House Bill 548

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO REQUIRE AN SR22 CERTIFICATE BE PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO REINSTATE A DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT HAS BEEN SUSPENDED UNDER THE IMPLIED CONSENT LAWS; TO REQUIRE AN SR22 CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE BE PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IF AN INDIVIDUAL OPERATING AN AUTOMOBILE CAUSED DAMAGES IN AN AMOUNT OVER FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT INSURANCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) In order for an individual that has received a license suspension under the State of Mississippi's Implied Consent Laws to be eligible for reinstatement, he or she must provide to the Department of Public Safety, in addition to other requirements at law, proof of financial responsibility in the form of an SR22 certificate of insurance, that shall be in effect for not less than a period of three (3) years after issuance in accordance with the requirements as set forth in Section 63-15-61.

(2) If an individual operating an automobile caused damages including bodily injury, death or property damage in an amount greater than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and such individual did not have insurance in at least the minimum amounts required under the Mississippi Motor Vehicle Safety-Responsibility Law at the time of such incident causing the damage, resulting in the damaged person's recovery under his uninsured motorist coverage, he or she must provide to the Department of Public Safety to retain or reinstate his or her driver's license, if it was suspended, in addition to other requirements at law, proof of financial responsibility in the form of an SR22 certificate of insurance, that shall be in effect for not less than a period of three (3) years after issuance in accordance with the requirements as set forth in Section 63-15-61. The insurance company paying out under uninsured motorist coverage in such scenario shall notify the Department of Public Safety within fifteen (15) days of such coverage payout.

(3) If a person fails to maintain SR22 certificate of insurance coverage for the time period required under this section, the Department of Public Safety shall suspend the person's driving privilege until either the person resumes SR22 certificate of insurance coverage and pays the required reinstatement fee or the time period required for SR22 certificate of insurance coverage expires.

(4) An insurance company providing SR22 certificate of insurance coverage must notify the Department of Public Safety within fifteen (15) days of the cancellation of such coverage before the expiration of the three (3) year time period by SR26 certificate.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after January 1, 2016.