Department of Public Safety insignia, logos or decals; prohibit distribution and sell of without approval of Commissioner of DPS.
House Bill 1536 would make it unlawful to sell, distribute, or otherwise use the insignia, seal, coat of arms, label, or logo of any division or bureau of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety when those graphics are used as decals, patches, badges, or similar items that can be worn or displayed, unless the user first obtains written approval from the Commissioner of Public Safety. The bill requires applicants to submit identifying and business information, describe the intended purpose and scope of use, and provide any additional information the commissioner requests. It also directs DPS to maintain a list of approved users and allows the commissioner to rescind approval at any time, with or without cause.
The bill creates a misdemeanor penalty for violations, punishable by up to 48 hours in county jail and a $1,000 fine for each occurrence. It also authorizes DPS to adopt rules and regulations to administer the approval process and requires written notice if approval is rescinded, with rescission effective immediately upon notice. In addition, the bill brings forward Section 45-1-3 of the Mississippi Code for possible amendment, preserving existing commissioner authority related to DPS rulemaking, oaths, and certain lease arrangements at DPS headquarters.
The bill’s impact on state law would be to add a new restriction on the commercial and public use of DPS identifying graphics and to give the Commissioner of Public Safety direct control over who may reproduce or distribute those symbols. It would also create a new enforcement mechanism and criminal penalty for unauthorized use, while expanding DPS administrative authority to manage approvals and maintain records of authorized uses. The brought-forward code section does not itself change the law, but keeps that statute available for potential amendment in the legislative process.
Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, the overall sentiment cannot be measured from debate or roll-call history. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be framed as a protective and administrative bill focused on preventing unauthorized use of official DPS insignia and ensuring commissioner oversight. No specific opposition or support arguments are documented in the provided materials.
No notable points of contention are recorded in the available context. Potential issues inherent in the bill include the breadth of the commissioner’s discretion to approve or rescind use "with or without cause," the criminal penalty for violations, and the scope of what counts as covered insignia or logos. However, these concerns are inferred from the text rather than from any documented debate.
HB1536 would create a new state-law restriction on the sale, distribution, and use of Mississippi Department of Public Safety insignia, seals, coats of arms, labels, and logos when used as wearable or displayable decals, patches, badges, or similar items. It would require prior written approval from the Commissioner of Public Safety, establish an application and approval process, require DPS to keep a public list of approvals, and authorize the commissioner to rescind approvals at any time. The bill also adds a misdemeanor penalty of up to 48 hours in jail and a $1,000 fine per violation, and authorizes DPS to adopt implementing rules. It brings forward Section 45-1-3 of the Mississippi Code without substantive change, preserving existing commissioner authority for possible amendment.
No committee discussion or vote history is provided, so there is no recorded legislative sentiment to summarize. From the bill text alone, the measure appears administrative and protective in nature, aimed at controlling the use of official DPS symbols and preventing unauthorized commercialization or display. The absence of recorded opposition or support means sentiment cannot be assessed beyond the bill’s apparent sponsor-driven intent.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or voting history. Based on the text, possible areas of concern could include the commissioner’s broad discretion to approve or rescind use of DPS graphics without cause, the criminal misdemeanor penalty for violations, and the potential impact on businesses or organizations that sell patches, decals, or similar merchandise. These are inferred policy issues rather than stated objections from the legislative record provided.