MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Agriculture

By: Senator(s) Thames, Woodfield, Smith, Lee, Scoper, Johnson (19th), Rayborn, Mettetal, Furniss, Jackson, Gordon, Little, Hawks, Stogner, Tollison, Simmons, Horhn, Burton, White (5th), Harden, Kirby, White (29th), Cuevas, Carlton, Gollott, Harvey, Carter, Hamilton, Posey, Browning, Dickerson

AN ACT TO REENACT SECTIONS 69-41-1, 69-41-3, 69-41-5, 69-41-7, 69-41-9, 69-41-11, 69-41-13 AND 69-41-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, KNOWN AS THE MISSISSIPPI AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL ACT OF 1993; TO AMEND SECTION 69-41-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE REPEALER ON THE MISSISSIPPI AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL ACT OF 1993; TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI AGRIBUSINESS 2000 COMMITTEE FOR THE PURPOSE OF STIMULATING AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH IN MISSISSIPPI; TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMITTEE'S MEMBERSHIP AND PRESCRIBE ITS DUTIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. Section 69-41-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is reenacted as follows:

69-41-1. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Agribusiness Council Act of 1993."

SECTION 2. Section 69-41-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is reenacted as follows:

69-41-3. There is created a special joint committee of the Legislature to be known as the Mississippi Agribusiness Council, hereinafter referred to as "the council," for the purposes of stimulating the development of new markets for Mississippi agricultural products and industry.

SECTION 3. Section 69-41-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is reenacted as follows:

69-41-5. (1) The council shall be composed of the following members:

(a) The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and five (5) additional members of the Senate, no more than two (2) members from one (1) congressional district. Upon recommendation by the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, the Lieutenant Governor shall appoint such five (5) additional members.

(b) The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee and five (5) additional members of the House, no more than two (2) members from one (1) congressional district. Upon recommendation by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee, the Speaker shall appoint such five (5) additional members.

(2) The chairmen of these two (2) legislative committees shall serve as co-chairmen of the council.

(3) In conducting the studies and formulating the recommendations required of it, the council may elicit the support of and participation by any commercial, industrial, governmental, agricultural, minority and public interest organizations or associations, or individual members thereof, and any federal, state and local agencies and political subdivisions as may be necessary, or appropriate in the furtherance of the activities of the council.

(4) In addition, the council shall be authorized to contract or enter into agreements with other agencies or private research centers that it may deem necessary to carry out its duties and functions.

(5) For attending meetings of the council, each legislative member shall be paid per diem in the amount authorized by Section 25-3-69, and a mileage allowance and an expense allowance in the amount authorized by Section 5-1-47. However, no per diem, mileage allowance or expense allowance shall be paid for attending meetings of the council while the Legislature is in session, and no per diem, mileage allowance or expense allowance shall be paid without prior approval of the proper committee in the member's respective house. All expenses incurred by and on behalf of the committee shall be paid from funds appropriated therefor. If such appropriated funds are not sufficient to pay the committee's expenses, then the expenses shall be paid from a sum to be provided in equal portion from the contingency funds of the Senate and House of Representatives.

SECTION 4. Section 69-41-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is reenacted as follows:

69-41-7. The council shall appoint a full-time, nonstate service executive director, herein called director, who shall be competent and qualified in the area of marketing and agriculture and who shall receive as compensation for services an annual salary as set by the council, but not to exceed an amount recommended by the State Personnel Board. The director shall be the one-point information contact on agricultural production, management and marketing issues and shall be charged with the duty of knowing the role and responsible personnel in each agency on matters related to agriculture. The director shall be directly responsible to the council for tasks assigned in the administration and implementation of programs developed by the council. The council may also employ a full-time, nonstate service administrative assistant or secretary for the director, whose salary shall be set by the council but not to exceed an amount recommended by the State Personnel Board.

SECTION 5. Section 69-41-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is reenacted as follows:

69-41-9. The duties and responsibilities of the council shall be the following:

(1) To conduct national and international market research to identify trade and investment opportunities;

(2) To identify joint ventures and licensing services;

(3) To provide special assistance to Mississippi's agricultural producers and firms engaged in the marketing of agricultural products produced in Mississippi to develop markets;

(4) To conduct market studies to identify agricultural products that can be manufactured in Mississippi from materials and resources available in or to Mississippi for which a profitable and growing market exists;

(5) To advertise and solicit for production and industrial promotion purposes;

(6) To recommend legislation to assist with financial packaging by utilizing all available fund resources provided by the State of Mississippi including, but not limited to, the Small Business Investment Act, Emerging Crop Fund and the Business Financial Investment Act;

(7) To establish a Mississippi Register of Mississippi Agricultural Producers and set criteria for listing therein;

(8) To recommend purchasing agreements between state institutions and Mississippi agricultural producers;

(9) To recommend the organization of the state into marketing districts for the most effective and efficient use of marketing resources;

(10) To provide any other assistance and services necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.

SECTION 6. Section 69-41-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is reenacted as follows:

69-41-11. The council is authorized and empowered to promulgate rules and regulations required to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

SECTION 7. Section 69-41-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is reenacted as follows:

69-41-13. The Mississippi Agribusiness Council is authorized and empowered to accept and expend monetary or in-kind contributions, gifts and grants to carry out the provisions of this chapter. Such contributions, gifts and grants shall be deposited into a special fund, hereby established in the State Treasury, to be known as the "Agribusiness Council Contribution Fund."

SECTION 8. Section 69-41-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is reenacted as follows:

69-41-15. The Agribusiness Advisory Committee is created and shall be composed of such members as are appointed by the co-chairmen of the council; one (1) of the members shall be a representative of Mississippi State University, and one (1) shall be a representative of Alcorn State University. The advisory committee shall work with the Mississippi Agribusiness Council in carrying out the purposes of this chapter. Members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation.

SECTION 9. Section 69-41-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-41-17. Sections 69-41-1 through 69-41-15 shall stand repealed as of July 1, 2003.

SECTION 10. (1) There is created a committee of government officials to be known as the Mississippi Agribusiness 2000 Committee, hereinafter referred to as "the committee," for the purpose of stimulating agribusiness development and growth in Mississippi.

(2) The committee shall be composed of the following members:

(a) The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce;

(b) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Agribusiness Council;

(c) The Director of the Small Farm Development Center, Alcorn State University;

(d) The Manager of the Agribusiness Investment Program, Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development; and

(e) The Head of the Agricultural Economic Department, Mississippi State University.

(3) The duties and responsibilities of the committee shall be the following:

(a) To meet with individuals and corporations interested in developing agricultural businesses in Mississippi;

(b) To accept and review agribusiness entrepreneurial proposals and projects;

(c) To recommend and direct agribusiness projects to the proper areas and agencies for needed assistance; and

(d) To promote successful businesses and projects and develop a friendly atmosphere for agribusiness development and growth in Mississippi.

(4) In conducting its work, the committee may elicit the support of and participation by any commercial, industrial, governmental, agricultural, minority and public interest organizations or associations, or individual members thereof, and any federal, state and local agencies and political subdivisions as may be necessary, or appropriate in the furtherance of the activities of the committee.

(5) The members of the committee shall serve without any compensation and shall not be entitled to reimbursement for any expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the committee.

(6) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Agribusiness Council shall serve as chairman of the committee and shall coordinate the committee's activities and work. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce shall serve as the committee's vice-chairman.

SECTION 11. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.