MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representative Watson

House Bill 1536

AN ACT TO CREATE A NEW SECTION TO BE CODIFIED AS SECTION 27-19-56.13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF DISTINCTIVE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE TAGS TO FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 27-19-56.13, Mississippi Code of 1972:

27-19-56.13. (1) Any resident of this state who is the owner of a motor vehicle and who is a federal administrative judge employed by or in the service of the United States or an agency thereof, 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 identifying such person as a federal administrative judge. The distinctive license tags so issued shall be of such color and design as determined by the State Tax Commission. Each such distinctive license tag shall consist of such letters or numbers, or both, as may be necessary to distinguish each license tag and, in the discretion of the State Tax Commission, may display the county name.

(2) Application for the distinctive license tags authorized by this section shall be made to the county tax collector on forms prescribed by the State Tax Commission. Applicants for such distinctive license tags shall present to the issuing official proof of their employment or service as a federal administrative judge by presentation of the applicant's official identification card or a signed and notarized affidavit from the governing authority or chief executive officer of the agency by or for whom the applicant is employed or serves as a federal administrative judge. The application and the additional fee imposed under subsection (3) of this section, less three percent (3%) thereof to be retained by the tax collector, shall be remitted to the State Tax Commission within seven (7) days of the date the application is made. The portion of the additional fee retained by the tax collector shall be deposited into the county general fund.

(3) Beginning with any registration year commencing on or after July 1, 1998, any person applying for a distinctive license tag under this section shall pay an additional fee in the amount of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) 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 concurrent 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, or if the owner retires or resigns from or otherwise vacates his employment or service as a federal administrative judge, he must surrender it to the local county tax collector.

(4) The State Tax Commission shall deposit all fees into the State Treasury on the day collected. At the end of each month, the State Tax Commission shall certify to the State Treasurer the total fees collected under this section from the issuance of distinctive license tags. The State Treasurer shall distribute the fees collected for each such distinctive license tag issued under this section to the State General Fund.

(5) 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 regular license tag.

(6) 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.

(7) For the purposes of this section, "federal administrative judge" means any federal magistrate or any judicial hearing officer for an agency of the United States.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after October 1, 1998.