South Carolina H 3842: Medical authorization of handicap placards

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3842 Text of Previous Version (May. 06, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

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