House Bill 1235

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-43, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE USE OF THE DRIVER'S LICENSE PHOTOGRAPH FEES COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-1-43, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-1-43. (1) The fee for receiving the application and issuing the regular driver's or operator's license and the fee for renewing the license shall be:

(a) Eighteen Dollars ($18.00) plus the applicable photograph fee for each applicant for a four-year license;

(b) Forty Dollars ($40.00) plus the applicable photograph fee for each applicant for an eight-year license;

(c) Three Dollars ($3.00) plus the applicable photograph fee for each applicant for a one-year license, except as provided in paragraph (d) of this subsection; and

(d) Eighteen Dollars ($18.00) plus the applicable photograph fee for a license for an applicant who is not a United States citizen and who does not possess a social security number issued by the United States government.

All originals and renewals of regular operators' licenses shall be in compliance with Section 63-1-47.

(2) The fee for receiving the application and issuing a motorcycle endorsement shall be Five Dollars ($5.00) when issued as an endorsement to a four-year license, and Ten Dollars ($10.00) when issued as an endorsement to an eight-year license. Motorcycle endorsements shall be valid for the same period of time as the applicant's operator's license.

(3) The fee for receiving the application and issuing a restricted motorcycle operator's license and the fee for renewing such license shall be:

(a) Eleven Dollars ($11.00) plus the applicable photograph fee for a four-year license;

(b) Eight Dollars ($8.00) plus the applicable photograph fee for a one-year license; and

All originals and renewals of restricted motorcycle licenses shall be valid for the same period of time that an original regular driver's license may be issued to such person in compliance with Section 63-1-47.

(4) From and after January 1, 1990, every person who makes application for an original license or a renewal license to operate a vehicle as a common carrier by motor vehicle, taxicab, passenger coach, dray, contract carrier or private commercial carrier as such terms are defined in Section 27-19-3, except for those vehicles for which a Class A, B or C license is required under Article 5 of this chapter, shall, in lieu of the regular driver's license above provided for, apply for and obtain a Class D commercial driver's license. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, the fee for the issuance of a Class D commercial driver's license shall be Twenty-three Dollars ($23.00) plus the applicable photograph fee for a period of four (4) years; however, except as required under Article 5 of this chapter, no driver of a pickup truck shall be required to have a commercial license regardless of the purpose for which the pickup truck is used.

Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, all originals and renewals of commercial licenses issued under this section shall be valid for a period of four (4) years, in compliance with Section 63-1-47. Only persons who operate the above-mentioned vehicles in the course of the regular and customary business of the owner shall be required to obtain a Class D commercial operator's license, and persons operating such vehicles for private purposes or in emergencies shall not be required to obtain such license.

(5) The original and each renewal of a commercial driver's license issued under this section to a person who is not a United States citizen and who does not possess a social security number issued by the United States government shall be issued for a period of one (1) year for a fee of Eight Dollars ($8.00) plus the applicable photograph fee and shall expire one (1) year from the date of issuance. Such person may renew a commercial license issued under this section within thirty (30) days of expiration of the license.

(6) The Commissioner of Public Safety, by rule or regulation, shall establish a driver's license photograph fee which shall be the actual cost of the photograph and driver's license technology initiatives rounded off to the next highest dollar. Monies collected for the photograph fee shall be deposited into a special photograph fee account which the Department of Public Safety shall use to pay the actual cost of producing the photographs and driver's license technology initiatives. Any monies collected in excess of the actual costs of the photography and driver's license technology initiatives shall be used by the department to defray the cost of future photography and driver's license technology initiatives.

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