House Bill 1155

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO CONTRACT WITH ANY PERSON OR LEGAL ENTITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LOCATIONS AND FACILITIES ON SUCH PERSON'S PROPERTY OR BUSINESS UPON WHICH PERSONNEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY'S DRIVER LICENSE EXAMINING BUREAU MAY ESTABLISH TEMPORARY OR MOBILE OPERATION CENTERS FOR THE RENEWAL OF DRIVER'S LICENSES AND PERMITS; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH MONIES AS THE COMMISSIONER MAY RECEIVE PURSUANT TO THE EXECUTION OF SUCH CONTRACTS SHALL BE PLACED INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATIVE FUND AND MAY BE EXPENDED, UPON APPROPRIATION BY THE LEGISLATURE, FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES TO ASSIST THE DRIVER LICENSE EXAMINING BUREAU IN THE PERFORMANCE OF ITS DUTIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

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

63-1-13. (1) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) The commissioner may contract and enter into agreements with any person or other legal entity for the purpose of providing locations and facilities on such person's property or business upon which personnel of the Department of Public Safety's Driver License Examining Bureau may establish temporary or mobile operation centers for the renewal of driver's licenses and permits during regular business hours of the bureau and for extended hours, including nights and weekends. Such monies as the commissioner may receive pursuant to the execution of such contracts and agreements shall be placed into the Department of Public Safety Administrative Fund created under Section 45-1-21, and may be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the employment of additional administrative, professional, technical, stenographic, clerical and other employees, including retired highway patrol officers, to assist the Driver License Examining Bureau in the performance of its duties.

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