MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Public Property

By: Senator(s) Tollison, Robertson, Moffatt, Gollott, Kirby, Mettetal

Senate Bill 2306

(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI TO SELL AND CONVEY TO THE UNITED STATES FORESTRY SERVICE CERTAIN LAND OWNED AND HELD BY THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF SUCH LAND SHALL BE DEPOSITED INTO AN ENDOWMENT FUND ESTABLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI; TO PROVIDE THAT THE INCOME AND EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE FUND SHALL BE USED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI AND FOR REPAIR AND RENOVATIONS OF PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI; TO AMEND SECTION 3-5-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXEMPT THE SALE OF SUCH LAND FROM THE PROVISION THAT LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF LAND THAT MAY BE ACQUIRED BY THE UNITED STATES WITHIN OR ADJACENT TO EXISTING NATIONAL FOREST LANDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. (1) The State of Mississippi may sell and convey to the United States Forestry Service, all of its right, title and interest in certain lands owned and held by the State of Mississippi for the benefit of the University of Mississippi pursuant to the act of the United States Congress dated June 30, 1894, Ch. 110, 28 Stat. 94 (1894), such lands being more particularly described as follows:

STONE COUNTY

Township 3 South Range 9 West Acres

Section 4 - E2 320

Section 28 - E2, N2 of NW3, SE3 of NW3 440

Section 29 - W2 320

Section 31 - SE3, E2 of W2, SW3 of NW3,

W2 of SE3 of NE3 380

Section 30 - All Less SW3 of SW3 600

Section 33 - All Less SW3 of NE3 600

Township 3 South Range 10 West

Section 25 - All Less E2 of SE3 560

Section 36 - All Less SE3 of SE3, Less N2 of SW3,

Less SE3 of SW3, Less SW3 of NW3 440

Section 35 - All 640

Section 34 - All 640

Section 33 - All 640

Section 32 - All Less NE3 480

Section 31 - All Less S2 of NW3, Less NW3 of NW3 520

Township 4 South Range 9 West

Section 4 - W2 320

Section 5 - All Less NE3, Less SE3 of NW3 440

Section 6 - All Less NE3 of NW3 600

Section 7 - All 640

Section 8 - All 640

Section 9 - All 640

Section 17 - N2 of NW3, SW3 of NE3, N2 of SE3,

E2 of NE3 280

Township 4 South Range 10 West

Section 5 - All Less NE3 of SE3 600

Section 4 - N2 320

Section 3 - N2 320

Section 2 - All Less SW3 of SW3 600

Section 1 - All Less NW3 of SE3, Less W2 of NE3,

Less NE3 of NW3 480

TOTAL 12,460

GEORGE COUNTY

Township 3 South Range 9 West

Section 3 - All Less S2 of NW3, Less SE3 400

Section 2 - W2, NW3 of NE3 360

Section 10 - All 640

Section 11 - All Less W2 of W2 480

Section 12 - N2 Less NE3 of NE3 280

Section 22 - S2 Less N2 of SE3 240

Section 24 - S2 of N2 160

Section 27 - All 640

Section 26 - All 640

Section 35 - All 640

Section 34 - All 640

Section 25 - All Less N2 of NE3, Less SE3 400

Section 36 - NW3, SW3 of NE3 200

Township 2 South Range 5 West

Section 6 - SW3 of SE3 40

Township 1 South Range 6 West

Section 5 - NW3 of NE3, SW3 of SW3 80

Township 3 South Range 6 West

Section 13 - SE3 160

Township 2 South Range 7 West

Section 3 - SW3 of SE3 40

Section 21 - W2 of NE3 80

Section 4 - NE3 of SE3 40

TOTAL 6,160

JACKSON COUNTY

Township 4 South Range 9 West

Section 2 - NE3, NW3 of NW3 200

Section 10 - W3/4 of NW3 120

Section 11 - All 640

Section 12 - All Less NE3 of NE3 600

Section 13 - All 640

Section 14 - All 640

Section 15 - All 640

Township 4 South Range 8 West

Section 19 - NE3 of NW3 40

Section 29 - SW3 of NE3 40

Section 31 - S2 of NW3, NE3 of NW3 120

Section 36 - SW3 of SE3 40

Township 5 South Range 8 West

Section 18 - E2 Less NE3 of NE3 280

Township 5 South Range 7 West

Section 6 - SW3 of SW3, NW3 of NE3 80

TOTAL 4,080

TOTALS

Stone County 2,460

George County 6,160

Jackson County 4,080

TOTAL 22,700

(2) Proceeds from the sale of the land described in subsection (1) of this section shall be deposited into an endowment fund established by the University of Mississippi. The principal of the fund shall remain inviolate and shall be invested by the University of Mississippi. Interest and income from the investment of the principal of the fund shall be used by the University of Mississippi exclusively for the construction of permanent improvements on the campus of the University of Mississippi and for the repair and renovation of permanent improvements on the campus of the University of Mississippi.

SECTION 2. Section 3-5-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

3-5-13. (1) The consent of the State of Mississippi is hereby given to the acquisition by the United States, by purchase or gift, of land within or adjacent to existing national forests in Mississippi, subject to prior approval of: (1) the board of supervisors of the county wherein such land is located, by order spread upon its minutes; and (2) the Mississippi Forestry Commission; provided, however, that not more than twenty-five thousand (25,000) acres may be acquired in the entire state under the provisions of * * * this section and Section 3-5-15.

Provided further, that not more than five hundred (500) acres may be purchased or donated in any one (1) county outside the existing boundaries of any one (1) existing national forest.

The provisions of * * * this section and Section 3-5-15 shall not apply to, or be construed to prohibit, any landowner owning lands in the State of Mississippi who may desire to exchange any part or all of such lands with the United States government, or any agency thereof, within the external boundaries of an existing national forest for an equal amount of land or lands of equal value owned by the United States government, or any agency thereof.

(2) There is hereby exempted from the provisions of * * * this section and Section 3-5-15 any county in which State Highway No. 18 intersects State Highway No. 35 and any county in which State Highway No. 18 intersects State Highway No. 15.

(3) There is hereby exempted from the provisions of this section any lands sold and conveyed by the State of Mississippi pursuant to Section 1 of Senate Bill No. 2306, 1998 Regular Session.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.