ENTITLED An Act to provide special motor vehicle license plates for advanced life support personnel and emergency medical technicians.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That   32-5-113 be AMENDED:

32-5-113. Any owner of a motor vehicle, who is a resident of this state, and has a valid South Dakota driver license or nondriver identification card, who is a firefighter, an advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician licensed pursuant to chapter 36-4B, and who has complied with state law in relation to the registration of a motor vehicle, may receive plates bearing a special number and design, and designating the person as a firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician. The distinctive number plates for a firefighter must be designed by the fire marshal. The distinctive number plates for advanced life support personnel and emergency medical technicians must be designed by the secretary of health. The number plates are subject to the approval of the Department of Revenue. The special plates must be displayed as set forth in   32-5-98. These plates may only be used on automobiles, pickup trucks, or vans licensed pursuant to   32-5-6 or pickup trucks pursuant to   32-5-6.3.

Section 2. That   32-5-114 be AMENDED:

32-5-114. In addition to the noncommercial license plate fees, a firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician receiving the special license plates shall pay an additional fee of ten dollars for the initial issuance of the special license plates. The special license plate fee collected under this section must be placed in the license plate special revenue fund, as provided under   32-5-67.

Section 3. That   32-5-118 be AMENDED:

32-5-118. Each firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician must apply to the county treasurer of the county of the firefighter's, advanced life support personnel's, or emergency medical technician's residence for the issuance of special number plates for the motor vehicles owned by the firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician. The firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician, in order to receive the special plates, must pay the registration fee for the plates.

Section 4. That   32-5-119 be AMENDED:

32-5-119. A failure on the part of a firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician to make application to the Department of Revenue for the special number plates as provided in   32-5-116 will result in the applicant being required to accept regular number plates for the applicant's motor vehicle.

Section 5. That   32-5-120 be AMENDED:

32-5-120. If a firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician is discharged, or retires, the firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician must surrender the special number plates identifying the person as a firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician. The special plates must be surrendered to the secretary, who shall make the necessary changes in the registration file. The firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician shall then obtain regular number plates.

Section 6. That   32-5-121 be AMENDED:

32-5-121. If at any time a motor vehicle subject to the special number plates issued for the firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician is sold, conveyed, or otherwise transferred by the firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician to whom the special number plates have been issued, the firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician must notify the department. The department shall process a new registration indicating that the special plates issued to the motor vehicle must be transferred. The secretary shall make the necessary changes in the file. The department shall notify the applicant of any corrections that need to be made.

Section 7. That   32-5-122 be AMENDED:

32-5-122. All statutes of this state relating to the registration of motor vehicles; the titling and licensing of motor vehicles; the fees for registering, titling, and licensing of motor vehicles; and the retention of plates from year to year are applicable to any firefighter, advanced life support personnel, or emergency medical technician and the special plates issued in conformity with   32-5-113.

Section 8. This Act is effective beginning March 1, 2025.

An Act to provide special motor vehicle license plates for advanced life support personnel and emergency medical technicians.

I certify that the attached Act originated in the: House as Bill No. 1120 Chief Clerk Speaker of the House Attest: Chief Clerk President of the Senate Attest: Secretary of the Senate House Bill No. 1120 File No. ____ Chapter No. ______

Received at this Executive Office this _____ day of _____________, 2024 at ____________M. By for the Governor The attached Act is hereby approved this ________ day of ______________, A.D., 2024 Governor STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, ss. Office of the Secretary of State Filed ____________, 2024 at _________ o'clock __