MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representative Stringer

AN ACT TO CREATE A NEW CODE SECTION 27-19-56.15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF DISTINCTIVE LICENSE TAGS WHICH DISPLAY AN EMBLEM DESIGNED BY THE MISSISSIPPI SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION; TO CREATE A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR THE DEPOSIT OF THE ADDITIONAL FEES COLLECTED FROM THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH DISTINCTIVE LICENSE TAGS; TO AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE OF MONIES IN THE SPECIAL FUND BY THE MISSISSIPPI SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 27-19-56.15, Mississippi Code of 1972:

27-19-56.15. (1) Owners of motor vehicles upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, and upon payment of the road and bridge privilege taxes, ad valorem taxes and registration fees as prescribed by law for private carriers of passengers, pickup trucks and other noncommercial motor vehicles, and upon payment of an additional annual fee in the amount of Thirty Dollars ($30.00), shall be issued a special license tag which displays an emblem designed by the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission.

(2) The Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission shall design an emblem which shall be displayed on the special license tag. The emblem shall be affixed during the production of the license tag.

(3) Application for the special license tags shall be made to the county tax collector on forms prescribed by the State Tax Commission. The application and the additional fee, less five percent (5%) thereof to be retained by the tax collector, shall be remitted to the State Tax Commission within seven (7) days of the date the application is made. The portion of the additional fee retained by the tax collector shall be deposited into the county general fund.

(4) The special license tag shall be issued for a one-year period. The additional annual fee shall be due and payable at the time of renewal registration.

(5) The State Tax Commission shall deposit all fees into the State Treasury on the day received. At the end of each month, the State Tax Commission shall certify the total fees collected under this section to the State Treasurer who shall distribute such collections as follows:

(a) Twenty Dollars ($20.00) of each additional fee collected on special license tags issued pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the Natural Resources Conservation Education Fund created pursuant to Section 2 of this act.

(b) One Dollar ($1.00) of each additional fee collected on special license tags shall be deposited into the Mississippi Fire Fighter's Memorial Burn Center Fund created pursuant to Section 7-9-70.

(c) The remainder of each such additional fee shall be deposited to the credit of the State Highway Fund to be expended solely for the repair, maintenance, construction or reconstruction of highways.

SECTION 2. There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the "Natural Resources Conservation Education Fund." The fund shall consist of such monies or are required to be deposited there in under Section 27-19-56.15; any gifts, grants or other contributions from any federal, state or local government or any person, firm or corporation; and such other monies as the Legislature may appropriate or authorize to be deposited into the fund. Monies in the fund may be used upon appropriation by the Legislature, by the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission to develop, produce and distribute materials used to educate individuals, groups or both, as to the natural resources of the State of Mississippi and the conservation of such resources.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.