H 3842

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 3842
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
Committee Amendment Adopted
April 29, 2026
H. 3842
Introduced by Reps. Lowe, Willis, Caskey, Wooten,
Rose, Huff, Sanders and Duncan
S. Printed 4/29/26--S.  [SEC
5/6/2026 12:46 PM]
Read the first time March 26, 2025
________
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
40-45-285 SO AS TO PROVIDE PHYSICAL THERAPISTS MAY CERTIFY THAT AN INDIVIDUAL
IS HANDICAPPED AND DECLARE THAT THE HANDICAP IS TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT FOR
PURPOSES OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S APPLICATION FOR A HANDICAPPED PLACARD.
    Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  Article 1, Chapter 45, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:
    Section
40-45-285. A physical therapist may certify that an individual has a temporary
disability on the initial application for a temporary disability placard.
Physical therapists may not certify the renewal of temporary placards.
SECTION 2.  Section 56-3-1960 (A) and (B) of the S.C. Code is
amended to read:
    (A) A person who is "handicapped" as
defined in Section 56-3-1910 may apply to the department for issuance of a
temporary or permanent placard. A person may be issued a temporary placard if
the condition causing his handicap is expected to last for at least four
months. No applicant may be denied a placard if the applicant follows the
procedures established by the department and if the application is accompanied
by a certificate from a licensed physician, APRN, PA, or
physical therapist that certifies that the individual is handicapped and
whether the handicap is temporary or permanent, provided
that physical therapists may only certify that an individual qualifies for a
temporary placard. The placards must indicate that the person is
qualified to use reserved handicapped parking spaces. Applications for placards
must be processed through and issued by the department's headquarters. Only one
placard may be issued to an applicant. The certification procedure shall adhere
to the requirements set forth in Section 56-3-1910. In conjunction with the
issuance of a placard, applicants also must be issued a placard registration
certificate that must be carried at all times in the vehicle driven by or
transporting the handicapped individual. The certificate will display the name
of the individual to which the placard was issued. A placard only can be
displayed on a vehicle driven by or transporting the disabled individual whose
name appears on the placard registration certificate. The department shall
charge a fee of one dollar for a placard. An agency, organization, or facility
that transports a disabled or handicapped person may receive a placard for each
vehicle registered upon proper application and the payment of the appropriate
fees.
    (B)
The placards authorized by this section also may be issued for a vehicle of
special design and equipment designed to transport a disabled person who is
certified as meeting the requirements of this section for a vehicle used by an
agency, organization, or facility that is designed to transport a handicapped
or disabled person if the vehicle is titled in the name of the agency,
organization, or facility. Proof that the agency, organization, or facility
transports a handicapped or disabled person must be in a manner prescribed by
the department. A certificate from a licensed physician,
APRN, PA, or physical therapist is not required to apply for placards
issued to an agency, organization, or facility. At the time of qualification,
applicants qualifying for a placard under this section also must be issued a
placard registration certificate that must be carried at all times in the
vehicle transporting handicapped or disabled individuals. The certificate will
display the name of the agency, organization, or facility to which the placard
was issued.
SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on May 06, 2026 at 12:46 PM