Jan. 20, 2011 — Five new automotive-related bills covering a range of topics from safety inspections to title issues have been introduced in the Mississippi Legislature since the start of the year.
Here’s an overview of the bills from the Automotive Service Association:
House Bill 151
Rep. Steven Horne, R-81, proposed this bill, which looks to repeal the state’s annual motor vehicle safety inspections.
House Bill 480
Rep. Robert Moak, D-53, proposed this bill, which would revise the definition of “motor vehicle” to include leased and rent-to-own vehicles; require insurance companies that provide liability insurance for state-registered vehicles to provide descriptions of those vehicles to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and notice when a policy lapses.
Bill 484
Also introduced by Moak, this would restrict vehicles issued a salvage or junk certificate of title from operating on highways. It adds that vehicles will be considered salvaged when the frame or engine is removed and not immediately replaced, or when an insurance company settles for the total loss of a vehicle.
Bill 548
Introduced by Rep. Walter Robinson, D-63, this bill states that providers of vehicle service contracts may issue, sell, or offer those contracts regardless of whether the provider is insured under a reimbursement policy. But the provider or parent company must have a net worth or stockholder’s equity equal to or greater than $100 million and the provider has to meet certain filing requirements.
Bill 620
Known as the Public Safety Verification and Enforcement Act, this bill was introduced by Rep. Gary Chism, R-37, to require the DPS to create an accessible common carrier-based vehicle insurance verification system. The DPS would work with the commissioner of insurance on the initiative. The bill would also allow law enforcement to use the system and lets insurers use it to provide certain information.
These bills are available for review at ASA’s website, takingthehill.com.