Senate Bill 2198

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 45-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF TROOPERS TO BE EMPLOYED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY; TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF LICENSE EXAMINERS TO BE EMPLOYED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 45-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

45-3-7. The commissioner is hereby authorized to employ not exceeding six hundred fifty (650) persons as a Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol within the Department of Public Safety. All positions and salaries heretofore authorized and set by statute under the Commissioner of Public Safety shall after passage of this section be made part of the State Personnel System and shall be governed by the laws, rules and regulations thereof.

The commissioner shall grant an additional One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per month for special flying assignments to patrol officers who are licensed commercial pilots.

SECTION 2. Section 63-1-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-1-13. The commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint a Director of the Driver Services Division who is a qualified elector of the State of Mississippi. Such director shall execute and furnish a bond in the amount of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) with a surety company authorized to do business in this state. The bond shall be conditioned on the faithful performance of his duties and be subject to the approval of the commissioner. The director shall have control and supervision of the Driver Services Division and shall be answerable to the commissioner in the performance of his duties.

The commissioner shall employ such other technical, professional and clerical assistants as may be needed to conduct the work of the division. The commissioner is also authorized to employ a Director of the Driver License Examining Bureauand the necessary supervising examiners to assist the Director of the Driver License Examining Bureau in the supervision of the license personnel. The commissioner is also authorized to employ the necessary additional personnel * * * to serve and be designated as "license examiners." The commissioner shall not adopt or enforce any policy or any rule or regulation which prohibits any Highway Patrol officer from being employed and serving in any position in the Driver License Examining Bureau. The commissioner shall employ such other technical, professional and clerical assistants as may be needed to conduct the work of the bureau.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.