1. (a)

   1. (1) The secretary shall issue annual certificates of registration directly and shall authorize all judges of probate in the state or any other official in the state who is authorized to issue motor vehicle license plates to issue annual certificates of registration and numbers.
   2. (2) In conformity with this article and any rules adopted by the secretary, the secretary shall assign a block of numbers and certificates to each issuing officer in the county. The issuing officer may collect a fee of two dollars ($2) for each certificate issued by him or her. In counties where the judge of probate or issuing officer is on the fee system, the issuing fee shall be retained by the judge of probate, and, in counties where the issuing officer or judge of probate is on a salary basis, the fee shall be paid to the county treasury. The issuance fee shall be in addition to the amount of the vessel registration fee provided in Section 33-5-17.
2. (b) All monies collected from the registration of vessels, except the issuance fee allowed under subdivision (a)(2), shall be remitted monthly to ALEA not later than 10 days after the first of each month. The secretary shall remit these funds to the State Treasury to be deposited as provided in subsection (c).

3. (c)

   1. (1) Five dollars ($5) from each registration fee provided in Section 33-5-17(a)(2)(i) through (iv) shall be remitted monthly to the State Treasury and deposited into the State Reservoir Management Grant Fund, established in Section 9-2-170, not later than 10 days after the first of each month.
   2. (2) Unless otherwise provided by law, the remainder of the monies collected pursuant to this article, excluding the issuance fee provided in subsection (a) and the distribution provided in subdivision (c)(1), shall be remitted monthly to the State Treasury and deposited in the Public Safety Fund.
   3. (3) All monies collected from the registrations of vessels and deposited in the Public Safety Fund under this article may be used by the secretary for all purposes reasonably necessary in the cost of administration of this article, including the printing of certificates of registration, postage and transportation charges, clerical, personnel, equipment purchases, salaries, and other expenses for each year; except, that no funds collected under this article may be used to supplement or pay the salaries of any law enforcement officers other than those hired specifically for the purposes of administering this article. The secretary shall expend the monies appropriated to the Marine Patrol Division as the secretary deems necessary and appropriate; provided, however, that the appropriations may be expended only for the purposes designated by the Legislature and in the amounts provided in the general appropriation bill and shall be budgeted and allotted in accordance with Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Title 41. It is the intent of the Legislature that the agency utilize existing personnel and equipment of the agency and of the sheriffs of this state to the maximum possible extent in enforcing and administering this article, to the end that there be no costly duplication of services.

(Acts 1959, No. 576, p. 1442, §6; Acts 1961, No. 878, p. 1377, §2; Acts 1969, No. 1059, p. 1979, §1; Acts 1979, No. 79-700, p. 1244, §1; Acts 1984, No. 84-446, p. 1040, §6; Act 2007-420, p. 896, §1; Act 2021-447, §2; Act 2023-363, §1; Act 2026-45, §1.)