Bill Text: MS HB643 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Department of Marine Resources; authorize unmarked vehicle for law enforcement activities in certain situations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2020-03-03 - Died In Committee [HB643 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2020-HB643-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Marine Resources
By: Representative Ladner
House Bill 643
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-1-87, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW THE GOVERNOR TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT, TO USE UNMARKED VEHICLES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES IN THOSE INSTANCES WHERE IDENTIFYING MARKS WILL HINDER OFFICIAL INVESTIGATIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 25-1-87, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-1-87. All motor vehicles
owned or leased by the State of Mississippi or any agency, department or
political subdivision thereof, which shall include counties and municipalities,
when such agency or department or political subdivision, which shall include
counties and municipalities, is supported wholly or in part by public taxes or
by appropriations from public funds, shall have painted on both sides in
letters at least three (3) inches in height, and on the rear in letters not
less than one and one-half (1-1/2) inches in height, the name of the state
agency or department, or political subdivision, which shall include counties
and municipalities, in a color which is in contrast with the color of the
vehicle; provided, however, that a permanent decal may be used in lieu of
paint, and provided further, that any municipality may affix a permanent decal
or design at least twelve (12) inches in height and twelve (12) inches in width
on both sides of the vehicle with the name of the municipality within or across
the permanent decal or design, and the permanent design or decal shall be in a
color or colors which are in contrast with the color of the vehicle. No
privilege license tag shall be issued for such vehicle until the name has been
painted thereon or a permanent design or decal affixed thereto as required by
this section. A permanent decal may be used in lieu of paint. The provisions
of this paragraph shall not apply to vehicles used by the Chief Executive of
the State of Mississippi, to vehicles owned or leased by the Department of
Economic and Community Development, to vehicles owned or leased by the Office
of the Attorney General, to not more than one (1) vehicle owned or leased by
the Department of Finance and Administration for use by the Capitol Police, to
vehicles owned or leased by the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure
and used only by the Investigative Division of the board, to one (1) vehicle
owned or leased by the Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health,
to not more than one (1) vehicle owned or leased by the Mississippi Division of
Medicaid, to one (1) vehicle owned or leased by the State Department of
Rehabilitation Services, to one (1) vehicle owned or leased by the Mississippi
Department of Transportation, to one (1) vehicle owned or leased by the
Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, to not more than
three (3) vehicles owned or leased by the Department of Corrections and used
only by Community Services Division officers, to not more than one (1) vehicle
owned or leased by the Mississippi Department of Transportation and used only
by an investigator employed by the Mississippi Department of Transportation, * * * or to not more than one
(1) vehicle owned or leased by the Mississippi * * * Department of Revenue;
and upon receipt of a written request from the State Adjutant General, the
Commissioner of Public Safety, the Director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Division of the Mississippi * * * Department of Revenue,
the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and
Parks, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Marine
Resources, the Director of the Bureau of Narcotics, the Executive Officer
of the Board of Pharmacy, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Gaming
Commission, the State Auditor or a president or chancellor of a state
institution of higher learning, the Governor may authorize the use of specified
unmarked vehicles only in instances where such identifying marks will hinder
official investigations, and the governing authorities of any municipality may
authorize the use of specified, unmarked police vehicles when identifying marks
would hinder official criminal investigations by the police. The written
request or the order or resolution authorizing such shall contain the
manufacturer's serial number, the state inventory number, where applicable, and
shall set forth why the vehicle should be exempt from the provisions of this
paragraph. In the event the request is granted, the Governor shall furnish the
State Department of Audit with a copy of his or her written authority
for the use of the unmarked vehicles, or the governing authority, as the case
may be, shall enter its order or resolution on the minutes and shall furnish
the State Department of Audit with a certified copy of its order or resolution
for the use of the unmarked police vehicle. The state property auditors of the
State Department of Audit shall personally examine vehicles owned or leased by
the State of Mississippi or any agency, department or commission thereof and
report violations of the provisions of this paragraph to the State Auditor and
the * * *
Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and
Expenditure Review. Any vehicle found to be in violation of this paragraph
shall be reported immediately to the department head charged with such vehicle,
and five (5) days shall be given for compliance; and if not complied with, such
vehicles shall be impounded by the State Auditor until properly marked or
exempted.
Upon notification to the * * * Department of Revenue
by the State Auditor that any municipality or political subdivision is not in
compliance with this section, the * * * Department of Revenue
shall withhold any sales tax due for distribution to any such municipality and
any excise tax on gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene and oil due any such county
and for any months thereafter, and shall continue to withhold such funds until
compliance with this section is certified to the * * * Department of Revenue
by the State Department of Audit.
County-owned motor vehicles operated by the sheriff's department shall not be subject to the provisions of this section, but shall be subject to the provisions of Section 19-25-15. County-owned motor vehicles operated by a family court established pursuant to Section 43-23-1 et seq., shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.
State-owned or leased motor vehicles operated by the Department of Mental Health or by facilities operated by the Department of Mental Health and used for transporting patients living in group homes or alternative living arrangements shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.
Up to four (4) passenger automobiles owned or leased by economic development districts or economic development authorities shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.
State-owned or leased motor vehicles operated by the Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce and used to investigate livestock theft shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.
Up to three (3) motor vehicles owned or leased by the Pascagoula Municipal Separate School District for use by district security officers shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.
Up to three (3) motor vehicles owned or leased by the Department of Human Services for use only by the Program Integrity Division and the executive director shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.
Up to three (3) motor vehicles owned or leased by the Department of Insurance for use by the State Fire Marshal's Office shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.
The motor vehicles of a public airport shall not be subject to the provisions of this section upon a finding by the governing authority of such airport that marking a motor vehicle as required in this section will compromise security at such airport.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.
