Bill > H4687

This bill creates a new reporting system to improve road safety in South Carolina by requiring county sheriffs to submit quarterly reports to the Department of Transportation (DOT) identifying hazardous road segments. Sheriffs must classify road conditions into three categories: roads needing immediate work, potentially hazardous roads, and roads so dangerous they may require closure. If a sheriff identifies a road as extremely dangerous, they must report it immediately, and the DOT must evaluate the road within 24 hours, either confirming its closure or providing a justification for keeping it open along with an action plan. The DOT must maintain a centralized database of these reports, incorporate the information into its project prioritization system, respond to each report within 45 days, and publish a public quarterly summary of identified roads and responses. To incentivize participation, counties will receive a $500 reimbursement for each timely submitted report, with funding coming from the DOT's existing budget. If the DOT fails to respond within 45 days, automatic notifications will be sent to the Governor and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Transportation. The bill aims to address South Carolina's high rural road fatality rate by creating a standardized system for identifying and addressing unsafe road conditions.

Education

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4687&session=126&summary=B