MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Representatives McCoy, Holland, Eaton, Williams, King, Moss, Bowles, Broomfield, Comans, Grist, Holden, Livingston, Manning, Maples, Miles, Mitchell, Stringer, Taylor, Vince, Walker, Warren, Clark, Coleman (29th), Cummings, Hudson, Stevens, Weathersby, Young

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 39-5-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI LANDMARK GRANT PROGRAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT'S HISTORIC PROPERTIES TRUST FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENSURING THE PRESERVATION OF PROPERTIES DESIGNATED AS MISSISSIPPI LANDMARKS; TO AUTHORIZE COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDS FOR THE LANDMARK GRANT PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY SHALL ADMINISTER THE MISSISSIPPI LANDMARK GRANT PROGRAM; TO REVISE THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH FUNDS IN THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES TRUST FUND MAY BE USED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 39-5-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

39-5-23. (1) The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is hereby authorized and empowered to solicit and accept donations, bequests, devises, gifts and grants of money from individuals, organizations and federal, state and local governmental bodies, to be deposited in the Historic Properties Trust Fund which is hereby created in the State Treasury. Contributions to the Historic Properties Trust Fund may be undesignated or earmarked for the purpose of acquiring, preserving, restoring, supporting, operating and administering Mississippi Landmark properties or for use on specific historical projects that have been authorized by the Department of Archives and History. The State Treasurer shall invest all monies in the Historic Properties Trust Fund as other state funds are authorized to be invested, and any interest earned shall be deposited into the fund. * * *

(2) The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is hereby authorized and empowered to solicit and accept donations, bequests, devises, gifts and grants of money and real and personal property. The Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History may, in its discretion, sell such real and personal property by public or private sale and shall deposit proceeds derived from such sale into the Historic Properties Trust Fund.

(3) (a) The Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History is authorized to establish the Mississippi Landmark Grant Program within the Historic Properties Trust Fund to help ensure the preservation of Mississippi Landmark properties.

(b) The Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History may deposit funds appropriated by the Legislature into the account established for the Mississippi Landmark Grant Program within the Historic Properties Trust Fund. All funds deposited in the account for the Mississippi Landmark Grant Program shall be used exclusively for the purpose of acquiring, preserving, restoring, supporting, operating and administering Mississippi Landmark properties or those properties to be designated as Mississippi Landmarks.

(c) The Mississippi Landmark Grant Program will be funded from the principal balance and interest earned on the principal balance of the account established for the program. However, the principal balance of such account shall never be expended below seventy-five percent (75%) of the total sums of Legislature appropriated funds deposited into the account.

(d) The board of supervisors of every county and the governing authorities of every municipality in the state may make contributions to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, to be deposited into the account for the Mississippi Landmark Grant Program. Such contributions may be undesignated or earmarked for use on specific Mississippi Landmark properties.

(e) The Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History shall have all powers necessary to implement and administer the Mississippi Landmark Grant Program, and the board of trustees shall promulgate all rules and regulations necessary for the implementation and administration of the program.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.