MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representatives Fredericks, Short

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-7-407, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE COMPOSITION OF THE BILOXI PORT COMMISSION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 59-7-407, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

59-7-407. (1) A commission consisting of five (5) members, all of whom shall be qualified electors of any municipality operating under the provisions of this article, one (1) of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the governing authorities of the municipality concerned, and two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the board of supervisors of the county, and who shall hold office for a term of five (5) years, shall be and are hereby constituted "a port commission." The commission shall have jurisdiction over the port, terminals, harbors and passes leading thereto, and all vessels, boats and wharves, common carriers, and public utilities therein using the same, and which commissioners shall serve as a "port commission" as herein designated, and at salaries not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per month.

(2) In the first instance, the two (2) commissioners to be appointed by the Governor shall be appointed for terms of five (5) and four (4) years, respectively, from the date of appointment; the one (1) member to be appointed by the board of supervisors shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years from the date of appointment, and the members to be appointed by the governing authorities of the municipality shall be appointed for terms of two (2) and one (1) years, respectively, from the date of appointment. After the first appointments, thereafter each member appointed shall be appointed for a term of five (5) years. Upon the effective date of House Bill No. , 1997 Regular Session, one (1) of the members who was appointed by the Governor, as determined by the Governor, shall cease to serve as a member of the commission. Upon the effective date of House Bill No. , 1997 Regular Session, the board of Supervisors shall appoint an additional member to the commission, which additional member shall serve a term equal to the remainder of the term of the member who ceases to serve as provided herein.

The commission shall, upon appointment, organize as provided in Section 59-7-409.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.