MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2002 Regular Session

To: Insurance; Finance

By: Senator(s) Farris

Senate Bill 2397

AN ACT TO REQUIRE INSURERS TO FURNISH CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING POLICIES OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE TO THE STATE TAX COMMISSION; TO REQUIRE THE STATE TAX COMMISSION TO COMPILE A DATA BASE CONTAINING THE NAME OF THE OWNER OF EACH REGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLE, THE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE TAG NUMBER OF SUCH VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF EACH VEHICLE AND INDICATING WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS COVERED BY A POLICY OF LIABILITY INSURANCE; TO REQUIRE THE STATE TAX COMMISSION TO MAKE SUCH DATA BASE AVAILABLE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL TO ASSIST IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW REQUIRING PROOF OF LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE BE MAINTAINED IN MOTOR VEHICLES; TO EXEMPT SUCH DATA BASE FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC RECORDS ACT OF 1983; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  (1)  When a policy of motor vehicle liability insurance is purchased in at least the minimum amounts required by Section 63-15-3(j), the insurer shall provide the following information to the State Tax Commission:

          (a)  The name and address of the named insured;

          (b)  The identification number of the vehicle covered afforded by the policy;

          (c)  The limits of liability; and

          (d)  The policy period.

     (2)  When a policy of motor vehicle liability insurance with at least the minimum amounts required by Section 63-15-3(j) is cancelled or terminated, for whatever reason, the insurer shall provide the following information to the State Tax Commission:

          (a)  The name and address of the named insured;

          (b)  The identification number of the vehicle covered afforded by the policy;

          (c)  The limits of liability; and

          (d)  The policy period.   

     SECTION 2.  (1)  Utilizing the information that is required to be furnished pursuant to Section 1 of this act and information regarding motor vehicle registrations that is available to the State Tax Commission from county tax collectors, the State Tax Commission shall compile a data base that shows the owner of each registered vehicle, the license tag number of such vehicle, the identification number of such vehicle and indicates whether the vehicle is covered by a policy of motor vehicle liability insurance in at least the minimum amounts required by Section 63-15-3(j).

     (3)  The State Tax Commission shall update the database periodically.

     (2)  The State Tax Commission shall make the data base required to be compiled pursuant to subsection (1) of this section available to law enforcement personnel to assist in the enforcement of Section 63-15-4.

     (3)  The database compiled by the State Tax Commission pursuant to this section shall be exempt from the provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.