House Bill 654

AN ACT TO EXEMPT ALL PRIVATELY OWNED, RECREATIONAL BOATS MANUFACTURED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 1965, WHICH ARE REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS FROM THE THREE YEAR REGISTRATION RENEWAL REQUIREMENT; TO REQUIRE THE BOAT REGISTRATION NUMBER TO BE PLACED ON THE INSIDE OF THE BOAT; TO REQUIRE THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER, MODEL NUMBER AND SERIAL NUMBER OF THE BOAT, IF KNOWN, TO BE PLACED ON THE BOAT REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 59-21-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. All privately owned, recreational boats manufactured before January 1, 1965, which are registered with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks are exempt from the three (3) year registration renewal requirement as provided in Section 59-21-19. Such boats must have the boat registration number placed on the inside of the boat, and the original manufacturer, model number and serial number of the boat, if known, must be placed on the boat registration certificate.

SECTION 2. Section 59-21-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

59-21-19. (1) The certificate of number shall be pocket-size, approximately two and one-half inches (2-1/2") by three and one-half inches (3-1/2"), and water resistant.

(2) Pending the issuance of the original certificate of number, the owner of the vessel may be furnished a temporary certificate of number valid for sixty (60) days from the date of issue. This temporary certificate shall be carried on board when the vessel is being operated.

(3) Each applicant for an original or transfer certificate of number, who is entitled to issuance thereof, shall be issued a certificate for a period of three (3) years from the last day of the month of receipt of the original or transfer certificate. This subsection shall not apply to the certificate of number of a livery boat.

(4) The certificate of number of a livery boat shall be plainly marked "livery boat." The description of the motor and type of fuel will be omitted from the certificate of number in any case where the motor is not rented with the boat. Original and renewal certificates of number of a livery boat shall be valid for a period of three (3) years and shall expire at midnight on June 30.

(5) Numbers and certificates of number awarded boats operated by manufacturers and dealers may be transferred from one (1) boat to another. In lieu of the description, the word "manufacturer" or "dealer," as appropriate, will be plainly marked on each certificate. The manufacturer or dealer may have the number awarded printed upon or attached to a removable sign or signs to be temporarily mounted upon or attached to the boat being demonstrated or tested so long as the display meets the requirements of Section 59-21-9.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.