MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2004 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representative Weathersby

House Bill 1410

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 75-76-129, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE PORTION OF THE STATE REVENUE DERIVED FROM GAMING LICENSE FEES WHICH IS DEPOSITED INTO THE STATE GENERAL FUND SHALL BE APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE ONLY FOR THE SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12, THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, AND THE COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 75-76-129, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     [Through June 30, 2022, this section shall read as follows:]

     75-76-129.  On or before the last day of each month all taxes, fees, interest, penalties, damages, fines or other monies collected by the State Tax Commission during that month under the provisions of this chapter, with the exception of (a) the local government fees imposed under Section 75-76-195, and (b) an amount equal to Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) of the revenue collected pursuant to the fee imposed under Section 75-76-177(1)(c), or an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the revenue collected pursuant to the fee imposed under Section 75-76-177(1)(c), whichever is the greater amount, shall be paid by the State Tax Commission to the State Treasurer to be deposited in the State General Fund.  The local government fees shall be distributed by the State Tax Commission pursuant to Section 75-76-197.  An amount equal to Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) of the revenue collected during that month pursuant to the fee imposed under Section 75-76-177(1)(c) shall be deposited by the State Tax Commission into the bond sinking fund created in Section 65-39-3.  The revenue collected during that month pursuant to the fee imposed under Section 75-76-177(1)(c) that is in excess of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00), but is less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount of revenue collected during that month, shall be deposited into the State Highway Fund to be used exclusively for the reconstruction and maintenance of highways of the State of Mississippi.  All monies deposited into the State General Fund under this section shall be appropriated by the Legislature only for the support of public education in kindergarten through Grade 12, the institutions of higher learning, and the community and junior colleges.

     [From and after July 1, 2022, this section shall read as follows:]

     75-76-129.  On or before the last day of each month, all taxes, fees, interest, penalties, damages, fines or other monies collected by the State Tax Commission during that month under the provisions of this chapter, with the exception of the local government fees imposed under Section 75-76-195, shall be paid by the State Tax Commission to the State Treasurer to be deposited in the State General Fund.  The local government fees shall be distributed by the State Tax Commission pursuant to Section 75-76-197.  All monies deposited into the State General Fund under this section shall be appropriated by the Legislature only for the support of public education in kindergarten through Grade 12, the institutions of higher learning, and the community and junior colleges.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.