MS HB1200

Designates a compliance officer within the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources to administer the administrative hearing procedure for enforcing marine resources rules and regulations.

Changes the administrative hearing process so the compliance officer makes recommendations to the commission, which then forwards recommendations to the executive director who makes the final decision, rather than the executive director making determinations directly.

Clarifies that the Coastal Wetlands Protection Act (Sections 49-27-1 through 49-27-71) has its own separate administrative hearing procedure and is not controlled by the general marine resources hearing procedures.

Requires the commission to issue written recommendations incorporating findings and reasons for all actions recommended regarding permit issuance, denial, revocation, or suspension, with final decisions made by the executive director.

Specifies that no relief shall be granted in court review based on harmless procedural errors by the department; relief is only available for prejudicial errors requiring rehearing.