MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Finance

By: Senator(s) Carmichael (By Request)

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A DISTINCTIVE LICENSE TAG FOR MEMBERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE GUARD; TO ESTABLISH THE FEE FOR ISSUANCE OF SUCH A TAG; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) Any owner of a motor vehicle who is a member of the Mississippi State Guard who is a resident of this state, 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 any additional fee required under subsection (3) of this section, shall be issued a distinctive license tag for each motor vehicle registered in his name identifying such person as a member of the Mississippi State Guard. The distinctive license tags so issued shall be of a color and design as may be designated by the State Tax Commission, shall consist of such letters or numbers, or both, as may be necessary to distinguish each license tag and may, in the discretion of the State Tax Commission, display the county name.

(2) Application for the distinctive license tags authorized by this section shall be made to the county tax collector on forms prescribed by the State Tax Commission. Applicants for such distinctive license tags shall present to the issuing official proof of their membership in the Mississippi State Guard by presentation of the official documents that certify such membership. The application and the additional fee imposed under subsection (3) of this section, less three percent (3%) thereof to be retained by the tax collector, shall be remitted to the State Tax Commission on a monthly basis as prescribed by the commission. The portion of the additional fee retained by the tax collector shall be deposited into the county general fund.

(3) Any person who applies for a distinctive license tag under this section shall pay an additional fee in the amount of Thirty Dollars ($30.00) for each distinctive license tag applied for under this section which shall be in addition to all other taxes and fees. The additional fee paid shall be for a period of time to run concurrent with the vehicle's established license tag year. The additional fee is due and payable at the time the original application is made for a distinctive license tag under this section and thereafter annually at the time of renewal registration as long as the owner retains the distinctive license tag. If the owner does not wish to retain the distinctive license tag, or if the owner retires or resigns from or otherwise vacates his membership in the Mississippi State Guard, he must surrender it to the local county tax collector.

(4) The State Tax Commission shall deposit all fees into the State Treasury on the day collected. At the end of each month, the State Tax Commission shall certify to the State Treasurer the total fees collected under this section from the issuance of distinctive license tags. The State Treasurer shall distribute an amount equal to Sixteen Dollars and Twenty-five Cents ($16.25) of the additional fees collected from the issuance of such distinctive license tags under this section to the State General Fund, and the remainder of such additional fees collected shall be distributed by the State Treasurer to the credit of the State Highway Fund to be expended solely for the repair, maintenance, construction or reconstruction of highways.

(5) A regular license tag must be properly displayed as required by law until replaced by a distinctive license tag under this section. The regular license tag must be surrendered to the tax collector upon issuance of the distinctive license tag under this section. The tax collector shall issue up to two (2) license decals for each distinctive license tag issued under this section, which will expire the same month and year as the regular license tag.

(6) In the case of loss or theft of a distinctive license tag issued under this section, the owner may make application and affidavit for a replacement distinctive license tag as provided by Section 27-19-37. The fee for a replacement distinctive license tag shall be Ten Dollars ($10.00). The tax collector receiving such application and affidavit shall be entitled to retain and deposit into the county general fund five percent (5%) of the fee for such replacement license tag, and the remainder shall be distributed in the same manner as funds from the sale of regular distinctive license tags issued under this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.