Bill Text: MS SB2485 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Mississippi Gulf Coast Advanced Technology Corridor; create.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [SB2485 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-SB2485-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Economic Development; Finance
By: Senator(s) Wiggins
Senate Bill 2485
AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CORRIDOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF GROWING, RETAINING AND ATTRACTING HIGH-TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISES TO COUNTIES IN MISSISSIPPI TRAVERSED BY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 10; TO CREATE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CORRIDOR AND PROVIDE FOR ITS POWERS AND DUTIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Gulf Coast Advanced Technology Corridor Act."
SECTION 2. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a hotbed of high-tech activity with entities such as Chevron, Huntington-Ingalls, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Stennis Space Center and Northrup Grumman located there. The Mississippi Gulf Coast boasts top-notch public schools, a high-quality health care system and provides a quality of life that people desire. In order to stimulate the expansion of existing high-technology enterprises on the Mississippi Gulf Coast (coast); to encourage the formation of new economically sound high-technology enterprises on the coast; to spur economic development on the coast with an emphasis on developing, retaining and expanding jobs in high-technology industries, such as aviation, petro chemical and health sciences; to create partnerships between institutions of higher learning, community colleges and businesses on the coast; to encourage the funding of entrepreneurship on the coast; to spur development of the marine resources industry; and to spur economic development on the coast, it is the intent of the Legislature to create a consortium of educational institutions, local government entities and other entities for the purpose of growing, retaining and attracting high-technology enterprises to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Advanced Technology Corridor.
SECTION 3. As used in this act:
(a) "Board of directors" means the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Advanced Technology Corridor.
(b) "Mississippi Gulf Coast Advanced Technology Corridor" includes Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties.
(c) "High-technology enterprise" means an enterprise that employs advanced technologies that meet criteria established by the board of directors.
SECTION 4. (1) There is hereby established a Board of Directors of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Advanced Technology Corridor to carry out the purposes of this act, which shall be composed of the following:
(a) A member from each of the counties included in the corridor appointed by the board of supervisors of the county who represent the health care industry, or his or her designee;
(b) The Executive Director of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation, or his or her designee;
(c) Three (3) members appointed by the Executive Director of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation, or their designees;
(d) The Chairman of the Gulf Coast Business Council, or his or her designee;
(e) The Executive Director of the Port of Gulfport, or his or her designee;
(f) The Port Director of the Port of Pascagoula; or his or her designee;
(g) The President of the University of Southern Mississippi, or his or her designee;
(h) The President of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, or his or her designee; and
(i) The Executive Director of the Gulfport Biloxi Regional Airport, or his or her designee.
(2) Members who are officers or employees of the state shall receive no compensation for their services, and other committee members shall receive a per diem as provided in Section 25-3-69. All members shall receive reimbursement for actual traveling and subsistence expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under this act, such reimbursement to be as provided in Section 25-3-41.
(3) The board of directors shall appoint an executive director, shall elect from among their membership a president and vice president and may appoint a secretary and a treasurer.
SECTION 5. The board of directors is hereby granted all powers necessary or appropriate to carry out and effectuate the purposes of this act, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Receive and accept from any source aid or contributions of money, property, labor or other things of value to be held, used and applied to carry out the purposes of this act including, but not limited to, gifts or grants from any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States of America;
(b) Enter into agreements with any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or of the state for the purpose of planning, regulating and assisting any high-technology enterprise located in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Advanced Technology Corridor;
(c) Provide technical assistance to high-technology enterprises, or assistance to, persons engaged in high-technology enterprises and distribute data and information concerning the encouragement and improvement of high-technology enterprises in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Advanced Technology Corridor;
(d) Use any fund or funds of its funds for any and all expenses including, by way of example, but not by limitation, any and all expenses for employment of administrative and clerical staff, legal, actuarial and other services;
(e) Invest any funds not needed for immediate disbursement, including any funds held in reserve, in any obligations or securities which may be legally purchased by political subdivisions in the state; and
(f) Take any action necessary or convenient for the exercise of the powers granted by this act or reasonably implied from them.
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.
