MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representatives McCoy, Moss

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-19-56.12, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE DISTINCTIVE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES ISSUED TO UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES VETERANS TO INDICATE IN BOLD AND DISTINCTIVE WORDS THE PARTICULAR WAR OR MILITARY CONFLICT IN WHICH THE VETERAN SERVED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 27-19-56.12, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-19-56.12. (1) In recognition of the patriotic service rendered by Mississippians who are honorably discharged veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces in Saudi Arabia or Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert Shield, in Panama during the invasion, in Grenada during the invasion, during the Vietnam Conflict, during the Korean Conflict, during World War II or during World War I, any such person is privileged to obtain one (1) distinctive motor vehicle license plate or tag identifying him as a veteran, and indicating, in bold and distinctive words, the veteran's service in the above enumerated wars or conflicts. The distinctive plates or tags shall be of a color and design designated by the Tax Commission.

(2) The distinctive license plates shall be prepared by the Tax Commission and shall be issued through the tax collectors of the counties in the same manner as are other motor vehicle license plates or tags. An additional tag fee of Thirty Dollars ($30.00) shall be collected by the tax collector for such license plates or tags and shall be forwarded to the Tax Commission which shall deposit such fee to the credit of a fund to be administered by the board overseeing the veterans nursing homes in this state for the benefit of indigent veterans who are residents of such nursing homes.

(3) An applicant for such distinctive plates shall present to the issuing official written evidence of the veteran's service. Such evidence shall include a copy of the applicant's DD-214 form or an equivalent document. The distinctive license plates or tags so issued shall be used only upon a personally or jointly owned private passenger vehicle (to include station wagons, recreational motor vehicles and pickup trucks) registered in the name, or jointly in the name, of the person making application therefor, and when issued to such person shall be used upon the vehicle for which issued in lieu of the standard license plate or license tag normally issued for such vehicle.

(4) The distinctive license plates shall not be transferable between motor vehicle owners; and in the event the owner of a vehicle bearing a distinctive plate shall sell, trade, exchange or otherwise dispose of the vehicle, such plate shall be retained by such owner and returned to the tax collector.

(5) The changes in the license tag design and wording required by the amendments to this section by House Bill No. , 1999 Regular Session, shall be applicable only to license tags issued under this section from and after July 1, 1999; however, any person who, on July 1, 1999, possesses a valid distinctive license tag issued under this section before July 1, 1999, may apply with the county tax collector and may be issued a replacement distinctive license tag under this section without payment of any additional fee. Such replacement license tag shall have the same expiration date as the tag which it replaces.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.