House Speaker David Wilkins says the bill is in response to recent problems at the agency, which included lines of more than two hours last summer. "If we have to go man the counters, we've got to do better by our citizens," Speaker Wilkins said. "And this bill, I think, takes a huge step towards doing that."

The bill would remove the DMV from the Department of Public Safety and make it a stand-alone agency. The DMV would then be a part of the governor's cabinet. The governor would appoint the director, with confirmation by the Senate, and the director would serve at the governor's will. That way, the agency would be directly accountable to the governor, who could change the agency's leadership if necessary.

The bill also would privatize or outsource some DMV functions. Car dealers could issue license plates when they sell cars. Drivers could also get renewal stickers and registrations at their county treasurer's office.

Rep. Ronny Townsend, the bill's main sponsor and chairman of the House committee that studied the DMV, says even insurance agencies might be able to issue registrations and decals one day. It's all designed to shorten lines at DMV offices and make things more convenient for drivers.

Another major part of the bill would move driver's license expiration dates from five years to ten years, except for people 65 and older.

Anita Suber of Columbia was waiting at a DMV office Thursday to get a license plate and summed up the feelings of a lot of people when told about the bill. "Good ideas. Good changes. We need that. Five years to ten years, yeah, that's good. Less time at the DMV. I hate coming here."

The bill now goes to a House committee. Speaker Wilkins thinks it will pass the full House and be sent to the Senate within a month.