MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2016 Regular Session

To: Insurance

By: Representative Willis

House Bill 835

AN ACT TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 63-16-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE IN AT LEAST THE MINIMUM AMOUNTS REQUIRED BY LAW BEFORE A MOTOR VEHICLE OWNER MAY RECEIVE OR RENEW A REGISTRATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 63-16-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is reenacted and amended as follows:

     63-16-9.  Every owner of a motor vehicle in this state shall comply with the motor vehicle liability insurance coverage in at least the minimum amounts required under Section 63-15-3(j) before that owner may receive a registration for a motor vehicle or renew a registration.  The owner must also maintain continuous coverage in at least the minimum amounts required under Section 63-15-3(j) throughout the registration period.  The Department of Revenue shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to enforce this section. * * *The verification system shall be used at registration to determine compliance with this section and the response received from the system supersedes an insurance card produced by a motor vehicle owner or operator, and notwithstanding the display of an insurance card by the owner or operator, the owner shall be denied a registration for a motor vehicle or renewal of a registration based on the verification system's response of noncompliance.  The Department of Revenue must make the verification system available to the tax collector through its title/registration network system.  If the owner is applying for the initial registration of a motor vehicle, then the owner may be granted a registration notwithstanding the response received from the verification system.

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

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