Senate Bill 2557

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE ALTERNATIVE FOR SURETY BOND REQUIREMENT FOR WILDLIFE LICENSE AGENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 49-7-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-17. (1) The department may provide for the appointment of persons as license agents to sell license certificates for hunting, trapping or fishing as authorized under Section 49-7-21.

The department may, by administrative rule, establish qualifications, standards and regulations for such license agents.

(2) Each license agent shall be required to be covered under a surety bond. The department may establish, by administrative rule, the procedures for the bonding of its license agents, which procedures may include the implementation of a blanket bonding system. All premiums for surety bonds required under this section shall be at the expense of the license agents. * * *

(3) Any officer or person authorized to issue any hunting or fishing license or permit or any combination game and fish license under the laws of this state shall have the power and authority to collect and retain for the issuance of such license the sum of One Dollar ($1.00), in addition to the license fee provided by law, when such license or permit is sold to a resident of this state. The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is authorized, in its discretion, to contract with license agents for services rendered for an additional amount, not to exceed One Dollar ($1.00), in addition to the license fee provided by law.

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