MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2002 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representative Smith (39th), Morris, McCoy

House Bill 1835

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, STATE AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES; TO AUTHORIZE PREPLANNING FOR THE REPAIR AND RENOVATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND FACILITIES; TO AMEND SECTIONS 1 THROUGH 23, CHAPTER 600, LAWS OF 2001, TO REVISE THE USE OF PROCEEDS OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS ISSUED FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVEMENTS AT THE MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  As used in Sections 1 through 18 of this act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

          (a)  "Accreted value" of any bond means, as of any date of computation, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the stated initial value of such bond, plus (ii) the interest accrued thereon from the issue date to the date of computation at the rate, compounded semiannually, that is necessary to produce the approximate yield to maturity shown for bonds of the same maturity.

          (b)  "State" means the State of Mississippi.

          (c)  "Commission" means the State Bond Commission.

     SECTION 2.  (1)  (a)  A special fund, to be designated as the "2002 IHL and State Agencies Capital Improvements Fund," is created within the State Treasury.  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund.

          (b)  Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Department of Finance and Administration, to pay the costs of capital improvements, renovation and/or repair of existing facilities, furnishings and/or equipping facilities for public facilities for agencies or their successors as hereinafter described:

         NAME                      PROJECT          AMOUNT

                                                     ALLOCATED

INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING................. $ 49,250,000.00

Alcorn State University......................... $  3,750,000.00

     Repair, renovation, furnishing

     and equipping of Demby Hall...$ 3,750,000.00

Delta State University.......................... $  3,500,000.00 

     Renovation of and additions

     to Jobe Hall for use as a

     general classroom building....$ 3,500,000.00

Jackson State University........................ $  7,500,000.00

     Completion of Phase II

     construction, furnishing and

     equipping of transitional

     student housing...............$ 7,500,000.00

Mississippi University for Women................ $  3,800,000.00

     Demolition, construction, repair

     and renovation of campus facilities

     including, but not limited to,

     Parkinson Hall, Callaway Hall

     and Martin Hall, and repair,

     renovation, replacement and

     improvement of campus

     infrastructure................$ 3,800,000.00

Mississippi State University.................... $  7,000,000.00

     Phase I of construction of

     a simulation and design

     center........................$ 6,000,000.00

     Repair, renovation,

     replacement and improvement

     of campus infrastructure......$ 1,000,000.00

Mississippi State University/Division of

  Agriculture, Forestry and

  Veterinary Medicine........................... $  3,900,000.00 

     Renovation of the Pace

     Seed Technology Building

     to accommodate a life

     sciences program..............$ 3,000,000.00 

     Repair and renovation of

     College of Veterinary Medicine

     facilities....................$   900,000.00 

Mississippi Valley State University............. $  3,000,000.00

     Completion of construction,

     furnishing and equipping of business

     administration building.......$ 2,000,000.00 

     Repair, renovation,

     replacement and improvement

     of campus drainage and other

     infrastructure................$ 1,000,000.00 

University of Mississippi....................... $  5,500,000.00

     Renovation of old Education

     Building......................$ 3,500,000.00 

     Renovation of Bryant

     Hall..........................$ 1,000,000.00

     Renovation of Longstreet Hall.$ 1,000,000.00 

University Medical Center....................... $  3,000,000.00

     Matching funds for Guyton Hall

     expansion.....................$ 3,000,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi.............. $  4,650,000.00

     Repair and renovation of campus

     buildings and facilities and repair,

     renovation, replacement and improvement

     of campus infrastructure......$ 4,000,000.00 

     Completion of renovation

     of Polymer Science Research

     Center........................$   650,000.00 

University of Southern Mississippi/

  Gulf Coast Campus............................. $  1,000,000.00

     Land acquisition and additional

     parking ......................$ 1,000,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi/

  Gulf Coast Research Laboratory................ $    650,000.00

     Construction of necessary

     infrastructure at Cedar Point in

     Jackson County, Mississippi...$   650,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi/

  Stennis Space Center.......................... $    500,000.00

     Furnishing and equipping of

     a visualization center........$   500,000.00

Education and Research Center................... $  1,500,000.00

     Repair and replacement of HVAC

     and ventilation system in

     Tower Building................$ 1,500,000.00

STATE AGENCIES.................................. $ 58,180,000.00

Authority for Educational Television............ $  2,000,000.00

     Purchasing and installing

     antennas,towers, tower upgrades,

     tower sites, transmission lines,

     transmitters and any equipment

     useful in establishing or maintaining

     a digital transmission system to meet

     federal requirements.............$ 2,000,000.00

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency......... $ 10,000,000.00

     Construction of a building

     and related facilities to house

     the Mississippi Emergency

     Management Agency................$10,000,000.00

Department of Human Services.................... $  1,300,000.00

     Capital improvements and

     repair and renovation for security

     and medical intake facilities at

     the Columbia Training School in

     Marion County, Mississippi.......$ 1,300,000.00

Department of Mental Health..................... $  1,250,000.00

     Repair, renovation,

     replacement and improvement of

     infrastructure at Ellisville

     State Hospital...................$ 1,250,000.00

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks..... $  4,430,000.00

     Improvements to Neshoba

     County Lake......................$   680,000.00

     Repair and renovation to roads

     at state parks as determined

     necessary by the Department of

     Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks....$   500,000.00

     Repair and renovation of bath

     facilities at state parks as determined

     necessary by the Department of

     Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks....$   300,000.00

     Repair and renovation of

     cabins at state parks as determined

     necessary by the Department of

     Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks....$   500,000.00

     Improvements to the North

     Mississippi Fish Hatchery........$ 1,000,000.00

     Improvements to the Lyman State

     Fish Hatchery....................$ 1,000,000.00

     Renovation and repair of the

     campground area at the J.P. Coleman

     State Park.......................$   450,000.00

Department of Finance and Administration........ $ 16,500,000.00

     Repair, renovation,

     equipping and furnishing of the

     Walter Sillers Building, tenant

     build-out expenses related to

     repair and renovation of the

     Walter Sillers Building..........$ 3,500,000.00

     To continue an ongoing program for

     repair and renovation of state owned

     facilities necessary for

     compliance with the Americans

     With Disabilities Act............$ 3,000,000.00

     To continue an ongoing program for

     repair and renovation of state

     institutions of higher learning

     necessary for compliance with

     the Americans With Disabilities

     Act..............................$ 3,000,000.00

     Repair and renovation of

     state owned buildings and facilities

     with $500,000.00 of such funds used

     for repair and renovation of the

     Mississippi Schools for the

     Blind and Deaf...................$ 4,500.000.00

     Repair and renovation of

     the New Capitol..................$   500,000.00

     Preplanning for projects described

     in subsection (6) of this

     section..........................$ 1,500,000.00

Department of Education......................... $  4,000,000.00

     Construction of a physical

     education facility for the

     Mississippi Schools for the

     Blind and Deaf...................$ 4,000,000.00

Mississippi Library Commission.................. $  1,000,000.00

     Construction of necessary

     infrastructure for new Mississippi

     Library Commission building

     and facilities...................$ 1,000,000.00

Department of Archives and History.............. $    700,000.00

     Repair and renovation of

     the Eudora Welty house at

     1119 Pinehurst Street in

     Jackson, Mississippi, and

     acquisition of property in

     the surrounding neighborhood.

     Funds authorized for such purposes

     may be used as matching funds for

     an anticipated National Endowment

     for the Humanities Grant.........$   700,000.00

Department of Public Safety..................... $  1,000,000.00

     Construction of a vehicle

     maintenance and communications

     center and a facility for storage

     of confiscated vehicles..........$ 1,000,000.00

Department of Agriculture and Commerce.......... $  4,000,000.00

     Phase I of repair, renovation,

     replacement and improvement of

     infrastructure at the State

     Fairgrounds......................$ 4,000,000.00

Mississippi Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.... $ 12,000,000.00

     Phase I of construction of the

     Mississippi Veterinary Diagnostic

     Laboratory in Jackson, Mississippi,

     metropolitan area................$12,000,000.00

TOTAL........................................... $107,430,000.00

     (2)  Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of projects described in subsection (1) of this section.  If any monies in such special fund are not used within four (4) years after the date the proceeds of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 18 of this act are deposited into the special fund, then the agency or institution of higher learning for which any unused monies are allocated under subsection (1) of this section shall provide an accounting of such unused monies to the commission.  Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in subsection (1) of this section shall have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 18 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

     (3)  The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is expressly authorized and empowered to receive and expend any local or other source funds in connection with the expenditure of funds provided for in this section.  The expenditure of monies deposited into the special fund shall be under the direction of the Department of Finance and Administration, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by such department, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration or his designee.

     (4)  Any amounts allocated to an agency or institution of higher learning that are in excess of that needed to complete the projects at such agency or institution of higher learning that are described in subsection (1) of this section may be used for general repairs and renovations at the agency or institution of higher learning to which such amount is allocated.

     (5)  Any funds allocated to the Mississippi University for Women under Sections 1 through 23, Chapter 600, Laws of 2001, that are in excess of that needed to complete the projects for which the funds were allocated, may be used for the projects at the Mississippi University for Women described in subsection (1) of this section.  Such funds shall be in addition to the funds authorized for projects at the Mississippi University for Women in subsection (1) of this section.

     (6)  The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is authorized to preplan or continue planning of the following projects: 

          (a)  Repair and renovation of the Robert E. Lee Building;

          (b)  Repair and renovation of the former Naval Reserve Building; 

          (c)  Repair and renovation of the Mississippi Industries for the Blind buildings and facilities; 

          (d)  Repair and renovation of East Mississippi State Hospital;

          (e)  Phase I of repair and renovation of dining facilities at Alcorn State University;

          (f)  Construction of an Agricultural and Biotechnology Engineering Building and facilities for Mississippi State University/Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; 

          (g)  Repair and renovation of Farley Hall at the University of Mississippi; and

          (h)  Construction of a nursing/allied health/science laboratory facility at the University of Southern Mississippi/Gulf Coast Campus.

     The projects authorized in this subsection shall be in addition to the projects authorized in subsection (1) of this section.

     SECTION 3.  (1)  (a)  A special fund, to be designated as the "2002 Community and Junior Colleges Capital Improvements Fund" is created within the State Treasury.  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.  Monies in the fund may not be used or expended for any purpose except as authorized under this act.

          (b)  Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Department of Finance and Administration, to pay the costs of acquisition of real property, construction of new facilities and addition to or renovation of existing facilities for community and junior college campuses as recommended by the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges.  The amount to be expended at each community and junior college is as follows:

Coahoma...................................... $  253,583.00

Copiah-Lincoln.................................. 361,152.00

East Central.................................... 320,944.00

East Mississippi................................ 276,064.00

Hinds........................................... 712,624.00

Holmes.......................................... 358,009.00

Itawamba........................................ 378,073.00

Jones........................................... 504,174.00

Meridian........................................ 366,550.00

Mississippi Delta............................... 375,091.00

Mississippi Gulf Coast.......................... 580,640.00

Northeast Mississippi........................... 394,832.00

Northwest Mississippi........................... 454,539.00

Pearl River..................................... 364,858.00

Southwest Mississippi........................... 298,867.00

GRAND TOTAL.................................. $6,000,000.00

     (2)  Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of projects described in subsection (1) of this section.  If any monies in such special fund are not used within four (4) years after the date the proceeds of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 18 of this act are deposited into the special fund, then the community college or junior college for which any such monies are allocated under subsection (1) of this section shall provide an accounting of such unused monies to the commission.  Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in subsection (1) shall have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 18 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

     (3)  The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is expressly authorized and empowered to receive and expend any local or other source funds in connection with the expenditure of funds provided for in this section.  The expenditure of monies deposited into the special fund shall be under the direction of the Department of Finance and Administration, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by such department, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration or his designee. 

     SECTION 4.  (1)  The commission, at one time, or from time to time, may declare by resolution the necessity for issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi to provide funds for all costs incurred or to be incurred for the purposes described in Sections 2 and 3 of this act.  Upon the adoption of a resolution by the Department of Finance and Administration, declaring the necessity for the issuance of any part or all of the general obligation bonds authorized by this section, the Department of Finance and Administration shall deliver a certified copy of its resolution or resolutions to the commission.  Upon receipt of such resolution, the commission, in its discretion, may act as the issuing agent, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds.  The total amount of bonds issued under Sections 1 through 18 of this act shall not exceed One Hundred Thirteen Million Four Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($113,430,000.00).  No bonds shall be issued under this act after July 1, 2005.

     (2)  The proceeds of the bonds issued pursuant to this act shall be deposited into the following special funds in not more than the following amounts:

(a)  The 2002 IHL Capital and State Agencies Improvements Fund created pursuant to Section 2 of this act 

............................................... $107,430,000.00.

          (b)  The 2002 Community and Junior College Capital Improvements Fund created pursuant to Section 3 of this

act............................................. $ 6,000,000.00.

     (3)  Any investment earnings on amounts deposited into the special funds created in Sections 2 and 3 of this act shall be used to pay debt service on bonds issued under Sections 1 through 18 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing issuance of such bonds.

     SECTION 5.  The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 18 of this act shall be payable in the manner provided in this section.  Such bonds shall bear such date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates (not to exceed the limits set forth in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972), be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times not to exceed twenty-five (25) years from date of issue, be redeemable before maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the commission.

     SECTION 6.  The bonds authorized by Sections 1 through 18 of this act shall be signed by the chairman of the commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the commission shall be affixed thereto, attested by the secretary of the commission.  The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to such bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of such officers.  Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials designated to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers before the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until their delivery to the purchaser, or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear.  However, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, such bonds may be issued as provided in the Registered Bond Act of the State of Mississippi.

     SECTION 7.  All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 18 of this act have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, and in exercising the powers granted by Sections 1 through 18 of this act, the commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

     SECTION 8.  The commission shall act as the issuing agent for the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 18 of this act, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, pay all fees and costs incurred in such issuance and sale, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds.  The commission is authorized and empowered to pay the costs that are incident to the sale, issuance and delivery of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 18 of this act from the proceeds derived from the sale of such bonds.  The commission shall sell such bonds on sealed bids at public sale, and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale shall be made at a price less than par plus accrued interest to the date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser.  All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually; however, the first interest payment may be for any period of not more than one (1) year.

     Notice of the sale of any such bonds shall be published at least one time, not less than ten (10) days before the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and in one or more other newspapers or financial journals with a national circulation, to be selected by the commission.

     The commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of Sections 1 through 18 of this act, may provide that bonds, at the option of the State of Mississippi, may be called in for payment and redemption at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.

     SECTION 9.  The bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 18 of this act are general obligations of the State of Mississippi, and for the payment thereof the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi is irrevocably pledged.  If the funds appropriated by the Legislature are insufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on such bonds as they become due, then the deficiency shall be paid by the State Treasurer from any funds in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated.  All such bonds shall contain recitals on their faces substantially covering the provisions of this section.

     SECTION 10.  Upon the issuance and sale of bonds under the provisions of Sections 1 through 18 of this act, the commission shall transfer the proceeds of any such sale or sales to the special funds created in Sections 2 and 3 of this act in the amounts provided for in Section 4(2) of this act.  The proceeds of such bonds shall be disbursed solely upon the order of the Department of Finance and Administration under such restrictions, if any, as may be contained in the resolution providing for the issuance of the bonds.

     SECTION 11.  The bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 18 of this act may be issued without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things other than those proceedings, conditions and things which are specified or required by Sections 1 through 18 of this act.  Any resolution providing for the issuance of bonds under the provisions of Sections 1 through 18 of this act shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the commission, and any such resolution may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of the commission by a majority of its members.

     SECTION 12.  The bonds authorized under the authority of Sections 1 through 18 of this act may be validated in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect provided by Chapter 13, Title 31, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the validation of county, municipal, school district and other bonds.  The notice to taxpayers required by such statutes shall be published in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.

     SECTION 13.  Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 18 of this act or of any of the interest coupons pertaining thereto may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights granted under Sections 1 through 18 of this act, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by Sections 1 through 18 of this act to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.

     SECTION 14.  All bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 18 of this act shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries, and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and political subdivisions for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.

     SECTION 15.  Bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 18 of this act and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.

     SECTION 16.  The proceeds of the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 18 of this act shall be used solely for the purposes herein provided, including the costs incident to the issuance and sale of such bonds.

     SECTION 17.  The State Treasurer is authorized, without further process of law, to certify to the Department of Finance and Administration the necessity for warrants, and the Department of Finance and Administration is authorized and directed to issue such warrants, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, or the accreted value of, all bonds issued under Sections 1 through 18 of this act; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.

     SECTION 18.  Sections 1 through 18 of this act shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers herein granted, but Sections 1 through 18 of this act shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state.

     SECTION 19.  Sections 1 through 23, Chapter 600, Laws of 2001, are amended as follows:

     Section 1.  As used in Sections 1 through 23 of this act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

          (a)  "Accreted value" of any bond means, as of any date of computation, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the stated initial value of such bond, plus (ii) the interest accrued thereon from the issue date to the date of computation at the rate, compounded semiannually, that is necessary to produce the approximate yield to maturity shown for bonds of the same maturity.

          (b)  "State" means the State of Mississippi.

          (c)  "Commission" means the State Bond Commission.

     Section 2.  (1)  (a)  A special fund, to be designated as the "2001 State Agencies Capital Improvements Fund," is created within the State Treasury.  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund.

          (b)  Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Department of Finance and Administration, to pay the costs of capital improvements, renovation and/or repair of existing facilities, furnishings and/or equipping facilities for public facilities for agencies or their successors as hereinafter described:

         NAME                    PROJECT              AMOUNT

                                                     ALLOCATED

INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING................. $ 59,710,000.00

Alcorn State University.......................... $ 2,000,000.00

     Roof repair and waterproofing

     for campus facilities and repair

     and renovation of and additions

     to mechanical systems..........$ 1,000,000.00

     Completion of the Honors Dormitory

     currently under construction

     including furniture and

     equipment and technology

     upgrades.......................$   500,000.00

     Furnishing and equipping of the

     library........................$   500,000.00

Delta State University.......................... $  6,200,000.00

     Phase II of construction of

     the Classroom Administration

     building.......................$ 5,900,000.00

     Purchase of two (2) airplanes for the

          Gibson-Gunn Aviation

          School....................$   300,000.00

Jackson State University......................... $13,250,000.00

     Completion of construction of a

     school of business

     building.......................$13,000,000.00

     Construction, furnishing and

     equipping a home for the

     University President...........$   250,000.00

Mississippi University for Women................ $  2,500,000.00

     Demolition, construction, repair

     and renovation of campus

     facilities.....................$ 1,000,000.00

     Repair and renovations related

     to storm damage occurring during

     the month ofFebruary 2001, and

     general repair and renovation

     of campus facilities...........$ 1,500,000.00

Mississippi State University..................... $ 9,860,000.00

     Phase III of renovation

     of the Hand Chemical Teaching

     Laboratory.....................$ 6,000,000.00

     Repair and renovations related

     to storm damage occurring

     during the month of

     February 2001..................$ 3,860,000.00

Mississippi State University/Division of

  Agriculture, Forestry and

  Veterinary Medicine............................ $ 2,200,000.00

     Utility upgrades of Bost

     Extension Center...............$   250,000.00

     Renovation of laboratories

     for Biotechnology and Life Sciences

     Research use...................$   950,000.00

     Equipment for life sciences

     and the College of Veterinary

     Medicine.......................$ 1,000,000.00

Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry

  Experiment Station............................. $ 1,200,000.00

     Construction of a multi-purpose

     building at Stoneville.........$ 1,200,000.00

Mississippi Valley State University.............. $ 4,500,000.00

     Roof repair and waterproofing

     for campus facilities and repair

     and renovation of and additions

     to mechanical systems and

     renovations of dormitories.....$ 4,500,000.00

University of Mississippi........................ $ 6,000,000.00

     Renovation of Guyton Hall

     to house the School of

     Education......................$ 4,000,000.00

     General repair and renovation of

     campus facilities..............$ 2,000,000.00

University Medical Center........................ $ 3,500,000.00

     Construction of a classroom

     facility.......................$ 3,500,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi............... $ 5,000,000.00

     Construction, furnishing and

     equipping the Center for

     International and Continuing

     Education......................$ 4,000,000.00

     Construction, furnishing and

     equipping additions to the 3-D

     Art Building...................$   500,000.00

     General repair and renovation of

     campus facilities..............$   500,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi/

  Gulf Coast Campus............................. $  1,500,000.00

     Furnishing and equipping

     advanced education center and

     library........................$ 1,500,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi/

  Gulf Coast Research Laboratory................ $    250,000.00

     Construction of necessary

     infrastructure at Cedar Point

     in Jackson County, Mississippi.$   250,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi/

  Stennis Space Center.......................... $    250,000.00

     Continuation of planning of

     construction of additions to

     Building 1020 at the Stennis

     Space Center to support the

     masters program in hydrographic

     science........................$   250,000.00

Education and Research Center................... $  1,500,000.00

     General repair and renovation of

     facilities.....................$ 1,500,000.00

Authority for Educational Television............ $  4,460,000.00

     Purchasing and installing antennas,

     towers, tower upgrades, tower

     sites, transmission lines,

     transmitters and any equipment useful

     in establishing or maintaining a

     digital transmission system to

     meet federal requirements......$ 4,460,000.00

Mississippi Forestry Commission................. $    500,000.00

     Construction of a new

     training facility..............$   500,000.00

Department of Mental Health..................... $  7,500,000.00

     Construction, furnishing and

     equipping of nursing home facilities

     at East Mississippi State Hospital

     in order to meet state

     licensure requirements.........$ 7,500,000.00

Department of Public Safety..................... $  2,000,000.00

     Construction, furnishing and

     equipping of a new Highway Safety

     Patrol Substation in the Jackson,

     Mississippi, metropolitan

     area...........................$ 2,000,000.00

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks..... $  5,150,000.00

     Repair and renovation to roads,

     parks and cabins at state parks

     as determined necessary by the

     Department of Wildlife,

     Fisheries and Parks............$ 3,000,000.00

     Construction and equipping of

     the North Mississippi Fish

     Hatchery.......................$ 1,000,000.00

     Improvements to the Lyman State

     Fish Hatchery..................$ 1,000,000.00

     Renovation and repair of the

     campground area at the John Kyle

     State Park including shower facilities

     and electrical upgrades........$   150,000.00

Department of Finance and Administration........ $ 13,500,000.00

     Tenant build-out expenses related

     to repair and renovation of the

     Walter Sillers Building........$10,000,000.00

     To initiate an ongoing program for

     repair and renovation of state-owned

     facilities and institutions of

     higher learning necessary for

     compliance with the Americans

     With Disabilities Act..........$ 3,500,000.00

Department of Rehabilitation Services........... $    100,000.00

     Repair and renovation of the Addie

     McBryde Center located at the

     University of Mississippi Medical Center

     in Jackson, Mississippi........$   100,000.00

Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium........... $    300,000.00

     Repair and renovation necessary

     for compliance with the Americans

     With Disabilities Act..........$   300,000.00

Department of Education......................... $  7,000,000.00

     Phase II of construction,

     furnishing and equipping of the

     Mississippi School of Fine Arts on

     the campus of Whitworth College in

     Brookhaven, Mississippi........$ 7,000,000.00

TOTAL........................................... $100,220,000.00

     (2)  Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of projects described in subsection (1) of this section.  If any monies in such special fund are not used within four (4) years after the date the proceeds of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 23 of this act are deposited into the special fund, then the agency or institution of higher learning for which any unused monies are allocated under subsection (1) of this section shall provide an accounting of such unused monies to the commission.  Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in subsection (1) of this section shall have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 23 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

     (3)  The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is expressly authorized and empowered to receive and expend any local or other source funds in connection with the expenditure of funds provided for in this section.  The expenditure of monies deposited into the special fund shall be under the direction of the Department of Finance and Administration, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by such department, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration or his designee.

     (4)  Any amounts allocated to an agency or institution of higher learning that are in excess of that needed to complete the projects at such agency or institution of higher learning that are described in subsection (1) of this section may be used for general repairs and renovations at the agency or institution of higher learning to which such amount is allocated.  However, any funds allocated to the Mississippi University for Women under subsection (1) of this section, that are in excess of that needed to complete the projects for which the funds were allocated, may be used for the projects at the Mississippi University for Women described in Section 2 of House Bill No.     , 2002 Regular Session.

     (5)  The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is authorized to preplan or continue planning of the following projects:

          (a)  Preplan through construction documents the renovation of Martin Hall at the Mississippi University for Women to accommodate the School of Nursing;

          (b)  Construction of a simulation and design center at Mississippi State University;

          (c)  Renovation of the Pace Seed Technology Building to accommodate a life sciences program for Mississippi State University/Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine;

          (d)  Construction of a College of Health and Human Sciences Building at the University of Southern Mississippi;

          (e)  Construction of an academic center at the Columbia Training School in Marion County, Mississippi;

          (f)  Construction of the Mississippi Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in the Jackson, Mississippi, metropolitan area;

          (g)  Repair and renovation of the Education School Building at the University of Mississippi;

          (h)  Construction of a building to house the Department of Environmental Quality;

          (i)  Construction of a building to house the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency;

          (j)  Relocation of the headquarters of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to a new location in the Jackson, Mississippi, metropolitan area;

          (k)  Completion of the construction of transitional student housing at Jackson State University; and

          (l)  Repair and renovation of Demby Hall at Alcorn State University.

     The projects authorized in this subsection shall be in addition to the projects authorized in subsection (1) of this section.

     Section 3.  (1)  (a)  A special fund, to be designated as the "2001 IHL Additional Repair and Renovation Fund," is created within the State Treasury.  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund.

          (b)  Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Department of Finance and Administration, to pay the costs of critical repair and renovation needs of state institutions of higher learning.

     (2)  Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of projects described in subsection (1) of this section.  If any monies in such special fund are not used within four (4) years after the date the proceeds of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 23 of this act are deposited into the special fund, then the Department of Finance and Administration shall provide an accounting of such unused monies to the commission.  Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in subsection (1) of this section shall have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 23 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

     (3)  The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is expressly authorized and empowered to receive and expend any local or other source funds in connection with the expenditure of funds provided for in this section.  The expenditure of monies deposited into the special fund shall be under the direction of the Department of Finance and Administration, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by such department, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration or his designee.

     Section 4.  (1)  (a)  A special fund, to be designated as the "2001 Mississippi State Owned Buildings Repair and Renovation Fund" is created within the State Treasury.  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or  investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund.

          (b)  Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Department of Finance and Administration, to pay the costs of repair and renovation of state owned buildings and facilities and to pay the costs of necessary repairs and renovations to the Mississippi Federated Women's Club Building on property leased to the Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs, Incorporated, pursuant to Chapter 514, Laws of 1983, as amended.

     (2)  Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of the projects described in subsection (1) of this section.  If any monies in such special fund are not used within four (4) years after the date the proceeds of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 23 of this act are deposited into the special fund, then the Department of Finance and Administration shall provide an accounting of such unused monies to the commission.  Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in subsection (1) of this section shall have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 23 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

     (3)  The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is expressly authorized and empowered to receive and expend any local or other source funds in connection with the expenditure of funds provided for in this section.  The expenditure of monies deposited into the special fund shall be under the direction of the Department of Finance and Administration, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by such department, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration or his designee. 

     Section 5.  (1)  (a)  A special fund, to be designated as the "2001 Southaven IHL Center Fund" is created within the State Treasury.  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund.

          (b)  Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Department of Finance and Administration, to pay the costs of constructing and equipping the Institutions of Higher Learning Center at Southaven, Mississippi.

     (2)  Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of the project described in subsection (1) of this section; provided, however that the use of money in such fund for the project shall be conditioned upon the receipt of funds for such project by the Department of Finance and Administration in the amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) from the University of Mississippi, in the amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) from Northwest Community College and in the amount of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,000.00) from DeSoto County.  If any monies in such special fund are not used within four (4) years after the date the proceeds of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 23 of this act are deposited into the special fund, then the Department of Finance and Administration shall provide an accounting of such unused monies to the commission.  Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in subsection (1) of this section shall have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 23 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

     (3)  The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is expressly authorized and empowered to receive and expend any local or other source funds in connection with the expenditure of funds provided for in this section.  The expenditure of monies deposited into the special fund shall be under the direction of the Department of Finance and Administration, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by such department, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration or his designee.

     Section 6.  (1)  (a)  A special fund, to be designated as the "2001 Community and Junior Colleges Capital Improvements Fund" is created within the State Treasury.  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.  Monies in the fund may not be used or expended for any purpose except as authorized under Sections 1 through 23 of this act.

          (b)  Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Department of Finance and Administration, to pay the costs of acquisition of real property, construction of new facilities and addition to or renovation of existing facilities for community and junior college campuses as recommended by the State Board of Community and Junior Colleges.  The amount to be expended at each community and junior college is as follows:

Coahoma.................................... $    506,969.00

Copiah-Lincoln.............................      721,707.00

East Central...............................      641,441.00

East Mississippi...........................      551,847.00

Hinds......................................    1,423,351.00

Holmes.....................................      715,434.00

Itawamba...................................      755,486.00

Jones......................................    1,007,222.00

Meridian...................................      732,484.00

Mississippi Delta..........................      749,535.00

Mississippi Gulf Coast.....................    1,159,872.00

Northeast Mississippi......................      788,944.00

Northwest Mississippi........................    919,235.00

Pearl River................................      729,106.00

Southwest Mississippi......................      597,367.00

GRAND TOTAL..................................... $12,000,000.00

     (2)  Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of projects described in subsection (1) of this section.  If any monies in such special fund are not used within four (4) years after the date the proceeds of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 23 of this act are deposited into the special fund, then the community college or junior college for which any such monies are allocated under subsection (1) of this section shall provide an accounting of such unused monies to the commission.  Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in subsection (1) shall have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 23 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

     (3)  The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is expressly authorized and empowered to receive and expend any local or other source funds in connection with the expenditure of funds provided for in this section.  The expenditure of monies deposited into the special fund shall be under the direction of the Department of Finance and Administration, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by such department, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration or his designee. 

     Section 7.  (1)  (a)  A special fund, to be designated as the "2001 Library Construction and Improvements Fund," is created within the State Treasury.  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund.

          (b)  Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Department of Finance and Administration to the Mississippi Library Commission to be awarded as grants for the following projects in the following amounts:

              (i)  To assist in purchasing property located at 4931 Arthur Street, Moss Point, Mississippi, for use as a library in the Jackson County/George County Regional

Library System........................................$250,000.00.

              (ii)  To assist in the construction of a new public library on the campus of Hickory Flat High School in Benton, County................................................$150,000.00.

              (iii)  To assist in repairs and renovations necessary for the Sardis Regional Library to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.......................$150,000.00.

     (2)  Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay a portion of the cost of the projects described in subsection (1) of this section.  If any monies in such special fund are not used within four (4) years after the date the proceeds of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 23 of this act are deposited into the special fund, then the Department of Finance and Administration shall provide an accounting of such unused monies to the commission.  Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the project described in subsection (1) of this section has been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 23 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

     (3)  The expenditure of monies deposited into the special fund shall be under the direction of the Department of Finance and Administration, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by such department, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration or his designee. 

     Section 8.  (1)  (a)  A special fund, to be designated as the "2001 New Capitol Repair and Renovation Fund" is created within the State Treasury.  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund.

          (b)  Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Department of Finance and Administration, to pay the costs of repair and renovation of the New Capitol.

     (2)  Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of the projects described in subsection (1) of this section.  If any monies in such special fund are not used within four (4) years after the date the proceeds of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 23 of this act are deposited into the special fund, then the Department of Finance and Administration shall provide an accounting of such unused monies to the commission.  Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in subsection (1) of this section shall have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 23 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

     (3)  The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is expressly authorized and empowered to receive and expend any local or other source funds in connection with the expenditure of funds provided for in this section.  The expenditure of monies deposited into the special fund shall be under the direction of the Department of Finance and Administration, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by such department, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration or his designee.

     Section 9.  (1)  The commission, at one time, or from time to time, may declare by resolution the necessity for issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi to provide funds for all costs incurred or to be incurred for the purposes described in Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of this act.  Upon the adoption of a resolution by the Department of Finance and Administration, declaring the necessity for the issuance of any part or all of the general obligation bonds authorized by this section, the Department of Finance and Administration shall deliver a certified copy of its resolution or resolutions to the commission.  Upon receipt of such resolution, the commission, in its discretion, may act as the issuing agent, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds.  The total amount of bonds issued under Sections 1 through 23 of this act shall not exceed One Hundred Twenty Million Nine Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars ($120,970,000.00).  No bonds shall be issued under Sections 1 through 23 of this act after July 1, 2004.

     (2)  The proceeds of the bonds issued pursuant to Sections 1 through 23 of this act shall be deposited into the following special funds in not more than the following amounts:

(a)  The 2001 State Agencies Capital Improvements Fund created pursuant to Section 2 of this act............................................... $100,220,000.00.

(b)  The 2001 IHL Additional Repair and Renovation Fund created pursuant to Section 3 of this act    $  2,000,000.00.

(c)  The 2001 Mississippi State Owned Buildings Repair and Renovation Fund created pursuant to Section 4 of this

act............................................ $  4,000,000.00.

(d)  The 2001 Southaven IHL Center Fund created pursuant to Section 5 of this act$  2,000,000.00.

          (e)  The 2001 Community and Junior Colleges Capital Improvements Fund created pursuant to Section 6 of this

act............................................ $ 12,000,000.00.

          (f)  The 2001 Library Construction and Improvements Fund

created pursuant to Section 7 of this act...... $    550,000.00.

          (g)  The 2001 New Capitol Repair and Renovation Fund

created pursuant to Section 8 of this act...... $    200,000.00.

     (3)  Any investment earnings on amounts deposited into the special funds created in Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of this act shall be used to pay debt service on bonds issued under Sections 1 through 23 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing issuance of such bonds.

     Section 10.  The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 23 of this act shall be payable in the manner provided in this section.  Such bonds shall bear such date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates (not to exceed the limits set forth in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972), be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times not to exceed twenty-five (25) years from date of issue, be redeemable before maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the commission.

     Section 11.  The bonds authorized by Sections 1 through 23 of this act shall be signed by the chairman of the commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the commission shall be affixed thereto, attested by the secretary of the commission.  The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to such bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of such officers.  Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials designated to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers before the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until their delivery to the purchaser, or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear.  However, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, such bonds may be issued as provided in the Registered Bond Act of the State of Mississippi.

     Section 12.  All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 23 of this act have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, and in exercising the powers granted by Sections 1 through 23 of this act, the commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

     Section 13.  The commission shall act as the issuing agent for the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 23 of this act, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, pay all fees and costs incurred in such issuance and sale, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds.  The commission is authorized and empowered to pay the costs that are incident to the sale, issuance and delivery of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 23 of this act from the proceeds derived from the sale of such bonds.  The commission shall sell such bonds on sealed bids at public sale, and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale shall be made at a price less than par plus accrued interest to the date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser.  All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually; however, the first interest payment may be for any period of not more than one (1) year.

     Notice of the sale of any such bonds shall be published at least one time, not less than ten (10) days before the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and in one or more other newspapers or financial journals with a national circulation, to be selected by the commission.

     The commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of Sections 1 through 23 of this act, may provide that bonds, at the option of the State of Mississippi, may be called in for payment and redemption at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.

     Section 14.  The bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 23 of this act are general obligations of the State of Mississippi, and for the payment thereof the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi is irrevocably pledged.  If the funds appropriated by the Legislature are insufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on such bonds as they become due, then the deficiency shall be paid by the State Treasurer from any funds in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated.  All such bonds shall contain recitals on their faces substantially covering the provisions of this section.

     Section 15.  Upon the issuance and sale of bonds under the provisions of Sections 1 through 23 of this act, the commission shall transfer the proceeds of any such sale or sales to the special funds created in Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of this act in the amount provided for in Section 9(2) of this act.  The proceeds of such bonds shall be disbursed solely upon the order of the Department of Finance and Administration under such restrictions, if any, as may be contained in the resolution providing for the issuance of the bonds.

     Section 16.  The bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 23 of this act may be issued without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things other than those proceedings, conditions and things which are specified or required by Sections 1 through 23 of this act.  Any resolution providing for the issuance of bonds under the provisions of Sections 1 through 23 of this act shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the commission, and any such resolution may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of the commission by a majority of its members.

     Section 17.  The bonds authorized under the authority of Sections 1 through 23 of this act may be validated in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect provided by Chapter 13, Title 31, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the validation of county, municipal, school district and other bonds.  The notice to taxpayers required by such statutes shall be published in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.

     Section 18.  Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 23 of this act or of any of the interest coupons pertaining thereto may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights granted under Sections 1 through 23 of this act, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by Sections 1 through 23 of this act to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.

     Section 19.  All bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 23 of this act shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries, and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and political subdivisions for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.

     Section 20.  Bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 23 of this act and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.

     Section 21.  The proceeds of the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 23 of this act shall be used solely for the purposes herein provided, including the costs incident to the issuance and sale of such bonds.

     Section 22.  The State Treasurer is authorized, without further process of law, to certify to the Department of Finance and Administration the necessity for warrants, and the Department of Finance and Administration is authorized and directed to issue such warrants, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, or the accreted value of, all bonds issued under Sections 1 through 23 of this act; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.

     Section 23.  Sections 1 through 23 of this act shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers herein granted, but Sections 1 through 23 of this act shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state.

     SECTION 20.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.