MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2002 Regular Session

To: Finance

By: Senator(s) Minor, Jackson, Furniss

Senate Bill 3197

(As Passed the Senate)

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 PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR AYERS SETTLEMENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE REPAIR AND RENOVATION OF STATE-OWNED BUILDING AND AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING; TO AMEND SECTIONS 1 THROUGH 23, CHAPTER 600, LAWS OF 2001, AND SECTIONS 1 THROUGH 20, CHAPTER 583, LAWS OF 2000, TO REVISE THE USE OF PROCEEDS OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS ISSUED FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVEMENTS AT JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  As used in Sections 1 through 20 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................. $ 42,160,000.00

Alcorn State University...............$ 3,860,000.00

     Repair, renovation,

          furnishing and

          equipping of

          Demby Hall......$ 3,500,000.00

     Air conditioning of the

          Simmons Technology

          Building........$   360,000.00

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......$ 2,500,000.00

     Repair and renovation of

          Martin Hall.....$ 2,500,000.00

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

     Phase I of construction of

          a simulation and design

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

Mississippi State University/Division of Agriculture Forestry

   and Veterinary Medicine............$ 3,000,000.00

     Renovation of the Pace Seed

          Technology Building

          to accommodate a

          life sciences

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

Mississippi Valley State

   University.........................$ 2,000,000.00

     Completion of construction,

          furnishing and equipping

          of business administration

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

University of Mississippi.............$ 4,000,000.00

     Renovation of old Education

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

     Renovation of Bryant

          Hall............$   500,000.00

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

     Matching funds for Guyton

          Research Building

          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 infra-

          structure.......$ 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

STATE AGENCIES.................................. $ 46,631,000.00

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.............................$ 9,000,000.00

     Construction of a building

          and related facilities

          to house the Mississippi

          Emergency Management

          Agency..........$ 9,000,000.00

Department of Mental Health...........$ 6,365,000.00

     Repair and renovation of two

          (2) nursing homes at the

          East Mississippi State

          Hospital........$ 6,365,000.00

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 Challenge

          Grant...........$   700,000.00

Department of Agriculture and

   Commerce...........................$10,666,000.00

     Repair, renovation, replacement

          and improvement of

          infrastructure at the State

          Fairgrounds.....$10,666,000.00

Mississippi Veterinary Diagnostic

   Laboratory.........................$13,000,000.00

     Phase I of construction of

          the Mississippi Veterinary

          Diagnostic Laboratory in

          Jackson, Mississippi,

          metropolitan

          area............$13,000,000.00

Department of Health..................$ 4,900,000.00

     Expansion of the public health

          laboratory......$ 4,900,000.00

TOTAL........................................... $ 88,791,000.00

     (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 20 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 20 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)  The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is authorized to preplan the renovation of Farley Hall at the University of Mississippi.

     The project 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..................................... $   507,166.00

Copiah-Lincoln..............................     722,303.00

East Central................................     641,889.00

East Mississippi............................     552,127.00

Hinds.......................................   1,425,247.00

Holmes......................................     716,018.00

Itawamba....................................     756,145.00

Jones.......................................   1,008,348.00

Meridian....................................     733,101.00

Mississippi Delta...........................     750,183.00

Mississippi Gulf Coast......................   1,161,281.00

Northeast Mississippi.......................     789,665.00

Northwest Mississippi.......................     909,078.00

Pearl River.................................     729,716.00

Southwest Mississippi.......................     597,733.00

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 20 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 20 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 "2002 State-owned Buildings and 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:

              (i)  Critical repair and renovation needs of state agencies and state institutions of higher learning;

              (ii)  Compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act by state agencies and state institutions of higher learning; and

              (iii)  Landscaping improvements to the grounds of the New Capitol Building.

     (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 20 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 20 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 "2002 Ayers Settlement Agreement 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 section.

          (b)  Monies deposited into the fund shall constitute Ayers bond revenues to be disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration, to pay the costs of capital improvements at Alcorn State University, Jackson State University and Mississippi Valley State University as recommended by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in order to comply with the Settlement Agreement in the case of Ayers vs. Musgrove.

     (2)  Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of projects described in subsection (1) of this section.

     (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)  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 and 5 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 20 of this act shall not exceed One Hundred Forty Million Seven Hundred Ninety-one Thousand Dollars ($140,791,000.00).  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 and State Agencies Capital Improvements Fund created pursuant to Section 2 of this

act............................................ $ 88,791,000.00.

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

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

(c)  2002 State-owned Buildings and IHL Additional Repair and Renovation Fund created pursuant to Section 4 of this act $ 25,000,000.00.

(d)  2002 Ayers Settlement Agreement Capital Improvements Fund created pursuant to Section 5 of this

act............................................ $ 15,000,000.00.

     (3)  Any investment earnings on amounts deposited into the special funds created in Sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this act shall be used to pay debt service on bonds issued under Sections 1 through 20 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing issuance of such bonds.

     SECTION 7.  The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 20 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 8.  The bonds authorized by Sections 1 through 20 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 9.  All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 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 20 of this act, the commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

     SECTION 10.  The commission shall act as the issuing agent for the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 20 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 20 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 20 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 11.  The bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 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 12.  Upon the issuance and sale of bonds under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 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 and 5 of this act in the amounts provided for in Section 6(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 13.  The bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 20 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 20 of this act.  Any resolution providing for the issuance of bonds under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 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 14.  The bonds authorized under the authority of Sections 1 through 20 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 15.  Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 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 20 of this act, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by Sections 1 through 20 of this act to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.

     SECTION 16.  All bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 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 17.  Bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 of this act and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.

     SECTION 18.  The proceeds of the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 20 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 19.  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 20 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 20.  Sections 1 through 20 of this act shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers herein granted, but Sections 1 through 20 of this act shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state.

     SECTION 21.  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, furnishing

          and equipping 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 of

          February 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.

     (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 22.  Sections 1 through 20, Chapter 583, Laws of 2000, are amended as follows:

     Section 1.  As used in Sections 1 through 20 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 "2000 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.................. $38,472,000.00

Alcorn State University...............$ 10,324,000.00

     Construction and equipping

          a business school

          building suitable to

          house an MBA program

          and renovations to

          other business school

          facilities......$ 9,500,000.00

     Roof repair and waterproofing

          for campus facilities

          and maintenance and

          repair of mechanical

          systems.........$   824,000.00

Delta State University................$ 1,941,000.00

     Repair, renovation and

          restoration of the

          Cutrer House at

          the Clarksdale

          Center..........$ 1,000,000.00

     Roof repair and waterproofing

          for campus facilities

          and maintenance and

          repair of mechanical

          systems.........$   941,000.00

Jackson State University..............$ 2,677,000.00

     Completion of Phase I construction,

          furnishing and equipping

          of transitional student

          housing.........$ 1,500,000.00

     Roof repair and waterproofing

          for campus facilities

          and maintenance and

          repair of mechanical

          systems.........$ 1,177,000.00

Mississippi University for Women......$   588,000.00

     Roof repair and waterproofing

          for campus facilities

          and maintenance and

          repair of mechanical

          systems.........$   588,000.00

Mississippi State University..........$ 5,206,000.00

     Phase II of renovation

          of the Hand

          Chemical Teaching

          Laboratory......$ 3,500,000.00

     Construction, repair, renovation,

          furnishing and equipping

          of buildings for the

          School of Architecture on

          Capitol Street in Jackson,

          Mississippi.....$ 1,706,000.00

Mississippi State University/Division of

   Agriculture, Forestry and

   Veterinary Medicine................$ 3,981,000.00

     Upgrades to heating

          and cooling

          systems, repairs

          and renovations to

          the Wise Center

          Complex and purchase

          of equipment for such

          center..........$ 3,000,000.00

     Construction, repair,

          renovation, expansion,

          equipping and furnishing

          of an open air arena for

          the cooperative extension

          service.........$   210,000.00

     Repairs, renovations, additions,

          construction and improvements

          that are necessary for the

          Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

          to assist poultry producers

          and processors in diagnosing

          and controlling poultry

          diseases........$   500,000.00

     Repair and renovation of

          facilities......$   271,000.00

Mississippi Valley State University...$ 5,238,000.00

     Phase II of construction,

          repair and renovation

          of the business

          school..........$ 3,800,000.00

     Waste water treatment system

          improvements....$   850,000.00

     Roof repair and waterproofing

          for campus facilities

          and maintenance and

          repair of mechanical

          systems.........$   588,000.00

University of Mississippi.............$ 3,500,000.00

     Physical plant

          relocation......$ 2,000,000.00

     Roof repair and waterproofing

          for campus facilities

          and maintenance and

          repair of mechanical

          systems.........$ 1,500,000.00

University Medical Center.............$   388,000.00

     Roof repair and waterproofing

          for campus facilities

          and maintenance and

          repair of mechanical

          systems.........$   388,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi....$ 1,058,000.00

     Roof repair and waterproofing

          for campus facilities

          and maintenance and

          repair of mechanical

          systems and improvements

          to campus technology

          infrastructure..$ 1,058,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi/

   Gulf Park Campus...................$ 2,188,000.00

     Repair, renovation,

          replacement and

          improvement of campus

          infrastructure..$ 1,800,000.00

     Roof repair and waterproofing

          for campus facilities

          and maintenance and

          repair of mechanical

          systems.........$   388,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi/

   Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.....$ 1,030,000.00

     Matching funds for federal

          infrastructure grant

          at Cedar Point in

          Jackson County,

          Mississippi.....$   900,000.00

     Roof repair and waterproofing

          for campus facilities

          and maintenance and

          repair of mechanical

          systems.........$   130,000.00

Education and Research Center.........$   353,000.00

     Roof repair and waterproofing

          for campus facilities

          and maintenance and

          repair of mechanical

          systems.........$   353,000.00

AUTHORITY FOR EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION............. $ 3,500,000.00

     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....$ 3,500,000.00

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH...................... $15,286,000.00

     Phase I of construction,

          furnishing and

          equipping of new

          receiving units.$13,786,000.00

     Repair and renovation of department

          facilities with priority

          given to roofing,

          waterproofing, HVAC and

          infrastructure..$ 1,500,000.00

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION......... $ 7,000,000.00

     Repair and renovation

          of the Walter Sillers

          Building........$ 7,000,000.00

MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD....................... $ 2,600,000.00

     Provide matching funds to the

          Mississippi National Guard

          for construction of an

          armory in Vicksburg,

          Mississippi.....$ 2,600,000.00

MISSISSIPPI SCHOOLS FOR THE BLIND AND DEAF....... $ 4,000,000.00

     Construction of a perimeter

          fence around the

          campuses, renovation of

          Saunders Hall and addition

          of an academic center to

          Building B, a combined

          classroom and laboratory

          building........$ 4,000,000.00

DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS...... $ 4,500,000.00

     Repair and renovation to road

          sub-grade and surface at

          state parks as determined

          necessary by the Department

          of Wildlife, Fisheries

          and Parks.......$ 4,250,000.00

     Provision of assistance to the

          Board of Supervisors of

          Tippah County to upgrade

          and repair roads within

          and leading to Hell Creek

          Wildlife Management

          Area............$   250,000.00

TOTAL............................................ $75,358,000.00

     (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 20 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 20 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)  The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is authorized to preplan the following projects: 

          (a)  Renovation and repair of the Colvard Student Union at Mississippi State University;

          (b)  Renovation and repair of Guyton Hall and the old Education Building at the University of Mississippi;

          (c)  Construction of a new music facility or repair and renovation of existing buildings to house the Music Department at the University of Southern Mississippi;

          (d)  New classroom facilities at the University Medical Center;

          (e)  Construction of an assembly, wellness and academic center and a science and technology building at Mississippi Valley State University;

          (f)  Construction of a new administration and operations building on state-owned land for the Department of Environmental Quality;

          (g)  Construction of a new administration and operations building on state-owned land for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency; and

          (h)  Construction and development of parking facilities for state agencies and departments in the vicinity of the New Capitol.

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

     (6)  Monies allocated to the University of Southern Mississippi/Gulf Coast Research Laboratory at Cedar Point in Jackson County, Mississippi, shall not be used for any project at such institution of higher learning if the property conveyed to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, for the use and benefit of the University of Southern Mississippi and the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, in the Warranty Deed recorded in Book 1075, pages 545-546, in the Office of the Chancery Clerk of Jackson County, Mississippi, reverts to Jackson County, Mississippi. 

     Section 3.  (1)  (a)  A special fund, to be designated as the "2000 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, with priority given to needs affecting accreditation matters.

     (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 20 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 20 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 "2000 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.

     (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 20 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 20 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 "2000 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 20 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.................................... $    378,642.00

Copiah-Lincoln.............................      545,631.00

East Central...............................      493,120.00

East Mississippi...........................      422,318.00

Hinds......................................    1,038,386.00

Holmes.....................................      524,229.00

Itawamba...................................      572,757.00

Jones......................................      752,937.00

Meridian...................................      527,464.00

Mississippi Delta..........................      557,950.00

Mississippi Gulf Coast.....................      923,908.00

Northeast Mississippi......................      590,676.00

Northwest Mississippi......................     667,700.00

Pearl River................................      549,240.00

Southwest Mississippi......................      455,044.00

GRAND TOTAL................................ $  9,000,000.00

     (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 20 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 20 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)  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 and 5 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 20 of this act shall not exceed Eighty-nine Million Eight Hundred Fifty-eight Thousand Dollars ($89,858,000.00).  No bonds shall be issued under Sections 1 through 20 of this act after July 1, 2003.

     (2)  The proceeds of the bonds issued pursuant to Sections 1 through 20 of this act shall be deposited into the following special funds in not more than the following amounts:

(a)  The 2000 State Agencies Capital Improvements Fund created pursuant to Section 2 of this act........................... $75,358,000.00.

(b)  The 2000 IHL Additional Repair and Renovation Fund created pursuant to Section 3 of this act........................... $ 2,500,000.00.

          (c)  The 2000 Mississippi State-Owned Buildings Repair and Renovation Fund created pursuant to Section 4 of this

act............................................. $ 3,000,000.00.

          (d)  The 2000 Community and Junior College Capital Improvements Fund created pursuant to Section 5 of this

act............................................. $ 9,000,000.00.

     (3)  Any investment earnings on amounts deposited into the special funds created in Sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this act shall be used to pay debt service on bonds issued under Sections 1 through 20 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing issuance of such bonds.

     Section 7.  The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 20 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 8.  The bonds authorized by Sections 1 through 20 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 9.  All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 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 20 of this act, the commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

     Section 10.  The commission shall act as the issuing agent for the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 20 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 20 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 (1) 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 20 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 11.  The bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 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 12.  Upon the issuance and sale of bonds under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 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 and 5 of this act in the amounts provided for in Section 6(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 13.  The bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 20 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 20 of this act.  Any resolution providing for the issuance of bonds under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 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 14.  The bonds authorized under the authority of Sections 1 through 20 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 15.  Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 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 20 of this act, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by Sections 1 through 20 of this act to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.

     Section 16.  All bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 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 17.  Bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 20 of this act and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.

     Section 18.  The proceeds of the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 20 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 19.  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 20 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 20.  Sections 1 through 20 of this act shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers herein granted, but Sections 1 through 20 of this act shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state.

     SECTION 23.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.