Bill Text: MS SB2198 | 2016 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Municipal annexation; must include certain number of persons residing in the area to be annexed.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2016-04-18 - Approved by Governor [SB2198 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2016-SB2198-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: County Affairs
By: Senator(s) Polk, Hudson, Fillingane
Senate Bill 2198
(As Passed the Senate)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 21-1-27, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES SHALL CEDE CONTROL OVER ZONING, SUBDIVISION OR ALCOHOL REGULATIONS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE TERRITORY TO BE ANNEXED IS LOCATED IF A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE RESIDING IN THE TERRITORY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED ANNEXATION; TO AMEND SECTION 21-1-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 21-1-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
21-1-27. (1) The limits and boundaries of existing cities, towns and villages shall remain as now established until altered in the manner hereinafter provided. When any municipality shall desire to enlarge or contract the boundaries thereof by adding thereto adjacent unincorporated territory or excluding therefrom any part of the incorporated territory of such municipality, the governing authorities of such municipality shall pass an ordinance defining with certainty the territory proposed to be included in or excluded from the corporate limits, and also defining the entire boundary as changed. In the event the municipality desires to enlarge such boundaries, such ordinance shall in general terms describe the proposed improvements to be made in the annexed territory, the manner and extent of such improvements, and the approximate time within which such improvements are to be made; such ordinance shall also contain a statement of the municipal or public services which such municipality proposes to render in such annexed territory. In the event the municipality shall desire to contract its boundaries, such ordinance shall contain a statement of the reasons for such contraction and a statement showing whereby the public convenience and necessity would be served thereby.
(2) When any
municipality with boundaries that lie within two (2) counties desires to
enlarge its boundaries
by adding adjacent
unincorporated territory, the
governing authorities of the municipality shall pass, in addition to the
requirements provided in subsection (1), an ordinance:
(a) Certifying that more than fifty percent (50%) of the people who reside in the unincorporated area of the census block within the territory proposed to be annexed shall be included in the proposed annexation; or
(b) Certifying that upon approval of the annexation, the municipality shall cede any authority to provide zoning, subdivision and alcohol regulation to the board of supervisors of the county in which the territory is located, if fifty percent (50%) or fewer people who reside in the unincorporated area of the census block within such territory is not included in the proposed annexation.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "census block" refers to certain geographic areas as designated by the most recent decennial United States Census preceding any annexation under this section.
SECTION 2. Section 21-1-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
21-1-33. (1) If the
chancellor finds from the evidence presented at * * * the hearing that the proposed
enlargement or contraction is reasonable and is required by the public
convenience and necessity and, in the event of an enlargement of a
municipality, that reasonable public and municipal services will be rendered in
the annexed territory within a reasonable time and that the governing
authority of the municipality complied with the provisions of Section 21-1-27,
the chancellor shall enter a decree approving, ratifying and confirming the
proposed enlargement or contraction, and describing the boundaries of the
municipality as altered. In so doing the chancellor shall have the right and
the power to modify the proposed enlargement or contraction by decreasing the
territory to be included in or excluded from * * * the municipality, as the case may
be.
(2) If the
chancellor shall find from the evidence that the proposed enlargement or
contraction, as the case may be, is unreasonable and is not required by the
public convenience and necessity, or in the event of an enlargement of a
municipality, that the governing authority of the municipality failed to comply
with the provisions of Section 21-1-27, then he shall enter a decree
denying * * *
the enlargement or contraction.
(3) In any event,
the decree of the chancellor shall become effective after the passage of ten (10)
days from the date thereof or, in event an appeal is taken therefrom, within
ten (10) days from the final determination of * * * the appeal. In any proceeding
under this section the burden shall be upon the municipal authorities to show
that the proposed enlargement or contraction is reasonable.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.
