Senate Bill 2382

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR APPLICANTS TO TAKE BOTH THE WRITTEN AND PRACTICAL DRIVERS' LICENSING TESTS AT A LOCATION CONVENIENT FOR THE APPLICANT; 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. The 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) (a) 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 Bureau and 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.

(b) The Director of the Driver License Examining Bureau shall ensure that a license examiner is available at a location at each county seat at least one (1) day per month in order for licensing examinations and road tests to be conducted for the benefit of applicants.

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