A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY REPEALING SECTION 61-2-145 RELATING TO REQUIRED LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE.
Summary
H5503 is a short bill that repeals Section 61-2-145 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, the section that currently requires certain liquor-related businesses to maintain liability insurance coverage. In practical terms, the bill would remove that statutory insurance mandate from state law if enacted and signed by the Governor.
Because the bill is a repeal-only measure, it does not create a new regulatory program or replace the repealed provision with another requirement. Its effect is to eliminate the existing legal obligation tied to liability insurance coverage under the referenced section, leaving affected businesses and regulators to operate without that specific statutory requirement unless another law applies.
Impact
The bill would amend South Carolina law by deleting Section 61-2-145 from the Code, thereby removing the state-level required liability insurance coverage provision associated with liquor liability. This would directly affect businesses subject to that section, likely including alcohol-serving establishments and other licensees covered by the liquor liability framework, as well as insurers and regulators who administer or enforce the requirement.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the materials supplied. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be a targeted deregulatory change focused on liquor liability insurance requirements, which may appeal to affected businesses while raising concerns among those who favor maintaining insurance protections.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely whether the state should continue requiring liability insurance for liquor-related businesses. Supporters would likely argue that repealing the mandate reduces costs and regulatory burden for licensees, while opponents would likely contend that the requirement helps ensure compensation is available for alcohol-related injuries and claims. No specific legislators, agencies, or stakeholder groups are identified in the provided discussion materials.