Bill Text: MS HB652 | 2024 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: State Port Authority and other ports; delete repealer on authority to use design-build method of contracting.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2024-04-30 - Approved by Governor [HB652 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2024-HB652-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Ports, Harbors and Airports
By: Representatives Ford (54th), Hulum
House Bill 652
(As Passed the House)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-5-37, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE REPEALER ON THE PROVISION OF LAW WHICH AUTHORIZES THE STATE PORT AUTHORITY AND OTHER PORTS AND PORT COMMISSIONS TO USE THE DESIGN-BUILD METHOD OF CONTRACTING FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 59-5-37, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
59-5-37. (1) The board or State Port Authority, in the performance of its duties, may employ such personnel and make all contracts and purchases incidental to or necessary for the advancement, promotion, development, establishment, insurance, maintenance, repair, improvement and operation of any ports, harbors, rivers, channels and waterways including, if required for its protection, retirement benefits, workers' compensation insurance and other employee benefits for the benefit of any employees of the board or State Port Authority. The board or State Port Authority may establish a trade development and promotion account to pay all direct and necessary expenses for the promotion and development of the state port. The authority is granted the power to sue and be sued in its own name.
(2) (a) The board or State Port Authority may, in its discretion, make such contracts or purchases according to the state purchasing laws. Contracts let for any port, harbor, river, channel or waterway improvements shall be advertised as required by law for the letting of public contracts, and such contracts shall be awarded to the lowest and best bidder who shall make bond as shall be required by the board or State Port Authority conditioned for the faithful prosecution and completion of work according to such contracts, such bond to be furnished by a corporate surety company qualified to do business in this state. However, the board may negotiate and enter into contracts with responsible lessees for the construction of facilities by lessees, such as those referred to in Section 59-5-11, and the acquisition thereof by the board upon such terms and conditions and for such amount as may be approved by the board.
(b) The State Port Authority shall be considered to be a "governing authority" under the state public purchasing laws as that term is defined in Section 31-7-1 and used in Sections 31-7-1 through 31-7-73, and shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Finance and Administration, the Public Procurement Review Board or the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management under the provisions of Sections 27-104-7, 29-5-2 and 31-11-3.
(3) * * * The board or State Port Authority,
in its discretion, may use the design-build method of contracting for the
renovation, repair and/or making of other improvements to not more than one (1)
freezer and related equipment and/or facilities and for the renovation, repair
and/or making of other improvements to equipment and/or facilities at the
State Port at Gulfport, Mississippi. * * * For the purposes of this
subsection (3), the term "design-build method of contracting" means a
contract that combines the design and construction phases of a project into a
single contract and the contractor is required to satisfactorily perform, at a
minimum, both the design and construction of the project.
* * *
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.
