Senate Bill 2654 Summary

• Creates a Compliance Officer position within the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources to review complaints and make recommendations in administrative penalty cases.

• Clarifies that the Compliance Officer makes recommendations while the Executive Director retains final decision-making authority on administrative penalties up to $10,000 per violation.

• Establishes that the Marine Resources Commission makes written recommendations with findings and reasons, which are then forwarded to the Executive Director for final decisions on permit issuance, denial, revocation, or suspension.

• Changes references from "commission" to "department" in judicial review proceedings and compliance procedures under Section 49-15-417.

• Effective date is July 1, 2024.