House Bill 1097

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 VETERAN OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVE FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, UPON RENEWAL OF HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE, MAY REQUEST THAT THE DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUED TO THAT PERSON CONTAIN A DISTINCTIVE SYMBOL, CHARACTER OR ENDORSEMENT THEREON IDENTIFYING THAT PERSON AS A VETERAN OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVE FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES; 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. A licensee 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. The 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 that shall prevent as nearly as possible any alteration, counterfeiting, duplication, reproduction, forging or modification of the license or the superimposition of a photograph without ready detection. The photograph shall be replaced by the department at the time of renewal. Drivers' licenses, including photographs appearing thereon, may be renewed by electronic means according to rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner in conformity to Section 27-104-33.

(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 new, renewal or duplicate driver's license, temporary driving permit, intermediate license or commercial driver's license issued to a person required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Section 45-33-25 shall bear a designation identifying the licensee or permittee as a sex offender.

(4) Any resident of this state who holds a valid Mississippi driver's license and who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, National Guard or Reserve Forces of the United States, upon the initial application or renewal of his driver's license, may request that the driver's license issued to that person contain a distinctive symbol, character or endorsement thereon identifying that person as a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, National Guard or Reserve Forces of the United States. No fee shall be charged by the department for the symbol, character or endorsement; however, at the time of application the applicant shall present proof to the issuing official that he is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, National Guard or Reserve Forces of the United States by presentation of a DD Form 214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" from the military branch with which he served.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.