MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Fees, Salaries and Administration; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Gordon

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-1-85, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES OF THE CAPITOL POLICE, OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL, STATE BOARD OF MENTAL HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, BOARD OF HEALTH, MISSISSIPPI BUREAU OF NARCOTICS, STATE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION, OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND THE LIQUIFIED COMPRESSED GAS DIVISION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES, STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE, AND MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM; TO DELETE PURCHASE RESTRICTIONS AS TO FEATURES AND OPTIONS ON NEW PASSENGER VEHICLES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 25-1-85, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-1-85. The following state departments, agencies or institutions are hereby allowed to purchase, own and operate, in strict accordance with the provisions hereof, passenger vehicles not to exceed the following numbers:

Office of the Attorney General 15

Agriculture and Commerce 23

Department of Economic and Community Development 14

Experiment Stations 16

Extension Service 1

Forestry Commission 48

Department of Transportation 115

Military Department 5

Department of Corrections 13

Parole Board 2

Mississippi Department of Public Safety 600

Division of Plant Industry 23

State Board of Mental Health 4

East Mississippi State Hospital 1

Mississippi State Hospital 2

Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the

Mississippi State Tax Commission 30

Soil and Water Conservation Commission 5

Ellisville State School 1

North Mississippi Retardation Center 1

South Mississippi Retardation Center 1

Board of Health 13

State Oil and Gas Board 3

Each institution of higher learning, for police

purposes, except that the University of

Southern Mississippi may have 6 and any

other institution with more than 6,000

students may have 4 2

Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks 60

Surplus Property Procurement Commission 4

State Tax Commission-station wagons 2

State Tax Commission-automobiles 6

Mississippi Gaming Commission 60

Department of Environmental Quality 12

Pearl River Valley Water Supply District 7

Pearl River Basin Development District 2

Pat Harrison Waterway District 1

Department of Transportation -

Office of State Aid Road Construction 10

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority 2

Fair Commission 1

State Civil Defense Office (including

communications vehicle) 4

Bureau of Narcotics 167

Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport 6

Tombigbee Water Supply District 3

Board of Pharmacy 4

Yellow Creek State Inland Port Authority 1

Boat and Water Safety Commission 2

Department of Archives and History 2

State Fire Fighters Academy (station wagon) 1

Office of Capitol Facilities - Capitol Police 5

Office of Building, Grounds and Real Property 1

State Veterans Affairs Board 15

Employment Security Commission 1

Forest Product Utilization Lab 1

Mississippi Board of Nursing 3

Certified Development Company of Mississippi, Inc. 1

State Board of Medical Licensure 5

Mississippi Public Employees' Retirement System 4

Mississippi Public Service Commission 42

Department of Human Services 3

Department of Rehabilitation Services 4

Real Estate Commission 2

Mississippi Library Commission - station wagons 5

Boswell Regional Center 1

Hudspeth Regional Center 1

North Mississippi State Hospital 1

South Mississippi State Hospital 1

Motor Vehicle Commission 1

Office of the State Auditor 20

Division of Medicaid, Office of the Governor 3

Department of Marine Resources 10

Central Mississippi Residential Center 1

Juvenile Rehabilitation Center 1

Department of Education 1

Department of Insurance 10

Except as provided in Sections 25-1-77 through 25-1-93, no state department, institution or agency shall purchase, operate or maintain any passenger vehicle out of any funds available for the use of such department, institution or agency, unless same has been or may be donated.

For purposes of this section, "passenger vehicle" shall be defined as a vehicle which is designed to transport four (4) or more persons and/or provides adequate seating for at least four (4) persons. The terms "luxury vehicle," "full-size vehicle," "utility vehicle" and "carryall vehicle" shall be as defined by the industry.

Nothing in Sections 25-1-77 through 25-1-93 shall be construed to prohibit agencies, departments and institutions from purchasing and operating passenger vehicles when used exclusively to transport patients, prisoners, students, faculty or staff of state institutions, blind and sighted employees essential to operate blind training programs or material, products and client-trainees in the sheltered workshop program, or bookmobiles. The superintendents of the Columbia Training School and Oakley Training School and the Commissioner of Corrections, or staff members designated by them, may use such passenger vehicles for other official functions and operations of those institutions at their discretion. Passenger vehicles or similar vehicles used for any other purposes shall be considered as automobiles and subject to the restrictions set forth in the aforesaid sections.

In addition to the motor vehicles authorized to be owned and operated by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, said department is also authorized to receive, own and operate special purpose motor vehicles to be used solely in investigations.

Of the motor vehicles authorized to be owned and operated by the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, no more than twenty-one (21) vehicles may be kept for use by administrative personnel of the patrol whose principal duties are performed at the Highway Safety Patrol Headquarters Building and the Drivers' License Examining Station in Hinds County to commute to and from the residence of said personnel to the office at which such duties are regularly performed.

Of the motor vehicles authorized to be owned and operated by the Mississippi Department of Transportation, not more than five (5) vehicles may be kept for use by administrative personnel of the department to commute between their residences and the offices at which their duties are regularly performed. The executive director of the department is authorized to allow additional department personnel to commute to and from their residences in department vehicles due to the nature of their job and for the safety of the traveling public.

Of the motor vehicles authorized to be owned and operated by the State Tax Commission, no more than four (4) vehicles may be kept for use by administrative personnel whose principal duties are performed at State Tax Commission offices in Hinds County to commute to and from the residence of said personnel to the office at which such duties are regularly performed.

The provisions of Chapter 226, Laws of 1964, remain in force and are not affected by this section.

Any state officer, employee or board member who violates any of the foregoing provisions of Sections 25-1-77 through 25-1-85 shall be liable on his or her official bond for the total amount of the purchase price of the passenger vehicle, plus the total amount of funds expended in violation of said sections for the operating costs of such vehicle.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.