Bill Text: MS HB1369 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Distinctive motor vehicle license tag; reduce fee for tag with the word "Adoption" used in the design of.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-03-05 - Died In Committee [HB1369 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2024-HB1369-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Ways and Means
By: Representative Ford (73rd)
House Bill 1369
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-19-56.412, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF THE ADDITIONAL FEE REQUIRED FOR THE ISSUANCE OF DISTINCTIVE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE TAGS WITH THE WORD "ADOPTION" USED IN THE DESIGN OF THE LICENSE TAGS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 27-19-56.412, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-19-56.412. (1) Beginning with any registration year commencing on or after July 1, 2023, any owner of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon payment of the road and bridge privilege taxes, ad valorem taxes and registration fees as prescribed by law for private carriers of passengers, pickup trucks and other noncommercial motor vehicles, and upon payment of an additional fee in the amount provided in subsection (3) of this section, shall be issued a distinctive license tag for each motor vehicle registered in his name, which shall be of such color and design as the Department of Revenue, with the advice of Choose Life Mississippi or any successor entity, may prescribe. The word "Adoption" shall be used in the design of the license tag. The Department of Revenue shall prescribe such letters or numbers, or both, as may be necessary to distinguish each license tag.
(2) Application for the distinctive license tags authorized by this section shall be made to the county tax collector on forms prescribed by the Department of Revenue. The application and the additional fee imposed under subsection (3) of this section, less Two Dollars ($2.00) to be retained by the tax collector, shall be remitted to the Department of Revenue on a monthly basis as prescribed by the department. The portion of the additional fee retained by the tax collector shall be deposited into the county general fund.
(3) Any person applying for
a distinctive license tag under this section shall pay an additional fee in the
amount of * * * Thirty Dollars ($30.00) for each distinctive license
tag applied for under this section, which shall be in addition to all other taxes
and fees. The additional fee paid shall be for a period of time to run concurrently
with the vehicle's established license tag year. The additional fee is due and
payable at the time the original application is made for a distinctive license tag
under this section and thereafter annually at the time of renewal registration as
long as the owner retains the distinctive license tag. If the owner does not wish
to retain the distinctive license tag, he must surrender it to the local county
tax collector.
(4) The Department of Revenue shall deposit all fees into the State Treasury on the day collected. At the end of each month, the Department of Revenue shall certify the total fees collected under this section to the State Treasurer who shall distribute such collections as follows:
(a) * * * Twenty-four
Dollars ($24.00) of each additional fee collected on distinctive license tags
issued pursuant to this section shall be disbursed to Choose Life Mississippi or
any successor entity to be used as provided for in subsection (5) of this section.
(b) One Dollar ($1.00) of each additional fee collected on distinctive license tags issued pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the Mississippi Burn Care Fund created pursuant to Section 7-9-70.
(c) Two Dollars ($2.00) of each additional fee collected on distinctive license tags issued pursuant to this section shall be deposited to the credit of the State Highway Fund to be expended solely for the repair, maintenance, construction or reconstruction of highways.
(d) One Dollar ($1.00) of each additional fee collected on distinctive license tags issued pursuant to this section shall be deposited to the credit of the special fund created in Section 27-19-44.2.
(5) Funds disbursed to Choose Life Mississippi or any successor entity under this section may be used for any purpose other than for administrative expenses, legal expenses, capital expenditures, attempting to influence any legislation or any political campaign on behalf or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
(6) A regular license tag must be properly displayed as required by law until replaced by a distinctive license tag under this section. The regular license tag must be surrendered to the tax collector upon issuance of the distinctive license tag under this section. The tax collector shall issue up to two (2) license decals for each distinctive license tag issued under this section, which will expire the same month and year as the license tag.
(7) In the case of loss or theft of a distinctive license tag issued under this section, the owner may make application and affidavit for a replacement distinctive license tag as provided by Section 27-19-37. The fee for a replacement distinctive license tag shall be Ten Dollars ($10.00). The tax collector receiving such application and affidavit shall be entitled to retain and deposit into the county general fund five percent (5%) of the fee for such replacement license tag and the remainder shall be distributed in the same manner as funds from the sale of regular distinctive license tags issued under this section.
(8) In order for a distinctive license tag to be issued under this section, the provisions of Section 27-19-44(3) must be satisfied for the distinctive license tag before July 1, 2026.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.
