor from delivering any purchased property to the vendee."
SECTION 4. Section 58-23-40 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-40. A motor vehicle carrier shall obtain a certificate from the Office of Regulatory Staff, pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of this chapter and pay the license fee required pursuant to Article 5 of this chapter before the motor vehicle carrier may: (1) transport persons, hazardous waste for disposal or household goods or property for compensation on any improved public highway in this State; or (2) advertise as an operator for the transportation of persons, hazardous waste for disposal or household goods or property for compensation on any improved public highway in this State."
SECTION 5. Section 58-23-60(5) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(5) used by a county or municipality to transport passengers or property."
SECTION 6. Section 58-23-210 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-210. The Office of Regulatory Staff, upon order of the commission, may issue six classes of certificates as are mentioned in Section 58-23-40 after application therefor has been made in writing by the owner of the vehicles upon blanks provided by the commission and after such hearing as the commission may consider proper. The commission must hear any objections by any person or corporation who may be affected by the issuance of a certificate by the Office of Regulatory Staff. The six classes of certificates shall be respectively designated certificate A, certificate B, certificate C, certificate D, certificate E, and certificate F.
(A) An applicant applying for a certificate or applying to amend a certificate to operate as a motor vehicle common carrier must submit a written application to the commission on a form provided by the commission. The commission must post information regarding an application to apply for a certificate or amend a certificate for fifteen days immediately following receipt of the application. Any person who may be affected by the issuance or amendment of the requested certificate or amendment may file a written objection with the commission within fourteen days after the commission posts the notice regarding the application.
(B)(1) If no objection to an application is filed pursuant to subsection (A), the commission may meet to determine if the applicant is fit, willing, and able to perform the proposed service, upon a showing based upon criteria established by the commission. If the commission issues a directive approving the application, the Office of Regulatory Staff may then issue the certificate. The directive of the commission shall serve as the commission's order thirty days after issuance.
(2) If an objection is filed with the commission, the commission must hold a hearing to determine if the applicant is fit, willing, and able to perform the proposed service. The commission must publish a notice of hearing for an application for a certificate on the commission's website for not less than thirty days before the date of the hearing.
(C) If an application is denied, another application may not be made until at least six months have elapsed since the date of the denial."
SECTION 7. Section 58-23-220 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-220. The Office of Regulatory Staff, upon order directive of the commission, may issue a certificate A in the following cases:
(1) to an applicant to operate in territory already served by any certificate holder under this chapter or any common carrier when the public convenience and necessity in such territory are is not already being reasonably served by some other certificate holder or common carrier, provided such applicant propose to operate on a fixed schedule and to comply with the other provisions contained in Articles 1 to 11 of this chapter and the rules and regulations which may be made by the commission respecting holders of this class of certificates; and
(2) to an applicant for a certificate to operate upon a regular schedule in a territory not already served by the holder of a certificate A, when public convenience and necessity in such territory are is not being reasonably served by a certificate holder under this chapter or a common carrier; provided, that when a certificate A is issued to an applicant over territory which is being served at the time such certificate is granted by the holder of a certificate B, the right of the applicant to operate under certificate A shall not begin until the expiration of the then license year of the holder of the certificate B and the holder of a certificate B shall be preferred in granting a certificate A over the route unless in the judgment of the commission it would not be in the interest of the public service.
In either case the existence of a railroad or other motor vehicle carrier in the territory sought to be served by the applicant shall not be considered by the commission as good cause for refusing the application."
SECTION 8. Section 58-23-230 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-230. The Office of Regulatory Staff, upon order directive of the commission, may issue a certificate B when the applicant does not propose to operate regularly upon a fixed schedule or route, but only desires to operate over a particular route or routes which are not already served by the holder of a certificate A, but will operate in instances when by his solicitation or otherwise he has procured passengers to be transported over the route or routes designated in his application. In ordering the issuance of a certificate B, the commission may consider the public convenience and necessity and whether the territory proposed to be served is already served by a carrier. If the public convenience and necessity require the issuance of more than one certificate B over such route or routes, the commission may order the issuance of an additional certificate B, but the certificate may be revoked by order of the commission at the end of any license year as to any particular route or routes, if prior to the expiration of the year the commission has ordered the issuance of a certificate A over the route."
SECTION 9. Section 58-23-240 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-240. The Office of Regulatory Staff, upon order directive of the commission, may issue a certificate C to any applicant who does not propose in any way to solicit the transportation of persons over improved public highways outside of the corporate limits of any city or town or to operate upon a regular schedule, but who is privately employed for a specific trip and who will not solicit or receive patronage along the route. But those operators may solicit passengers (a) for destination within the corporate limits of any city or town wherein such passengers are solicited, (b) within a radius of two miles of the corporate limits of the city or town in which they are licensed to do business, and (c) upon such highways as are not served by a holder of an A or B certificate."
SECTION 10. Section 58-23-250 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-250. The Office of Regulatory Staff, upon order directive of the commission, may issue a certificate D for property-carrying vehicles which will operate upon regular routes and schedules over such highways."
SECTION 11. Section 58-23-260 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-260. The Office of Regulatory Staff, upon order directive of the commission, may issue a certificate E for the property-carrying vehicles which will not operate upon any particular route or schedule."
SECTION 12. Section 58-23-270 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-270. The Office of Regulatory Staff, upon order directive of the commission, may issue a certificate F to any person or corporation who proposes to engage in the business commonly known as contract hauling of freight or property when such applicant does not propose to operate upon a regular schedule or over a regular route or to solicit or receive patronage along the route."
SECTION 13. Section 58-23-290 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-290. In ordering the issuance of a certificate A, B, or D the commission may order direct the issuance of a certificate for partial exercise only of the privileges sought, but without alteration of the license charges fixed thereon."
SECTION 14. Section 58-23-560 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"A holder of a certificate A, B, or C with less than twenty vehicles must semiannually on or before January first and July first of each year pay to the Office of Regulatory Staff the following fees: for vehicles weighing not more than two thousand pounds, seven dollars and fifty cents; and for vehicles weighing in excess of two thousand pounds, seven dollars and fifty cents for the first two thousand pounds and two dollars and fifty cents additional for each additional five hundred pounds or part thereof of weight, except that the total license fee may not exceed fifty dollars per vehicle semiannually. A holder of a certificate A, B, or C must annually before January first of each year pay to the Office of Regulatory Staff a fee of fifty dollars per vehicle."
SECTION 15. Section 58-23-590 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-590. (A) The commission must may promulgate regulations that necessary to control entry and certification standards, set rates and charges, and establish enforcement procedures and powers to govern the operations of carriers of household goods and hazardous waste for disposal.
(B) The Office of Regulatory Staff is authorized to establish an Office of Compliance a Transportation Division to carry out its responsibilities and may assess the carriers of household goods and hazardous waste for disposal fees necessary to fund this office and to carry out its responsibilities.
(C) The Office of Regulatory Staff must issue a common carrier certificate or contract carrier permit of public convenience and necessity, upon order of the commission, if the applicant proves to the commission that:
(1) it is fit, willing, and able to properly perform the proposed service and comply with the provisions of this chapter and the commission's regulations; and
(2) the proposed service, to the extent to be authorized by the certificate or permit, is required by the present public convenience and necessity.
The commission shall adopt regulations that provide criteria for establishing that the applicant is fit, willing, and able, and criteria for establishing that the applicant must meet the requirement of public convenience and necessity. The determination that the proposed service is required by the public, convenience and necessity must be made by the commission on a case-by-case basis.
(D) A carrier of household goods, before operating in an exempt zone provided in Section 58-23-60 in this State, must obtain a certificate of fit, willing, and able from the Office of Regulatory Staff upon order of the commission. The Office of Regulatory Staff may establish an annual registration requirement and set a fee for this registration which is comparable to and is calculated by using the same methodology applied to holders of certificates of public convenience and necessity.
(E)(C) The Office of Regulatory Staff is authorized to employ necessary personnel to administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter as they apply to carriers of household goods and hazardous waste for disposal. A carrier operating in violation of a provision of Articles 1 through 12 of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must pay penalties provided in Section 58-23-80. A fine of one thousand dollars is imposed on the violators of the certification and registration requirements. Seventy-five percent of this fine must be remitted to the Office of Regulatory Staff to be used for the operation of the Office of Compliance Transportation Division. Magistrates have jurisdiction over contested violations of this section and are prohibited from suspending or reducing the penalties."
SECTION 16. Section 58-23-600 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-600. A holder of a certificate D, E, or F must annually pay to the Office of Regulatory Staff fees pursuant to Section 58-4-60. The fees prescribed in this article may be paid semiannually in advance on or before January first and July first of each year. Provided, that fees for D, E and F certificates may be paid on an annual basis on or before July first of each year."
SECTION 17. Section 58-23-910 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-910. The commission shall, in ordering the issuance of a certificate, require the applicant to Prior to the issuance of the certificate, the motor carrier shall procure and file with the Office of Regulatory Staff either liability and property damage insurance, a surety bond with some casualty or surety company authorized to do business in this State, or a certificate of self-insurance as provided by Section 56-9-60 on all motor vehicles to be used in the service in that amount as the commission may determine, insuring or indemnifying passengers or cargo and the public receiving personal injury by reason of any act of negligence and for damage to property of any person other than the assured. The policy, bond, or certificate of self-insurance must contain those conditions, provisions, and limitations as the commission may prescribe and must be kept in full force and effect and failure to do so is cause for the revocation of the certificate."
SECTION 18. Section 58-23-930 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-930. No owner of a motor vehicle using such vehicle as part of a terminal service in connection with the business of transporting goods by rail shall be required to carry liability or property damage insurance on such motor vehicle if such business of such owner is under the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce Commission federal Surface Transportation Board and if the Interstate Commerce Commission Surface Transportation Board has required and does require such owner to set up insurance reserves covering liability resulting from the conduct of such business, including liability arising out of and in connection with the operation of such motor vehicle and if such insurance reserves have been and are actually so set up.
The owner of such a motor vehicle shall attach inside of the cab of such vehicle in a conspicuous place a certificate signed by such owner, or his duly authorized representative, setting forth that the business of such owner is under the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce Commission federal Surface Transportation Board and that such Commission board has required and does require such owner to set up insurance reserves."
SECTION 19. Section 58-23-1010 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-1010. (A) The commission shall regulate every motor carrier in this State and fix or approve the rates, fares, charges, classifications, and regulations pertaining to each motor carrier, except as provided in Section 58-23-20. The rates once established remain in effect until such time when the commission determines the rates are unreasonable. The commission may approve joint rates, local rates, and rate agreements between two or more motor carriers relating to rates, classifications, allowances, and charges agreed to and published by individuals, firms, corporations, or the South Carolina Tariff Bureau. Any of these agreements when approved by the commission are not in violation of Section 39-3-10.
(B) As to holders of a certificate CE, the commission shall fix a maximum rate only the carrier shall file a maximum rate schedule with the commission. The commission must post the maximum rate schedule filing within one business day of receipt. The new maximum rate schedule shall go into effect one business day following the commission's posting of the new schedule. Holders of certificate E shall have the flexibility for adjustment of the rates below the maximum rate levels without commission approval. The commission shall publish the maximum rate schedule on its website."
SECTION 20. Section 58-23-1020 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-1020. No motor vehicle carrier holding a certificate A, B, or D shall change the route or schedule of his motor vehicle during any year for which a license has been issued without procuring a permit in writing from an order of the commission before the route is changed."
SECTION 21. Section 58-23-1080 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-1080. The Office of Regulatory Staff, upon the presentation of a certificate from the Office of Regulatory Staff authorizing the motor vehicle carrier to operate and upon payment of the proper license, must may furnish the motor vehicle carrier with a distinguishing plate or marker, which, in addition to the other matters otherwise provided by law to be placed thereon, shall bear the letter stating the class under which the motor vehicle shall operate, such as A, B, C, D, E, or F."
SECTION 22. Section 58-23-1090 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-23-1090. When any reserve or substitute vehicle maintained by a motor carrier holding a certificate D, or a certificate A or a certificate B for passenger vehicles, to be used only in emergencies, is in use it must may be designated by a special marker to be furnished by the Office of Regulatory Staff."
SECTION 23. Section 58-4-60(B)(1) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(B)(1) The expenses of the Transportation Department of the Office of Regulatory Staff, with the exception of the expenses incurred in its railway jurisdiction, must be borne by the revenues from license fees derived pursuant to Sections 58-23-530 through 58-23-630, Article 5, Chapter 23, Title 58, assessments to the Transportation Network Companies pursuant to Sections 58-23-1690 and 58-23-1700, and assessments to the carriers of household goods and hazardous waste for disposal carriers. The expenses of the railway section of the Office of Regulatory Staff must be borne by the railroad companies subject to the commission's jurisdiction according to their gross income from operations in this State."
SECTION 24. Chapter 23, Title 58 of the 1976 Code is amended by repealing Sections 58-23-300, 58-23-330, 58-23-530, 58-23-540, 58-23-550, and 58-23-1060.
SECTION 25. The Public Service Commission must make information readily available so that the general public can easily access information regarding the requirements in Articles 3 and 9 in Chapter 23, Title 58. This includes, but is not limited to, the commission posting on its website information regarding the following: list of certified companies, maximum rates, insurance, and complaint resolution.
SECTION 26. This act becomes effective upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on May 4, 2022 at 7:43 PM