MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Ways and Means
By: Representatives Fondren, Anderson (122nd), Arnold, Carpenter, Estrada, Felsher, Grady, Hale, Hall, Hawkins, Hulum, Keen, Kinkade, Mattox, McKnight, Turner, Zuber
AN ACT TO CREATE THE "MISSISSIPPI INDIGENT BURN CARE SUPPORT FUND" AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY; TO PROVIDE THAT MONIES IN THE SPECIAL FUND MAY BE APPROPRIATED TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 41-59-5 AND FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF UNCOMPENSATED CARE TO MISSISSIPPIANS ADMINISTERED BY OUT-OF-STATE BURN CENTERS THAT ARE AFFILIATED WITH LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTERS IN THE MISSISSIPPI TRAUMA CARE SYSTEM; TO AMEND SECTION 27-19-44.4, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO IMPOSE AN ADDITIONAL FEE OF TWO DOLLARS FOR DISTINCTIVE OR SPECIAL LICENSE TAGS AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROCEEDS COLLECTED FROM THE ADDITIONAL FEE SHALL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE MISSISSIPPI INDIGENT BURN CARE SUPPORT FUND CREATED IN THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the "Mississippi Indigent Burn Care Support Fund". The fund shall consist of monies deposited therein under Section 27-19-44.4(3) and any other monies designated for deposit into the fund. The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund. For fiscal year 2025, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Legislature may appropriate monies in the Mississippi Indigent Burn Care Support Fund. Any appropriation of funds from the Mississippi Indigent Burn Care Support Fund shall be to the Mississippi Department of Health for the purpose of carrying out its responsibilities established in Section 41-59-5(7) and for reimbursement of uncompensated care to Mississippians administered by out-of-state burn centers that are affiliated with Level I trauma centers in the Mississippi trauma care system. The Mississippi Indigent Burn Care Support Fund shall be authorized to accept gifts, donations, bequests, appropriations or other grants from any source, governmental or private, for deposit into the fund. The Department of Health shall be the agency responsible for receiving any such gifts, donations, bequests, appropriations or grants and shall deposit such to the Mississippi Indigent Burn Care Support Fund.
SECTION 2. Section 27-19-44.4, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-19-44.4. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning with any registration year commencing on or after January 1, 2004, an additional fee of One Dollar ($1.00) is imposed for any distinctive or special license tag or plate authorized under this chapter regardless of whether such a distinctive or special license tag or plate was authorized before or after July 1, 2003. The proceeds collected from the additional fee imposed under this section shall be deposited into the special fund created under Section 27-19-56.69(8).
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning with any registration year commencing on or after January 1, 2018, an additional fee of Two Dollars ($2.00) is imposed for any distinctive or special license tag or plate authorized under this chapter regardless of whether such a distinctive or special license tag or plate was authorized before or after July 1, 2018. The proceeds collected from the additional fee imposed under this section shall be deposited into the Mississippi Burn Care Fund created under Section 7-9-70.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning with any registration year commencing on or after July 1, 2025, an additional fee of Two Dollars ($2.00) is imposed for any distinctive or special license tag or plate authorized under this chapter regardless of whether such a distinctive or special license tag or plate was authorized before or after July 1, 2025. The proceeds collected from the additional fee imposed under this subsection shall be deposited into the Mississippi Indigent Burn Care Support Fund created under Section 1 of this act.
( * * *4) The fees imposed under this section
shall be in addition to any other fees imposed under this chapter for a
distinctive or special license tag or plate.
( * * *5) The provisions of this section
shall not apply to distinctive or special license tags or plates:
(a) Which are issued under Section 27-19-46, 27-19-51, 27-19-53, 27-19-54, 27-19-56.5, 27-19-56.12, 27-19-56.13, 27-19-56.33, 27-19-56.36, 27-19-56.38, 27-19-56.42, 27-19-56.48, 27-19-56.49, 27-19-56.50, 27-19-56.51, 27-19-56.62, 27-19-56.79, 27-19-56.85 or 27-19-169; or
(b) For which no additional fee is required to be paid.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.