House Bill 986

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY RESIDENT OF THIS STATE WHO HOLDS A VALID MISSISSIPPI DRIVER'S LICENSE AND WHO IS A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, UPON RENEWAL OF HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE, MAY REQUEST THAT THE DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUED TO SUCH PERSON CONTAIN A DISTINCTIVE SYMBOL, CHARACTER OR ENDORSEMENT THEREON IDENTIFYING SUCH PERSON AS A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-1-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-1-35. (1) The Commissioner of Public Safety shall prescribe the form of licenses issued pursuant to this article which shall, among other features, include a driver's license number assigned by the Department of Public Safety which, at the option of the licensee, may or may not be the social security number of the licensee. A licensee who chooses not to use his social security number as his driver's license number, except as otherwise provided under subsection (2) of this section, shall list his social security number with the department which shall cross reference the social security number with the driver's license number for purposes of identification. Additionally, each license shall bear a full face color photograph of the licensee in such form that the license and the photograph cannot be separated. Such photograph shall be taken so that one (1) exposure will photograph the applicant and the application simultaneously on the same film. The department shall use a process in the issuance of a license with a color photograph which shall prevent as nearly as possible any alteration, counterfeiting, duplication, reproduction, forging or modification of such license or the superimposition of a photograph without ready detection. Such photograph shall be replacedby the department at the time of renewal. Driver licenses, including photographs appearing thereon, may be renewed by electronic means according to rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner. The Department of Public Safety may accept bank credit cards and debit cards in payment of fees for driver license renewals that are processed by electronic means and, if authorized by general law, may charge an additional fee for the use of such cards.

(2) The commissioner shall prescribe the form of licenses issued pursuant to this article to licensees who are not United States citizens and who do not possess a social security number issued by the United States government. The licenses of such persons shall include a number and/or other identifying features.

(3) Any resident of this state who holds a valid Mississippi driver's license and who is a retired law enforcement officer, upon renewal of his driver's license, may request that the driver's license issued to such person contain a distinctive symbol, character or endorsement thereon identifying such person as a retired law enforcement officer. No fee shall be charged by the department for such symbol, character or endorsement; however, at the time of application the applicant shall present proof to the issuing official that he is a retired law enforcement officer by presentation of a signed and notarized affidavit from the governing authority or chief executive officer of the agency, county, municipality or political subdivision from whom the law enforcement officer retired.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.