Senate Bill 2807

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-19-44, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DISTINCTIVE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE TAG AUTHORIZED TO BE ISSUED TO SUPPORTERS OF THE GARDEN CLUBS OF MISSISSIPPI, INC., MAY BE ISSUED AFTER PROOF HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE THAT 100 OF SUCH TAGS WILL BE PURCHASED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 27-19-44, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-19-44. (1) For any distinctive license tag or plate authorized by the Legislature from and after July 1, 2000, through June 30, 2002, or authorized by Sections 27-19-56.37 and 27-19-56.55, the requirements of this subsection must be met before the department * * * ~~of Revenue~~ may prepare or issue any such license tag or plate. The organization or other entity for which the Legislature authorized the distinctive license tag or plate must submit proof satisfactory to the department * * * ~~of Revenue~~ that at least one hundred (100) of such license tags or plates will be purchased and must deposit with the department an amount necessary to purchase one hundred (100) of such license tags or plates. The organization or other entity for which the Legislature authorized the distinctive license tag or plate must satisfy the requirements of this subsection (1) within two (2) years after the effective date of the law authorizing the license tag or plate in order to permit the license tag or plate to be prepared and issued.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (1) of this section, for any distinctive license tag or plate authorized by the Legislature from and after July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2007, the requirements of this subsection must be met before the department * * * ~~of Revenue~~ may prepare or issue any such license tag or plate. The organization or other entity for which the Legislature authorized the distinctive license tag or plate must submit proof satisfactory to the department * * * ~~of Revenue~~ that at least two hundred (200) of such license tags or plates will be purchased and must deposit with the department an amount necessary to purchase two hundred (200) of such license tags or plates. The organization or other entity for which the Legislature authorized the distinctive license tag or plate must satisfy the requirements of this subsection (2) within three (3) years after the effective date of the law authorizing the license tag or plate in order to permit the license tag or plate to be prepared and issued.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, Section 27-19-56.7, Section 27-19-56.56, Section 27-19-56.59, Section 27-19-56.85 or Section 27-19-56.94, for any distinctive license tag or plate authorized or reauthorized by the Legislature from and after July 1, 2007, the following requirements must be met before the department * * * ~~of Revenue~~ may prepare or issue any such license tag or plate:

(a) The organization or other entity for which the Legislature authorized the distinctive license tag or plate must submit proof satisfactory to the department * * * ~~of Revenue~~ that at least three hundred (300) of such license tags or plates will be purchased and must deposit with the department an amount necessary to purchase three hundred (300) of such license tags or plates.

(b) The organization or other entity for which the Legislature authorized the distinctive license tag or plate must satisfy the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection (3) within three (3) years after the effective date of the law authorizing the license tag or plate in order to permit the license tag or plate to be prepared and issued. This paragraph (b) shall not apply to distinctive tags or plates issued under Section 27-19-56.154.

(4) Any distinctive license tag authorized under * * * ~~Sections~~ Section 27-19-56.186, 27-19-56.203 * * * ~~and~~, 27-19-56.315 or 27-19-56.549(1)(n) must meet the requirements of this subsection before the department * * * ~~of Revenue~~ may prepare or issue any such license tag or plate. The organization or other entity for which the Legislature authorized the distinctive license tag or plate must submit proof satisfactory to the department * * * ~~of Revenue~~ that at least one hundred (100) of such license tags or plates will be purchased and must deposit with the department an amount necessary to purchase one hundred (100) of such license tags or plates. The organization or other entity for which the Legislature authorized the distinctive license tag or plate must satisfy the requirements of this subsection (4) within three (3) years after the effective date of the law authorizing the license tag or plate in order to permit the license tag or plate to be prepared and issued.

(5) The distinctive license tags authorized under Section 27-19-56.108 must meet the requirements of this subsection before the department * * * ~~of Revenue~~ may prepare or issue any such license tag or plate. The organization or other entity for which the Legislature authorized the distinctive license tag or plate must submit proof satisfactory to the department * * * ~~of Revenue~~ that at least two hundred (200) of such license tags or plates will be purchased and must deposit with the department an amount necessary to purchase two hundred (200) of such license tags or plates.

(6) If the organization or other entity for which the Legislature authorized the distinctive license tag or plate meets the requirements of subsection (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this section, the department * * * ~~of Revenue~~ shall prepare and issue the distinctive license tag or plate.

(7) The department * * * ~~of Revenue~~ shall review the number of distinctive or special license tags or plates issued pursuant to this chapter during the period for the license tag or plate series. If the number of any distinctive or special license tag or plate issued pursuant to this chapter falls below one hundred (100) in the last year of the license tag or plate series, the distinctive or special license tag or plate shall be discontinued at the end of the period for the license tag or plate series.

(8) If a distinctive or special license tag or plate is discontinued under subsection (7) of this section, the organization or other entity for which the license tag or plate was discontinued may prepare a distinctive or special license tag or plate decal. The distinctive or special license tag or plate decal shall be of such size, color and design as may be agreed upon by the organization or other entity and the department * * * ~~of Revenue~~. However, the department * * * ~~of Revenue~~ shall have final approval of the size, color and design of the decal. The distinctive or special license tag or plate decals shall be prepared and sold by the organization or other entity, and the proceeds derived from the sale of such decals shall be retained by the organization or other entity for any use deemed appropriate by the organization or other entity.

(9) The provisions of this section shall not apply to distinctive or special license tags or plates:

(a) Which are issued under Section 27-19-45, 27-19-46, 27-19-47.1, 27-19-47.2, 27-19-48, 27-19-49, 27-19-53, 27-19-55, 27-19-56, 27-19-56.1, 27-19-56.2, 27-19-56.3, 27-19-56.5, 27-19-56.6, 27-19-56.9, 27-19-56.11, 27-19-56.12, 27-19-56.13, 27-19-56.40, 27-19-56.62, 27-19-56.69, 27-19-56.79, 27-19-56.90, 27-19-56.125, 27-19-56.127, 27-19-56.137, 27-19-56.140, 27-19-56.162, 27-19-56.187, 27-19-56.199, 27-19-56.205, 27-19-56.239, 27-19-56.292, 27-19-56.318, 27-19-56.379, 27-19-56.425, 27-19-56.466, 27-19-56.489, 27-19-56.522(1)(a), 27-19-56.524 or 27-19-56.557; or

(b) For which no additional fee is required to be paid.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.