MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Thames, Harvey, Smith, Stogner, Jackson

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUSPENDING THE DEADLINES FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL NO. 3190, 1997 REGULAR SESSION, ENTITLED "AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIALIZATION PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF VALUE-ADDED AGRIBUSINESSES IN THIS STATE; TO CREATE THE AGRIBUSINESS COMMERCIALIZATION FUND; TO PROVIDE THAT MONIES IN SUCH FUND SHALL BE USED TO MAKE GRANTS TO, AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH, MISSISSIPPI AGRIBUSINESSES THAT SHOW A REASONABLE POTENTIAL FOR RAPID AND SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH AND THAT WILL ADD VALUE TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS; TO PROVIDE THAT GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS SHALL DESIGNATE THAT MONIES RECEIVED BY MISSISSIPPI AGRIBUSINESS FROM SUCH FUND ARE REPAYABLE TO THE FUND; TO CREATE THE AGRIBUSINESS COMMERCIALIZATION BOARD TO BE THE ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR GRANT AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT DECISIONS INVOLVING MONIES IN THE FUND; TO GRANT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE CERTAIN ADDITIONAL POWERS AND DUTIES TO ADMINISTER THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE AUDITOR SHALL CONDUCT CERTAIN AUDITS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF $5,000,000.00 IN GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE AGRIBUSINESS COMMERCIALIZATION FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES." 

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That the following bill is hereby exempt from the timetable for consideration of bills provided by Joint Rule No. 40, and that consent is hereby given for further consideration of Senate Bill No. 3190, 1997 Regular Session, entitled "AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIALIZATION PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF VALUE-ADDED AGRIBUSINESSES IN THIS STATE; TO CREATE THE AGRIBUSINESS COMMERCIALIZATION FUND; TO PROVIDE THAT MONIES IN SUCH FUND SHALL BE USED TO MAKE GRANTS TO, AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH, MISSISSIPPI AGRIBUSINESSES THAT SHOW A REASONABLE POTENTIAL FOR RAPID AND SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH AND THAT WILL ADD VALUE TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS; TO PROVIDE THAT GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS SHALL DESIGNATE THAT MONIES RECEIVED BY MISSISSIPPI AGRIBUSINESS FROM SUCH FUND ARE REPAYABLE TO THE FUND; TO CREATE THE AGRIBUSINESS COMMERCIALIZATION BOARD TO BE THE ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR GRANT AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT DECISIONS INVOLVING MONIES IN THE FUND; TO GRANT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE CERTAIN ADDITIONAL POWERS AND DUTIES TO ADMINISTER THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE AUDITOR SHALL CONDUCT CERTAIN AUDITS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF $5,000,000.00 IN GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE AGRIBUSINESS COMMERCIALIZATION FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES."