Sign News Alert: South Carolina Officials Tackle Licensing Issue Today
The very first meeting of South Carolina’s Sign Study Committee takes place in Columbia, SC today. This is an important meeting because the discussion will center on a licensing issue that could have a very serious effect on sign companies.
The International Sign Association and the Southern States Sign Association (SSSA) are in Columbia to take a stand for the sign and visual communications industry. ISA’s James Carpentier and representatives from SSSA are participating in today’s meeting.
Just last month, ISA’s James Carpentier, along with members of SSSA and the South Carolina Regulatory Committee met with the South Carolina Contractor’s Licensing Board to discuss increased licensing of the sign industry. The possibility of more licensing for the sign industry was initiated by the state’s Labor, Licensing and Regulation Department (LLR).
The items discussed at this meeting included considering the option to require a sign manufacturer to obtain the following licenses: a General Contractor license with the sub-classifications CT (concrete) and SF (structural framing) and a Mechanical License with an EL (electrical) sub-classification. Currently, the sign industry has an exemption from such licensing requirements at the state level. If this were ever to become law, this could negatively impact the sign industry.
The SC Contractor’s Licensing Board decided to form a Sign Study Committee, which is meeting today to discuss licensing options with the sign industry. The Sign Study Committee is composed of four members from the SC Contractor’s Licensing Board. At this meeting, ISA and SSSA will recommend that SC not require licensing of the sign industry utilizing the existing state contractor licensing laws.
If you have any questions in regards to this matter contact James Carpentier.
