Bill Text: MS SB2292 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: 16th section lands in failing school districts; Secretary of State to act as trustee.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2015-02-03 - Died In Committee [SB2292 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-SB2292-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Senator(s) Tollison
Senate Bill 2292
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 29-3-2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ACT AS A SUPERVISORY TRUSTEE AND MANAGE ALL LEASING OF 16TH SECTION LANDS BELONGING TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS BEING SUPERVISED AND MANAGED PURSUANT TO A DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR FAILING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 37-17-6; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 29-3-2, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
29-3-2. (1) It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to assist the local school districts, when so requested, in establishing and maintaining local school trust land management systems. The Secretary of State shall also identify and coordinate consultative services which might be available to the school districts from other agencies within the state.
(2) (a) In the event a state of emergency of a local school district has been declared pursuant to Section 37-17-6, the Secretary of State will be assigned management, operation, leasing, collection, and all other duties, as interim manager, of all sixteenth section lands under the local board of education's control and jurisdiction, including , but not limited to, the management and sale of timber or other forest products.
(b) All payments under contracts, leases, or agreements entered into by the Secretary of State shall continue to be paid directly to the local school district; however, the Secretary of State shall be reimbursed for all direct costs, incurred under its management, including, but not limited to, the sale and management of timber or other forest products, of the sixteenth section lands. The Secretary of State shall provide the local school district an itemized listing of all cost no later than the fifteenth of each month.
(c) The assignment of duties under subsection (a) shall terminate upon written request by the local board of education but no later than one (1) year after the declaration that a state of emergency no longer exists in the school district, whichever occurs first. The Secretary of State shall notify the local board of education and the State Board of Education when the Secretary of State transfers duties back to the local board of education.
(d) The local board of education may, at any time by order placed upon its minutes, voluntarily assign to the Secretary of State all authority and power to manage the sixteenth section lands under its control and jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, the management and sale of timber or other forest products. The assignment of duties shall extend until rescinded by subsequent order of the local board of education, placed upon its minutes, but not sooner than one (1) year from the date of the order. All such orders shall be placed upon its minutes and filed with the Secretary of State's office.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.
