Bill Text: MS SB2629 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Waters of the state; bring forward code sections for possible amendment.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-03-05 - Died In Committee [SB2629 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2024-SB2629-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Environment Prot, Cons and Water Res; Agriculture
By: Senator(s) DeLano
Senate Bill 2629
AN ACT TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 1-3-31, 3-3-1, 11-33-9, 17-17-29, 21-17-1, 21-27-163, 21-27-203, 21-27-205, 21-27-217, 27-31-1, 27-55-53, 27-55-547, 27-55-559, 27-57-41, 27-65-22, 27-65-101, 29-7-3, 29-15-1, 33-15-1, 37-138-27, 41-67-2, 49-1-29, 49-2-13, 49-7-9, 49-7-9.1, 49-7-49, 49-7-80, 49-7-81, 49-7-153, 49-9-5, 49-9-7, 49-9-15, 49-15-1, 49-15-15, 49-15-17, 49-15-21, 49-15-27, 49-15-29, 49-15-34, 49-15-64.3, 49-15-46, 49-15-64.5, 49-15-47, 49-15-63, 49-15-75, 9-15-80, 49-15-81, 49-15-84.1, 49-15-86, 49-15-95, 49-15-100, 49-15-100.1, 49-15-100.3, 49-15-101, 49-15-309, 49-15-313, 49-17-1, 49-17-3, 49-17-5, 49-17-7, 49-17-13, 49-17-14, 49-17-16, 49-17-17, 49-17-19, 49-17-21, 49-17-22, 49-17-23, 49-17-25, 49-17-26, 49-17-27, 49-17-28, 49-17-29, 49-17-30, 49-17-31, 49-17-32, 49-17-33, 49-17-34, 49-17-35, 49-17-36, 49-17-37, 49-17-39, 49-17-41, 49-17-42, 49-17-43, 49-17-44, 49-17-44.1, 49-17-45, 49-17-61, 49-17-63, 49-17-65, 49-17-67, 49-17-68, 49-17-69, 49-17-70, 49-17-71, 49-17-73, 49-17-75, 49-17-77, 49-17-81, 49-17-83, 49-17-85, 49-17-86, 49-17-87, 49-17-89, 49-17-101, 49-17-103, 49-17-105, 49-17-107, 49-17-108, 49-17-109, 49-17-111, 49-17-113, 49-17-115, 49-17-117, 49-17-119, 49-17-121, 49-17-123, 49-17-401, 49-17-403, 49-17-405, 49-17-407, 49-17-409, 49-17-411, 49-17-413, 49-17-415, 49-17-419, 49-17-421, 49-17-422, 49-17-423, 49-17-425, 49-17-427, 49-17-429, 49-17-431, 49-17-433, 49-17-435, 49-17-501, 49-17-503, 49-17-505, 49-17-507, 49-17-509, 49-17-511, 49-17-513, 49-17-515, 49-17-516, 49-17-517, 49-17-518, 49-17-519, 49-17-521, 49-17-523, 49-17-525, 49-17-527, 49-17-529, 49-17-531, 49-17-601, 49-17-603, 49-17-701, 49-17-703, 49-17-705, 49-17-707, 49-17-709, 49-17-711, 49-17-713, 49-17-717, 49-17-719, 49-17-721, 49-17-723, 49-17-725, 49-17-727, 49-17-729, 49-17-731, 49-17-733, 49-17-735, 49-17-737, 49-17-739, 49-17-741, 49-17-743, 49-17-745, 49-17-747, 49-17-749, 49-17-751, 49-17-753, 49-17-755, 49-17-757, 49-17-759, 49-17-761, 49-17-763, 49-17-765, 49-17-767, 49-17-769, 49-17-771, 49-17-773, 49-17-775, 49-27-71, 49-35-23, 51-1-1, 51-3-1, 51-3-7, 51-1-4, 51-2-3, 51-3-13, 51-3-21, 51-3-39, 51-4-7, 51-9-5, 51-9-103, 51-9-121, 51-13-101, 51-35-303, 53-3-71, 53-3-165, 53-7-35, 53-11-3, 55-7-1, 55-7-15, 57-15-1, 59-21-3, 59-21-5, 59-21-25, 59-21-51, 59-21-81, 59-21-83, 59-21-87, 59-21-89, 59-21-111, 59-21-117, 59-21-119, 59-21-129, 59-21-161, 59-23-7, 59-25-3, 61-3-15, 61-21-3, 69-27-3, 71-3-5, 79-21-5, 79-21-53, 89-17-9, 89-17-25, 97-15-30 AND 97-35-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 1-3-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
1-3-31. Except as otherwise provided in Section 27-109-1, all rivers, creeks and bayous in this state, twenty-five (25) miles in length, and having sufficient depth and width of water for thirty (30) consecutive days in the year to float a steamboat with carrying capacity of two hundred (200) bales of cotton, are navigable waters of this state and public highways.
SECTION 2. Section 3-3-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
3-3-1. The limits and boundaries of the territorial waters of the State of Mississippi shall consist of all territory included within the boundaries described in the act of Congress of March 1, 1817, together with all territory ceded to the State of Mississippi by later acts of Congress or by compacts or agreements with other states, as such territory and boundaries may have been or may be modified by the United States Supreme Court which extends three (3) miles of Cat Island, Ship Island, Horn Island and Petit Bois Island off shore to three (3) Marine Leagues.
SECTION 3. Section 11-33-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
11-33-9. The creditor, his agent or attorney, shall make oath before a judge of the supreme court, a judge of a circuit court, or a chancellor, or before a clerk of the circuit court or chancery court or the deputy of such clerk, or any justice court judge, or the mayor of any city, town or village, of the amount of his debt or demand, to the best of his knowledge and belief, and shall also make oath, to the best of his knowledge and belief, to one or more of the following grounds for attachment:
(1) That the defendant is a foreign corporation, or a nonresident of this state; or
(2) That he has removed, or is about to remove, himself or his property out of this state; or
(3) That he so absconds or conceals himself that he cannot be served with a summons; or
(4) That he contracted the debt or incurred the obligation in conducting the business of a ship, steamboat or other watercraft in some of the navigable waters of this state; or
(5) That he has property or rights in action which he conceals, and unjustly refuses to apply to the payment of his debts; or
(6) That he has assigned or disposed of, or is about to assign or dispose of, his property or rights in action, or some part thereof, with the intent to defraud his creditors; or
(7) That he has converted, or is about to convert, his property into money or evidences of debt, with intent to place it beyond the reach of his creditors; or
(8) That he fraudulently contracted the debt or incurred the obligation for which suit has been or is about to be brought; or
(9) That he is buying, selling, or dealing in, or has, within six (6) months next before the suing out of the attachment, directly or indirectly bought, sold, or dealt in future contracts, commonly called "futures"; or
(10) That he is in default for public money, due from him as a principal, to the state, or some county, city, town, or village thereof; or
(11) That defendant is a banker, banking company or corporation, and received deposits of money knowing at the time he or it was insolvent; or has made or published a false or fraudulent statement as to his or its financial condition; or
(12) That a judgment lien under Title 93, Mississippi Code of 1972, has been enrolled against said obligor for nonpayment of an order for support as defined by Section 93-11-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended.
SECTION 4. Section 17-17-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
17-17-29. (1) Any person found by the commission violating any of the provisions of Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47, or any rule or regulation or written order of the commission in pursuance thereof, or any condition or limitation of a permit, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for each violation, such penalty to be assessed and levied by the commission after a hearing. Appeals from the imposition of the civil penalty may be taken to the chancery court in the same manner as appeals from orders of the commission. If the appellant desires to stay the execution of a civil penalty assessed by the commission, he shall give bond with sufficient resident sureties of one or more guaranty or surety companies authorized to do business in this state, payable to the State of Mississippi, in an amount equal to double the amount of any civil penalty assessed by the commission, as to which the stay of execution is desired, conditioned, if the judgment shall be affirmed, to pay all costs of the assessment entered against the appellant. Each day upon which such violation occurs shall be deemed a separate and additional violation.
(2) In lieu of, or in addition to, the penalty provided in subsection (1) of this section, the commission shall have the power to institute and maintain in the name of the state any and all proceedings necessary or appropriate to enforce the provisions of Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47, rules and regulations in force pursuant thereto, and orders and permits made and issued under those sections, in the appropriate circuit, chancery, county or justice court of the county in which venue may lie. The commission may obtain mandatory or prohibitory injunctive relief, either temporary or permanent, and in cases of imminent and substantial hazard as set forth in Section 17-17-27, it shall not be necessary in such cases that the state plead or prove (a) that irreparable damage would result if the injunction did not issue; (b) that there is no adequate remedy at law; or (c) that a written complaint or commission order has first been issued for the alleged violation.
(3) Any person who violates any of the provisions of, or fails to perform any duty imposed by, Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47, or any rule or regulation issued hereunder, or who violates any order or determination of the commission promulgated pursuant to such sections, and causes the death of wildlife shall be liable, in addition to the penalties provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, to pay to the state an additional amount equal to the sum of money reasonably necessary to replenish such wildlife as determined by the commission after consultation with the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Such amount may be recovered by the commission on behalf of the state in a civil action brought in the appropriate county or circuit court of the county in which venue may lie.
(4) Any person creating, or responsible for creating, through misadventure, happenstance, or otherwise, an immediate necessity for remedial or clean-up action involving solid waste shall be liable for the cost of such remedial or clean-up action and the commission may recover the cost of same by a civil action brought in the circuit court of the county in which venue may lie. This penalty may be recovered in lieu of or in addition to the penalties provided in subsections (1), (2) and (3) of this section.
In the event of the necessity for immediate remedial or clean-up action, the commission may contract for same and advance funds from the Pollution Emergency Fund to pay the costs thereof, such advancements to be repaid to the Pollution Emergency Fund upon recovery by the commission as provided herein.
(5) Any person who knowingly violates any provision of this chapter or violates any order issued by the commission under the authority of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for each day of violation or to imprisonment not to exceed one (1) year, or both. Each day's violation shall constitute a separate offense.
(6) All fines, penalties and other sums recovered or collected by the commission for and in behalf of the state under this section shall be deposited in the Pollution Emergency Fund established by Sections 49-17-61 through 49-17-70, and the commission is authorized to receive and accept, from any and all available sources whatsoever, additional funds to be deposited in such fund and expended for the purpose of remedial, cleanup or abatement actions involving the introduction of solid waste upon or into the land, air or waters of this state in violation of Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47, any rule or regulation or written order of the commission in pursuance thereof, or any condition or limitation of a permit.
(7) In determining the amount of any penalty under this chapter, the commission shall consider at a minimum:
(a) The willfulness of the violation;
(b) Any damage to air, water, land or other natural resources of the state or their uses;
(c) Costs of restoration and abatement;
(d) Economic benefit as a result of noncompliance;
(e) The seriousness of the violation, including any harm to the environment and any hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the public;
(f) Past performance history; and
(g) Whether the noncompliance was discovered and reported as the result of a voluntary self-evaluation. If a person discovers as a result of a voluntary self-evaluation, information related to noncompliance with an environmental law and voluntarily discloses that information to the department, commission or any employee thereof, the commission shall, to the greatest extent possible, reduce a penalty, if any, determined by the commission, except for economic benefit as a result of noncompliance, to a de minimis amount if all of the following are true:
(i) The disclosure is made promptly after knowledge of the information disclosed is obtained by the person; (ii) The person making the disclosure initiates the appropriate corrective actions and pursues those corrective actions with due diligence;
(iii) The person making the disclosure cooperates with the commission and the department regarding investigation of the issues identified in the disclosure;
(iv) The person is not otherwise required by an environmental law to make the disclosure to the commission or the department;
(v) The information was not obtained through any source independent of the voluntary self-evaluation or by the department through observation, sampling or monitoring;
(vi) The noncompliance did not result in a substantial endangerment threatening the public health, safety or welfare or the environment; and
(vii) The noncompliance is not a repeat violation occurring at the same facility within a period of three (3) years. "Repeat violation" in this subparagraph means a second or subsequent violation, after the first violation has ceased, of the same statutory provision, regulation, permit condition, or condition in an order of the commission.
(9) Any provision of this section and chapter regarding liability for the costs of cleanup, removal, remediation or abatement of any pollution, hazardous waste or solid waste shall be limited as provided in Section 49-17-42 and rules adopted thereto.
(10) Any person who violates Section 49-17-603, shall, in addition to any other penalties, be subject to the penalties provided in this section.
SECTION 5. Section 21-17-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
21-17-1. (1) Every municipality of this state shall be a municipal corporation and shall have power to sue and be sued; to purchase and hold real estate, either within or without the corporate limits, for all proper municipal purposes, including parks, cemeteries, hospitals, schoolhouses, houses of correction, waterworks, electric lights, sewers and other proper municipal purposes; to purchase and hold personal property for all proper municipal purposes; to sell or dispose of personal property or real property owned by it consistent with Section 17-25-25; to acquire equipment and machinery by lease-purchase agreement and to pay interest thereon, if contracted, when needed for proper municipal purposes; and to sell and convey any real property owned by it, and make such order respecting the same as may be deemed conducive to the best interest of the municipality, and exercise jurisdiction over the same.
(2) (a) In case any of the real property belonging to a municipality shall cease to be used for municipal purposes, the governing authority of the municipality may sell, convey or lease the same on such terms as the municipal authority may elect. In case of a sale on a credit, the municipality shall charge appropriate interest as contracted and shall have a lien on the same for the purchase money, as against all persons, until paid and may enforce the lien as in such cases provided by law. The deed of conveyance in such cases shall be executed in the name of the municipality by the governing authority of the municipality pursuant to an order entered on the minutes. In any sale or conveyance of real property, the municipality shall retain all mineral rights that it owns, together with the right of ingress and egress to remove same. Except as otherwise provided in this section, before any such lease, deed or conveyance is executed, the governing authority of the municipality shall publish at least once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks, in a public newspaper of the municipality in which the real property is located, or if no newspaper be published as such, then in a newspaper having general circulation therein, the intention to lease or sell, as the case may be, the municipally owned real property and to accept sealed competitive bids for the leasing or sale. The governing authority of the municipality shall thereafter accept bids for the lease or sale and shall award the lease or sale to the highest bidder in the manner provided by law. However, whenever the governing authority of the municipality shall find and determine, by resolution duly and lawfully adopted and spread upon its minutes (i) that any municipally owned real property is no longer needed for municipal or related purposes and is not to be used in the operation of the municipality, (ii) that the sale of such property in the manner otherwise provided by law is not necessary or desirable for the financial welfare of the municipality, and (iii) that the use of such property for the purpose for which it is to be sold, conveyed or leased will promote and foster the development and improvement of the community in which it is located and the civic, social, educational, cultural, moral, economic or industrial welfare thereof, the governing authority of the municipality shall be authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to sell, convey or lease same for any of the purposes set forth herein without having to advertise for and accept competitive bids.
(b) In any case in which a municipality proposes to sell, convey or lease real property under the provisions of this subsection (2) without advertising for and accepting competitive bids, the governing authority may sell, convey or lease the property as follows:
(i) Consideration for the purchase, conveyance or lease of the property shall be not less than the average of the fair market price for such property as determined by at least two (2) professional property appraisers selected by the municipality and approved by the purchaser or lessee. Appraisal fees shall be shared equally by the municipality and the purchaser or lessee;
(ii) The governing authority of a municipality may contract for the professional services of a Mississippi licensed real estate broker to assist the municipality in the marketing and sale or lease of the property, and may provide the broker reasonable compensation for services rendered to be paid from the sale or lease proceeds. The reasonable compensation shall not exceed the usual and customary compensation for similar services within the municipality; or
(iii) The governing authority of a municipality may lease property of less than one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet to any person or legal entity by having two (2) appraisals establish the fair market value of the lease, and on such other terms and conditions as the parties may agree, such lease being lawfully adopted and spread upon its official minutes.
(3) Whenever the governing authority of the municipality shall find and determine by resolution duly and lawfully adopted and spread upon the minutes that municipally owned real property is not used for municipal purposes and therefore surplus as set forth in subsection (2) of this section:
(a) (i) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (a), the governing authority may donate such lands to a bona fide not-for-profit civic or eleemosynary corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Mississippi and granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service and may donate such lands and necessary funds related thereto to the public school district in which the land is situated for the purposes set forth herein. Any deed or conveyance executed pursuant hereto shall contain a clause of reverter providing that the bona fide not-for-profit corporation or public school district may hold title to such lands only so long as they are continued to be used for the civic, social, educational, cultural, moral, economic or industrial welfare of the community, and that title shall revert to the municipality in the event of the cessation of such use for a period of two (2) years. In any such deed or conveyance, the municipality shall retain all mineral rights that it owns, together with the right of ingress and egress to remove same;
(ii) If the governing authority of a municipality with a total population of greater than forty thousand (40,000) but not more than forty-two thousand five hundred (42,500) according to the 2010 federal decennial census, donates real property to a bona fide not-for-profit civic or eleemosynary corporation and such civic or eleemosynary corporation commits Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) to renovate or make capital improvements to the property by an agreement between a certain state institution of higher learning and the civic or eleemosynary corporation, then the clause of reverter required by this paragraph shall provide that title of such real property shall revert 1. to the bona fide not-for-profit civic or eleemosynary corporation, if a certain state institution of higher learning ceases to use the property for the purposes required by this paragraph (a) for donated lands, or 2. to the municipality, if a certain state institution of higher learning ceases to use the property for the purposes required by this paragraph (a) and the not-for-profit civic or eleemosynary corporation or its successor ceases to exist;
(b) (i) The governing authority may donate such lands to a bona fide not-for-profit corporation (such as Habitat for Humanity) which is primarily engaged in the construction of housing for persons who otherwise can afford to live only in substandard housing. In any such deed or conveyance, the municipality shall retain all mineral rights that it owns, together with the right of ingress and egress to remove same;
(ii) In the event the governing authority does not wish to donate title to such lands to the bona fide not-for-profit civic or eleemosynary corporation, but wishes to retain title to the lands, the governing authority may lease the lands to a bona fide not-for-profit corporation described in paragraph (a) or this paragraph (b) for less than fair market value;
(c) The governing authority may donate any municipally owned lot measuring twenty-five (25) feet or less along the frontage line as follows: the governing authority may cause the lot to be divided in half along a line running generally perpendicular to the frontage line and may convey each one-half (1/2) of that lot to the owners of the parcels laterally adjoining the municipally owned lot. All costs associated with a conveyance under this paragraph (c) shall be paid by the person or entity to whom the conveyance is made. In any such deed or instrument of conveyance, the municipality shall retain all mineral rights that it owns, together with the right of ingress and egress to remove same;
(d) Nothing contained in this subsection (3) shall be construed to prohibit, restrict or to prescribe conditions with regard to the authority granted under Section 17-25-3.
(4) Every municipality shall also be authorized and empowered to loan to private persons or entities, whether organized for profit or nonprofit, funds received from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under an urban development action grant or a community development block grant under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-383), as amended, and to charge interest thereon if contracted, provided that no such loan shall include any funds from any revenues other than the funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; to make all contracts and do all other acts in relation to the property and affairs of the municipality necessary to the exercise of its governmental, corporate and administrative powers; and to exercise such other or further powers as are otherwise conferred by law.
(5) (a) The governing authority of any municipality may establish an employer-assisted housing program to provide funds to eligible employees to be used toward the purchase of a home. This assistance may be applied toward the down payment, closing costs or any other fees or costs associated with the purchase of a home. The housing assistance may be in the form of a grant, forgivable loan or repayable loan. The governing authority of a municipality may contract with one or more public or private entities to provide assistance in implementing and administering the program and shall adopt rules and regulations regarding the eligibility of a municipality for the program and for the implementation and administration of the program. However, no general funds of a municipality may be used for a grant or loan under the program.
(b) Participation in the program established under this subsection (5) shall be available to any eligible municipal employee as determined by the governing authority of the municipality. Any person who receives financial assistance under the program must purchase a house and reside within certain geographic boundaries as determined by the governing authority of the municipality.
(c) If the assistance authorized under this subsection (5) is structured as a forgivable loan, the participating employee must remain as an employee of the municipality for an agreed upon period of time, as determined by the rules and regulations adopted by the governing authority of the municipality, in order to have the loan forgiven. The forgiveness structure, amount of assistance and repayment terms shall be determined by the governing authority of the municipality.
(6) The governing authority
of any municipality may contract with a private attorney or private collection
agent or agency to collect any type of delinquent payment owed to the
municipality, including, but not limited to, past-due fees, fines and other
assessments, or with the district attorney of the circuit court district in
which the municipality is located to collect any delinquent fees, fines and
other assessments. Any such contract debt may provide for payment contingent
upon successful collection efforts or payment based upon a percentage of the
delinquent amount collected; however, the entire amount of all delinquent
payments collected shall be remitted to the municipality and shall not be
reduced by any collection costs or fees. Any private attorney or private collection
agent or agency contracting with the municipality under the provisions of this
subsection shall give bond or other surety payable to the municipality in such
amount as the governing authority of the municipality deems sufficient. Any
private attorney with whom the municipality contracts under the provisions of
this subsection must be a member in good standing of The Mississippi Bar. Any
private collection agent or agency with whom the municipality contracts under
the provisions of this subsection must meet all licensing requirements for
doing business in the State of Mississippi. Neither the municipality nor any
officer or employee of the municipality shall be liable, civilly or criminally,
for any wrongful or unlawful act or omission of any person or business with
whom the municipality has contracted under the provisions of this subsection.
The Mississippi Department of Audit shall establish rules and regulations for
use by municipalities in contracting with persons or businesses under the
provisions of this subsection. If a municipality uses its own employees to
collect any type of delinquent payment owed to the municipality, then from and
after July 1, 2000, the municipality may charge an additional fee for
collection of the delinquent payment provided the payment has been delinquent
for ninety (90) days. The collection fee may not exceed twenty-five percent
(25%) of the delinquent payment if the collection is made within this state and
may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the delinquent payment if the collection
is made outside this state. In conducting collection of delinquent payments,
the municipality may utilize credit cards or electronic fund transfers. The
municipality may pay any service fees for the use of such methods of collection
from the collection fee, but not from the delinquent payment. There shall be
due to the municipality from any person whose delinquent payment is collected
under a contract executed as provided in this subsection an amount, in addition
to the delinquent payment, * * * not to exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of
the delinquent payment for collections made within this state, and not to
exceed fifty percent (50%) of the delinquent payment for collections made
outside of this state.
(7) In addition to such authority as is otherwise granted under this section, the governing authority of any municipality may expend funds necessary to maintain and repair, and to purchase liability insurance, tags and decals for, any personal property acquired under the Federal Excess Personal Property Program that is used by the local volunteer fire department.
(8) In addition to the authority to expend matching funds under Section 21-19-65, the governing authority of any municipality, in its discretion, may expend municipal funds to match any state, federal or private funding for any program administered by the State of Mississippi, the United States government or any nonprofit organization that is exempt under 26 USCS Section 501(c)(3) from paying federal income tax.
(9) The governing authority of any municipality that owns and operates a gas distribution system, as defined in Section 21-27-11(b), and the governing authority of any public natural gas district are authorized to contract for the purchase of the supply of natural gas for a term of up to ten (10) years with any public nonprofit corporation which is organized under the laws of this state or any other state.
(10) The governing authority of any municipality may perform and exercise any duty, responsibility or function, may enter into agreements and contracts, may provide and deliver any services or assistance, and may receive, expend and administer any grants, gifts, matching funds, loans or other monies, in accordance with and as may be authorized by any federal law, rule or regulation creating, establishing or providing for any program, activity or service. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed as authorizing any municipality or the governing authority of such municipality to perform any function or activity that is specifically prohibited under the laws of this state or as granting any authority in addition to or in conflict with the provisions of any federal law, rule or regulation.
(11) (a) In addition to such authority as is otherwise granted under this section, the governing authority of a municipality, in its discretion, may sell, lease, donate or otherwise convey property to any person or legal entity without public notice, without having to advertise for and accept competitive bids and without appraisal, with or without consideration, and on such terms and conditions as the parties may agree if the governing authority finds and determines, by resolution duly and lawfully adopted and spread upon its official minutes:
(i) The subject property is real property acquired by the municipality:
1. By reason of a tax sale;
2. Because the property was abandoned or blighted; or
3. In a proceeding to satisfy a municipal lien against the property;
(ii) The subject property is blighted and is located in a blighted area;
(iii) The subject property is not needed for governmental or related purposes and is not to be used in the operation of the municipality;
(iv) That the sale of the property in the manner otherwise provided by law is not necessary or desirable for the financial welfare of the municipality; and
(v) That the use of the property for the purpose for which it is to be conveyed will promote and foster the development and improvement of the community in which it is located or the civic, social, educational, cultural, moral, economic or industrial welfare thereof; the purpose for which the property is conveyed shall be stated.
(b) Any deed or instrument of conveyance executed pursuant to the authority granted under this subsection shall contain a clause of reverter providing that title to the property will revert to the municipality if the person or entity to whom the property is conveyed does not fulfill the purpose for which the property was conveyed and satisfy all conditions imposed on the conveyance within two (2) years of the date of the conveyance.
(c) In any such deed or instrument of conveyance, the municipality shall retain all mineral rights that it owns, together with the right of ingress and egress to remove same.
(12) The governing authority of any municipality may enter into agreements and contracts with any housing authority, as defined in Section 43-33-1, to provide extra police protection in exchange for the payment of compensation or a fee to the municipality.
(13) The governing authority of any municipality may reimburse the cost of an insured's deductible for an automobile insurance coverage claim if the claim has been paid for damages to the insured's property arising from the negligence of a duly authorized officer, agent, servant, attorney or employee of the municipality in the performance of his or her official duties, and the officer, agent, servant, attorney or employee owning or operating the motor vehicle is protected by immunity under the Mississippi Tort Claims Act, Section 11-46-1 et seq.
(14) The powers conferred by this section shall be in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law, and nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit, or to prescribe conditions concerning, any practice or practices authorized under any other law.
SECTION 6. Section 21-27-163, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
21-27-163. Words and phrases used in Sections 21-27-161 through 21-27-191 shall have meanings as follows:
(a) "Act" shall mean the Metropolitan Area Waste Disposal Act [Sections 21-27-161 through 21-27-191], as originally enacted or as hereafter amended.
(b) "Person" means and includes the State of Mississippi, a municipality as defined herein, any public agency as defined herein or any other city, town or political subdivision or governmental agency of the State of Mississippi or of the United States of America, or any individual, copartnership, association, firm, trust, estate or any other entity whatsoever.
(c) "Waterworks" means all works, plants or other facilities necessary for the purpose of collecting, storing, treating and transporting water for domestic, municipal, commercial, industrial, agricultural and manufacturing purposes, including open channels.
(d) "Water supply system" means pipelines, conduits, pumping stations and all other structures, devices and appliances appurtenant thereto, including land and right-of-way thereto, for use for transporting water to a point of ultimate use.
(e) "Waste" means sewage, industrial waste, municipal waste, recreational waste and agricultural waste, waste heat and any other waste that may cause impairment of the quality of the waters in the state.
(f) "Sewerage system" means pipelines or conduits, canals, pumping stations and force mains, and all other structures, devices, facilities and appliances appurtenant thereto, used for collecting or conducting waste to an ultimate point for treatment or disposal.
(g) "Treatment facilities" means any plant, disposal field, lagoon, pumping station, constructed drainage ditch or surface water intercepting ditch, canal, incinerator, area devoted to sanitary landfills or other works not specifically mentioned herein, installed for the purpose of treating, neutralizing, stabilizing or disposing of waste or facilities to provide cooling water to collect, control and dispose of waste heat.
(h) "Sewage disposal system" means a system for disposing of waste, including but not limited to sewerage systems and treatment facilities, as such terms are defined herein.
(i) The terms "pollution," "waters" or "waters in the state" shall have meanings as set forth in the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Law, as now or hereafter amended, appearing as Section 49-17-1 through Section 49-17-70, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(j) "Municipality" means any incorporated city having a population in excess of one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) according to the most recently completed federal decennial census, whether operating under general law or under special charter.
(k) "Metropolitan area" means all of the area or territory lying within the corporate limits of a municipality as herein defined, whether or not such area or territory be contiguous, and all area or territory lying not more than ten (10) miles from the outer boundary of any of the areas or territories comprising a municipality as herein defined, and all of an incorporated city or town, any part of which lies within the aforementioned ten-mile limit.
(l) "Public agency" means any incorporated city or town lying wholly or partially within a metropolitan area, any state board or commission owning or operating properties within a metropolitan area, a district created pursuant to Sections 51-9-101 through 51-9-163, or a political subdivision of the State of Mississippi lying wholly or partially within a metropolitan area and having the power to own and operate waterworks, water supply systems, sewerage systems, treatment facilities or sewage disposal systems or other facilities or systems for the collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste.
(m) "Metropolitan area plan" means a comprehensive plan for water quality management and the control and abatement of pollution within the metropolitan area, consistent with applicable water quality standards established pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
(n) "Federal Water Pollution Control Act" shall mean the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, being 33 USCS 1151 et seq. as now or hereafter amended, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, being P.L. 92-500, 86 Stat. 816 as now or hereafter amended.
SECTION 7. Section 21-27-203, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
21-27-203. For purposes of Sections 21-27-201 through 21-27-221, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed herein, unless the context shall otherwise require:
(a) "Association" means the Mississippi Water and Pollution Control Operator's Association, Inc.
(b) "Board" means the Mississippi State Board of Health.
(c) "Commission" means the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality.
(d) "Community water system" means a public water system serving piped water for human consumption to fifteen (15) or more individual service connections used by year-round consumers or regularly serving twenty-five (25) or more individual consumers year-round, including, but not limited to, any collection, pretreatment, treatment, storage and/or distribution facilities or equipment used primarily as part of, or in connection with, that system, regardless of whether or not the components are under the ownership or control of the operator of the system.
(e) "Commercial Class I rubbish site" means a permitted rubbish site which accepts for disposal Class I rubbish, as defined by the commission, for compensation or from more than one (1) generator.
(f) "Nontransient, noncommunity water system" means a public water system that is not a community water system and that regularly serves at least twenty-five (25) of the same persons over six (6) months per year.
(g) "Operator" means the person who directly supervises and is personally responsible for the daily operation and maintenance of a wastewater facility, community water system, nontransient, noncommunity water system or commercial nonhazardous solid waste management landfill.
(h) "Person" means the state or any agency or institution of the state, any municipality, political subdivision, public or private corporation, individual, partnership, association or other entity, including any officer or governing or managing body of any municipality, political subdivision, or public or private corporation, or the United States or any officer or employee of the United States.
(i) "Pollution" means contamination or other alteration of the physical, chemical or biological properties of any waters of the state, including change in temperature, taste, color, turbidity or odor of the waters, or the discharge of any liquid, gaseous, solid, radioactive or other substance or heat into any waters of the state.
(j) "Wastewater facilities" means pipelines or conduits, pumping stations, force mains, treatment plants, lagoons or any other structure, device, appurtenance or facility, whether operated individually or in any combination, used for collecting, treating and/or disposing of municipal or domestic wastewater, by either surface or underground methods, which is required to have a permit under Section 49-17-29.
(k) "Waters of the state" means all waters within the jurisdiction of this state, including all streams, lakes, ponds, impounding reservoirs, marshes, watercourses, waterways, wells, springs, irrigation systems, drainage systems and all other bodies or accumulations of water, surface and underground, natural or artificial, situated wholly or partly within or bordering upon the state, and such coastal waters as are within the jurisdiction of the state, except lakes, ponds or other surface waters which are wholly landlocked and privately owned.
SECTION 8. Section 21-27-205, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
21-27-205. (1) The board shall classify all municipal and domestic water collection, storage, treatment and/or distribution systems actually used or intended for use as community water systems or nontransient, noncommunity water systems according to size, type, character of water to be treated, number of service connections, and other physical conditions affecting the operation and maintenance of those systems, and also according to the degree of skill, knowledge, training and experience required of the operators of those systems to ensure competent, efficient operation and maintenance of such systems and protection of public health.
(2) The commission shall classify all municipal and domestic wastewater facilities according to size, type, character of wastewater to be treated, and other physical conditions affecting the operation and maintenance of the facilities, and also according to the degree of skill, knowledge, training and experience required of the operators of the facilities to ensure competent, efficient operation and maintenance of the facilities and prevention of pollution of waters of the state.
(3) The commission shall establish reciprocal certification arrangements with other states and private companies that establish training and certification programs for operators of commercial nonhazardous solid waste management landfills that meet or exceed the requirements of the commercial nonhazardous solid waste management landfill operator training and certification program established by the commission.
(4) The commission may establish reciprocal certification arrangements with other states and private companies that establish training and certification programs for operators of commercial Class I rubbish sites that meet or exceed the requirements of the commercial Class I rubbish site operator training and certification program established by the commission.
SECTION 9. Section 21-27-217, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
21-27-217. (1) Any person found by the board or commission, as the case may be, or any duly designated hearing officer appointed thereby, violating any of the provisions of Sections 21-27-201 through 21-27-221, or any rule or regulation promulgated by the board or commission hereunder, or any order issued by the board or commission in the exercise of their authority and duties hereunder, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), for each violation, such penalty to be levied and assessed by the board or commission or designated hearing officer. Appeals from such actions may be taken as provided hereinafter. Each day upon which a violation occurs shall be deemed a separate and additional violation.
In determining the amount of any monetary penalty assessed hereunder, the board or commission or duly appointed hearing officer shall consider all factors bearing upon the violation, including but not limited to, any resulting actual or probable pollution of the lands and/or waters of the state and/or endangerment to public health, and the nature and extent thereof, any violation of the terms or conditions of permits issued by the board or commission for the affected facility, and any actual or probable damage to the affected facility caused by improper operation thereof.
(2) In lieu of, or in addition to, the penalty provided in subsection (1) of this section, the board and commission shall have power to institute and maintain in the name of the state any and all proceedings necessary or appropriate to enforce the provisions of Sections 21-27-201 through 21-27-221, rules and regulations in force pursuant hereto, and orders and operator certifications made and issued hereunder, in the appropriate circuit, chancery, county or justice court of the county in which venue may lie. The board and commission may obtain mandatory or prohibitory injunctive relief, either temporary or permanent.
(3) Any person found guilty of violating any provision of Sections 21-27-201 through 21-27-221, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per day of violation.
SECTION 10. Section 27-31-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
27-31-1. The following shall be exempt from taxation:
(a) All cemeteries used exclusively for burial purposes.
(b) All property, real or personal, belonging to the State of Mississippi or any of its political subdivisions, except property of a municipality not being used for a proper municipal purpose and located outside the county or counties in which such municipality is located. A proper municipal purpose within the meaning of this section shall be any authorized governmental or corporate function of a municipality.
(c) All property, real or personal, owned by units of the Mississippi National Guard, or title to which is vested in trustees for the benefit of any unit of the Mississippi National Guard; provided such property is used exclusively for such unit, or for public purposes, and not for profit.
(d) All property, real or personal, belonging to any religious society, or ecclesiastical body, or any congregation thereof, or to any charitable society, or to any historical or patriotic association or society, or to any garden or pilgrimage club or association and used exclusively for such society or association and not for profit; not exceeding, however, the amount of land which such association or society may own as provided in Section 79-11-33. All property, real or personal, belonging to any foundation organized as a nonprofit corporation that is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that receives, invests and administers private support for a state-supported institution of higher learning, a public community college or junior college located in the State of Mississippi or a nonprofit private university or college located in the State of Mississippi, as the case may be. For the sole purpose of applying the preceding sentence, all property, real or personal, belonging to an entity that is wholly owned by and controlled by such a foundation shall be treated as belonging to the foundation. All property, real or personal, belonging to any rural waterworks system or rural sewage disposal system incorporated under the provisions of Section 79-11-1. All property, real or personal, belonging to any college or institution for the education of youths, used directly and exclusively for such purposes, provided that no such college or institution for the education of youths shall have exempt from taxation more than six hundred forty (640) acres of land; provided, however, this exemption shall not apply to commercial schools and colleges or trade institutions or schools where the profits of same inure to individuals, associations or corporations. All property, real or personal, belonging to an individual, institution or corporation and used for the operation of a grammar school, junior high school, high school or military school. All property, real or personal, owned and occupied by a fraternal and benevolent organization, when used by such organization, and from which no rentals or other profits accrue to the organization, but any part rented or from which revenue is received shall be taxed.
(e) All property, real or personal, held and occupied by trustees of public schools, and school lands of the respective townships for the use of public schools, and all property kept in storage for the convenience and benefit of the State of Mississippi in warehouses owned or leased by the State of Mississippi, wherein said property is to be sold by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Department of Revenue of the State of Mississippi.
(f) All property, real or personal, whether belonging to religious or charitable or benevolent organizations, which is used for hospital purposes, and nurses' homes where a part thereof, and which maintain one or more charity wards that are for charity patients, and where all the income from said hospitals and nurses' homes is used entirely for the purposes thereof and no part of the same for profit. All property, real or personal, belonging to a federally qualified health center where all the income from such center is used entirely for the purposes thereof and no part of the same for profit.
(g) The wearing apparel of every person; and also jewelry and watches kept by the owner for personal use to the extent of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) in value for each owner.
(h) Provisions on hand for family consumption.
(i) All farm products grown in this state for a period of two (2) years after they are harvested, when in the possession of or the title to which is in the producer, except the tax of one-fifth of one percent (1/5 of 1%) per pound on lint cotton now levied by the Board of Commissioners of the Mississippi Levee District; and lint cotton for five (5) years, and cottonseed, soybeans, oats, rice and wheat for one (1) year regardless of ownership.
(j) All guns and pistols kept by the owner for private use.
(k) All poultry in the hands of the producer.
(l) Household furniture, including all articles kept in the home by the owner for his own personal or family use; but this shall not apply to hotels, rooming houses or rented or leased apartments.
(m) All cattle and oxen.
(n) All sheep, goats and hogs.
(o) All horses, mules and asses.
(p) Farming tools, implements and machinery, when used exclusively in the cultivation or harvesting of crops or timber.
(q) All property of agricultural and mechanical associations and fairs used for promoting their objects, and where no part of the proceeds is used for profit.
(r) The libraries of all persons.
(s) All pictures and works of art, not kept for or offered for sale as merchandise.
(t) The tools of any mechanic necessary for carrying on his trade.
(u) All state, county, municipal, levee, drainage and all school bonds or other governmental obligations, and all bonds and/or evidences of debts issued by any church or church organization in this state, and all notes and evidences of indebtedness which bear a rate of interest not greater than the maximum rate per annum applicable under the law; and all money loaned at a rate of interest not exceeding the maximum rate per annum applicable under the law; and all stock in or bonds of foreign corporations or associations shall be exempt from all ad valorem taxes.
(v) All lands and other property situated or located between the Mississippi River and the levee shall be exempt from the payment of any and all road taxes levied or assessed under any road laws of this state.
(w) Any and all money on deposit in either national banks, state banks or trust companies, on open account, savings account or time deposit.
(x) All wagons, carts, drays, carriages and other horse-drawn vehicles, kept for the use of the owner.
(y) (i) Boats, seines and fishing equipment used in fishing and shrimping operations and in the taking or catching of oysters.
(ii) All towboats, tugboats and barges documented under the laws of the United States, except watercraft of every kind and character used in connection with gaming operations.
(z) (i) All materials used in the construction and/or conversion of vessels in this state;
(ii) Vessels while under construction and/or conversion;
(iii) Vessels while in the possession of the manufacturer, builder or converter, for a period of twelve (12) months after completion of construction and/or conversion; however, the twelve-month limitation shall not apply to:
1. Vessels used for the exploration for, or production of, oil, gas and other minerals offshore outside the boundaries of this state; or
2. Vessels that were used for the exploration for, or production of, oil, gas and other minerals that are converted to a new service for use outside the boundaries of this state;
(iv) 1. In order for a vessel described in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph (z) to be exempt for a period of more than twelve (12) months, the vessel must:
a. Be operating or operable, generating or capable of generating its own power or connected to some other power source, and not removed from the service or use for which manufactured or to which converted; and
b. The manufacturer, builder, converter or other entity possessing the vessel must be in compliance with any lease or other agreement with any applicable port authority or other entity regarding the vessel and in compliance with all applicable tax laws of this state and applicable federal tax laws.
2. A vessel exempt from taxation under subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph (z) may not be exempt for a period of more than three (3) years unless the board of supervisors of the county and/or governing authorities of the municipality, as the case may be, in which the vessel would otherwise be taxable adopts a resolution or ordinance authorizing the extension of the exemption and setting a maximum period for the exemption.
(v) As used in this paragraph (z), the term "vessel" includes ships, offshore drilling equipment, dry docks, boats and barges, except watercraft of every kind and character used in connection with gaming operations.
(aa) Sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of nuclear fuel and reprocessed, recycled or residual nuclear fuel by-products, fissionable or otherwise, used or to be used in generation of electricity by persons defined as public utilities in Section 77-3-3.
(bb) All growing nursery stock.
(cc) A semitrailer used in interstate commerce.
(dd) All property, real or personal, used exclusively for the housing of and provision of services to elderly persons, disabled persons, mentally impaired persons or as a nursing home, which is owned, operated and managed by a not-for-profit corporation, qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, whose membership or governing body is appointed or confirmed by a religious society or ecclesiastical body or any congregation thereof.
(ee) All vessels while in the hands of bona fide dealers as merchandise and which are not being operated upon the waters of this state shall be exempt from ad valorem taxes. As used in this paragraph, the terms "vessel" and "waters of this state" shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in Section 59-21-3.
(ff) All property, real or personal, owned by a nonprofit organization that: (i) is qualified as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; (ii) assists in the implementation of the national contingency plan or area contingency plan, and which is created in response to the requirements of Title IV, Subtitle B of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Public Law 101-380; (iii) engages primarily in programs to contain, clean up and otherwise mitigate spills of oil or other substances occurring in the United States coastal or tidal waters; and (iv) is used for the purposes of the organization.
(gg) If a municipality changes its boundaries so as to include within the boundaries of such municipality the project site of any project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv)1, Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxviii) or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxix), all real and personal property located on the project site within the boundaries of such municipality that is owned by a business enterprise operating such project, shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation for a period of time not to exceed thirty (30) years upon receiving approval for such exemption by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to authorize a breach of any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 21-1-59.
(hh) All leases, lease contracts or lease agreements (including, but not limited to, subleases, sublease contracts and sublease agreements), and leaseholds or leasehold interests (including, but not limited to, subleaseholds and subleasehold interests), of or with respect to any and all property (real, personal or mixed) constituting all or any part of a facility for the manufacture, production, generation, transmission and/or distribution of electricity, and any real property related thereto, shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation during the period as the United States is both the title owner of the property and a sublessee of or with respect to the property; however, the exemption authorized by this paragraph (hh) shall not apply to any entity to whom the United States sub-subleases its interest in the property nor to any entity to whom the United States assigns its sublease interest in the property. As used in this paragraph, the term "United States" includes an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America. This paragraph (hh) shall apply to all assessments for ad valorem taxation for the 2003 calendar year and each calendar year thereafter.
(ii) All property, real, personal or mixed, including fixtures and leaseholds, used by Mississippi nonprofit entities qualified, on or before January 1, 2005, under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to provide support and operate technology incubators for research and development start-up companies, telecommunication startup companies and/or other technology startup companies, utilizing technology spun-off from research and development activities of the public colleges and universities of this state, State of Mississippi governmental research or development activities resulting therefrom located within the State of Mississippi.
(jj) All property, real, personal or mixed, including fixtures and leaseholds, of start-up companies (as described in paragraph (ii) of this section) for the period of time, not to exceed five (5) years, that the startup company remains a tenant of a technology incubator (as described in paragraph (ii) of this section).
(kk) All leases, lease contracts or lease agreements (including, but not limited to, subleases, sublease contracts and sublease agreements), and leaseholds or leasehold interests, of or with respect to any and all property (real, personal or mixed) constituting all or any part of an auxiliary facility, and any real property related thereto, constructed or renovated pursuant to Section 37-101-41, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(ll) Equipment brought into the state temporarily for use during a disaster response period as provided in Sections 27-113-1 through 27-113-9 and subsequently removed from the state on or before the end of the disaster response period as defined in Section 27-113-5.
(mm) For any lease or contractual arrangement to which the Department of Finance and Administration and a nonprofit corporation are a party to as provided in Section 39-25-1(5), the nonprofit corporation shall, along with the possessory and leasehold interests and/or real and personal property of the corporation, be exempt from all ad valorem taxation, including, but not limited to, school, city and county ad valorem taxes, for the term or period of time stated in the lease or contractual arrangement.
(nn) All property, real or personal, that is owned, operated and managed by a not-for-profit corporation qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and used to provide, free of charge, (i) a practice facility for a public school district swim team, and (ii) a facility for another not-for-profit organization as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to conduct water safety and lifeguard training programs. This section shall not apply to real or personal property owned by a country club, tennis club with a pool, or any club requiring stock ownership for membership.
SECTION 11. Section 27-55-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
27-55-53. Every person hauling, transporting or conveying more than fifty (50) gallons of gasoline over the highways, streets, alleys or waters of this state, or into this state over any highway, street, alley or water route, shall, during the entire time he is so engaged, have in his possession a bill of sale, bills of lading, invoices or other written evidence, each of which shall be serially numbered, showing the kind and amount of gasoline being transported, the name and address of the person from whom said gasoline was received, and the name and address of the person to whom delivery is to be made. The vehicle or boat conveying said gasoline shall have clearly printed on it the name and address of the person transporting such gasoline on both sides of the vehicle, or boat, in well-balanced letters of not less than two (2) inches in height on a contrasting background.
Any person transporting gasoline without a shipping document containing the information set forth in this section or who diverts a shipment of gasoline to a destination other than the destination listed on such shipping document or who alters a shipping document without notice to the commission shall be liable for a fine of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per offense and the entire amount of the state excise tax upon such gasoline shall be deemed due and payable, plus a penalty of twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount of such tax. Any authorized representative of the commission or the enforcement officers of the Mississippi Department of Transportation shall have the right to seize or impound such vehicle or boat until the excise tax and penalty have been paid. Notice to the commission shall consist of contacting the National Diversion Registry, reporting the diversion and obtaining a registration number.
The commission, its employees or agents, including the enforcement officers of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, or any sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable or police officer of this state is hereby authorized to inspect any vehicle or boat transporting gasoline over the highways, streets, alleys or waters of this state, to examine the contents of any such vehicle or boat, to take a sample of each grade of gasoline contained in said vehicle or boat provided no sample shall exceed one (1) gallon, and to inspect the bills of lading, invoices or other records pertaining to the gasoline being transported in such vehicle or boat.
Any person other than a common or contract carrier bringing gasoline into this state in quantities of more than fifty (50) gallons shall give notice to the commission of his intent to import such gasoline. The commission is authorized to promulgate rules setting forth the manner in which such notice is to be given. However, if information on gasoline imported into this state can be accurately secured from other sources by the commission, it may waive the requirements of such notice.
If any person, other than a common or contract carrier, shall transport gasoline over the highways of this state by motor vehicle without having given the notice required by this section, or if a copy of such notice is not carried in such motor vehicle as required by this section, the entire amount of the state excise tax upon such gasoline being transported shall be deemed due and payable, plus a penalty of twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount of such tax, and any authorized representative of the commission or the enforcement officers of the Mississippi Department of Transportation shall have the right to seize or impound the motor vehicle in which such gasoline is being transported until such excise tax together with the penalty thereon has been paid. Provided, however, that said penalty shall not apply when the driver of the truck stops at the first weighing station in the line of travel and secures the signature of the officer on duty on the import notice.
SECTION 12. Section 27-55-547, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
27-55-547. The commissioner and his agents and employees shall have full access, ingress and egress at all reasonable hours to and from any place or building where special fuel may be received, stored, transported, sold, offered or exposed for sale, manufactured, refined, distilled, compounded or blended. The commissioner and his agents and employees shall have the right to open and inspect any case, package or other container, any tank, pump, tank car or storage tank in which special fuel is kept and enter upon any barge, vessel or other vehicle transporting special fuel and, with instruments conforming to the weights and measures adopted by the United States Bureau of Standards, check any measuring device or volume of weight of the contents of any such container.
The commission, its employees or agents and enforcement officers of the Mississippi Department of Transportation are hereby authorized to inspect any vehicle transporting special fuel over the highways of this state, or any boat, barge or vessel transporting special fuel over the waters of this state, to examine the contents of such vehicle, boat, barge or vessel, to take a sample, not to exceed one (1) gallon, of the special fuel contained in such vehicle, boat, barge or vessel, and to inspect the bills of lading, manifest, invoices or other records pertaining to the special fuel being transported.
The commission, its employees or agents and enforcement officers of the Mississippi Department of Transportation are hereby authorized to stop any motor vehicle traveling the highways of this state; to inspect the contents of the motor vehicle's fuel supply tank; to take a sample, not to exceed one (1) gallon, of the contents of the fuel supply tank of such motor vehicle and to examine any invoices, receipts or other documents pertaining to the contents of the motor vehicle's fuel supply tank.
Any person who refuses to allow an inspection as authorized in this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment.
SECTION 13. Section 27-55-559, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
27-55-559. Every person hauling, transporting or conveying more than five hundred (500) gallons of special fuel over the highways, streets, alleys or waters of this state, or into this state over any highway, street, alley or water route, shall, during the entire time he is so engaged, have in his possession a bill of sale, bills of lading, invoices or other written evidence, each of which shall be serially numbered, showing the kind and amount of special fuel being transported, the name and address of the person from whom such special fuel was received, and the name and address of the person to whom delivery is to be made. The vehicle or boat conveying such special fuel shall have clearly printed on it the name and address of the person transporting the special fuel on both sides of the vehicle or boat in well-balanced letters of not less than two (2) inches in height on a contrasting background.
Any person transporting special fuel without a shipping document containing the required information or who diverts a shipment of special fuel to a destination other than the destination listed on such shipping document or who alters a shipping document without notice to the commission shall be liable for a fine of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per offense and the entire amount of the state excise tax upon such special fuel shall be deemed due and payable, plus a penalty of twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount of such tax. Any authorized representative of the commission or the enforcement officers of the Mississippi Department of Transportation shall have the right to seize or impound such vehicle or boat until the excise tax and penalty have been paid. Notice to the commission shall consist of contacting the National Diversion Registry, reporting the diversion and obtaining a registration number.
Any person other than a common or contract carrier bringing special fuel into this state in quantities of more than five hundred (500) gallons shall give notice to the commission of his intent to import such special fuel. The commission is authorized to promulgate rules setting forth the manner in which such notice is to be given. However, if information on special fuel imported into this state can be accurately secured from other sources by the commission, it may waive the requirements of such notice.
If any person, other than a common or contract carrier, shall transport special fuel over the highways of this state by motor vehicle without having given the notice required by this section, or if a copy of such notice is not carried in such motor vehicle as required by this section, the entire amount of the state excise tax upon such special fuel being transported shall be deemed due and payable, plus a penalty of twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount of such tax, and any authorized representative of the commission or enforcement officers of the Mississippi Department of Transportation shall have the right to seize or impound the motor vehicle in which such special fuel is being transported until such excise tax together with the penalty thereon has been paid. Provided, however, that the penalty shall not apply when the driver of the truck stops at the first weighing station in the line of travel and secures the signature of the officer on duty on the import notice.
SECTION 14. Section 27-57-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
27-57-41. Every person hauling, transporting, or conveying more than six (6) gallons of lubricating oil, upon which tax has not been paid, over the highways, streets, alleys or waters of this state, or into this state over any highway, street, alley or water route, shall, during the entire time he is so engaged, have in his possession a bill of sale, bill of lading, invoice, or other written evidence showing the kind and amount of lubricating oil being transported, the name and address of the person from whom said lubricating oil was received, and the name and address of the person to whom delivery is to be made. Likewise, the vehicle or boat conveying such lubricating oil shall have on it the name and address of the person or company transporting such lubricating oil clearly printed on both sides of the vehicle or boat in well-balanced letters of not less than two (2) inches in height on a contrasting background.
Any bonded, qualified distributor transporting lubricating oil from his place of business in this state for delivery to his agent or customer shall not be required to have in his possession while so transporting such lubricating oil the bill of sale, invoice, or other written evidence required by this section, but must conform in all other particulars with this section.
The comptroller, in person, or by any of his employees, any sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, or police officer of this state, is hereby authorized to inspect any vehicle or boat transporting lubricating oil over the highways, streets, alleys or waters of this state, to examine the contents thereof, to take samples of any lubricating oil contained in said vehicle or boat, said sample not to exceed one (1) quart, and to demand for inspection the production of the invoice, or other records pertaining to the lubricating oil being transported in such vehicle or boat.
SECTION 15. Section 27-65-22, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
27-65-22. (1) Upon every person engaging or continuing in any amusement business or activity, which shall include all manner and forms of entertainment and amusement, all forms of diversion, sport, recreation or pastime, shows, exhibitions, contests, displays, games or any other and all methods of obtaining admission charges, donations, contributions or monetary charges of any character, from the general public or a limited or selected number thereof, directly or indirectly in return for other than tangible property or specific personal or professional services, whether such amusement is held or conducted in a public or private building, hotel, tent, pavilion, lot or resort, enclosed or in the open, there is hereby levied, assessed and shall be collected a tax equal to seven percent (7%) of the gross income received as admission, except as otherwise provided herein. In lieu of the rate set forth above, there is hereby imposed, levied and assessed, to be collected as hereinafter provided, a tax of three percent (3%) of gross revenue derived from sales of admission to publicly owned enclosed coliseums and auditoriums (except admissions to athletic contests between colleges and universities). There is hereby imposed, levied and assessed a tax of seven percent (7%) of gross revenue derived from sales of admission to events conducted on property managed by the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, which tax shall be administered in the manner prescribed in this chapter, subject, however, to the provisions of Sections 55-23-3 through 55-23-11.
(2) The operator of any place of amusement in this state shall collect the tax imposed by this section, in addition to the price charged for admission to any place of amusement, and under all circumstances the person conducting the amusement shall be liable for, and pay the tax imposed based upon the actual charge for such admission. Where permits are obtained for conducting temporary amusements by persons who are not the owners, lessees or custodians of the buildings, lots or places where the amusements are to be conducted, or where such temporary amusement is permitted by the owner, lessee or custodian of any place to be conducted without the procurement of a permit as required by this chapter, the tax imposed by this chapter shall be paid by the owner, lessee or custodian of such place where such temporary amusement is held or conducted, unless paid by the person conducting the amusement, and the applicant for such temporary permit shall furnish with the application therefor, the name and address of the owner, lessee or custodian of the premises upon which such amusement is to be conducted, and such owner, lessee or custodian shall be notified by the commission of the issuance of such permit, and of the joint liability for such tax.
(3) The tax imposed by this section shall not be levied or collected upon:
(a) Any admissions charged at any place of amusement operated by a religious, charitable or educational organization, or by a nonprofit civic club or fraternal organization (i) when the net proceeds of such admissions do not inure to any one or more individuals within such organization and are to be used solely for religious, charitable, educational or civic purposes; or (ii) when the entire net proceeds are used to defray the normal operating expenses of such organization, such as loan payments, maintenance costs, repairs and other operating expenses;
(b) Any admissions charged to hear gospel singing when promoted by a duly constituted local, bona fide nonprofit charitable or religious organization, irrespective of the fact that the performers and promoters are paid out of the proceeds of admissions collected, provided the program is composed entirely of gospel singing and not generally mixed with hillbilly or popular singing;
(c) Any admissions charged at any athletic games or contests between high schools or between grammar schools;
(d) Any admissions or tickets to or for baseball games between teams operated under a professional league franchise;
(e) Any admissions to county, state or community fairs, or any admissions to entertainments presented in community homes or houses which are publicly owned and controlled, and the proceeds of which do not inure to any individual or individuals;
(f) Any admissions or tickets to organized garden pilgrimages and to antebellum and historic houses when sponsored by an organized civic or garden club;
(g) Any admissions to any golf tournament held under the auspices of the Professional Golf Association or United States Golf Association wherein touring professionals compete, if such tournament is sponsored by a nonprofit association incorporated under the laws of the State of Mississippi where no dividends are declared and the proceeds do not inure to any individual or group;
(h) Any admissions to university or community college conference, state, regional or national playoffs or championships;
(i) Any admissions or fees charged by any county or municipally owned and operated swimming pools, golf courses and tennis courts other than sales or rental of tangible personal property;
(j) Any admissions charged for the performance of symphony orchestras, operas, vocal or instrumental artists in which professional or amateur performers are compensated out of the proceeds of such admissions, when sponsored by local music or charity associations, or amateur dramatic performances or professional dramatic productions when sponsored by a children's dramatic association, where no dividends are declared, profits received, nor any salary or compensation paid to any of the members of such associations, or to any person for procuring or producing such performance;
(k) Any admissions or tickets to or for hockey games between teams operated under a professional league franchise;
(l) Any admissions or tickets to or for events sanctioned by the Mississippi Athletic Commission that are held within publicly owned enclosed coliseums and auditoriums;
(m) Guided tours on any navigable waters of this state, which include providing accommodations, guide services and/or related equipment operated by or under the direction of the person providing the tour, for the purposes of outdoor tourism;
(n) Any admissions to events held solely for religious or charitable purposes at livestock facilities, agriculture facilities or other facilities constructed, renovated or expanded with funds from the grant program authorized under Section 18 of Chapter 530, Laws of 1995; and
(o) (i) Any admissions charged at events, activities or entertainments:
1. Which are open to the public and held in or on parks, lands or buildings which are publicly owned, leased, used and/or controlled by a municipality, or any agency thereof;
2. Which are created and sponsored by the municipality, or an agency thereof; and
3. The proceeds of which do not inure to the benefit of any individual or individuals; however,
(ii) The governing authorities of a municipality may require the tax imposed by this section to be levied and collected at events, activities or entertainments described in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph by:
1. Adopting an ordinance requiring the levy and collection of the tax;
2. Providing the Department of Revenue with a certified copy of the ordinance requiring the tax to be levied and assessed at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of the ordinance;
(iii) If the ordinance described in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph is repealed, the municipality shall provide the Department of Revenue with a certified copy of the repeal of the ordinance at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of the repeal.
SECTION 16. Section 27-65-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
27-65-101. (1) The exemptions from the provisions of this chapter which are of an industrial nature or which are more properly classified as industrial exemptions than any other exemption classification of this chapter shall be confined to those persons or property exempted by this section or by the provisions of the Constitution of the United States or the State of Mississippi. No industrial exemption as now provided by any other section except Section 57-3-33 shall be valid as against the tax herein levied. Any subsequent industrial exemption from the tax levied hereunder shall be provided by amendment to this section. No exemption provided in this section shall apply to taxes levied by Section 27-65-15 or 27-65-21.
The tax levied by this chapter shall not apply to the following:
(a) Sales of boxes, crates, cartons, cans, bottles and other packaging materials to manufacturers and wholesalers for use as containers or shipping materials to accompany goods sold by said manufacturers or wholesalers where possession thereof will pass to the customer at the time of sale of the goods contained therein and sales to anyone of containers or shipping materials for use in ships engaged in international commerce.
(b) Sales of raw materials, catalysts, processing chemicals, welding gases or other industrial processing gases (except natural gas) to a manufacturer for use directly in manufacturing or processing a product for sale or rental or repairing or reconditioning vessels or barges of fifty (50) tons load displacement and over. For the purposes of this exemption, electricity used directly in the electrolysis process in the production of sodium chlorate shall be considered a raw material. This exemption shall not apply to any property used as fuel except to the extent that such fuel comprises by-products which have no market value.
(c) The gross proceeds of sales of dry docks, offshore drilling equipment for use in oil or natural gas exploration or production, vessels or barges of fifty (50) tons load displacement and over, when the vessels or barges are sold by the manufacturer or builder thereof. In addition to other types of equipment, offshore drilling equipment for use in oil or natural gas exploration or production shall include aircraft used predominately to transport passengers or property to or from offshore oil or natural gas exploration or production platforms or vessels, and engines, accessories and spare parts for such aircraft.
(d) Sales to commercial fishermen of commercial fishing boats of over five (5) tons load displacement and not more than fifty (50) tons load displacement as registered with the United States Coast Guard and licensed by the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources.
(e) The gross income from repairs to vessels and barges engaged in foreign trade or interstate transportation.
(f) Sales of petroleum products to vessels or barges for consumption in marine international commerce or interstate transportation businesses.
(g) Sales and rentals of rail rolling stock (and component parts thereof) for ultimate use in interstate commerce and gross income from services with respect to manufacturing, repairing, cleaning, altering, reconditioning or improving such rail rolling stock (and component parts thereof).
(h) Sales of raw materials, catalysts, processing chemicals, welding gases or other industrial processing gases (except natural gas) used or consumed directly in manufacturing, repairing, cleaning, altering, reconditioning or improving such rail rolling stock (and component parts thereof). This exemption shall not apply to any property used as fuel.
(i) Sales of machinery or tools or repair parts therefor or replacements thereof, fuel or supplies used directly in manufacturing, converting or repairing ships, vessels or barges of three thousand (3,000) tons load displacement and over, but not to include office and plant supplies or other equipment not directly used on the ship, vessel or barge being built, converted or repaired. For purposes of this exemption, "ships, vessels or barges" shall not include floating structures described in Section 27-65-18.
(j) Sales of tangible personal property to persons operating ships in international commerce for use or consumption on board such ships. This exemption shall be limited to cases in which procedures satisfactory to the commissioner, ensuring against use in this state other than on such ships, are established.
(k) Sales of materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales of any machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the building, or any addition thereon, to be used therein, to qualified businesses, as defined in Section 57-51-5, which are located in a county or portion thereof designated as an enterprise zone pursuant to Sections 57-51-1 through 57-51-15.
(l) Sales of materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales of any machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the building, or any addition thereon, to be used therein, to qualified businesses, as defined in Section 57-54-5.
(m) Income from storage and handling of perishable goods by a public storage warehouse.
(n) The value of natural gas lawfully injected into the earth for cycling, repressuring or lifting of oil, or lawfully vented or flared in connection with the production of oil; however, if any gas so injected into the earth is sold for such purposes, then the gas so sold shall not be exempt.
(o) The gross collections from self-service commercial laundering, drying, cleaning and pressing equipment.
(p) Sales of materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales of any machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the building, or any addition thereon, to be used therein, to qualified companies, certified as such by the Mississippi Development Authority under Section 57-53-1.
(q) Sales of component materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, sales of machinery and equipment to be used therein, and sales of manufacturing or processing machinery and equipment which is permanently attached to the ground or to a permanent foundation and which is not by its nature intended to be housed within a building structure, not later than three (3) months after the initial start-up date, to permanent business enterprises engaging in manufacturing or processing in Tier Three areas (as such term is defined in Section 57-73-21), which businesses are certified by the Department of Revenue as being eligible for the exemption granted in this paragraph (q). The exemption provided in this paragraph (q) shall not apply to sales to any business enterprise that is a medical cannabis establishment as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.
(r) (i) Sales of component materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales of any machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of the building, addition or improvement thereon, to be used therein, for any company establishing or transferring its national or regional headquarters from within or outside the State of Mississippi and creating a minimum of twenty (20) jobs at the new headquarters in this state. The exemption provided in this subparagraph (i) shall not apply to sales for any company that is a medical cannabis establishment as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act. The Department of Revenue shall establish criteria and prescribe procedures to determine if a company qualifies as a national or regional headquarters for the purpose of receiving the exemption provided in this subparagraph (i).
(ii) Sales of component materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales of any machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of the building, addition or improvement thereon, to be used therein, for any company expanding or making additions after January 1, 2013, to its national or regional headquarters within the State of Mississippi and creating a minimum of twenty (20) new jobs at the headquarters as a result of the expansion or additions. The exemption provided in this subparagraph (ii) shall not apply to sales for any company that is a medical cannabis establishment as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act. The Department of Revenue shall establish criteria and prescribe procedures to determine if a company qualifies as a national or regional headquarters for the purpose of receiving the exemption provided in this subparagraph (ii).
(s) The gross proceeds from the sale of semitrailers, trailers, boats, travel trailers, motorcycles, all-terrain cycles and rotary-wing aircraft if exported from this state within forty-eight (48) hours and registered and first used in another state.
(t) Gross income from the storage and handling of natural gas in underground salt domes and in other underground reservoirs, caverns, structures and formations suitable for such storage.
(u) Sales of machinery and equipment to nonprofit organizations if the organization:
(i) Is tax exempt pursuant to Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
(ii) Assists in the implementation of the contingency plan or area contingency plan, and which is created in response to the requirements of Title IV, Subtitle B of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Public Law 101-380; and
(iii) Engages primarily in programs to contain, clean up and otherwise mitigate spills of oil or other substances occurring in the United States coastal and tidal waters.
For purposes of this exemption, "machinery and equipment" means any ocean-going vessels, barges, booms, skimmers and other capital equipment used primarily in the operations of nonprofit organizations referred to herein.
(v) Sales or leases of materials and equipment to approved business enterprises as provided under the Growth and Prosperity Act.
(w) From and after July 1, 2001, sales of pollution control equipment to manufacturers or custom processors for industrial use. For the purposes of this exemption, "pollution control equipment" means equipment, devices, machinery or systems used or acquired to prevent, control, monitor or reduce air, water or groundwater pollution, or solid or hazardous waste as required by federal or state law or regulation.
(x) Sales or leases to a manufacturer of motor vehicles or powertrain components operating a project that has been certified by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv)1, Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii) of machinery and equipment; special tooling such as dies, molds, jigs and similar items treated as special tooling for federal income tax purposes; or repair parts therefor or replacements thereof; repair services thereon; fuel, supplies, electricity, coal and natural gas used directly in the manufacture of motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts or used to provide climate control for manufacturing areas.
(y) Sales or leases of component materials, machinery and equipment used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon to an enterprise operating a project that has been certified by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv)1, Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii) or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxviii) and any other sales or leases required to establish or operate such project.
(z) Sales of component materials and equipment to a business enterprise as provided under Section 57-64-33.
(aa) The gross income from the stripping and painting of commercial aircraft engaged in foreign or interstate transportation business.
(bb) [Repealed]
(cc) Sales or leases to an enterprise owning or operating a project that has been designated by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xviii) of machinery and equipment; special tooling such as dies, molds, jigs and similar items treated as special tooling for federal income tax purposes; or repair parts therefor or replacements thereof; repair services thereon; fuel, supplies, electricity, coal and natural gas used directly in the manufacturing/production operations of the project or used to provide climate control for manufacturing/production areas.
(dd) Sales or leases of component materials, machinery and equipment used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon to an enterprise owning or operating a project that has been designated by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xviii) and any other sales or leases required to establish or operate such project.
(ee) Sales of parts used in the repair and servicing of aircraft not registered in Mississippi engaged exclusively in the business of foreign or interstate transportation to businesses engaged in aircraft repair and maintenance.
(ff) Sales of component materials used in the construction of a facility, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales or leases of machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the facility, or any addition or improvement thereto, to be used in the building or any addition or improvement thereto, to a permanent business enterprise operating a data/information enterprise in Tier Three areas (as such areas are designated in accordance with Section 57-73-21), meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority. The exemption provided in this paragraph (ff) shall not apply to sales to any business enterprise that is a medical cannabis establishment as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.
(gg) Sales of component materials used in the construction of a facility, or any addition or improvement thereto, and sales of machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the facility, or any addition or improvement thereto, to be used in the facility or any addition or improvement thereto, to technology intensive enterprises for industrial purposes in Tier Three areas (as such areas are designated in accordance with Section 57-73-21), as certified by the Department of Revenue. For purposes of this paragraph, an enterprise must meet the criteria provided for in Section 27-65-17(1)(f) in order to be considered a technology intensive enterprise.
(hh) Sales of component materials used in the replacement, reconstruction or repair of a building or facility that has been destroyed or sustained extensive damage as a result of a disaster declared by the Governor, sales of machinery and equipment to be used therein to replace machinery or equipment damaged or destroyed as a result of such disaster, including, but not limited to, manufacturing or processing machinery and equipment which is permanently attached to the ground or to a permanent foundation and which is not by its nature intended to be housed within a building structure, to enterprises or companies that were eligible for the exemptions authorized in paragraph (q), (r), (ff) or (gg) of this subsection during initial construction of the building that was destroyed or damaged, which enterprises or companies are certified by the Department of Revenue as being eligible for the exemption granted in this paragraph.
(ii) Sales of software or software services transmitted by the internet to a destination outside the State of Mississippi where the first use of such software or software services by the purchaser occurs outside the State of Mississippi.
(jj) Gross income of public storage warehouses derived from the temporary storage of raw materials that are to be used in an eligible facility as defined in Section 27-7-22.35.
(kk) Sales of component building materials and equipment for initial construction of facilities or expansion of facilities as authorized under Sections 57-113-1 through 57-113-7 and Sections 57-113-21 through 57-113-27.
(ll) Sales and leases of machinery and equipment acquired in the initial construction to establish facilities as authorized in Sections 57-113-1 through 57-113-7.
(mm) Sales and leases of replacement hardware, software or other necessary technology to operate a data center as authorized under Sections 57-113-21 through 57-113-27.
(nn) Sales of component materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales or leases of machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of the construction of the facility, to be used in the facility, to permanent business enterprises operating a facility producing renewable crude oil from biomass harvested or produced, in whole or in part, in Mississippi, which businesses meet minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority. As used in this paragraph, the term "biomass" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 57-113-1.
(oo) Sales of supplies, equipment and other personal property to an organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is the host organization coordinating a professional golf tournament played or to be played in this state and the supplies, equipment or other personal property will be used for purposes related to the golf tournament and related activities.
(pp) Sales of materials used in the construction of a health care industry facility, as defined in Section 57-117-3, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales of any machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the facility, or any addition thereon, to be used therein, to qualified businesses, as defined in Section 57-117-3. This paragraph shall be repealed from and after July 1, 2025.
(qq) Sales or leases to a manufacturer of automotive parts operating a project that has been certified by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxviii) of machinery and equipment; or repair parts therefor or replacements thereof; repair services thereon; fuel, supplies, electricity, coal, nitrogen and natural gas used directly in the manufacture of automotive parts or used to provide climate control for manufacturing areas.
(rr) Gross collections derived from guided tours on any navigable waters of this state, which include providing accommodations, guide services and/or related equipment operated by or under the direction of the person providing the tour, for the purposes of outdoor tourism. The exemption provided in this paragraph (rr) does not apply to the sale of tangible personal property by a person providing such tours.
(ss) Retail sales of truck-tractors and semitrailers used in interstate commerce and registered under the International Registration Plan (IRP) or any similar reciprocity agreement or compact relating to the proportional registration of commercial vehicles entered into as provided for in Section 27-19-143.
(tt) Sales exempt under the Facilitating Business Rapid Response to State Declared Disasters Act of 2015 (Sections 27-113-1 through 27-113-9).
(uu) Sales or leases to an enterprise and its affiliates operating a project that has been certified by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxix) of:
(i) All personal property and fixtures, including without limitation, sales or leases to the enterprise and its affiliates of:
1. Manufacturing machinery and equipment;
2. Special tooling such as dies, molds, jigs and similar items treated as special tooling for federal income tax purposes;
3. Component building materials, machinery and equipment used in the construction of buildings, and any other additions or improvements to the project site for the project;
4. Nonmanufacturing furniture, fixtures and equipment (inclusive of all communications, computer, server, software and other hardware equipment); and
5. Fuel, supplies (other than nonmanufacturing consumable supplies and water), electricity, nitrogen gas and natural gas used directly in the manufacturing/production operations of such project or used to provide climate control for manufacturing/production areas of such project;
(ii) All replacements of, repair parts for or services to repair items described in subparagraph (i)1, 2 and 3 of this paragraph; and
(iii) All services taxable pursuant to Section 27-65-23 required to establish, support, operate, repair and/or maintain such project.
(vv) Sales or leases to an enterprise operating a project that has been certified by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxx) of:
(i) Purchases required to establish and operate the project, including, but not limited to, sales of component building materials, machinery and equipment required to establish the project facility and any additions or improvements thereon; and
(ii) Machinery, special tools (such as dies, molds, and jigs) or repair parts thereof, or replacements and lease thereof, repair services thereon, fuel, supplies and electricity, coal and natural gas used in the manufacturing process and purchased by the enterprise owning or operating the project for the benefit of the project.
(ww) Sales of component materials used in the construction of a building, or any expansion or improvement thereon, sales of machinery and/or equipment to be used therein, and sales of processing machinery and equipment which is permanently attached to the ground or to a permanent foundation which is not by its nature intended to be housed in a building structure, no later than three (3) months after initial startup, expansion or improvement of a permanent enterprise solely engaged in the conversion of natural sand into proppants used in oil and gas exploration and development with at least ninety-five percent (95%) of such proppants used in the production of oil and/or gas from horizontally drilled wells and/or horizontally drilled recompletion wells as defined in Sections 27-25-501 and 27-25-701.
(xx) (i) Sales or leases to an enterprise operating a project that has been certified by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxi), for a period ending no later than one (1) year following completion of the construction of the facility or facilities comprising such project of all personal property and fixtures, including without limitation, sales or leases to the enterprise and its affiliates of:
1. Manufacturing machinery and equipment;
2. Special tooling such as dies, molds, jigs and similar items treated as special tooling for federal income tax purposes;
3. Component building materials, machinery and equipment used in the construction of buildings, and any other additions or improvements to the project site for the project;
4. Nonmanufacturing furniture, fixtures and equipment (inclusive of all communications, computer, server, software and other hardware equipment);
5. Replacements of, repair parts for or services to repair items described in this subparagraph (i)1, 2 and 3; and
6. All services taxable pursuant to Section 27-65-23 required to establish, support, operate, repair and/or maintain such project; and
(ii) Sales or leases to an enterprise operating a project that has been certified by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxi) of electricity, current, power, steam, coal, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas or other fuel, biomass, nitrogen or other atmospheric or other industrial gases used directly by the enterprise in the manufacturing/production operations of its project or used to provide climate control for manufacturing/production areas (which manufacturing/production areas shall be apportioned based on square footage). As used in this paragraph, the term "biomass" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 57-113-1.
(yy) The gross proceeds from the sale of any item of tangible personal property by the manufacturer or custom processor thereof if such item is shipped, transported or exported from this state and first used in another state, whether such shipment, transportation or exportation is made by the seller, purchaser, or any third party acting on behalf of such party. For the purposes of this paragraph (yy), any instruction to, training of or inspection by the purchaser with respect to the item prior to shipment, transportation or exportation of the item shall not constitute a first use of such item within this state.
(zz) (i) Sales or leases to an enterprise operating a project that has been certified by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii), for a period ending no later than one (1) year following completion of the construction of the facility or facilities comprising such project of all personal property and fixtures, including, without limitation, sales or leases to the enterprise and its affiliates of:
1. Manufacturing machinery and equipment;
2. Special tooling such as dies, molds, jigs and similar items treated as special tooling for federal income tax purposes;
3. Component building materials, machinery and equipment used in the construction of buildings, and any other additions or improvements to the project site for the project;
4. Nonmanufacturing furniture, fixtures and
equipment (inclusive of all communications, computer, server, software and other hardware equipment);
5. Replacements of, repair parts for or services to repair items described in this subparagraph (i)1, 2 and 3; and
6. All services taxable pursuant to Section 27-65-23 required to establish, support, operate, repair and/or maintain such project; and
(ii) Sales or leases to an enterprise operating a project that has been certified by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii) of electricity, current, power, steam, coal, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas or other fuel, biomass, nitrogen or other atmospheric or other industrial gases used directly by the enterprise in the manufacturing/production operations of its project or used to provide climate control for manufacturing/production areas (which manufacturing/production areas shall be apportioned based on square footage). As used in this paragraph, the term "biomass" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 57-113-1.
(aaa) Sales or leases to an enterprise and/or any affiliates thereof operating a project that has been certified by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxiii) of:
(i) Component building materials, fixtures, machinery and equipment used in the construction of a data processing facility or other buildings comprising all or part of a project, for a period ending no later than one (1) year following completion of the construction of the data processing facility or such other building; and
(ii) All equipment and other personal property needed to establish and operate the project and any expansions thereof or additions thereto, including, but not limited to:
1. Communications, computer, server, software, connectivity materials and equipment, emergency power generation equipment, other hardware equipment and any other technology;
2. All replacements of, and repair parts for, such equipment or other personal property; and
3. All services taxable pursuant to Section 27-65-23 required to install, support, operate, repair and/or maintain the foregoing equipment and other personal property described in this subparagraph (ii).
(2) Sales of component materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, sales of machinery and equipment to be used therein, and sales of manufacturing or processing machinery and equipment which is permanently attached to the ground or to a permanent foundation and which is not by its nature intended to be housed within a building structure, not later than three (3) months after the initial start-up date, to permanent business enterprises engaging in manufacturing or processing in Tier Two areas and Tier One areas (as such areas are designated in accordance with Section 57-73-21), which businesses are certified by the Department of Revenue as being eligible for the exemption granted in this subsection, shall be exempt from one-half (1/2) of the taxes imposed on such transactions under this chapter. The exemption provided in this subsection (2) shall not apply to sales to any business enterprise that is a medical cannabis establishment as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.
(3) Sales of component materials used in the construction of a facility, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales or leases of machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the facility, or any addition or improvement thereto, to be used in the building or any addition or improvement thereto, to a permanent business enterprise operating a data/information enterprise in Tier Two areas and Tier One areas (as such areas are designated in accordance with Section 57-73-21), which businesses meet minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority, shall be exempt from one-half (1/2) of the taxes imposed on such transaction under this chapter. The exemption provided in this subsection (3) shall not apply to sales to any business enterprise that is a medical cannabis establishment as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.
(4) Sales of component materials used in the construction of a facility, or any addition or improvement thereto, and sales of machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the facility, or any addition or improvement thereto, to be used in the building or any addition or improvement thereto, to technology intensive enterprises for industrial purposes in Tier Two areas and Tier One areas (as such areas are designated in accordance with Section 57-73-21), which businesses are certified by the Department of Revenue as being eligible for the exemption granted in this subsection, shall be exempt from one-half (1/2) of the taxes imposed on such transactions under this chapter. For purposes of this subsection, an enterprise must meet the criteria provided for in Section 27-65-17(1)(f) in order to be considered a technology intensive enterprise.
(5) (a) For purposes of this subsection:
(i) "Telecommunications enterprises" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 57-73-21;
(ii) "Tier One areas" mean counties designated as Tier One areas pursuant to Section 57-73-21;
(iii) "Tier Two areas" mean counties designated as Tier Two areas pursuant to Section 57-73-21;
(iv) "Tier Three areas" mean counties designated as Tier Three areas pursuant to Section 57-73-21; and
(v) "Equipment used in the deployment of broadband technologies" means any equipment capable of being used for or in connection with the transmission of information at a rate, prior to taking into account the effects of any signal degradation, that is not less than three hundred eighty-four (384) kilobits per second in at least one (1) direction, including, but not limited to, asynchronous transfer mode switches, digital subscriber line access multiplexers, routers, servers, multiplexers, fiber optics and related equipment.
(b) Sales of equipment to telecommunications enterprises after June 30, 2003, and before July 1, 2025, that is installed in Tier One areas and used in the deployment of broadband technologies shall be exempt from one-half (1/2) of the taxes imposed on such transactions under this chapter.
(c) Sales of equipment to telecommunications enterprises after June 30, 2003, and before July 1, 2025, that is installed in Tier Two and Tier Three areas and used in the deployment of broadband technologies shall be exempt from the taxes imposed on such transactions under this chapter.
(6) Sales of component materials used in the replacement, reconstruction or repair of a building that has been destroyed or sustained extensive damage as a result of a disaster declared by the Governor, sales of machinery and equipment to be used therein to replace machinery or equipment damaged or destroyed as a result of such disaster, including, but not limited to, manufacturing or processing machinery and equipment which is permanently attached to the ground or to a permanent foundation and which is not by its nature intended to be housed within a building structure, to enterprises that were eligible for the partial exemptions provided for in subsections (2), (3) and (4) of this section during initial construction of the building that was destroyed or damaged, which enterprises are certified by the Department of Revenue as being eligible for the partial exemption granted in this subsection, shall be exempt from one-half (1/2) of the taxes imposed on such transactions under this chapter.
SECTION 17. Section 29-7-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
29-7-3. There shall be no development or extraction of oil, gas, or other minerals from state-owned lands by any private party without first obtaining a mineral lease therefor from the commission. The commission is hereby authorized and empowered, for and on behalf of the state, to lease any and all of the state land now owned (including that submerged or whereover the tide may ebb and flow) or hereafter acquired, to some reputable person, association, or company for oil and/or gas and/or other minerals in and under and which may be produced therefrom, excepting, however, sixteenth section school land, lieu lands, and such forfeited tax land and property the title to which is subject to any lawful redemption, for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the commission deems just and proper. No mineral lease of offshore lands shall allow offshore drilling operations north of the coastal barrier islands, except in Blocks 40, 41, 42, 43, 63, 64 and 66 through 98, inclusive. Further, surface offshore drilling operations will not be allowed within one (1) mile of Cat Island. The commission may only offer for lease the state-owned lands in Blocks 40, 41, 42, 43, 63, 64 and 66 through 98, inclusive, as shown on the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Bureau of Geology Plat of Lease Blocks (Open File Report 151) on terms and conditions and for a length of time as determined by the commission. The commission may not lease any lands or submerged lands off the Mississippi Gulf Coast that have been leased by the Department of Marine Resources before January 1, 2004, for any public or private oyster reef lease or any lands or submerged lands within one (1) mile of that lease for the purposes of drilling offshore for oil, gas and other minerals.
Consistent with the conservation policies of this state under Section 53-1-1 et seq., the commission may offer for public bid any tracts or blocks of state-owned lands not currently under lease, which have been identified to the commission as having development potential for oil or natural gas, not less than once a year. Upon consultation with the Office of Geology in the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Secretary of State and any other state agency as the commission deems appropriate, the commission shall promulgate rules and regulations consistent with this chapter governing all aspects of the process of leasing state lands within its jurisdiction for mineral development, including the setting of all terms of the lease form to be used for leasing state-owned lands, any necessary fees, public bidding process, delay rental payments, shut-in royalty payments, and such other provisions as may be required. The Attorney General shall review the lease form adopted by the commission for legal sufficiency.
There shall not be conducted any seismographic or other mineral exploration or testing activities on any state-owned lands within the mineral leasing jurisdiction of the commission without first obtaining a permit therefor from the commission. Upon consultation with the Office of Geology in the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Secretary of State and any other state agency as the commission deems appropriate, the commission shall promulgate rules and regulations governing all aspects of seismographic or other mineral exploration activity on state lands within its jurisdiction, including the establishing of fees and issuance of permits for the conduct of such mineral exploration activities. The Attorney General shall review the permit form adopted by the commission for legal sufficiency. Provided, however, that persons obtaining permits from the commission for seismographic or other mineral exploration or testing activities on state-owned wildlife management areas, lakes and fish hatcheries, shall be subject to rules and regulations promulgated therefor by the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks which shall also receive all permit fees for such testing on said lands. In addition, persons obtaining permits from the commission for seismographic or other mineral exploration or testing activities on state-owned marine waters shall be subject to rules and regulations promulgated therefor by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources which shall also receive all permit fees for such testing on those waters.
Further, provided that each permit within the Mississippi Sound or tidelands shall be reviewed by the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources and such special conditions as it may specify will be included in the permit. Information or data obtained in any mineral exploration activity on any and all state lands shall be disclosed to the state through the commission, upon demand. Such information or data shall be treated as confidential for a period of ten (10) years from the date of receipt thereof and shall not be disclosed to the public or to any firm, individual or agency other than officials or authorized employees of this state. Any person who makes unauthorized disclosure of such confidential information or data shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or imprisoned in the county jail not more than one (1) year, or both.
Whenever any such land or property is leased for oil and gas and/or other minerals, such lease contract shall provide for a lease royalty to the state of at least three-sixteenths (3/16) of such oil and gas or other minerals, same to be paid in the manner prescribed by the commission. Of the monies received in connection with the execution of such leases, five-tenths of one percent (5/10 of 1%) shall be retained in a special fund to be appropriated by the Legislature, One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) of which amount to be used by the commission for the administration of the leasing and permitting under this section, and the remainder of such amount shall be deposited into the Education Trust Fund, created in Section 206A, Mississippi Constitution of 1890; and two percent (2%) shall be paid into a special fund to be designated as the "Gulf and Wildlife Protection Fund," to be appropriated by the Legislature, one-half (1/2) thereof to be apportioned as follows: an amount which shall not exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) shall be used by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources solely for the purpose of cleanup, remedial or abatement actions involving pollution as a result of the exploration or production of oil or gas, and any amount in excess of such One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) shall be deposited into the Education Trust Fund, created in Section 206A, Mississippi Constitution of 1890. The remaining one-half (1/2) of such Gulf and Wildlife Protection Fund to be apportioned as follows: an amount which shall not exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) shall be used by the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources for use first in the prudent management, preservation, protection and conservation of existing waters, lands and wildlife of this state and then, provided such purposes are accomplished, for the acquisition of additional waters and lands and any amount in excess of such One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) shall be deposited into the Education Trust Fund, created in Section 206A, Mississippi Constitution of 1890. However, in the event that the Legislature is not in session to appropriate funds from the Gulf and Wildlife Protection Fund for the purpose of cleanup, remedial or abatement actions involving pollution as a result of the exploration or production of oil or gas, then the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources may make expenditures from this special fund account solely for said purpose. The commission may lease the submerged beds for sand and gravel on such a basis as it may deem proper, but where the waters lie between this state and an adjoining state, there must be a cash realization to this state, including taxes paid for such sand and gravel, equal to that being had by such adjoining state, in all cases the requisite consents therefor being lawfully obtained from the United States.
The Department of Environmental Quality is authorized to employ competent engineering personnel to survey the territorial waters of this state in the Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico and to prepare a map or plat of such territorial waters, divided into blocks of not more than six thousand (6,000) acres each with coordinates and reference points based upon longitude and latitude surveys. The commission is authorized to adopt such survey, plat or map for leasing of such submerged lands for mineral development; and such leases may, after the adoption of such plat or map, be made by reference to the map or plat, which shall be on permanent file with the commission and a copy thereof on file in the Office of the State Oil and Gas Board.
SECTION 18. Section 29-15-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
29-15-1. (a) "Commission" means the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources.
(b) "Local tidal datum" means the datum established for a specific tide station through the use of tidal observations made at that station.
(c) "Mean high water" means the arithmetic mean of all the high waters occurring in a particular nineteen-year tidal epoch period; or for a shorter period of time after corrections are applied to the short term observations to reduce these values to the equivalent nineteen-year value.
(d) "Mean high water line" means the intersection of the tidal datum plane of mean high water with the shore.
(e) "Mean high water survey" means a survey of the intersection of the shoreline with the tidal datum plane of mean high water using local tidal datums and surveying methodologies approved by the commission. Methodologies shall include but not be limited to the "staking method," "the topographic method" and "tide coordinated aerial photography."
(f) "National map accuracy standards" means a set of guidelines published by the Office of Management and Budget of the United States to which maps produced by the United States government adhere.
(g) "Submerged lands" means lands which remain covered by waters, where the tides ebb and flow, at ordinary low tides.
(h) "Tidelands" means those lands which are daily covered and uncovered by water by the action of the tides, up to the mean line of the ordinary high tides.
SECTION 19. Section 33-15-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
33-15-1. This article may be cited as the "Mississippi Emergency Management Law."
SECTION 20. Section 37-138-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
37-138-27. (1) Any person found by the commission to have violated any of the provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation or written order of the commission in pursuance thereof or any certificate issued pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to (a) a civil penalty of not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for each violation, such penalty to be assessed and levied by order of the commission after notice and hearing in accordance with subsection (5) below of this section, and (b) a reprimand or a suspension or revocation of any certificate issued to the person pursuant to this chapter, such reprimand, suspension or revocation to be assessed and levied by order of the commission after notice and hearing as provided in subsection (5) below of this section.
(2) In lieu of, or in addition to, the penalty provided for in subsection (1)(a) of this section, the commission shall have power to institute and maintain in the name of the state any and all proceedings necessary or appropriate to enforce the provisions of this chapter, rules and regulations enforced pursuant thereto, and orders and certificates issued pursuant to this chapter in the appropriate circuit, chancery, county or justice court of the county in which venue may lie. The commission may obtain mandatory or prohibitory injunctive relief, either temporary or permanent, and it shall not be necessary in such cases that the state plead or prove: (a) that irreparable damage would result if the injunction did not issue; (b) that there is no adequate remedy at law; or (c) that a written complaint or commission order has first been issued for the alleged violation.
(3) Any person who knowingly submits false or inaccurate information in support of an application for issuance or renewal of a certificate under this chapter or who willfully fails to comply with the conditions of the certificate issued by the commission or who willfully violates this chapter, or any rule, regulation or written order of the commission or emergency order issued by the director in pursuance thereof shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) within the discretion of the court. Each day in which such violation exists or continues shall constitute a separate offense.
(4) In addition to or in lieu of filing a criminal complaint for such willful misconduct described in subsection (3) of this section, the commission may impose a civil penalty in accordance with subsection (1)(a) of this section, and shall impose a reprimand or a suspension or revocation of any certificate in accordance with subsection (1)(b) of this section.
(5) All proceedings and hearings before the commission regarding violations of this chapter or any rule or regulation, written order of the commission, emergency order of the director or certificate issued or renewed by the commission in pursuance thereof or any certificate issued pursuant to this chapter and all appeals therefrom shall be conducted in accordance with Sections 49-17-31 through 49-17-41, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(6) All fines, penalties and other sums recovered or collected by the commission for and on behalf of the state under this section shall be deposited in the Pollution Emergency Fund established under Section 49-17-68, Mississippi Code of 1972, and the commission is authorized to receive and accept, from any funds and all available sources whatsoever, additional funds to be deposited in such fund and expended for the purpose of remedial, clean-up, or abatement actions involving pollution of the land, air or waters of the state in violation of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, Mississippi Code of 1972, any rule or regulation or written order of the commission in pursuance thereof, or any condition or limitation of a permit.
SECTION 21. Section 41-67-2, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
41-67-2. For purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) "Advanced treatment system" means an individual on-site wastewater treatment system that complies with Section 41-67-10.
(b) "Board" means the Mississippi State Board of Health.
(c) "Centralized wastewater treatment system" means a wastewater collection and treatment system that consists of collection sewers and a centralized treatment facility other than an individual on-site wastewater disposal system.
(d) "Certified installer" means any person who has met the requirements of Section 41-67-25.
(e) "Certified manufacturer" means any person registered with the department who holds a written certification issued by the department allowing the manufacturer to sell on-site wastewater products in the state.
(f) "Certified professional evaluator" means any person who has met the requirements of Section 41-67-37 or a licensed professional engineer.
(g) "Certified pumper" means any person registered with the department who holds a written certification issued by the department allowing the person to engage in the removal and disposal of sludge, grease and waste and who has met the requirements of Section 41-67-39.
(h) "Cluster system" means a wastewater collection and treatment system under some form of common or private ownership and management that provides treatment and dispersal/discharge of wastewater from two (2) or more homes or buildings but less than a subdivision.
(i) "Conventional system" means an individual on-site wastewater disposal system consisting of a septic tank and subsurface disposal field.
(j) "Department" means the Mississippi State Department of Health.
(k) "Decentralized wastewater treatment system" means any commercial wastewater treatment for fewer than ten (10) lots.
(l) "Effluent" means sewage, water, or other liquid, partially or completely treated or in its natural state, flowing out of a septic tank, advanced treatment system, or other treatment system or system component by the department.
(m) "Final approval" means an issuance of a document from the department stating that a determination has been made by the department that the individual on-site wastewater disposal system recommended/designed has been installed and fulfills all requirements under this chapter or any variance that has been granted by the department.
(n) "Generator" means any person whose act or process produces sewage or other material suitable for disposal in an individual on-site wastewater disposal system.
(o) "Individual on-site wastewater disposal system" means a sewage treatment and effluent disposal system that does not discharge into waters of the state, that serves only one (1) legal tract, that accepts only residential waste and similar waste streams maintained on the property of the generator, and that is designed and installed in accordance with this law and regulations of the board.
(p) "Notice of intent" means notification by an applicant to the department prior to construction and submission of all required information, which is used by the department to initiate the process to evaluate the property for the suitability of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system.
(q) "Performance-based system" means an individual on-site wastewater disposal system designed to meet standards established to designate a level of treatment of wastewater that an individual on-site wastewater disposal system must meet, including, but not limited to, biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, nutrient reduction and fecal coliform.
(r) "Permit/recommendation" means that a person has filed a notice of intent with the department and the department has made a determination of the suitability of the property for the use of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system.
(s) "Person" means any individual, trust, firm, joint-stock company, public or private corporation (including a government corporation), partnership, association, state, or any agency or institution thereof, municipality, commission, political subdivision of a state or any interstate body, and includes any officer or governing or managing body of any municipality, political subdivision, or the United States or any officer or employee thereof.
(t) "Plot plan" means a property drawing reflecting property lines, site features (such as ponds, wells, etc.), dwellings and any other intended uses of the property therein including encumbrances.
(u) "Property of the generator" means land owned by or under permanent legal easement or lease to the generator.
(v) "Qualified homeowner maintenance provider" means the current owner of a specific residence where that homeowner resides and where the homeowner has met the requirements of the rules and regulations of the department to provide maintenance for his or her system.
(w) "Licensed professional engineer" means any person who has met the requirements under Section 73-13-23(1) and who has been issued a certificate of registration as a professional engineer.
(x) "Septage" means the liquid, solid, and semisolid material that results from wastewater pretreatment in a septic tank, portable toilet, or grease trap, which must be pumped, hauled, treated and disposed of properly.
(y) "Subdivision" means any tract or combination of adjacent tracts of land that is subdivided into ten (10) or more tracts, sites or parcels for the purpose of commercial or residential development.
SECTION 22. Section 49-1-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-1-29. (1) The commission may promulgate rules and regulations, inaugurate studies and surveys, and establish any services it deems necessary to carry out wildlife laws. A violation of any rules or regulations promulgated by the commission shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in Section 49-7-101.
(2) The executive director shall have authority with commission approval:
(a) To close or shorten the open season as prescribed by law in cases of urgent emergency on any species of game birds, game or fur-bearing animals, reptiles, fish or amphibians, in any locality, when it finds after investigation and public review that the action is reasonably necessary to secure the perpetuation of any species of game birds, game or fur-bearing animals, reptiles, fish or amphibians and to maintain an adequate supply in the affected area. The statutes shall continue in full force and effect, except as restricted and limited by the rules and regulations promulgated by the commission.
(b) To designate wildlife refuges, with the consent of the property owner or owners, in any localities it finds necessary to secure perpetuation of any species of game birds, game or fur-bearing animals, reptiles, fish or amphibians and to maintain an adequate supply for the purpose of providing a safe retreat where the animals may rest and replenish adjacent hunting, trapping or fishing grounds or waters, and to approve land suitable for such purposes as eligible for the income tax credit authorized under Section 27-7-22.22.
(c) To acquire and hold for the state by purchase, condemnation, lease, or agreement as authorized from time to time by the Legislature, and to receive by gifts or devise, lands or water suitable for fish habitats, game and bird habitats, state parks, access sites, wildlife refuges, or for public shooting, trapping or fishing grounds or waters, to provide areas on which any citizen may hunt, trap or fish under any special regulations as the commission may prescribe, and to approve lands suitable for such purposes as eligible for the income tax credit authorized under Section 27-7-22.22.
(d) To extend and consolidate lands or waters suitable for the above purposes by exchange of lands or waters under its jurisdiction.
(e) To capture, propagate, transport, sell or exchange any species of game birds, game or fur-bearing animals, reptiles, fish or amphibians needed for stocking or restocking any lands or waters of the state.
(f) To enter into cooperative agreements with persons, firms, corporations or governmental agencies for purposes consistent with this chapter.
(g) To regulate the burning of rubbish, slashings and marshes or other areas it may find reasonably necessary to reduce the danger of destructive fires.
(h) To conduct research in improved wildlife and fisheries conservation methods and to disseminate information to the residents of the state through the schools, public media and other publications.
(i) To have exclusive charge and control of the propagation and distribution of wild birds, animals, reptiles, fish and amphibians, the conduct and control of hatcheries, biological stations and game and fur farms owned or acquired by the state; to expend for the protection, propagation or preservation of game birds, game or fur-bearing animals, reptiles, fish and amphibians all funds of the state acquired for this purpose arising from licenses, gifts or otherwise; and shall have charge of the enforcement of all wildlife laws.
(j) To grant permits and provide regulations for field trials and dog trainers.
(k) To prohibit and to regulate the taking of nongame gross fish, except minnows.
(l) To enter into agreements with landowners to trap and purchase quail on the premises of the landowner and to provide for the distribution of quail.
(m) To operate or lease to third persons concessions or other rights or privileges on lakes owned or leased by the department. Owners of land adjoining land owned or leased by the department shall have priority to the concessions or rights or privileges, if the owners meet the qualifications established by the commission.
(n) To implement a beaver control program and to charge fees, upon the recommendation of the Beaver Control Advisory Board, to landowners participating in the beaver control program described in Section 49-7-201.
(o) To apply for, receive and expend any federal, state or local funds, contributions or funds from any other source for the purpose of beaver control or eradication.
(p) To require the department to divide the districts into zones if necessary, and periodically survey the districts or zones to obtain information that is necessary to properly determine the population and allowable harvest limits of wildlife within the district or zone.
(q) To grant wildlife personnel access to enter the enclosure and utilize the best collection methods available to obtain tissue samples for testing where CWD has been diagnosed within five (5) miles of the enclosure.
If CWD is detected within an enclosure, the commission shall not declare surrounding or adjoining properties within a five (5) mile radius of the enclosure, a CWD Management Zone, until chronic wasting disease is positively detected within such radius on these surrounding or adjoining properties.
SECTION 23. Section 49-2-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-2-13. The executive director shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) To administer the policies of the commission within the authority granted by the commission;
(b) To supervise and direct all administrative and technical activities of the department;
(c) To organize the administrative units of the department in accordance with the plan adopted by the commission and, with commission approval, alter such organizational plan and reassign responsibilities as he may deem necessary to carry out the policies of the commission;
(d) To coordinate the activities of the various offices of the department;
(e) To employ, subject to the approval of the commission, qualified professional personnel in the subject matter or fields of each office, and such other technical and clerical staff as may be required for the operation of the department;
(f) To recommend to the commission such studies and investigations as he may deem appropriate, and to carry out the approved recommendations in conjunction with the various offices;
(g) To merge and coordinate functions and duties where possible to eliminate the possibility of two (2) separate organizational entities performing the same or similar functions, including, but not limited to, functions of audit, inspection, collection, personnel, motor vehicles, accounting, data processing, payroll and any other such administrative, procedural or enforcement function;
(h) To coordinate all studies in the State of Mississippi concerned with the supply, development, use and conservation of natural resources within the jurisdiction of the department;
(i) To prepare and deliver to the Legislature and the Governor on or before January 1 of each year, and at such other times as may be required by the Legislature or Governor, a full report of the work of the department and the offices thereof, including a detailed statement of expenditures of the department and any recommendations the commission may have;
(j) To issue, modify or revoke any and all orders under authority granted by the commission which include, but are not limited to those which (i) prohibit, control or abate discharges of contaminants and wastes into the air and waters of the state; (ii) require the construction of new disposal systems or air-cleaning devices or any parts thereof, or the modification, extension or alteration of existing disposal systems or air-cleaning devices or any parts thereof, or the adoption of other remedial measures to prevent, control or abate air and water pollution or to cause the proper management of solid wastes; (iii) impose penalties pursuant to Section 17-17-29 and Section 49-17-43 which have been agreed upon with alleged violators; and (iv) require compliance with the conditions of any permit issued by the Permit Board created in Section 49-17-28 and all regulations of the commission; and
(k) With the approval of the commission, to enter into contracts, grants and cooperative agreements with any federal or state agency or subdivision thereof, or any public or private institution located inside or outside the State of Mississippi, or any person, corporation or association in connection with carrying out the provisions of this chapter, provided the agreements do not have a financial cost in excess of the amounts appropriated for such purposes by the Legislature.
SECTION 24. Section 49-7-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-7-9. (1) (a) Each resident of the State of Mississippi, as defined in Section 49-7-3, fishing in the public fresh waters of the state, including lakes and reservoirs, but not including privately owned ponds and streams, shall purchase a combination small game hunting and fishing license as provided in Section 49-7-5 for Ten Dollars ($10.00). Any resident purchasing a license as prescribed in this subsection shall be entitled to fish, in accordance with the regulations and ordinances of the commission, in all public fresh waters within the territory of the State of Mississippi.
(b) A resident may purchase a resident fishing license valid for a period of three (3) days for the sum of Three Dollars ($3.00).
(c) No license shall be required of any resident citizen of the State of Mississippi who has not reached the age of sixteen (16) years or who has reached the age of sixty-five (65) years or who is blind, paraplegic, a multiple amputee or has been adjudged by the Veterans Administration as having a total service-connected disability, or has been adjudged totally disabled by the Social Security Administration. Such person shall not be required to purchase or have in his possession a hunting or fishing license while engaged in such activities.
(d) A person exempt by reason of age, total service-connected disability as adjudged by the Veterans Administration or total disability as adjudged by the Social Security Administration or who is blind, paraplegic or a multiple amputee, shall have in their possession and on their person proof of their age, residency, disability status or other respective physical impairment while engaged in the activities of hunting or fishing.
(e) Any resident who is a member of the Armed Forces, including the Reserves and National Guard, and on active duty outside the State of Mississippi is not required to purchase or have in his possession a hunting or fishing license while engaged in such activities on leave from active duty. Such resident shall have in his possession and on his person such proof as may be required by the commission.
(f) The requirement for purchasing and/or having a hunting or fishing license authorized in this subsection (1) may be waived for any resident or nonresident who is an honorably discharged veteran with a combat-related disability and who will be participating in a special hunt, fishing trip or other outdoor recreational event that is available only to such persons as determined by the entity sponsoring the event. The commission is authorized to establish such criteria and/or procedures for an organization to be recognized as a sanctioned entity that provides unique outdoor recreational opportunities for wounded or disabled veterans. Any events sponsored by a recognized organization, and the persons participating in such event, shall be entitled to the waiver set forth above without further action on the part of the commission or the sponsoring organization.
(2) (a) All persons fishing in privately owned lakes or ponds shall have specific permission to do so from the owner of such lake or pond.
(b) Residents do not need a fishing license to fish in those waters, except when the owner of the lake or pond charges a fee for fishing, then a resident must have a fishing license to fish in those waters unless exempted under subsection (1) of this section.
(3) The first weekend of "National Fishing and Boating Week" in June of each year is designated as "Free Fishing Weekend." July 4 is designated as "Free Fishing Day." Any person may sport fish without a license on "Free Fishing Weekend," and on "Free Fishing Day."
(4) Any person authorized to issue any license under this section may collect and retain for issuing each license the additional fee authorized under Section 49-7-17.
SECTION 25. Section 49-7-9.1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-7-9.1. (1) (a) Any resident engaged in fishing for commercial purposes and selling or peddling nongame gross fish at retail or selling or shipping same at wholesale, as to markets, dealers or canning plants, shall purchase a commercial fishing license.
(b) A licensee must label each piece of commercial fishing equipment with a waterproof or metal tag containing any information required by the department. A piece of commercial fishing equipment is defined as: One (1) each hoop or barrel net; one thousand (1,000) feet or less of trotline; one thousand (1,000) feet or less of snagline; three thousand (3,000) feet or less of gill netting; or three thousand (3,000) feet or less of trammel netting. Netting of over three thousand (3,000) feet is prohibited.
(c) Upon the purchase of a commercial license for use of hoop or barrel nets, the licensee is permitted to use lead nets thirty-five (35) yards in length for each two (2) barrel nets used, but not to exceed seven (7) lead nets.
(2) Each person taking nongame gross fish as defined in Section 49-7-1, of any kind from the fresh waters of the state shall be considered a producer and shall be entitled to sell his own catch of nongame gross fish to anyone except as otherwise provided by law or applicable regulations.
(3) Each resident buying or handling nongame gross fish secured from commercial fishermen or others for the purpose of resale, whether handled on a commission basis or otherwise, and each resident shipping nongame gross fish not his own catch out of the State of Mississippi shall be considered a wholesale dealer and shall purchase a commercial fishing license. Resident wholesale dealers' licenses shall be issued only to persons who have been bona fide residents of the State of Mississippi for at least six (6) months.
(4) Each resident buying nongame gross fish from a licensed wholesale dealer or licensed commercial fisherman for retail sale to the consumer only on rural or urban routes shall purchase a commercial fishing license to do so.
(5) Each resident engaged in the buying and selling of nongame gross fish as a wholesale dealer's agent, whether on a commission or salary basis, or otherwise, and not selling in the open market, shall purchase a commercial fishing license and shall be responsible for any illegal transaction ensuing between the time he purchases the fish from the fisherman and the time the fish are accepted by the wholesaler by whom he is employed.
(6) (a) Any resident using a wooden or plastic slat basket shall purchase a slat basket license for each basket each year in addition to a commercial fishing license. Slat baskets are defined as commercial fishing devices used solely for the capture of catfish and made entirely of wood and/or plastic slats in a box-like or cylindrical shape. Slat baskets shall not exceed six (6) feet in length nor exceed fifteen (15) inches in width and height or diameter, may have no more than two (2) throats, and must have at least four (4) slot openings at least one and one-fourth (1-1/4) by twenty-four (24) inches evenly spaced around the sides of the catch area. The one and one-fourth (1-1/4) inch wide slots or greater must begin at the rear of the basket and run twenty-four (24) inches toward the throat end of the basket. Slat baskets shall be placed at least one hundred (100) yards apart and may not be used with any form of leads, netting or guiding devices.
(b) Each slat basket shall have a waterproof or metal tag attached to it containing any information required by the department. Any other identification of the owner of the slat basket shall meet any specifications required by the department. Slat baskets may be fished statewide except where specifically prohibited.
(c) Any violation of this subsection shall be a Class I violation as prescribed in Section 49-7-141.
(7) It is unlawful for any person to offer for sale undersized nongame gross fish.
(8) (a) The fee for a resident commercial fishing license shall be Thirty Dollars ($30.00).
(b) The fee for a slat basket license shall be Thirty Dollars ($30.00).
(9) Any person authorized to issue any license under this section may collect and retain for issuing each license the additional fee authorized under Section 49-7-17.
SECTION 26. Section 49-7-49, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-7-49. For the purpose of this chapter, the fact that any person shall be found in the possession of a trap, fishing tackle, or other device of any description whatsoever used for the purpose of taking wild animals, wild birds or fish in the natural habitat of such animals, birds, or fish, or in the possession of dead bodies of wild birds, wild animals or fish within the field, in the forests or on the public highways or on the waters of this state, shall be prima facie evidence that such person is or has been hunting, trapping, or fishing.
SECTION 27. Section 49-7-80, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-7-80. No person shall stock, place, release or cause to be released into any of the public waters of the state any aquatic species without first obtaining a permit from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. No person shall release or cause to be released within this state, any animal not indigenous to Mississippi without first obtaining a permit from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The department may issue or deny a permit after it completes a study of the species to determine any detrimental effect the species might have on the environment.
The department shall establish and maintain a list of approved, restricted and prohibited species and establish rules governing importation, possession, sale and escape of those species.
This section shall not prohibit the practice of catch and release of native fish species or the release of native fish bait species.
A person violating this section is guilty of Class I violation and, upon conviction, shall be punished as provided in Section 49-7-141.
SECTION 28. Section 49-7-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-7-81. (1) It is unlawful to take or kill game fish in any manner other than by hook and line with one or more hooks, or by use of a trot or troll line. Dip or landing nets may be used when landing a fish caught by hook and line, trot or troll lines. Shad and minnows may only be taken as bait with the aid of a dip or landing net, cast nets, boat-mounted scoops and wire baskets by residents for personal use in sportfishing. However, in private ponds or borrow pits or overflow ponds which go dry in summer and cut off from the regular streams, dip nets may be used for capturing or rescuing game fish. It is unlawful to kill or take fish of any species at any time or anywhere by mudding, or by the use of lime, poison, dynamite, India berries, weeds and walnuts, giant powder, gunpowder, or any other explosive, and no nongame gross fish shall be taken by the use of nets, seines or traps for personal use without a commercial fishing license. It is unlawful to set any freshwater commercial fishing equipment so that it extends more than halfway across the width of any stream, channel, drain or other body of water, and if commercial fishing equipment is placed in water, each piece of equipment shall be placed at least one hundred (100) yards apart. The commission shall have the authority to fix the minimum size mesh for use in barrel nets, hoop nets and seines for use in the freshwaters of this state regulated by the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. This authority given the commission shall not be extended to the regulation of mesh size for use in marine waters. Notwithstanding anything in this or any other section to the contrary, any person in Mississippi fishing with barrel nets, hoop nets or seines in any waters of common boundary between Mississippi and another state may use a mesh size in such nets which is the same as the mesh size allowed in the other state, where the other state allows a mesh size in such nets which is smaller than the mesh size otherwise allowable in Mississippi.
(2) It is unlawful for any person to catch or destroy fish by the use of dynamite, gunpowder or other explosive substance.
(3) It is unlawful for any person to use a telephone, battery or any other electrically operated device for the purpose of killing or capturing fish.
(4) It is unlawful for any person to use any chemical of any kind in any stream or any lake where the public fishes for the purpose of killing or taking fish, except that this provision shall not be construed to apply to any owner of any fish pond using such chemical in his own private pond.
(5) It is unlawful for any person to poison any fish by mingling in the water any substance calculated and intended to stupefy or destroy fish.
(6) It is unlawful for any person to fish any equipment in the waters of the state of any size or type that is not allowed by the commission.
(7) Any hoop net, barrel net, seine, gill net, slat baskets, trammel net or untagged commercial fishing gear or devices being fished in public waters may be seized and held as evidence and shall be subject to forfeiture.
(8) Any person violating the provisions of subsections (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) of this section is guilty of a Class I violation and, upon conviction, shall be punished as provided in Section 49-7-141.
SECTION 29. Section 49-7-153, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-7-153. (1) Any resident may purchase a lifetime sportsman hunting and fishing license by filing an application in the office of the department. The license shall qualify the licensee to take all fish, game and fowl, except waterfowl, including deer and turkey, in the manner provided by law. The license shall also permit the licensee to hunt with primitive weapons and bow and arrow, and to fish in the public waters of the state, including the taking of crabs, oysters, shrimp and any saltwater fish authorized to be taken under a recreational license.
(2) The department may issue a resident lifetime sportsman license at a fee to be determined by the commission at an amount not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for a person thirteen (13) years of age or older and not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for a person under thirteen (13) years of age. All lifetime licenses shall be issued from the office of the department. Each application for a lifetime license must be accompanied by a certified copy of the birth certificate of the individual to be named as the license holder, if the individual is twelve (12) years of age or under.
(3) The commission shall establish proof of residency requirements for the purchase of a lifetime license, and shall also establish such restrictions on and regulations for lifetime licenses as it deems necessary and proper. Except as otherwise provided in this section, an applicant for a resident lifetime license must have been domiciled in this state for eighteen (18) consecutive months immediately preceding the date of his application for a license. The burden of proving domicile shall be on the applicant.
(4) The department may issue a native son or daughter resident lifetime sportsman hunting and fishing license if official documents reflect that one of the applicant's parents was born in the State of Mississippi and was on active military service at the time of the applicant's birth.
Such license may be issued at a fee to be determined by the commission at an amount not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for a person thirteen (13) years of age or older and not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for a person under thirteen (13) years of age.
The applicant must provide a certified copy of an original birth certificate of such parent showing that the parent was born in Mississippi and provide official documents indicating that such parent was on active military service at the time of the applicant's birth.
An applicant for such license shall not be required to
have been domiciled in this state for eighteen (18) consecutive months immediately preceding the date of his or her application for a license.
(5) The department may issue a native son or daughter nonresident lifetime sportsman hunting and fishing license. The commission shall establish the fee, but the fee shall not be less than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00). The applicant must provide a certified copy of the original birth certificate showing that the applicant was born in Mississippi and/or if the parents' address was in Mississippi at the time of birth as shown on the birth certificate or other documents and/or official documents reflect that one of said parents was on active military service outside the State of Mississippi at the time of said birth.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, if the birth certificate of each parent reflects that each parent was born in the State of Mississippi, then any child born outside the State of Mississippi of those parents may be issued a nonresident lifetime sportsman license for the above set out fee.
(6) Any materially false statement contained in an application for a lifetime license renders void the license issued pursuant to that application, and subjects the applicant to criminal prosecution under Section 49-7-45.
(7) Nothing in this section exempts an applicant for a lifetime license from meeting other qualifications or requirements otherwise established by law for the privilege of hunting or fishing.
SECTION 30. Section 49-9-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-9-5. (1) It is unlawful for any person to take, catch or kill mussels by means of any kind of apparatus or in any manner whatsoever in any of the fresh waters of this state without first having secured a license or permit issued in accordance with this chapter.
(2) It is unlawful for any person to take from any of the fresh waters of this state any kind of mussels in any manner for the purpose of culture or scientific investigation, without first obtaining a permit from the commission.
(3) It is unlawful for any person to take mussels by means of dredges, drags or scoops, other than hand tongs.
SECTION 31. Section 49-9-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-9-7. Any resident, except any company, commercial operation or farm which operates a mussel abatement program, desiring to catch, take or kill mussels in any of the fresh waters of this state except as provided for by subsection (2) of Section 49-9-5, shall apply to the commission, and pay a fee in the sum of Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00). Any person desiring to purchase mussel shells as mussels in the shell shall apply to the commission accompanied by a fee of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00). A nonresident desiring to catch, take or kill mussels in any fresh water of this state except as provided by subsection (2) of Section 49-9-5, shall apply to the commission, and pay a fee of not less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00). A nonresident from a state which does not issue a nonresident mussel license shall be prohibited from obtaining a nonresident license from this state.
SECTION 32. Section 49-9-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-9-15. The commission shall set hearings at such times and places, after having given thirty (30) days notice thereof by publication in some newspaper published in the State of Mississippi of general circulation within the state, at which hearings evidence shall be received in regard to the operation of boats and equipment in the taking of mussels in the fresh waters of this state. After such hearings, the commission shall issue reasonable rules and regulations in regard to same, and if the evidence so indicates, shall, in order to prevent the depletion of mussel beds and to insure the proper propagation of mussels, adopt such regulations as it deems necessary.
SECTION 33. Section 49-15-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-1. As a guide to the interpretation and application of this chapter, the public policy of this state shall be to recognize the need for a concerted effort to work toward the protection, propagation and conservation of its seafood and aquatic life in connection with the revitalization of the seafood industry of the State of Mississippi, which is one of the state's major economic resources and affords a livelihood to thousands of its citizens; and in this connection, it is the intent of the Legislature to provide a modern, sound, comprehensive and workable law to be administered by specialists, who are vested with full and ample authority to take such action as may be necessary in order to help protect, conserve and revitalize seafood life in the State of Mississippi; it being at all times remembered that all of the wild aquatic life found in the waters of the State of Mississippi and on the bottoms of such waters, until taken therefrom in the manner hereinafter prescribed, is recognized as the property of the State of Mississippi because of its very nature, as well as because of the great value of the state of the aquatic life for food and other necessary purposes.
SECTION 34. Section 49-15-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-15. (1) In addition to any other powers and duties authorized by law, the department, with the advice of the advisory commission, shall have the following powers and duties regarding the regulation of seafood:
(a) To exercise full jurisdiction and authority over all marine aquatic life and to regulate any matters pertaining to seafood, including cultivated seafood;
(b) To adopt, promulgate, amend or repeal, after due notice and public hearing, in accordance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law and subject to the limitations in subsection (2) of this section, rules and regulations authorized under this chapter, including, but not limited to, rules and regulations necessary for the protection, conservation or propagation of all seafood in the waters under the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Mississippi and for the regulation of gill net and purse seine fishermen. All public hearings under this chapter concerning the regulation of marine resources shall be held in Hancock, Harrison or Jackson Counties. Each rule or regulation promulgated under this chapter shall immediately be advertised one (1) time in a newspaper or newspapers having general circulation in counties affected by that regulation. A regulation shall become effective at 6:00 a.m. on the day after its publication;
(c) To regulate all seafood sanitation and processing programs. In the three (3) coastal counties, the sanitation program regulating processing plants and seafood sold in retail stores operating in conjunction with a processing plant or seafood market that primarily deals with seafood is under the exclusive authority of the department. The department may also inspect and regulate those areas of any seafood processing plant which process freshwater species at any site. To effectively and efficiently implement the state seafood sanitation program, the State Health Officer, the Commissioner of Agriculture and the executive director of the department may enter into a memorandum of understanding, which at a minimum, clearly specifies the responsibilities of each agency in implementing the seafood sanitation program, as well as the sharing of information and communication and coordination between the agencies;
(d) To set standards of measure;
(e) To set requirements for employment of commission employees whose compensation shall be governed by the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board;
(f) To acquire and dispose of commission equipment and facilities;
(g) To keep proper records of the commission, including an official ordinance book which contains all rules and regulations promulgated by the department, with the advice of the advisory commission, under this chapter;
(h) To enter into advantageous interstate and intrastate agreements with proper officials, which directly or indirectly result in the protection, propagation and conservation of the seafood of the State of Mississippi, or continue any such agreements now in existence;
(i) To arrange, negotiate or contract for the use of available federal, state and local facilities which would aid in the propagation, protection and conservation of the seafood of the State of Mississippi;
(j) To authorize the operation of double rigs in the waters lying between the mainland coast and the island chain, and those rigs shall not exceed a length of twenty-five (25) feet at the corkline, and to prescribe the length at the lead line for each rig, net or try-trawl;
(k) To destroy or dispose of equipment or nets which have been lawfully seized by the commission and which are not sold under Section 49-15-201 et seq.;
(l) To open, close and regulate fishing seasons for the taking of shrimp, oysters, fish taken for commercial purposes and crabs and set size, catching and taking regulations for all types of seafood and culling regulations for oysters, except as otherwise specifically provided by law;
(m) To utilize the resources of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory to the fullest extent possible;
(n) To develop a resource management plan to preserve seafood resources and to ensure a safe supply of these resources;
(o) To prescribe types and forms of scientific permits for public educational or scientific institutions, federal and state agencies and consultants performing marine resource studies;
(p) To suspend the issuance of licenses when necessary to impose a moratorium to conserve a fishery resource;
(q) To promote, construct, monitor and maintain artificial fishing reefs in the marine waters of the State of Mississippi and in adjacent federal waters; to accept grants and donations of money or materials from public and private sources for such reefs; to set permit fees and establish guidelines for the construction of artificial reefs in federal waters; and to apply for any federal permits necessary for the construction or maintenance of artificial fishing reefs in federal waters. The location data associated with artificial reefs by corporations and private individuals shall not be published by the commission or the department on the website or in written publications of the department. Location data of the artificial reefs may be requested in writing by any individual and shall be provided by the department in a timely manner; and
(r) To require, in addition to other licensing requirements, the successful completion of educational or training programs on shellfish sanitation as a prerequisite to receiving commercial licenses authorized under this chapter in order to ensure compliance with the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference's educational requirements for shellfish processors, dealers and harvesters by January 1, 2014.
(2) The department shall not adopt rules, regulations or ordinances pertaining to marine resources which are more stringent than federal regulations. In any case where federal laws and regulations are silent on a matter pertaining to marine resources, the laws and regulations of the State of Mississippi shall control. The department shall review all marine resource ordinances for compliance with the no more stringent standard and revise any ordinances more stringent than this standard no later than December 31, 1992. This subsection shall not apply to rules, regulations or ordinances pertaining to the wild stock of marine fin fish.
SECTION 35. Section 49-15-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-17. (1) (a) All monies received or obtained by the department under the provisions of this chapter shall be paid over by the department to the State Treasurer and shall be deposited into the fund known as the "Seafood Fund." All revenues collected through the department, to include, but not limited to, commercial saltwater licenses and taxes, permits, fines and penalties, and confiscated catches, shall be deposited into the department operating account (Seafood Fund) and expended for the operation of the department, as authorized by the Legislature.
(b) There is established a special account to be known as the "Artificial Reef Program Account" within the Seafood Fund. Any funds received from any public or private source for the purpose of promoting, constructing, monitoring or maintaining artificial reefs in the marine waters of the state or in federal waters adjacent to the marine waters of the state shall be credited to the account. Any unexpended funds remaining in the account at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse into the Seafood Fund, but shall remain in the account. The department may expend any funds in the account, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, to accomplish the purpose of the account.
(c) There is established a special account to be known as the "Coastal Preserve Account" within the Seafood Fund. Any funds received from any public or private source for the purpose of management, improvement and acquisition of coastal preserves in the state and money required to be deposited pursuant to Sections 27-19-56.10 and 27-19-56.27, shall be credited to the account. Any unexpended funds remaining in the account at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse into the Seafood Fund, but shall remain in the account. The department may expend any funds in the account, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, for the management, improvement and acquisition of coastal preserves.
(d) There is established a special account to be known as the "Mississippi Seafood Marketing Program Account" within the Seafood Fund. Monies required to be deposited into the account under Section 27-19-56.27 and any funds received from any public or private source for the purpose of promoting the Mississippi seafood industry must be credited to the account. Any unexpended funds remaining in the account at the end of the fiscal year do not lapse into the Seafood Fund, but remain in the account. The department may expend any funds in the account, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, to accomplish the purposes of this account, including, but not limited to, providing funds for cobia stock enhancement programs.
(e) There is established a special account to be known as the "Oyster Production Preserve Account" within the Seafood Fund. Monies required to be deposited from oyster leasing and licensing payments under Section 27-15-27, sack fees, money required to be deposited pursuant to Sections 27-19-56.10 and 27-19-56.27, and any funds received from any public or private source for the purpose of oyster production and propagation in this state, which includes plantings of oysters and cultch materials, shall be credited to the account. Any unexpended funds remaining in the account at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse into the Seafood Fund, but shall remain in the account. The department may expend any funds in the account, subject to specific appropriation by the Legislature, for the management, improvement and acquisition of permittable property for oyster production and propagation in the state, which includes plantings of oysters and cultch materials. The Department of Marine Resources shall develop an annual report to the Legislature which describes the annual expenditures from this fund for the purpose of furthering oyster production and propagation in this state to be included in the department's annual budget request to the Legislative Budget Office and to be transmitted to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Ports and Marine Resources.
(2) The fund shall be treated as a special trust fund and interest earned on the principal shall be credited to the fund.
(3) The department shall keep accurate reports of monies handled as a part of the permanent records of the department, and the State Treasurer shall furnish the department such forms as may be needed, and the department shall account for such forms in reports to the Treasurer.
SECTION 36. Section 49-15-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-21. (1) The executive director shall appoint the necessary enforcement officers for the administration of this chapter. The salary of all enforcement officers employed shall be as determined by the State Personnel Board. However, the members of the Enforcement Officers' Reserve Unit created in subsection (4) shall serve without pay, and shall not be employees of the State of Mississippi for purposes of the State Personnel System, the Workers' Compensation Law, the Public Employees' Retirement System or the State Employees Life and Health Insurance Plan.
(2) All enforcement officers shall be experienced and qualified persons thoroughly familiar with the seafood business and shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and be a high school graduate or its equivalent. The enforcement officers shall diligently enforce all laws and regulations for the protection, propagation, preservation or conservation of all saltwater aquatic life of the State of Mississippi, and they are hereby constituted peace officers of the State of Mississippi, with full police power and jurisdiction to enforce all laws of the State of Mississippi, inclusive of all federal laws within the jurisdiction of the State of Mississippi and waters and resources under management of the state, and all regulations adopted and promulgated by the department. Enforcement officers may exercise such powers in any county of the State of Mississippi and on any waters of the state, and they are hereby authorized to carry firearms or other weapons, concealed or otherwise, and they shall investigate all persons, corporations and otherwise who are alleged to have violated any laws, and make affidavits, arrests and serve papers of any court of competent jurisdiction, in like manner as is provided for sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, when the same shall be in connection with the enforcement of the seafood laws of the State of Mississippi and such other laws and regulations of this state as the department may designate. The enforcement officers may seize at any time aquatic life caught, taken or transported in a manner contrary to the laws of this state, and may confiscate and dispose of the same. Any net or other paraphernalia used or employed in connection with a violation may be seized, and forfeiture proceedings may be instituted. Enforcement officers may draft the aid of captains, crews and boats or licensed vessels to enforce this chapter and may, without warrant, board and search vessels or vehicles. The application for any license or permit from the department to catch, fish, take, transport or handle or process any form of aquatic life, or the taking, catching, transporting or handling or processing of any and all aquatic life in this state shall constitute acquiescence and agreement upon the part of the owners, captains and crews, employers and dealers to the provisions of this chapter and the agreement that enforcement officers may exercise the authority granted under the provisions hereof.
(3) Prior to entering into performance of their duties or delegations or as soon after appointment as possible, each enforcement officer, at the expense of the department, shall attend and complete an appropriate curriculum in the field of law enforcement at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy or other law enforcement training program approved under Section 45-6-7. However, members of the Enforcement Officers' Reserve Unit created in subsection (4) of this section may attend the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy at the expense of the department if it deems the training necessary or desirable. No enforcement officer shall be entitled to payment of salary after the first twelve (12) months in office if he has either failed to attend the academy or has failed to comply with other qualifications or successfully complete any law enforcement qualification examinations as the director deems necessary. The enforcement officers shall, on a periodic basis, be required to attend additional advanced courses in law enforcement in order that they will be properly improved and trained in the modern, technical advances of law enforcement.
(4) (a) There is hereby created an Enforcement Officers' Reserve Unit, hereinafter termed "the reserve," to assist the enforcement officers in the performance of their duties under this chapter. The reserve shall consist of volunteers who are approved by the Executive Director of the Department of Marine Resources or his designee. The members of the reserve shall serve without pay. Reserve officers shall be in such numbers as determined by the enforcement needs, with the maximum strength of reserve officers limited to the same number as enforcement officers.
(b) To be eligible for membership in the reserve, an applicant must be twenty-one (21) years of age, be a high school graduate or its equivalent, be in good physical condition, have a Mississippi driver's license, be in good standing with the community, be available for training and duty, not be a member of any police, auxiliary police, civil defense, or private security agency, have never been convicted of a felony, and have one (1) of the following:
(i) An honorable discharge or honorable separation certificate from one (1) of the United States military services;
(ii) Three (3) years of responsible post-high school work experience that required the ability to deal effectively with individuals and groups of persons;
(iii) Successful completion of sixty (60) semester hours at an accredited college or university; or
(iv) The qualifications as are outlined in this section for enforcement officers.
Members of the immediate family of enforcement officers shall not be eligible for the reserve unless a special waiver is granted.
Upon acceptance into the reserve, members shall receive a temporary appointment for one (1) year. During this year of temporary status, members must successfully complete the required training and must qualify on the same firearms course as enforcement officers.
(c) The reserve shall be under the leadership and direction of the executive director or his designee. The training of the reserve shall be conducted by an enforcement officer. The reserve shall meet at least once each month for the purpose of training and transacting any business as may come before it. The executive director shall be notified in writing of all meetings of the reserve and the time and place of the meetings shall be recorded with the executive director. The executive director shall prepare a reserve officer's manual with the advice and consent of the department. The manual shall include, but is not limited to, the following: activities and operations, training, administration and duties. During active service, the reserve shall be under the direction of the executive director or his designated representative. When a reserve officer is on active duty and assigned to a specific enforcement officer, he shall be under the direct supervision of that officer. Reserve officers serve at the discretion of the executive director and may be dismissed by him. Reserve officers shall furnish their own uniforms and other personal equipment if the executive director does not provide such items.
(d) The executive director may require members of the Enforcement Officers' Reserve Unit to attend officer reserve training programs conducted by county or municipal agencies.
(e) The executive director may issue uniforms to such reserve officers and may authorize the issuance of any state equipment necessary for the reserve officers to adequately assist law enforcement officers. The executive director may develop a reserve officer identification system to accomplish the issuance of such items in accordance with the State Auditor guidelines.
(f) If the executive director determines that a member of the Enforcement Officers' Reserve Unit may attend a training program as authorized under this section, it shall require that reserve officer to sign an agreement, prior to attending a training program, which shall stipulate that if the reserve officer accepts employment from any other public or private law enforcement agency within three (3) years after completion of his training program, the reserve officer or the respective hiring law enforcement agency shall reimburse the department for the total cost of his training program. By October 1 of each year, the department shall provide the Conservation and Water Resources Committee of the Mississippi House of Representatives and the Ports and Marine Resources Committee of the Mississippi Senate a listing which contains each name and the respective cost of training each reserve officer received during the previous year.
SECTION 37. Section 49-15-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-27. The department is hereby granted full and complete authority to lease the bottoms within its jurisdiction upon the following terms and conditions:
(1) All areas within the department's jurisdiction, not designated state-owned reefs by this chapter, including natural reefs and all areas not within the boundaries of riparian property owners may be leased by the department.
(2) All individual lessees shall be residents of the State of Mississippi, or if a firm or corporation, such firm or corporation shall be organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi and owned by a resident of the State of Mississippi.
(3) No individual, corporation, partnership or association may lease less than one (1) acre nor more than two thousand five hundred (2,500) acres total; however, in the case of an individual there shall be counted towards such limitation any lands leased by a corporation, partnership or association in which such individual owns ten percent (10%) or less interest and, in the case of a corporation, partnership or association, there shall be counted toward such limitation any lands leased by an individual stockholder, partner or associate thereof who owns ten percent (10%) or less interest in such corporation, partnership or association.
(4) Individuals, firms or corporations desiring to lease bottoms shall make application to the department in writing, describing the area to be leased. Applications must include a plat showing the proposed lease area and description of cultch material type and amount to be deployed on the leased area.
(5) (a) Any person who qualifies and who desires to lease a part of the bottom or bed of any of the waters of this state as provided in this section shall present to the department a written application, and pay an application fee in the amount of Fifty Dollars ($50.00). This application shall contain the name and address of the applicant and a reasonably definite description of the location and amount of land covered by water desired by the applicant. Upon receipt of the application, the department shall then register the application with date and time stamped thereon, shall order an examination to determine whether the water bottoms applied for are leasable, and shall determine the acreage upon which the rental of the lease shall be fixed. If the area is found to be leasable, the department shall either make a lease with the applicant or issue a written notice declining the application with reasons for same within thirty (30) days of the date of the application. Such lease shall be for the area described in the application upon payment of the prorated annual rent in advance for the remainder of the calendar year.
(b) When applications are made by two (2) or more persons for the same water bottoms, the applicant or the heirs or transferors of a deceased applicant who files the first application has prior claim.
(c) The department shall require that the bottoms of water areas to be leased be as definable as possible, taking into consideration such factors as the shape of the body of water, and the condition of the bottom as to hardness or softness which would render it desirable or undesirable for the purpose of oyster cultivation.
(d) The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to the initial application for an oyster lease, and not to the renewal of a lease.
(e) The department may not execute a lease until the department has posted notice of the application for the lease on its website for thirty (30) consecutive days.
(f) Any person claiming ownership of or interest in the water bottoms to be leased may protest the issuance of the lease on the grounds that the protesting party owns the water bottoms, but only by delivering via certified mail notice of the protest in writing to the Secretary of State, and the lease applicant on or before the thirtieth day after notice of the application was posted. The notice of protest shall include all information and documentation that the protesting party believes is relevant to the question of ownership. The right to protest issuance of the lease pursuant to this section shall expire if a protest is not made on or before the ninetieth day after notice of the application was posted.
(g) If a protest is timely made, the Secretary of State shall review the claim to ownership of the contested water bottoms and issue a preliminary determination to the protesting party, and the lease applicant within ninety (90) days of receiving the notice of protest. Any applicant shall have the right to appeal any decision of the department related to such protest to the circuit court with proper venue.
(h) A lease applicant may withdraw a lease application and receive a full refund from the department of all application fees, by submitting a written request for withdrawal to the department within ninety (90) days after the department posts notice of the application on its website.
(6) Such leases shall be for an initial term of fifteen (15) years, with the lessee having the right of first renewal of the lease for an additional fifteen (15) years, and continue to renew at fifteen-year intervals, at the same ground rental rate so long as lessee actively cultivates and gathers oysters, and complies with the provisions of this chapter. No lease may be transferred without approval by the department of the transfer.
(7) The terms of every lease issued hereunder shall ensure the maximum cultivation and propagation of oysters. Throughout the term of every lease issued hereunder, each lessee shall add cultch and make other necessary efforts to ensure the maximum cultivation and propagation of oysters. The department shall promulgate regulations to set forth guidelines for lessees to follow to ensure the maximum cultivation and propagation of oysters under the lease. The lessee shall submit a written report with supporting documentation to the department of efforts to cultivate and propagate oysters for the previous year. If the department finds a lessee is not making efforts to cultivate and propagate oysters, and the lessee fails to take remedial steps to address same, such lease shall be subject to termination as provided for hereunder.
(8) The department shall fix a ground rental rate at Three Dollars ($3.00) per acre per year. The annual rental payments shall be due by December 31 for the next calendar year.
(9) Any lessee who pays the rent on or after the first day of January shall pay the rent due plus an additional ten percent (10%) penalty. The failure of the lessee to pay the rent punctually on or before the first of each March, ipso facto and without demand or putting in default, terminates and cancels the lease and forfeits to the department all the works, improvements, betterments, and oysters on the leased water bottom. The department may at once enter on the water bottom and take possession thereof. Such water bottom shall then be open for lease in accordance with subsections (5) through (8) of this section. Ten (10) days thereafter the department shall enter the termination, cancellation, and forfeiture on its books and give public notice thereof by publication in one (1) local paper in the county where the formerly leased water bottoms are located. On or before the first day of each February, the department shall issue a written notice of delinquency by certified mail to each lessee who has not yet paid the rent. The department shall also publish notice of such delinquency on its website.
(10) The department shall keep an accurate chart of the areas within its jurisdiction and shall mark on such chart those areas which are under lease. All leases shall be marked by appropriate poles, stakes or buoys of such material as will not injure watercraft, at the expense of the leaseholder. The department shall keep an accurate book, designated "Mississippi Oyster Farms" which shall contain copies of all leases. The department shall maintain a map of designated state-owned, leased areas, and areas available for lease on the department's website. If any lease be cancelled or expire, such fact shall be noted on the face of such lease. Lessees shall be "oyster farmers" for the purposes of any grants, aid, subsidies or other assistance from the federal government or other governmental or private agencies.
(11) All funds derived from leasing shall be paid into the Seafood Fund under Section 49-15-17, for use by the department to further oyster production in this state, which includes plantings of oysters and cultch materials.
(12) All leases made by the department under the authority of this section shall be subject to the paramount right of the state and any of its political subdivisions authorized by law, to promote and develop ports, harbors, channels, industrial or recreational projects, and all such leases shall contain a provision that in the event such authorized public body shall require the area so leased or any part thereof for such public purposes, that the lease shall be terminated on reasonable notice fixed by the department in such lease. On the termination of any lease, the lessees shall have the right to remove any oysters within the leased area within such time as may be fixed by the department and in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as the department may adopt.
Any person convicted of taking oysters from leased land or from waters that are not of a safe sanitary quality without a permit as provided in Section 49-15-37 shall, on the first offense, forfeit all equipment used, exclusive of any boat or boats; and be fined not to exceed Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) or sentenced not to exceed one (1) year in the county jail, or both. Subsequent convictions shall be punishable by forfeiture of all equipment, including any boat or boats; and a fine not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or not to exceed two (2) years in prison, or both such fine and imprisonment.
The department is enjoined to cooperate with the Jackson County Port Authority, the Harrison County Development Commission, the municipal port commission and other port and harbor agencies, so that oyster beds shall not be planted in close proximity to navigable channels. The department or lessee shall have no right of action as against any such public body for damages accruing to any natural reef or leased reef by any necessary improvement of such channel in the interest of shipping, commerce, navigation or other purpose authorized by law.
(13) A lessee has the exclusive use of the water bottoms leased and all oysters and cultch grown or placed thereon. However, this exclusive right is subordinate to the rights and responsibilities of the state, any political subdivision of the state, the United States, or any agency or agent thereof, to take action in furtherance of coastal protection, conservation or restoration.
(14) In order to protect the health and safety of the residents of the State of Mississippi, the terms and conditions relating to the leasing of bottoms provided in this section shall be fully applicable to any lease executed by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources prior to April 17, 2023, and the department shall revise any lease issued prior to April 17, 2023, as necessary in order to comply with the provisions of this section.
SECTION 38. Section 49-15-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-29. (1) The department shall assess and collect license fees and taxes as authorized under this chapter.
(2) All commercial licenses provided for under this chapter that relate to seafood shall be purchased from May 1 through April 30 at the fees provided in this chapter. The licenses shall expire on April 30 following the date of issuance.
(3) When an application for an original or renewal license of any kind authorized by this chapter is received by the department, the department shall determine whether the vessel or related equipment subject to that license is owned and operated in compliance with applicable federal and state laws. If the department determines that a vessel or its owner is not in compliance with applicable federal and state laws, then no license shall be issued or renewed for the operation of that vessel for a period of one (1) year. All licenses shall be made available for purchase at any building which is regularly operated by the department on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
(4) The department may authorize any person, other than a salaried employee of the state to issue any license under this chapter which the department deems appropriate. The authorized person may collect and retain for issuance of the license the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) in addition to the license fee provided in this chapter. The department shall establish the qualifications of persons authorized to issue licenses under this section and shall also establish the procedure for the issuance of that license by the authorized person and the procedure for collection of license fees by and from the authorized person.
(5) The department may design, establish, and administer a program to provide for the purchase, by electronic means, of any license, permit, registration or reservation issued by the department. Any actual costs associated to provide these documents electronically may be added to the cost of the electronic program.
SECTION 39. Section 49-15-34, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-34. (1) The department shall require all boats used under regulation of this chapter which are also used in waters of other states and required by those states to pay licenses or fees for the same purposes as licenses and fees are required under this chapter to purchase a license which reflects that the licensed boats are used inside and outside the territorial waters of Mississippi. Upon the issuance of that license, the licensed boat, if used exclusively for commercial fishing or charter boats which have been licensed and authorized by the United States Coast Guard under 46 CFR Sections 24-26 and 46 CFR Sections 175-187, shall be deemed to be in the business of interstate transportation, but this shall in no way affect the collection of other licenses and fees by the department which would otherwise be due under this chapter. The department shall assess and collect an annual license fee of Twenty Dollars ($20.00) on each boat engaged in operations under this subsection.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the department shall establish a transport permit to land seafood in this state which is legally taken outside of the Mississippi territorial waters without obtaining a license under this chapter. The department by regulation shall require the registration of those landings. The department may establish a permit fee in an amount not to exceed the amount of the license fee established in Section 49-15-28(1). This subsection shall not be construed to supersede Section 49-15-71.
SECTION 40. Section 49-15-64.3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-64.3. (1) It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to take, catch or have in their possession within territorial waters of the State of Mississippi shrimp of a size weighing in the raw state less than one (1) pound to each sixty-eight (68) shrimp, except when a valid permit or affidavit of another state identifies the catch as having been taken in non-Mississippi waters, or except in case of live bait shrimp.
(2) It is unlawful to take, catch or have in possession live bait shrimp of a size weighing in the raw state less than one (1) pound to each one hundred (100) shrimp. This provision may be changed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the commission. The commission may adopt rules, regulations, guidelines and other operation criteria in conjunction with licensing live bait dealers and live bait catcher boats as it deems appropriate to ensure that only bona fide operations will be licensed. The commission shall consult with existing live bait dealers and live bait catcher boat operators before adoption of any regulations and before any future changes. The commission shall hold a public hearing in the county affected by the regulation, but if more than one (1) county is affected, then the commission shall hold a public hearing in Harrison County. The commission shall notify each live bait licensee of the public hearing at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing, by first class mail at the last known address of the licensee.
(3) If a live bait dealer or live bait catcher boat is convicted of a violation of this chapter or a duly adopted ordinance of the commission, the commission may, in addition to punishment duly adjudicated, revoke the license of the vessel or dealer to whom it is issued for a period not exceeding two (2) weeks following conviction of the first offense, not exceeding six (6) months following conviction of the second offense, and up to one (1) year following conviction of the third and subsequent offenses, if the subsequent offenses are committed within three (3) years of the first offense. Upon the revocation of the license, the commission may require the posting of a cash performance bond not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) before the reissuance of that revoked license. The commission may require the forfeiture of that bond upon the subsequent conviction of any violation of this chapter or a duly adopted ordinance of the commission. If a person who posts bond under this section desires to no longer engage in the live bait business, that person shall certify that fact to the commission who shall return the bond. If that person desires to again engage in the live bait business, a cash performance bond may be required before the issuance of a license.
SECTION 41. Section 49-15-46, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-46. (1) Each vessel used to catch, take, carry or transport oysters from the reefs of the State of Mississippi, or engaged in transporting any oysters in any of the waters within the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Mississippi, for commercial use, shall annually, before beginning operations, be licensed by the department and pay the following license fee:
(a) Fifty Dollars ($50.00) on each in-state vessel or boat used for tonging oysters or gathering oysters by hand;
(b) One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) on each in-state vessel or boat used for dredging oysters;
(c) One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) on each out-of-state vessel or boat used for tonging oysters or gathering oysters by hand, or the license fee charged by the out-of-state licensing entity to Mississippi vessels or boats for tonging or gathering oysters, whichever is greater; or
(d) Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) on each out-of-state vessel or boat used for dredging oysters, or the license fee charged by the out-of-state licensing entity to Mississippi vessels or boats for dredging oysters, whichever is greater.
(2) Each molluscan shellfish aquaculture operation shall annually, before beginning operations, be licensed by the department and pay the following license fee:
(a) Fifty Dollars ($50.00) on each resident molluscan shellfish aquaculture operation; or
(b) One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) on each nonresident molluscan shellfish aquaculture operation.
(3) The department may authorize the transfer of a vessel license to a different vessel provided that the owner of both vessels is the same titled owner.
(4) All oysters harvested in the State of Mississippi shall be tagged. Tags shall be issued by the department and shall bear the catcher's name, the date and origin of the catch, the shell stock dealer's name and permit number. The department shall number all tags issued and shall maintain a record of those tags. The department, in its discretion, may adopt any regulations regarding the tagging of oysters and other shellfish.
(5) Each person catching or taking oysters from the waters of the State of Mississippi for personal use shall obtain a permit from the department and pay an annual recreational oyster permit fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00). Oysters caught under a recreational permit shall not be offered for sale. The limits on the allowable catch of oysters for recreational purposes shall be three (3) sacks per week. The department shall issue tags of a distinguishing color to designate recreationally harvested oysters, which shall be tagged on the same day of harvest in the manner prescribed in subsection (4) of this section for commercially harvested oysters or by regulation of the department.
(6) The department shall assess and collect a shell retention fee for the shells taken from waters within the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Mississippi as follows:
(a) Commercial and recreational harvesters - Fifteen Cents (15¢) per sack paid to the department on the day of harvest;
(b) Initial oyster processor, dealer or factory first purchasing the oysters - Fifteen Cents (15¢) per sack paid to the department no later than the tenth day of the month following the purchase, on forms submitted by the department;
(c) Commercial harvesters transporting their catch out of the state - Fifty Cents (50¢) per sack paid to the department on the day of harvest, in addition to the fees paid in paragraph (a) of this subsection; and
(d) Commercial harvesters not selling their oysters to a Mississippi dealer - Fifteen Cents (15¢) per sack paid to the department on the day of harvest, in addition to fees paid in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
Funds received from the shell retention fee shall be paid into a special fund in the State Treasury to be appropriated by the Legislature for use by the department to further oyster production in this state, which includes plantings of oysters and/or cultch materials.
(7) During open seasons, oysters may be taken only by hands, tongs and dredges.
(8) Vessels licensed under Section 49-15-46 may keep in whole, for personal consumption up to thirty-six (36) blue crabs (portunidae family), per day. This exemption for personal consumption does not apply to fish or crabs that are otherwise illegal to possess or catch.
SECTION 42. Section 49-15-64.5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-64.5. (1) (a) Each freight boat, ice boat and catching boat used in catching or transporting saltwater shrimp taken from the waters of the State of Mississippi for sale in their fresh state, or for canning, packing, freezing or drying, shall first obtain from the commission an annual privilege license and pay a license fee at the following rates:
(i) Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for resident boats or vessels under thirty (30) feet in length in overall measurements and One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for nonresident boats or vessels under thirty (30) feet in length in overall measurements;
(ii) Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) for resident boats or vessels between thirty (30) and forty-five (45) feet in length in overall measurements and One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for nonresident boats or vessels between thirty (30) and forty-five (45) feet in length in overall measurements;
(iii) One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for resident boats or vessels greater than forty-five (45) feet in length in overall measurements and Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for nonresident boats or vessels greater than forty-five (45) feet in length in overall measurements.
(b) Beginning September 15, 1994, no nonresident shall be issued a commercial fishing license under this chapter for the taking of saltwater shrimp using any type of net if that nonresident's state of domicile prohibits the issuing of commercial fishing licenses to residents of this state to engage in like activity.
(2) Each recreational vessel engaging in shrimping with a net having a corkline length of sixteen (16) feet or less shall pay an annual resident license fee of Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) or an annual nonresident license fee of Thirty Dollars ($30.00).
(3) During open seasons and in open areas, saltwater shrimp may be taken only with shrimp trawls, trawls, butterfly nets, skimmer nets, push trawls, beach seines and cast nets.
SECTION 43. Section 49-15-47, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-47. (1) It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to discharge solid or human waste from any vessel while the vessel is used to harvest or transport oysters in the marine waters of the state.
(2) Each vessel used to harvest or transport oysters is required to have an approved functional marine sanitation device (MSD), portable toilet or other sewage disposal receptacle designed to contain human sewage. The approved marine sanitation device (MSD), portable toilet or other sewage disposal receptacle shall:
(a) Be used only for the purpose intended.
(b) Be secured while on board and located to prevent contamination of shell stock by spillage or leakage.
(c) Be emptied only into an approved sewage disposal system.
(d) Be cleaned before being returned to the vessel.
(e) Not be cleaned with equipment used for washing or processing food.
(3) The use of other receptacles for sewage disposal may be approved by the department if the receptacles are:
(a) Constructed of impervious, cleanable materials and have tight-fitting lids; and
(b) Meet the requirements listed in subsection (2).
(4) The department shall promulgate administrative penalties for violations of this section, which may include, but not be limited to, revocation of the license of the oyster vessel for up to one (1) year for the first offense, revocation up to two (2) years for the second offense, and permanent revocation for the third offense.
(5) Upon issuance of a citation for a violation of this section, the vessel shall be removed from the oyster reef and any oysters on board the vessel shall be confiscated and disposed of by the department. The vessel shall not be permitted to harvest from any state-owned or private reefs until the vessel is properly equipped as determined by an inspection by the department.
SECTION 44. Section 49-15-63, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-63. (1) (a) Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter or any ordinance duly adopted by the department, unless otherwise specifically provided for herein, shall, on conviction, be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), for the first offense, unless the first offense is committed during a closed season, in which case the fine shall be not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00); and not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), for the second offense when such offense is committed within a period of three (3) years from the first offense; and not less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) nor more than Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00), or imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days for any third or subsequent offense when such offense is committed within a period of three (3) years from the first offense.
(b) In addition, upon conviction of such third or subsequent offense, it shall be the duty of the court to revoke the license of the convicted party and of the boat or vessel used in such offense, and no further license shall be issued to such person and for said boat to engage in catching or taking of any seafoods from the waters of the State of Mississippi for a period of one (1) year following such conviction. Forfeiture of any equipment or nets used in a second or subsequent offense may be instituted pursuant to Sections 49-15-201 through 49-15-207. If the person in possession of or using the nets in the violation is not the owner or licensee of the nets, the department shall notify the owner or licensee of the nets. The nets shall be subject to forfeiture unless the nets were stolen and prosecution for the theft is initiated. Equipment as used in this section shall not mean boats or vessels.
(c) Any person convicted and sentenced under this section for a second or subsequent offense shall not be considered for reduction of sentence.
(d) Except as provided under subsection (5) of Section 49-15-45, any fines collected under this section shall be paid into the Seafood Fund.
(e) In addition to any
other penalties, the department
may suspend the license of any person convicted of a violation of this chapter and
may suspend the license of any vessel used in the violation for a period not to
exceed five (5) days for the first offense. For a second offense, the department may suspend the license of
such person and vessel for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days.
(f) Upon conviction of
five (5) seafood violations within a five-year period, the department may revoke the license of
the convicted party and the boat or vessel used in the offenses, and may prohibit
indefinitely the issuance of a license to the person and boat or vessel to engage
in catching or taking of any seafood from the waters of the State of Mississippi.
The department shall exercise
this authority in accordance with the administrative procedures in Section 49-15-401
et seq.
(2) For any violation of this chapter, the individual registered as the captain shall be subject to the penalties provided in this chapter, if that individual is aboard the vessel. If that individual is not aboard the vessel, the individual designated as the alternate captain under Section 49-15-46 or substitute captain under Section 49-15-64.5 shall be subject to the penalties provided in this chapter. If no individual is designated under Section 49-15-46 or Section 49-15-64.5, the person, firm or corporation owning the vessel shall be subject to the penalties provided for boat captains.
(3) All citations issued to boat operators for not possessing the boat's registration card shall be dismissed, along with all related court costs, upon the presentment of the boat's proper registration card to the court or magistrate holding the trial or hearing.
SECTION 45. Section 49-15-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-75. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation using a purse seine or having a purse seine aboard a boat or vessel within the territorial waters of the State of Mississippi to catch in excess of five percent (5%) by weight in any single set of the net or to possess in excess of ten percent (10%) by weight of the total catch any of the following species: spotted seatrout (Cynscion nebulosus); bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix); Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus); king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla); dolphin (Corphaena hippurus); pompano (Trachinotus carolinus); cobia (Rachycentron canadum); or jack crevalle (Caranx hippos).
(2) A person, firm or corporation convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished as provided in Section 49-15-63, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 46. Section 49-15-80, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-80. (1) (a) All vessels to be used in catching or transporting fish in the waters of the State of Mississippi for commercial purposes shall, before beginning operations, obtain an annual license from the commission and pay a license fee according to the following schedule:
(i) All resident vessels engaged in commercial hook and line or gig fishing shall be issued an annual license by the commission at a fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00). All nonresident vessels engaged in commercial hook and line or gig fishing shall be issued an annual license by the commission at a fee of Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00). Each individual engaged in commercial hook and line or gig fishing must obtain a commercial fisherman license subject to the following license fees: One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for a resident commercial fisherman license; or Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) for a nonresident commercial fisherman license. If a duly licensed commercial hook and line or gig fishing vessel is engaged in commercial fishing, each individual aboard must possess a commercial fisherman license.
(ii) A resident fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or a nonresident fee of Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00), on boats using trammel nets, gill nets or seines not more than one thousand two hundred (1,200) feet in length.
(b) Beginning September 15, 1994, no nonresident shall be issued a commercial fishing license under this chapter for the taking of fish using any type of net if that nonresident's state of domicile prohibits the issuing of commercial fishing licenses to residents of this state to engage in like activity.
(2) Each factory or manufacturing establishment engaging in the manufacture of oil, fish scrap, fish meal, fertilizer or other products from menhaden, shall pay a license fee of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
(3) Each boat or vessel engaging in the catching, taking or transporting menhaden in the waters of the State of Mississippi, the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and shall pay Fifty Dollars ($50.00) on each net, seine, trawl or purse net used in catching or taking menhaden in the waters of the State of Mississippi.
SECTION 47. Section 49-15-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-81. (1) The term "saltwater minnow" as used in this section shall mean any species within the families Cyprinodontidae, Fundulidae or Poeciliidae.
(2) Before beginning operations to catch or transport saltwater minnows for sale, fishermen must obtain a saltwater live bait license and pay a fee according to the following schedule: A resident shall pay a fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00), a nonresident shall pay a fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or if the nonresident's domicile state charges more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for residents of Mississippi to engage in a like activity, then that applicant shall pay the same fee or fees that the applicant's domicile state charges residents of Mississippi.
(3) All minnow traps placed in or on the marine waters of the State of Mississippi shall have a corrosion resistant metal or plastic tag attached to the trap to permanently mark the minnow traps for ownership. The tag used to mark the traps shall be legibly and permanently stamped with letters containing the applicable licensed minnow fishermen's full name. The minimum height of the letters shall be at least three-sixteenths (3/16) of an inch. The tags shall be supplied by the minnow fisherman.
(4) Licensed live bait catcher boats and licensed live bait dealers involved in the transporting of minnows are exempt from the commercial minnow licensing requirement in subsection (2) of this section.
SECTION 48. Section 49-15-84.1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-84.1. (1) The commission may establish a closed season for the use of crab traps in the public waters of this state. The commission may designate the closed season as not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days per year. Any crab trap remaining in the public waters after the expiration to the seventh day of a closed season may be considered as abandoned under the regulations established by the commission.
(2) The commission shall adopt rules to govern the removal and disposal of abandoned crab traps as necessary to enhance:
(a) The conservation and management of crab resources;
(b) Boating safety;
(c) The cleanliness of the beds and bottoms of the public waters of the state; and
(d) Enforcement of this chapter.
(3) Abandoned crab traps are litter and are subject to immediate removal and disposal.
SECTION 49. Section 49-15-86, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-86. (1) Each vessel used in catching or taking any saltwater crabs in the waters of the State of Mississippi for commercial purposes shall obtain a license from the department and shall pay an annual resident license fee of Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) or an annual nonresident license fee of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00).
(2) The department may require a recreational crabber's license for an administrative fee not to exceed Five Dollars ($5.00).
SECTION 50. Section 49-15-95, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-95. (1) It is unlawful to use brill and cast nets greater than twelve (12) feet in radius in the marine waters of the state.
(2) The commission shall not prohibit the use of brill and cast nets in the waters designated in subsection (1) of this section. No person shall catch more than fifty (50) pounds of shrimp per day using brill and cast nets as provided by this section.
SECTION 51. Section 49-15-100, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-100. (1) It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to set a gill or trammel net in the marine waters of the state north of Highway 90.
(2) (a) For a first offense, a violation of this section is punishable by a fine of not less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), nor more than Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00) and the department may initiate forfeiture proceedings for the net and catch. For subsequent violations, a person is subject to a fine of not less than Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00), nor more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) and shall forfeit nets and catch. If the person in possession of or using the nets in the violation is not the owner or licensee of the nets, the department shall notify the owner or licensee of the nets. The nets shall be subject to forfeiture unless the nets were stolen and prosecution for the theft is initiated.
(b) The penalties for a violation of this section shall not be suspended or reduced.
SECTION 52. Section 49-15-100.1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-100.1. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to set a gill or trammel net in the marine waters of the state north of Highway 90. Any person, firm or corporation violating this section shall be punished as provided for under Section 49-15-100 and in addition shall forfeit vessel, motor and equipment used in the violation. If the person in possession of or using the nets in the violation is not the owner or licensee of the nets, the department shall notify the owner or licensee of the nets. The nets shall be subject to forfeiture unless the nets were stolen and prosecution for the theft is initiated.
SECTION 53. Section 49-15-100.3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-100.3. The possession of a gill net, trammel net or like contrivance, or any other equipment prohibited for use in the taking or harvesting of seafood under this chapter on a vessel on the marine waters of this state where the use of the net, contrivance or equipment is prohibited, shall constitute prima facie evidence that an offense has been committed to take or harvest seafood with nets, contrivances or equipment prohibited by this chapter, unless the vessel is:
(a) Anchored or moored at a permanent facility
intended for the mooring of vessels;
(b) Traveling directly between a marina, harbor or public boat launching facility and a United States Coast Guard marked and maintained navigation channel; or
(c) Traveling within a United States Coast Guard marked and maintained navigation channel.
SECTION 54. Section 49-15-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-101. The Governor of this state is hereby authorized and directed to execute a compact on behalf of the State of Mississippi with any one or more of the states of Florida, Alabama, Texas, and Louisiana, and with such other states as may enter into the compact, legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:
GULF STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMPACT
The contracting states solemnly agree:
ARTICLE I
Whereas the Gulf Coast states have the proprietary interest in and jurisdiction over fisheries in the waters within their respective boundaries, it is the purpose of this compact to promote the better utilization of the fisheries, marine, shell and anadromous, of the seaboard of the Gulf of Mexico, by the development of a joint program for the promotion and protection of such fisheries and the prevention of the physical waste of the fisheries from any cause.
ARTICLE II
This compact shall become operative immediately as to those states ratifying it whenever any two (2) or more of the states of Florida, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi have ratified it and the Congress has given its consent, pursuant to Article I, Section 10, of the Constitution of the United States. Any state contiguous to any of the aforementioned states or riparian upon waters which flow into waters under the jurisdiction of any of the aforementioned states and which are frequented by anadromous fish or marine species may become a party hereto as hereinafter provided.
ARTICLE III
Each state joining herein shall appoint three (3) representatives to a commission hereby constituted and designated as the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. One (1) shall be the head of the administrative agency of such state charged with the conservation of the fishery resources to which this compact pertains or, if there be more than one (1) officer or agency, the official of that state named by the governor thereof. The second shall be a member of the legislature of such state designated by such legislature or in the absence of such designation, such legislator shall be designated by the governor thereof, provided that if it is constitutionally impossible to appoint a legislator as a commissioner from such state, the second member shall be appointed in such manner as may be established by law. The legislative membership shall alternate between the Mississippi Senate and House of Representatives and the designated member shall be a member of the Senate Ports and Marine Resources Committee or the House Marine Resources Committee. The term shall be six (6) years. No legislative member from the Mississippi Senate or House of Representatives shall serve two (2) consecutive terms. The third shall be a citizen who shall have a knowledge of and interest in the marine fisheries, to be appointed by the governor. This commission shall be a body corporate with the powers and duties set forth herein.
ARTICLE IV
The duty of the said commission shall be to make inquiry and ascertain from time to time such methods, practices, circumstances and conditions as may be disclosed for bringing about the conservation and the prevention of the depletion and physical waste of the fisheries, marine, shell and anadromous, of the Gulf Coast. The commission shall have power to recommend the coordination of the exercise of the police powers of the several states within their respective jurisdictions to promote the preservation of these fisheries and their protection against overfishing, waste, depletion or any abuse whatsoever and to assure a continuing yield from the fishery resources of the aforementioned states. To that end the commission shall draft and recommend to the governors and legislatures of the various signatory states, legislation dealing with the conservation of the marine, shell and anadromous fisheries of the Gulf seaboard. The commission shall from time to time present to the governor of each compacting state its recommendations relating to enactments to be presented to the legislature of that state in furthering the interest and purposes of this compact. The commission shall consult with and advise the pertinent administrative agencies in the states party hereto with regard to problems connected with the fisheries and recommend the adoption of such regulations as it deems advisable. The commission shall have power to recommend to the states party hereto the stocking of the waters of such states with fish and fish eggs or joint stocking by some or all of the states party hereto, and when two (2) or more states shall jointly stock waters the commission shall act as the coordinating agency for such stocking.
ARTICLE V
The commission shall elect from its number a chairman and vice chairman and shall appoint and at its pleasure remove or discharge such officers and employees as may be required to carry the provisions of this compact into effect and shall fix and determine their duties, qualifications and compensation. Said commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its business. It may establish and maintain one or more offices for the transaction of its business and may meet at any time or place but must meet at least once a year.
ARTICLE VI
No action shall be taken by the commission in regard to its general affairs except by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole number of compacting states. No recommendation shall be made by the commission in regard to any species of fish except by the affirmative vote of a majority of the compacting states which have an interest in such species. The commission shall define what shall be an interest.
ARTICLE VII
The Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior of the Government of the United States shall act as the primary research agency of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission cooperating with the research agencies in each state for that purpose. Representatives of the said Fish and Wildlife Service shall attend the meetings of the commission. An advisory committee to be representative of the commercial saltwater fishermen and the saltwater anglers and such other interests of each state as the commissioners deem advisable may be established by the commissioners from each state for the purpose of advising those commissioners upon such recommendations as it may desire to make.
ARTICLE VIII
When any state other than those named specifically in Article II of this compact shall become a party hereto for the purpose of conserving its anadromous fish or marine species in accordance with the provisions of Article II, the participation of such state in the action of the commission shall be limited to such species of fish.
ARTICLE IX
Nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit the powers of the proprietary interest of any signatory state or to repeal or prevent the enactment of any legislation or the enforcement of any requirement by a signatory state imposing additional conditions and restrictions to conserve its fisheries.
ARTICLE X
It is agreed that any two
(2) or more states party hereto may further amend this compact by acts of their
respective legislatures, subject to approval of Congress as provided in Article
I, Section * * *
10, of the Constitution of the United States, to designate the Gulf
States Marine Fisheries Commission as a joint regulating authority for the
joint regulation of specific fisheries affecting only such states as shall so
compact, and at their joint expense. The representatives of such states shall
constitute a separate section of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
for the exercise of the additional powers so granted but the creation of such
section shall not be deemed to deprive the states so compacting of any of their
privileges or powers in the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission as
constituted under the other articles of this compact.
ARTICLE XI
Continued absence of representation or of any representative on the commission from any state party hereto shall be brought to the attention of the governor thereof.
ARTICLE XII
The operating expenses of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission shall be borne by the states party hereto. Such initial appropriations as set forth below shall be made available yearly until modified as hereinafter provided:
Florida.............................................. $ 3,600.00
Alabama.............................................. 1,000.00
Mississippi.......................................... 1,000.00
Louisiana............................................ 5,000.00
Texas................................................ 2,500.00
Total................................................ $13,100.00
The proration and total cost per annum of Thirteen Thousand One Hundred Dollars ($13,100.00), above mentioned, is estimative only, for initial operations, and may be changed when found necessary by the commission. Each state party hereto agrees to provide in the manner most acceptable to it, the travel cost and necessary expenses of its commissioners and other representatives to and from meetings of the commission or its duly constituted sections or committees.
ARTICLE XIII
This compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each compacting state until renounced by act of the legislature of such state, in such form as it may choose; provided that such renunciation shall not become effective until six (6) months after the effective date of the action taken by the legislature. Notice of such renunciation shall be given the other states party hereto by the Secretary of State of compacting state so renouncing upon passage of the act.
SECTION 55. Section 49-15-309, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-309. (1) The department is hereby authorized and directed to establish and maintain a saltwater recreational fishing record list of marine fish taken in the state.
(2) The department shall direct fisheries biologists of the department to seek records from fishing rodeos, tournaments or other valid sources of the largest fish of each marine species commonly occurring in the waters of the state.
(3) The department shall declare the initial listing as the official state saltwater records.
(4) The department shall establish criteria for maintaining and updating the official records list.
(5) The department is hereby directed to present all state record holders with a certification of achievement in marine recreational fishing.
SECTION 56. Section 49-15-313, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-15-313. (1) Any resident between the ages of sixteen (16) and sixty-five (65) years, as defined in Section 49-7-3, fishing in the marine waters of the state, shall obtain a saltwater sports fishing license for a fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00). A resident sixty-five (65) years of age or older, fishing in the marine waters of the state, shall obtain a lifetime saltwater sports fishing license for a one-time fee of Five Dollars ($5.00). These licenses shall be valid in any waters south of Interstate 10. Any resident citizen who is blind, paraplegic or a multiple amputee, or who has been adjudged by the Veterans Administration as having a total service-connected disability, or has been adjudged totally disabled by the Social Security Administration shall not be required to purchase or have in his possession a saltwater sports fishing license while engaged in such activities. Any resident exempt under this section shall have on his person while fishing proof of residency and age or disability. Any resident who is a member of the Armed Forces, including the Reserves and National Guard, and on active duty outside the State of Mississippi is not required to purchase or have in his possession a hunting or fishing license while engaged in such activities on leave from active duty. Such resident shall have in his possession and on his person such proof as may be required by the commission.
(2) The commission shall prescribe the forms, types and fees for nonresident saltwater sports fishing licenses except that the fee for a nonresident saltwater sports fishing license shall not be less than Twenty Dollars ($20.00). This minimum fee shall not apply to nonresidents sixty-five (65) years of age or older. The commission may enter into reciprocal agreements with adjacent states pertaining to fees and exemptions for persons sixty-five (65) years of age or older. The commission shall require a nonresident to purchase a nonresident freshwater fishing license and a nonresident saltwater sports fishing license if the nonresident's state requires both licenses for a nonresident to fish in its marine waters. Any nonresident sixty-five (65) years of age or older shall possess a saltwater sports fishing license.
(3) All resident vessels engaged in charter boat fishing, party boat fishing, head boat and guide boat fishing shall be issued a separate annual license by the commission at a fee of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00). All nonresident vessels engaged in charter boat fishing, party boat fishing, head boat and guide boat fishing shall be issued a separate annual license by the commission. In addition to other requirements for charter license eligibility, captains must show proof of participation in a Department of Transportation approved random drug testing program and proof of liability insurance as a charter boat captain. Crew members and customers of the licensed vessels shall not be required to purchase an individual resident or nonresident saltwater fishing license while sponsored by the licensed vessels. An operator of a licensed vessel shall be required to report the number of customers to the department as required by the commission and the information shall be kept confidential and shall not be released, except to other fisheries management agencies or as statistical data. All nonresident vessels engaged in saltwater sport fishing tournaments, not to exceed an aggregate of twenty (20) days per calendar year, shall not be required to purchase an annual license as provided under this subsection.
(4) The saltwater sports fishing license is required for all recreational methods of finfish harvest.
(5) Any resident who purchases a lifetime sportsman's license, in accordance with Section 49-7-153, shall be entitled to fish in the marine salt waters of the state and shall be exempt from the purchase of a sport saltwater fishing license.
(6) Any person authorized to issue a license may collect and retain, for each saltwater fishing license issued, the additional fee authorized under Section 49-7-17.
(7) The fees collected from the sale of resident and nonresident saltwater sports fishing licenses shall be deposited into the Seafood Fund and shall be used solely for the management of marine resources.
(8) Participants in the Very Special Fishing Olympics are exempt from this section.
(9) The first weekend of "National Fishing and Boating Week" in June of each year is designated as "Free Fishing Weekend," and July 4 of each year is designated as "Free Saltwater Sports Fishing Day." Any person may saltwater sport fish without a license on "Free Saltwater Sports Fishing Day" and during "Free Fishing Weekend."
(10) The department may exempt participants in an organized fishing event conducted by a qualified nonprofit charitable, governmental or civic organization from the requirements of this section for one (1) day per year if the organization files an exemption application with the department and the application is approved by the department.
SECTION 57. Section 49-17-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-1. Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43 may be cited as the "Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Law."
SECTION 58. Section 49-17-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-3. Whereas, the pollution of the air and waters of the state constitutes a menace to public health and welfare, creates a public nuisance, is harmful to wildlife, fish and aquatic life, and impairs domestic, agricultural, industrial, recreational and other legitimate beneficial uses of air and water, and whereas, the problem of air and water pollution in this state is closely related to the problem of air and water pollution in adjoining states, it is hereby declared to be the public policy of this state to conserve the air and waters of the state and to protect, maintain and improve the quality thereof for public use, for the propagation of wildlife, fish and aquatic life, and for domestic, agricultural, industrial, recreational and other legitimate beneficial uses; to maintain such a reasonable degree of quality of the air resources of the state to protect the health, general welfare and physical property of the people, and to provide that no waste be discharged into any waters of the state without first receiving the necessary treatment or other corrective action to protect the legitimate beneficial uses of such waters; to provide for the prevention, abatement and control of new or existing air or water pollution; and to cooperate with other agencies of the state, agencies of other states, and the federal government in carrying out these objectives.
SECTION 59. Section 49-17-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-5. For the purposes of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:
(1) Water.
(a) "Pollution" means such contamination, or other alteration of the physical, chemical or biological properties, of any waters of the state, including change in temperature, taste, color, turbidity, or odor of the waters, or such discharge of any liquid, gaseous, solid, radioactive, or other substance or leak into any waters of the state unless in compliance with a valid permit issued therefor by the Permit Board.
(b) "Wastes" means sewage, industrial wastes, oil field wastes, and all other liquid, gaseous, solid, radioactive, or other substances which may pollute or tend to pollute any waters of the state.
(c) "Sewerage system" means pipelines or conduits, pumping stations, and force mains, and other structures, devices, appurtenances and facilities used for collecting or conducting wastes to an ultimate point for treatment or disposal.
(d) "Treatment works" means any plant or other works, used for the purpose of treating, stabilizing or holding wastes.
(e) "Disposal system" means a system for disposing of wastes, either by surface or underground methods, and includes sewerage systems, treatment works, disposal wells and other systems.
(f) "Waters of the state" means all waters within the jurisdiction of this state, including all streams, lakes, ponds, impounding reservoirs, marshes, watercourses, waterways, wells, springs, irrigation systems, drainage systems, and all other bodies or accumulations of water, surface and underground, natural or artificial, situated wholly or partly within or bordering upon the state, and such coastal waters as are within the jurisdiction of the state, except lakes, ponds or other surface waters which are wholly landlocked and privately owned, and which are not regulated under the Federal Clean Water Act (33 USCS 1251 et seq.).
(g) "Underground water" means an underground source of drinking water as defined within the regulations of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
(2) Air.
(a) "Air contaminant" means particulate matter, dust, fumes, gas, mist, smoke or vapor, or any combination thereof, produced by processes other than natural.
(b) "Air pollution" means the presence in the outdoor atmosphere of one or more air contaminants in quantities, of characteristic, and of a duration which are materially injurious or can be reasonably expected to become materially injurious to human, plant or animal life or to property, or which unreasonably interfere with enjoyment of life or use of property throughout the state or throughout such area of the state as shall be affected thereby.
(c) "Air contamination" means the presence in the outdoor atmosphere of one or more air contaminants which contribute to a condition of air pollution.
(d) "Air contamination source" means any source at, from, or by reason of which there is emitted into the atmosphere any air contaminant, regardless of who the person may be who owns or operates the building, premises or other property in, at, or on which such source is located, or the facility, equipment or other property by which the emission is caused or from which the emission comes.
(e) "Air-cleaning device" means any method, process or equipment, the primary function of which is to remove, reduce or render less noxious air contaminants discharged into the atmosphere.
(f) "Area of the state" means any city or county or portion thereof, or other substantial geographical area of the state as may be designated by the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality.
(g) "Federal Clean Air Act" means the Federal Clean Air Act, 42 USCS 7401 et seq., as amended.
(3) General.
(a) "Commission" means the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality acting through the Office of Pollution Control of the Department of Environmental Quality.
(b) "Person" means the state or other agency or institution thereof, any municipality, political subdivision, public or private corporation, individual, partnership, association or other entity, and includes any officer or governing or managing body of any municipality, political subdivision, or public or private corporation, or the United States or any officer or employee thereof.
(c) "Pollution Emergency Fund" means the fund established under Section 49-17-68.
(d) "General permit" means a permit for categories of sources that involve similar wastes and have similar monitoring requirements and restrictions.
SECTION 60. Section 49-17-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-7. (1) The Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality shall be the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Commission, and shall exercise the duties and responsibilities of the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Commission through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
(2) The words "Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Commission" wherever they may appear in the laws of the State of Mississippi shall be construed to mean the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality.
SECTION 61. Section 49-17-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-13. (1) The commission is hereby designated as the pollution control agency for this state to administer federal pollution control legislation and programs and interstate or regional agreements pertaining to solid or hazardous waste management.
(2) The commission shall have the right to call upon and receive the assistance of any officer, board, department, school, university or any other state agency, and officers and employees thereof, for any reasonable assistance necessary or beneficial in carrying out the provisions of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43.
SECTION 62. Section 49-17-14, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-14. (1) "Title V program" means, as used in Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-45, the air operating permit program mandated in Title V of the 1990 amendments to the federal Clean Air Act, codified in 42 USCS Section 7661, et seq.
(2) There is created in the State Treasury a fund to be designated as the "Air Operating Permit Program Fee Trust Fund," referred to hereinafter as the "fund."
(3) The fund shall be treated as a special trust fund. Interest earned on the principal therein shall be credited by the Treasurer to the fund.
(4) The fund may receive monies from any available public or private source including, but not limited to, collection of fees, interest, grants, taxes, public and private donations and judicial actions.
(5) To facilitate the proper administration of the fund, the commission is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for the administration of the fund.
(6) The commission shall expend or utilize monies in the fund by an annual appropriation approved by the Legislature to pay all reasonable direct and indirect costs associated with the development and administration of the Title V program including, but not limited to, the reasonable costs of the following activities as they relate to the Title V program:
(a) Preparing generally applicable regulations or guidance regarding the permit program or its implementation or enforcement;
(b) Reviewing and acting on any application for a permit, permit modification or permit renewal, including the development of an applicable requirement as part of the processing of a permit, or permit modification or renewal;
(c) Administering the permit program, including the supporting and tracking of permit applications, compliance certification, and related data entry;
(d) Implementing and enforcing the terms of any Title V permit (not including any court costs or other costs associated with an enforcement action), including adequate resources to determine which sources are subject to the program;
(e) Emissions and ambient monitoring;
(f) Modeling, analyses, or demonstrations;
(g) Preparing inventories and tracking emissions;
(h) Providing direct and indirect support to sources under the Small Business Stationary Source Technical and Environmental Compliance Assistance Program under Section 507 of the federal Clean Air Act in determining and meeting their obligations under this section; and
(i) Providing funding to the Advisory Council created in Section 49-17-16 in an amount reasonably sufficient to meet the Advisory Council's obligations under Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-45.
(7) Monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall be retained in the fund for use in the next succeeding fiscal year. If the fund balance at the end of the fiscal year exceeds thirty-three percent (33%) of the projected annual costs of administering the program, the assessment rates may be adjusted to reduce the future projected fund balance. If necessary, the assessment rates shall be adjusted during the setting of the next fee schedule.
(8) At no time shall a fee be assessed that results in a projected ending fund balance of more than the current annual cost of administering the Title V program.
(9) No such fees shall be utilized by the Department of Environmental Quality or any other person for any purpose or purposes other than those purposes required by Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-45, as they relate to the Title V program.
SECTION 63. Section 49-17-16, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-16. (1) (a) An Advisory Council, hereinafter referred to as "Advisory Council," is created to conduct an independent study of the costs for the development and administration of the Title V program within the Department of Environmental Quality and to conduct an annual review of the costs of administering such programs.
(b) The costs to be included within the study for the Title V program shall be those costs set forth in Section 49-17-14. After completing a study of the program needs and costs, the Advisory Council shall recommend an equitable fee system for the Title V program. The annual review of the Title V program shall determine if the fee system is collecting sufficient funds to meet the program needs. The Advisory Council shall recommend an appropriate fee schedule for the upcoming fee year and, if necessary, recommend changes to the existing fee system so that sufficient funds are collected through an equitable fee system. Each annual review report shall be due January 1 of each year to the commission and the Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality.
(2) The Department of Environmental Quality shall assist the Advisory Council by providing any information the Advisory Council may require to perform its duties under Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-45.
(3) The Advisory Council shall be composed of the following seven (7) persons appointed as follows: three (3) representatives of industries that qualify for inclusion under the Title V program, that are required to pay the program fee, with one (1) such representative to be appointed by the Governor, one (1) by the Lieutenant Governor and one (1) by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority; the President of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association; the President of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation; and the Chairman of the Mississippi Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel. Nonappointed members of the Advisory Council may designate an alternate member to act in their stead in performing any function of the Advisory Council. The length of term for each member of the Advisory Council shall be four (4) years. Members of the Advisory Council may serve successive and multiple terms.
(4) Vacancies on the Advisory Council shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointments.
(5) The Advisory Council shall select from their membership a chairperson to preside over meetings and a vice chairperson to preside in the absence of the chairperson or when the chairperson shall be excused. The Advisory Council shall adopt procedures governing the manner of conducting its business. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum to do business.
(6) Members of the Advisory Council shall serve without salary. The members of the Advisory Council shall be entitled to receive reimbursement of their actual travel and hotel expenses as provided in Section 25-3-41, incurred while in the performance of their duties as members of the Advisory Council to be paid on an itemized statement approved by the State Fiscal Officer. Expenses shall be paid from fees collected in accordance with Section 49-17-30.
(7) The Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality shall provide technical, clerical and other support services, including services by contract, as the Advisory Council determines that it requires in the performance of its functions.
SECTION 64. Section 49-17-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-17. The commission shall have and may exercise the following powers and duties:
(a) General supervision of the administration and enforcement of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43 and Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47, and all rules and regulations and orders promulgated thereunder;
(b) To develop comprehensive programs for the prevention, control and abatement of new or existing pollution of the air and waters of the state;
(c) To advise, consult, cooperate, or enter into contracts, grants and cooperative agreements with any federal or state agency or subdivision thereof, other states and interstate agencies, or any public or private institution located inside or outside the State of Mississippi, and with affected groups, political subdivisions, and industries in furtherance of carrying out the provisions of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43 and shall have the authority to enter into compacts with any other state or states for the purpose of achieving the objectives of such sections with respect to air and waters, or to authorize the executive director with the approval of the commission to exercise any of the aforementioned powers;
(d) To administer funds allocated to the state's water and air pollution abatement grant program, to accept and administer loans and grants from the federal government and from other sources, public or private, for carrying out any of its functions, which loans and grants shall not be expended for other than the purposes for which provided;
(e) To encourage, participate in, or conduct studies, investigations, research and demonstrations relating to air and water quality and pollution and causes, prevention, control and abatement as it may deem advisable and necessary for the discharge of its duties under Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43; to make funds available from the Water Pollution Abatement Grant Fund by means of advances to political subdivisions in this state in an amount not to exceed one percent (1%) of the estimated project cost as approved by and under such rules and regulations as adopted by the commission for the preparation of project planning reports and feasibility analyses; and to exercise such supervision as it may deem advisable and necessary for the discharge of its duties under Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43;
(f) To require the repayment of funds made available to a political subdivision under subsection (e) above to the Water Pollution Abatement Grant Fund prior to the receipt of any other funds by any political subdivision providing services to the area and receiving funds provided under Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43; any funds made available to any political subdivisions providing services to the area and receiving funds under the provisions of said sections shall be repaid in the same manner as are other funds made available to the political subdivisions under the provisions of said sections;
(g) To collect and disseminate information relating to air and water quality and pollution and the prevention, control, supervision and abatement thereof;
(h) To adopt, modify or repeal and promulgate ambient air and water quality standards and emissions standards for the state under such conditions as the commission may prescribe for the prevention, control and abatement of pollution;
(i) To adopt, modify, repeal, and promulgate, after due notice and hearing, and, where not otherwise prohibited by federal or state law, to make exceptions to and grant exemptions and variances from, and to enforce rules and regulations implementing or effectuating the powers and duties of the commission under Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43 and Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47, and as the commission may deem necessary to prevent, control and abate existing or potential pollution;
(j) To issue, modify, or revoke orders (1) prohibiting, controlling or abating discharges of contaminants and wastes into the air and waters of the state; (2) requiring the construction of new disposal systems, or air-cleaning devices, or any parts thereof, or the modification, extension or alteration of existing disposal systems, or air-cleaning devices, or any parts thereof, or the adoption of other remedial measures to prevent, control or abate air and water pollution; and (3) setting standards of air or water quality or evidencing any other determination by the commission under Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43;
(k) To hold such hearings, to issue notices of hearing and subpoenas requiring the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such evidence, to administer oaths, and to take such testimony as the commission deems necessary;
(l) To require the prior submission of plans, specifications and other data relative to, and to inspect the construction of, disposal systems, or air-cleaning devices, or any part thereof, in connection with the issuance of such permits or approval as are required by Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43;
(m) To require proper maintenance and operation of disposal systems, or air-cleaning devices; and to require the installation and operation of monitoring devices or methods as may be deemed necessary and the maintenance and submission of monitoring and operating records as may be prescribed;
(n) To exercise all incidental powers necessary to carry out the purposes of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43 and Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47; and
(o) To delegate in such manner as it sees fit the duties and powers relating to air and water quality and pollution control to the agency members presently engaged in the several fields of water or air control of pollution. In cases of difference of opinion between such agencies as to their respective field of operation, the commission shall delegate said responsibility to the proper agency, and the commission's action therein shall be final.
Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to grant to the commission any jurisdiction or authority to make any rule or regulation, recommendation or determination or to enter any order with respect to air conditions existing solely within the property boundaries of commercial and industrial plants, works, or shops or to affect the relations between employers and employees with respect to or arising out of any air condition.
SECTION 65. Section 49-17-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-19. In order to carry out the purposes of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, the commission may set ambient standards of air and water quality for the state or portions thereof. Such ambient standards of quality shall be such as to protect the public health and welfare and the present and prospective future use of such air and of such waters for public water supplies, propagation of fish and aquatic life and wildlife, recreational purposes, and agricultural, industrial and other legitimate uses. Such ambient standards may be amended from time to time as determined to be necessary by the commission. In order to carry out the purposes of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, the commission may also set emission standards for the purpose of controlling air contamination, air pollution and the sources thereof. In establishing ambient air quality standards for odor, the commission shall adopt recognized objective standards if they exist. In the absence of a recognized objective ambient air quality standard for odor, the commission may adopt such subjective standards as may be appropriate.
In establishing such standards relating to pesticides and commercial fertilizers for underground water, the commission shall adopt federal standards if they exist. If no federal standard exists, the commission shall petition the United States Environmental Protection Agency to establish a federal standard for the substance of interest. If the commission determines that a federal standard cannot be obtained within thirty (30) days, it shall consult with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Drinking Water and Office of Pesticide Programs regarding the agency's conclusion relative to available toxicological information on the substance of interest and on the methodology used for establishing a federal standard. The commission shall utilize this information and methodology to establish a standard. The commission may also consult with and request similar information from other sources.
SECTION 66. Section 49-17-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-21. (a) The commission or its duly authorized representative shall have the power to enter at reasonable times upon any private or public property, and the owner, managing agent or occupant of any such property shall permit such entry for the purpose of inspecting and investigating conditions relating to pollution or the possible pollution of any air or waters of the state and to have access to such records as the commission may require under subsection (b) of this section.
(b) The commission may require the maintenance of records relating to the operation of air contamination sources or water disposal systems, and any authorized representative of the commission may examine and copy any such records or memoranda pertaining to the operation of such air contamination source or water disposal system. The records shall contain such information as the commission may require. Copies of such records shall be submitted to the commission upon request.
(c) The commission may conduct, authorize or require tests and take samples of air contaminants or waste waters, fuel, process material or other material which affects or may affect (1) emission of air contaminants from any source, or (2) waste water disposal systems. Upon request of the commission, the person responsible for the source to be tested shall provide necessary sampling ports in stacks or ducts and such other safe and proper sampling and testing facilities as may be necessary for proper determination of the emission of air contaminants. If an authorized employee of the commission during the course of any inspection obtains a sample of air contaminant, fuel, process material or other material, he shall give the owner or operator of the equipment or fuel facility a receipt for the sample obtained.
(d) The commission may require the installation, maintenance and use of such monitoring equipment and methods at such locations and intervals as the commission deems necessary.
SECTION 67. Section 49-17-22, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-22. The Commission on Marine Resources is hereby authorized to cooperate with the Commission on Environmental Quality for the enforcement of the provisions of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43 in and on the salt waters of the State of Mississippi.
SECTION 68. Section 49-17-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-23. The commission shall keep the minutes of the commission, including all orders, rules and regulations promulgated, in a record book, or books, especially prepared for that purpose.
All minutes of commission meetings and hearings, and all rules, regulations, and orders made by the commission shall be in writing and shall be filed in full by the commission in a book for such purposes, to be kept by the commission which shall be a public record and open to inspection by the public at all times during all reasonable hours. The commission shall compile and publish annually the rules and regulations promulgated by the commission in current consolidated version. The commission shall provide the consolidated compilation of the rules and regulations to the public for a cost sufficient to cover printing and postage and administrative expenses, including the cost of any contractual services necessary to compile and publish such rules and regulations on an annual basis. A copy of any rule, minutes, regulation or order certified by the commission shall be received in evidence in all courts of this state with the same effect as the original. The commission shall compile and index on a current date basis all orders of the commission in a book for such purposes that shall be available for inspection and copying by the public. All responsibilities of the commission pursuant to this section may be delegated by the commission to the executive director.
SECTION 69. Section 49-17-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-25. (1) Prior to the adoption, amendment or repeal of rules and regulations necessary to implement this chapter, Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47, Sections 21-27-201 through 21-27-221, Sections 37-138-1 through 37-138-31, and all other laws administered by the department, the commission shall conduct a public hearing or hearings thereon after public notice. Such notice shall be given by publication once a week for three (3) successive weeks in a newspaper having a general circulation throughout the state. The notice shall contain a description of the proposed regulation and the time, date and place of the hearing.
(2) Additionally, the adoption, amendment or repeal of any rule or regulation under this chapter, Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47, Sections 21-27-201 through 21-27-221, Sections 37-138-1 through 37-138-31 and all other laws administered by the department shall be governed by the "Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law." Any rule or regulation heretofore or hereafter adopted, amended or repealed in substantial compliance with the procedural requirements under Section 25-43-7 shall be valid. A proceeding to contest any rule or regulation on the ground of noncompliance with the procedural requirements of this section must be commenced within one (1) year from the effective date of the rule or regulation.
(3) Notice of rules and regulations adopted by the commission shall be published once in a newspaper having general circulation throughout the state.
SECTION 70. Section 49-17-26, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-26. If the commission determines, after adequate scientific investigation and evaluation, that a chemical as defined in Sections 69-23-3 and 75-47-5(a) in the underground water exceeds or is likely to exceed duly adopted state standards and that the source of the chemical is not within the regulatory jurisdiction of the commission, the commission shall notify the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, which shall proceed in accordance with Section 69-23-7 and other existing laws.
SECTION 71. Section 49-17-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-27. In the event an emergency is found to exist by the commission, it may issue an emergency order as circumstances may require. Said emergency order shall become operative at the time and date designated therein and shall remain in force until modified or cancelled by the commission or superseded by a regular order of the commission or for a period of forty-five (45) days from its effective date, whichever shall occur first, and may be enforced by an injunction if necessary.
The chancery court shall always be deemed open for hearing requests for injunctions to enforce such emergency orders and the same shall have precedence over other matters.
When, in the opinion of the commission or its executive director, an emergency situation exists which creates an imminent and substantial endangerment threatening the public health and safety or the lives and property of the people of this state, notice shall be given immediately to local governing authorities, both county and municipal, the state emergency management organization, and the governor for appropriate action in accordance with applicable laws for protections against disaster situations.
SECTION 72. Section 49-17-28, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-28. (1) There is created a Permit Board for the purpose of issuing, reissuing, modifying, revoking or denying, under the conditions, limitations and exemptions prescribed in Section 49-17-29: (a) permits to control or prevent the discharge of contaminants and wastes into the air and waters of the state; (b) permits required under the Solid Wastes Disposal Law of 1974 (Title 17, Chapter 17); (c) permits required under Sections 51-3-1 through 51-3-55; (d) water quality certifications required by Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act; and (e) all other permits within the jurisdiction of the Permit Board. The membership of the Permit Board shall be composed of the Chief of the Bureau of Environmental Health of the State Board of Health, or his designee; the Executive Director of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, or his designee; the Head of the Office of Land and Water Resources of the Department of Environmental Quality, or his designee; the Supervisor of the State Oil and Gas Board, or his designee; the Executive Director of the Department of Marine Resources, or his designee; the Head of the Office of Geology and Energy Resources of the Department of Environmental Quality, or his designee; the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, or his designee; a retired professional engineer knowledgeable in the engineering of water wells and water supply systems, to be appointed by the Governor for a term concurrent with that of the Governor and until his successor is appointed and qualified; and a retired water well contractor, to be appointed by the Governor for a term concurrent with that of the Governor and until his successor is appointed and qualified. The retired professional engineer and the retired water well contractor shall only vote on matters pertaining to the Office of Land and Water Resources.
(2) Members of the Permit Board who are officers and employees of the state shall receive no compensation for their services on the board, but other board members shall receive per diem compensation as provided in Section 25-3-69. All board members shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses, including mileage, incurred in the performance of their official duties as provided in Section 25-3-41.
(3) In implementing the authority granted under this section for the Permit Board to act on water quality certifications required by Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act, the Permit Board shall authorize the Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality to make decisions on issuance, reissuance, denial, modification and revocation of water quality certifications on projects which the department has received no written adverse comments. The Permit Board may authorize the executive director to make decisions on water quality certifications for other projects. A decision of the executive director made under this authority shall be a decision of the Permit Board and shall be subject to a formal hearing and an appeal as provided in Section 49-17-29.
SECTION 73. Section 49-17-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-29. (1) (a) Except as in compliance with paragraph (b) of this subsection, it is unlawful for any person to cause pollution of the air in the state or to place or cause to be placed any wastes or other products or substances in a location where they are likely to cause pollution of the air. It is also unlawful to discharge any wastes, products or substances into the air of the state which exceed standards of performance, hazardous air pollutant standards, other emission standards set by the commission, or which reduce the quality of the air below the air quality standards or increments established by the commission or prevent attainment or maintenance of those air quality standards. Any such action is hereby declared to be a public nuisance.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to build, erect, alter, replace, use or operate any equipment which will cause the issuance of air contaminants unless that person holds a permit from the Permit Board (except repairs or maintenance of equipment for which a permit has been previously issued), or unless that person is exempted from holding a permit by a regulation promulgated by the commission. Concentrated animal feeding operations may be a source or a category of sources exempted under this paragraph. However, no new or existing applications relating to swine concentrated animal feeding operations within a county shall be exempted from regulations and ordinances which have been duly passed by the county's board of supervisors and which are in force on June 1, 1998.
(2) (a) Except as in compliance with paragraph (b) of this subsection, it is unlawful for any person to cause pollution of any waters of the state or to place or cause to be placed any wastes in a location where they are likely to cause pollution of any waters of the state. It is also unlawful to discharge any wastes into any waters of the state which reduce the quality of those waters below the water quality standards established by the commission; or to violate any applicable pretreatment standards or limitations, technology-based effluent limitations, toxic standards or any other limitations established by the commission. Any such action is declared to be a public nuisance.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to carry on any of the following activities, unless that person holds a current permit for that activity from the Permit Board as may be required for the disposal of all wastes which are or may be discharged into the waters of the state, or unless that person is exempted from holding a permit by a regulation promulgated by the commission: (i) the construction, installation, modification or operation of any disposal system or part thereof or any extension or addition thereto, including, but not limited to, systems serving agricultural operations; (ii) the increase in volume or strength of any wastes in excess of the permissive discharges specified under any existing permit; (iii) the construction, installation or operation of any industrial, commercial or other establishment, including irrigation projects or any extension or modification thereof or addition thereto, the operation of which would cause an increase in the discharge of wastes into the waters of the state or would otherwise alter the physical, chemical or biological properties of any waters of the state in any manner not already lawfully authorized; (iv) the construction or use of any new outlet for the discharge of any wastes into the waters of the state. However, no new or existing applications relating to swine concentrated animal feeding operations within a county shall be exempted from regulations and ordinances which have been duly passed by the county's board of supervisors and which are in force on June 1, 1998.
(3) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Permit Board created by Section 49-17-28 shall be the exclusive administrative body to make decisions on permit issuance, reissuance, denial, modification or revocation of air pollution control and water pollution control permits and permits required under the Solid Wastes Disposal Law of 1974 (Title 17, Chapter 17), and all other permits within the jurisdiction of the Permit Board. After consideration of alternative waste treatment technologies available to control air and water pollution and odor, including appropriate siting criteria, the commission may promulgate regulations establishing conditions, limitations and exemptions under which the Permit Board shall make these decisions. Regulations promulgated by the commission which establish exemptions as authorized under this section shall apply to any applicable facility in operation on the effective date of that regulation and to any applicable facility constructed or operated after the effective date of that regulation. The Permit Board may issue multiple permits for the same facility or operation simultaneously or in the sequence that it deems appropriate consistent with the commission's regulations. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the Permit Board, under any conditions that the board may prescribe, may authorize the Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality to make decisions on permit issuance, reissuance, denial, modification or revocation. The executive director shall not be authorized to make decisions on permit issuance, reissuance, denial, modification or revocation for a commercial hazardous waste management facility or a solid waste management permit for a municipal solid waste landfill or incinerator. A decision by the executive director shall be a decision of the Permit Board and shall be subject to formal hearing and appeal as provided in this section. The executive director shall report all permit decisions to the Permit Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting and those decisions shall be recorded in the minutes of the Permit Board. The decisions of the Permit Board shall be recorded in minutes of the Permit Board and shall be kept separate and apart from the minutes of the commission. The decision of the Permit Board or the executive director to issue, reissue, deny, modify or revoke permits shall not be construed to be an order or other action of the commission.
(b) The Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality shall also be the Executive Director of the Permit Board and shall have available to him, as Executive Director of the Permit Board, all resources and personnel otherwise available to him as executive director of the department.
(c) All persons
required to obtain an air pollution control or water pollution control permit,
a permit under the Solid Wastes Disposal Law of 1974 (Title 17, Chapter 17) or
any other permit within the jurisdiction of the Permit Board shall make
application for that permit with the Permit Board. The Permit Board, under any
regulations as the commission may prescribe, may require the submission of those
plans, specifications and other information as it deems necessary to carry out
Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43 and Title 17, Chapter 17, or to carry out the
commission's regulations adopted under those sections. The Permit Board, based
upon any information as it deems relevant, shall issue, reissue, deny, modify
or revoke air pollution control or water pollution control permit or permits
required under the Solid Wastes Disposal Law of 1974 (Title 17, Chapter 17) or
any other permit within the jurisdiction of the Permit Board under any conditions
as it deems necessary that are consistent with the commission's regulations.
The Permit Board's action of issuance, reissuance, denial, modification or
revocation of a permit as recorded in its minutes shall constitute a complete
decision of the board. All permits issued by the Permit Board shall remain in
full force and effect until the board makes a final determination regarding any
reissuance, modification, or revocation thereof. The Permit Board shall take
action upon an application within one hundred eighty (180) days following its
receipt in the board's principal office. No action which affects revocation of
an existing permit shall take effect until the thirty (30) days mentioned in * * * subsection (4)(b) of this
section has expired or until a formal hearing as prescribed in that paragraph
is held, whichever is later.
(d) The Permit Board may adopt rules of practice and procedure governing its proceedings that are consistent with the commission's regulations. All hearings in connection with permits issued, reissued, denied, modified or revoked and all appeals from decisions of the Permit Board shall be as provided in this section.
(e) Upon any conditions that are consistent with the commission's regulations and subject to those procedures for public notice and hearings as provided by law, not inconsistent with federal law and regulations, the Permit Board may issue general permits and, where appropriate, may consolidate multiple permits for the same facility or operation into a single permit.
(f) The Permit Board shall not issue any permit for a new swine concentrated animal feeding operation or the expansion of an existing swine concentrated animal feeding operation before January 1, 2000, unless the department received the application for that operation's new or modified permit before February 28, 1998, or except as provided in this paragraph (f). In issuing or modifying any permit for which the department received an application before February 28, 1998, the Permit Board shall apply those siting criteria adopted or used by the commission before February 28, 1998, unless federal law or regulations require more stringent criteria. The moratorium established in this paragraph shall not apply to the issuance of any permit for a new swine concentrated animal feeding operation or the expansion of an existing swine concentrated animal feeding operation that uses an animal waste management system which the applicant demonstrates to the Permit Board is innovative in significantly reducing the effects of the operation on the public health, welfare or the environment and which is approved by the Permit Board. The Permit Board shall not issue or modify more than five (5) permits under this innovative animal waste management system technology exemption to the moratorium.
(g) Each applicant for a permit for a new outlet for the discharge of wastes into the waters of the state who is required to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Public Service Commission for such wastewater system shall submit financial and managerial information as required by the Public Utilities Staff. Following review of that information, the Executive Director of the Public Utilities Staff shall certify in writing to the executive director of the department, the financial and managerial viability of the system if the Executive Director of the Public Utilities Staff determines the system is viable. The Permit Board shall not issue the permit until the certification is received.
(4) (a) Except as required by this section, before the issuance, reissuance, denial, modification or revocation of any air pollution control or water pollution control permit, permit required under the Solid Wastes Disposal Law of 1974 (Title 17, Chapter 17) or any other permit within its jurisdiction, the Permit Board, in its discretion, may hold a public hearing or meeting to obtain comments from the public on its proposed action. Before the issuance, reissuance, denial, modification pertaining to the expansion of a facility, transfer or revocation of a permit for a commercial hazardous waste management facility or a solid waste management permit for a commercial municipal solid waste landfill or incinerator, the Permit Board shall conduct a public hearing or meeting to obtain comments from the public on the proposed action. That hearing or meeting shall be informal in nature and conducted under those procedures as the Permit Board may deem appropriate consistent with the commission's regulations.
(b) Within thirty (30) days after the date the Permit Board takes action upon permit issuance, reissuance, denial, modification or revocation, as recorded in the minutes of the Permit Board, any interested party aggrieved by that action may file a written request for a formal hearing before the Permit Board. An interested party is any person claiming an interest relating to the property or project which is the subject of the permit action, and who is so situated that the person may be affected by the disposition of that action.
The Permit Board shall fix the time and place of the formal hearing and shall notify the permittee of that time and place.
In conducting the formal hearing, the Permit Board shall have the same full powers as to subpoenaing witnesses, administering oaths, examining witnesses under oath and conducting the hearing, as is now vested by law in the Mississippi Public Service Commission, as to the hearings before it, with the additional power that the Executive Director of the Permit Board may issue all subpoenas at the instance of the Permit Board or at the instance of any interested party. Any subpoenas shall be served by any lawful officer in any county to whom the subpoena is directed and return made thereon as provided by law, with the cost of service being paid by the party on whose behalf the subpoena was issued. Witnesses summoned to appear at the hearing shall be entitled to the same per diem and mileage as witnesses attending the circuit court and shall be paid by the person on whose behalf the witness was called. Sufficient sureties for the cost of service of the subpoena and witness fees shall be filed with the Executive Director of the Permit Board at the time that issuance of the subpoena is requested. At a hearing, any interested party may present witnesses and submit evidence and cross-examine witnesses.
The Permit Board may designate a hearing officer to conduct the formal hearing on all or any part of the issues on behalf of the Permit Board. The hearing officer shall prepare the record of the formal hearing conducted by that officer for the Permit Board and shall submit the record to the Permit Board.
Upon conclusion of the formal hearing, the Permit Board shall enter in its minutes the board's decision affirming, modifying or reversing its prior decision to issue, reissue, deny, modify or revoke a permit. The Permit Board shall prepare and record in its minutes findings of fact and conclusions of law supporting its decision. That decision, as recorded in its minutes with its findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall be final unless an appeal, as provided in this section, is taken to chancery court within twenty (20) days following the date the decision is entered in the board's minutes.
(c) Within twenty (20) days after the date the Permit Board takes action upon permit issuance, reissuance, denial, modification or revocation after a formal hearing under this subsection as recorded in the minutes of the Permit Board, any person aggrieved of that action may appeal the action as provided in subsection (5) of this section.
(5) (a) Appeals from any decision or action of the Permit Board shall be only to chancery court as provided in this subsection.
(b) Any person who is aggrieved by any decision of the Permit Board issuing, reissuing, denying, revoking or modifying a permit after a formal hearing may appeal that decision within the period specified in subsection (4)(c) of this section to the chancery court of the county of the situs in whole or in part of the subject matter. The appellant shall give a cost bond with sufficient sureties, payable to the state in the sum of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), to be fixed by the Permit Board and to be filed with and approved by the Executive Director of the Permit Board, who shall forthwith certify the filing of the bond together with a certified copy of the record of the Permit Board in the matter to the chancery court to which the appeal is taken, which shall thereupon become the record of the cause. An appeal to the chancery court as provided in this section shall not stay the decision of the Permit Board. The aggrieved party may, within twenty (20) days following the date the board's decision after a formal hearing is entered on the board's minutes, petition the chancery court for an appeal with supersedeas and the chancellor shall grant a hearing on that petition. Upon good cause shown, the chancellor may grant that appeal with supersedeas. If granted, the appellant shall be required to post a bond with sufficient sureties according to law in an amount to be determined by the chancellor. Appeals shall be considered only upon the record as made before the Permit Board. The chancery court shall always be deemed open for hearing of an appeal and the chancellor may hear the same in termtime or in vacation at any place in the chancellor's district, and the appeal shall have precedence over all civil cases, except election contests. The chancery court shall review all questions of law and of fact. If no prejudicial error is found, the matter shall be affirmed. If prejudicial error is found the decision of the board shall be reversed and the chancery court shall remand the matter to the Permit Board for appropriate action as may be indicated or necessary under the circumstances. Appeals may be taken from the chancery court to the Supreme Court in the manner as now required by law, except that if a supersedeas is desired by the party appealing to the chancery court, that party may apply for a supersedeas to the chancellor of that court, who shall award a writ of supersedeas, without additional bond, if in the chancellor's judgment material damage is not likely to result thereby; but otherwise, the chancellor shall require a supersedeas bond as the chancellor deems proper, which shall be liable to the state for any damage.
SECTION 74. Section 49-17-30, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-30. (1) As a condition of Title V of the federal Clean Air Act, the owner or operator of any stationary source required to obtain an air operating permit under the Title V program, hereinafter referred to as a "Title V permit," shall pay to the Department of Environmental Quality an annual fee.
(2) To facilitate the proper administration of the Title V program, the commission is authorized to assess and collect fees from any stationary source subject to the Title V program. The commission shall establish the amount of each fee to cover the costs of the Title V program as provided in Section 49-17-14. The commission is further authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary for the development and administration of the Title V program and the assessment and collection of the Title V program fees.
(3) (a) The fee schedule for Title V program fees shall be set annually by order of the commission in an amount sufficient to cover the reasonable costs of development and administration of the Title V program. The commission's order shall follow:
(i) Receipt of the report and recommendations of the Advisory Council, if timely received; and
(ii) A public hearing to be held not earlier than thirty (30) days following receipt by the commission of the report and recommendations of the Advisory Council.
(b) The commission may proceed with entry of the order on fees if the Advisory Council fails to submit its report in a timely manner.
(c) The order of the commission may be appealed in the manner set forth in Section 49-17-41.
(d) The determination of the fee set by order of the commission shall not be considered the promulgation of a regulation by the commission.
(e) The record of the public hearing shall be included in the record upon which the order is based and shall become a part of the appellate records for all appeals taken from the order of the commission establishing or modifying Title V program fees. Any undisputed amount due from an appellant must be paid according to the appellant's payment schedule during the pendency of the appeal.
(4) Any person required to pay the Title V program fee set forth under this chapter who disagrees with the calculation or applicability of the person's fee may petition the commission in writing for a hearing in accordance with Section 49-17-35. Such hearing shall be in accordance with Section 49-17-33. Any disputed portion of the fee for which a hearing has been requested will not incur any penalty or interest from and after the receipt by the commission of the hearing petition. The decision of the commission may be appealed in the manner set forth in Section 49-17-41.
(5) All fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the "Air Operating Permit Program Fee Trust Fund" established in Section 49-17-14.
SECTION 75. Section 49-17-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-31. (a) Whenever the commission or an employee thereof has reason to believe that a violation of any provision of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43 or Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47 or a regulation or of any order of the commission or of any limitation or condition of a valid permit has occurred, the commission may cause a written complaint to be served upon the alleged violator or violators. The complaint shall specify the provisions of said sections or regulation or order or permit alleged to be violated and the facts alleged to constitute a violation thereof, and shall require that the alleged violator appear before the commission at a time and place specified in the notice and answer the charges complained of. Said time of appearance before the commission shall be not less than ten (10) days from the date of the service of the complaint.
(b) The commission shall afford an opportunity for a fair hearing to the alleged violator or violators at the time and place specified in the complaint. On the basis of the evidence produced at the hearing, the commission shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law and enter such order as in its opinion will best further the purposes of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43 and Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47, and shall give written notice of such order to the alleged violator and to such other persons as shall have appeared at the hearing or made written request for notice of the order, and the commission may assess such penalties as hereinafter provided.
(c) Except as otherwise expressly provided, any notice, or other instrument issued by or under authority of the commission may be served on any person affected thereby personally or by publication, and proof of such service may be made in like manner as in case of service of a summons in a civil action, such proof to be filed in the office of the commission; or such service may be made by mailing a copy of the notice, order, or other instrument by certified mail, directed to the person affected at his last known post office address as shown by the files or records of the commission, and proof thereof may be made by the affidavit of the person who did the mailing, filed in the office of the commission.
SECTION 76. Section 49-17-32, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-32. (1) The commission may delegate to the Department of Environmental Quality the responsibility for the collection of the Title V program fees.
(2) The Title V program fee shall be due September 1 of each year. Each owner or operator may elect a quarterly payment method of four (4) equal payments with the payments due September 1, December 1, March 1 and June 1. The owner or operator shall notify the Department of Environmental Quality that the quarterly payment method will be used by September 1.
(3) If any part of the Title V program fee imposed is not paid within thirty (30) days after the due date, a penalty of ten percent (10%) of the amount due shall at once accrue and be added thereto, unless the permittee demonstrates to the commission that the failure to make timely payment was unavoidable due to financial hardship or otherwise beyond the permittee's control. If the fee is not paid in full, including any penalty within sixty (60) days of the due date, the Environmental Quality Permit Board may revoke the permit upon proper notice and hearing as required by law. Any penalty collected under this section shall be deposited into the "Air Operating Permit Program Fee Trust Fund."
(4) Any owner or operator that fails to properly identify themselves subject to the Title V program may be subject to fees and penalties as determined by the commission.
(5) It is the intent of the Legislature that fees collected pursuant to Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-45 shall not supplant or reduce in any way the General Fund appropriation to the Department of Environmental Quality.
SECTION 77. Section 49-17-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-33. The hearings herein provided may be conducted by the commission itself at a regular or special meeting of the commission, or the commission may designate a hearing officer, who may be the executive director, who shall have the power and authority to conduct such hearings in the name of the commission at any time and place as conditions and circumstances may warrant. The hearing officer shall have the record prepared of any hearing which he has conducted for the commission. Such record shall be submitted to the commission along with that hearing officer's findings of fact and recommended decision. Upon receipt and review of the record of the hearing and the hearing officer's findings of fact and recommended decision, the commission shall thereupon render its final decision in the matter. Any person ordered to appear for an alleged violation shall have the right to request a hearing before a majority of the commission if he prefers and such a hearing may then be set for the next regular meeting of the full commission, or specially. A verbatim record of the proceedings of such hearings shall be taken and filed with the commission, together with findings of fact and conclusions of law made by the commission. Witnesses who are subpoenaed shall receive the same fees and mileage as in civil actions. In case of contumacy or refusal to obey a notice of hearing or subpoena issued under this section, the circuit court shall have jurisdiction, upon application of the commission or its representative, to issue an order requiring such person to appear and testify or produce evidence as the case may require and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as contempt thereof. Failure to appear at any such hearing, without prior authorization to do so from the commission or its designee, may result in the commission finding the alleged violator guilty of the charges complained of by default, and at such time an order may be entered, including the assessment of a penalty, which, in the opinion of the commission, will best further the purposes of Section 17-17-1 et seq., and Section 49-17-1 et seq.
SECTION 78. Section 49-17-34, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-34. (1) Within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Department of Environmental Quality an application for any initial or modified air or water permit required under the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Law that is submitted after April 16, 1993, the Department of Environmental Quality shall acknowledge in writing receipt of such application. Except for good cause shown, within forty-five (45) days after receipt of a permit application, the Department of Environmental Quality shall notify the applicant that the application is complete or of the major components required to complete the application.
(2) All rules, regulations and standards relating to air quality, water quality or air emissions or water discharge standards promulgated by the commission after April 16, 1993, shall be consistent with and shall not exceed the requirements of federal statutes and federal regulations, standards, criteria and guidance relating to air quality, water quality or air emission or water discharge standards that have been duly promulgated pursuant to the federal Administrative Procedures Act, including, but not limited to, the identity and scope of air pollutants included as air toxics or air quality or emission standards, the identity and scope of water pollutants included as water quality or discharge standards and the numerical and narrative limitations of such standards.
(3) If there are no federal statutes or federal regulations, standards, criteria or guidance that have been duly promulgated pursuant to the federal Administrative Procedures Act addressing matters relating to air quality or water quality, or air emission or water discharge standards, the commission may promulgate regulations to address these matters in accordance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Act, when the commission determines that such regulations are necessary to protect human health, welfare or the environment.
(4) For any initial or modified air or water permit issued from and after January 1, 1994, except with the written consent of the permit applicant, no provision or condition imposing any duty, responsibility or liability on the permittee shall be included in such permit, the direct basis for which has not been first promulgated as a regulation by the commission in accordance with the requirements of the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Act. "Direct basis" shall mean that such permit provisions or conditions shall not exceed the scope, coverage and effect of the regulation upon which it is based including, but not limited to, frequency or time limit of action, technology, identity and scope of pollutants regulated, numerical or narrative standards or limitations.
SECTION 79. Section 49-17-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-35. Any interested person shall have the right to request the commission to call a hearing for the purpose of taking action in respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the commission by making a request therefor in writing. Upon receipt of any such request, the commission shall conduct such investigations as it deems necessary and may call a special hearing or may schedule such matter for its next regular meeting or hearing day, and after such hearings and with all convenient speed and in any event within thirty (30) days after the conclusion of such hearing shall take such action on the subject matter thereof as it may deem appropriate.
SECTION 80. Section 49-17-36, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-36. (1) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly: (a) fail to pay any fee assessed by the commission for administration of the federal air operating permit program; (b) fail to satisfy any air operating permit filing requirement; (c) make any false statement, representation of certification in any notice or report required by an air operating permit; or (d) render inaccurate any air monitoring device or method required by an air operating permit; and, upon conviction thereof, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) nor more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) per day of violation.
(2) In determining the amount of penalty under this section, the following shall be considered at a minimum:
(a) The willfulness of the violation;
(b) Any damage to air, water, land or other natural resources of the state or their uses;
(c) Costs of restoration or abatement;
(d) Economic benefit as a result of noncompliance;
(e) The seriousness of the violation, including any harm to the environment and any hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the public; and
(f) Past performance history.
(3) All fines collected by the commission under this section shall be deposited into the Pollution Emergency Fund established under Section 49-17-68, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 81. Section 49-17-37, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-37. All hearings before the commission shall be recorded either by a court reporter or by tape or mechanical recorders and subject to transcription upon order of the commission or any interested party, but in the event that the request for transcription originates with an interested party, such party shall pay the cost thereof.
SECTION 82. Section 49-17-39, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-39. Information obtained by the commission concerning environmental protection, including, but not limited to, information contained in applications for air emission equipment construction permits and water discharge permits shall be public information and shall be made available upon proper request. Other information obtained by the commission, department or permit board in the administration of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43 concerning trade secrets, including, but not limited to, marketing or financial information, processes, devices, methods of manufacture, or production capabilities or amounts shall be kept confidential, if and only if: (a) a written confidentiality claim is made when the information is supplied; (b) such confidentiality claim allows disclosure of the confidential information to authorized department employees and/or the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and (c) such confidentiality claim is determined by the commission to be valid. If the confidentiality claim is denied, the information sought to be covered thereby shall not be released or disclosed, except to the Environmental Protection Agency, until the claimant has been notified in writing and afforded an opportunity for a hearing and appeal therefrom, as with other orders of the commission. Disclosure of confidential information by the EPA should be governed by federal law and EPA regulations. Anyone making unauthorized disclosure of information determined to be confidential as herein provided shall be liable in a civil action for damages arising therefrom and shall also be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as provided by law.
SECTION 83. Section 49-17-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-41. In addition to any other remedies that might now be available, any person or interested party aggrieved by any order of the commission or the executive director shall have a right to file a sworn petition with the commission within thirty (30) days after the order was issued setting forth the grounds and reasons for his complaint and asking for a hearing of the matter involved, provided that no hearing on the same subject matter shall have been previously held before the commission or its designated hearing officer. The commission shall thereupon fix the time and place of such hearing and shall notify the petitioners thereof. In such pending matters, the commission shall have the same full powers as to subpoenaing witnesses, administering oaths, examining witnesses under oath and conducting the hearing, as is now vested by law in the Mississippi Public Service Commission, as to hearings before it, with the additional power that the executive director may issue all subpoenas, both at the instance of the petitioner and of the commission. At such hearings the petitioner, and any other interested party, may offer, present witnesses and submit evidence.
Following such hearing, the final order of determination of the commission upon such matters shall be conclusive, unless the petitioner, or such other interested party appearing at the hearing, shall, within fifteen (15) days after the adjournment of the meeting at which said final order was made, appeal to the chancery court of the county where the hearing was held, or of the situs in whole or in part of the subject matter of the hearing by giving a cost bond with sufficient sureties, payable to the state in the sum of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), to be fixed in the order appealed from, to be filed with and approved by the executive director of the commission, who shall forthwith certify the same together with a certified copy of the record of the commission in the matter to the chancery court to which the appeal is taken, which shall thereupon become the record of the cause. An appeal to the chancery court as provided herein shall not stay the execution of an order of the commission. Any party aggrieved by an order of the commission may, within said fifteen (15) days after the adjournment of the commission meeting at which said final order was entered, petition the chancery court of the situs in whole or in part of the subject matter for an appeal with supersedeas, and the chancellor shall grant a hearing on said petition and upon good cause shown may grant said appeal with supersedeas; the appellant shall be required to post a bond with sufficient sureties according to law in an amount to be determined by the chancellor. Appeals shall be considered only upon the record as made before the commission. The chancery court shall always be deemed open for hearing of such appeals and the chancellor may hear the same in termtime or in vacation at any place in his district, and the same shall have precedence over all civil cases, except election contests. The chancery court shall review all questions of law and of fact. If no prejudicial error be found, the matter shall be affirmed and remanded to the commission for enforcement. If prejudicial error be found, the same shall be reversed and the chancery court shall remand the matter to the commission for appropriate action as may be indicated or necessary under the circumstances. Appeals may be taken from the chancery court to the Supreme Court in the manner as now required by law, except that if a supersedeas is desired by the party appealing to the chancery court he may apply therefor to the chancellor thereof, who shall award a writ of supersedeas, without additional bond, if in his judgment material damage is not likely to result thereby, but otherwise he shall require such supersedeas bond as he deems proper, which shall be liable to the state for such damage.
SECTION 84. Section 49-17-42, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-42. (1) Any lender or holder who maintains indicia of ownership primarily to protect an interest in a property, facility, or other person, and who does not participate in the management of the property, facility, or other person, shall not be considered an owner or operator of that property, facility, or other person, nor liable under any pollution control or other environmental protection law, or any rule or regulation or written order of the commission in pursuance thereof, for the prevention, cleanup, removal, remediation or abatement of any pollution, hazardous waste or solid waste placed, released or dumped on, in, about or near the property, facility or other person or caused by any operator on or of the property, facility or other person.
(2) This section shall apply to actions commenced by the commission or by third parties.
(3) In implementing this section, the commission shall adopt regulations equivalent to those proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for this purpose.
(4) This section shall apply to all interests existing at the time of passage of this chapter and thereafter created, whether secured or unsecured.
SECTION 85. Section 49-17-43, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-43. (1) Any person found by the commission violating any of the provisions of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, or any rule or regulation or written order of the commission in pursuance thereof or any condition or limitation of a permit, except a permit required under the Solid Wastes Disposal Law of 1974 (Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47), shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00), for each violation, such penalty to be assessed and levied by the commission after a hearing as provided hereinabove. Appeals from the imposition of the civil penalty may be taken to the chancery court in the same manner as appeals from orders of the commission. If the appellant desires to stay the execution of a civil penalty assessed by the commission, he shall give bond with sufficient resident sureties of one or more guaranty or surety companies authorized to do business in this state, payable to the State of Mississippi, in an amount equal to double the amount of any civil penalty assessed by the commission, as to which the stay of execution is desired, conditioned, if the judgment shall be affirmed, to pay all costs of the assessment entered against the appellant. Each day upon which a violation occurs shall be deemed a separate and additional violation.
Any person violating any provision of the Solid Wastes Disposal Law of 1974 (Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47), any rule or regulation made pursuant to that law, or any order issued by the commission under the authority of that law shall be subject to the penalties provided in Section 17-17-29.
(2) In lieu of, or in addition to, the penalty provided in subsection (1) of this section, the commission shall have power to institute and maintain in the name of the state any and all proceedings necessary or appropriate to enforce the provisions of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, rules and regulations in force pursuant thereto, and orders and permits made and issued under those sections, in the appropriate circuit, chancery, county or justice court of the county in which venue may lie. The commission may obtain mandatory or prohibitory injunctive relief, either temporary or permanent, and in cases of imminent and substantial hazard or endangerment as set forth in Section 49-17-27, it shall not be necessary in such cases that the state plead or prove: (a) that irreparable damage would result if the injunction did not issue; (b) that there is no adequate remedy at law; or (c) that a written complaint or commission order has first been issued for the alleged violation.
(3) Any person who violates any of the provisions of, or fails to perform any duty imposed by, Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43 or any rule or regulation issued hereunder, or who violates any order or determination of the commission promulgated pursuant to such sections, and causes the death of fish or other wildlife shall be liable, in addition to the penalties provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, to pay to the state an additional amount equal to the sum of money reasonably necessary to restock such waters or replenish such wildlife as determined by the commission after consultation with the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Such amount may be recovered by the commission on behalf of the state in a civil action brought in the appropriate county or circuit court of the county in which venue may lie.
(4) Any person who owns or operates facilities which, through misadventure, happenstance or otherwise, cause pollution necessitating immediate remedial or cleanup action shall be liable for the cost of such remedial or cleanup action and the commission may recover the cost of same by a civil action brought in the circuit court of the county in which venue may lie. This penalty may be recovered in lieu of or in addition to the penalties provided in subsections (1), (2) and (3) of this section.
In the event of the necessity for immediate remedial or cleanup action, the commission may contract for same and advance funds from the Pollution Emergency Fund to pay the costs thereof, such advancements to be repaid to the Pollution Emergency Fund upon recovery by the commission as provided above.
(5) It is unlawful for any person to: (a) discharge pollutants in violation of Section 49-17-29 or in violation of any condition or limitation included in a permit issued under Section 49-17-29 or (b) introduce pollutants into publicly owned treatment works in violation of pretreatment standards or in violation of toxic effluent standards; and, upon conviction thereof, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) nor more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) per day of violation.
(6) All fines, penalties and other sums recovered or collected by the commission for and in behalf of the state under this section shall be deposited in the Pollution Emergency Fund established under this chapter, and the commission is authorized to receive and accept, from any funds and all available sources whatsoever, additional funds to be deposited in such fund and expended for the purpose of remedial, cleanup or abatement actions involving pollution of the land, air or waters of the state in violation of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, any rule or regulation or written order of the commission in pursuance thereof, or any condition or limitation of a permit.
(7) In determining the amount of any penalty under this chapter, the commission shall consider at a minimum:
(a) The willfulness of the violation;
(b) Any damage to air, water, land or other natural resources of the state or their uses;
(c) Costs of restoration and abatement;
(d) Economic benefit as a result of noncompliance;
(e) The seriousness of the violation, including any harm to the environment and any hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the public;
(f) Past performance history; and
(g) Whether the noncompliance was discovered and reported as the result of a voluntary self-evaluation. If a person discovers as a result of a voluntary self-evaluation, information related to noncompliance with an environmental law and voluntarily discloses that information to the department, commission or any employee thereof, the commission shall, to the greatest extent possible, reduce a penalty, if any, determined by the commission, except for economic benefit as a result of noncompliance, to a de minimis amount if all of the following are true:
(i) The disclosure is made promptly after knowledge of the information disclosed is obtained by the person; (ii) The person making the disclosure initiates the appropriate corrective actions and pursues those corrective actions with due diligence;
(iii) The person making the disclosure cooperates with the commission and the department regarding investigation of the issues identified in the disclosure;
(iv) The person is not otherwise required by an environmental law to make the disclosure to the commission or the department;
(v) The information was not obtained through any source independent of the voluntary self-evaluation or by the department through observation, sampling or monitoring; (vi) The noncompliance did not result in a substantial endangerment threatening the public health, safety or welfare or the environment; and
(vii) The noncompliance is not a repeat violation occurring at the same facility within a period of three (3) years. "Repeat violation" in this subparagraph means a second or subsequent violation, after the first violation has ceased, of the same statutory provision, regulation, permit condition, or condition in an order of the commission.
(8) Any provisions of this section and chapter regarding liability for the costs of cleanup, removal, remediation or abatement of any pollution, hazardous waste or solid waste shall be limited as provided in Section 49-17-42 and rules adopted thereto.
SECTION 86. Section 49-17-44, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-44. (1) The Permit Board may require any applicant for a water pollution control permit for the discharge of effluent from any sewer system certificated or required to be certificated by the Public Service Commission to provide a bond or other acceptable financial security instrument payable to the Commission on Environmental Quality and conditioned upon full and satisfactory performance of the requirements of the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Law and any water pollution control permit issued under that law. Any bond shall be executed by the permittee and a corporate surety licensed to do business in the state. The commission shall establish by regulation the acceptable forms of financial security and the amount of financial security required for the various types and sizes of facilities. The purpose of the bond or other financial security shall be the protection of the public health, welfare and the environment.
(2) The commission may enter an order requiring forfeiture of the bond or other financial security, if the commission determines that:
(a) The continued operation or lack of operation and maintenance of the facility covered by this section represents an imminent threat to the public health, welfare and the environment because the permittee is unable or unwilling to adequately operate and maintain the facility or the facility has been actually or effectively abandoned by the permittee;
(b) Reasonable and practical efforts under the circumstances have been made to obtain corrective actions from the permittee; and
(c) It does not appear that corrective actions can or will be taken within an appropriate time as determined by the commission.
(3) (a) The proceeds of any forfeiture shall be deposited into a special fund created in subsection (5) of this section and shall be used by the commission or any receiver appointed by the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County to address or correct the noncompliance at the facility or to continue operation and maintenance of the facility. The proceeds shall be in addition to any other funds otherwise appropriated to the department and may be expended under the authority of this section without additional action of the Legislature.
(b) The commission shall file an annual report detailing the receipts and expenditure of the bond forfeiture fund with the Chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriation Committees.
(4) If the commission finds that a facility has been abandoned or that services of a facility have been terminated, the commission may enter any orders regarding continued operations of that facility as it deems necessary to protect the public health, welfare and the environment.
(5) (a) There is created in the State Treasury a fund to be designated as the "Water Pollution Control Bond Forfeiture Fund." Monies in the fund shall be used by the commission or any receiver appointed by the court to address or correct the noncompliance at the facility or to continue operation and maintenance of the facility for which the bond or other financial security was forfeited.
(b) Expenditures may be made from the fund upon requisition by the executive director of the department.
(c) The fund shall be treated as a special trust fund. Interest earned on the principal shall be credited by the Treasurer to the fund.
(d) The fund may receive monies from any available public or private source, including, but not limited to, proceeds from bond or other financial security forfeitures, interest, and funds from other judicial actions.
(6) An appeal from any decision of the commission under this section may be taken as provided in Section 49-17-41, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(7) This section shall be applicable to new applications for water pollution control permits and to existing water pollution control permits upon application for reissuance or transfer of a permit.
SECTION 87. Section 49-17-44.1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-44.1. If the commission determines that any privately owned sewer system that is certificated by the Public Service Commission and within its jurisdiction has been actually or effectively abandoned by its owner, or that its management is grossly inefficient or irresponsible, and the abandonment or management has created an environmental problem that endangers public health, the commission may petition the chancery court of any county wherein the privately owned sewer system is located for an order attaching the assets of the privately owned sewer system and placing such sewer system under the sole control and responsibility of a receiver. Any person served by the sewer system shall have standing to intervene in the chancery proceeding as an interested party. If the court determines that the petition is proper in all respects and finds, after a hearing thereon, the allegations contained in the petition are true, it shall order that the sewer system be placed in receivership. The court, in its discretion and in consideration of the recommendation of the commission, may appoint a receiver who shall be a responsible individual, partnership, corporation or political subdivision knowledgeable in sewer service affairs and who shall maintain control and responsibility for the operation and management of the affairs of such sewer system. The receiver shall operate the sewer system so as to preserve the assets of the sewer system and to serve the best interests of its customers while protecting public health and welfare and the environment. The receiver shall be compensated from the assets of the sewer system in an amount to be determined by the court. Control of and responsibility for the sewer system shall remain in the receiver until the court determines that it is in the best interests of the customers and the public interest that the sewer system be returned to the owner, transferred to another owner, or assumed by another sewer system or public service corporation. If the court, after hearing, determines that control of and responsibility for the affairs of the sewer system should not be returned to the legal owner thereof, the receiver may proceed to liquidate the assets of the sewer system in the manner provided by law. Mississippi laws and Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure generally applicable to receivership shall govern receiverships created under this section. Any new owner or operator of a sewer system transferred or liquidated by the receiver or the chancery court under this subsection shall obtain all necessary permits and approvals from the Permit Board, the Public Service Commission and any other applicable state or local agencies.
SECTION 88. Section 49-17-45, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-45. (1) The Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality, acting through the Department of Environmental Quality, shall establish and administer, in accordance with the federal Clean Air Act, the Mississippi Small Business Stationary Source Technical and Environmental Compliance Assistance Program (PROGRAM).
(2) There is created the Mississippi Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel. The Mississippi Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel shall consist of the following members, the term of each to be concurrent with the term of the appointing official of that member:
(a) One (1) member representing the Air Pollution Control Program of the Department of Environmental Quality;
(b) Two (2) members who are not owners or representatives of owners of a small business, appointed by the Governor;
(c) Two (2) members who each shall be the owner or representatives of an owner of a small business, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
(d) Two (2) members who each shall be the owner or representatives of an owner of a small business, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
(3) The panel shall elect one (1) member to serve as chairman. The panel shall meet at the call of the chairman at Jackson, Mississippi, or such other places within the state designated by the panel; however, the panel shall not meet more than four (4) times during a calendar year.
(4) Members of the Mississippi Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel shall serve without salary, but each shall be entitled to receive per diem as provided in Section 25-3-69 and his actual travel and hotel expenses incurred while in the performance of his duties as a member of the committee in accordance with Section 25-3-41. Per diem and expenses shall be paid on an itemized statement approved by the State Fiscal Officer from fees collected under Section 49-17-30.
(5) The Mississippi Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel shall:
(a) Render advisory opinions concerning:
(i) The effectiveness of the Small Business Stationary Source Technical and Environmental Compliance Assistance Program;
(ii) Difficulties encountered; and
(iii) Degree and severity of enforcement;
(b) Make periodic reports to the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency concerning the compliance of the State Small Business Stationary Source Technical and Environmental Compliance Assistance Program with the requirements of the federal Paperwork Reduction Act, the federal Regulatory Flexibility Act, and the federal Equal Access to Justice Act;
(c) Review information for small business stationary sources to assure such information is understandable by the layperson; and
(d) Have the Small Business Stationary Source Technical and Environmental Compliance Assistance Program serve as the secretariat for the development and dissemination of such reports and advisory opinions.
SECTION 89. Section 49-17-61, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-61. There is hereby created for the State of Mississippi a Water Pollution Abatement Loan Program ("program") from which shall be made loans in aid of construction. Funds shall be available to any political subdivision legally authorized to own, maintain and operate a sewage, industrial waste or other waste collection, transport, treatment and disposal system. No recipient shall receive from state funds any loan in excess of twenty-five percent (25%) of the cost of construction of a project, unless said recipient shall become eligible on or after October 1, 1988, as set forth in Section 49-17-85(3).
Such cost of construction includes: preliminary planning to determine the economic and engineering feasibility of treatment works, the engineering, architectural, legal, fiscal and economic investigations and studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, procedures, and other action necessary to the construction of treatment works; and the erection, building, acquisition, alteration, remodeling, improvement or extension of treatment works; and the inspection and supervision of the construction of treatment works.
No loan shall be made for
any project under the provisions of Sections 49-17-61 through 49-17-67 unless
such project is in conformity with the State Water Pollution Control Plan and
has been certified by the Mississippi Commission on * * * Environmental Quality
as entitled to priority over eligible projects on the basis of financial as
well as water pollution control needs.
Loan funds generated by the issuance of bonds, legislative appropriations or otherwise, shall be deposited in an appropriate account or accounts created under the program.
There is hereby established a special fund designated as the Water Pollution Abatement Bond Fund ("bond fund"), which fund shall be maintained as a separate account in the State Treasury. All bonds which shall be issued by the State of Mississippi to generate funds to be used for loans under this section shall be payable as to principal, interest, premiums, if any, and service fees from the funds deposited in the bond fund. The bond fund hereby established shall be identical to and be a continuation of the Water Pollution Abatement Bond Fund authorized and established by the provisions of Chapter 471, General Laws of the State of Mississippi, 1971.
No funds heretofore deposited under any other laws to the credit of a special fund heretofore maintained in the State Treasury, and heretofore designated under such laws as the Water Pollution Abatement Bond Fund, shall be removed or transferred from such Water Pollution Abatement Bond Fund so maintained and designated under any other laws, except as shall be specifically authorized by law. When such removal or transfer shall be authorized, funds removed or transferred shall be deposited to the credit of a special fund hereby established and designated as the Water Pollution Abatement Loan Fund ("loan fund"), which fund shall be maintained as a separate account in the State Treasury.
Funds on deposit in the loan fund (a) may be used to make loans in aid of construction for water pollution abatement upon appropriation by the Legislature; (b) in the discretion of the commission, may be transferred to the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund for the purpose of matching federal capitalization grants and for allowable uses; and (c) may be used for administration of the State Revolving Loan Program subject to legislative appropriation.
SECTION 90. Section 49-17-63, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-63. Loans in aid of construction in amounts of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) or less made from state funds shall be made to the political subdivision eligible to receive such loan immediately upon approval of the award by the appropriate federal agency or agencies of a contract, or contracts, for construction.
The remainder of any such loan in aid of construction from state funds shall be made in installments in accord with rules and regulations adopted by the Bureau of Pollution Control of the Department of Natural Resources as authorized by subsection (h) of Section 49-17-17, Mississippi Code of 1972.
All such loans in aid of construction shall be made subject to the availability of funds.
SECTION 91. Section 49-17-65, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-65. (1) Any political subdivision desiring to construct a waste disposal plant approved by the Office of Pollution Control of the Department of Environmental Quality, and which receives a loan from the state for that purpose, shall pledge for the repayment of such loan that part of the sales tax reimbursement to which it is entitled under Section 27-65-75 as may be required to meet a repayment schedule adopted by the State Tax Commission. The repayment schedule shall provide for monthly payments, the largest of which shall not exceed the average monthly payment for the term of years of the contract by more than fifteen percent (15%). The repayment schedule shall provide for the repayment of all funds received within not more than twenty (20) years from the date said loan is actually received by the political subdivision; however, the repayment schedule and the time for repayment of all funds received on loans renegotiated under subsection (6) of this section shall be modified by the State Tax Commission to conform with the terms of the renegotiated loan. The State Tax Commission shall withhold monthly from the amount to be remitted to a political subdivision, a sum equal to the next monthly payment.
(2) When bonds shall have been issued by the State of Mississippi to generate funds to be used for loans to be made under the provisions of Section 49-17-61, all payments made in repayment under this section shall be deposited into the Water Pollution Abatement Bond Fund established under the provisions of Section 49-17-61 so long as any such bonds shall be outstanding and unpaid.
(3) When all the bonds shall have been paid, such payments shall be deposited in the Water Pollution Abatement Loan Fund ("loan fund") established under the provisions of Section 49-17-61.
(4) When no such bonds shall be outstanding and unpaid, the payments shall be deposited in the loan fund.
(5) Funds on deposit in the loan fund may be used to make loans in aid of construction for water pollution abatement upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(6) The Department of Environmental Quality may, on a case-by-case basis, renegotiate the payment of principal on loans made under Sections 49-17-61 through 49-17-70 to political subdivisions located in the six (6) most southern counties of the state covered by the Presidential Declaration of Major Disaster for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-1604-DR) dated August 29, 2005; however, the maturity of the loans shall not be extended for a period of more than forty-eight (48) months.
SECTION 92. Section 49-17-67, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-67. Before any
political subdivision shall receive any loan it shall have executed with the * * * Department of Revenue
a repayment agreement, a copy of which must also be filed with the * * * Office of Pollution Control of
the Department of * * * Environmental Quality, after which the * * * office shall enter upon its minutes
a certificate certifying that the waste disposal plant has been approved, a
copy of which certificate must be delivered to and filed with the * * * Department
of Revenue. The repayment schedule hereinabove provided for shall not be
construed to prohibit any recipient from prepaying any part or all of the funds
received.
SECTION 93. Section 49-17-68, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-68. The Pollution Emergency Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury. All fines, penalties or other money recovered or collected by the commission under Sections 17-17-29 and 49-17-43 shall be deposited into appropriate accounts in such fund. The commission is further authorized to receive and accept additional funds from any other source to be deposited into the Pollution Emergency Fund. The commission is authorized to utilize any funds in the Pollution Emergency Fund for the purpose of mitigation, abatement, clean-up or other remedial actions and related technical investigations involving the introduction of pollutants, including hazardous wastes, upon or into the land, air or waters of this state and may be used for the purpose of providing the required state matching funds to assist the United States Environmental Protection Agency in furtherance of its remedial clean-up program. When the acceptance of such funds by the commission is conditioned on the return of those funds to the grantor after use and recovery, such funds shall be returned to the grantor.
SECTION 94. Section 49-17-69, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-69. (1) Any political subdivision desiring to construct a waste disposal plant approved by the Office of Pollution Control of the Department of Environmental Quality and which receives a loan from the state for that purpose but which is not eligible to pledge for repayment under the provisions of Sections 49-17-65 and 49-17-67, shall repay the loan by making payments each month to the State Treasurer through the Department of Environmental Quality according to the provisions of Section 7-7-15, to be credited to the appropriate fund in lieu of pledging sales tax reimbursements.
(2) The repayment shall be according to a schedule prepared by the State Tax Commission in the same manner as such schedules are prepared for the state's other political subdivisions. The repayment schedule shall provide for monthly payments, the largest of which shall not exceed the average monthly payment for the term of years of the contract by more than fifteen percent (15%). The repayment schedule shall provide for the repayment of all funds received within no more than twenty (20) years from the date the loan is actually received by the political subdivision; however, the repayment schedule and the time for repayment of all funds received on loans renegotiated under Section 49-17-61(6) shall be modified by the State Tax Commission to conform with the terms of the renegotiated loan. The political subdivision shall remit its monthly payment by the twentieth of the month to the Department of Environmental Quality and the payments shall be made prior to the payments of principal or interest on any bonds issued by the political subdivision in connection with the project or projects to which the pollution abatement loans are made.
(3) The State Auditor shall annually audit the receipts and expenditures of each district whose monthly payments are to be received by him, and if he should find such political subdivision in arrears for two (2) consecutive years, he shall immediately begin withholding from funds due the taxing district in which the political subdivision is located, under the provisions of Section 27-33-41(g) and (h), an amount equal to twelve (12) times the largest monthly payment due and issue his warrant for such amount to either one (1) of the two (2) special funds as directed below.
(4) The repayment schedule provided for in this section shall not be construed to prohibit any recipient from prepaying any part or all of the funds received.
(5) When bonds shall have been issued by the State of Mississippi to generate funds to be used for loans to be made under the provisions of Section 49-17-61, all payments made in repayment under this section shall be deposited into the Water Pollution Abatement Bond Fund established under the provisions of Section 49-17-61 so long as any such bonds shall be outstanding and unpaid.
(6) When all such bonds shall have been paid, the payments shall be deposited in the Water Pollution Abatement Loan Fund ("loan fund") established under the provisions of Section 49-17-61.
(7) When no such bonds shall be outstanding and unpaid, the payments shall be deposited in the loan fund.
(8) Funds on deposit in the loan fund may be used to make loans in aid of construction for water pollution abatement upon appropriation by the Legislature.
SECTION 95. Section 49-17-70, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-70. Before any
political subdivision shall receive any loan, it shall have executed with the * * * Department of Revenue
a repayment agreement, a copy of which must also be filed with the * * * Office of Pollution Control of
the Department of * * * Environmental Quality, after which the * * * office shall enter upon its
minutes a certificate certifying that the waste disposal plant has been
approved; a copy of which certificate shall be delivered to and filed with the * * * Department
of Revenue.
SECTION 96. Section 49-17-71, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-71. The Governor, on behalf of this state, is hereby authorized to execute a compact, in substantially the following form, with any one or more of the States of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, and the Legislature hereby signifies in advance its approval and ratification of such compact:
Article I
The purpose of this compact is to promote effective control and reduction of pollution in the waters of the Tennessee River Basin through increased co-operation of the states of the basin, co-ordination of pollution control activities and programs in the basin, and the establishment of a joint interstate commission to assist in these efforts.
Article II
The party states hereby create the "Tennessee River Basin Water Pollution Control Commission," hereinafter referred to as the "commission," which shall be an agency of each party state with the powers and duties set forth herein, and such others as shall be conferred upon it by the party states or by the Congress of the United States concurred in by the party states.
Article III
A. The party states hereby create the "Tennessee River Basin Water Pollution Control District," hereinafter called the "district," which consists of the area drained by the Tennessee River and its tributaries.
B. From time to time the commission may conduct surveys of the basin, study the pollution problems of the basin, and make comprehensive reports concerning the prevention or reduction of water pollution therein. The commission may draft and recommend to the parties hereto suggested legislation dealing with the pollution of waters within the basin or any portion thereof. Upon request of a state water pollution control agency, and in a manner agreed upon by such agency and the commission, the commission shall render advice concerning the various governments, communities, municipalities, persons, corporations or other entities with regard to particular problems connected with the pollution of waters. The commission shall present to the appropriate officials of any government or agency thereof its recommendations relating to enactments to be made by any legislature in furthering the intents and purposes of this article. The commission, upon request of a member state or upon its own instance may, after proper study, and after conducting public hearings, recommend minimum standards of water quality to be followed in the several areas of the district.
Article IV
The commission shall consist of three (3) commissioners from each state, each of whom shall be a resident voter of such state. The commissioners shall be chosen in the manner and for the terms provided by the laws of the state from which they are appointed, and each commissioner may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of the state from which he is appointed.
Article V
A. The commission shall elect annually from its members a chairman and a vice-chairman to serve at its pleasure. It shall adopt a seal and suitable by-laws for its management and control. The commission is hereby authorized to adopt, prescribe and promulgate rules and regulations for administering and enforcing all provisions of this compact. It may maintain one or more offices for the transaction of its business. Meetings shall be held at least once each year. It may determine duties, qualifications and compensation for and appoint such employees and consultants as may be necessary and remove or replace them.
B. The commission shall not compensate the commissioners for their services but shall pay their actual expenses incurred in and incidental to the performance of their duties.
C. The commission may acquire, by gift or otherwise, and may hold and dispose of such real and personal property as may be appropriate to the performance of its functions. In the event of sale of real property, proceeds may be distributed among the several party states, each state's share being computed in a ratio to its contributions; and in the event of dissolution of the commission, the property and assets shall be disposed of and proceeds distributed in a like manner.
D. Each commissioner shall have one vote. One or more commissioners from a majority of the party states shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but no action of the commission imposing any obligation on any party state or any municipality, person, corporation or other entity therein shall be binding unless a majority of all of the members from such party state shall have voted in favor thereof. The commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements, and shall submit to the governor and the legislature of each party state an annual report concerning its activities, and shall make recommendations for any legislative, executive or administrative action deemed advisable.
E. The commission shall at the proper time submit to the governor of each party state for his approval an estimate of its proposed expenditures. The commission shall subsequently adopt a budget and submit appropriation requests to the party states in accordance with the laws and procedures of such states.
F. The commission shall not pledge the credit of any of the party states. The commission may meet any of its obligations in whole or in part with funds available to it, from gifts, grants, appropriations or otherwise, provided that the commission takes specific action setting aside such funds prior to the incurring of any obligation to be met in whole or in part in this manner. Except where the commission makes use of funds already available to it, the commission shall not incur any obligations prior to the making of appropriations adequate to meet the same.
G. The accounts of the commission shall be open at any reasonable time to the inspection of such representatives of the respective party states as may be duly constituted for that purpose. All receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the commission shall be audited yearly by a qualified public accountant, and the report of the audit shall be included in and become a part of the annual report of the commission. The commission shall appoint an executive director. The commission shall also appoint a treasurer who may be a member of the commission. The executive director shall be custodian of the records of the commission with authority to attest to and certify such records and copies thereof under the seal of the commission. The commission shall require bonds of its executive director and treasurer in the amount of at least twenty-five per cent (25%) of the annual budget of the commission.
Article VI
Each of the commission's budgets of estimated expenditures shall contain specific recommendations of the amount or amounts to be appropriated by each of the party states. In determining these amounts, the commission shall prorate one half (1/2) of its budget among the several states in proportion to their land area within the district, and shall prorate the other half among the several states in proportion to their population within the district at the last preceding federal census.
Article VII
A. It is recognized, owing to such variable factors as location, size, character and flow and the many varied uses of the waters subject to the terms of this compact, that no single standard of sewage and waste treatment and no single standard of quality of receiving waters is practical and that the degree of treatment of sewage and industrial wastes should take into account the classification of the receiving waters according to present and proposed highest use, such as for drinking water supply, industrial and agricultural uses, bathing and other recreational purposes, maintenance and propagation of fish life, navigation and disposal of wastes.
B. The commission may establish reasonable physical, chemical and bacteriological standards of water quality satisfactory for various classifications of use. It is agreed that each of the signatory states through appropriate agencies will prepare a classification of its interstate waters in the district in entirety or by portions according to present and proposed highest use, and for this purpose technical experts employed by appropriate state water pollution control agencies are authorized to confer on questions relating to classification of interstate waters affecting two or more states. Each signatory state agrees to submit its classification of its interstate waters to the commission for approval. It is agreed that after such approval, all signatory states through their appropriate state water pollution control agencies will work to establish programs of treatment of sewage and industrial wastes which will meet standards established by the commission for classified waters. The commission may from time to time make such changes in definitions of classifications and in standards as may be required by changed conditions or as may be necessary for uniformity and in a manner similar to that in which these standards and classifications were originally established.
Article VIII
A. A state pollution control agency of any party state may certify to the commission an alleged violation of the commission's standards of quality of water entering said state. Upon such certification the commission may call a hearing at which the appropriate state pollution agencies shall be represented. If the commission finds a violation has occurred, is occurring or is likely to recur, it shall make recommendations as to the manner of abatement of the pollution to the appropriate water pollution control agency of the party state within which the violation has occurred, is occurring or is likely to recur. In the event that commission recommendations made pursuant to the preceding provisions of this article do not result in compliance within a reasonable time, the commission may, after such further investigation if any as is deemed necessary and proper and after a hearing held in the state where a violation occurs or has occurred, issue an order or orders upon any municipality, person, corporation or other entity within said party state violating provisions of this compact by discharging sewage or industrial wastes into the waters of the district which flow through, into or border upon any party state. Such order or orders may prescribe the date on or before which such discharge shall be wholly or partially discontinued, modified or treated or otherwise disposed of. The commission shall give reasonable and proper notice in writing of the time and place of the hearing to the municipality, person, corporation or other entity against which such order is proposed except that when the commission shall find that a public health emergency exists, it may issue such an order pending hearing. In all such instances, the hearing shall be promptly held and the order shall be withdrawn, modified or made permanent within thirty (30) days after hearing. No order prescribing the date on or before which such discharge shall be wholly or partially discontinued, modified or treated or otherwise disposed of shall go into effect upon a municipality, person, corporation or other entity in any state unless and until it receives the approval of a majority of the commissioners from each of not less than a majority of the party states, provided that such order receives the assent of not less than a majority of the commissioners from such state.
B. It shall be the duty of the municipality, person, corporation or other entity within a party state to comply with any such order against it or him by the commission, and any court of competent jurisdiction in any of the party states shall have jurisdiction, by mandamus, injunction, specific performance or other form of remedy, to enforce any such order against any municipality, person, corporation or other entity domiciled, located or doing business within such state; provided, however, such court may review the order and affirm, reverse or modify the same in any appropriate proceeding brought and upon any of the grounds customarily applicable in proceedings for court review of administrative decisions. The commission or, at its request, the attorney general or other law enforcing official of the appropriate state shall have power to institute in such court any action for the enforcement of such order.
Article IX
Nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit the powers of any party state, or to repeal or prevent the enactment of any legislation, or the enforcement of any requirement by any party state, imposing any additional conditions and restrictions to further reduce or prevent the pollution of waters within its jurisdiction.
Article X
A. Nothing contained in this compact shall be construed so as to conflict with any provision of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Compact or to impose obligations on any party state inconsistent with those which it has undertaken or may undertake by virtue of its membership in said compact; provided that nothing contained in this article shall be deemed to limit the commission's power to set higher standards for the waters of the Tennessee River Basin Water Pollution Control District or any portion thereof than those required for the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation District.
B. Nothing contained in this compact shall be deemed to give the commission any power or jurisdiction over any aspect of pollution abatement or control within the district unless existing or future pollution of such waters does or is likely to affect adversely the quality of water flowing among, between, into or through the territory of more than one party state.
Article XI
Any two (2) or more of the party states by legislative action may enter into supplementary agreements for further regulation and abatement of water pollution in other areas within the party states and for the establishment of common or joint services or facilities for such purpose and designate the commission to act as their joint agency in regard thereto. Except in those cases where all member states join in such supplementary agreement and designation, the representatives in the commission of any group of such designating states shall constitute a separate section of the commission for the performance of the function or functions so designated and with such voting rights for these purposes as may be stipulated in such agreement; provided that, if any additional expense is involved, the member states so acting shall appropriate the necessary funds for this purpose. No supplementary agreement shall be valid to the extent that it conflicts with the purposes of this compact and the creation of such a section as a joint agency shall not affect the privileges, powers, responsibilities or duties of the member states participating therein as embodied in the other articles of this compact.
Article XII
This compact shall enter into force and become effective and binding when it has been enacted by the legislature of Tennessee and by the legislatures of any one or more of the states of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia and upon approval by the Congress of the United States and thereafter shall enter into force and become effective and binding as to any other of said states when enacted by the legislature thereof.
Article XIII
This compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each party state until renounced by act of the legislature of such state, in such form and manner as it may choose; provided that such renunciation shall not become effective until six (6) months after the effective date of the action taken by the legislature. Notice of such renunciation shall be given to the other party states by the secretary of state of the party state so renouncing upon passage of the act.
Article XIV
The provisions of this compact or of agreements thereunder shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact, or such agreement, is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any participating state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any state, agency, person or circumstances is held invalid, the constitutionality of the remainder of this compact or of any agreement thereunder and the applicability thereof to any state, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby, provided further that if this compact or any agreement thereunder shall be held contrary to the Constitution of the United States or of any state participating therein, the compact or any agreement thereunder shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters. It is the legislative intent that the provisions of this compact shall be reasonably and liberally construed.
SECTION 97. Section 49-17-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-73. When the governor shall have executed the compact on behalf of this state and shall have caused a verified copy thereof to be filed with the state secretary, and when such compact shall have been ratified by one or more of the states named in Section 49-17-71, then compact shall become operative and effective as between this state and such other state or states. The governor is hereby authorized and directed to take such action as may be necessary to complete the exchange of official documents as between this state and any other state ratifying the compact.
SECTION 98. Section 49-17-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-75. The commission contemplated by Article IV of the above compact shall consist of three (3) members, as follows: One legislator, who may either be a member of the Mississippi State Senate or the Mississippi House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Mississippi Commission on Interstate Co-operation, and two (2) executive officers or employees in the executive branch of the state government whose duties, experience and abilities qualify them for such a position, to be appointed by the governor. Each member of the commission must be a qualified voter of this state and shall serve for a term of four (4) years and be eligible to immediately succeed himself.
SECTION 99. Section 49-17-77, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-77. The three (3) commissioners from the State of Mississippi shall be authorized to do any and all things necessary in order to effectuate the terms and provisions of the compact contained herein and Sections 49-17-71 through 49-17-77 shall be entitled to a liberal interpretation in order to carry out the spirit and intent of the aforesaid compact.
SECTION 100. Section 49-17-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-81. Sections 49-17-81 through 49-17-89 shall be known and cited as the "Mississippi Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund and Emergency Loan Fund Act."
SECTION 101. Section 49-17-83, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-83. For the purposes of Sections 49-17-81 through 49-17-89, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed in this section:
(a) "Administrator" means the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
(b) "Commission" means the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality.
(c) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
(d) "Emergency fund" means the "Water Pollution Control Emergency Loan Fund" created under Section 49-17-86.
(e) "Loan
agreement" means an agreement by and among the commission, a political
subdivision and the * * * Department of Revenue to evidence the terms
and provisions of a loan under Sections 49-17-81 through 49-17-89.
(f) "Loan fund" means the Water Pollution Abatement Loan Fund created pursuant to Section 49-17-61.
(g) "Municipal security" means a bond, note or other evidence of indebtedness issued by a political subdivision to evidence a loan pursuant to the provisions of Sections 49-17-81 through 49-17-89.
(h) "Political subdivision" means any county, municipality, utility, district, political subdivision, or other governmental unit created under state law.
(i) "Project" means a publicly owned wastewater collection, treatment or disposal system including sludge disposal, renovation, repair and upgrading of existing systems, nonpoint source pollution control management programs and estuary conservation and management programs, and otherwise qualified under rules of the commission pursuant to the federal Water Quality Act of 1987.
(j) "Revolving fund" means the Mississippi Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund created under Section 49-17-85.
(k) "State" means the State of Mississippi.
SECTION 102. Section 49-17-85, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-85. (1) There is established in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the "Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund," which shall be administered by the commission acting through the department. The revolving fund may receive bond proceeds and funds appropriated or otherwise made available by the Legislature in any manner and funds from any other source, public or private. The revolving fund shall be maintained in perpetuity for the purposes established in this section.
(2) There is established in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the "Water Pollution Control Hardship Grants Fund," which shall be administered by the commission acting through the department. The grants fund shall be maintained in perpetuity for the purposes established in this section. Any interest earned on monies in the grants fund shall be credited to that fund.
(3) The commission shall promulgate regulations for the administration of the revolving fund program, the hardship grants program and for related programs authorized under this section. The regulations shall be in accordance with the federal Water Quality Act of 1987, as amended, and regulations and guidance issued under that act. The commission may enter into capitalization grant agreements with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and may accept capitalization grant awards made under Title VI of the Water Quality Act of 1987, as amended.
(4) The commission shall establish a loan program which shall commence after October 1, 1988, to assist political subdivisions in the construction of water pollution control projects. Loans from the revolving fund may be made to political subdivisions as set forth in a loan agreement in amounts not exceeding one hundred percent (100%) of eligible project costs as established by the commission. Notwithstanding loan amount limitations set forth in Section 49-17-61, the commission may require local participation or funding from other sources, or otherwise limit the percentage of costs covered by loans from the revolving fund. The commission may establish a maximum amount for any loan in order to provide for broad and equitable participation in the program.
(5) The commission shall establish a hardship grants program for rural communities, which shall commence after July 1, 1997, to assist severely economically disadvantaged small rural political subdivisions in the construction of water pollution control projects. The commission may receive and administer state or federal funds, or both, appropriated for the operation of this grants program and may take all actions necessary to implement the program in accordance with the federal hardship grants program. The hardship grants program shall operate in conjunction with the revolving loan program administered under this section.
(6) The commission shall act for the state in all matters and with respect to all determinations under Title VI of the federal Water Quality Act of 1987, as amended, and the federal Omnibus Appropriations and Recision Act of 1996.
(7) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the revolving fund may be used only:
(a) To make loans on the condition that:
(i) The loans are made at or below market interest rates, at terms not to exceed the maximum time allowed by federal law after project completion; the interest rate and term may vary from time to time and from loan to loan at the discretion of the commission;
(ii) Periodic principal and interest payments will commence when required by the commission but not later than one (1) year after project completion and all loans will be fully amortized when required by the commission but not later than the maximum time allowed by federal law after project completion;
(iii) The recipient of a loan will establish a dedicated source of revenue for repayment of loans;
(b) To buy or refinance the debt obligation of political subdivisions at or below market rates, where the debt obligations were incurred after March 7, 1985, and where the projects were constructed in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations;
(c) To guarantee, or purchase insurance for, obligations of political subdivisions where the action would improve credit market access or reduce interest rates;
(d) To provide loan guarantees for similar revolving funds established by municipalities or intermunicipal agencies;
(e) To earn interest on fund accounts;
(f) To establish nonpoint source pollution control management programs;
(g) To establish estuary conservation and management programs;
(h) For the reasonable costs of administering the revolving fund and conducting activities under this act, subject to the limitations established in Section 603(d)(7) of Title VI of the federal Clean Water Act, as amended, and subject to annual appropriation by the Legislature;
(i) In connection with the issuance, sale and purchase of bonds under Section 31-25-1 et seq., related to the funding of projects, to provide security or a pledge of revenues for the repayment of the bonds; and
(j) To pay the principal and interest on bonds issued pursuant to Section 11 of Chapter 580, Laws of 2007, Section 1 of Chapter 492, Laws of 2008, Section 47 of Chapter 557, Laws of 2009, Section 45 of Chapter 533, Laws of 2010, Section 3 of Chapter 480, Laws of 2011, Section 36 of Chapter 569, Laws of 2013, Section 9 of Chapter 452, Laws of 2018, Section 1 of Chapter 415, Laws of 2019, Section 16 of Chapter 492, Laws of 2020, and Section 137 of Chapter 480, Laws of 2021, as they become due; however, only interest and investment earnings on money in the fund may be utilized for this purpose.
(8) The hardship grants program shall be used only to provide hardship grants consistent with the federal hardship grants program for rural communities, regulations and guidance issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, subsections (3) and (5) of this section and regulations promulgated and guidance issued by the commission under this section.
(9) The commission shall establish by regulation a system of priorities and a priority list of projects eligible for funding with loans from the revolving fund.
(10) The commission may provide a loan from the revolving fund only with respect to a project if that project is on the priority list established by the commission.
(11) The revolving fund shall be credited with all payments of principal and interest derived from the fund uses described in subsection (7) of this section. However, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all or any portion of payments of principal and interest derived from the fund uses described in subsection (7) of this section may be designated or pledged for repayment of a loan as provided in Section 31-25-28 in connection with a loan from the Mississippi Development Bank.
(12) The commission may establish and collect fees to defray the reasonable costs of administering the revolving fund if it determines that the administrative costs will exceed the limitations established in Section 603(d)(7) of Title VI of the federal Clean Water Act, as amended. The administration fees may be included in loan amounts to political subdivisions for the purpose of facilitating payment to the commission. The fees may not exceed five percent (5%) of the loan amount.
(13) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the commission may, on a case-by-case basis and to the extent allowed by federal law, renegotiate the payment of principal and interest on loans made under this section to the six (6) most southern counties of the state covered by the Presidential Declaration of Major Disaster for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-1604-DR) dated August 29, 2005, and to political subdivisions located in such counties; however, the interest on the loans shall not be forgiven for a period of more than twenty-four (24) months and the maturity of the loans shall not be extended for a period of more than forty-eight (48) months.
(14) The commission may, on a case-by-case basis and to the extent allowed by federal law, renegotiate the payment of principal and interest on loans made under this section to Hancock County as a result of coverage under the Presidential Declaration of Major Disaster for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-1604-DR) dated August 29, 2005, and to political subdivisions located in Hancock County.
SECTION 103. Section 49-17-86, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-86. (1) (a) There is created a fund in the State Treasury to be designated as the "Water Pollution Control Emergency Loan Fund" hereinafter referred to as "emergency fund."
(b) The emergency fund may receive appropriations, bond proceeds, grants, gifts, donations or funds from any source, public or private. The emergency fund shall be credited with all repayments of principal and interest derived from loans made from the emergency fund.
(c) The monies in the emergency fund may be expended only in amounts appropriated by the Legislature.
(d) The emergency fund shall be maintained in perpetuity for the purposes established in Sections 49-17-81 through 49-17-89. Unexpended amounts remaining in the emergency fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund. Any interest earned on amounts in the emergency fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.
(2) The commission shall establish a loan program to assist political subdivisions in making emergency improvements such as repairs to or replacement of machinery, equipment, materials, structures or devices in existing water pollution abatement projects or such other emergency water pollution abatement projects as the commission deems necessary. Loans from the emergency fund may be made to political subdivisions as set forth in a loan agreement in amounts not exceeding one hundred percent (100%) of eligible project costs as established by the commission. The commission may require local participation or funding from other sources, or otherwise limit the percentage of costs covered by loans from the emergency fund. The commission may establish a maximum amount for any loan not to exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000.00).
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the emergency fund may be used only:
(a) To make loans on the condition that:
(i) Loans are made at or below market interest rates, at terms not to exceed ten (10) years after project completion; the interest rate may vary from time to time and from loan to loan at the discretion of the commission.
(ii) Periodic principal and interest payments will commence when required by the commission but not later than one (1) year after project completion and all loans will be fully amortized when required by the commission but not later than ten (10) years after project completion.
(iii) The recipient of a loan shall establish a dedicated source of revenue for repayment of loans. In addition, the commission may require any loan recipient to impose a per connection surcharge on each customer for repayment of any loan funds provided under this section.
(iv) The recipient of the loan is not in arrears in repayments to the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, the Water Pollution Control Emergency Loan Fund or under the Water Pollution Abatement Loan Program.
(b) To provide financial assistance to political subdivisions in making emergency improvements such as repairs to or replacement of machinery, equipment, materials, structures or devices in existing water pollution abatement projects or such other emergency water pollution abatement projects as the commission deems necessary.
(c) To defray the reasonable costs of administering the emergency fund and conducting activities under this section, subject to annual appropriation by the Legislature.
(4) The commission shall establish a system of evaluating the eligibility of projects, including a determination of the emergency nature of a situation for which funding is sought.
(5) The fund will be credited with all payments of principal and interest derived from the fund uses described in subsection (3) of this section. However, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all or any portion of payments of principal and interest derived from the fund uses described in subsection (3) of this section may be designated or pledged for repayment of a loan as provided for in Section 31-25-28 in connection with a loan from the Mississippi Development Bank.
(6) In addition to any amounts allowed under subsection (3)(c), the commission may establish and collect fees to further defray the reasonable costs of administering the emergency fund. Any administrative fees may be included in loan amounts to political subdivisions for the purpose of facilitating payment to the commission; fees may not exceed five percent (5%) of the loan amount. The commission may also use administrative fees collected pursuant to Section 49-17-85 to defray the reasonable costs of administering the emergency fund.
(7) The board may, on a case-by-case basis, renegotiate the payment of principal and interest on loans made under this section to the six (6) most southern counties of the state covered by the Presidential Declaration of Major Disaster for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-1604-DR) dated August 29, 2005, and to political subdivisions located in such counties; however, the interest on the loans shall not be forgiven for a period of more than twenty-four (24) months and the maturity of the loans shall not be extended for a period of more than forty-eight (48) months.
SECTION 104. Section 49-17-87, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-87. (1) A political subdivision which receives a loan from the revolving fund or emergency fund is required to and authorized to pledge for the repayment of such loan (a) any part of the sales tax reimbursement to which it may be entitled under Section 27-65-75, and (b) any part of the homestead exemption annual tax loss reimbursement to which it may be entitled under Section 27-33-77, to meet a repayment schedule set forth in a loan agreement. The loan agreement shall provide for (i) monthly payments, (ii) semiannual payments or (iii) other periodic payments, the annual total of which shall not exceed the annual total for any other year of the loan by more than fifteen percent (15%). The loan agreement shall provide for the repayment of all funds received from the revolving fund within the maximum time allowed by federal law after project completion and repayment of all funds received from the emergency fund within not more than ten (10) years from the date of project completion. The Department of Revenue shall pay to the revolving fund or emergency fund monthly, or as often as is practicable, from the amount, which would otherwise be remitted to a political subdivision from its sales tax reimbursement or homestead exemption annual tax loss reimbursement, the amounts set forth in such loan agreement.
(2) Before any political subdivision shall receive any loan from the revolving fund or the emergency fund, it shall have executed with the Department of Revenue and the commission a loan agreement evidencing that loan. The loan agreement hereinabove provided for shall not be construed to prohibit any recipient from prepaying any part or all of the funds received.
(3) As determined by the commission, any political subdivision desiring to construct a project approved by the department and which receives a loan from the state for that purpose may be required to pledge as security for the repayment of that loan, all or any part of the revenues of any project constructed, improved, repaired, replaced, purchased or refinanced with the proceeds of such loan. Whenever any project is a part of a system or combined system, then all or any portion of the revenues of that system or combined system may be pledged to secure repayment of a loan as determined by the commission.
The loan agreement shall provide for periodic payments, the annual total of which shall not exceed the annual total for any other year of the loan by more than fifteen percent (15%). The repayment schedule shall provide for the repayment of all funds received from the revolving fund within the maximum time allowed by federal law after project completion and repayment of all funds received from the emergency fund within not more than ten (10) years from the date of project completion. Payments under the loan agreement shall be made prior to the payments of principal or interest on any bonds issued by the political subdivision in connection with the project or projects to which loans from the revolving fund or emergency fund are made.
The State Auditor, upon the request of the commission, shall audit the receipts and expenditures of each district whose monthly payments are to be received by the department, and if the State Auditor should find the political subdivision in arrears, the Auditor shall immediately begin withholding from funds due the taxing district in which the political subdivision is located, under Section 27-33-41, an amount equal to the payment due plus accrued interest, late charges and expenses incurred in the audit and issue a warrant for that amount to the revolving fund or emergency fund as directed below.
The loan agreement hereinabove provided for shall not be construed to prohibit any recipient from prepaying any part or all of the funds received.
(4) Loans or any bonds or other evidences of indebtedness which are incurred or issued either pursuant to this chapter or Section 31-25-1 et seq., in relation to this chapter, or pursuant to any other law as evidence of any loan made or indebtedness incurred pursuant to this chapter, shall not be deemed indebtedness within the meaning specified in Section 21-33-303, with regard to cities or incorporated towns, in Section 19-9-5, with regard to counties, and in any other state law establishing a similar indebtedness limitation with regard to political subdivisions other than cities, incorporated towns and counties.
SECTION 105. Section 49-17-89, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-89. (1) Political subdivisions are hereby authorized to borrow monies under the provisions of Sections 49-17-81 through 49-17-89 to issue municipal securities to evidence such loans, and to enter into such other agreements necessary for such loans and municipal securities on such terms and conditions as such political subdivisions shall deem necessary and advisable.
(2) In connection with the issuance of municipal securities by political subdivisions to evidence loans under the provisions of this chapter and as may be required by Section 31-25-1 et seq., the following provisions shall specifically apply:
(a) No notice of intent to issue municipal securities as may otherwise be required by state law shall be required.
(b) The governing body of the political subdivision shall adopt such resolutions as may be necessary to borrow monies under this chapter, to issue and sell municipal securities to evidence such loans, and to approve and authorize the execution of any agreements related thereto.
(c) Such loans and municipal securities shall be secured as provided for in Section 49-17-87.
(d) Such loans and municipal securities shall not be deemed general obligations.
(e) Such municipal securities shall be sold only to evidence the repayment of a loan under this chapter and may be sold at such price or prices, in such form, and subject to such terms and conditions of issue, redemption and maturity, rate of interest and time of payment of interest as otherwise provided for a loan under this chapter.
(f) A political subdivision may pay all expenses, premiums, fees and commissions which it may deem necessary and advantageous in connection with any loan and the issuance and sale of municipal securities under this chapter.
(g) Municipal securities issued under this chapter need not be validated as provided in Section 31-13-1 et seq.
(h) This section shall be deemed to provide an additional, alternate and complete method for the doing of the things authorized hereby and shall be deemed and construed to be supplemental to any provisions of any other laws and not in derogation of any such provisions. In connection with the issuance of municipal securities under this chapter, a political subdivision shall not be required to comply with the provisions of any other law except as provided herein.
SECTION 106. Section 49-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-101. Whenever used in Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context, the following terms, whether used in the singular or plural, shall be given the following meanings:
(1) "Bonds" shall include notes, bonds and other obligations authorized to be issued under Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123.
(2) "Governing board" shall mean the governing bodies of the several counties and incorporated municipalities of the state as now or hereafter constituted; and in the event that any pollution control facilities shall be located in more than one (1) county, the term "governing board" shall also relate to the governing bodies of the several counties wherein such pollution control facilities shall be located.
(3) "Municipality" shall mean a county or incorporated municipality of this state.
(4) "Pollution control facilities" shall mean any facilities to be located in the municipality which are designed and used for the elimination, mitigation or prevention of air or water pollution, and shall include all facilities and equipment designed and used to collect, treat and thereafter dispose of all effluents and waste of any sort originating in or about or resulting from conduct of any industrial enterprise. Pollution control facilities may include facilities designed both for water and air pollution. Pollution control facilities may be constructed as part of, and may include facilities also designed for the recovery of chemicals or to serve some other purpose, but which also contribute to the elimination, mitigation or prevention of air or water pollution. Pollution control facilities financed pursuant to Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123 by a county or an incorporated municipality shall not be a part of such county's or municipality's municipal water or sewer system.
(5) "Industry" shall mean any person, firm or corporation operating any enterprise or facility for the manufacturing, processing, generation, assembling, distributing, shipping or rendering of any type of energy, product, or public utility services from which operation conditions result which would, unless eliminated, mitigated or prevented, result in pollution of the atmosphere or waters situated in or abutting this state.
(6) "Pollution authority" shall mean the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Commission as established by Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, as the same may be amended from time to time.
(7) "Lease/sale" shall mean any agreement without limitation whereby a county or incorporated municipality shall lease and/or convey title to pollution control facilities to an industry, made by and between the governing board and such industry by which such industry agrees to pay to (and to secure if so required) the county or the incorporated municipality, as the case may be, or to any assignee thereof, the sums required to meet the payment of the principal, interest and redemption premium, if any, on any bonds, and/or the expenses, if any, of operation by such municipality or county.
(8) "Board" shall mean the Mississippi Agricultural and Industrial Board.
SECTION 107. Section 49-17-103, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-103. Upon compliance with procedures prescribed herein, and subject to the provisions hereinafter stated in Sections 49-17-105 through 49-17-123, any municipality is hereby authorized and empowered:
(a) To acquire, purchase, construct, operate, maintain and replace pollution control facilities;
(b) To enlarge, expand and improve existing pollution control facilities;
(c) To issue bonds for the purpose of defraying the cost of facilities contemplated by subsections (a) and (b) above;
(d) To enter into agreements with any industry situated in the municipality to construct, operate, maintain, repair and replace said facilities;
(e) To enter into a lease/sale with an industry for the lease and/or sale of such facilities to such industry;
(f) To accept any state or federal grant that may be available to defray any part of the cost of such facilities. Provided, however, the agreements contemplated by subsections (d) and (e) above shall contain terms and conditions under which the industry shall pay to the municipality, or trustee, if any, for the bonds contemplated by subsection (c) above, such sums of money and at such periods as will equal the aggregate of principal, interest and redemption premium, if any, due on the bonds and also the costs, if any, to the municipality of operating, maintaining, insuring, repairing and replacing such facilities, or portions thereof, including a reasonable amount for reserves. Provided, further, any agreement contemplated by subsection (e) above shall further contain terms and conditions pursuant to which the said facilities shall be conveyed to the industry.
SECTION 108. Section 49-17-105, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-105. All bonds issued by a municipality under authority of Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123 shall be limited obligations of such municipality. The principal, interest and redemption premium, if any, shall be payable solely out of the moneys to be derived by the municipality pursuant to the agreements specified in subsections (d) and (e) of Section 49-17-103. Bonds and interest coupons issued under authority of Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123 shall never constitute an indebtedness of such municipality within the meaning of any state constitutional provision or statutory limitation and shall never constitute nor give rise to a pecuniary liability of the municipality, or a charge against its general credit or taxing powers, and such fact shall be plainly stated on the face of each bond. Such bonds may be executed and delivered at any time as a single issue or from time to time as several issues, may be in such form and denominations, may be of such tenor, may be in registered or bearer form either as to principal or interest or both, may be payable in such installments and at such time or times not exceeding forty (40) years from their date, may be subject to such terms of redemption, may be payable at such place or places, may bear interest at such rate or rates as the governing board and the industry shall agree upon, provided that the bonds of any issue shall not bear a greater overall maximum interest rate to maturity than that allowed in Section 75-17-103; and may contain such other provisions not inconsistent herewith, as the municipality may determine, all of which shall be provided in the proceedings authorizing the bonds. Any bonds issued under the authority of Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123 may be sold at public or private sale at such price and in such manner and from time to time as may be determined by the governing board to be most advantageous, and the governing board may pay, as a part of the cost of acquiring any pollution control facility, and out of the bond proceeds, all expenses, premiums and commissions with the authorization, sale and issuance thereof. All bonds issued under the authority of Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123, except registered bonds which are registered otherwise than to bearer, and all interest coupons appurtenant thereto shall be construed to be negotiable instruments, despite the fact that they are payable solely from a specified source. The proceedings authorizing the issuance of bonds may provide for the issuance, in the future, of further bonds on a parity with those initially issued.
Bonds issued hereunder shall be validated in the chancery court in which the municipality is located.
SECTION 109. Section 49-17-107, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-107. The principal, interest and premium, if any, on any bonds shall be secured by a pledge of the revenues payable to the municipality, as the case may be, pursuant to either of the agreements specified in subsections (d) and (e) of Section 49-17-103 and may also, in the case of an agreement under subsection (e) of Section 49-17-103, be secured by a lien which may be subordinate to a prior lien on any other property given as security by the industry pursuant to the lease/sale and any bonds may be issued pursuant to and secured by a trust indenture. The proceedings under which bonds are authorized to be issued or any such trust indenture may contain any agreements and provisions customarily contained in instruments securing bonds, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, provisions respecting the fixing and collection of the sums payable by the industry to the municipality and/or the trustee, if any, as the case may be, pursuant to the lease/sale, the maintenance and insurance of the pollution control facilities, the creation and maintenance of special funds by the industry, and the rights and remedies available in the event of default to the bondholders or to the trustee under such trust indenture, all as the governing board shall deem advisable. Provided, however, that in making any such agreements or provisions no municipality shall have the power to obligate itself except with respect to any security pledged, mortgaged or otherwise made available by the industry for the securing of the bonds, and the application of the revenues from the agreement, made under either subsections (d) or (e) of Section 49-17-103 and shall not have the power to incur a pecuniary liability or a charge upon its general credit or against its taxing powers. The proceedings authorizing any bonds hereunder and any trust indenture securing such bonds may provide that in the event of default in payment of the principal of or the interest on such bonds or in the performance of any agreement contained in such proceedings or trust indenture, such payment and performance may be enforced by mandamus or by the appointment of a receiver in equity with such powers as may be necessary to enforce the obligations thereof. No breach of any such agreement shall impose any pecuniary liability upon any municipality, or any charge upon its general credit or against its taxing power.
The trustee or trustees under any trust indenture, or any depository specified by such trust indenture, may be such persons or corporations as the governing board shall designate, notwithstanding that they may be nonresidents of Mississippi or incorporated under the laws of the United States or the laws of other states of the United States.
SECTION 110. Section 49-17-108, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-108. Any bonds issued under authority of Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123, and at any time outstanding, may, at any time and from time to time, be refunded by a municipality by the issuance of its refunding bonds in such amount as the governing board may deem necessary, but not to exceed in the aggregate the sum of (a) the principal amount of the obligations to be refunded, (b) applicable redemption premiums thereon, (c) unpaid interest on such obligations to be refunded to the date of delivery or exchange of the refunding bonds, (d) in the event the proceeds from the sale of the refunding bonds are to be deposited in trust as hereinafter provided, interest to accrue on such obligations to be refunded from the date of delivery of the refunding bonds to the date of maturity of such obligations to be refunded, or to the first redemption date of such obligations to be refunded, whichever shall be earlier, and (e) expenses, premiums and commissions deemed by the governing board to be necessary in connection with the issuance of the refunding bonds.
Any such refunding may be effected whether the obligations to be refunded shall have then matured or shall thereafter mature, either by the exchange of the refunding bonds for the obligations to be refunded thereby or by sale of the refunding bonds and the application of the proceeds thereof to the payment of the obligations to be refunded thereby, provided that the holders of any bonds so to be refunded shall not be compelled without their consent to surrender their bonds for payment or exchange prior to the date on which they are payable or, if they are called for redemption, prior to the date on which they are, by their terms, subject to redemption, and regardless of whether or not the obligations to be refunded were issued in connection with the same projects or separate projects, and regardless of whether or not the obligations to be refunded shall be payable on the same date or different dates or shall be due serially or otherwise. Any refunding bonds issued under the authority of this section shall be payable from the revenues out of which the bonds to be refunded hereby were payable and shall be secured in accordance with the provisions of Section 49-17-107 and as authorized by this section.
The principal proceeds from the sale of any refunding bonds shall be applied to the payment of any expenses, premiums and commissions incurred in connection with such refunding and as follows:
(a) To the immediate payment and retirement of the obligations being refunded; or
(b) Deposited in trust to provide for the payment and retirement of the obligations being refunded, including the interest thereon, and to pay interest on the refunding bonds prior to the retirement of the obligations being refunded. Money in any such trust fund may be invested in direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are guaranteed by, the United States of America, or obligations of any agency or instrumentality of the United States Government, or in certificates of deposit issued by a bank or trust company located in the State of Mississippi, if such certificates shall be secured by a pledge of any of said obligations having an aggregate market value equal to one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the principal amount of the certificates so secured. Nothing herein shall be construed as a limitation on the duration of any deposit in trust for the retirement of obligations being refunded, but which shall not have matured and which shall not be presently redeemable.
Prior to the issuance of refunding bonds under this section no findings shall be required of the pollution authority under Section 49-17-111. In lieu of the petition required by Section 49-17-121, the governing board shall file with the board a petition giving a brief explanation of the proposal to refund the obligations sought to be refunded, and financial statements on the company obligated under the lease/sale. Upon the filing of the petition, the board shall, as soon as practicable, approve the issuance of such refunding bonds, unless it determines that the issuance of such bonds would not be consistent with the purposes of Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123; and at any time not exceeding six (6) years following such approval the governing board may proceed with the issuance of such refunding bonds. The refunding bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be subject to all other terms and conditions of Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123, except for those provisions which, by their terms, do not apply to such refunding bonds.
It is the intent of the legislature that the terms used in this section shall have the meanings set forth in Section 49-17-101.
SECTION 111. Section 49-17-109, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-109. Contracts for acquisition, purchase, construction and/or installation of facilities contemplated by Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123 shall be effected in the manner prescribed by law for public contracts; provided, however, where (a) the municipality finds and records such finding on its minutes, that because of availability or particular nature of such facilities, it would not be in the public interest or would less effectively achieve the purposes of Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123 to enter into such contracts upon the basis of public bidding pursuant to advertisement, (b) the industry concurs in such finding, and (c) such finding is approved by the board, public bidding pursuant to advertisement may be dispensed with and such contracts may be entered into based upon negotiation; and provided further, the industry at its option, may negotiate such contracts in the name of the municipality.
SECTION 112. Section 49-17-111, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-111. Prior to undertaking the financing of any pollution control facility, the governing board shall obtain a finding of the pollution authority that the pollution control facilities are necessary and that the design thereof will result in the elimination, mitigation and/or prevention of air or water pollution.
SECTION 113. Section 49-17-113, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-113. Every agreement under either subsection (d) or (e) of Section 43-17-103 shall contain a covenant obligating the industry to effect the completion of the pollution control facilities if the proceeds of the bonds, including parity completion bonds, if any, prove insufficient, and each such lease/sale shall obligate the industry to make payments which shall be sufficient (a) to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds issued for such pollution control facilities, (b) to build up and maintain any reserves deemed by the governing board to be advisable in connection therewith, and (c) to pay the costs of maintaining the pollution control facilities in good repair and the cost of keeping it properly insured. Such agreement may provide for the issuance of additional parity bonds as required in order to complete the pollution control facility.
SECTION 114. Section 49-17-115, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-115. Any agreement made under subsection (e) of Section 49-17-103 may provide that the pollution control facilities will be owned by the municipality, and leased to the industry; may provide the industry with an option to purchase the pollution control facility upon such terms and conditions as the governing board and the industry shall agree upon at a price which may be a nominal amount or less than the true value at the time of purchase; or may provide that the pollution control facilities shall become the property of the industry upon the acquisition thereof. Any such agreement may also, but is not required to, include a guaranty agreement whereby a corporation, foreign or domestic, other than the industry guarantees in whole or in part the obligations of the industry under the lease/sale upon such terms and conditions as the governing board may deem appropriate.
SECTION 115. Section 49-17-117, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-117. The proceeds from the sale of any bonds issued under authority of Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123 shall be applied only for the purpose for which the bonds were issued; provided, however, that any premium and accrued interest received in any such sale shall be applied to the payment of the principal of or the interest on the bonds sold; and provided, further, that if for any reason any portion of the proceeds shall not be needed for the purpose for which the bonds were issued, such unneeded portion of the proceeds shall be applied to the payment of the principal of or interest on the bonds. The cost of acquiring any pollution control facilities shall be deemed to include the following: the actual cost of the construction of any part of any pollution control facilities which may be constructed, including architect's, engineer's and legal fees; the purchase price of any land necessary therefor; the purchase price of any part of any pollution control facilities that may be acquired by purchase; all expenses in connection with the authorization, sale and issuance of the bonds to finance such acquisition; and the interest on the bonds for a reasonable time prior to construction, during construction, and for not exceeding one (1) year after completion of the construction.
SECTION 116. Section 49-17-119, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-119. The bonds authorized by Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123 and the income therefrom, all trust indentures and mortgages executed as security therefor, all lease agreements made pursuant to the provisions hereof, and all pollution control facilities (when owned by the municipality) and the revenues derived from any agreement with respect thereto shall be exempt from all taxation by the State of Mississippi, and by any political subdivision thereof, except for inheritance, estate or transfer taxes and except further the contractors tax levied by Section 27-65-21, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 117. Section 49-17-121, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-121. No bonds shall be issued pursuant to the provisions of Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123 until the proposal of the governing board to issue the bonds shall receive the approval of the board. Whenever the governing board shall propose to issue bonds pursuant to the provisions of said sections, it shall file its petition to the board setting forth: (a) a brief description of the pollution control facilities proposed to be undertaken; (b) a statement setting forth the action taken by the pollution control authority in connection with the pollution control facilities; (c) a reasonable estimate of the cost of the pollution control facilities; (d) a general summary of the terms and conditions of the lease/sale; and (e) financial statements on lessee company. Upon the filing of the petition the board shall, as soon as practicable, make such investigation as it deems advisable, and if it finds that the proposed pollution control facilities are intended to promote the purposes of Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123 and may be reasonably anticipated to effect such result, it shall be authorized to approve the pollution control facilities, and at any time not exceeding six (6) years following such approval, the governing board may proceed with the issuance of bonds for the pollution control facilities. Notice of the approval by the board shall be published at least once by the governing board in a newspaper having general circulation in the county where the pollution control facilities are to be located. The governing board shall thereupon adopt and publish as required by law a resolution declaring its intention to issue said bonds.
Any qualified elector may challenge the validity of such approval by intervention in the bond validation proceedings.
Authority hereby vested in any governing board to issue, and the board to approve, revenue bonds pursuant to and in accordance with Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123 is supplemental to, and may be exercised irrespective of Sections 27-39-15, 57-1-1 to 57-1-51, 57-1-71 to 57-1-83, 57-1-101 to 57-1-107, and 57-3-1 to 57-3-33, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 118. Section 49-17-123, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-123. Nothing in Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123 shall be construed as granting authority for participation under the provisions of Chapter 471, Laws of 1971, as now or hereafter amended or participation in state appropriations for pollution control purposes.
SECTION 119. Section 49-17-401, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-401. Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433 shall be known as the Mississippi Underground Storage Tank Act of 1988.
SECTION 120. Section 49-17-403, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-403. For the purposes of Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433, the following shall have the meaning ascribed in this section:
(a) "Active site" means a site of an underground storage tank where an owner can be identified and where the tank is available for use in the management and handling of motor fuels, including tanks currently in service, tanks temporarily closed and tanks temporarily out of service.
(b) "Bonded distributor" means any person holding a distributor's permit issued under either Section 27-55-7 or Section 27-55-507.
(c) "Commission" means the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality.
(d) "Contamination" means the presence or discharge of regulated substances in or on the land or in the waters of the state.
(e) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
(f) "Director" means the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
(g) "Groundwater" means water located beneath the land surface located wholly or partially within the boundaries of the state.
(h) "Motor fuels" means gasoline and aviation gasoline as defined in Section 27-55-5 and special fuel as defined in Section 27-55-505, except for those "motor fuels" used in electric power generating plants for the commercial production of electricity.
(i) "Operator" means any person in control of, or having responsibility for, the daily operation of an underground storage tank.
(j) "Owner of an underground storage tank" means:
(i) In the case of an underground storage tank in use on November 8, 1984, or brought into use after that date, any person who owns an underground storage tank used for the storage, use or dispensing of regulated substances; and
(ii) In the case of an underground storage tank in use before November 8, 1984, but no longer in use on that date, any person who owned such tank immediately before the discontinuation of its use.
(k) "Person" means an individual, trust, firm, joint-stock company, federal agency, corporation, state municipality, commission, political subdivision of a state, any interstate body, a consortium, a joint venture, a commercial entity or the United States government.
(l) "Regulated substance" means:
(i) Any substance defined in Section 101(14) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, Public Law No. 96-510, as amended and extended (but not including any substance regulated as a hazardous waste under Section 17-17-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972); and
(ii) Petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof, which is liquid at standard conditions of temperature and pressure (sixty (60) degrees Fahrenheit and fourteen and seven-tenths (14-7/10) pounds per square inch absolute).
(m) "Release" means any spilling, leaking, emitting, discharging, escaping, leaching or disposing from an underground storage tank into groundwater, surface water or subsurface soils.
(n) "Response action" means any activity, including evaluation, planning, design, engineering, construction and ancillary services, which is carried out in response to any discharge, release or threatened release of motor fuels.
(o) "Response action contractor" means a person who has been approved by the commission and is carrying out any response action, including a person retained or hired by such person to provide services relating to a response action.
(p) "Retailer" means any person other than a bonded distributor who sells motor fuel as defined in this section.
(q) "Substantial compliance" means that an owner or operator of an underground storage tank has registered that tank with the department, and has made a good-faith effort to comply with the law; and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
(r) "Third-party claim" means any civil action brought or asserted by any person against any owner of any underground storage tank for damages to person or property which damages are the direct result of a release of motor fuels from an underground storage tank.
(s) "Underground storage tank" means any one (1) or combination of containers including tanks, vessels, enclosures or structures together with appurtenances thereto used to contain an accumulation of regulated substances, and the volume of which, including the volume of the underground pipes connected thereto, is ten percent (10%) or more beneath the surface of the ground. Such term does not include any:
(i) Farm or residential tanks of one thousand one hundred (1,100) gallons or less capacity used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial purposes;
(ii) Tanks used for storing heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored;
(iii) Septic tanks;
(iv) Pipeline facilities (including gathering lines regulated under:
1. The Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, Public Law No. 90-481, 49 USCS 1671-1684, as amended and extended,
2. The Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979, Public Law No. 96-129, 49 USCS 2001 et seq., as amended and extended, or
3. An intrastate pipeline facility regulated under state laws comparable to the provisions of law in Clause 1 or 2 of this subparagraph);
(v) Surface impoundments, pits, ponds or lagoons;
(vi) Storm water or wastewater collection systems;
(vii) Flow-through process tanks;
(viii) Liquid traps or associated gathering lines directly related to oil or gas production and gathering operation;
(ix) Storage tanks situated in an underground area such as a basement, cellar, mine working, drift, shaft or tunnel if the storage tank is situated upon or above the surface of the floor;
(x) Other tanks exempted by the Administrator of the federal Environmental Protection Agency; and
(xi) Piping connected to any of the above exemptions.
(t) "User" means any person who purchases or acquires motor fuels as defined in this section for consumption.
SECTION 121. Section 49-17-405, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-405. (1) There is hereby created the Mississippi Groundwater Protection Trust Fund, hereinafter referred to as the "fund" to be administered by the Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality. The commission shall adopt regulations for administering this fund.
(2) The commission shall expend or utilize monies up to One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) annually in the fund by an annual appropriation approved by the Legislature to supplement all reasonable direct and indirect costs associated with the development and administration of the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Program if the annual tank regulatory fee in Section 49-17-421 does not adequately cover the costs associated with Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435. All reasonable direct and indirect costs associated with development and administration of the UST Program, including, but not limited to, the reasonable costs of the following activities as they relate to the UST Program:
(a) Preparing generally applicable regulations or guidance regarding the UST Program or its implementation or enforcement;
(b) Administering the UST Program, including the supporting and tracking of UST owners/operators and associated UST systems, compliance with UST regulations, the fund, UST-certified contractors, tank fees and related data entry;
(c) Implementing and enforcing the terms of the UST regulations; and
(d) Investigation, assessment and rehabilitation of contamination sites with restoration or replacement of potable water supplies.
At no time shall an annual fund appropriation result in more than supplemental funding for the current annual cost of administering the UST Program.
(3) Whenever in the executive director's determination a release of motor fuels at an active site may pose a threat to the environment or the public health, safety or welfare, the department shall obligate monies available in the fund to provide for:
(a) Investigation and assessment of contamination sites;
(b) Restoration or replacement of potable water supplies;
(c) Rehabilitation of contamination sites, which may consist of cleanup of affected soil, groundwater and inland surface waters, using cost-effective alternatives that are technologically feasible and reliable, and that provide adequate protection of the public health, safety and welfare and minimize environmental damage, in accordance with the site selection and clean-up criteria established by the commission, except that nothing herein shall be construed to authorize the commission to obligate funds for payment of costs which may be associated with, but are not integral to, site rehabilitation, such as the cost for retrofitting or replacing underground storage tanks.
(4) Whenever the commission has expended funds from the fund created by Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433, the owner of the underground storage tank shall not be liable to the department for such costs if the owner was in substantial compliance on the date on which the discharge of the motor fuels which necessitates the cleanup was reported to the department. Otherwise owners are responsible for reimbursement and the reimbursed monies shall go back into the fund. In such circumstances the commission is authorized to take any necessary action to recover these monies from responsible owners.
(5) Any provisions of this section and chapter regarding liability for the costs of cleanup, removal, remediation or abatement of any pollution, hazardous waste or solid waste shall be limited as provided in Section 49-17-42 and rules adopted thereto.
SECTION 122. Section 49-17-407, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-407. (1) (a) An environmental protection fee of Four-tenths of One Cent (4/10 of 1¢) per gallon is hereby levied upon any bonded distributor, as defined by Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433, who sells or delivers motor fuels to a retailer or user in this state.
(b) Every person, other than a bonded distributor, who shall purchase or acquire motor fuels within this state on which the environmental protection fee has not accrued, shall be liable for the environmental protection fee.
(c) The environmental protection fee shall be imposed only one (1) time on motor fuels sold in the state.
(d) The environmental protection fee shall be collected by the Department of Revenue and shall be designated separately from the excise taxes on fuels.
(e) Any person liable for the environmental protection fee shall be subject to the same requirements and penalties as distributors under the provisions of the Mississippi Special Fuel Tax Law.
(f) Any person liable for the environmental protection fee shall file a report and remit any fees due at the same time provided for filing reports under Section 27-55-523, on forms prescribed by the Department of Revenue.
(g) The Department of Revenue is hereby authorized and empowered to promulgate all rules and regulations necessary for the administration of the environmental protection fee.
(2) (a) On or before the fifteenth day of each month the environmental protection fees collected during the previous month shall be deposited into the Mississippi Groundwater Protection Trust Fund established in Section 49-17-405. When the unobligated balance in the fund reaches or exceeds Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00), the administrator of the fund shall notify in writing the Department of Revenue no later than the twenty-fifth day of the month to revise the distribution of the environmental protection fee and the Department of Revenue shall deposit the fee into the State Highway Fund. Such distribution shall become effective on the last day of the month succeeding the month in which such notice was given. All environmental protection fees accrued shall be reported and paid.
(b) When the fund balance is reduced below Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000.00), the fee shall again be deposited into the Mississippi Groundwater Protection Trust Fund until such time as the fund shall reach or exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00). The administrator of the fund shall notify, no later than the twenty-fifth day of the month, the Department of Revenue to deposit the environmental protection fee into the Mississippi Groundwater Protection Trust Fund and such distribution shall become effective on the first day of the second month succeeding the month in which the notice to deposit the fee into the fund was given.
(3) This fund shall be used for the purposes set forth in Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435 and for no other governmental purposes, nor shall any portion hereof ever be available to borrow from by any branch of government; it being the intent of the Legislature that this fund and its increments shall remain intact and inviolate. Any interest earned on monies in this fund shall remain in this fund.
(4) Monies held in the fund established under Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435 shall be used for supplemental funding of the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Program as described in Section 49-17-405 and only at an active site and shall be disbursed in accordance with the commission requirements and as follows:
(a) Payments shall be made to any third party who brings a third-party claim against any owner of an underground storage tank and the commission as trustee of the Mississippi Groundwater Protection Trust Fund and who obtains a final judgment in such action which is valid and enforceable in this state against such parties. Payment shall be paid to the third party upon filing by such party an application with the department attaching the original or a certified copy of the final judgment.
(b) Payments shall be made in reasonable amounts to approved response action contractors and other parties involved in the site study and cleanup. Payment shall be made to the party incurring the costs by filing of a sworn application with the department indicating the fair and reasonable value of the costs of site rehabilitation, subject to the regulations and limitations as set by the department.
(5) Payments from the fund are limited as follows:
(a) For cleanup purposes, a maximum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000.00) may be disbursed from the fund for any one (1) site, per confirmed release occurrence.
(b) For third-party judgments, a maximum of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) may be disbursed from the fund for any one (1) site, per confirmed release occurrence.
(c) Nothing in Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435 shall establish or create any liability or responsibility on the part of the department or the State of Mississippi to pay any cleanup costs or third-party claims if the fund created herein is insufficient to do so.
(6) Monies held in the fund established under Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435 shall not be used for purchases of equipment needed to assist in cleanup operations.
(7) Nothing in Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435 shall serve to limit any recovery against an owner of an underground storage tank in excess of the fund payment limits established under this section.
(8) Substantial compliance shall in no way be construed to be an absolute defense to civil liability.
SECTION 123. Section 49-17-409, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-409. The commission is authorized to establish requirements for the written reporting of motor fuel contamination incidents from underground storage tanks. All sites involving incidents of motor fuel contamination from underground storage tanks, where the owner of such tanks is in substantial compliance and files a written report with the commission of such incident, shall be qualified sites for the expenditure of funds from the Mississippi Groundwater Protection Trust Fund created by Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433. Any funds so expended shall be absorbed at the expense of the fund, without recourse to reimbursement or recovery from any underground storage tank owner, subject to the following exceptions:
(a) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any site where the department has initiated any cleanup or civil enforcement action prior to the passage of Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any site where the department has been denied site access to implement the provisions of Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to authorize or require reimbursement from the fund for costs expended prior to the passage of Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433.
(d) The commission may determine, in its discretion, that the owner of an underground storage tank is not in substantial compliance for the purposes of this section and Section 49-17-405, if such owner of an underground storage tank has been delinquent in the payment of tank regulatory fees for more than three (3) months after such fee is due and payable.
(e) Any provisions of this section and chapter regarding liability for the costs of cleanup, removal, remediation or abatement of any pollution, hazardous waste or solid waste shall be limited as provided in Section 49-17-42 and rules adopted thereto.
SECTION 124. Section 49-17-411, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-411. No person shall own, install or operate an underground storage tank without complying with the applicable regulations of the commission.
SECTION 125. Section 49-17-413, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-413. (1) The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations governing underground storage tanks, which shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Notification of abandoned underground storage tanks;
(b) Registration of underground storage tanks currently under operation;
(c) Standards for underground storage tanks. The commission shall distinguish in such standards between requirements appropriate for new tanks, for tanks in existence on the date of the promulgation of the standards and for abandoned tanks. These standards shall include, but not be limited to, design, construction, installation, release detection, and compatibility standards;
(d) Release detection, prevention and corrective action;
(e) Tank closure requirements;
(f) Standards for monitoring, testing, reporting and record keeping;
(g) Requirements for financial responsibility. The commission shall adopt requirements to insure financial responsibility for corrective action and compensation of third parties required by releases arising from the operation of an underground storage tank, except that such requirements shall not exceed those established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Financial responsibility may be established by any one (1) or combination of the following: insurance; guarantee; surety bond; letter of credit; qualification as a self-insurer; for owners of underground storage tanks containing motor fuels, use of the Mississippi Groundwater Protection Trust Fund; or any other financial assurance mechanism which shall be allowed under EPA regulations governing underground storage tanks; and
(h) Requirements to implement the National Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), 42 USC 15801.
(2) Variances and temporary emergency variances may be granted by the commission from any regulation adopted pursuant to Section 49-17-401 et seq.
SECTION 126. Section 49-17-415, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-415. For the purposes of identifying the source of known or suspected pollution, developing or assisting in the development of any regulation, conducting any study, taking corrective action or enforcing the provisions of Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433, any owner or operator of an underground storage tank shall, upon the request of any duly authorized representative of the commission: furnish information relating to such tanks, including tank equipment and contents; conduct monitoring or testing; and permit the designated representative at all reasonable times to have access to and to copy all records relating to such tanks. For the purposes of identifying the source of known or suspected pollution, developing or assisting in the development of any regulation, conducting any study, or enforcing the provisions of Section 49-17-401 et seq., any duly authorized representatives of the commission are authorized:
(a) To enter at reasonable times any establishment or place where an underground storage tank is located;
(b) To inspect and obtain samples from any person of any regulated substances contained in such tank; and
(c) To conduct monitoring or testing of the tanks, associated equipment, contents or surrounding soils, air, surface water or groundwater.
SECTION 127. Section 49-17-419, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-419. Nothing contained in the Mississippi Underground Storage Tanks Act of 1988 (Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433) shall prevent the commission from requiring any owner of an underground storage tank from taking timely and effective corrective action.
The commission may use the Pollution Emergency Fund for emergency or remedial cleanup of underground storage tank leaks when the tank owner will not take timely and effective action. In the event of the necessity for such immediate remedial or cleanup action, the commission may contract for same and advance funds from the Pollution Emergency Fund to pay the costs thereof, such advancements to be repaid to the Pollution Emergency Fund upon recovery by the commission from the tank owner.
SECTION 128. Section 49-17-421, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-421. (1) After receiving the annual report and recommendation of the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Advisory Council, the commission may assess and collect an annual tank regulatory fee in an amount sufficient to administer Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435, but not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) per tank. The fee, as set by the commission, shall be assessed per tank per year and shall be collected from the owner of each underground storage tank available for use in Mississippi on July 1, 1988, or brought into use or available for use after that date, as provided in the Mississippi Underground Storage Tank Act of 1988 (Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435). The fee assessed under this section is a debt due by the owner of each tank in use in Mississippi on July 1, 1988, or brought into use after that date.
(2) The commission shall establish the amount of the tank regulatory fee to cover the costs of the Underground Storage Tank Program. The fee for each state fiscal year shall be set by order of the commission, which shall include:
(a) A receipt of the report
and recommendations of the UST Advisory Council * * *; and
(b) A public notice to allow the public a period of at least thirty (30) days to provide comments regarding the underground storage tank fee report and recommendation, or to request a public hearing in accordance with Section 49-17-29(4)(a).
The department may conduct a public hearing on the tank regulatory fee when a significant level of public interest exists or when warranted by other factors. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (2), the commission may proceed with entry of the order if the UST Advisory Council fails to submit its report in a timely manner.
The tank regulatory fee shall be due July 1 of each year, and if any part of the fee is not paid within thirty (30) days after the due date, a penalty of fifty percent (50%) of the amount due shall accrue at once and be added to the fee, unless the owner of the underground storage tank demonstrates to the commission that the failure to make timely payment was unavoidable due to financial hardship or otherwise beyond the control of the owner.
Monies collected under this section shall be deposited in a special fund which is created in the State Treasury. Unexpended amounts remaining in the special fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse into the General Fund and any interest earned on amounts in the special fund shall be credited to the special fund by the Treasurer. The fund may receive monies from any available public or private source, including, but not limited to, the fund, collection of fees, interest, grants, taxes, public or private donations and judicial actions. Monies in this special fund shall be expended by annual appropriation approved by the Legislature to administer Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435.
SECTION 129. Section 49-17-422, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-422. (1) An Underground Storage Tank (UST) Advisory Council is created to consult with the commission on all matters relating to the UST program, to conduct an independent study of the development and administration costs of the program and to conduct an annual review of administering such program. The costs to be included in the study for the program shall be those costs as provided in Section 49-17-421. The council shall include in the study the type and quantity of underground storage tanks in the state that are covered by the program. After completing a study of the needs and costs of the program, the council shall recommend an equitable fee system for the program that is based on the type and quantity of underground storage tanks. The annual review for the program shall determine if the fee system is collecting sufficient funds to meet program needs and include any recommendation by the council regarding changes to the fee system. Each annual review report shall be due January 1 of each year to the commission and the executive director of the department.
(2) The UST Advisory Council shall be comprised of the following five (5) members:
(a) The President of the Mississippi Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association (MPMCSA) or his or her designee;
(b) A member of the MPMCSA appointed by the Board of Directors of the MPMCSA for a term of four (4) years;
(c) A representative appointed by the President of the Mississippi Engineering Society, experienced in the assessment and remediation of petroleum contamination, for a term of four (4) years;
(d) A representative appointed by the Governor, of any company doing business in Mississippi in the installation, closure and/or testing of underground storage tanks; and
(e) A representative appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, of any company doing business in Mississippi in the installation, closure and/or testing of underground storage tanks.
The council members who are appointed by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall have terms that are concurrent with the term of the appointing official.
(3) Original appointments to the UST Advisory Council must be made no later than January 1, 2019, and vacancies on the council shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointments. The council shall convene within sixty (60) days following the date of the appointment of the members, and must select from their membership a chairperson to preside over meetings and a vice chairperson to preside in the absence of the chairperson or when the chairperson is excused. The council shall adopt procedures governing the manner of conducting its business. A majority of the members constitutes a quorum to do business.
(4) Members of the UST Advisory Council shall serve without salary, but shall be entitled to receive a reimbursement of their actual travel and expenses, as provided in Section 25-3-41, that are incurred while performing in the scope of their duties as council members. These expenses are to be paid on an itemized statement that is approved by the State Fiscal Officer from fees collected under Section 49-17-421.
(5) The executive director of the department shall provide technical, clerical and other support services, including service by contract, as the council requires in the performance of its functions.
SECTION 130. Section 49-17-423, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-423. The commission shall administer the expenditure of any funds made available from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund established by the Federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, Public Law No. 99-499, October 17, 1986, Public Law No. 99-563, October 27, 1986, 42 USCS Sections 9671-9675, and shall have authority to promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to administer this program.
SECTION 131. Section 49-17-425, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-425. The disclosure of any records, reports or information obtained pursuant to Section 49-17-401 et seq. shall be governed by the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983, Section 25-61-1 and Section 49-17-39, Mississippi Code of 1972, and the regulations of the commission promulgated thereunder.
SECTION 132. Section 49-17-427, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-427. (1) Whenever the commission or an employee thereof has reason to believe that a violation of any provision of this chapter, or of any order of the commission, or of any regulation promulgated pursuant to this chapter has occurred, the commission shall initiate proceedings in the same manner as provided in Sections 49-17-31 through 49-17-41, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(2) Any person found by the commission violating any of the provisions of Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433, or any rule or regulation or written order of the commission shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for each violation per day, such penalty to be assessed and levied by the commission as provided in Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(3) In determining the amount of any penalty under this chapter, the commission shall consider at a minimum:
(a) The willfulness of the violation;
(b) Any damage to air, water, land or other natural resources of the state or their uses;
(c) Costs of restoration or abatement;
(d) Economic benefit as a result of noncompliance;
(e) The seriousness of the violation, including any harm to the environment and any hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the public;
(f) Past performance history; and
(g) Whether the noncompliance was discovered and reported as the result of a voluntary self-evaluation. If a person discovers as a result of a voluntary self-evaluation, information related to noncompliance with an environmental law and voluntarily discloses that information to the department, commission or any employee thereof, the commission shall, to the greatest extent possible, reduce a penalty, if any, determined by the commission, except for economic benefit as a result of noncompliance, to a de minimis amount if all of the following are true:
(i) The disclosure is made promptly after knowledge of the information disclosed is obtained by the person; (ii) The person making the disclosure initiates the appropriate corrective actions and pursues those corrective actions with due diligence;
(iii) The person making the disclosure cooperates with the commission and the department regarding investigation of the issues identified in the disclosure;
(iv) The person is not otherwise required by an environmental law to make the disclosure to the commission or the department;
(v) The information was not obtained through any source independent of the voluntary self-evaluation or by the department through observation, sampling or monitoring;
(vi) The noncompliance did not result in a substantial endangerment threatening the public health, safety or welfare or the environment; and
(vii) The noncompliance is not a repeat violation occurring at the same facility within a period of three (3) years. "Repeat violation" in this subparagraph means a second or subsequent violation, after the first violation has ceased, of the same statutory provision, regulation, permit condition, or condition in an order of the commission.
(4) Any provisions of this section and chapter regarding liability for the costs of cleanup, removal, remediation or abatement of any pollution, hazardous waste or solid waste shall be limited as provided in Section 49-17-42 and rules adopted thereto.
SECTION 133. Section 49-17-429, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-429. No person may install,
alter or remove an underground storage tank after July 1, 1990, without first
having been certified by the Commission on * * * Environmental Quality.
The commission shall adopt rules and regulations setting forth the requirements
for such certification which shall include, but not be limited to,
a certification examination.
SECTION 134. Section 49-17-431, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-431. Any person aggrieved by any decision by the commission or the director relating to any provision of Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433 shall have the right to appeal as provided in Section 49-17-41, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 135. Section 49-17-433, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-433. The provisions of Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433 are severable. If any part of Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433 is declared invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration shall not affect the part which remains.
SECTION 136. Section 49-17-435, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-435. Before November 15 of each year, the department shall report to the appropriate environmental committees of the Senate and House of Representatives on the status of the Underground Storage Tank Program and the Groundwater Protection Trust Fund. The report shall include at a minimum any recommendations for improvement of the program and for ensuring the soundness of the fund and, to the extent practicable, an assessment of any changes in the retail price of motor fuels caused by the environmental protection fee.
SECTION 137. Section 49-17-501, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-501. Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 shall be known as and may be cited as the "Lead-Based Paint Activity Accreditation and Certification Act."
SECTION 138. Section 49-17-503, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-503. The purpose of Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 is to provide for the accreditation of lead-based paint activities training programs, procedures and requirements for certification of persons engaged in lead-based paint activities and development and implementation of work practice standards for lead-based paint activities in target housing, child-occupied facilities and other facilities regulated under Section 402 of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. It is the intent of Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 that the cost of the administration and enforcement of Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 shall be borne fully by federal grants and fees for accreditation, certification, renovation projects and abatement projects.
SECTION 139. Section 49-17-505, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-505. For purposes of Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) "Abatement" means any measure or set of measures designed to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards consistent with 745 CFR Section 223. The term includes, but is not limited to, the removal of lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust, the permanent enclosure or encapsulation of lead-based paint, the replacement of lead-painted surfaces or fixtures, and the removal or covering of lead-contaminated soil and all preparation, cleanup, disposal, and postabatement clearance testing activities associated with those measures. The term does not include renovation, remodeling, landscaping or other activities not designed to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards and interim controls, operations and maintenance activities or other activities and measures designed to temporarily, but not permanently reduce lead-based paint hazards.
(b) "Accredited training program" means a training program that has been accredited by the commission, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or EPA-approved lead-based paint program in a state with reciprocity agreements with Mississippi to provide training for individuals engaged in lead-based paint activities.
(c) "Certificate" means a document authorizing a person to perform lead-based paint activities as described in Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531.
(d) "Child-occupied facility," as this term applies to abatement activities, means a building, or portion of a building, constructed before 1978, visited regularly by the same child, six (6) years of age or under, on at least two (2) different days within any calendar week, if each day's visit lasts at least three (3) hours, the combined weekly visit lasts at least six (6) hours, and the combined annual visits last at least sixty (60) hours. Child-occupied facilities include, but are not limited to, day care centers, preschools and kindergarten classrooms.
(e) "Child-occupied facility," as this term applies to renovation activities, means a building, or portion of a building, constructed prior to 1978, visited regularly by the same child, under six (6) years of age, on at least two (2) different days within any week, if each day's visit lasts at least three (3) hours and the combined weekly visits last at least six (6) hours, and the combined annual visits last at least sixty (60) hours. Child-occupied facilities may include, but are not limited to, day care centers, preschools and kindergarten classrooms. Child-occupied facilities may be located in target housing or in public or commercial buildings. With respect to common areas in public or commercial buildings that contain child-occupied facilities, the child-occupied facility encompasses only those common areas that are routinely used by children under age six (6), such as restrooms and cafeterias. Common areas that children under age six (6) only pass through, such as hallways, stairways, and garages are not included. In addition, with respect to exteriors of public or commercial buildings that contain child-occupied facilities, the child-occupied facility encompasses only the exterior sides of the building that are immediately adjacent to the child-occupied facility or the common areas routinely used by children under age six (6).
(f) "Clearance levels" means the maximum amount of lead permitted in dust on a surface following completion of an abatement activity.
(g) "Commission" means the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality.
(h) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
(i) "Dust sampling technician" means an individual employed to perform dust clearance sampling.
(j) "Executive director" means the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
(k) "Firm" means a company, partnership, corporation, sole proprietorship, association, or other business entity or individual doing business that performs or offers to perform lead-based paint activities. This term also includes a federal, state, tribal, or local government agency, or a nonprofit organization that performs or offers to perform lead-based paint activities.
(l) "Inspection" means a surface-by-surface investigation to determine the presence of lead-based paint and the provision of a report explaining the results of the investigation.
(m) "Inspector" means an individual employed to inspect or reinspect for the presence of lead-based paint, to collect samples for the presence of lead in dust and soil for the purposes of abatement or renovation clearance testing and to prepare inspection reports.
(n) "Lead-based paint" means paint or other surface coatings that contain lead equal to or in excess of one (1) milligram per square centimeter or more than one-half of one percent (0.5%) by weight.
(o) "Lead-based paint activities" means inspection, risk assessment, abatement or renovation of target housing or child-occupied facilities.
(p) "Lead-based paint hazard" means any condition that causes exposure to lead from lead-contaminated dust, lead-contaminated soil, or lead-contaminated paint that is deteriorated or present in accessible surfaces, friction surfaces, or impact surfaces that would result in adverse human health effects as identified by the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
(q) "Minor repair and maintenance activities" means activities, including minor heating, ventilation or air-conditioning work, electrical work, and plumbing, that disrupt six (6) square feet or less of painted surface per room for interior activities or twenty (20) square feet or less of painted surface for exterior activities where none of the work practices prohibited or restricted by 40 CFR Section 745.85(a)(3) are used and where the work does not involve window replacement or demolition of painted surface areas. When removing painted components, or portions of painted components, the entire surface area removed is the amount of painted surface disturbed. Jobs, other than emergency renovations, performed in the same room within the same thirty (30) days must be considered the same job for the purpose of determining whether the job is a minor repair and maintenance activity.
(r) "Person" means the state or other agency or institution thereof, any municipality, political subdivision, public or private corporation, individual, partnership, firm, association, independent contractor or other entity, and includes any officer or governing or managing body of any municipality, political subdivision, or public or private corporation, or the United States or any officer or employee thereof.
(s) "Project designer" means an individual employed to prepare abatement project designs, occupant protection plans and abatement project reports.
(t) "Renovation" means the modification of any existing structure, or portion thereof, that results in the disturbance of painted surfaces, unless that activity is performed as part of an abatement. The term "renovation" includes, but is not limited to: the removal, modification or repair of painted surfaces or painted components (e.g., modification of painted doors, surface restoration, window repair, surface preparation activity, sanding, scraping or other activities that may generate paint dust); the removal of building components (e.g., walls, ceilings, plumbing, windows); weatherization projects (e.g., cutting holes in painted surfaces to install blown-in insulation or to gain access to attics, planning thresholds to install weather-stripping); and interim controls that disturb painted surfaces. A renovation performed for the purpose of converting a building, or part of a building, into target housing or a child-occupied facility is a renovation. The term renovation does not include minor repair and maintenance activities.
(u) "Renovator" means an individual who either performs or directs or supervises workers who perform renovations. A "certified renovator" is a renovator who has successfully completed a renovator course accredited by EPA or an EPA-authorized state or tribal program, and has been certified to perform renovations in the State of Mississippi.
(v) "Residential dwelling" means a detached single family dwelling unit, including attached structures such as porches and stoops or a single family dwelling unit in a structure that contains more than one (1) separate residential dwelling unit, which is used or occupied, or intended to be used or occupied, in whole or in part, as the home or residence of one or more persons.
(w) "Risk assessment" means an on-site investigation to determine the existence, nature, severity, and location of lead-based paint hazards and the provision of a report by the person conducting the risk assessment, explaining the results of the investigation and options for reducing lead-based paint hazards.
(x) "Risk assessor" means an individual employed to conduct risk assessments and lead hazard screens, to prepare inspection reports and to collect samples for the presence of lead in dust and soil for the purposes of abatement and renovation clearance testing.
(y) "Supervisor" means an individual designated by a contractor or certified firm to be responsible for the direction and conduct of lead-based paint abatement activities and to prepare occupant protection plans and abatement reports.
(z) "Target housing," as this term refers to abatements, means any housing constructed before 1978, except housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities (unless any one or more children aged six (6) years or under resides or is expected to reside in that housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities) or any zero-bedroom dwelling.
(aa) "Target housing," as this term refers to renovations, means any housing constructed before 1978, except housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities (unless any one or more children under the age of six (6) years resides or is expected to reside in that housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities) or any zero-bedroom dwelling.
(bb) "Worker" means any individual who works on abatements or renovations.
SECTION 140. Section 49-17-507, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-507. In addition to any other powers and duties authorized by law, the commission shall have the following powers and duties regarding lead-based paint activities:
(a) To adopt, modify, repeal and promulgate, after due notice and hearing, and where not otherwise prohibited by federal or state law, to make exceptions to and grant exemptions and variances from, and to enforce rules and regulations implementing or effectuating the powers and duties of the commission under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531;
(b) To issue, reissue, suspend, revoke or deny the issuance or reissuance of accreditation for lead-based paint activity training programs and to require the modification of those training programs;
(c) To issue, reissue, suspend, revoke or deny the issuance or reissuance of certificates for risk assessors, project designers, supervisors, renovators, dust sampling technicians, inspectors and workers involved in lead-based paint activities;
(d) To develop and require the use of work practice standards for lead-based paint activities and to monitor compliance with those work practice standards;
(e) To establish pre-renovation information distribution requirements and monitor compliance with those requirements;
(f) To enforce and assess penalties for violations of Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531;
(g) To assess and collect fees for the accreditation of training programs, issuance and reissuance of certificates, and lead-based paint abatement and renovation projects;
(h) To develop an examination and grading system for testing applicants to be administered by accredited training programs;
(i) To establish requirements and procedures for the administration of a third-party certification examination;
(j) To enter into reciprocal agreements for accreditation of training programs and certification of risk assessors, project designers, supervisors, renovators, dust sampling technicians, inspectors and workers with other states that have established accreditation and certification programs that meet or exceed the accreditation and certification requirements adopted under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531;
(k) To apply for, receive and expend any contributions, gifts, devises, bequests or funds from any source relating to Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531;
(l) To enter into, and to authorize the executive director to execute with the approval of the commission, contracts, grants and cooperative agreements, except as limited under Section 49-2-9, with any federal or state agency or subdivision thereof, any public or private institution, or any other person in connection with carrying out Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531; and
(m) To discharge other duties, responsibilities and powers necessary to implement Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531.
SECTION 141. Section 49-17-509, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-509. (1) The commission shall adopt regulations for accreditation of lead-based paint activity training programs. Accredited training programs shall ensure the availability of, and provide adequate facilities for, the delivery of lectures, course tests, hands-on training and assessment activities. This includes providing training equipment that reflects current work practices and maintaining or updating the equipment and facilities as needed. The training program shall offer courses which teach work practice standards for conducting lead-based paint activities as adopted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or the commission under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531. These standards shall be taught in the appropriate courses to provide trainees with the knowledge needed to perform the lead-based paint activities they are responsible for. The commission also may adopt accreditation requirements for training programs providing refresher training programs.
(2) The commission shall adopt regulations establishing work practice standards for performing lead-based paint activities in target housing and child-occupied facilities. These standards may include appropriate documented methodologies, clearance levels and requirements for lead hazard screens, risk assessments, abatement activities, renovation activities, sample collection and analysis and record keeping. Beginning on August 31, 1998, all lead-based paint activities shall be performed in accordance with work practice standards adopted under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531. The commission shall implement a compliance monitoring program to ensure compliance with the work practice standards.
(3) The commission shall adopt regulations for certification of lead-based paint risk assessors, project designers, renovators, dust sampling technicians, supervisors, inspectors and workers.
(4) Applicants for the issuance or reissuance of certificates required under Sections 49-17-511 through 49-17-519 shall submit to the commission, on forms prepared by the commission, an application. In addition, the applicant shall submit documentation deemed appropriate by the commission providing the educational background and demonstrating satisfactory completion of the applicable training programs and shall pay the applicable fee.
(5) The commission shall require certificates issued under Sections 49-17-511 through 49-17-521 to be reissued annually.
(6) Except as otherwise required by Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531, regulations adopted under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 shall be no more stringent than federal regulations for lead-based paint activities.
(7) Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 do not apply to a person who is performing lead-based paint activities or abatement of lead-based paint hazards or renovation in a residential dwelling owned by that person, unless the residential dwelling is occupied by a person or persons other than the owner or owner's immediate family while these activities are being performed, or a child residing in the building has been identified as having an elevated blood lead level.
SECTION 142. Section 49-17-511, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-511. (1) After August 31, 1998, it is unlawful for an individual who does not possess a valid lead-based paint risk assessor certificate to conduct a risk assessment or lead hazard screen as part of any lead-based paint activity.
(2) To qualify for a lead-based paint risk assessor certificate, an applicant shall:
(a) (i) Be a registered professional engineer or a licensed architect; or
(ii) Have a bachelor's degree in a profession related to engineering, health or environmental science and one (1) year of experience in a related field, as determined by the commission; or
(iii) Have an associate's degree and two (2) years of experience in a related field, as determined by the commission; or
(iv) Have a high school diploma or equivalent and three (3) years of experience in a related field, as determined by the commission;
(b) Satisfactorily complete an accredited training program for lead-based paint risk assessors and lead-based paint inspectors; and
(c) Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commission that the applicant is familiar with and capable of complying fully with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
SECTION 143. Section 49-17-513, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-513. (1) After August 31, 1998, it is unlawful for any person who does not possess a valid lead-based paint project designer certificate to prepare abatement project designs, occupant protection plans and abatement reports.
(2) To qualify for a lead-based paint project designer certificate, an applicant shall:
(a) (i) Be a registered professional engineer or a licensed architect; or
(ii) Have a bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture or a profession related to engineering or architecture and one (1) year of experience in building design or a related field, as determined by the commission; or
(iii) Have an associate's degree and two (2) years of experience in building design or a related field, as determined by the commission; or
(iv) Have a high school diploma or equivalent and three (3) years of experience in building design or a related field, as determined by the commission;
(b) Satisfactorily complete an accredited training program for lead-based paint project designers and lead-based paint supervisor; and
(c) Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commission that the applicant is familiar with and capable of complying fully with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
SECTION 144. Section 49-17-515, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-515. (1) After August 31, 1998, it is unlawful for an individual who does not possess a valid lead-based paint supervisor certificate to direct a lead-based paint abatement activity and to prepare occupant protection plans and abatement reports.
(2) To qualify for a lead-based paint supervisor certificate, an applicant shall:
(a) Have a high school diploma or its equivalent and one (1) year of experience as a certified lead-based paint abatement worker or two (2) years of experience in a related field, as determined by the commission or in the building trades;
(b) Satisfactorily complete an accredited training program for lead-based paint supervisors; and
(c) Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commission that the applicant is familiar with and capable of complying fully with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
SECTION 145. Section 49-17-516, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-516. (1) After July 1, 2009, it is unlawful for an individual who does not possess a valid lead-based paint renovator certificate to direct a lead-based paint renovation activity and/or conduct testing to determine the presence of lead-based paint on components affected by renovation activities.
(2) To qualify for a lead-based paint renovator certificate, an applicant shall:
(a) Have a high school diploma or its equivalent and one (1) year of experience as a lead-based paint abatement or renovation worker or two (2) years of experience in a related field, as determined by the commission or in the building trades;
(b) Satisfactorily complete an accredited training program for lead-based paint renovators; or
(c) Have successfully completed an accredited abatement worker or supervisor course, or have successfully completed an EPA, HUD or EPA/HUD model renovation training course and have taken an accredited refresher renovator training course; and
(d) Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commission that the applicant is familiar with and capable of complying fully with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
SECTION 146. Section 49-17-517, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-517. (1) After August 31, 1998, it is unlawful for an individual who does not possess a valid lead-based paint inspector certificate to work as an inspector on a lead-based paint activity.
(2) To qualify for a lead-based paint inspector certificate, an applicant shall:
(a) Have a high school diploma or its equivalent;
(b) Satisfactorily complete an accredited training program for lead-based paint inspectors; and
(c) Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commission that the applicant is familiar with and capable of complying fully with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
SECTION 147. Section 49-17-518, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-518. (1) After July 1, 2009, it is unlawful for an individual who does not possess a valid lead-based paint dust sampling technician certificate to work as a dust sampling technician on a lead-based paint renovation.
(2) To qualify for a lead-based paint dust sampling technician certificate, an applicant shall:
(a) Have a high school diploma or its equivalent;
(b) Satisfactorily complete an accredited training program for lead-based paint dust sampling technicians; or
(c) Have successfully completed an accredited lead-based paint inspector or risk assessor course and have completed an accredited refresher dust sampling technician course; and
(d) Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commission that the applicant is familiar with and capable of complying fully with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
SECTION 148. Section 49-17-519, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-519. (1) After August 31, 1998, it is unlawful for an individual who does not possess a valid lead-based paint abatement worker certificate to work as a worker on a lead-based paint abatement activity.
(2) After August 31, 1998, it is unlawful for a firm to employ a person as a worker on a lead-based paint abatement activity who does not possess a valid lead-based paint abatement worker certificate in accordance with this section.
(3) To qualify for a lead-based paint abatement worker certificate an individual shall:
(a) Satisfactorily complete an accredited training program for lead-based paint abatement workers; and
(b) Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commission that the applicant is familiar with and capable of complying fully with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
(4) Workers engaged in renovation activities are not required to possess certification.
SECTION 149. Section 49-17-521, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-521. (1) After August 31, 1998, it is unlawful for any firm which does not possess a valid lead-based paint certified firm certificate to perform or offer to perform any lead-based paint activity covered under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531. Certificates issued prior to July 1, 2009, shall be valid only for abatements. Certificates issued after July 1, 2009, shall indicate whether the firm is certified for renovations or abatements; or certified for both renovations and abatements.
(2) To qualify for a lead-based paint certified firm certificate, an applicant shall submit to the commission a letter attesting that the firm shall employ only appropriately certified employees to conduct lead-based paint activities and that the firm and its employees shall follow the work practice standards adopted under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 in conducting those activities. Applicant's letter submitted after July 1, 2009, shall indicate whether the applicant intends to perform renovations or abatements; or to perform both renovations and abatements.
(3) Applicants for lead-based paint certified firm certificate shall pay the applicable fee.
SECTION 150. Section 49-17-523, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-523. The commission may deny the issuance or reissuance of any certificate required under Sections 49-17-511 through 49-17-521 if: (a) there has been a failure to comply with the application procedures established by regulations promulgated by the commission; (b) if the applicant fails to satisfy the application criteria established by Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 and by regulations promulgated by the commission; or (c) if the applicant fails to pay the applicable fee.
SECTION 151. Section 49-17-525, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-525. (1) (a) There is created in the State Treasury a fund to be designated as the Lead-Based Paint Program Operations Fund, referred to in this section as "fund," to be administered by the executive director and expended by appropriation approved by the Legislature.
(b) Monies in the fund shall be utilized to pay reasonable direct and indirect costs associated with the administration, educational outreach and enforcement of the lead-based paint activity accreditation and certification program.
(c) Expenditures may be made from the fund upon requisition by the executive director.
(d) The fund shall be treated as a special trust fund. Interest earned on the principal therein shall be credited by the Treasurer to the fund.
(e) The fund may receive monies from any available public or private source, including, but not limited to, collection of fees, interest, grants, taxes, public and private donations, judicial actions and appropriated funds.
(f) Monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall be retained in the fund for use in the next succeeding fiscal year to be expended by appropriation approved by the Legislature.
(2) (a) The commission shall set by order a schedule of fees for the accreditation of training programs, issuance and reissuance of certificates and lead-based paint abatement and renovation projects. The commission shall graduate fee levels to reflect the type of certificate and the size of the project, as the case may be.
(b) All monies collected under this section shall be deposited into the fund.
(c) The commission may delegate to the department responsibility for the collection of fees under this section.
(d) Any person required to pay a fee under this section who disagrees with the calculation or applicability of the fee may petition the commission for a hearing in accordance with Section 49-17-35, Mississippi Code of 1972. Any hearing shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 49-17-33, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(e) Fees collected under this section shall not supplant or reduce in any way the general fund appropriation to the department.
SECTION 152. Section 49-17-527, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-527. It is unlawful to:
(a) Fail or refuse to comply with any rule, regulation or order of the commission issued under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531;
(b) Fail or refuse to establish, maintain, provide, copy, or permit access to records or reports as required by Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 regulations adopted under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531;
(c) Fail or refuse to permit entry or inspection as required by Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 or regulations adopted under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531;
(d) Obtain certification through fraudulent representation;
(e) Fail to obtain certification from the commission or the United States Environmental Protection Agency and perform work requiring certification at a job site; or
(f) Fraudulently obtain certification and engage in any lead-based paint activities requiring certification.
SECTION 153. Section 49-17-529, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-529. (1) Any person found by the commission to have violated Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 or any rule or regulation or written order of the commission issued under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 or any certificate or accreditation issued under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for each violation. The penalty may be assessed and levied by order of the commission after notice and hearing in accordance with subsection (5) of this section. In addition, the commission may issue a reprimand or a suspension or revocation of any certificate issued to the person under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531. The reprimand, suspension or revocation may be assessed and levied by order of the commission after notice and hearing as provided in subsection (5) of this section.
(2) In lieu of, or in addition to, the penalty provided for in subsection (1) of this section, the commission may institute and maintain in the name of the state any proceedings necessary to enforce Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531, rules and regulations adopted under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531, and orders and certificates issued under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 in the appropriate circuit, chancery, county or justice court of the county in which venue may lie. The commission may obtain mandatory or prohibitory injunctive relief, either temporary or permanent, and it shall not be necessary in those cases that the state plead or prove: (a) that irreparable damage would result if the injunction did not issue; (b) that there is no adequate remedy at law; or (c) that a written complaint or commission order has first been issued for the alleged violation.
(3) Any person who knowingly submits false or inaccurate information in support of an application for issuance or reissuance of an accreditation or a certificate under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 or who willfully fails to comply with the conditions of the accreditation or the certificate issued by the commission or who willfully violates Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531, or any rule, regulation or written order of the commission or emergency order issued by the director in pursuance thereof, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) within the discretion of the court. Each day in which that violation exists or continues shall constitute a separate offense.
(4) In addition to or in lieu of filing a criminal complaint for the willful misconduct described in subsection (3) of this section, the commission may impose a civil penalty in accordance with subsection (1)(a) of this section, and shall impose a reprimand or a suspension or revocation of any certificate in accordance with subsection (1)(b) of this section.
(5) All proceedings and hearings before the commission regarding violations of Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 or any rule or regulation, written order of the commission, emergency order of the director or certificate issued or reissued by the commission in pursuance thereof or any certificate issued under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531 and all appeals therefrom shall be conducted in accordance with Sections 49-17-31 through 49-17-41, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(6) All fines, penalties and other sums recovered or collected by the commission for and on behalf of the state under this section shall be deposited in the Pollution Emergency Fund established under Section 49-17-68, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 154. Section 49-17-531, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-531. The commission may establish requirements for reciprocity for accreditation and certification of risk assessors, project designers, supervisors, renovators, dust sampling technicans, inspectors and workers with other states that have established accreditation and certification programs that meet or exceed the requirements established by the commission for accreditation and certification in this state.
SECTION 155. Section 49-17-601, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-601. It is the intent of the Legislature to make unlawful the generation of wastes occurring in the illegal manufacture or attempted illegal manufacture of controlled substances through the mixing, combining, processing or cooking of listed precursor chemicals.
SECTION 156. Section 49-17-603, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-603. (1) The definitions used in this section are expressly limited to this section only, and the inclusion of indoor air in the definition of "waste" does not expand the jurisdiction of the Commission on Environmental Quality or the Department of Environmental Quality to include the regulation of indoor air:
(a) "By-product" means a substance produced without a separate intent during the manufacture, processing, use or disposal of another substance or mixture; and
(b) "Waste" means all liquid, gaseous, solid, radioactive or other substances that may pollute or tend to pollute any waters of the state or soil within the state, and any particulate matter, dust, fumes, gas, mist, smoke or vapor, or any combination thereof, that may pollute or tend to pollute air in the state, including indoor air.
(2) The generation of waste in any quantity by any person caused by the mixing, combining, processing or cooking together of two (2) or more precursor drugs or chemicals listed in Section 41-29-313 is unlawful unless:
(a) The person has first obtained a generator identification number pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 USCS Section 6901 et seq., and the regulations promulgated thereunder; or
(b) The person has first obtained a treatment, storage or disposal permit pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 USCS Section 6901 et seq., and the regulations promulgated thereunder; or
(c) The process that generated the waste also, as part of the same process:
(i) Created a product that is not illegal to possess pursuant to Section 41-29-139(c);
(ii) Created a by-product that is not illegal to possess pursuant to Section 41-29-139(c), while not at the same time producing a controlled substance; or
(iii) Was a process of servicing, maintaining or cleaning an item or product that is not illegal to possess pursuant to Section 41-29-139(c).
(3) Any person who violates this section, upon conviction, is guilty of a felony and may be imprisoned for a period not to exceed thirty (30) years and shall be fined not less than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) nor more than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00), or may be both fined and imprisoned.
(4) Nothing in this section shall preclude any farmer or manufacturer from storing or using any of the listed precursor drugs or chemicals listed in Section 41-29-313 in the normal pursuit of farming or manufacturing operations.
(5) Nothing in this section shall preclude any wholesaler, retailer or pharmacist from possessing or selling precursor drugs or chemicals listed in Section 41-29-313 in the normal pursuit of business.
(6) Except as may be otherwise provided, a property owner or occupant of land shall not be criminally or civilly liable for the generation of waste caused by the criminal acts of persons other than the property owner or occupant of such land if the property owner or occupant did not have prior knowledge of the criminal activity.
SECTION 157. Section 49-17-701, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-701. Sections 49-17-701 through 49-17-775 shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Gulf Coast Region Utility Act."
SECTION 158. Section 49-17-703, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-703. In the spirit of the report of the Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal, the Legislature finds that there is a need for consolidation of water, wastewater and storm water services in order to reduce costs, promote resilience in the event of a disaster, improve the quality of the natural environment, and improve the planning and delivery of quality water, wastewater and storm water services within the areas of the Counties of George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River and Stone. It is further declared that there is the need for the planning, acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation and coordination of water, wastewater and storm water services in order to ensure protection of the waters of the state and to ensure the delivery of water, wastewater and storm water services to citizens of the Gulf Coast Region. The creation of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Region Utility Act is determined to be necessary and essential to the accomplishment of these purposes. To facilitate the purposes of the act, the Gulf Coast Region Utility Board, the George County Utility Authority, the Hancock County Utility Authority, the Harrison County Utility Authority, the Jackson County Utility Authority, the Pearl River County Utility Authority and the Stone County Utility Authority are created herein.
SECTION 159. Section 49-17-705, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-705. Words and phrases used in this act shall have meanings as follows:
(a) "Act" means the Mississippi Gulf Coast Region Utility Act.
(b) "Bonds" mean interim notes having a maturity of three (3) years or less, revenue bonds and other certificates of indebtedness of the authority issued under the provisions of this act.
(c) "County authority" means a county utility authority created in the Gulf Coast Region under this act.
(d) "Fiscal year" means the period of time beginning on October 1 of each year and ending on September 30 of each year.
(e) "Gulf Coast Region" means the areas encompassed by the Counties of George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River and Stone.
(f) "Municipality" means any incorporated city, town or village of the State of Mississippi, whether operating under general law or under special charter, lying wholly or partly within the Gulf Coast Region.
(g) "Person" means the State of Mississippi, a county, a municipality, any public agency, or any other city, town, village or political subdivision or governmental agency, governmental instrumentality of the State of Mississippi or of the United States of America, or any private utility, individual, co-partnership, association, firm, trust, estate or any other entity whatsoever.
(h) "Project" means the construction, development or acquisition by the county authority or county authorities of any infrastructure for water, wastewater and storm water systems or services and includes upgrading or repair of existing systems.
(i) "Public agency" means any county, municipality, state board or commission owning or operating properties, district created pursuant to the general laws or local and private laws of the State of Mississippi, or other political subdivision of the State of Mississippi having the power to own and operate waterworks, water supply systems, sewerage systems, sewage treatment systems or other facilities or systems for the collection, transportation and treatment of water, wastewater and storm water.
(j) "Storm water" means any flow occurring during or following any form of natural precipitation and resulting from that precipitation.
(k) "System" or "systems" means any plants, structures, facilities and other real and personal property, used or useful in the generation, storage, transportation or supply of water, and the collection, transportation, treatment or disposal of wastewater and storm water, including, but not limited to, tanks, lakes, streams, ponds, pipes, trunk lines, mains, sewers, conduits, pipelines, pumping and ventilating stations, plants and works, connections and any other real and personal property and rights therein necessary, useful or convenient for the purposes of the utility board or authorities in connection therewith.
(l) "Wastewater" means water being disposed of by any person and which is contaminated with waste or sewage, including industrial, municipal and any other wastewater that may cause impairment of the quality of the waters in the state.
(m) "Water" means potable water, service water and groundwater.
(n) "Utility board" means the Mississippi Gulf Coast Region Utility Board.
SECTION 160. Section 49-17-707, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-707. (1) There is hereby created and established a public body corporate and politic constituting a political subdivision of the State of Mississippi to be known as the "Mississippi Gulf Coast Region Utility Board" to serve the citizens of the Gulf Coast Region. The utility board is created as a forum for the Gulf Coast Region to collaborate and cooperate regarding water, wastewater and storm water issues; to assist in the efficient management of water, wastewater and storm water resources; to develop recommendations pertaining to water, wastewater and storm water systems; and to provide assistance, funding and guidance to the county authorities to assist in the identification of the best means to meet all present and future water, wastewater and storm water needs in the Gulf Coast Region.
(2) This section shall repeal July 1, 2027.
SECTION 161. Section 49-17-709, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-709. (1) (a) All powers of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Region Utility Board shall be exercised by a board of directors to be composed of the following: (i) the president of each county authority; and (ii) three (3) at-large directors, to be appointed by the Governor, who shall be residents of the Gulf Coast Region.
(b) The initial terms of the at-large directors shall be for two (2), four (4) and six (6) years as designated by the Governor. After the expiration of the initial terms, the subsequent terms shall be for a period of six (6) years. However, there shall be no more than one (1) at-large director appointed from any one (1) county. Each president may appoint a delegate, to represent him at a meeting of the board.
(2) At the initial meeting of the board, the board shall elect a president and a vice president. Thereafter, the board will annually, at the last meeting of the fiscal year, elect a president and a vice president who shall serve in their respective offices for the next fiscal year. The directors shall serve without a salary but are entitled to receive per diem pay as provided for in Section 25-3-69, and for actual and necessary expenses incurred while in the performance of his duties as a member of the board as provided in Section 25-3-41.
(3) Any utility board member who does not attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the authority shall be subject to removal by a majority vote of the board and shall be replaced with an appointment from the Governor or governing body making the initial appointment.
(4) The president shall be the chief executive officer of the utility board and the presiding officer of the board, and shall have the same right to vote as any other director. The vice president shall act in the absence or disability of the president. Each director shall be required to give bond in the sum of not less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), with sureties qualified to do business in this state, and the premiums on the bond shall be an expense of the utility board. Each bond shall be payable to the State of Mississippi. The condition of each bond shall be that each director will faithfully perform all duties of his office and account for all monies or other assets which shall come into his custody as a director of the utility board.
(5) A quorum for any meeting of the board of directors shall be the majority of the total membership of the board of directors. All business of the utility board shall be transacted by vote of the board of directors.
(6) The utility board shall conduct regular meetings as set forth in its bylaws. The utility board shall establish rules and regulations regarding its meetings and may amend such bylaws, rules and regulations as may be necessary to conduct the business of the board.
(7) This section shall repeal July 1, 2027.
SECTION 162. Section 49-17-711, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-711. (1) The utility board may hire an executive director and secretary-treasurer having the duties as determined by the utility board. The executive director must have a college degree. If hired, the executive director and secretary-treasurer each shall be required to give bond in a sum not less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), conditioned on the executive director and secretary-treasurer faithfully performing all duties of his office and account for all monies and other assets which come into his custody as executive director or secretary-treasurer of the utility board.
(2) (a) The utility board shall prepare a budget consistent with its bylaws estimating its expenses and revenue needs for each forthcoming fiscal year at least ninety (90) days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year. The utility board shall submit its budget to each county authority prior to final approval by the utility board.
(b) Any funds, gifts or grants allocated for the administrative costs related to the restoration or construction of water, wastewater and storm water services and projects in the Gulf Coast Region under this act shall, to the extent allowable, be paid into the Public Trust Tidelands Fund for the repayment of any tideland funds expended for the operational costs of the utility board.
(3) The utility board shall have the authority to receive and spend funds from any source.
(4) This section shall repeal July 1, 2027.
SECTION 163. Section 49-17-713, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-713. (1) The utility board shall have the right and powers necessary to carry out the purposes of this act, including, but not limited to:
(a) Make recommendations to the county authorities pertaining to water, wastewater and storm water issues in the Gulf Coast Region;
(b) Make recommendations necessary to achieve compatibility and uniformity of systems and technology related to water, wastewater and storm water in the Gulf Coast Region;
(c) Help resolve cross-jurisdictional and multicounty disputes pertaining to water, wastewater and storm water issues between county authorities when requested by the county authorities;
(d) Recommend short-term and long-term priorities for water, wastewater and storm water related projects;
(e) Recommend emergency preparedness procedures in the Gulf Coast Region related to water, wastewater and storm water;
(f) Recommend training standards related to operations of water, wastewater and storm water systems;
(g) Sue and be sued in its own name and to enjoy all the protections, immunities and benefits provided by the Mississippi Tort Claims Act, as it may be amended from time to time;
(h) Adopt an official seal and alter the same at pleasure;
(i) Maintain office space at such place or places within the boundaries of the board as it may determine;
(j) Own or lease real or personal property;
(k) Invest money of the utility board, including proceeds from the sale of any bonds subject to any agreements with bond holders on such terms and in such manner as the utility board deems proper;
(l) Apply for, accept and utilize grants, gifts and other funds from any source for any purpose necessary in support of the purpose of this act and to coordinate the distribution of funds to the county authorities;
(m) Employ and terminate staff, including, but not limited to, attorneys, engineers and consultants as may be necessary;
(n) Enter into contracts for all operation and maintenance needs of the utility board;
(o) Enter into contracts to conduct studies of regional issues regarding water, wastewater and storm water services and to provide assistance, funds and guidance in the construction, operation and maintenance of regional water, wastewater and storm water services;
(p) Enter into contracts with any person or any public agency in furtherance of any of the purposes authorized by this act upon such consideration as the board of directors and such person may agree. Any such contract may extend over any period of time, including a term which extends beyond the term of the then majority of the existing board members, notwithstanding any provision or rule of law to the contrary; may be upon such terms and for such consideration, nominal or otherwise, as the parties thereto shall agree; and may provide that it shall continue in effect until bonds specified therein, refunding bonds issued in lieu of such bonds, and all other obligations specified therein are paid or terminated. Any such contract shall be binding upon the parties thereto according to its terms. The utility board may also assume or continue any contractual or other business relationships entered into by the members of the utility board, including the rights to receive and acquire property transferred under option to purchase agreements;
(q) Contract with the authorities under any terms mutually agreed by the parties to carry out any powers, duties or responsibilities granted by this act or any other laws to the authorities;
(r) Acquire insurance for the utility board's systems, facilities, buildings, treatment plants and all property, real or personal, to insure against all risks as any insurance may, from time to time, be available;
(s) Make, enforce, amend and repeal rules and regulations for the management of the utility board's business and affairs;
(t) Enter onto public or private lands, waters or premises for the purposes of making surveys, borings or soundings, or conducting tests, examinations or inspections for the purposes of the utility board, subject to responsibility for any damage done to property entered;
(u) Apply, contract for, accept, receive and administer gifts, grants, appropriations and donations of money, materials, and property of any kind, including loans and grants from the United States, the state, a unit of local government, or any agency, department, district or instrumentality of any of the foregoing, upon any terms and conditions as the United States, the state, a unit of local government, or any agency, department, district or instrumentality shall impose;
(v) Create, maintain and regulate reservoirs and promulgate and enforce rules and regulations for the creation and maintenance of reservoirs; and
(w) Make other recommendations to carry out the purposes of this act.
(2) This section shall repeal July 1, 2027.
SECTION 164. Section 49-17-717, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-717. (1) If the authority is created, all powers of the George County Utility Authority shall be exercised by a board of directors comprised of five (5) directors appointed as follows: Within thirty (30) days of creation of the authority, the Board of Supervisors of George County shall appoint three (3) residents from the county, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Lucedale shall appoint two (2) residents from the city. The directors shall serve at the will and pleasure of the governing body making the appointments. Any vacancy arising by expiration of a director's term, or a vacancy created by the removal of a director for any other reason, shall be filled by appointment made by the party originally responsible for the appointment of the director vacating his or her appointment.
(2) All business of the George County Utility Authority shall be transacted as provided in Section 49-17-741, except that all actions affecting rates, bonds or capital improvements must be by unanimous vote of all members of the board.
(3) In addition to any other powers and rights conferred upon such board of directors, the board is granted and may exercise all powers and rights granted pursuant to Sections 49-17-739 through 49-17-773 to promote the health, welfare and prosperity of the general public.
SECTION 165. Section 49-17-719, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-719. There is hereby created and established a public body corporate and politic constituting a political subdivision of the State of Mississippi to be known as the "Pearl River County Utility Authority." The authority is composed of the geographic area of Pearl River County as defined in Section 19-1-109, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the planning, acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation and coordination of water, wastewater and storm water systems in order to ensure the delivery of water, wastewater and storm water services to citizens residing within the boundaries of Pearl River County. The Pearl River County Utility Authority shall be deemed to be acting in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state in the performance of essential public functions, and the Pearl River County Utility Authority shall be empowered in accordance with the provisions of this act to promote the health, welfare and prosperity of the general public.
SECTION 166. Section 49-17-721, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-721. (1) All powers of the Pearl River County Utility Authority shall be exercised by a board of directors comprised of seven (7) directors appointed as follows: Within thirty (30) days of April 18, 2006, the Board of Supervisors of Pearl River County shall appoint four (4) residents from the county, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Picayune shall appoint two (2) residents from the city, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Poplarville shall appoint one (1) resident from the city. The directors shall serve at the will and pleasure of the governing body making the appointments.
(2) In addition to any other powers and rights conferred upon such board of directors, the board is granted and may exercise all powers and rights granted pursuant to Sections 49-17-739 through 49-17-773 to promote the health, welfare and prosperity of the general public.
SECTION 167. Section 49-17-723, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-723. There is hereby created and established a public body corporate and politic constituting a political subdivision of the State of Mississippi to be known as the "Stone County Utility Authority." The authority is composed of the geographic area of Stone County as defined in Section 19-1-131, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the planning, acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation and coordination of water, wastewater and storm water systems in order to ensure the delivery of water, wastewater and storm water services to citizens residing within the boundaries of Stone County. The Stone County Utility Authority shall be deemed to be acting in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state in the performance of essential public functions, and the Stone County Utility Authority shall be empowered in accordance with the provisions of this act to promote the health, welfare and prosperity of the general public.
SECTION 168. Section 49-17-725, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-725. (1) All powers of the Stone County Utility Authority shall be exercised by a board of directors comprised of five (5) directors appointed as follows: Within thirty (30) days of passage of this act, the Board of Supervisors of Stone County shall appoint three (3) residents from the county, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Wiggins shall appoint two (2) residents from the city. The directors shall serve at the will and pleasure of the governing body making the appointments.
(2) In addition to any other powers and rights conferred upon such board of directors, the board is granted and may exercise all powers and rights granted pursuant to Sections 49-17-739 through 49-17-773 to promote the health, welfare and prosperity of the general public.
SECTION 169. Section 49-17-727, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-727. (1) There is hereby created and established a public body corporate and politic constituting a political subdivision of the State of Mississippi to be known as the "Harrison County Utility Authority." The authority is composed of the geographic area of Harrison County as defined in Section 19-1-47, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the planning, acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation and coordination of water, wastewater, storm water and solid waste systems in order to ensure the delivery of water, wastewater, storm water and solid waste services to citizens residing within the boundaries of Harrison County.
(2) Within thirty (30) days of April 18, 2006, the Harrison County Utility Authority and the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District shall consolidate into a single agency, to be known as the Harrison County Utility Authority, which shall be a continuance of the corporate existence of the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District. Such consolidation shall be effective by the concurrent resolution of the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District and the Harrison County Utility Authority and the filing of a copy of such concurrent resolution with the Secretary of State, certified by the Secretary of the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District and the Harrison County Utility Authority.
(3) Upon consolidation, the following shall apply:
(a) All property, rights and powers of the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District are hereby vested in and shall be exercised by the Harrison County Utility Authority, subject, however to all pledges, covenants, agreements and trusts made or created by the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District;
(b) All debts, liabilities, obligations, agreements, contracts and covenants of the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District are hereby imposed upon the Harrison County Utility Authority. Any property of the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District in which a mortgage or security interest has been granted to any bondholders or other creditors of the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District shall continue to be subject to the mortgage or security interest until the mortgage or security interest is defeased or terminated in accordance with its terms. All bondholders and other creditors of the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District and persons having claims against or contracts with the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District of any kind or character may enforce those debts, claims and contracts against the Harrison County Utility Authority in the same manner as they might have against the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District, and the rights and remedies of those bondholders, creditors, and persons having claims or contracts shall not be limited or restricted in any manner by this act;
(c) All regulations of the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District shall continue to be in effect as the regulations of the Harrison County Utility Authority until amended, supplemented or rescinded by the authority in accordance with law; and
(d) All employees of the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District shall become employees of the Harrison County Utility Authority. Nothing in this act shall affect the civil service status, if any, of those employees or their rights, privileges, obligations or status with respect to any pension or retirement system.
SECTION 170. Section 49-17-729, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-729. (1) All powers of the Harrison County Utility Authority shall be exercised by a consolidated board consisting of the Board of Directors of the Harrison County Wastewater and Solid Waste Management District and the additional director provided under this section for a total of seven (7) directors. Upon consolidation, the Board of Supervisors of Harrison County shall appoint one (1) additional director who shall be a resident of the unincorporated area from the county. The director shall serve at the will and pleasure of the board of supervisors. The consolidated board shall consist of the mayor of each city participating in the authority and the directors appointed by the board of supervisors. Each director may appoint a delegate to represent him at a meeting of the board.
(2) All business of the Harrison County Utility Authority shall be transacted as provided in Section 49-17-741, except that all actions affecting rates, bonds or capital improvements must be by unanimous vote of all members of the board.
(3) In addition to any other powers and rights conferred upon such board of directors, the board is granted and may exercise all powers and rights granted pursuant to Sections 49-17-739 through 49-17-773 to promote the health, welfare and prosperity of the general public, including the power and right to regulate and control solid waste within its jurisdictional boundaries.
SECTION 171. Section 49-17-731, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-731. (1) There is hereby created and established a public body corporate and politic constituting a political subdivision of the State of Mississippi to be known as the "Jackson County Utility Authority." The authority is composed of the geographic area of Jackson County as defined in Section 19-1-59, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the planning, acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation and coordination of water and wastewater systems in order to ensure the delivery of water and wastewater services to citizens residing within the boundaries of Jackson County.
(2) Within thirty (30) days of April 18, 2006, the Jackson County Utility Authority and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority shall consolidate into a single agency, to be known as the Jackson County Utility Authority, which shall be a continuance of the corporate existence of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority. Such consolidation shall be effective by the concurrent resolution of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority and the Jackson County Utility Authority and the filing of a copy of such concurrent resolution with the Secretary of State, certified by the Secretary of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority and the Jackson County Utility Authority.
(3) Upon consolidation the following shall apply:
(a) All property, rights and powers of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority are hereby vested in and shall be exercised by the Jackson County Utility Authority, subject, however to all pledges, covenants, agreements and trusts made or created by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority;
(b) All debts, liabilities, obligations, agreements, contracts and covenants of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority are hereby imposed upon the Jackson County Utility Authority. Any property of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority in which a mortgage or security interest has been granted to any bondholders or other creditors of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority shall continue to be subject to the mortgage or security interest until the mortgage or security interest is defeased or terminated in accordance with its terms. All bondholders and other creditors of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority and persons having claims against or contracts with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority of any kind or character may enforce those debts, claims and contracts against the Jackson County Utility Authority in the same manner as they might have against the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority, and the rights and remedies of those bondholders, creditors, and persons having claims or contracts shall not be limited or restricted in any manner by this act;
(c) All regulations of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority shall continue to be in effect as the regulations of the Jackson County Utility Authority until amended, supplemented or rescinded by the Jackson County Utility Authority in accordance with law; and
(d) All employees of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority shall become employees of the Jackson County Utility Authority. Nothing in this act shall affect the civil service status, if any, of those employees or their rights, privileges, obligations or status with respect to any pension or retirement system.
SECTION 172. Section 49-17-733, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-733. (1) Upon creation of the Jackson County Utility Authority, all powers of the Jackson County Utility Authority shall be exercised by the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority.
(2) Upon consolidation of the Jackson County Utility Authority and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Wastewater Authority, the county authority shall be governed by a board consisting of seven (7) directors.
(a) The members of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority shall serve as Directors of the Jackson County Utility Authority until the expiration of their existing terms. Upon expiration of a member's term, the governing body making the appointment shall appoint a person residing within the corporate boundaries of the governing body to serve as a director.
(b) The City of Gautier shall appoint one (1) director who resides within the City of Gautier for an initial term of three (3) years.
(c) The Board of Supervisors of Jackson County shall appoint two (2) additional directors for an initial term of two (2) and four (4) years, respectively, who reside within the unincorporated area of Jackson County.
(3) (a) After expiration of the initial terms, all appointed directors shall serve a term of six (6) years.
(b) No director shall hold an elected public office.
(4) In addition to any other powers and rights conferred upon such board of directors, the board is granted and may exercise all powers and rights granted pursuant to Sections 49-17-739 through 49-17-773 to promote the health, welfare and prosperity of the general public.
SECTION 173. Section 49-17-735, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-735. (1) There is hereby created and established a public body corporate and politic constituting a political subdivision of the State of Mississippi to be known as the "Hancock County Utility Authority." The authority is composed of the geographic area of Hancock County as defined in Section 19-1-59, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the planning, acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation and coordination of water, wastewater and storm water systems in order to ensure the delivery of water, wastewater and storm water services to citizens residing within the boundaries of Hancock County.
(2) Within thirty (30) days of April 18, 2006, the Hancock County Utility Authority and the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District shall consolidate into a single agency, to be known as the Hancock County Utility Authority, which shall be a continuance of the corporate existence of the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District. Such consolidation shall be effective by the concurrent resolution of the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District and the Hancock County Utility Authority and the filing of a copy of such concurrent resolution with the Secretary of State, certified by the Secretary of the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District and the Hancock County Utility Authority.
(3) Upon consolidation, the following shall apply:
(a) All property, rights and powers of the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District are hereby vested in and shall be exercised by the Hancock County Utility Authority, subject, however to all pledges, covenants, agreements and trusts made or created by the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District;
(b) All debts, liabilities, obligations, agreements, contracts and covenants of the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District are hereby imposed upon the Hancock County Utility Authority. Any property of the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District in which a mortgage or security interest has been granted to any bondholders or other creditors of the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District shall continue to be subject to the mortgage or security interest until the mortgage or security interest is defeased or terminated in accordance with its terms. All bondholders and other creditors of the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District and persons having claims against or contracts with the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District of any kind or character may enforce those debts, claims and contracts against the authority in the same manner as they might have against the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District, and the rights and remedies of those bondholders, creditors, and persons having claims or contracts shall not be limited or restricted in any manner by this act;
(c) All regulations of the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District shall continue to be in effect as the regulations of the Hancock County Utility Authority until amended, supplemented or rescinded by the Hancock County Utility Authority in accordance with law; and
(d) All employees of the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District shall become employees of the authority. Nothing in this act shall affect the civil service status, if any, of those employees or their rights, privileges, obligations or status with respect to any pension or retirement system.
SECTION 174. Section 49-17-737, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-737. (1) After consolidation, all powers of the Hancock County Utility Authority shall be exercised by a board consisting of the following:
(a) One (1) director who is the Mayor of Bay St. Louis, or his or her designee, for an initial term of two (2) years;
(b) One (1) director who is the Mayor of Waveland, or his or her designee, for an initial term of three (3) years;
(c) One (1) director who is the President of the Board of Supervisors of Hancock County, or his or her designee, for an initial term of four (4) years;
(d) One (1) director who is the Chairman of the Kiln Utility and Fire District;
(e) One (1) director who is the Chairman of the Hancock County Water and Sewer District; and
(f) One (1) director who is the Chairman of the Pearlington Water and Sewer District.
After expiration of the initial terms, the directors in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) shall serve a term of four (4) years.
(2) In addition to any other powers and rights conferred upon such board of directors, the board is granted and may exercise all powers and rights granted pursuant to Sections 49-17-739 through 49-17-773 to promote the health, welfare and prosperity of the general public.
(3) Any designee serving as a director shall serve at the will and pleasure of the governing authority that designated the director.
(4) Any person who is designated by a mayor to be a director on the board of the Hancock County Utility Authority shall have the same voting powers on the board as the mayor who designated such person.
SECTION 175. Section 49-17-739, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-739. The purpose of Sections 49-17-739 through 49-17-773 is to confer certain powers on the county authorities for the purpose of cooperating with federal, state and local public agencies for the further development of local and regional water, wastewater and storm water services within the Gulf Coast Region. In addition to the powers over water, wastewater and storm water, the Harrison County Utility Authority is granted power over solid waste within its jurisdiction.
SECTION 176. Section 49-17-741, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-741. (1) The board of directors of a county authority shall elect annually from its number a president and vice president of the county authority and such other officers as in the judgment of the board are necessary. The president shall be the chief executive officer of the authority and the presiding officer of the board, and shall have the same right to vote as any other director. The vice president shall act in the absence or disability of the president. Each board also shall appoint a secretary and a treasurer who may or may not be members of the board, and it may combine these offices. The treasurer shall give bond in the sum of not less than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) as set by the board of directors, and each director may be required to give bond in the sum of not less than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00), with sureties qualified to do business in this state, and the premiums on the bonds shall be an expense of the authority. Each bond shall be payable to the State of Mississippi, and the condition of each bond shall be that the treasurer and director will faithfully perform all duties of his office and account for all money and other assets which shall come into his custody as treasurer or director of the authority.
(2) Each director of a county authority shall serve without salary, but shall be entitled to receive per diem pay, as provided for in Section 25-3-69, and shall be reimbursed his actual necessary expenses, as provided in Section 25-3-41, incurred while in the performance of his duties as a member of the board of directors of the authority upon authorization by the board. Expenses shall be paid from available funds of the authority.
(3) All business of a county authority shall be transacted by a majority vote of the total membership of the board of directors. The quorum for any meeting of the board of directors shall be a majority of the total membership of the board of directors.
SECTION 177. Section 49-17-743, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-743. From and after April 18, 2006, each and every county authority shall have, in addition to any other powers granted under any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) To acquire, construct, improve, enlarge, extend, repair, operate and maintain one or more of its systems used for the collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of water, wastewater and storm water;
(b) To make contracts with any person in furtherance thereof; and to make contracts with any person, under the terms of which the county authority will collect, transport, treat or dispose of water, wastewater and storm water for such person;
(c) To make contracts with any person to design and construct any water, wastewater and storm water systems or facilities, and thereafter to purchase, lease or sell, by installments over such terms as may be deemed desirable, reasonable and necessary, or otherwise, any such system or systems;
(d) To enter into operating agreements with any person, for such terms and upon such conditions as may be deemed desirable, for the operation of any water, wastewater and storm water systems; and the county authority may lease to or from any person, for such term and upon such conditions as may be deemed desirable, any water, wastewater and storm water collection, transportation, treatment or its other facilities or systems. Any such contract may contain provisions requiring any public agency or other person to regulate the quality and strength of materials to be handled by the respective system or systems and also may provide that the county authority shall have the right to use any streets, alleys and public ways and places within the jurisdiction of a public agency or other person during the term of the contract;
(e) To enter into contracts with any person or any public agency, including, but not limited to, contracts authorized by this act, in furtherance of any of the purposes authorized under this act upon such consideration as the board of directors and such person may agree. Any such contract may extend over any period of time, notwithstanding any provision or rule of law to the contrary; may be upon such terms and for such consideration, nominal or otherwise, as the parties thereto shall agree; and may provide that it shall continue in effect until bonds specified therein, refunding bonds issued in lieu of such bonds, and all other obligations specified therein are paid or terminated. Any such contract shall be binding upon the parties thereto according to its terms;
(f) To adopt an official seal and alter the same at pleasure;
(g) To sue and be sued, in its own name, and to enjoy all of the protections, immunities and benefits provided by the Mississippi Tort Claims Act, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time;
(h) To maintain office space at such place or places within the county authority boundaries as it may determine;
(i) To invest money of the county authority, including proceeds from the sale of any bonds subject to any agreements with bondholders, on such terms and in such manner as the county authority deems proper;
(j) To require the necessary relocation or rerouting of roads and highways, railroad, telephone and telegraph lines, and properties, electric power lines, gas pipelines and related facilities, or to require the anchoring or other protection of any of these, provided fair compensation is first paid to the owners or an agreement with such owners regarding the payment of the cost of such relocation, and to acquire easements or rights-of-way for such relocation or rerouting and to convey the same to the owners of the property being relocated or rerouted in connection with the purposes of this act;
(k) To acquire, construct, improve or modify, to operate or cause to be operated and maintained, either as owner of all or of any part in common with others, any water, wastewater or storm water system within the county authority's service area. The county authority may pay all or part of the cost of any system from any contribution by persons, firms, public agencies or corporations. The county authority may receive, accept and use all funds, public or private, and pay all costs of the development, implementation and maintenance as may be determined as necessary for any project;
(l) To acquire, in its own name, by purchase on any terms and conditions and in any manner as it may deem proper, including by eminent domain, property for public use, or by gift, grant, lease, or otherwise, real property or easements therein, franchises and personal property necessary or convenient for its corporate purposes;
(m) To acquire insurance for the county authority's systems, facilities, buildings, treatment plants and all property, real or personal, to insure against all risks as any insurance may, from time to time, be available;
(n) To use any property and rent or lease any property to or from others, including public agencies, or make contracts for the use of the property. The county authority may sell, lease, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, mortgage or grant a security interest for any property. The powers to acquire, use and dispose of property as set forth in this paragraph shall include the power to acquire, use and dispose of any interest in that property, whether divided or undivided. Title to any property of the county authority shall be held by the county authority exclusively for the benefit of the public;
(o) To apply, contract for, accept, receive and administer gifts, grants, appropriations and donations of money, materials and property of any kind, including loans and grants from the United States, the state, a unit of local government, or any agency, department, district or instrumentality of any of the foregoing, upon any terms and conditions as the United States, the state, a unit of local government, or any agency, department, district or instrumentality shall impose. The county authority may administer trusts. The county authority may sell, lease, transfer, convey, appropriate and pledge any and all of its property and assets;
(p) To make and enforce, and from time to time amend and repeal, bylaws, rules, ordinances and regulations for the management of its business and affairs and for the construction, use, maintenance and operation of any of the systems under its management and control;
(q) To employ and terminate staff and other personnel, including attorneys, engineers and consultants as may be necessary to the functioning of the county authority. The board of directors, in its discretion, may employ an executive director having the authority to employ and fire employees and other duties as determined by the board;
(r) To establish and maintain rates, fees and any other charges for services and the use of systems and facilities within the control of the county authority, and from time to time, to adjust such rates, fees and any other charges to the end that the revenues therefrom will be sufficient at all times to pay the expenses of operating and maintaining of the facilities and treatment systems and all of the persons' obligations under any contract or bonds resolution with respect thereto or any obligation of any person under any agreement, contract, indenture or bonds resolution with respect thereto. Such rates, fees, assessments and any other charges shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Public Service Commission;
(s) To adopt rules and regulations necessary to accomplish the purposes of the county authority and to assure the payment of each participating person or public agency of its proportionate share of the costs for use of any of the systems and facilities of the county authority and for the county authority's proportionate share of the costs of the utility board;
(t) To enter on public or private lands, waters or premises for the purpose of making surveys, borings or soundings, or conducting tests, examinations or inspections for the purposes of the authority, subject to responsibility for any damage done to property entered;
(u) To accept industrial wastewater from within the boundaries of the county authority for treatment and to require the pretreatment of same when, in the opinion of the county authority, such pretreatment is necessary;
(v) To control and operate local retail water, wastewater and storm water services, and may provide or be responsible for direct servicing of those services to residences, businesses and individuals; however, the county authority shall not provide the same services in an area provided by a public utility or person holding a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Mississippi Public Service Commission for the provision of such services in the certificated area. Any rates, fees, assessments or other charges shall not be under the control or regulation of the Mississippi Public Service Commission;
(w) To assume control and administer, within the county authority's jurisdiction, any water, wastewater or storm water system or systems by agreement or contract with any person if the person providing such services requests to be relieved of that responsibility. However, the person may maintain control over connections in their service areas and may charge rates, fees and any other charges in addition to the rates, fees and any charges of the county authority;
(x) The county authority shall have the power of eminent domain for the particular purpose of the acquisition of property designated by plan to sufficiently accommodate the location of water, wastewater or storm water systems and such requirements related directly thereto pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 27, Title 11, Mississippi Code of 1972. The county authority may acquire by eminent domain property necessary for any system and the exercise of the powers, rights and duties conferred upon the county authority by this act. No person owning the drilling rights or the right to share in production shall be prevented from exploring, developing or producing oil or gas with necessary rights-of-way for ingress and egress, pipelines and other means of transporting such interests on any lands or interest of the county authority held or used for the purposes of this act, but any such activities shall be subject to reasonable regulations by the board of directors that will adequately protect the systems or projects of the county authority;
(y) To use any legally available funds to acquire, rebuild, operate and maintain any existing water, wastewater or storm water systems owned or operated by any person;
(z) To refuse to receive water, wastewater or storm water from any public agency or person; and
(aa) So long as any indebtedness on the systems of the county authority remains outstanding, to require by contract with a member public agency, or other person, that all water, wastewater and storm water within the boundaries of the respective county authority be disposed of through the appropriate treatment system to the extent that the same may be available, but no public agency shall be precluded from constructing, operating and maintaining its own such system after the current indebtedness owing on the system as of April 18, 2006, is paid in full.
SECTION 178. Section 49-17-745, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-745. (1) The county authority shall have the power, duty and responsibility to exercise general supervision over the design, construction, operation and maintenance of water, wastewater and storm water systems.
(2) The county authority shall adopt rules and regulations regarding the design, construction or installation, operation and maintenance of water, wastewater and storm water systems.
(3) The county authority shall adopt rules and regulations regarding the use of decentralized treatment systems, individual on-site wastewater treatment systems and centralized wastewater treatment systems.
(4) The county authority shall adopt rules establishing performance standards for water, wastewater and storm water systems and the operation and maintenance of the same. Such rules and regulations shall include the implementation of a standard application form for the installation, operation and maintenance of such systems; application review; approval or denial procedures for any proposed system; inspection, monitoring and reporting guidelines; and enforcement procedures.
(5) (a) Before a building or development which requires the installation of a water, wastewater or storm water system is constructed, the system must be submitted to the county authority for certification that the system complies with the county authority requirements for such system.
(b) Before approving or renewing a water, wastewater or storm water related permit for a system within a county authority, the state agency must require certification that the system complies with the requirements of the county authority.
(6) Any system of any municipality, public agency or other persons which contracts with a county authority, shall be subject to the terms of that contract and the terms of this act.
(7) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 51-39-1 et seq., the county authority shall have the full power to adopt rules and regulations and to construct, maintain and operate facilities for the control of storm water quality and quantity. In addition, the provisions of Section 51-33-1 et seq. relating to drainage districts and flood control districts do not apply to the county authority.
(8) The county authority may control and operate the local retail water, wastewater or storm water services and may provide or be responsible for direct servicing of those services to residences, businesses and individuals; however, the county authority shall not provide the same service in an area provided by a public utility or person holding a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Mississippi Public Service Commission for the provision of such services in the certificated area.
SECTION 179. Section 49-17-747, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-747. (1) Any public agency or person, pursuant to a duly adopted resolution of the governing body of such public agency or person, may enter into contracts with the county authority or county authorities under the terms of which the county authority will manage, operate and contract for usage of its systems and facilities, or other services, for such person or public agency.
(2) Any public agency or person may enter into contracts with the county authority for the county authority to purchase or sell, by installments over such terms as may be deemed desirable, or otherwise, to any person or any systems. Any public agency may sell, donate, convey, or otherwise dispose of water, wastewater and storm water facilities or systems; or any equipment, personal property or any other things, deemed necessary for the construction, operation, and maintenance to the county authority without the necessity of appraisal, advertising, or bidding. This section creates an alternative method of disposal of public property.
(3) Any public agency is authorized to enter into operating agreements with the county authority, for such terms and upon such conditions as may be deemed desirable, for the operation of any of its systems of any person by the county authority or by any person contracting with the county authority to operate such systems.
(4) Any public agency may lease to or from the county authority, for such term and upon such conditions as may be deemed desirable, any of its systems.
(5) Any municipality or county may donate office space, equipment, supplies and materials to the authority.
(6) Any such contract may contain provisions requiring any public agency or other person to regulate the quality and strength of the material to be handled by the wastewater or storm water systems and may also provide that the county authority shall have the right to use any streets, alleys and public ways and places within the jurisdiction of a public agency or other person during the term of the contract. Such contracts may obligate the public agency to make payments to the county authority or to a trustee in amounts which shall be sufficient to enable the county authority to defray the expenses of administering, operating and maintaining its respective systems, to pay interest and principal (whether at maturity upon redemption or otherwise) on bonds of the county authority, issued under this act and to fund reserves for debt service, for operation and maintenance and for renewals and replacements, to fulfill the requirements of any rate covenant with respect to debt service coverage contained in any resolution, trust indenture or other security agreement relating to the bonds of the county authority issued under this act or to fulfill any other requirement relating to bonds issued pursuant to this act.
(7) Any public agency shall have the power to enter into such contracts with the county authority as in the discretion of the governing body of the public agency would be in the best interest of the public agency. Such contracts may include a pledge of the full faith and credit of such public agency and/or the avails of any special assessments made by such public agency against property receiving benefits, as now or hereafter are provided by law. Any such contract may provide for the sale, or lease to, or use of by the county authority, of the systems or any part thereof, of the public agency; and may provide that the county authority shall operate its systems or any part thereof of the public agency; and may provide that any public agency shall have the right to continued use and/or priority use of the systems or any part thereof during the useful life thereof upon payment of reasonable charges therefor; and may contain provisions to assure equitable treatment of persons or public agencies who contract with the county authority under this act; and may contain such other provisions and requirements as the parties thereto may determine to be appropriate or necessary. Such contracts may extend over any period of time, notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, and may extend beyond the life of the respective systems or any part thereof or the term of the bonds sold with respect to such facilities or improvements thereto.
(8) The obligations of a public agency arising under the terms of any contract referred to in this act, whether or not payable solely from a pledge of revenues, shall not be included within the indebtedness limitations of the public agency for purposes of any constitutional or statutory limitation or provision. To the extent provided in such contract and to the extent such obligations of the public agency are payable wholly or in part from the revenues and other monies derived by the public agency from the operation of its systems or of its combined systems, or any part thereof, such obligations shall be treated as expenses of operating such systems.
(9) Contracts referred to in this section may also provide for payments in the form of contributions to defray the cost of any purpose set forth in the contracts and as advances for the respective systems or any part thereof subject to repayment by the county authority. A public agency may make such contributions or advances from its general fund or surplus fund or from special assessments or from any monies legally available therefor.
(10) Payments made, or to be made, to the county authority by a public agency or other person under a contract for any of its treatment systems, or any part thereof, shall not be subject to approval or review by the Mississippi Public Service Commission.
(11) Subject to the terms of a contract or contracts referred to in this act, the county authority is hereby authorized to do and perform any and all acts or things necessary, convenient or desirable to carry out the purposes of such contracts, including the fixing, charging, collecting, maintaining and revising of rates, fees and other charges for the services rendered to any user of any of the systems operated or maintained by the county authority, whether or not such systems are owned by the county authority.
(12) No provision of this act shall be construed to prohibit any public agency, otherwise permitted by law to issue bonds, from issuing bonds in the manner provided by law for the construction, renovation, repair or development of any of the county authority's systems, or any part thereof, owned or operated by such public agency.
SECTION 180. Section 49-17-749, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-749. Whenever a public agency shall have executed a contract under this act and the payments thereunder are to be made either wholly or partly from the revenues of the public agency's systems, or any part thereof, or a combination of such systems, the duty is hereby imposed on the public agency to establish and maintain and from time to time to adjust the rate or fees charged by the public agency for the services of such systems, so that the revenues therefrom, together with any taxes and special assessments levied in support thereof, will be sufficient at all times to pay:
(a) The expense of operating and maintaining such systems, including all of the public agency's obligations to the county authority, its successors or assigns under such contract; and
(b) All of the public agency's obligations under and in connection with bonds theretofore issued, or which may be issued thereafter and secured by the revenues of such systems. Any such contract may require the use of consulting engineers and financial experts to advise the public agency whether and when such rates and fees are to be adjusted.
SECTION 181. Section 49-17-751, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-751. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 77-3-21 and 77-3-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, the certificate of public convenience and necessity held by any municipality, public agency, district, public utility or other person authorized by law to provide water, sewer and wastewater services may be cancelled and its powers, duties and responsibilities transferred to the county authority in the manner provided by this section.
(2) Any entity described in subsection (1) of this section desiring to have its certificate of public convenience and necessity cancelled and its powers, duties and responsibilities transferred to the county authority shall make a determination to that effect on its official minutes if a public entity, or by affidavit if not a public entity, and transmit such determination to the county authority.
(3) Upon receipt of the document evidencing such determination from an entity to transfer its powers, duties and responsibilities to the county authority, the county authority shall, by resolution, declare whether it is willing and able to accept such transfer from the entity.
(4) Upon completion of the requirements of subsections (2) and (3) herein and agreement by both parties to the transfer, the holder of the certificate of public convenience and necessity and the county authority shall jointly petition the Public Service Commission to cancel the certificate of public convenience and necessity. The petition must be accompanied by copies of the official minutes, affidavit or resolution, as the case may be, reflecting the actions of the petitioners. After review of the petition and any other evidence as the Public Service Commission deems necessary, the commission may issue an order cancelling the certificate and transferring to the county authority the powers, duties and responsibilities granted by the certificate, including all assets and debts of the transferor petitioner related to such certificated services, real or personal, or both, if it finds that:
(a) Subsections (2) and (3) of this section have been complied with; and
(b) Such action is in the public interest.
(5) The county authority and providers of water, sewer, wastewater and storm water services that are not holders of a certificate of a public convenience and necessity from the Public Service Commission may enter into agreements for the provision of such services, including, but not limited to, the transfer to the county authority of such provider's powers, duties, responsibilities, assets and debts.
SECTION 182. Section 49-17-753, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-753. (1) Any system of a municipality, public agency or person that becomes subject to the jurisdiction of a county authority and this act shall not impair, invalidate or abrogate any liens, bonds or other certificates of indebtedness related to water, storm water or wastewater facilities and systems incurred prior to becoming subject to the jurisdiction of the county authority.
(2) The county authority may do and perform any and all acts necessary, convenient or desirable to ensure the payment, redemption or satisfaction of such liens, bonds or other certificates of indebtedness.
SECTION 183. Section 49-17-755, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-755. (1) Sections 49-17-753 through 49-17-771 apply to all bonds to be issued after April 18, 2006, and such provisions shall not affect, limit or alter the rights and powers of any county authority under this act or any law of Mississippi to conduct the activities referred to herein in any way pertinent to the interests of the bondholders, including, without limitation, such county authority's right to charge and collect rates, fees and charges and to fulfill the terms of any covenants made with the registered owners of any existing bonds, or in any other way impair the rights and remedies of the registered owners of any existing bonds, unless provision for full payment of such bonds, by escrow or otherwise, has been made pursuant to the terms of the bonds or the resolution, trust indenture or security interest securing the bonds.
(2) The county authority shall have the power and is hereby authorized, from time to time, to borrow money and to issue revenue bonds and interim notes in such principal amounts as the county authority may determine to be necessary to provide sufficient funds for achieving one or more of the purposes of this act, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to defray all the costs of the project, the cost of the acquisition, construction, improvement, repair or extension of a system, or any part thereof, whether or not such facilities are owned by the county authority, the payment of interest on bonds of the county authority issued pursuant to this act, establishment of reserves to secure such bonds and payment of the interest thereon, expenses incident to the issuance of such bonds and to the implementation of the county authority's system, and all other expenditures of the county authority incident to or necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this act.
(3) Before issuing bonds, other than interim notes or refunding bonds as provided in Section 49-17-757, the board of directors of the county authority shall adopt a resolution declaring its intention to issue such bonds and stating the maximum principal amount of bonds proposed to be issued, a general generic description of the proposed improvements and the proposed location thereof, and the date, time and place at which the board of directors proposes to take further action with respect to the issuance of such bonds. The resolution of the county authority shall be published once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in at least one (1) newspaper having a general circulation within the geographical limits of all of the public agencies which have contracted with the county authority pursuant to this act.
(4) Bonds of the county authority issued pursuant to this act shall be payable from and secured by a pledge of all or any part of the revenues under one or more contracts entered into pursuant to this act between the county authority and one or more of its contracting public agencies and from all or any part of the revenues derived from the operation of any designated system or any part or parts thereof and any other monies legally available and designated therefor, as may be determined by such county authority, subject only to any agreement with the purchasers of the bonds. Such bonds may be further secured by a trust indenture between such county authority and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having powers of a trust company without or within the state.
(5) Bonds of the county authority issued pursuant to this act shall be authorized by a resolution or resolutions adopted by a majority affirmative vote of the total membership of the board of directors of the county authority. Such bonds may be issued in series, and each series of such bonds shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates (not exceeding the maximum rate set out in Section 75-17-103, Mississippi Code of 1972), be in such denomination or denominations, be in such form, carry such conversion privileges, have such rank or priority, be executed in such manner and by such officers, be payable from such sources in such medium of payment at such place or places within or without the state, provided that one such place shall be within the state, and be subject to such terms of redemption prior to maturity, all as may be provided by resolution or resolutions of the board of directors. The term of such bonds issued pursuant to this act shall not exceed forty (40) years.
(6) Bonds of the county authority issued pursuant to this act may be sold at such price or prices, at public or private sale, in such manner and at such times as may be determined by such county authority to be in the public interest, and such county authority may pay all expenses, premiums, fees and commissions which it may deem necessary and advantageous in connection with the issuance and sale thereof.
(7) Any pledge of earnings, revenues or other monies made by the county authority shall be valid and binding from the time the pledge is made. The earnings, revenues or other monies so pledged and thereafter received by such county authority shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against such county authority irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded.
(8) Neither the members of the board of directors nor any person executing the bonds shall be personally liable on the bonds or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof.
(9) Proceeds from the sale of bonds of the county authority may be invested, pending their use, in such securities as may be specified in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or the trust indenture securing them, and the earnings on such investments applied as provided in such resolution or trust indenture.
(10) Whenever any bonds shall have been signed by the officer(s) designated by the resolution of the board of directors to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officer(s) prior to the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the manual or facsimile signatures of such officer(s) upon such bonds shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially executing such bonds had remained in office until the delivery of the same to the purchaser or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear.
(11) The county authority has the discretion to advance or borrow funds needed to satisfy any short-term cash flow demands or deficiencies or to cover start-up costs until such time as sufficient bonds, assets and revenues have been secured to satisfy the needs of the county authority.
SECTION 184. Section 49-17-757, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-757. (1) Refunding bonds. The county authority may, by resolution adopted by its board of directors, issue refunding bonds for the purpose of paying any of its bonds at or prior to maturity or upon acceleration or redemption. Refunding bonds may be issued at such time prior to the maturity or redemption of the refunded bonds as the board of directors deems to be in the public interest, without an election on the question of the issuance thereof. The refunding bonds may be issued in sufficient amounts to pay or provide the principal of the bonds being refunded, together with any redemption premium thereon, any interest accrued or to accrue to the date of payment of such bonds, the expenses of issue of the refunding bonds, the expenses of redeeming the bonds being refunded, and such reserves for debt service or other capital or current expenses from the proceeds of such refunding bonds as may be required by the resolution, trust indenture or other security instruments. The issue of refunding bonds, the maturities and other details thereof, the security therefor, the rights of the holders and the rights, duties and obligations of the county authority in respect of the same shall be governed by the provisions of this act relating to the issue of bonds other than refunding bonds insofar as the same may be applicable. Any such refunding may be effected, whether the obligations to be refunded shall have then matured or shall thereafter mature, either by the exchange of the refunding bonds for the obligations to be refunded thereby with the consent of the holders of the obligations so to be refunded, or by sale of the refunding bonds and the application of the proceeds thereof to the payment of the obligations proposed to be refunded thereby, and regardless of whether the obligations proposed to be refunded shall be payable on the same date or different dates or shall be due serially or otherwise.
(2) Interim notes. Borrowing by the county authority may be made by the delivery of interim notes to any person or public agency or financial institution by a majority vote of the board of directors.
SECTION 185. Section 49-17-759, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-759. All bonds (other than refunding bonds, interim notes and certificates of indebtedness, which may be validated) issued pursuant to this act shall be validated as now provided by law in Sections 31-13-1 through 31-13-11, Mississippi Code of 1972; however, notice of such validation proceedings shall be addressed to the citizens of the respective public agencies (a) which have contracted with the county authority pursuant to this act, and (b) whose contracts and the payments to be made by the public agencies thereunder constitute security for the bonds of such county authority proposed to be issued, and that such notice shall be published at least once in a newspaper or newspapers having a general circulation within the geographical boundaries of each of the contracting public agencies to whose citizens the notice is addressed. Such validation proceedings shall be instituted in any chancery courts within the boundaries of the county authority. The validity of the bonds so validated and of the contracts and payments to be made by the public agencies thereunder constituting security for the bonds shall be forever conclusive against the county authority and the public agencies which are parties to said contracts; and the validity of said bonds and said contracts and the payments to be made thereunder shall never be called in question in any court in this state.
SECTION 186. Section 49-17-761, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-761. Bonds issued under the provisions of this act shall not be deemed to constitute, within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory limitation, an indebtedness of the county authority. Such bonds shall be payable solely from the revenues or assets of the county authority pledged therefor. Each bond issued under this act shall contain on the face thereof a statement to the effect that such county authority shall not be obligated to pay the same nor the interest thereon except from the revenues or assets pledged therefor.
SECTION 187. Section 49-17-763, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-763. The county authority shall have power in connection with the issuance of its bonds pursuant to this act to:
(a) Covenant as to the use of any or all of its property, real or personal;
(b) Redeem the bonds, to covenant for their redemption and to provide the terms and conditions thereof;
(c) Covenant to charge rates, fees and charges sufficient to meet operating and maintenance expenses, renewals and replacements, principal and debt service on bonds, creation and maintenance of any reserves required by a bonds resolution, trust indenture or other security instrument and to provide for any margins or coverages over and above debt service on the bonds deemed desirable for the marketability of the bonds;
(d) Covenant and prescribe as to events of default and terms and conditions upon which any or all of its bonds shall become or may be declared due before maturity, as to the terms and conditions upon which such declaration and its consequences may be waived and as to the consequences of default and the remedies of the registered owners of the bonds;
(e) Covenant as to the mortgage or pledge of or the grant of a security interest in any real or personal property and all or any part of the revenues from any designated system or any part thereof or any revenue-producing contract or contracts made by a county authority with any person to secure the payment of bonds, subject to such agreements with the registered owners of bonds as may then exist;
(f) Covenant as to the custody, collection, securing, investment and payment of any revenues, assets, monies, funds or property with respect to which a county authority may have any rights or interest;
(g) Covenant as to the purposes to which the proceeds from the sale of any bonds then or thereafter to be issued may be applied, and the pledge of such proceeds to secure the payment of the bonds;
(h) Covenant as to the limitations on the issuance of any additional bonds, the terms upon which additional bonds may be issued and secured, and the refunding of outstanding bonds;
(i) Covenant as to the rank or priority of any bonds with respect to any lien or security;
(j) Covenant as to the procedure by which the terms of any contract with or for the benefit of the registered owners of bonds may be amended or abrogated, the amount of bonds the registered owners of which must consent thereto, and the manner in which such consent may be given;
(k) Covenant as to the custody of any of its properties or investments, the safekeeping thereof, the insurance to be carried thereon, and the use and disposition of insurance proceeds;
(l) Covenant as to the vesting in a trustee or trustees, within or outside the state, of such properties, rights, powers and duties in trust as such county authority may determine;
(m) Covenant as to the appointing and providing for the duties and obligations of a paying agent or paying agents or other fiduciaries within or outside the state;
(n) Make all other covenants and to do any and all such acts and things as may be necessary or convenient or desirable in order to secure its bonds, or in the absolute discretion of the county authority tend to make the bonds more marketable, notwithstanding that such covenants, acts or things may not be enumerated herein; it being the intention hereof to give any county authority power to do all things in the issuance of bonds and in the provisions for security thereof which are not inconsistent with the Constitution of the state; and
(o) Execute all instruments necessary or convenient in the exercise of the powers herein granted or in the performance of covenants or duties, which may contain such covenants and provisions, as any purchaser of the bonds of the county authority may reasonably require.
SECTION 188. Section 49-17-765, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-765. The county authority may, in any authorizing resolution of the board of directors, trust indenture or other security instrument relating to its bonds issued pursuant to this act, provide for the appointment of a trustee who shall have such powers as are provided therein to represent the registered owners of any issue of bonds in the enforcement or protection of their rights under any such resolution, trust indenture or security instrument. The county authority may also provide in such resolution, trust indenture or other security instrument that the trustee, or in the event that the trustee so appointed shall fail or decline to so protect and enforce such registered owners' rights then such percentage of registered owners as shall be set forth in, and subject to the provisions of, such resolution, trust indenture or other security interest, may petition the court of proper jurisdiction for the appointment of a receiver of the county authority's systems, the revenues of which are pledged to the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds of such registered owners. Such receiver may exercise any power as may be granted in any such resolution, trust indenture or security instrument to enter upon and take possession of, acquire, construct or reconstruct or operate and maintain such system, fix charges for services of the system and enforce collection thereof, and receive all revenues derived from such system or facilities and perform the public duties and carry out the contracts and obligations of such county authority in the same manner as such county authority itself might do, all under the direction of such court.
SECTION 189. Section 49-17-767, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-767. (1) The exercise of the powers granted by this act will be in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state, for their well-being and prosperity and for the improvement of their social and economic conditions, and the county authority shall not be required to pay any tax or assessment on any property owned by the county authority under the provisions of this act or upon the income therefrom; nor shall the county authority be required to pay any recording fee or transfer tax of any kind on account of instruments recorded by it or on its behalf.
(2) Any bonds issued by the county authority under and pursuant to the provisions of this act, their transfer and the income therefrom shall at all times be free from taxation by the state or any local unit or political subdivision or other instrumentality of the state, excepting inheritance and gift taxes.
SECTION 190. Section 49-17-769, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-769. All bonds issued under the provisions of this act shall be legal investments for trustees, other fiduciaries, savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi; and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of the state and all municipalities and other political subdivisions thereof for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.
SECTION 191. Section 49-17-771, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-771. The state hereby covenants with the registered owners of any bonds of any county authority that so long as the bonds are outstanding and unpaid the state will not limit or alter the rights and powers of any county authority under this act to conduct the activities referred to herein in any way pertinent to the interests of the bondholders, including, without limitation, such county authority's right to charge and collect rates, fees, assessments and charges and to fulfill the terms of any covenants made with the registered owners of the bonds, or in any other way impair the rights and remedies of the registered owners of the bonds, unless provision for full payment of such bonds, by escrow or otherwise, has been made pursuant to the terms of the bonds or the resolution, trust indenture or security interest securing the bonds.
SECTION 192. Section 49-17-773, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-773. For the purposes of satisfying any temporary cash flow demands and deficiencies, and to maintain a working balance for the county authority, the county, municipalities or public agencies within the geographic boundaries of the county authority, or other persons, subject to their lawful authority to do so, are authorized to advance, at any time, such funds which, in its discretion, are necessary, or borrow such funds by issuance of notes, for initial capital contribution and to cover start-up costs until such times as sufficient bonds, assets and revenues have been secured to satisfy the needs of the county authority for its management, operation and formation. To this end, the county, municipality, public agency or person, subject to their lawful authority to do so, shall advance such funds, or borrow such funds by issuance of notes, under such terms and conditions as may be provided by resolution of the governing body, or other persons as defined in this act, subject to their lawful authority to do so, except that each such resolution shall state:
(a) The need for the proceeds advanced or borrowed;
(b) The amount to be advanced or the amount to be borrowed;
(c) The maximum principal amount of any note issued, the interest rate or maximum interest rate to be incurred, and the maturity date of said note;
(d) In addition, the governing body, or other persons as defined in this act, subject to their lawful authority to do so, may arrange for lines of credit with any bank, firm or person for the purpose of providing an additional source of repayment for notes issued pursuant to this section. Amounts drawn on a line of credit may be evidenced by negotiable or nonnegotiable notes or other evidences of indebtedness and contain such terms and conditions as the governing body, or other persons as defined in this act, subject to their lawful authority to do so, may authorize in the resolution approving the same;
(e) The governing body of the county, municipalities or other persons as defined in this act, subject to their lawful authority to do so, may authorize the repayment of such advances, notes, lines of credit and other debt incurred under this section, along with all costs associated with the same, including, but not limited to, rating agency fees, printing costs, legal fees, bank or trust company fees, line of credit fees and other charges to be reimbursed by the county authority under such terms and conditions as are reasonable and are to be provided for by resolution of the governing body, or terms agreed upon with other persons as defined in this act, subject to their lawful authority to do so;
(f) In addition, the governing body of the county, municipality or public agency may lease or donate office space and equipment to the county authority under such terms and conditions as are reasonable and are to be provided for by resolution of the governing body, or terms agreed upon by the county authority.
SECTION 193. Section 49-17-775, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-775. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of the provisions of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
SECTION 194. Section 49-27-71, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-27-71. (1) Definitions. As used in the section, the following words and phrases have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) "Abandoned vessel" means a vessel left unattended for four (4) or more weeks after a hurricane, tropical storm or other natural event resulting in a declaration of emergency by the Governor, or, in the absence of a hurricane, tropical storm or other natural event resulting in a declaration of emergency by the Governor, any of the following:
(i) A vessel left unattended that is moored, anchored, or otherwise in the waters of the state or on public property for a period of more than ten (10) days.
(ii) A vessel that is moored, anchored, or otherwise on or attached to private property for a period of more than ten (10) days without the consent of the owner or lessee of the property or of the public trust tidelands.
Upon notification from the owner of the vessel outlining the circumstances following a hurricane, tropical storm or other natural event, the department may grant an exception to the time frames indicated above.
(b) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
(c) "Derelict vessel" means a vessel in the waters of the State of Mississippi that satisfies any of the following:
(i) Is aground without the ability to extricate itself absent mechanical assistance;
(ii) Is sunk or otherwise resting on the bottom of the waterway;
(iii) Is abandoned;
(iv) Is wrecked, junked, or in a substantially dismantled condition upon any waters of this state:
1. A vessel is "wrecked" if it is sunken or sinking; or remaining after a marine casualty, including, but not limited to, a boating accident, extreme weather, or fire.
2. A vessel is "junked" if it has been substantially stripped of vessel components, if vessel components have substantially degraded or been destroyed, or if the vessel has been discarded by the owner or operator. Attaching an outboard motor to a vessel that is otherwise junked will not cause the vessel to no longer be junked if such motor is not an effective means of propulsion.
3. A vessel is "substantially dismantled" if at least two (2) of the three (3) following vessel systems or components are missing, compromised, incomplete, inoperable, or broken:
(A) The steering system;
(B) The propulsion system; or
(C) The exterior hull integrity.
Attaching an outboard motor to a vessel that is otherwise substantially dismantled will not cause the vessel to no longer be substantially dismantled if such motor is not an effective means of propulsion;
(v) Docked, grounded, or beached upon the property of another without the consent of the owner of the property;
(vi) Is obstructing a waterway or within one hundred (100) yards of the boundaries of any state, county or municipal port;
(vii) Is endangering life or property;
(viii) Has broken loose or is in danger of breaking loose from its anchor, mooring, or ties; or
(iv) A vessel that is otherwise not seaworthy.
(d) "Documented vessel" means a vessel documented under 46 USC, Chapter 121.
(e) "Effective means of propulsion" means a vessel, other than a barge, that is equipped with:
(i) A functioning motor, controls, and steering system; or
(ii) Rigging and sails that are present and in good working order, and a functioning steering system.
A vessel does not have an effective means of propulsion for safe navigation within seventy-two (72) hours after the vessel owner or operator received telephonic notice, in-person notice recorded on an agency-approved body camera, or written notice, which may be provided by facsimile, electronic mail, or other electronic means, stating such from a representative of the department, and the vessel owner or operator is unable to provide a receipt, proof of purchase, or other documentation of having ordered necessary parts for vessel repair. The department may adopt regulations to implement this paragraph.
(f) "Floating building or structure" means a floating entity, with or without accommodations built thereon, which is not primarily used as a means of transportation on water but which serves purposes or provides services typically associated with a structure or other improvement to real property. The term includes, but is not limited to, an entity used as a residence, place of business or office with public access; a hotel or motel; a restaurant or lounge; a clubhouse; a meeting facility; a storage or parking facility; or a mining platform, dredge, dragline, or similar facility or entity represented as such. Incidental movement upon water or resting partially or entirely on the bottom does not, in and of itself, preclude an entity from classification as a floating structure.
(g) "Gross negligence" means conduct so reckless or wanting in care that it constitutes a conscious disregard or indifference to the safety of the property to such conduct.
(h) "Moored" means a vessel that is anchored or affixed in some other way to the public trust tidelands, to leased tidelands, to private land, or within the riparian zone of a private or public landowner or leaseholder.
(i) "Registered" means a vessel documented under Section 59-21-5.
(j) "Unseaworthy" means a vessel that is not fit or safe for any normal perils of the sea or has no effective means of propulsion.
(k) "Vessel" means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane, capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water. For the purposes of this section, vessels powered only by hand, foot, oars or paddles, are included. For the purposes of this section, floatable buildings and structures, whether or not they are used for navigation, are included.
(l) "Waters of the state" means any waters located within Harrison, Hancock and Jackson Counties under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources as established pursuant to Section 49-15-23.
(m) "Willful misconduct" means conduct evidencing carelessness or negligence of such a degree or recurrence as to manifest culpability, wrongful intent, or evil design or to show an intentional and substantial disregard of the interests of the vessel owner.
(2) Jurisdiction. (a) (i) In the waters of Harrison, Hancock and Jackson Counties, a person, firm, corporation or other entity may not leave derelict or at risk of being derelict, any vessel on the coastal wetlands, marine waters, or on public or privately owned lands without the owner's permission.
(ii) The Department of Marine Resources has the authority to remove derelict vessels, whether located on private or public property.
(iii) Vessels located in ports and harbors are subject to the provisions outlined in Title 50, Mississippi Code of 1972, Ports, Harbors, Landings and Watercraft.
(iv) Subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (a) does not apply to vessels located in marinas, garages or repair shops for repairs, improvements or other work with knowledge of the owner and for which the costs for such services have been unpaid.
(v) Vessels deemed to be derelict pursuant to this chapter are exempt from the salvage provisions in Section 89-17-1 et seq.
(b) (i) In all other waters of the State of Mississippi, a person, firm, corporation or other entity may not leave derelict or at risk of being derelict, any vessel in the wetlands, public waters or waterways or on public or privately owned lands without the owner's permission.
(ii) Subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (b) does not apply to vessels located in public or private marinas, garages or repair shops for repairs, improvements or other work with knowledge of the owner and for which the costs for such services have been unpaid.
(iii) Vessels deemed to be derelict pursuant to this chapter are exempt from the salvage provisions of Section 89-17-1 et seq.
(3) Penalties. Violations of this section will be subject to the penalties as provided in Section 49-15-63.
(4) Standing. A party with standing may initiate the derelict vessel procedures in this section. For purpose of this section, the following parties have standing:
(a) The owner of the property where the vessel came to rest or to which the vessel was made fast;
(b) Any harbormaster, police department, municipality or agent of the state that agrees to accept or process a derelict vessel; or
(c) Any professional marine salvager when the salvager is engaged by a person with standing.
(5) Landowner permission may be revoked at any time. The landowner must provide the department sufficient proof that the vessel owner has been notified of the revocation of landowner's permission or proof that the landowner cannot locate the owner of the vessel.
When a vessel that is not otherwise leased to another party is moored upon public trust tidelands for a period of thirty (30) days or longer, permission must be granted by the Secretary of State's Office.
(6) Notice. Any party with standing, or his or her representative, may initiate the notice process by filing an application with the department to remove the derelict vessel. Upon receipt and review of the application, the department may initiate the following notice process:
(a) A department officer is authorized to board any vessel that has been reported to the department as being derelict or at risk of being derelict to determine the condition of the vessel and in an attempt to establish ownership of the vessel.
(b) A department officer shall post notice, which must comply with the following requirements:
(i) Be posted on the vessel in a prominent location, visible to an approaching person;
(ii) Require the vessel owner to submit a plan for removal to the department within seven (7) days of the notice; and
(iii) Include a space for the owner of the vessel to respond.
(c) If the registered owner responds with a signature in the space or otherwise provides a written response to the department requesting an extension of time, then the registered owner will have an additional five (5) days to submit the plan for removal.
(d) The department will notify the respondent of the approval or denial of the removal plan within seven (7) business days.
(e) If the respondent fails to comply with the approved removal plan and fails to submit a satisfactory reason as to why the vessel cannot be moved as planned, the department may present the removal plan and evidence of the owner's noncompliance to the chancery court.
(f) Upon presentation of the required evidence, the chancery court will issue an order allowing the department or its representative to remove the vessel from its current location and make whatever disposition is deemed appropriate, including, but not limited to, immediate disposal, storage pending disposal, use for official purposes, transfer to another state agency or other disposition.
(g) If the vessel is located in an area of coastal wetlands where emergent vegetation is present or where the vessel is embedded in the ground, a wetlands permit may be required prior to removal.
(h) Any party who acts in good faith and without malicious intent in the processing, storing or moving any derelict vessel pursuant to this section is immune from liability for damages to the vessel.
(7) Determining ownership. (a) Upon receipt of an application for the removal of a derelict vessel where no removal plan has been submitted by the owner, the department must attempt to contact the registered owner of the vessel and any lien holders of record by other available means.
(b) The department must inquire of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) as to the status of the vessel in regard to the Mississippi Boating Law of 1960, Section 59-21-1 et seq., or the United States Coast Guard as to the status of the vessel in regard to documentation under 46 USC, Chapter 121.
(c) The inquiry must provide the description of the vessel, including the vessel registration number.
(d) The MDWFP is required to provide the requested information to the department within two (2) business days.
(e) The registered owner of a vessel must comply with Section 59-21-21 to change ownership. In the event a vessel owner fails to notify the MDWFP of a transfer of ownership and supply the new owner's contact information, the owner of the vessel according to MDWFP records is presumed to be the person to whom the vessel is registered.
(f) If there is no registered owner found, the department must make publication on the department's website and in a newspaper with general circulation for three (3) weeks, describing the vessel and the location.
(8) Derelict vessel removal. (a) After the initial notice period described in subsection (6) has lapsed and the department can show proof of inquiries to ascertain the vessel ownership under subsection (7) of this section, the department may obtain an order from the chancery court for the derelict vessel to be removed from its current location.
(b) The chancery court order may authorize the department to make whatever disposition is deemed appropriate, including, but not limited to, immediate disposal of the vessel, storage pending disposal, use for official purposes, transfer to another state agency or other disposition.
(c) If the vessel is located in an area of coastal wetlands where emergent vegetation is present or where the vessel is embedded in the ground, a wetlands permit may be required prior to removal.
(d) Any person who acts in good faith and without malicious intent in the processing, storing or moving of any derelict vessel pursuant to this section is immune from civil liability for damage to the vessel.
(9) Emergency removal. Any derelict vessel that is obstructing a waterway, is within any designated navigation channel or within one hundred (100) yards of the boundaries of any state, county or municipal port may be declared a hazard to navigation and subject to immediate relocation, removal disposal, or other disposition by the department or other party with standing.
(a) Any derelict vessel that is leaking any hazardous substances, chemicals or fuels will be reported to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and may be declared an environmental hazard and subject to immediate relocation, removal, disposal or other disposition by MDEQ, the department or other party with standing.
(b) The registered owner of a vessel removed in accordance with this subsection (9) is liable for the costs associated with the relocation, removal, salvage, storage or disposal of the vessel and any damages to the flora and fauna within the affected area.
(c) Any funds derived from salvage or sale of a vessel pursuant to this section will be used to offset the costs to the department associated with the removal, salvage, storage or disposal of the vessel.
(d) Any funds derived from damages to the flora and fauna will be deposited into the Coastal Resource Management Fund if the Department of Marine Resources initiates the action.
(e) Any party who relocates or removes a vessel under this section is not liable for damages resulting from relocation or removal unless the damage results from gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(10) Cost recovery. (a) The department may seek full cost recovery from the registered owner of the derelict vessel for any expense incurred as a result of, or incidental to, removing the vessel. The registered owner of the vessel is liable for the costs of removal, storage, disposal, and restoration of affected lands, attorneys' fees, and all court costs.
(b) The owner of the vessel is also liable for an administrative penalty of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per day. The penalty for emergency removal of vessels under subsection (9) of this section may be imposed by the Executive Director of the Department of Marine Resources upon the recommendation of the Advisory Commission on Marine Resources, under Section 49-15-401 et seq. The fines for removal of all other vessels may be imposed by the chancery court.
(c) Expenses incurred, including, but not limited to, fines, court costs, vessel removal, storage, disposal, restoration of affected lands, and attorneys' fees for derelict vessels will be imposed by the chancery court as outlined in subsection (11) of this section.
(d) If the registered owner should fail to pay fines imposed by the department in accordance with paragraph (b) of this subsection, an enforcement action will be filed with the chancery court which may result in the court issuing an order, including, but not limited to, the collection of fines, court costs, and/or any legal avenue the court finds appropriate to collect such funds.
(e) All proceeds from any activity initiated by the Department of Marine Resources related to the disposition of a vessel under this chapter will go into the Derelict Vessel Fund, a special fund within the Seafood Fund. However, any fines imposed for the damage to coastal wetlands will be placed in the Coastal Resource Management Fund.
(11) Court process. (a) The chancery court of the county in which the vessel is located has jurisdiction over all matters concerning derelict vessels under this section, including injunctions and demands for damages. If the vessel is allowed to float and/or is otherwise moved to another county after notice has been provided under subsection (6) of this section, the county in which the vessel was first provided notice shall have continuing jurisdiction.
(b) If there is no response to the publication attempts under subsection (7)(e) of this section, the chancery court will issue an order to the department allowing the department to take possession of the vessel and make such use or disposition of the vessel as deemed appropriate under the circumstances. If the department determines that the vessel may be used for official purposes or otherwise sold, the MDWFP will issue a vessel registration number or a hull identification number to the department after proof of publication has been submitted.
(c) The chancery court may, in its discretion, order damages up to Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per day for every day the vessel was left abandoned or derelict, beginning on the day notice was posted on the vessel.
(d) If the department or a party with standing desires to require the registered owner to remove the vessel, then he or she may apply to the chancery court for a writ of mandatory injunction ordering the registered owner to remove the vessel. The chancery court must allow a reasonable time for removal and restoration of the affected lands. The chancery court may order further damages not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per day for each day that the violation exists beyond the date set by the court in an injunction for the removal of the vessel and restoration of the affected lands.
(e) Any court-ordered reimbursed costs or damages in excess of the actual costs of removal and restoration initiated by the Department of Marine Resources must be deposited in a special fund in the State Treasury known as the "Derelict Vessel Fund" within the Seafood Fund. Any funds deposited in the fund must be used to cover the administrative costs and removal costs incurred by the department for the removal of vessels. Any remaining funds must be used to cover the costs of removing additional derelict vessels. However, any fines imposed for the damage to coastal wetlands will be placed in the Coastal Resource Management Fund.
(12) Department authorities. (a) The department is authorized to enter into contracts with individuals, firms and corporations, or agreements with other state agencies for the removal and/or temporary storage of vessels prior to removal. The salvage value, if any, of the vessel may be used to offset the costs of the removal of the vessel and the restoration of the affected area. The department may enter into noncompetitive contracts or agreements with any state or federal entity for the removal of vessels.
(b) The department may enter into interstate or intrastate agreements toward this end, and may seek and utilize aid from all federal, state, and local sources in this endeavor.
(c) The Department of Marine Resources shall adopt rules and regulations necessary and appropriate to carry out this section for actions falling within its jurisdiction.
(d) The department may promulgate regulations to establish a derelict vessel prevention program to address vessels at risk of becoming derelict. Such program may, but is not required to, include:
(i) Removal, relocation, and destruction of vessels declared a public nuisance due to the lack of proper marine sanitation, derelict or at risk of becoming derelict, or lost or abandoned.
(ii) Creation of a vessel turn-in program allowing the owner of a vessel determined by the department to be at risk of becoming derelict, to turn the vessel and vessel title over to the department to be destroyed without penalty.
(iii) Providing for removal and destruction or other disposition of an abandoned vessel for which an owner cannot be identified or the owner of which is deceased and no heir is interested in acquiring the vessel.
(iv) Purchase of anchor line, anchors, and other equipment necessary for securing vessels at risk of becoming derelict.
(v) Creating or acquiring moorings designated for securing vessels at risk of becoming derelict.
(e) The State of Mississippi, the Commission on Marine Resources, the Department of Marine Resources, and their employees and representatives shall not be liable for any damages resulting from the removal, towing, storage, sale or disposal of any vessel that is derelict or hazardous under this section.
(f) The department or any party with standing does not incur liability for any resulting damage to the vessel or any damage the vessel may cause to any property or person during the time frame between posting notice and vessel removal. If any damages occur during the period of time between notice and removal of the vessel, the registered vessel owner, according to MDWFP records, is presumed liable for all damages.
SECTION 195. Section 49-35-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-35-23. This article shall not:
(a) Affect the authority of local governments to regulate land use under applicable statutes. The use or uses of the brownfield agreement site and any land-use restrictions or engineering controls in the brownfield agreement shall be consistent with local land-use regulations adopted under applicable statutes;
(b) Amend, modify, repeal, or otherwise alter any provision of law available to the commission relating to enforcement of violations of federal or state law within its jurisdiction, including civil and criminal penalties;
(c) Prevent or impede the immediate response of the department or responsible party to an emergency that involves an imminent or actual release of a contaminant that threatens public health or the environment;
(d) Relieve a person receiving liability protection under this section from any liability for environmental contamination later caused or made worse by that person on or under a brownfield agreement site;
(e) Affect the right of any person who may have liability with respect to the brownfield agreement site to seek contribution from any other person who may have liability with respect to the brownfield agreement site and who does not have liability protection under this article;
(f) Prevent the commission from enforcing specific numerical remediation standards, monitoring, or compliance requirements specifically required by the federal government to be enforced as a condition for the department to receive or maintain program authorization, delegation, primacy, or federal funds;
(g) Create a defense against the imposition of criminal and civil penalties or other administrative enforcement remedies authorized by law and imposed as the result of the illegal disposal of solid waste or a regulated substance or for the pollution of the land, air, or waters of this state on or under a brownfield agreement site;
(h) Relieve a person of any liability for failure to exercise due diligence and reasonable care in performing an environmental assessment; or
(i) Create or convey any real or personal property rights, tangible or intangible, to any person.
SECTION 196. Section 51-1-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-1-1. Except as otherwise provided in Section 27-109-1, all rivers, creeks and bayous in this state, twenty-five (25) miles in length, that have sufficient depth and width of water for thirty (30) consecutive days in the year for floating a steamboat with carrying capacity of two hundred (200) bales of cotton are hereby declared to be navigable waters of this state.
SECTION 197. Section 51-3-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-3-1. It is hereby declared that the general welfare of the people of the State of Mississippi requires that the water resources of the state be put to beneficial use to the fullest extent of which they are capable, that the waste or unreasonable use, or unreasonable method of use, of water be prevented, that the conservation of such water be exercised with the view to the reasonable and beneficial use thereof in the interest of the people, and that the public and private funds for the promotion and expansion of the beneficial use of water resources shall be invested to the end that the best interests and welfare of the people are served.
It is the policy of the Legislature that conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water shall be encouraged for the reasonable and beneficial use of all water resources of the state. The policies, regulations and public laws of the State of Mississippi shall be interpreted and administered so that, to the fullest extent possible, the ground and surface water resources within the state shall be integrated in their use, storage, allocation and management.
All water, whether occurring on the surface of the ground or underneath the surface of the ground, is hereby declared to be among the basic resources of this state to therefore belong to the people of this state and is subject to regulation in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The control and development and use of water for all beneficial purposes shall be in the state, which, in the exercise of its police powers, shall take such measures to effectively and efficiently manage, protect and utilize the water resources of Mississippi.
SECTION 198. Section 51-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-3-7. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a person using water for only domestic purposes shall not be required to obtain a permit to use water for domestic purposes, and no permit shall be required for the use of surface water in impoundments that are not located on continuous, free-flowing watercourses. No permit shall be required for any use of water obtained from a well with a surface casing diameter of less than six (6) inches; however, a permit shall be required of a person in the business of developing real property for resale who desires to withdraw water from a well, regardless of surface casing diameter, that is to be used for maintaining or enhancing an impoundment of surface water primarily for aesthetic purposes. If the commission declares and delineates a water use caution area as provided in Section 51-3-11, the permit board may require permits for withdrawals of water in excess of twenty thousand (20,000) gallons per day, including withdrawals of water for uses exempted under this subsection.
(2) The board shall have the authority to permit the use of water of any stream only in excess of the established minimum flow as based upon records or computations by the commission. However, exceptions may be made for municipal users. The board may authorize any permittee to use the established minimum flow upon written assurance, supported by any data and reporting requirements that the board deems appropriate that the water will be immediately returned to the stream in substantially the same amount to insure the maintenance at all times of the established minimum flow. The board may authorize a permittee to use the established minimum flow for industrial purposes when the water shall be returned to the stream at a point downstream from the place of withdrawal, where the board finds that the use will not result in any substantial detriment to property owners affected thereby or to the public interest.
(3) The board shall have the authority to permit the use of water of any lake only in excess of the established average minimum lake level as based upon records or computations by the commission. However, exceptions may be made for municipal users. The board, upon affording a hearing to interested parties, may authorize any permittee to use below the established average minimum level when such use will not affect plans for the proper utilization of the water resources of the state, or the commission may establish a level above the established average minimum lake level, after affording an opportunity for a hearing, where plans for the proper utilization of the water resources of the state require it.
(4) No use of water shall be authorized that will impair the effect of stream standards set under the pollution control laws of this state based upon a minimum stream flow.
(5) No use of water shall be authorized or continued that will impair the navigability of any navigable watercourse.
(6) No use of water shall be permitted if the use shall cause mining of any aquifer unless the board shall find that the use is essential to the safety of human life and property or unless the applicant for a permit for such use can show to the satisfaction of the board that he or another person of sufficient financial capability has applied for permit or made any other definite commitment to a plan to acquire water from another source in lieu of the water being mined from the aquifer and which will not also result in mining of any other aquifer.
SECTION 199. Section 51-1-4, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-1-4. (1) Those portions of all natural flowing streams in this state having a mean annual flow of not less than one hundred (100) cubic feet per second, as determined and designated on appropriate maps by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, shall be public waterways of the state on which the citizens of this state and other states shall have the right of free transport in the stream and the right to fish and engage in water sports. Persons exercising the rights granted by this section shall do so at their own risk, and such persons, their heirs or others on their behalf shall not be entitled to recover any damages against any owner of property or an interest in property on or along such public waterways or against anyone using such property with permission of the owner for any injury to or death of persons or damage to property arising out of the exercise of rights granted by this section, other than those damages which may be recovered for intentional or malicious torts or for gross or willful negligence against the owner of property or an interest therein or against anyone using such property with permission of the owner.
(2) Nothing contained in this section shall authorize anyone utilizing public waterways, under the authority granted by this section, to trespass upon adjacent lands or to launch or land any commercial or pleasure craft along or from the shore of such waterways except at places established by public or private entities for such purposes.
(3) Nothing contained in this section shall authorize any person utilizing those public waterways, under the authority granted by this section, to disturb the banks or beds of such waterways or the discharge of any object or substance into such waters or upon or across any lands adjacent thereto or to hunt or fish or go on or across any adjacent lands under floodwaters beyond the natural banks of the bed of the public waterway. Floodwater which has overflowed the banks of a public waterway is not a part of the public waterway.
(4) The right of the public to use public waterways does not include the use of motorized vehicles in the beds of a public waterway without the written permission of the landowner. Any person who uses a motorized vehicle in the bed of a public waterway without the written permission of the landowner may be punished as provided in Section 97-17-93.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any all-terrain vehicle, four-wheel-drive motorized vehicle, or other wheeled or tracked conveyance within the bed of a public waterway and following the meanders thereof in such a way as to cause damage to the streambed.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to offer a permission or a license for a fee for the operation of any of the conveyances prohibited in this subsection within the bed of a public waterway.
(c) A violation of this subsection shall be a Class II violation and, upon conviction thereof, may be punished as provided in Section 49-7-143.
(d) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as prohibiting the normal, usual and ordinary fording of streams by persons authorized to do so for legitimate recreational, agricultural, forestry or other lawful purposes.
(5) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the construction of dams and reservoirs by the State of Mississippi or any of its agencies or political subdivisions, or riparian owners, in the manner now or hereafter authorized by law, or in any way to affect the rights of riparian landowners along such waterways except as specifically provided hereinabove or to amend or repeal any law relating to pollution or water conservation, or to affect in any manner the title to the banks and beds of any such stream or the title to any minerals thereunder, or to restrict the mining or extraction of such minerals or the right of ingress and egress thereto.
(6) The provisions of this section limiting the liability of owners of property along public waterways and persons using such property with permission of the owners shall not be construed to limit any rights of claimants for damages under federal statutes or acts applying to navigable streams or waterways or any other civil causes of action subject to admiralty or maritime jurisdiction, nor shall those provisions be construed to limit the rights of any parties involved in litigation founded upon the commercial or business usage of any navigable streams or waterways.
(7) This section shall apply only to natural flowing streams.
(8) Any lake hydrologically connected to a natural flowing stream and listed as a public waterway under subsection (1) on July 1, 2000, and subsequently removed from that list before July 1, 2001, by the Commission on Environmental Quality because the lake did not meet the requirements of subsection (1), shall be presumed to be a public waterway until a court of competent jurisdiction determines otherwise. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to determine the property rights in the bed or banks of the lake, the right of ingress or egress across private property to the lake, or mineral interests.
SECTION 200. Section 51-2-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-2-3. (1) It is unlawful for any person or vessel to discharge any type of plastics, including synthetic ropes, fishing nets, garbage bags and other garbage, including paper products, glass, metal, dunnage, lining and packing materials into the marine waters of this state.
(2) For purposes of this section, vessel means any boat, barge, or other vehicle operating in the marine environment from the largest supertanker to the smallest recreational craft.
(3) The following substances shall be kept in closed containers whenever present on a vessel in the marine waters of this state: fuel, oil, paints, varnishes, solvents, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, algicides, other hazardous liquids, and those substances referred to in subsection (1). The containers shall be sufficient to prevent the substances from escaping in the event the container is released into marine waters. Closed containers shall not be required for substances intended for human consumption, or for bait. Closed containers shall not be required while vessels are taking on or unloading cargo and provisions.
(4) This section shall not apply to substances released into marine waters accidentally or due to an act of nature, provided:
(a) That persons involved in an accident make good faith efforts to recover any substances released, proper allowances being first made for personal safety; and
(b) That snagged or entangled fishing tackle and nets are recovered as much as is reasonably possible, and the unrecovered remainder is caused to sink.
(5)(a) For a first violation, any person or vessel who violates this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or community service requiring litter collection of not less than twenty-five (25) hours nor more than two hundred fifty (250) hours, or both. Persons under eighteen (18) years of age shall be penalized with community service, and may be assessed a fine as well. Each day of a continuing violation constitutes a separate violation.
(b) For a second or subsequent violation, any person or vessel who violates this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or revocation of boating licenses, or both.
SECTION 201. Section 51-3-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-3-13. Use of waters of the state shall not constitute absolute ownership or absolute rights of use of such waters, but such waters shall remain subject to the principle of beneficial use. It shall be the duty of the board to approve all applications made in such form as shall meet the requirements of this chapter and such rules and regulations as shall be promulgated by the board and which contemplate the utilization of water for beneficial purposes, within reasonable limitations, provided the proposed use does not prejudicially and unreasonably affect the public interest. If it is determined that the proposed use of the water sought to be permitted is not for beneficial purposes, is not consistent with standards established by the commission, or is detrimental to the public interest, it shall be the duty of the board to enter an order rejecting such application or requiring its modification.
SECTION 202. Section 51-3-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-3-21. (1) The commission, through its Office of Land and Water Resources, shall proceed as rapidly as possible to study existing water resources in the state; means and methods of conserving and augmenting such waters; existing and contemplated needs and uses of water for protection and procreation of fish and wildlife, irrigation, mining, power development, and domestic, municipal, and industrial uses; and all other related subjects, including drainage, reclamation, flood-plain or flood-hazard area zoning, and selection of reservoir sites. Not later than July 1, 1997, the commission shall formulate, as a functional element of a comprehensive state plan, an integrated, coordinated plan for the use and development of the waters of the state, based on the above studies. This plan, with such amendments, supplements and additions as may be necessary from time to time, shall be known as the "state water management plan."
(2) In the formulation of the state water management plan, the commission shall give due consideration to:
(a) The attainment of maximum beneficial use of water for such purposes as those referred to in subsection (1).
(b) The maximum economic development of the water resources consistent with other uses.
(c) The control of such waters for such purposes as environmental protection, drainage, flood control and water storage.
(d) The quantity of water available for application to a beneficial use.
(e) The prevention of wasteful, uneconomical, impractical or unreasonable uses of water resources, including free-flowing wells, existing or otherwise, regardless of size.
(f) Presently exercised domestic or exempted uses and permit rights.
(g) The preservation and enhancement of the water quality of the state and the provisions of the state water quality plan.
(h) The state water resources policy as expressed by this chapter.
(i) The allocation of surface water and groundwater in those situations in which the Governor has declared that an emergency situation exists which creates an imminent and substantial endangerment threatening the public health and safety or the lives and property of the people of this state.
(3) During the process of formulating or revising the state water management plan, the commission shall consult with and carefully evaluate the recommendations of concerned federal, state and local agencies, particularly the governing boards of the water management districts and local governments, and other interested persons. The commission may conduct such public meetings or hearings as it may deem necessary or appropriate to insure maximum public involvement in the formulation and adoption of the state water management plan.
(4) Each such governing board is directed to cooperate with the commission in conducting surveys and investigations of water resources, to furnish the commission with all available data of a technical nature, and to advise and assist the commission in the formulation and drafting of those portions of the state plan applicable to such water management district or local government.
(5) For the purposes of this plan the commission may, in consultation with the affected governing board, divide each water management district into sections which shall conform as nearly as practicable to hydrologically controllable areas and describe all water resources within each area.
(6) The commission shall give careful consideration to the requirements of public recreation and to the protection and procreation of fish and wildlife. The commission may prohibit or restrict other future uses on certain designated bodies of water which may be inconsistent with these objectives.
(7) The commission may designate certain uses in connection with a particular source of supply which, because of the nature of the activity or the amount of water required, would constitute an undesirable use for which the permit board may deny a permit.
(8) The commission may designate certain uses in connection with a particular source of supply which, because of the nature of the activity or the amount of water required, would result in an enhancement or improvement of the water resources of the area. Such uses shall be preferred over other uses in the event of competing applications under the permitting system authorized by this chapter.
(9) The commission may add to the state water management plan any other information, directions or objectives it deems necessary or desirable for the guidance of governing boards or other agencies in the administration and enforcement of this chapter.
(10) The commission may delegate to any joint water management district authority to assist the commission in preparation, administration and implementation of the state water management plan, or any activity related thereto, in such district.
SECTION 203. Section 51-3-39, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-3-39. (1) Any person proposing to construct, enlarge, repair or alter a dam or reservoir in this state except as provided elsewhere in this section, before proceeding with the construction thereof, must obtain written authorization from the board. Applications shall be made on forms provided by the board, and detailed plans shall be required when deemed necessary by the board in order to determine whether the proposed construction will provide adequate safety for downstream lives and property, and will not adversely affect downstream water rights or plans for the proper utilization of the water resources of the state. Provided further, that:
(a) Written construction authorization shall not be required for any dam or barrier to impound water which (i) is a peripheral dam or barrier of eight (8) feet or less in height, measured from the point of lowest elevation of the toe of the dam or barrier, regardless of impounded storage volume, (ii) impounds twenty-five (25) acre-feet or less at maximum storage volume, or (iii) which does not impound a watercourse with a continuous flow of water.
(b) Any person who seeks to build and maintain a dam on any watercourse lying in whole or in part within a levee district duly constituted under the laws of this state shall first obtain permission from the levee board of such levee district.
(c) Any person intending to acquire the right to store or use water from a reservoir formed by a dam on a watercourse regardless of whether or not written construction authorization therefor was required under this section, may do so only by making an application for a permit as provided elsewhere in this chapter.
(2) The board may request other agencies, or contract with consultants, to recommend land treatment or facilities necessary to prevent pollution of the waters of this state, or to protect the safety and general welfare of the people, and in the board's discretion, may require that these recommendations be followed before authorization to construct or modify the dam is issued, or order the removal of the dam after it has been constructed or request the commission to order the removal of the dam after it has been constructed or modified when such recommendations are not followed.
(3) The board and commission shall be authorized to make inspections of dams and reservoirs, regardless of whether or not written construction authorization therefor was required under this section, for the purpose of determining their safety, and shall require owners to perform at their expense such work as may be necessary for maintenance and operation which will safeguard life and property. Provided, however, a dam or reservoir may be exempt from inspections when the commission determines that the location, size or condition is such that lives and property will not be endangered. In carrying out the provisions of this section, the board and commission are authorized to expend available state funds, to receive funds from federal agencies, to contract with consultants and/or other agencies, and the commission may issue orders to owners of dams or reservoirs found to be unsafe requiring them to take the prescribed remedial action to safeguard downstream lives and property.
(4) No dam or reservoir, regardless of whether or not written construction authorization therefor is required under this section, may be constructed in such a manner as to impair the common law or other lawful rights of water users below or plans for the proper utilization of the water resources of the state. The board is authorized to prescribe such minimum flow releases from any dam or reservoir as may be found necessary to protect downstream users or otherwise prudently manage available surface water.
(5) When the board or commission finds a dam or reservoir constructed or modified in violation of this chapter or that the owner of a dam or reservoir has allowed the structure to deteriorate and remain in an unsafe condition after having been ordered to make the necessary repairs, then the commission may cause the structure to be removed and/or the board may revoke or modify any other authorization pertaining thereto.
(6) The provisions of this section shall not be construed as creating any liability for damages against the state and/or against its officers, agents and employees.
(7) The provisions of this section shall apply also to a county board of supervisors when constructing dams or low-water control structures on lakes or bodies of water in accordance with the provisions of Section 19-5-92.
SECTION 204. Section 51-4-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-4-7. (1) There is hereby created the State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program. The department shall coordinate the program. The department shall establish and publish minimum criteria for assessing a stream's eligibility for the State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program. To qualify as eligible, the stream must possess unique or outstanding scenic, recreational, geological, botanical, fish, wildlife, historic or cultural values. The level of pollution of a stream's waters must be considered in determining eligibility for qualification as a scenic stream. A stream with relatively polluted waters may qualify as eligible as a scenic stream if other values are considered outstanding.
(2) (a) The department shall inventory and evaluate Mississippi streams and identify the streams or stream segments which possess unique or outstanding scenic, recreational, geological, botanical, fish, wildlife, historic or cultural values based on the criteria established under this section.
(b) Any Mississippi organization, resident, state agency or local government may request the department to evaluate a stream.
(3) If the department determines that a stream meets the eligibility criteria, the department may recommend to the Legislature that a stream or stream segment be listed as eligible for nomination to the State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program. In order for a stream to be listed as eligible for nomination to the State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program, the recommendation must be filed as a bill and must be adopted by the Legislature.
SECTION 205. Section 51-9-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-9-5. The Pearl River Industrial Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to do any and all things necessary or deemed by it advisable in making a survey or surveys of the region bordering the Pearl River, to investigate the possibilities of developing such areas from an industrial, irrigational, and recreational standpoint, to attract new industries, and to conserve available water for irrigational and industrial purposes, acting in co-operation with the federal government or any agency thereof and with any other interested groups. It is contemplated that plans be considered and drawn and surveys made for the location of industrial sites and making the most advantageous use of available water supplies, to protect against pollution and to devise methods of disposing of industrial waste, and adapting a long-range plan of sewerage disposal for the area. The commission is charged with the responsibility of co-operating with the state board of water commissioners created by Section 51-3-15.
SECTION 206. Section 51-9-103, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-9-103. It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that the waterways and surface waters of the state are among its basic resources, that the overflow and surface waters of the state have not heretofore been conserved to realize their full beneficial use, that the preservation, conservation, storage, and control of such waters are necessary to insure an adequate, sanitary water supply at all times, to promote the balanced economic development of the state, and to aid in flood control, conservation and development of state forests, irrigation of lands needing irrigation, and pollution abatement. It is further determined and declared that the preservation, conservation, storage, and control of the waters of the Pearl River and its tributaries and its overflow waters for domestic, municipal, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and manufacturing purposes, for recreational uses, for flood control, timber development, irrigation, and pollution abatement are, as a matter of public policy, for the general welfare of the entire people of the state.
The creation of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District is determined to be necessary and essential to the accomplishment of the aforesaid purposes, and this article operates on a subject in which the state at large is interested. All the terms and provisions of this article are to be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes herein set forth, this being a remedial law.
SECTION 207. Section 51-9-121, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-9-121. The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District through its board of directors is hereby empowered:
(a) To impound overflow water and the surface water of the Pearl River or its tributaries within the project area, within or without this district at the place or places and in the amount as may be approved by the Office of Land and Water Resources of the State of Mississippi, by the construction of a dam or dams, reservoir or reservoirs, works, plants, and any other necessary or useful related facilities contemplated and described as a part of the project within or without the district, to control, store, and preserve these waters, and to use, distribute, and sell the same. The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District is also empowered to construct or otherwise acquire within the project area all works, plants, or other facilities necessary or useful to the project for the purpose of processing the water and transporting it to cities and others for domestic, municipal, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and manufacturing purposes and is hereby given the power to control open channels for water delivery purposes.
(b) To acquire and develop any other available water necessary or useful to the project and to construct, acquire, and develop all facilities within the project area deemed necessary or useful with respect thereto.
(c) To prevent or aid in the prevention of damage to person or property from the waters of the Pearl River or any of its tributaries.
(d) To forest and reforest, and to aid in the foresting and reforesting of the project area, and to prevent and aid in the prevention of soil erosion and floods within this area; to control, store, and preserve within the boundaries of the project area the waters of the Pearl River or any of its tributaries, for irrigation of lands and for prevention of water pollution.
(e) To acquire by purchase, lease, gift, or in any other manner (otherwise than by condemnation) and to maintain, use, and operate all property of any kind, real, personal, or mixed, or any interest therein within the project area, within or without the boundaries of the district, necessary for the project and convenient to the exercise of the powers, rights, privileges, and functions conferred upon the district by this article.
(f) To acquire by condemnation all property of any kind, real, personal, or mixed, or any interest therein within the project area not exceeding one-quarter (1/4) mile from the outside line of the three hundred (300) feet above sea level contour on each side of the Pearl River except as provided for rights-of-way under subsection (g) of this section, within or without the boundaries of the district, necessary for the project and the exercise of the powers, rights, privileges, and functions conferred upon the district by this article, according to the procedure provided by law for the condemnation of lands or other property taken for rights-of-way or other purposes by railroads, telephone, or telegraph companies. For the purposes of carrying out this article, the right of eminent domain of the district shall be superior and dominant to the right of eminent domain of railroad, telegraph, telephone, gas, power, and other companies or corporations, and shall be sufficient to enable the acquisition of county roads, state highways, or other public property in the project area and the acquisition, or relocation, of the above-mentioned utility property in the project area; however, Mississippi Highway 43 as presently located shall be kept open as part of the state highway system. The cost of right-of-way purchases, rerouting, and elevating all other county maintained roads affected by construction of the reservoir shall be borne by the water district, and new construction shall be of equal quality as in roads existing as of May 5, 1958. The amount and character of interest in land, other property, and easements thus to be acquired shall be determined by the board of directors, and their determination shall be conclusive and shall not be subject to attack in the absence of manifold abuse of discretion or fraud on the part of such board in making such determination. However,
(i) In acquiring
lands, either by negotiation or condemnation, the district shall not acquire
minerals or royalties within the project area; sand and gravel shall not be
considered as minerals within the meaning of this section; * * *
(ii) No person or
persons owning the drilling rights or the right to share in production shall be
prevented from exploring, developing, or producing oil or gas with necessary
rights-of-way for ingress and egress, * * * pipelines, and other means of
transporting these products by reason of the inclusion of such lands or mineral
interests within the project area, whether below or above the * * * waterline; but any such
activities shall be under such reasonable regulations by the board of directors
as will adequately protect the reservoir; and
(iii) In drilling and developing, these persons are hereby vested with a special right to have the mineral interest integrated and their lands developed in such drilling unit or units as the State Oil and Gas Board shall establish after due consideration of the rights of all of the owners to be included in the drilling unit.
Moreover, where any site or plot of land is to be rented, leased, or sold to any person, firm, or corporation for the purpose of operating recreational facilities thereon for profit, then the board shall, by resolution, specify the terms and conditions of the sale, rental, or lease, and shall advertise for public bids thereon. When bids are received, they shall be publicly opened by the board, and the board shall thereupon determine the highest and best bid submitted and shall immediately notify the former owner of the site or plot of the amount, terms, and conditions of the highest and best bid. The former owner of the site or plot shall have the exclusive right at his option, for a period of thirty (30) days after the determination of the highest and best bid by the board, to rent, lease, or purchase said site or plot of land by meeting such highest and best bid and by complying with all terms and conditions of the renting, leasing, or sale as specified by the board. However, the board shall not in any event rent, lease, or sell to any former owner more land than was taken from the former owner for the construction of the project, or one-quarter (1/4) mile of shoreline, whichever is the lesser. If this option is not exercised by the former owner within a period of thirty (30) days, then the board shall accept the highest and best bid submitted.
Any bona fide, resident householder, actually living or maintaining a residence on land taken by the district by condemnation shall have the right to repurchase not exceeding forty (40) acres of his former land or other available land from the board of directors for a price not exceeding the price paid for condemning his land.
(g) To require the necessary relocation of roads and highways, railroad, telephone, and telegraph lines and properties, electric power lines, gas pipelines and mains and facilities in the project area, or to require the anchoring or other protection of any of these, provided due compensation is first paid the owners thereof or agreement is had with the owners regarding the payment of the cost of the relocation. It is further provided that the district is hereby authorized to acquire easements or rights-of-way in or outside of the project area for the relocation of the roads, highways, railroad, telephone, and telegraph lines and properties, electric power lines, gas pipelines and mains and facilities, and to convey the same to the owners thereof in connection with the relocation as a part of the construction of the project; however, the directors of the district shall not close any public access road to the reservoir existing prior to the construction of the reservoir unless the board of supervisors of the county in which the road is located agrees.
(h) To overflow and inundate any public lands and public property, including sixteenth section lands and in-lieu lands, within the project area.
(i) To construct, extend, improve, maintain, and reconstruct, to cause to be constructed, extended, improved, maintained, and reconstructed, and to use and operate facilities of any kind within the project area necessary or convenient to the project and to the exercise of such powers, rights, privileges, and functions.
(j) To sue and be sued in its corporate name.
(k) To adopt, use, and alter a corporate seal.
(l) To make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs.
(m) To employ engineers, attorneys, and all necessary agents and employees to properly finance, construct, operate, and maintain the project and the plants and facilities of the district and carry out the provisions of this article, and to pay reasonable compensation for the services. For all services in connection with the issuance of bonds as provided in this article, the attorney's fee shall not exceed one-quarter of one percent (1/4 of 1%) of the principal amount of said bonds. For any other services, only reasonable compensation shall be paid for these services. The board shall have the right to employ a general manager, who shall, at the discretion of the board, have the power to employ and discharge employees. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it may employ fiscal agents or advisors in connection with its financing program and in connection with the issuance of its bonds.
(n) To make contracts and to execute instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers, rights, privileges, and functions conferred upon it by this article.
(o) To make or cause to be made surveys and engineering investigations relating to the project, or related projects, for the information of the district to facilitate the accomplishment of the purposes for which it is created.
(p) To apply for and accept grants from the United States of America, or from any corporation or agency created or designated by the United States of America, and to ratify and accept applications heretofore or hereafter made by voluntary associations to these agencies for grants to construct, maintain, or operate any project or projects which hereafter may be undertaken or contemplated by the district.
(q) To do any other acts or things necessary or convenient to the exercising of the powers, rights, privileges, or functions conferred upon it by this article or any other law.
(r) To make contracts in the issuance of bonds that may be necessary to insure the marketability thereof.
(s) To enter into contracts with municipalities, corporations, districts, public agencies, political subdivisions of any kind, and others for any services, facilities or commodities that the project may provide. The district is also authorized to contract with any municipality, corporation, or public agency for the rental, leasing, purchase, or operation of the water production, water filtration or purification, water supply and distributing facilities of the municipality, corporation, or public agency upon such consideration as the district and such entity may agree. Any such contract may be upon any terms and for any time as the parties may agree, and it may provide that it shall continue in effect until bonds specified therein and refunding bonds issued in lieu of these bonds are paid. Any contract with any political subdivision shall be binding upon said political subdivision according to its terms, and any municipalities or other political subdivisions shall have the power to enter into such contracts as in the discretion of the governing authorities thereof would be to the best interest of the people of the municipality or other political subdivision. These contracts may include, within the discretion of the governing authorities, a pledge of the full faith and credit of the political subdivisions for the performance thereof.
(t) To fix and collect charges and rates for any services, facilities, or commodities furnished by it in connection with the project, and to impose penalties for failure to pay these charges and rates when due.
(u) To operate and maintain within the project area with the consent of the governing body of any city or town located within the district, any works, plants, or facilities of any city deemed necessary or convenient to the accomplishment of the purposes for which the district is created.
(v) Subject to the provisions of this article, from time to time to lease, sell, or otherwise dispose of any property of any kind, real, personal, or mixed, or any interest therein within the project area or acquired outside the project area as authorized in this article, for the purpose of furthering the business of the district.
(w) When, in the opinion of the board of directors as shown by resolution duly passed, it shall not be necessary to the carrying on of the business of the district that the district own any lands acquired, then the board shall advertise these lands for sale to the highest and best bidder for cash and shall receive and publicly open the bids thereon. The board shall, by resolution, determine the highest and best bid submitted for such land and shall thereupon notify the former owner, his heirs or devisees, by registered mail of the land to be sold and the highest and best bid received therefor, and the former owner, or his heirs or devisees, shall have the exclusive right at his or their option for a period of thirty (30) days in which to meet the highest and best bid and to purchase the property.
(x) In addition to, or in conjunction with, any other powers and duties of the district arising under this chapter, to exercise those powers, duties and functions of a joint water management district set forth in Sections 51-8-27 through 51-8-55, except the power of eminent domain under Section 51-8-33. Before exercising those powers and duties, the district must comply with the provisions of Sections 51-8-63 and 51-8-65. In exercising the functions of a joint water management district, the district may apply to the Environmental Quality Permit Board for delegation of those powers and duties as provided by Section 51-3-15, and to apply to the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality for delegation of those powers and duties provided by Section 51-3-21.
Any transaction regarding any property under the provisions of this section shall be executed in accordance with the provisions of Section 29-1-1.
SECTION 208. Section 51-13-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-13-101. It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that the waterways and surface waters of the state are among its basic resources, that the overflow and surface waters of the state have not heretofore been conserved to realize their full beneficial use, that the utilization, development, conservation, and regulation of such waters are necessary to insure an adequate flood control program, sanitary water supply at all times, to promote the balanced economic development of the state, and to aid in conservation and development of state forests, irrigation of lands needing irrigation, navigation, and pollution abatement. It is further determined and declared that the preservation, conservation, storage, and regulation of the waters of the Tombigbee River, its tributaries, and its overflow waters for domestic, municipal, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and manufacturing purposes, for recreational uses, flood control, timber development, irrigation, navigation, and pollution abatement are, as a matter of public policy, for the general welfare of the entire people of the state.
The creation of the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District is determined to be necessary and essential to the accomplishment of the aforesaid purposes, and this article operates on a subject in which the state at large is interested. All the terms and provisions of this article are to be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes herein set forth, this being a remedial law.
SECTION 209. Section 51-35-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
51-35-303. (a) It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that the lands and properties along the waterways and rivers of the state are among its basic resources, that the overflow and surface waters of the state have not heretofore been conserved or fully controlled to realize their full beneficial use, that the control of such waters is necessary to insure adequate protection to the inhabitants of the State of Mississippi and their properties, and to the municipalities of the State of Mississippi, to promote the balanced economic development of the state and to aid in flood control, conservation, and development of lands and property, and of the general health and welfare of the people of the State of Mississippi. It is further determined and declared that the diversion and control of the waters of any rivers on their tributaries and their overflow waters in or near municipalities for the protection and development of domestic, municipal, commercial, industrial, and manufacturing functions, for flood control, and for pollution abatement are, as a matter of public policy, for the general welfare of the entire people of the State of Mississippi.
(b) The creation of flood and drainage control districts to control the waters of the rivers of the State of Mississippi or their tributaries and their overflow waters is determined to be necessary and essential to the accomplishment of the aforesaid purposes and this article operates on a subject in which the state at large is interested. All the terms and provisions of this article are to be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes herein set forth, this being a remedial law.
SECTION 210. Section 53-3-71, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
53-3-71. Any person, firm or corporation duly authorized to engage in the exploration or production of oil, gas or other minerals under the provisions of Chapter 7, Title 29, Mississippi Code of 1972, and any person, firm or corporation duly authorized to engage in the transportation of oil, gas and other minerals under the provisions of Sections 29-1-101 through 29-1-105, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall have the right to construct, operate and maintain facilities incident to such operations in any of the navigable waters of the state upon obtaining from the state oil and gas board a permit for the construction, operation and maintenance of such facilities.
SECTION 211. Section 53-3-165, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
53-3-165. No provisions of Sections 53-3-151 through 53-3-165 shall operate so as to authorize the establishment of underground storage of natural gas or compressed air in the offshore waters of the State of Mississippi.
SECTION 212. Section 53-7-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
53-7-35. (1) Any permit issued under this chapter shall require operations to comply with all applicable reclamation standards of this chapter. Reclamation standards shall apply to all operations, exploration activities and reclamation operations covered by this chapter and shall require the operator at a minimum to:
(a) Conduct operations in a manner consistent with prudent mining practice, so as to maximize the utilization and conservation of the resource being recovered; and, in keeping with the intent of maximizing the value of mined land, stockpiles of commercially valuable material may remain, if they are ecologically stable. Stockpiling shall be subject to rules and regulations adopted by the commission;
(b) Restore the affected area so that it may be used for a useful, productive and beneficial purpose, including an agricultural, grazing, commercial, residential or recreational purpose, including lakes, ponds, wetlands, wildlife habitat, or other natural or forested areas;
(c) Conduct water drainage and silt control for the affected area to strictly control soil erosion, damage to adjacent lands and pollution of waters of the state, both during and following the mining operations. Before, during and for a reasonable period after mining, all drainways for the affected area shall be protected with silt traps or dams of approved design as directed by the regulations. The operator may impound water to provide wetlands, lakes or ponds of approved design for wildlife, recreational or water supply purposes, if it is a part of the approved reclamation plan;
(d) Remove or cover all metal, lumber and other refuse, except vegetation, resulting from the operation;
(e) Regrade the area to the nearest approximate original contour or rolling topography, and eliminate all highwalls and spoil piles, except as provided in an approved reclamation plan. Lakes, ponds or wetlands may be constructed, if part of an approved reclamation plan;
(f) Stabilize and protect all affected areas sufficiently to control erosion and attendant air and water pollution;
(g) Remove the topsoil, if any, from the affected area in a separate layer, and place it on any authorized lieu lands to be reclaimed or replace it on the backfill area. If not utilized immediately, the topsoil shall be segregated in a separate pile from other spoil. If the topsoil is not replaced on a backfill area of authorized lieu lands within a time short enough to avoid deterioration, the topsoil shall be protected by a successful cover of plants or by other means approved by the Permit Board. If topsoil is of insufficient quantity or of poor quality for sustaining vegetation and if other strata can be shown to be as suitable for vegetation requirements, then the operator may petition the Permit Board for permission to be exempt from the requirements for the removal, segregation and preservation of topsoil and to remove, segregate and preserve in a like manner other strata which is best able to support vegetation or to mix strata, if that mixing can be shown to be equally suitable for revegetation requirements;
(h) Replace, if required, available topsoil or the best available subsoil on top of the land to be reclaimed or on top of authorized lieu lands being reclaimed;
(i) Minimize the disturbances to the prevailing hydrologic balance at the mine site and in associated off-site areas and to the quality and quantity of water in surface and groundwater systems both during and after surface mining operations and during reclamation by:
(i) Avoiding acid or other toxic mine drainage by using measures such as, but not limited to:
1. Preventing or removing water from contact with toxic-material producing deposits;
2. Treating drainage to reduce toxic material content; and
3. Casing, sealing or otherwise managing boreholes, shafts and wells to keep acid or other toxic material drainage from entering ground and surface waters;
(ii) Conducting operations to prevent unreasonable additional levels of suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area above natural levels under seasonal flow conditions;
(iii) Removing temporary or large siltation structures from drainways, consistent with good water conservation practices, after disturbed areas are revegetated and stabilized;
(iv) Performing any other actions as the commission may prescribe under rules and regulations adopted under this chapter;
(j) Stabilize any waste piles;
(k) Incorporate current engineering practices for the design and construction of water retention structures for the disposal of mine wastes, processing wastes or other liquid or solid wastes which, at a minimum, shall be compatible with the requirements of applicable state and federal laws and regulations, insure that leachate will not pollute surface or ground water, and locate water retention structures so as not to endanger public health and safety should failure occur;
(l) Insure that all debris, acid-forming materials, toxic materials or materials constituting a fire hazard are treated or disposed of in a manner designed to prevent contamination of ground or surface waters or combustion;
(m) Insure that construction, maintenance and postmining conditions of access roads into and across the permit area will minimize erosion and siltation, pollution of air and water, damage to fish or wildlife or their habitat, or public or private property. The Permit Board may authorize the retention after mining of certain access roads if compatible with the approved reclamation plan;
(n) Refrain from the construction of roads or other access ways up a stream bed or drainage channel or in proximity to a channel where the construction would seriously alter the normal flow of water;
(o) Revegetate the affected area with plants, approved by the department, to attain a useful, productive and beneficial purpose, including an agricultural, grazing, industrial, commercial, residential or recreational purpose, including lakes, ponds, wetlands, wildlife habitat or other natural or forested areas;
(p) Assume responsibility for successful revegetation for a period of two (2) years beyond the date of initial bond release on any bond or deposit held by the department as provided by Section 53-7-67;
(q) Assure with respect to permanent impoundments of water as part of the approved reclamation plan that:
(i) The size of the impoundment and the availability of water are adequate for its intended purpose;
(ii) The impoundment dam construction will meet the requirements of applicable state and federal laws;
(iii) The quality of impounded water will be suitable on a permanent basis for its intended use and the discharges from the impoundment will not degrade the water quality in the receiving stream;
(iv) Final grading will provide adequate safety and access for anticipated water users;
(v) Water impoundments will not result in the diminution of the quality or quantity of water utilized by adjacent or surrounding landowners; and
(r) Protect off-site areas from slides or damage occurring during the surface mining and reclamation operations, and not deposit spoil material or locate any part of the operations or waste accumulations outside the permit area.
(2) The purpose of this section is to cause the affected area to be restored to a useful, productive and beneficial purpose. A method of reclamation other than that provided in this section may be approved by the Permit Board if the Permit Board determines that the method of reclamation required by this section is not practical and that the alternative method will provide for the affected area to be restored to a useful, productive and beneficial purpose. If an alternative method of reclamation is generally applicable to all operations involving a particular material, the commission may promulgate appropriate rules and regulations for use of the alternative method.
(3) Each operator, except as authorized by the Permit Board, shall perform reclamation work concurrently with the conduct of the mining operation where practical. The fact that an operator will likely redisturb an area shall be cause for the Permit Board to grant an exception from the requirement of concurrent reclamation.
(4) The operator and, in case of bond forfeiture, the department or its designee, shall have the continuing right to enter and inspect the affected area in the reclamation plan and to perform any reclamation measures required properly to complete the reclamation plan.
(5) (a) If the commission finds that (i) reclamation of the affected area is not proceeding in accordance with the reclamation plan and that the operator has failed within thirty (30) days after notice to commence corrective action or (ii) revegetation has not been properly completed in conformance with the reclamation plan within two (2) years or longer, if required by the commission, after termination of mining operations or upon revocation of the permit, or if the Permit Board revokes a permit, the commission may initiate proceedings against the bond or deposit filed by the operator. The proceedings shall not be commenced with respect to a surety bond until the surety has been given sixty (60) days to commence and a reasonable opportunity to begin and complete corrective action.
(b) A forfeiture proceeding against any performance bond or deposit shall be commenced and conducted according to Sections 49-17-31 through 49-17-41.
(c) If the commission orders forfeiture of any performance bond or deposit, the entire sum of the performance bond or deposit shall be forfeited to the department. The funds from the forfeited performance bond or deposit shall be placed in the appropriate account in the fund and used to pay for reclamation of the permit area and remediation of any off-site damages resulting from the operation. Any surplus performance bond or deposit funds shall be refunded to the operator or corporate surety.
(d) Forfeiture proceedings shall be before the commission and an order of the commission under this subsection is a final order. If the commission determines that forfeiture of the performance bond or deposit should be ordered, the department shall have the immediate right to all funds of any performance bond or deposit, subject only to review and appeals allowed under Section 49-17-41.
(e) If the operator cannot be located for purposes of notice, the department shall send notice of the forfeiture proceeding, certified mail, return receipt requested, to the operator's last known address. The department shall also publish notice of the forfeiture proceeding in a manner as required in regulation by the commission. Any formal hearing on the bond forfeiture shall be set at least thirty (30) days after the last notice publication.
(f) If the performance bond or deposit is insufficient to cover the costs of reclamation of the permit area in accordance with the approved reclamation plan or remediation of any off-site damages, the commission may initiate a civil action to recover the deficiency amount in the county in which the surface mining operation is located.
(g) If the commission initiates a civil action under this section, the commission shall be entitled to any sums necessary to complete reclamation of the permit area in accordance with the approved reclamation plan and remediate any off-site damages resulting from that operation.
(6) If a landowner, upon termination or expiration of a lease, refuses to allow the operator to enter onto the property designated as the affected area to conduct or complete reclamation in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, or if the landowner interferes with or authorizes a third party to disturb or interfere with reclamation in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, the landowner shall assume the permit and shall file a reclamation plan and post a performance bond as required under this chapter.
SECTION 213. Section 53-11-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
53-11-3. (1) It is declared to be in the public interest for a public purpose and the policy of Mississippi that:
(a) The geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide will benefit the citizens of the state and the state's environment.
(b) Carbon dioxide is a valuable commodity to the citizens of the state.
(c) Geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide may allow for orderly withdrawal as appropriate or necessary, thereby allowing carbon dioxide to be available for commercial, industrial, or other uses, including the use of carbon dioxide for enhanced recovery of oil and gas.
(d) The state has substantial and valuable oil and gas reserves not producible by traditional recovery techniques, but which may be producible by enhanced recovery methods.
(e) The enhanced recovery of oil and gas by the injection of carbon dioxide into oil and gas reservoirs is a proven enhanced recovery method which results in additional production of oil and gas in the State of Mississippi and the sequestration of carbon dioxide.
(f) It is for the public benefit and in the public interest that the maximum amount of the state's oil and gas reserves be produced to the extent that it is economically and technologically feasible.
(g) It is for the public benefit and in the public interest that, to the extent that it is economically and technologically feasible, carbon dioxide be injected into and stored in oil and gas reservoirs and other geologic formations in a manner protective of waters of the state as defined in Section 49-17-5(f).
(h) Providing at the election of the operator for a current or former enhanced oil or gas recovery project to qualify as a geologic sequestration project for the incidental storage of carbon dioxide will encourage enhanced oil or gas recovery projects and geologic sequestration projects and will be beneficial to the citizens of this state and will serve the public interest.
(i) Geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide is an emerging industry that has the potential to provide jobs, investment, and other economic opportunities for the people of Mississippi, and is a valuable incentive for Mississippi to attract new industry.
(j) It is the public policy of Mississippi and the purpose of this chapter to provide for a coordinated statewide program related to the geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide in reservoirs defined in this chapter; to provide procedures, in a manner fair to all interests, for the cooperative management of surface and subsurface property interests to ensure the maximum use of natural resources; and to also fulfill the state's primary responsibility for assuring compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, including any amendments thereto related to the underground injection of carbon dioxide for geologic sequestration.
(k) It is for the public benefit and in the public interest to promote projects for the secure geologic storage of carbon dioxide.
(2) The board shall have jurisdiction and authority over all persons and property necessary to enforce effectively the provisions of this chapter relating to the geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide streams and subsequent withdrawal of stored carbon dioxide streams. The board, on behalf of the State of Mississippi, shall seek primacy from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Class VI underground injection control wells. The board shall enforce the law pursuant to Section 49-17-1 et seq. and shall serve as the permitting agency for Class VI underground injection control wells; and is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary for the development and administration of the Class VI underground injection control well program consistent with federal statutes, rules and regulations pertaining to geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide streams and assessment of fees for the development and administration of the Class VI underground injection control well program. Underground formations or strata used for the geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide that are not included in the term "reservoir" as defined in this chapter shall also be subject to the jurisdiction of the board. The board has primacy for Class II underground injection control wells and will have jurisdiction and authority over Class II underground injection control wells converted to Class VI underground injection control wells and Class VI underground injection control wells within reservoirs as defined in this chapter. All rules, regulations and standards promulgated by the board shall be consistent with the requirements of federal statutes, rules and regulations related to Class VI underground injection control wells.
SECTION 214. Section 55-7-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
55-7-1. Since the continuing and growing economic and commercial development of navigation, harbor facilities, boat and related facilities along, in or near the navigable waters of the state is of general importance to the whole state and should be encouraged and assisted by legislative enactment, this chapter is hereby enacted.
SECTION 215. Section 55-7-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
55-7-15. The bridge and park commission which has acquired submerged lands, and before such lands have been reclaimed, shall bring its suit in the chancery court of the county in which such lands lie, against the state and all the world for confirmation of the commission's title to such submerged lands, as provided by law for the confirmation of patents issued by the state. Upon the hearing of such cause, if the court shall find that the reclamation of the said lands does not constitute an obstruction of the navigable waters of the state and does not interfere with the rights of the public generally to use the navigable waters of the state for fishing, boating, and other public uses, and that the reclamation and sale of said lands has or will, in whole or in part, contribute toward the deepening of a channel or channels for boats and improvement of navigation of any of the navigable waters of this state, and that a fair and adequate consideration has been paid or is to be paid for such property, then the court shall confirm the title to the property and forever set at rest any claims by the State of Mississippi in its sovereign capacity as proprietor of said lands.
Any of the parties of the suit may appeal as in other proceedings in chancery, provided any interlocutory appeal is taken within ten (10) days after the rendition of the decree from which the appeal is desired and provided that any final appeal is taken within sixty (60) days from the date of the rendition of the final decree. Any title perfected by a decree in a suit under this section shall forever estop and preclude the state and other parties from thereafter questioning the validity of the patent and deed involved in such proceedings.
SECTION 216. Section 57-15-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
57-15-1. The Legislature hereby declares that this chapter is being enacted under the state's inherent general welfare and police power authority for the broad purposes hereinafter set forth in an effort to explore, develop, conserve and market the underwater natural resources of this state, particularly those lying offshore in the coastal waters of the State of Mississippi.
SECTION 217. Section 59-21-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-21-3. As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning:
(a) "Commission" means the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
(b) "Length" means the length of the vessel measured from end to end over the deck excluding sheer.
(c) "Livery boat" means any boat for rent or hire.
(d) "Machinery" means inboard and outboard engines and all other types of motors or mechanical devices.
(e) "Motorboat" means any undocumented vessel propelled by machinery, whether or not such machinery is the principal source of propulsion. The term motorboat includes personal watercraft.
(f) "Operate" means to navigate or otherwise use a motorboat or vessel.
(g) "Operator" means the person who operates or who has charge of the navigation or use of a motorboat or a vessel.
(h) "Owner" means the person who claims lawful possession of a vessel by virtue of legal title or equitable interest therein which entitles him to such possession.
(i) "Person" means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association or other entity.
(j) "Ships' lifeboats" means lifeboats used solely for lifesaving purposes and does not include dinghies, tenders, speedboats, or other type of craft carried aboard a vessel and used for other than life-saving purposes.
(k) "Undocumented vessel" means any vessel which is not required to have, and does not have, a valid marine document issued by the Bureau of Customs.
(l) "Vessel" means every description of watercraft, other than seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.
(m) "Waters of this state" means any waters within the territorial limits of this state, and the marginal sea adjacent to this state and the high seas when navigated as a part of a journey or ride to or from the shore of the state; however, "waters of this state" does not mean any private pond or lake which is not used for boat rentals or the charging of fees for fishing therein.
SECTION 218. Section 59-21-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-21-5. All sailboats and every undocumented vessel equipped with propulsion machinery, whether or not such machinery is the principal source of propulsion, using the territorial and navigable waters of the State of Mississippi, and every such vessel owned in the State of Mississippi and using the high seas shall be numbered in accordance with this chapter, except:
( * * *a) Foreign vessels temporarily using
the navigable waters of the State of Mississippi;
( * * *b) Public vessels of the United States;
( * * *c) State and municipal vessels used
solely for official business and displaying proper visual identification on its
hull;
( * * *d) Ships' lifeboats;
( * * *e) Vessels designated by the appropriate
federal authority;
( * * *f) Undocumented vessels used
exclusively for racing;
( * * *g) Undocumented vessels operating
under valid temporary certificates of number;
( * * *h) Vessels already covered by a number
in full force and effect awarded pursuant to federal law, or a federally approved
numbering system of another state, provided that such vessels shall not have
been within this state for a period in excess of sixty (60) days. Nothing in
this section shall prohibit the numbering of any undocumented vessel upon the
request of the owner.
SECTION 219. Section 59-21-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-21-25. (1) Fees for the award of certificates of number for original, transfer, renewal, livery, dealer and duplicate shall be as follows:
(a) Less than 16 feet.......................... $ 7.50
(b) 16 feet but less than 26 feet............... $22.50
(c) 26 feet but less than 40 feet............... $45.00
(d) 40 feet and over........................... $45.00
(e) Dealer number.............................. $37.50
(f) Duplicate.................................. $ 5.00
(g) Boat inspection fee........................ $10.00
(2) The fee provided for under subsection (1)(g) of this section shall only be charged when the owner of a boat requests the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to perform an inspection of a boat serial number for the purpose of replacing or awarding a damaged or removed serial number.
(3) All fees for numbers and renewal of number shall be payable to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to be deposited by the department in the State Treasury in a special fund to be designated as the Fisheries and Wildlife Fund, which shall be disbursed upon the recommendation of the department as may be appropriated by the Legislature. The State Treasurer shall release to the department such sums as are required to defray all administrative costs of the boat registration fee division of the department and to improve the law enforcement capability of the department on the inland and marine waters of the State of Mississippi and as may be budgeted by the department for the purpose of paying the cost of the administration of this chapter for education on water safety, improvement of water safety and motorboating facilities in the state, and advertising and promoting the waterways of the state. Any and all revenue over and above the actual administrative cost of implementing this chapter shall be used to fund salaries of additional conservation officers in all eighty-two (82) counties.
SECTION 220. Section 59-21-51, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-21-51. In the case of a boating accident involving collision, accident or other casualty involving a motorboat or vessel subject to this chapter, while operated upon the waters of this state, the operator thereof, if the collision, accident or other casualty results in death to any person, injury causing any person to remain incapacitated for a period in excess of twenty-four (24) hours, or damage to property in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00), shall file, on forms provided, with the commission an accident report with a full description of the collision, accident or other casualty, including such other information as is required under the provisions of this chapter. The commission shall furnish copies of reports to the appropriate federal agencies and sheriff of the county in which such accident or other casualty takes place.
For the purpose of this chapter, a "boating accident" means a collision, accident or other casualty involving (1) an undocumented motorboat or (2) any other undocumented vessel used for pleasure or recreational purposes. A vessel subject to this chapter is considered to be involved in a "boating accident" whenever the occurrence results in damage by or to the vessel or its equipment; in injury or loss of life to any person, or in the disappearance of any person from on board under circumstances which indicate the possibility of death or injury. A "boating accident" includes, but is not limited to, capsizing, collision, foundering, flooding, fire, explosion and the disappearance of a vessel other than by theft. A report is required whenever a vessel subject to this chapter is involved in a "boating accident" which results in any one or more of the following:
(1) Loss of life.
(2) Injury causing any person to remain incapacitated for a period in excess of twenty-four (24) hours.
(3) Actual physical damage to property (including vessels) in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00).
SECTION 221. Section 59-21-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-21-81. (1) Every vessel shall have on board a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device for each person aboard such vessel, and every person twelve (12) years or younger on board a motorboat, sailboat, or vessel which measures less than twenty-six (26) feet in length shall wear a type I, II, or III Coast Guard approved personal flotation device while such motorboat, sailboat, or vessel is underway. For the purpose of this section "underway" shall mean at all times except when a motorboat, sailboat, or vessel is anchored, moored, or aground. Every vessel shall have lights during the hours of darkness, which comply with all federal regulations applicable to vessels of its classification. Such vessel shall not be operated unless in a safe and seaworthy condition; the owner and operator shall employ such safety devices as may be necessary for the safe operation of such vessel, including an efficient natural or mechanical ventilating system when necessary for safe operation. In addition to the requirements imposed by this section, all vessels shall comply with all federal regulations applicable to vessels of such classification.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, "personal watercraft" means a vessel which uses an inboard motor powering a water jet pump and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing or kneeling on the vessel, rather than the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel. A person shall not operate a personal watercraft unless each person on board or being towed behind is wearing a type I, type II or type III, personal flotation device approved by the United States Coast Guard.
SECTION 222. Section 59-21-83, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-21-83. No vessel shall be operated within this state in a reckless or negligent manner or at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the then existing circumstances or when the operator is so physically or mentally incapacitated as to be incapable of safely operating such vessel, or while the operator is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotics, or when such vessel is overloaded beyond its reasonable carrying capacity. The provisions of this section shall be applicable to all watercraft operating on the waters of this state inclusive of, but not limited to, undocumented or unnumbered vessels and shall specifically include all vessels exempted from numbering by Section 59-21-5 and surfboards, aquaplanes, airboats, water skis or other watercraft.
SECTION 223. Section 59-21-87, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-21-87. No person shall operate a motorboat on any waters of this state while towing a person on water skis, or on an aquaplane or similar device, without an observer in the boat in addition to the operator. Such observer shall be above ten (10) years of age.
The provisions of the first paragraph of this section do not apply to a person engaged in a professional exhibition or a person participating in an official regatta, motorboat race, marine parade, tournament or exhibition.
No person shall operate or manipulate any motorboat, tow rope or other device by which the direction or location of water skis, aquaplane, or similar device may be affected or controlled in such a way as to cause the water skis, aquaplane, or similar device, or any person thereon to collide or strike against any object or person, except slalom buoys, ski jumps or like objects used normally in competitive or recreational skiing.
SECTION 224. Section 59-21-89, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-21-89. (1) It is unlawful for any person, other than a law enforcement officer on duty, to use or display oscillating or rotating blue lights on a vessel operating on the public waters of this state. Upon the approach of an authorized law enforcement vessel operating a strobe, rotating or oscillating blue light or giving audible signal by siren or both, the operator of a vessel shall yield the right-of-way and shall stop and remain in position until the authorized law enforcement vessel has passed, except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer.
(2) A person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
SECTION 225. Section 59-21-111, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-21-111. (1) The Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall be the Mississippi Boat and Water Safety Commission, and shall exercise the duties and responsibilities of the Mississippi Boat and Water Safety Commission through the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, insofar as practicable under the provisions of Chapter 4 of Title 49, Mississippi Code of 1972; except on marine waters under the jurisdiction of the Commission on Marine Resources.
(2) The Commission on Marine Resources shall exercise the duties and responsibilities of the Mississippi Boat and Water Safety Commission through the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources on the marine waters of the state. The Commission on Marine Resources shall not exercise any powers related to numbering of undocumented vessels. Those powers are vested exclusively in the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
SECTION 226. Section 59-21-117, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-21-117. (1) The commission shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, and to advertise and promote the fresh waterways of the state.
(2) The Commission on Marine Resources shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the administration and enforcement of Sections 59-21-111 through 59-21-129. The Commission on Marine Resources shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with subsections (4) and (5).
(3) The provisions of Sections 59-21-117 through 59-21-127 shall be applicable to all waters of this state that are under the jurisdiction of the State of Mississippi.
(4) Before any rules and regulations are adopted, the proposed rules and regulations shall be reduced to writing and a public hearing shall be held after at least thirty (30) days' notice of the hearing. The notice shall be published at least one (1) time in a newspaper of general circulation in this state. A copy of the proposed rules and regulations shall be furnished to the sheriff of each county affected at least thirty (30) days prior to the hearing. The hearing shall be held at a place convenient to the largest number of owners of vessels affected by the proposed rules and regulations or, if of general statewide application, shall be held in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.
(5) A copy of the regulations adopted pursuant to this section, and amendments thereto, shall be filed in the office of the commission adopting the regulations and in the office of the sheriff of each county affected where the same shall be maintained as a public record. The rules and regulations shall be published in a convenient form and shall be given to each recipient of an original, renewed, transferred or a recorded certificate of number.
SECTION 227. Section 59-21-119, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-21-119. The commission is hereby authorized to purchase, operate and maintain such motor vehicles, boats, trailers, motors and other equipment as may be deemed necessary and proper for the administration of this chapter. The commission may purchase property damage insurance on its motor vehicles, boats, trailers, motors and other equipment, and may expend funds from any available source for the purpose of obtaining such insurance.
SECTION 228. Section 59-21-129, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-21-129. (1) Any agency or political subdivision of this state may make application to the commission for special rules and regulations with reference to the operation, equipment or safety of vessels on any waters of this state within its territorial limits or authorized jurisdiction and shall set forth therein the reasons which make special rules or regulations necessary or appropriate. The commission is hereby authorized, after notice and a public hearing as provided in Section 59-21-117, to make special rules and regulations with reference to the operation, equipment or safety of vessels or motorboats on any waters of the state.
(2) The several counties and municipalities bordering the Mississippi Sound or the other coastal or tidal waters of this state are authorized and empowered to adopt ordinances setting out special rules and regulations with reference to the operation, equipment, or safety of vessels or motorboats on the Mississippi Sound or the other coastal or tidal waters of the state within their territorial limits, and shall set forth therein the reasons which make special rules and regulations necessary or appropriate. No ordinance shall conflict with the provisions of this chapter or with the regulations of any federal agency having jurisdiction over those waters. Notice shall be given of the proposed ordinance and a hearing shall be held thereon before the Commission on Marine Resources as provided in Section 59-21-117, and as a condition precedent, the Commission on Marine Resources shall recommend the adoption of the ordinance.
(3) It is the intent of this chapter that uniform regulations of general application to all the waters of this state shall be adopted and promulgated wherever practicable, and any special regulation or local ordinance, as authorized herein, shall be limited to the exigencies of local conditions which cannot be corrected by a regulation generally applicable to all the waters of the state.
SECTION 229. Section 59-21-161, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-21-161. The acceptance by a nonresident of the right and privileges of operating a vessel or motorboat on any of the waters of this state, as evidenced by his operating, either in person or by agent or employee, a vessel or motorboat upon any of the navigable waters of this state, shall be deemed equivalent to an appointment by such nonresident of the secretary of state of the State of Mississippi to be his true and lawful attorney, upon whom may be served all lawful processes or summonses in any action or proceeding against him, growing out of a violation of the provisions of this chapter, or of any accident in which said nonresident may be involved while operating a vessel or motorboat on the navigable waters of the state. Such service of process may be had in the same manner as is provided by Section 13-3-63, for the service of process on nonresidents operating motor vehicles upon the highways of this state, and shall have the same effect.
SECTION 230. Section 59-23-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-23-7. (1) It is unlawful for any person to operate a watercraft on the public waters of this state who:
(a) Is under the influence of intoxicating liquor;
(b) Is under the influence of any other substance which has impaired such person's ability to operate a watercraft; or
(c) Has eight one-hundredths percent (.08%) or more by weight volume of alcohol in the person's blood based upon milligrams of alcohol per one hundred (100) cubic centimeters of blood as shown by a chemical analysis of such person's breath, blood or urine administered as authorized by this chapter.
(2) (a) Upon conviction of any person for the first offense of violating subsection (1) of this section where chemical tests provided for under Section 59-23-5 were given, or where chemical test results are not available, such person shall be fined not less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or imprisoned for not more than twenty-four (24) hours in jail, or both; and the court shall order such person to attend and complete a boating safety education course developed by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
(b) Upon any second conviction of any person violating subsection (1) of this section, the offenses being committed within a period of five (5) years, the person shall be fined not less than Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and shall be imprisoned not less than forty-eight (48) consecutive hours nor more than one (1) year or sentenced to community service work for not less than ten (10) days nor more than one (1) year. The court shall order the person not to operate a watercraft for one (1) year.
(c) For any third conviction of any person violating subsection (1) of this section, the offenses being committed within a period of five (5) years, the person shall be fined not less than Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and shall be imprisoned not less than thirty (30) days nor more than one (1) year. The court shall order the person not to operate a watercraft for two (2) years.
(d) Any fourth or subsequent violation of subsection (1) of this section shall be a felony offense and, upon conviction, the offenses being committed within a period of five (5) years, the person shall be fined not less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and shall be imprisoned not less than ninety (90) days nor more than five (5) years in the custody of the Department of Corrections. The court shall order the person not to operate a watercraft for three (3) years.
(3) Any person convicted of operating any watercraft in violation of subsection (1) of this section where the person (a) refused a law enforcement officer's request to submit to a chemical test, or (b) was unconscious at the time of a chemical test and refused to consent to the introduction of the results of such test in any prosecution, shall be punished consistent with the penalties prescribed herein for persons submitting to the test and the court shall order the person not to operate a watercraft for the time periods specified in subsection (2) of this section.
(4) Any person who operates any watercraft in violation of the provisions of subsection (1) of this section and who in a negligent manner causes the death of another or mutilates, disfigures, permanently disables or destroys the tongue, eye, lip, nose or any other member or limb of another shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony and shall be committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections for a period of time not to exceed ten (10) years.
(5) Upon conviction of any violation of subsection (1) of this section, the judge shall cause a copy of the citation and any other pertinent documents concerning the conviction to be sent immediately to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and the Department of Marine Resources. A copy of the citation or other pertinent documents, having been attested as true and correct by the Director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, or his designee, or the Director of the Department of Marine Resources, or his designee, shall be sufficient proof of the conviction for purposes of determining the enhanced penalty for any subsequent convictions of violations of subsection (1) of this section.
(6) The provisions of this section are fully applicable to any person who is under the influence of medical cannabis that is lawful under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act and in compliance with rules and regulations adopted thereunder which has impaired the person's ability to operate a watercraft.
SECTION 231. Section 59-25-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
59-25-3. (1) Any owner of a vessel principally operated on the waters of the state and required to be numbered may apply to the department for a certificate of title for the vessel or the motor.
(2) (a) The application shall contain the name and mailing address of the owner, and the names and addresses of all persons having any liens or encumbrances upon the vessel or motor in the order of their priority. The application shall contain the signatures of all owners certifying that statements made are true and correct to the best of the applicant's knowledge, information and belief, under penalty of perjury.
(b) Every application for a certificate of title shall contain a description of the vessel or motor to be titled, including the state certificate of number (if previously assigned), hull length, type and principal material of construction, model year, the date of purchase, hull identification number, manufacturer, horse power, serial number and the name and address of the person from whom the vessel or motor was purchased. The application shall contain the date of sale and gross purchase price of the vessel or motor, or the fair market value if no sale immediately preceded the transfer and any additional information the department requires. If the application is made for a vessel or motor previously registered or titled in another state or foreign country, it shall contain this information. The application shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the department and shall contain any other information required by the department.
(3) If a dealer buys or acquires a used numbered vessel or motor for resale, he shall report the acquisition to the department on forms the department provides, or he may apply for and obtain a certificate of title as provided in this chapter. If a dealer acquires a new vessel or motor requiring titling for resale, he may apply for and obtain a certificate of title as provided in this chapter.
Every dealer transferring a vessel or motor requiring titling, as determined by the department, shall assign the title to the new owner, or in the case of a new vessel or motor assign either the certificate of origin or, if titled, the title.
(4) No person may sell, assign or transfer a vessel or motor titled by the department without delivering to the purchaser or transferee a certificate of title with an assignment on it showing title in the purchaser or transferee's name. No person may purchase or otherwise acquire a vessel or motor titled by the department without obtaining a certificate of title for it in his name.
(5) Every certificate of title shall contain the owner's name; the address of the principal place of residence of an individual owner and the address of the principal place of business of an owner that is not an individual, including zip code; date of title issuance; vessel or motor description, including the vessel or motor identification number as described in 33 CFR 187.05, name of manufacturer or model, year built or the model year, vessel length, vessel type, drive or propulsion type, motor horsepower, vessel use, hull material and fuel type; each lienholder's name and address; recording or perfection date of new liens and original recording date of any liens outstanding; and other items as required by the department. Space must also be provided for assignment of interest, with a certification that statements provided on the title assignment are true and correct to the best of the owner's knowledge, under penalty of perjury.
(6) The department shall retain the evidence used to establish the accuracy of the information required for titling purposes, and shall maintain a record of any certificate of title it issues.
SECTION 232. Section 61-3-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
61-3-15. An authority shall have all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter (excluding the power to levy and collect taxes or special assessments) including, but not limited to, the power:
(a) To sue and be sued, to have a seal and to have perpetual succession.
(b) To purchase general liability insurance coverage, including errors and omissions insurance, for its officials and employees.
(c) To employ an executive director, secretary, technical experts, and such other officers, agents and employees, permanent and temporary, as it may require, and to determine their qualifications and duties, and to establish compensation and other employment benefits as may be advisable to attract and retain proficient personnel. For regional airport authorities organized under Section 61-3-7, such employment benefits may include payment for all or part of dependent health insurance coverage.
(d) To execute such contracts and other instruments and take such other action as may be necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(e) To plan, establish, develop, construct, enlarge, improve, maintain, equip, operate, regulate and protect airports and air navigation facilities within this state and within any adjoining state, including the acquisition, lease, lease-purchase, construction, installation, equipment, maintenance and operation of such airports or buildings, equipment and other facilities or other property for the servicing of aircraft or for the comfort and accommodation of air travelers or for any other purpose deemed by the authority to be necessary to carry out its duties; to develop, operate, manage or own and maintain intermodal facilities to serve air and surface cargo and multimodal facilities to serve highway and rail passenger transportation needs to ensure interface and interaction between modes for cargo and passengers; to construct, improve, and maintain means of ingress and egress to airport properties from and over off-airport sites with approval of the city or county in which the off-airport site is located; to market, promote and advertise airport properties, goods and services; and to directly purchase and sell supplies, goods and commodities incident to the operation of its airport properties without having to make purchases thereof through the municipal governing authorities, and with the authority to utilize design-build and construction manager at-risk methods of construction in accordance with Sections 31-7-13.1 and 31-7-13.2. For all the previously stated purposes, an authority may, by purchase, gift, devise, lease, eminent domain proceedings or otherwise, acquire property, real or personal, or any interest therein, including easements in airport hazards or land outside the boundaries of an airport or airport site, as are necessary to permit the removal, elimination, obstruction-marking or obstruction-lighting of airport hazards, to prevent the establishment of airport hazards or to carry out its duties.
(f) To acquire, by purchase, gift, devise, lease, lease-purchase, eminent domain proceedings or otherwise, existing airports and air navigation facilities. However, an authority shall not acquire or take over any airport or air navigation facility owned or controlled by another authority, a municipality or public agency of this or any other state without the consent of such authority, municipality or public agency.
(g) To establish or acquire and maintain airports in, over and upon any public waters of this state, and any submerged lands under such public waters, and to construct and maintain terminal buildings, landing floats, causeways, roadways and bridges for approaches to or connecting with any such airport, and landing floats and breakwaters for the protection thereof.
(h) To establish, enact and enforce ordinances, rules, regulations and standards for public safety, aviation safety, airport operations and the preservation of good order and peace of the authority; to prevent injury to, destruction of or interference with public or private property; to protect property, health and lives and to enhance the general welfare of the authority by restricting the movements of citizens or any group thereof on the property of the authority when there is imminent danger to the public safety because of freedom of movement thereof; to regulate the entrances to property and buildings of the authority and the way of ingress and egress to and from the same; to establish fire limits and to hire firemen, including aircraft fire and rescue and similar personnel, and to establish and equip a fire department to provide fire and other emergency services on any property of the authority; to regulate, restrain or prohibit construction failing to meet standards established by the authority; to appoint and discharge police officers with jurisdiction limited to property of the airport authority and authorization to enforce the ordinances, rules and regulations of the authority, as well as the laws of the State of Mississippi, and to issue citations for infractions of all of such ordinances, rules, regulations, standards and laws of the State of Mississippi returnable to the court of appropriate jurisdiction.
(i) To develop and operate an industrial park or parks and exercise all authority provided for under Chapter 7, Title 57, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(j) To attach, pursuant to the power and procedure set forth in Chapter 33, Title 11, Mississippi Code of 1972, the equipment of debtors of the authority.
(k) To enter into agreements with local governments pursuant to Section 17-13-1 et seq.
(l) To render emergency assistance to other airports within the United States at an aggregate cost of less than Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) per emergency. The assistance authorized in this paragraph must be rendered within ninety (90) days after a state of emergency has been declared by the federal government, or by the local or state government that has jurisdiction over the area where the airport needing assistance is located.
(m) To enter into joint use or similar agreements with any department or agency of the United States of America or the State of Mississippi, including any military department of the United States of America or the State of Mississippi, with respect to the use and operation of, or services provided at, any airport or other property of the authority on the terms and conditions as the authority may deem appropriate, including provisions limiting the liability of the United States of America or the State of Mississippi for loss or damage to the authority if the authority determines that the limitation of liability is reasonable, necessary and appropriate under the circumstances.
(n) To enter into mutual aid agreements with counties and municipalities for reciprocal emergency aid and assistance in case of emergencies too extensive to be dealt with unassisted; to participate in the Statewide Mutual Aid Compact (SMAC) in accordance with Section 33-15-19.
SECTION 233. Section 61-21-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
61-21-3. As used in this act, the following terms shall have the meanings herein ascribed unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) "Airspace" means the space above the land and waters of this state.
(b) "Uncrewed aircraft" means an aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.
(c) "Uncrewed aircraft system" means an uncrewed aircraft and associated elements, including communication links and the components that control the uncrewed aircraft, that are required for the pilot in command to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system.
SECTION 234. Section 69-27-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
69-27-3. It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination:
(a) The condition. — That good soil and usable water are essential to the success of agricultural activities in the State of Mississippi; that our farms, forests and grazing lands are among the basic assets of the state; and that the preservation of these lands and usable waters is necessary to protect and promote the health, safety and prosperity of the people.
That improper land usage causes the breaking of natural cover, and results in serious soil erosion of the farms, forests and grazing lands by uncontrolled waters; that erosion feeds itself, causing an accelerated washing of sloping fields and pastures, speeding up with the removal of absorptive topsoil, causing exposure of less absorptive and less protective but more erodible subsoil; that failure by any landowner or operator to conserve the soil and water and control erosion upon his lands causes a washing of soil from his lands onto other lands and makes the conservation of soil and water and control of erosion on such other lands difficult or impossible; that good soil and water usage is possible only through joint actions of farmers, ranchers and foresters made possible through legislative action.
(b) The consequences. — That the consequences of such soil erosion in the form of soil-washing are the silting and sedimentation of stream channels, reservoirs, dams, ditches, and harbors and the movement of silt into creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes and bayous contributing to the pollution of the surface waters of the state; the piling up of soil on lower slopes, and its deposit over alluvial plains; the reduction in productivity or outright ruin of rich bottom lands by overwash of poor subsoil material, sand, and gravel swept out of the hills; deterioration of soil and its fertility, deterioration of crops grown thereon, and declining acre yields despite development of scientific process for increasing such yields; loss of soil and water which causes destruction of food and cover for wildlife; a washing of soil into streams which silts over spawning beds, and destroys water plants, diminishing the food supply of fish; a diminishing of the underground and surface water reserve, which causes water shortages, intensifies periods of drought and causes crop failures; and increase in the speed and volume of rainfall runoff, causing severe and increasing floods, which bring suffering, disease, and death; impoverishment of families attempting to farm eroding and eroded lands; damage to roads, highways, railways, farm buildings and other property from floods; and losses in navigation, hydro-electric power, municipal water supply, farming and grazing. Other consequences are the loss of surface soil and water because of the denuding of the forests, and the abuse and erosion of sloping lands; the declining mean low flow of the rivers reducing the amount of surface water available seasonally for beneficial use; the decrease in effectiveness and decline of ground water reaching aquifers which provide a source of water for beneficial use; and the increase in rates of runoff from sloping land, adding to flood damage of the flood plains and valleys of the state; all adding to the drainage problem.
(c) The appropriate corrective methods. — That to conserve soil and water resources and control and prevent soil erosion, it is necessary that practices contributing to soil and water wastage and soil erosion be discouraged and discontinued, and appropriate water and soil conserving practices be adopted and carried out; that among the procedures necessary for widespread adoption, are the carrying on of engineering operations such as the construction of terraces, terrace outlets, check dams, dikes, ponds, lakes, ditches, and the like; the utilization of strip cropping, lister furrowing, contour cultivating, and contour furrowing; seeding and planting of waste, sloping, abandoned, or eroded lands to water-conserving and erosion-preventing plants, trees, and grasses; afforestation and reforestation; rotation of crops; soil stabilization with trees, grasses, legumes, and other thick-growing, soil-holding crops, retardation of runoff by increasing absorption of rainfall; and retirement from cultivation of steep, highly erodible areas and areas now badly gullied or otherwise eroded.
(d) Declaration of policy. — It is hereby declared to be the policy of the legislature to provide for the conservation of the water and soil resources of this state, and for the control and prevention of soil erosion, and thereby to preserve natural resources, control floods, prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs, assist in maintaining the navigability of rivers and harbors, preserve wildlife, protect the tax base, protect public lands, and protect and promote the health, safety, prosperity, and general welfare of the people of this state.
It is further declared to be the policy of the legislature to alleviate and prevent flood damage; to conserve the waters of the state through improvement and cover, and through impoundments and effective use for various beneficial purposes; to develop private lands and waters of the state for recreational purposes; to promulgate soil and water conservation practices and measures which beautify the landscape, and promote the economic welfare of communities, counties, and areas of the state; and to provide leadership through soil and water conservation districts to other governmental agencies, departments and private groups in the promotion of the conservation of land, water, and related resources.
SECTION 235. Section 71-3-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
71-3-5. The following shall constitute employers subject to the provisions of this chapter:
Every person, firm and private corporation, including any public service corporation but excluding, however, all nonprofit charitable, fraternal, cultural, or religious corporations or associations, that have in service five (5) or more workmen or operatives regularly in the same business or in or about the same establishment under any contract of hire, express or implied.
Any state agency, state institution, state department, or subdivision thereof, including counties, municipalities and school districts, or the singular thereof, not heretofore included under the Workers' Compensation Law, may elect, by proper action of its officers or department head, to come within its provisions and, in such case, shall notify the commission of such action by filing notice of compensation insurance with the commission. Payment for compensation insurance policies so taken may be made from any appropriation or funds available to such agency, department or subdivision thereof, or from the general fund of any county or municipality.
From and after July 1, 1990, all offices, departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions, boards, institutions, hospitals, colleges, universities, airport authorities or other instrumentalities of the "state" as such term is defined in Section 11-46-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall come under the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Law. Payment for compensation insurance policies so taken may be made from any appropriation or funds available to such office, department, agency, bureau, commission, board, institution, hospital, college, university, airport authority or other instrumentality of the state.
From and after October 1, 1990, counties and municipalities shall come under the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Law. Payment for compensation insurance policies so taken may be made from any funds available to such counties and municipalities.
From and after October 1, 1993, all "political subdivisions," as such term is defined in Section 11-46-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, except counties and municipalities shall come under the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Law. Payment for compensation insurance policies so taken may be made from any funds available to such political subdivisions.
From and after July 1, 1988, the "state" as such term is defined in Section 11-46-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, may elect to become a self-insurer under the provisions elsewhere set out by law, by notifying the commission of its intent to become a self-insurer. The cost of being such a self-insurer, as provided otherwise by law, may be paid from funds available to the offices, departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions, boards, institutions, hospitals, colleges, universities, airport authorities or other instrumentalities of the state.
The Mississippi Transportation Commission, the Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi Industries for the Blind may elect to become self-insurers under the provisions elsewhere set out by law by notifying the commission of their intention of becoming such a self-insurer. The cost of being such a self-insurer, as provided elsewhere by law, may be paid from funds available to the Mississippi Transportation Commission, the Department of Public Safety or the Mississippi Industries for the Blind.
The Mississippi State Senate and the Mississippi House of Representatives may elect to become self-insurers under provisions elsewhere set out by law by notifying the commission of their intention of becoming such self-insurers. The cost of being such self-insurers, as provided elsewhere by law, may be paid from funds available to the Mississippi State Senate and the Mississippi House of Representatives. The Mississippi State Senate and the Mississippi House of Representatives are authorized and empowered to provide workers' compensation benefits for employees after January 1, 1970.
Any municipality of the State of Mississippi having forty thousand (40,000) population or more desiring to do so may elect to become a self-insurer under provisions elsewhere set out by law by notifying the commission of its intention of becoming such an insurer. The cost of being such a self-insurer, as provided elsewhere by law, may be provided from any funds available to such municipality.
The commission may, under such rules and regulations as it prescribes, permit two (2) or more "political subdivisions," as such term is defined in Section 11-46-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, to pool their liabilities to participate in a group workers' compensation self-insurance program. The governing authorities of any political subdivision may authorize the organization and operation of, or the participation in such a group self-insurance program with other political subdivisions, provided such program is approved by the commission. The cost of participating in a group self-insurance program may be provided from any funds available to a political subdivision.
Domestic servants, farmers and farm labor are not included under the provisions of this chapter, but this exemption does not apply to the processing of agricultural products when carried on commercially. Any purchaser of timber products shall not be liable for workers' compensation for any person who harvests and delivers timber to such purchaser if such purchaser is not liable for unemployment tax on the person harvesting and delivering the timber as provided by United States Code Annotated, Title 26, Section 3306, as amended. Provided, however, nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt an employer who would otherwise be covered under this section from providing workers' compensation coverage on those employees for whom he is liable for unemployment tax.
Employers exempted by this section may assume, with respect to any employee or classification of employees, the liability for compensation imposed upon employers by this chapter with respect to employees within the coverage of this chapter. The purchase and acceptance by such employer of valid workers' compensation insurance applicable to such employee or classification of employees shall constitute, as to such employer, an assumption by him of such liability under this chapter without any further act on his part notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, but only with respect to such employee or such classification of employees as are within the coverage of the state fund. Such assumption of liability shall take effect and continue from the effective date of such workers' compensation insurance and as long only as such coverage shall remain in force, in which case the employer shall be subject with respect to such employee or classification of employees to no other liability than the compensation as provided for in this chapter.
An owner/operator, and his drivers, must provide a certificate of insurance of workers' compensation coverage to the motor carrier or proof of coverage under a self-insured plan or an occupational accident policy. Any such occupational accident policy shall provide a minimum of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) of coverage. Should the owner/operator fail to provide written proof of coverage to the motor carrier, then the owner/operator, and his drivers, shall be covered under the motor carrier's workers' compensation insurance program and the motor carrier is authorized to collect payment of the premium from the owner/operator. In the event that coverage is obtained by the owner/operator under a workers' compensation policy or through a self-insured or occupational accident policy, then the owner/operator, and his drivers, shall not be entitled to benefits under the motor carrier's workers' compensation insurance program unless the owner/operator has elected in writing to be covered under the carrier's workers' compensation program or policy or if the owner/operator is covered by the carrier's plan because he failed to obtain coverage. Coverage under the motor carrier's workers' compensation insurance program does not terminate the independent contractor status of the owner/operator under the written contract or lease agreement. Nothing shall prohibit or prevent an owner/operator from having or securing an occupational accident policy in addition to any workers' compensation coverage authorized by this section. Other than the amendments to this section by Chapter 523, Laws of 2006, the provisions of this section shall not be construed to have any effect on any other provision of law, judicial decision or any applicable common law.
This chapter shall not apply to transportation and maritime employments for which a rule of liability is provided by the laws of the United States.
This chapter shall not be applicable to a mere direct buyer-seller or vendor-vendee relationship where there is no employer-employee relationship as defined by Section 7l-3-3, and any insurance carrier is hereby prohibited from charging a premium for any person who is a seller or vendor rather than an employee.
Any employer may elect, by proper and written action of its own governing authority, to be exempt from the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Law as to its sole proprietor, its partner in a partnership or to its employee who is the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of its stock in a corporation, if such sole proprietor, partner or employee also voluntarily agrees thereto in writing. Any sole proprietor, partner or employee owning fifteen percent (15%) or more of the stock of his/her corporate employer who becomes exempt from coverage under the Workers' Compensation Law shall be excluded from the total number of workers or operatives toward reaching the mandatory coverage threshold level of five (5).
SECTION 236. Section 79-21-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
79-21-5. As used in this chapter:
(a) The term "member" shall include actual members of associations without capital stock and holders of common stock in associations organized with capital stock.
(b) The term "person" shall include individuals, firms, partnerships, corporations and associations.
(c) The term "association" means any association organized under the terms of this chapter.
(d) The term "aquatic product" shall include all commercial products of aquatic life normally found in, or associated with, the fresh waters of the State of Mississippi, or the United States. It shall specifically include, but is not limited to, domesticated fish, fish of all species, and their byproducts, normally found in fresh water.
(e) The term "commercial fishing" shall include all persons engaged totally or part-time in the business of catching or otherwise taking aquatic products from the fresh waters of the State of Mississippi, or the United States, for commercial purposes.
(f) The term "domestic fish farming" shall include all persons engaged in the growing, managing, harvesting and/or marketing of domesticated fish as a cultivated crop in privately owned waters.
(g) The term "domesticated fish" shall be understood to mean any fish that are spawned and grown, managed, harvested and marketed on an annual, semiannual, biennial, or short-term basis in privately owned waters.
(h) The term "producer" shall mean any person engaged totally, or part-time, in the business of commercial fishing or domestic fish farming for the commercial purpose of providing aquatic products to consumers.
SECTION 237. Section 79-21-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
79-21-53. As used in Sections 79-21-51 through 79-21-67, Mississippi Code of 1972:
(a) The term "member" shall include actual members of associations without capital stock and holders of common stock in associations organized with capital stock.
(b) The term "person" shall include individuals, firms, partnerships, corporations and associations.
(c) The term "association" means any association organized under the terms of Sections 79-21-51 through 79-21-67, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(d) The term "aquatic product" shall include all commercial products of aquatic life normally found in, or associated with, the salt waters of the State of Mississippi or the United States. It shall specifically include, but is not limited to, shellfish, domesticated fish, fish of all species, and their by-products, normally found in salt water.
(e) The term "commercial fishing" shall include all persons engaged totally or part-time in the business of catching freezing, marketing, processing, transporting, wholesaling or otherwise involved in the utilization of aquatic products from the salt waters of the State of Mississippi or the United States for commercial purposes.
(f) The term "domestic fish farming" shall include all persons engaged in the growing, managing, harvesting and/or marketing of domesticated fish or shellfish as a cultivated crop in privately owned or leased waters or submerged lands.
(g) The term "domesticated fish" means any fish or shellfish that are spawned and grown, managed, harvested and marketed on an annual, semiannual, biennial, or short-term basis in privately owned or leased waters or submerged lands.
(h) The term "producer" means any person engaged totally, or part-time, in the business of commercial fishing or domestic fish farming for the commercial purpose of providing aquatic products to consumers.
SECTION 238. Section 89-17-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
89-17-9. Whenever any person shall desire to claim compensation for any salvage service rendered by him in reclaiming and protecting from loss, damage, injury or destruction, any saw log, sawn or hewn timber, lumber, boat or other water craft, or other floatable thing of value, that may have become derelict, in any of the waters of this state or in the beds or on the shores thereof, or for compensation for the preservation thereof, such finder, salvor, or person raising or floating such property, shall file a petition for compensation in the circuit court of the county in which such property shall be found, raised or floated, or salved. In the petition he shall set forth a full and particular description of the property found, raised or floated, or salved, containing all names, letters or other marks of identification appearing thereon, and in the petition he shall also set forth the facts constituting his claim for compensation, and the amount claimed by him for such service, and shall also state the name of the owner of the property, if known to the petitioner, and his place of residence and post-office address. Said owner shall be made a party defendant thereto, and if the owner be unknown, all persons having or claiming any interest in the property shall be made parties defendant, and the petition shall be sworn to. Immediately upon the filing of such petition, the petitioner shall deliver to the sheriff of the county the property described in the petition to be dealt with as hereinafter provided in Section 89-17-17.
SECTION 239. Section 89-17-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
89-17-25. If any person
shall convert to his own use, sell or otherwise dispose of any saw log, sawn or
hewn timber, lumber, boat, or other watercraft, or other floatable thing of
value not belonging to him, which may have come into his possession while floating
as derelict, in any of the waters of the State of Mississippi, or which may
theretofore have been sunken and raised or floated from such sunken condition
by him or others, or which he or others may have found cast upon the shores of
the Gulf of Mexico, or Mississippi Sound, in the State of Mississippi, or any bay,
inlet, or bayou, emptying into same, or upon the shore of any other watercourse
in the State of Mississippi, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor * * * and, on conviction, shall be
punished by a fine of not less than double the value of the property converted,
sold or disposed of, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not
exceeding six (6) months.
SECTION 240. Section 97-15-30, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
97-15-30. (1) For purposes of this section the term "commercial purpose" means for the purpose of economic gain.
(2) (a) Except as authorized by law or permit, it is unlawful for any person to throw, scatter, spill or place, or cause to be thrown, scattered, spilled, or placed, or otherwise disposed of, any solid waste in any of the following manners or amounts:
(i) In or on any public highway, road, street, alley or thoroughfare, including any portion of the right-of-way thereof, or any other public lands, except in containers or areas lawfully provided therefor. When any solid waste is thrown or discarded from a motor vehicle, the operator or owner of the motor vehicle, or both, shall be deemed in violation of this section;
(ii) In or on any waters of the state. When any solid waste is thrown or discarded from a vessel, the operator or owner of the boat, or both, shall be deemed in violation of this section; or
(iii) In or on any private property, unless prior written consent of the owner has been given and the solid waste will not cause a public nuisance or be in violation of any other state or local law, rule or regulation;
(iv) Raw human waste from any train, aircraft, motor vehicle or vessel upon the public or private lands or waters of the state.
(b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit acts authorized pursuant to Section 17-17-13.
(3) (a) Any person who violates this section in an amount not exceeding fifteen (15) pounds in weight or twenty-seven (27) cubic feet in volume and not for commercial purposes is guilty of littering and subject to a fine as provided in Section 97-15-29.
(b) Any person who violates this section in an amount exceeding fifteen (15) pounds or twenty-seven (27) cubic feet in volume, but not exceeding five hundred (500) pounds in weight or one hundred (100) cubic feet in volume and not for commercial purposes is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one (1) year, or both.
(c) Any person who violates this section in an amount exceeding five hundred (500) pounds in weight or one hundred (100) cubic feet in volume, or in any amount or volume of solid waste for commercial purposes, or in any amount or volume of hazardous waste is guilty of a felony and subject to a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), nor more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) or to imprisonment for a term of not more than five (5) years, or both. For purposes of the fine, each day shall constitute a separate violation.
(d) In addition to any other fines, penalties or injunctive relief prescribed by law, a person convicted under subsections (3)(b) or (3)(c) of this section shall:
(i) Remove or render harmless, in accordance with written direction from the Department of Environmental Quality, the unlawfully discarded solid waste;
(ii) Repair or restore property damaged by, or pay damages for any damage arising out of the unlawfully discarded solid waste;
(iii) Perform community public service relating to the removal of any unlawfully discarded solid waste or to the restoration of an area polluted by unlawfully discarded solid waste; and
(iv) Pay all reasonable investigative and prosecutorial expenses and costs to the investigative and/or prosecutorial agency or agencies.
(e) If a conviction under subsection (3) of this section is for a violation committed after a first conviction of that person under this section, the maximum punishment under the respective paragraphs shall be doubled with respect to both fine and imprisonment.
(4) A court may enjoin a violation of subsection (2) of this section.
(5) Any motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft, container, crane, winch, or machine used in a felony violation of this section may be seized with process or without process if a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the property was used in violation of that section. The seized property shall be subject to an administrative and/or judicial forfeiture by the same standards and procedures provided under Sections 41-29-176 through 41-29-185.
(6) In the criminal trial of any person charged with violating subsection (2) of this section, the defendant must affirmatively show that he had authority to discard the solid waste.
(7) Any person who conspires to commit a violation of this section shall be punished in accordance with the underlying offense set forth in this section.
(8) It shall be the duty of all law enforcement officers to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(9) All prosecutions for felony violations of this section shall be instituted only by the Attorney General, his designee, the district attorney of the district in which the violation occurred or his designee and shall be conducted in the name of the people of the State of Mississippi. In the prosecution of any criminal proceeding under this section by the Attorney General, or his designee, and in any proceeding before a grand jury in connection therewith, the Attorney General or his designee shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties which the district attorney would otherwise be authorized or required to exercise or perform. The Attorney General shall have the authority to issue and serve subpoenas for any felony violation in the same manner as prescribed under Section 7-5-59.
(10) Jurisdiction for all felony violations shall be in the circuit court of the county in which the violation occurred.
(11) Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the department to enforce the provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Law or shall limit the authority of any state or local agency to enforce any other laws, rules or ordinances.
(12) The Department of Transportation may erect warning signs along the roads and highways of this state advising the public of the existence of these sections and of the penalty for the violation thereof.
(13) This section shall not prohibit the storage of ties poles, other materials and machinery by a railroad or a public utility on its right-of-way. This section does not apply to any vehicle transporting agricultural products or supplies when the solid waste from that vehicle is a nontoxic, biodegradable agricultural product or supply.
(14) The Attorney General may pay an award, not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to any person who furnishes information or services that lead to a felony criminal conviction for any violation of this section. The payment shall be subject to available appropriations for those purposes as provided in annual appropriation acts. Any officer or employee of the United States or any state or local government who furnishes information or renders service in the performance of an official duty is ineligible for payment under this subsection.
SECTION 241. Section 97-35-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
97-35-21. Every person who shall wilfully break into, deface or destroy any lighthouse station, post, platform, steps, lamp or other structure pertaining to such lighthouse station, or shall extinguish any light erected by the United States upon or along the navigable waters of this state to aid in the navigation thereof, shall, upon conviction, be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
SECTION 242. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.
