MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: County Affairs; Municipalities

By: Representative Horne

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 17-3-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THAT COUNTIES, MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER GOVERNING AUTHORITIES THAT APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADVERTISING THEIR RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS, PROCURE SUCH ADVERTISING THROUGH THE USE OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. Section 17-3-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

17-3-1. (1) The board of supervisors of any county in Mississippi, and the mayor and board of aldermen or board of commissioners of any municipality in the State of Mississippi, may in their discretion, set aside, appropriate and expend moneys, not to exceed one (1) mill of their respective valuation and assessment for the purpose of advertising and bringing into favorable notice the opportunities, possibilities and resources of such municipality or county.

(2) If a board of supervisors or the governing authorities of a municipality approve the appropriation of funds for the purpose of advertising and bringing into favorable notice the county or municipality, the board of supervisors or the governing authorities of the municipality may not contract with a private or private not-for-profit entity for such advertising without first seeking competitive bids or proposals for the advertising services in the same manner as if the advertising were a commodity controlled by the procurement requirements of Section 31-7-1 et seq.

(3) Any public entity, governing authority or private entity, for profit or not for profit, that receives funds from a municipality or board of supervisors may not expend public funds on advertising contacts with private or private not-for-profit entities without first seeking competitive bids or proposals for such services. Such public entities, governing authorities and private entities shall follow the same procedures for seeking such bids and proposals as a municipality or county.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.