Medical authorization of handicap placards, the official text

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A141, R184, H3842)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 40-45-285 SO AS TO PROVIDE PHYSICAL THERAPISTS MAY CERTIFY TEMPORARY DISABILITIES OF INDIVIDUALS ON INITIAL APPLICATIONS FOR TEMPORARY DISABILITY PLACARDS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 56-3-1960, RELATING TO TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT PARKING PLACARDS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, AND PHYSICAL THERAPISTS MAY CERTIFY INDIVIDUALS AS BEING DISABLED FOR PURPOSES OF OBTAINING DISABLED PLACARDS, AND TO PROVIDE SUCH CERTIFICATIONS BY PHYSICAL THERAPISTS ONLY QUALIFY INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE TEMPORARY PLACARDS.

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

Temporary authorizations by physical therapists

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.

Authorizations by physical therapists and other medical professionals

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.

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 14th day of May, 2026.

Approved the 15th day of May, 2026.

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