House Bill 255

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-8, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A NATIVE-BORN MISSISSIPPIAN WHO IS A NONRESIDENT AND WHO PAYS ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS OR MORE IN AD VALOREM TAXES ON REAL PROPERTY IN THE STATE MAY PURCHASE A RESIDENT HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE; TO PROVIDE THAT PROPERTY TAX RECEIPTS AND A CERTIFIED BIRTH CERTIFICATE SERVE AS PROOF OF OWNERSHIP OF REAL PROPERTY AND BIRTH IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, AND SHALL BE SHOWN TO THE LICENSING AGENT WHEN PURCHASING A LICENSE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 49-7-8, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-8. (1) No nonresident sixteen (16) years of age or older may hunt, fish, kill, take or trap any game animal, bird or fish without having acquired and having in his immediate possession a valid license issued by the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. A native-born Mississippian who is a nonresident and who pays One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) or more in ad valorem taxes on land or real property he or she owns in the state may purchase a resident hunting or fishing license, or both, and may lawfully hunt or fish, or both, with the resident's license in the state. The nonresident's property tax receipts from a previous year serve as proof of ownership of land or real property in the state and shall be shown to the licensing agent by the nonresident when he or she purchases a resident hunting or fishing license, or both, as provided in this section. A certified birth certificate serves as proof that the nonresident was born in the State of Mississippi and shall be shown to the licensing agent by the nonresident when he or she purchases a resident hunting or fishing license, or both, as provided in this section.

(2) The commission shall have the following duties and powers:

(a) To prescribe the forms and types of nonresident licenses that a nonresident must obtain;

(b) To determine the total number of each type of nonresident license to be issued annually;

(c) To establish fees for nonresident licenses and the collection fees for the agent issuing such licenses; provided, however, that the fee for a nonresident all game hunting license shall not be less than Sixty Dollars ($60.00);

(d) To exercise all incidental powers necessary to develop a nonresident licensing program.

(3) A nonresident who violates this section or any licensing regulation of the commission is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in Section 49-7-21(3).

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.