South Carolina General Assembly

116th Session, 2005-2006

A381, R422, H4671

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill

Sponsors: Reps. G.M.Smith, Delleney and Harrison

Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\6723cm06.doc

Companion/Similar bill(s): 1155

Introduced in the House on February 16, 2006

Introduced in the Senate on March 9, 2006

Last Amended on June 1, 2006

Passed by the General Assembly on June 1, 2006

Governor's Action: June 13, 2006, Signed

Summary: Administrative Law Court, Motor Vehicles Division

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number

2/16/2006 House Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar without reference HJ3

2/17/2006 Scrivener's error corrected

2/22/2006 House Debate adjourned until Thursday, February 23, 2006 HJ26

2/23/2006 House Debate adjourned until Tuesday, February 28, 2006 HJ17

2/28/2006 House Debate adjourned until Wednesday, March 1, 2006 HJ10

3/1/2006 House Debate adjourned until Tuesday, March 7, 2006 HJ10

3/8/2006 House Amended HJ11

3/8/2006 House Read second time HJ22

3/9/2006 House Read third time and sent to Senate HJ12

3/9/2006 Senate Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar without reference SJ7

3/9/2006 Scrivener's error corrected

3/14/2006 Senate Amended SJ26

3/14/2006 Senate Read second time SJ26

3/15/2006 Scrivener's error corrected

3/15/2006 Senate Read third time and returned to House with amendments

3/21/2006 House Senate amendment amended HJ19

3/21/2006 House Returned to Senate with amendments HJ19

3/22/2006 Senate Nonconcurrence in House amendment SJ29

3/23/2006 House House insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Reps.GM Smith, Harrison, and FN Smith HJ2

3/28/2006 Senate Conference committee appointed Short, Hawkins, and Ritchie SJ83

5/24/2006 Senate Conference report adopted SJ48

6/1/2006 House Conference report received and adopted HJ72

6/1/2006 Senate Ordered enrolled for ratification SJ41

6/7/2006 Ratified R 422

6/13/2006 Signed By Governor

6/20/2006 Copies available

6/20/2006 Effective date See Act for Effective Date

6/23/2006 Act No.381

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

2/16/2006

2/16/2006-A

2/17/2006

3/8/2006

3/9/2006

3/9/2006-A

3/14/2006

3/15/2006

3/21/2006

3/21/2006

6/1/2006

(A381, R422, H4671)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 123600, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO HEARINGS AND PROCEEDINGS THAT AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE SHALL PRESIDE OVER, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT EXCLUDES CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLE RELATED HEARINGS AND PROCEEDINGS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE CLERK OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW COURT MUST FILE A CERTIFIED COPY OF A FINAL ORDER WITH A CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE THIS ORDER HAS THE SAME EFFECT AS A JUDGMENT OF THE COURT; TO AMEND SECTION 123660, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW COURT DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLE HEARINGS, SO AS TO GIVE THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW COURT THE AUTHORITY TO PROMULGATE RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURES BEFORE THE DIVISION WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE SUPREME COURT, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT EMPLOY AN OFFICER WHO REQUESTS A BREATH TEST OR ACTED AS A BREATH TEST OPERATOR IS A PARTY TO CERTAIN HEARINGS BEFORE THE DIVISION, TO PROVIDE THAT REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO APPEAR AT CERTAIN HEARINGS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT TAPE RECORDINGS OF ALL HEARINGS AND ALL EVIDENCE INTRODUCED AT THE HEARINGS WILL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD ON APPEAL AND COPIES OF THESE ITEMS WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE PARTIES TO THOSE APPEALS AT NO CHARGE; TO AMEND SECTION 56110, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS OF TERMS CONTAINED IN THE PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, SO AS TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS FOR CERTAIN TERMS THAT RELATE TO THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLE HEARINGS; TO AMEND SECTION 561370, RELATING TO THE REVIEW OF THE CANCELLATION, SUSPENSION, OR REVOCATION OF A DRIVER’S LICENSE, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT ALLOWS THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO CONDUCT THE REVIEW AND PROVIDE THAT THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLE HEARINGS SHALL CONDUCT THESE PROCEEDINGS; TO AMEND SECTION 5611030, RELATING TO THE REVOCATION OF THE DRIVER’S LICENSE OF AN HABITUAL OFFENDER, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES MUST REVOKE OR SUSPEND THE DRIVER’S LICENSE OF A PERSON IT DETERMINES TO BE AN HABITUAL OFFENDER AND THIS DECISION MAY BE APPEALED TO THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLE HEARINGS; TO AMEND SECTION 5611090, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE TO AN HABITUAL OFFENDER, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PETITION TO OBTAIN A DRIVER’S LICENSE PURSUANT TO THIS PROVISION MUST BE FILED WITH THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLE HEARINGS AND REVISE THE PERIOD IN WHICH A PETITION MAY BE FILED; TO AMEND SECTION 5652951, RELATING TO THE SUSPENSION OF A PERSON’S DRIVER’S LICENSE FOR HIS REFUSAL TO SUBMIT TO TESTING FOR CERTAIN LEVELS OF ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS THAT ARE CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THIS PROVISION MUST BE CONDUCTED BY THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLE HEARINGS AND REVIEWED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW COURT; TO AMEND SECTION 561286, RELATING TO SUSPENSION OF A DRIVER’S LICENSE OF A PERSON UNDER TWENTYONE YEARS OF AGE FOR DRIVING WITH AN ILLEGAL ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING SCHEDULED PURSUANT TO THIS PROVISION MUST BE HEARD BY THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLE HEARINGS AND REVIEWED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW COURT; TO AMEND SECTION 569363, RELATING TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING TO CHALLENGE THE SUSPENSION OF A DRIVER’S LICENSE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE HEARING MUST BE CONDUCTED BEFORE THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLE HEARINGS WITH APPEALS FILED WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW COURT; TO AMEND SECTION 5615350, RELATING TO THE DENIAL, SUSPENSION, OR REVOCATION OF A DRIVER’S LICENSE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A LICENSEE MAY HAVE THIS DECISION REVIEWED BY THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLE HEARINGS; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 561410, 5652952, AND 569320, RELATING TO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THE DENIAL, CANCELLATION, SUSPENSION, OR REVOCATION OF A DRIVER’S LICENSE, THE FILING FEE FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING, AND JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ORDERS OR ACTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 5654160, RELATING TO THE WEIGHING OF VEHICLES AND THEIR LOADS, THE UNLOADING OF EXCESS WEIGHT FROM A VEHICLE, AND PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATION OF A VEHICLE WHICH IS CARRYING EXCESS WEIGHT, SO AS TO REVISE THE FINES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATION OF A VEHICLE WHICH IS CARRYING EXCESS WEIGHT, TO PROVIDE THAT THIS PROVISION ALSO APPLIES TO MOTOR VEHICLES OPERATING OPEN TOP TRAILERS USED FOR HAULING RECYCLABLES, SCRAP, AND WASTE MATERIALS FROM SITES WITHOUT FACILITIES FOR WEIGHING, LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS AND FINES A MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATOR MAY BE ISSUED FOR VIOLATING BOTH GROSS AND AXLE LIMITS, TO PROVIDE THAT A FINE MAY BE ISSUED FOR A VIOLATION OF THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION STATUTES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE FINES FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE WITH OUTOFSERVICE VIOLATIONS, TO REVISE THE NAME OF THE CITATION THAT MAY BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TIME A PERSON MAY PAY A FINE BEFORE ASSESSMENTS MAY BE ADDED TO THE FINE, TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT REQUIRES A FINE TO BE RETURNED PROMPTLY WHEN THERE IS NO CONVICTION FOR A VIOLATION, TO PROVIDE THAT FINES COLLECTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION MAY BE USED TO HIRE STATE TRANSPORT POLICE OFFICERS, PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FOR THE OFFICERS, AND FUND COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY PROGRAMS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE LICENSE AND REGISTRATION OF A VEHICLE FOUND TO VIOLATE SECTION 58231120 AND CERTAIN REGULATIONS MUST BE SUSPENDED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES, TO PROVIDE THAT ISSUANCE OF A UNIFORM CITATION FOR A VIOLATION OF SECTION 58231120 AND CERTAIN REGULATIONS CONSTITUTES NOTICE TO CERTAIN PERSONS OF A VIOLATION, TO PROVIDE A FINE FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS WHO FAIL TO PERMIT STATE TRANSPORT POLICE OFFICIALS FROM EXAMINING THEIR PROPERTY.

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

Proceedings before an administrative law judge

SECTION 1. Section 123600 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 202 of 2004, is further amended to read:

“Section 123600. (A) A full and complete record must be kept of all contested cases and regulation hearings before an administrative law judge. All testimony shall be reported, but need not be transcribed unless a transcript is requested by any party. The party requesting a transcript is responsible for the costs involved. Proceedings before administrative law judges are open to the public unless confidentiality is allowed or required by law. The presiding administrative law judge must render the decision in a written order. The decisions or orders of administrative law judges are not required to be published, but are available for public inspection unless the confidentiality thereof is allowed or required by law.

(B) An administrative law judge shall preside over all hearings of contested cases as defined in Section 123310 involving the departments of the executive branch of government in which a single hearing officer is authorized or permitted by law or regulation to hear and decide such cases, except those arising under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, or those other cases or hearings which are prescribed for or mandated by federal law or regulation, unless otherwise by law specifically assigned to the jurisdiction of the Administrative Law Court.

(C) All requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Court must be filed in accordance with the court’s rules of procedure. Any party that files a request for a hearing with the Administrative Law Court must simultaneously serve a copy of the request on the affected agency. Upon the filing of the request, the chief judge shall assign an administrative law judge to the case.

(D) An administrative law judge also shall preside over all hearings of appeals from final decisions of contested cases before professional and occupational licensing boards or commissions within the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, or as otherwise provided by law, pursuant to Section 123380.

(E) If a petition for judicial review of a final order of the Administrative Law Court is not filed in accordance with the provisions of Section 123600, upon request of a party to the proceedings, the clerk of the Administrative Law Court must file a certified copy of the final order with a clerk of the circuit court, as requested, or court of competent jurisdiction, as requested. After filing, the certified order has the same effect as a judgment of the court where filed and may be recorded, enforced, or satisfied in the same manner as a judgment of that court.”

Administrative Law Court Division of Motor Vehicle Hearings

SECTION 2. Section 123660 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 128 of 2005, is further amended to read:

“Section 123660. There is created within the Administrative Law Court the Division of Motor Vehicle Hearings. The chief judge of the Administrative Law Court shall serve as the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicle Hearings. The duties, functions, and responsibilities of all hearing officers and associated staff of the Department of Motor Vehicles are devolved upon the Administrative Law Court effective January 1, 2006. The hearing officers and staff positions, together with the appropriations relating to these positions, are transferred to the Division of Motor Vehicle Hearings of the Administrative Law Court on January 1, 2006. The hearing officers and staff shall be appointed, hired, contracted, and supervised by the chief judge of the court and shall continue to exercise their present Department of Motor Vehicle functions, duties, and responsibilities under the auspices of the Administrative Law Court as directed by the chief judge and shall perform such other functions and duties as the chief judge of the court prescribes. All employees of the division shall serve at the will of the chief judge. The chief judge is solely responsible for the administration of the division, the assignment of cases, and the administrative duties and responsibilities of the hearing officers and staff. Notwithstanding another provision of law, the chief judge also has the authority to promulgate rules governing practice and procedures before the division. These rules are subject to review as are the rules of procedure promulgated by the Supreme Court pursuant to Article V of the South Carolina Constitution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and in addition to the assistant provided for in Section 123580(B), the Administrative Law Court must hire and supervise a law clerk or other assistant solely to assist the judges who hear Department of Motor Vehicle Hearing appeals with the administration of those appeals. The law clerk or other assistant must be selected by a majority of the judges who hear Department of Motor Vehicle Hearing appeals. The position must be funded from the appropriations to hear cases from the Department of Motor Vehicles and must be filled before the support staff of the division shall assume their functions and duties with the court.

The State Budget and Control Board shall assist with all necessary actions to be taken to accomplish this transfer in consultation with the agency head of the transferring and receiving agencies.

Notwithstanding another provision of law, the hearing officers shall conduct hearings in accordance with Chapter 23 of Title 1, the Administrative Procedures Act, and the rules of procedure for the Administrative Law Court, at suitable locations as determined by the chief judge. For purposes of this section, any law enforcement agency that employs an officer who requested a breath test and any law enforcement agency that employs a person who acted as a breath test operator resulting in a suspension pursuant to Section 561286 or 5652951 is a party to the hearing and shall be served with appropriate notice, afforded the opportunity to request continuances and participate in the hearing, and provided a copy of all orders issued in the action. Representatives of the Department of Motor Vehicles are not required to appear at implied consent, habitual offender, financial responsibility, or point suspension hearings. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall continue to provide the existing locations within their facilities for such hearings as prescribed by the chief judge. The hearing officers are bound by the Code of Judicial Conduct, as contained in Rule 501 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules. Appeals from decisions of the hearing officers must be taken to the Administrative Law Court pursuant to the court’s appellate rules of procedure. Tape recordings of all hearings will be made part of the record on appeal, along with all evidence introduced at hearings, and copies will be provided to parties to those appeals at no charge. The chief judge shall not hear any appeals from these decisions. Nonetheless, the chief judge is not disqualified from, and remains responsible for, adjudicating cases under Section 123600.”