MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Constitution

By: Representatives Williams, Stringer, Eaton, Reynolds

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING TO ADD A NEW SECTION TO THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, CREATING A TRUST FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY INTO WHICH ALL MONIES RECEIVED BY THE STATE ARISING OUT OF TOBACCO LITIGATION SHALL BE DEPOSITED AND REQUIRING A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE ELECTED MEMBERSHIP OF BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR ANY APPROPRIATION OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE TRUST FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is proposed to the qualified electors of the state:

Amend the Mississippi Constitution of 1890, by adding a new section to read as follows:

"Section ___. There is created within the State Treasury a special trust fund into which shall be deposited all monies received by the state, whether under settlement agreement or judgment rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction, arising from all present and future claims asserted by the Attorney General on behalf of the State of Mississippi and all of its governmental agencies, departments, political subdivisions and any other state-controlled public entities against tobacco manufacturers, distributors, trade firms and such other entities in the tobacco industry that are named defendants, presently or in the future, in litigation relating to the manufacturing, marketing, packaging, distribution and sale of tobacco products. The principal of the trust fund shall remain inviolate unless such monies are appropriated by the Legislature by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the elected membership of each house of the Legislature. The principal shall be invested by the State Treasurer in the manner provided by law for the investment of other monies in the State General Fund.

Each year before December 1, the Legislative Budget Office shall recommend to the Legislature proposed expenditures for the interest earned on the trust fund and income derived from the investment of the principal of the trust fund for the next succeeding fiscal year. Any amounts of the interest and income derived from the investment of the principal of the trust fund that are not appropriated shall not lapse into the State General Fund at the end of the fiscal year but shall be deposited to the credit of the trust fund."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this amendment shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 1998, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This proposed constitutional amendment creates a trust fund in the State Treasury into which all monies received by the state arising out of tobacco litigation shall be deposited. It further requires a two-thirds vote of the elected membership of both houses of the Legislature for any appropriation of the principal of the trust fund."