All,
Representative Todd Atwater filed an equal access bill which will prevent discrimination against motorcyclists in facilities constructed using public funds. The bill is included below and has been referred to the Committee on Education and Public Works. Please contact your representative as well as representatives on the Committee to let them know how important this bill is to us. If we are successful, motorcyclists will no longer be denied access to the very facilities our tax dollars went to build. I have included the contact information for each of the committee members below. It would also be helpful if you could contact Representative Atwater, a member of ABATE, and let him know how much we appreciate his help in getting this bill introduced. Todd’s email is:ToddAtwater@schouse.gov.
House Committee of Education and Public Works members:
Representative Phillip D. "Phil" Owens
Chairman, House Education and Public Works Committee
District 5 - Pickens County
Columbia Address
429 Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 734-3053
(864) 850-7070
Representative Don C. Bowen
District 8 - Anderson & Oconee Counties
Columbia Address
306C Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 734-3038
(864) 934-3272
Representative Eric J. Bikas
District 26 - Greenville & Pickens Counties
Columbia Address
434C Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 212-6892
(864) 246-6009
Representative Norman D. "Doug" Brannon
District 38 - Spartanburg County
Columbia Address
404D Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 212-6876
(864) 573-0048
Representative Joseph S. Daning
District 92 - Berkeley County
Columbia Address
310B Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 734-2951
Representative Harold Mitchell, Jr.
District 31 - Spartanburg County
Columbia Address
414C Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 734-6638
Representative Andrew S. "Andy" Patrick
District 123 - Beaufort County
Columbia Address
308A Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 212-6928
(843) 290-6606
Representative Tommy M. Stringer
District 18 - Greenville County
Columbia Address
312A Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 212-6881
(864) 877-9511
Representative Anne J. Thayer
District 9 - Anderson County
Columbia Address
436D Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 212-6889
(864) 940-1696
Representative James M. "Jimmy" Neal
District 44 - Lancaster County
Columbia Address
422C Blatt Bdlg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 734-2976
(803) 475-3533
Representative Todd K. Atwater
District 87 - Lexington County
Columbia Address
320D Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 212-6924
(803) 798-6207
Representative Lester P. Branham, Jr.
District 61 - Florence County
Columbia Address
314B Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 734-3002
(843) 374-8545
Representative Robert L. Brown
District 116 - Charleston & Colleton Counties
Columbia Address
330D Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 734-3170
(843) 889-6440
Representative Jerry N. Govan, Jr.
District 95 - Orangeburg County
Columbia Address
530C Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 734-3012
(803) 533-6402
Representative Ralph W. Norman
District 48 - York County
Columbia Address
404A Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29211
(803) 212-6888
(803) 366-8141
Representative Joshua A. Putnam
District 10 - Anderson County
Columbia Address
532D Blatt Office Building
(803) 212-6931
(864) 238-9431
Representative Bill Taylor
District 86 - Aiken County
Columbia Address
416D Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 212-6923
(803) 270-2012
Representative Mark N. Willis
District 16 - Greenville & Laurens Counties
Columbia Address
326B Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, 29201
(803) 212-6882
(864) 230-0135
H. 4691
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. Atwater
Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\5107cm12.docx
Introduced in the House on January 26, 2012
Currently residing in the House Committee on Education and Public Works
Summary: Not yet available
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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1/26/2012 House Introduced and read first time
1/26/2012 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
A BILL
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 57-1-90, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST MOTORCYCLES, MOTORCYCLE OPERATORS, OR MOTORCYCLE PASSENGERS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 57-1-90. (A) In formulating transportation policy, promulgating regulations, allocating funds, and planning, designing, constructing, equipping, operating and maintaining transportation facilities, no action of the South Carolina Transportation Commission, or the South Carolina Department of Transportation shall have the effect of discriminating against motorcycles, motorcycle operators, or motorcycle passengers. No regulation or action of the commission, or department shall have the effect of enacting a prohibition or imposing a requirement that applies only to motorcycles or motorcyclists, and the principal purpose of which is to restrict or inhibit access or motorcycles and motorcyclists to any highway, bridge, tunnel, or other transportation facility.
(B) The provisions of this section shall apply also to transportation facilities and projects undertaken or operated by counties, cities, towns, and other political subdivisions of the State of South Carolina where public funds have been used in whole or in part to plan, design, construct, equip, operate, or maintain the facility or project."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.