House Bill 971

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-49, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE TIME PERIOD DURING WHICH AN EXPIRED DRIVER'S LICENSE MAY BE RENEWED WITHOUT EXAMINATION; TO CREATE A NEW SECTION OF LAW TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SHALL BE THE STATE AGENCY WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR REGULATING CERTAIN DIGITAL WALLETS; TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-216, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT ANY PERSON FROM DRIVING A COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE IF CONVICTED OF ANY CRIME UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACT OR ANY FELONY INVOLVING A SEVERE FORM OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS AS DEFINED BY FEDERAL LAW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-1-49, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-1-49. (1) An expired license issued pursuant to this article may be renewed at any time within * * * ~~eighteen (18)~~ sixty (60) months after the expiration date of the license upon application and payment of the required fee, and the payment of a delinquent fee prescribed in Section 63-1-43, in lieu of a driver examination, unless the holder of the expired license is required to be examined, or unless the department has reason to believe the licensee is no longer qualified to receive a license.

(2) (a) Any person in the Armed Services of the United States, who holds a valid license issued pursuant to this chapter and is out of state due to military service at the time the license expires, may renew the license by mail or by online renewal services while out of state due to military service or at any time within ninety (90) days after being discharged from military service or upon returning to the state without payment of any delinquent fee or examination, unless the department has reason to believe that the licensee is no longer qualified to receive a license. The person shall make proof by affidavit of the fact of the person's current military service or of the time of discharge or return. The expiration of the license of a military person under the provisions of this paragraph (a) shall not affect the validity of the license, but the license shall continue to be valid and permit the person to operate a motor vehicle in this state for a period of ninety (90) days after discharge from military service or return to the state or until renewal of the license, whichever occurs first.

(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) also apply to a dependent of a person in the Armed Services of the United States who is out of state due to military service if the dependent resides out of state with the Armed Services member and the license of the dependent expires during the family member's absence from the state. The Commissioner of Public Safety may adopt such rules and regulations under the Administrative Procedures Act as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this paragraph.

(3) Any person holding a valid license issued pursuant to this article who is going overseas for two (2) to four (4) years and whose license will expire during the stay overseas may renew the license for four (4) years or eight (8) years before leaving. The person shall make proof by affidavit of the fact of the overseas travel.

SECTION 2. The Department of Public Safety shall be the state agency with responsibility for regulating a digital wallet for state agency credentials. The Commissioner of Public Safety may promulgate rules and regulations regarding such digital wallet technology.

SECTION 3. Section 63-1-216, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-1-216. (1) (a) A person shall be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for a period of one (1) year if the person's license or permit to drive has been administratively suspended under Section 63-11-23 or the person has been convicted of a first violation of:

(i) Operating, attempting to operate, or being in actual physical control of a commercial motor vehicle on a highway with an alcohol concentration of four one-hundredths percent (0.04%) or more, or under the influence as provided in Section 63-11-30;

(ii) Failure to stop and render aid as required under the laws of this state in the event of a motor vehicle accident resulting in the death or personal injury of another;

(iii) Using a motor vehicle in the commission of any offense under state or federal law that is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one (1) year;

(iv) Refusal to submit to a test to determine the operator's alcohol concentration, as provided in Title 63, Chapter 11, Mississippi Code of 1972;

(v) Operating, attempting to operate, or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle on a highway with an alcohol concentration of eight one-hundredths percent (0.08%) or more, or under the influence of intoxicating liquor or other substance, as provided in Section 63-11-30;

(vi) Operating, attempting to operate, or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle on a highway when the person is under the influence of any other drug or under the combined influence of alcohol and any other drug to a degree which renders the person incapable of driving safely as provided in Section 63-11-30;

(vii) Operating or attempting to operate a commercial motor vehicle while the license is revoked, suspended, cancelled, or disqualified;

(viii) Operating a commercial motor vehicle in a negligent manner resulting in a fatal injury.

(b) A person shall be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for three (3) years if convicted of a violation listed in subsection (1) of this section, if the violation occurred while transporting a hazardous material required to be placarded.

(c) A person shall be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for life if convicted of two (2) or more violations or a combination of them listed in subsection (1) of this section arising from two (2) or more separate occurrences.

(d) A person shall be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for a period of sixty (60) days if convicted of two (2) serious traffic violations, or one hundred twenty (120) days if convicted of three (3) serious traffic violations, arising from separate incidents occurring within a three-year period. A disqualification for three (3) serious traffic violations must be imposed consecutively to any other previous period of disqualification.

(e) A person shall be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for life if the person uses a motor vehicle in the commission of any offense under state or federal law that is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one (1) year involving the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of a regulated drug, or possession with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a regulated drug and for which the person was convicted.

(f) A person who is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle shall surrender the person's Mississippi commercial driver's license no later than the effective date of the disqualification. Upon receipt of the person's commercial driver's license, that person, if otherwise eligible, may apply for a non-CDL, and upon payment of sufficient fees receive the driver's license.

(g) The commissioner shall adopt rules establishing guidelines, including conditions, under which a disqualification for life under this section, except for a disqualification issued pursuant to paragraph (e) of this subsection, may be reduced to a period of not less than ten (10) years.

(h) A person shall be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for a period of sixty (60) days if the driver is convicted of a first violation of a railroad-highway grade crossing violation.

(i) A person shall be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days if, during any three-year period, the driver is convicted of a second railroad-highway grade crossing violation in a separate incident.

(j) A person shall be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for a period of one (1) year if, during any three-year period, the driver is convicted of a third or subsequent railroad-highway grade crossing violation in separate incidents.

(k) A person who is simultaneously subject to a disqualification issued by the administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration pursuant to 49 CFR, Part 383.52 and a disqualification under any other provision of this section shall serve those disqualification periods concurrently.

(2) (a) A person's privilege to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the State of Mississippi shall be suspended for one (1) year, if:

(i) The person is convicted of a first violation of operating, attempting to operate or being in actual physical control of a commercial motor vehicle on a highway with an alcohol concentration of four one-hundredths percent (0.04%) or more, or under the influence, as provided in Section 63-11-30; and

(ii) The person's commercial driver's license is issued by a state or country that does not issue commercial driver's licenses and disqualify persons in accordance with 49 CFR, Parts 383 and 384.

(b) A person's privilege to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the State of Mississippi shall be suspended for three (3) years if the person is convicted of violating subsection (1) of this section, and the violation occurred while the person was transporting a hazardous material required to be placarded.

(c) A person's privilege to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the State of Mississippi shall be suspended for life if the person is convicted a second time of violating subsection (1) of this section, and both convictions arise out of separate occurrences.

(d) A person's privilege to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the State of Mississippi shall be suspended for sixty (60) days if the person is convicted of two (2) serious traffic violations, or for one hundred twenty (120) days if the person is convicted of three (3) serious traffic violations, arising from separate incidents occurring within a three-year period.

(e) A person's privilege to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the State of Mississippi shall be suspended for life if the person uses a commercial motor vehicle in the commission of any offense under state or federal law that is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one (1) year, involving the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of a regulated drug, or possession with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a regulated drug, and for which the person was convicted.

(f) In addition to the reasons specified in this section for suspension of the commercial driver's license, the commissioner shall be authorized to suspend the commercial driver's license of any person for being out of compliance with an order for support, as defined in Section 93-11-153. The procedure for suspension of a commercial driver's license for being out of compliance with an order for support, and the procedure for the reissuance or reinstatement of a commercial driver's license suspended for that purpose, and the payment of any fees for the reissuance or reinstatement of a commercial driver's license suspended for that purpose, shall be governed by Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be. If there is any conflict between any provision of Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163 and any provision of this article, the provisions of Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be, shall control.

(3) A person shall be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for life if the person is convicted of any crime under the Mississippi Human Trafficking Act in Sections 97-3-54 et seq. or any felony involving a severe form of trafficking in persons, as defined by 22 USC 7102(11).

SECTION 4. Section 1 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage, and the remainder of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.