Senate Bill 2937

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-15-401, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION ON MARINE RESOURCES TO SUSPEND OR REVOKE PERMITS, ENDORSEMENTS OR SIMILAR PROVISIONS ISSUED UNDER REGULATORY PROGRAMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 49-15-401, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-15-401. It is the purpose of this article to establish an administrative hearing procedure for the Commission on Marine Resources to enforce the rules and regulations of the commission and Sections 49-15-1 through 49-15-321, 49-27-1 through 49-27-71, 59-21-111, and such other statutes within the jurisdiction of the Commission on Marine Resources. Unless specifically authorized, the commission shall not seek both administrative and criminal penalties against violators of the statutes referred to herein for the same offense, except as provided in Section 49-15-63. The commission will notify the Department of Marine Resources of violations to bring forward for administrative penalty processing. The suspension or revocation of licenses shall be in accordance with the provisions outlined in Section 49-15-63; however, the commission may suspend or revoke permits, endorsements or similar provisions issued under regulatory programs for violations brought before them through the administrative penalty process.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2019.