MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2004 Regular Session

To: Finance

By: Senator(s) Robertson

Senate Bill 3178

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, STATE AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES; TO AUTHORIZE PREPLANNING OF CERTAIN FACILITIES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE AYERS SETTLEMENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND; TO AMEND SECTIONS 1 THROUGH 24, CHAPTER 522, LAWS OF 2003, TO REVISE THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS ISSUED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER; TO AMEND SECTIONS 1 THROUGH 20, CHAPTER 583, LAWS OF 2000, AS AMENDED; TO REVISE THE USE OF PROCEEDS OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS ISSUED FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVEMENTS AT ALCORN 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 21 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.

SECTION 2. (1) (a) A special fund, to be designated as the "2004 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................. $ 45,300,000.00

Alcorn State University......................... $ 4,000,000.00

Design of a new dining

facility .................... $ 600,000.00

Upgrade of water supply,

repair and renovation of

campus buildings and

facilities, repair,

renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure and purchase

of furniture and equipment .. $ 3,400,000.00

Delta State University.......................... $ 3,000,000.00

Repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities, repair,

renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure and purchase

of furniture and equipment .. $ 3,000,000.00

Jackson State University........................ $ 5,000,000.00

Continuation of Phase II

of the Lynch

Street Corridor

Project to include

utilities, landscaping,

irrigation and plaza

removal ..................... $ 2,000,000.00

Land acquisition, site improvements

and repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities, repair,

renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure and purchase

of furniture and

equipment ................... $ 3,000,000.00

Mississippi University for Women................ $ 2,400,000.00

Design of repair and renovation

of Poindexter Hall .......... $ 400,000.00

Furnishing and equipping of

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

Repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities,

repair, renovation,

replacement and improvement

of campus infrastructure

and purchase of furniture

and equipment ............... $ 1,000,000.00

Mississippi State University.................... $ 5,000,000.00

Phase II of repair and renovation

and furnishing and equipping

of Colvard Student Union .... $ 4,000,000.00

Repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities, repair,

renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure and purchase

of furniture and

equipment ................... $ 1,000,000.00

Mississippi State University/Division of Agriculture,

Forestry and Veterinary Medicine.............. $ 4,750,000.00

Phase II construction and furnishing

and equipping of

a new building for the

Department of

Agricultural and

Biological Engineering ...... $ 4,750,000.00

Mississippi Valley State University............. $ 5,000,000.00

Phase I of construction,

furnishing and equipping a

wellness center ............. $ 4,000,000.00

Repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities, repair,

renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure and purchase

of furniture and equipment .. $ 1,000,000.00

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

Repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities,

repair, renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure and purchase of

furniture and equipment ..... $ 5,000,000.00

University Medical Center....................... $ 2,000,000.00

Repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities,

repair, renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure and purchase of

furniture and equipment ..... $ 2,000,000.00

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

Repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities, repair,

renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure and purchase

of furniture, equipment

and property ................ $ 2,000,000.00

Construction of the National

Center for Excellence in

Economic Development -

Trent Lott Center ........... $ 3,000,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi/

Gulf Park Campus............................... $ 400,000.00

Repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities,

repair, renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure and purchase

of furniture and equipment .. $ 400,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi/

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

Repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities, repair,

renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure and purchase

of furniture and equipment .. $ 250,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi/

Stennis Space Center.......................... $ 2,000,000.00

Phase I of design, construction,

furnishing and equipping of a

hydrographics laboratory

center ...................... $ 2,000,000.00

Board of Trustees of State Institutions of

Higher Learning............................... $ 1,500,000.00

Preparation of master plans for

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

STATE AGENCIES.................................. $ 49,546,000.00

Department of Agriculture and Commerce.......... $ 2,000,000.00

Repair, renovation, demolition,

improvement and upgrade of

facilities and infrastructure,

and completion of the relocation

of the Mississippi Farmers

Central Market to the State

Fairgrounds ................. $ 2,000,000.00

Department of Finance and Administration........ $ 14,800,000.00

Construction of a parking facility

and cafeteria adjacent to

the Sillers Building ...... $14,300,000.00

Land acquisition in the vicinity

of the Capitol Complex ...... $ 500,000.00

Department of Environmental Quality............. $ 1,000,000.00

Planning, acquisition of property

and site preparation for

a facility for the

department .................. $ 1,000,000.00

Department of Corrections....................... $ 775,000.00

Repair and renovation of existing

facilities and furnishing

and equipping of

facilities .................. $ 775,000.00

Mississippi State Tax Commission................ $ 4,500,000.00

Phase I of a project to

relocate the commission

to a central facility,

including property acquisition,

study of space needs,

preplanning and construction,

furnishing and equipping

of the facility ............. $ 4,500,000.00

Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks...... $ 2,000,000.00

Construction of new facilities,

repair and renovation of

existing facilities and

furnishing and equipping

of facilities ............... $ 2,000,000.00

Department of Mental Health..................... $ 2,000,000.00

General repair and renovation

and furnishing and equipping

of existing facilities ...... $ 2,000,000.00

Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and Blind...... $ 1,859,000.00

General repair and renovation

of Dormitory A; Phase II of

renovation of Swing Building

to provide video and audio

equipment; Phase III of

renovations to the School for

the Deaf, including lockers,

furniture, equipment and

signage; and renovation and

expansion of the

student center .............. $ 1,859,000.00

Department of Archives and History.............. $ 4,800,000.00

Design, renovation and repair and

furnishing and equipping of

the Capers Building and site

improvements at the Capers

Building .................... $ 4,800,000.00

Department of Information and

Technology Services........................... $ 2,000,000.00

Phase II of installation of

communications infrastructure

and related equipment at the

Capitol Complex, the Education

and Research Center campus

and other state buildings

and connections between such

locations ................... $ 2,000,000.00

Department of Human Services.................... $ 8,500,000.00

Design, construction, furnishing

and equipping of an academic,

administration, cafeteria and

counseling center building at

the Columbia Training

School ...................... $ 5,500,000.00

General repairs and renovations,

furnishing and equipping of

facilities and site work at

the Columbia Training School

and the Oakley Training

School ...................... $ 3,000,000.00

Mississippi Industries for the Blind............ $ 2,000,000.00

Phase I of a complete reuse plan

and construction, furnishing

and equipping of the Mississippi

Industries for the Blind Facility

and State Records Center at

the old Farmers' Market

location in Jackson ......... $ 2,000,000.00

Stennis Space Center............................ $ 3,312,000.00

Renovation and upgrades of

systems at the Lockheed Martin

Laboratory to make the facility

functional for its intended

purpose and reimbursements

to user of the facility for

upgrades to the

facility that were paid

for by the user ............. $ 3,312,000.00

TOTAL........................................... $ 94,864,000.00

(2) (a) 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 21 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 21 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

(b) Monies in the special fund may be used to reimburse reasonable, actual and necessary costs incurred by the Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, in administering or providing assistance directly related to a project described in subsection (1) of this section. Reimbursement may be made only until such time as the project is completed. An accounting of actual costs incurred for which reimbursement is sought shall be maintained for each project by the Department of Finance and Administration, Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management. Reimbursement of reasonable, actual and necessary costs for a project shall not exceed three percent (3%) of the proceeds of bonds issued for such project. Monies authorized for a particular project may not be used to reimburse administrative costs for unrelated projects.

(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.

SECTION 3. (1) (a) A special fund, to be designated as the "2004 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.................................... $ 1,449,346.00

Copiah-Lincoln.............................. 1,716,168.00

East Central................................ 1,573,406.00

East Mississippi............................ 1,845,674.00

Hinds....................................... 3,186,535.00

Holmes...................................... 1,858,213.00

Itawamba.................................... 2,022,271.00

Jones....................................... 2,287,893.00

Meridian.................................... 1,802,054.00

Mississippi Delta........................... 1,814,919.00

Mississippi Gulf Coast...................... 3,037,883.00

Northeast Mississippi....................... 1,806,952.00

Northwest Mississippi....................... 2,349,687.00

Pearl River................................. 1,795,036.00

Southwest Mississippi....................... 1,453,963.00

GRAND TOTAL................................. $30,000,000.00

(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 21 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 21 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

SECTION 4. (1) (a) A special fund, to be designated as the "2004 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.

(4) It is the intent of the Legislature that not less than ten percent (10%) of the amounts authorized to be expended in this section shall be expended with small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The term "socially and economically disadvantaged individuals" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term under Section 8(d) of the Small Business Act (15 USCS, Section 637(d)) and relevant subcontracting regulations promulgated pursuant thereto; except that women shall be presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged individuals for the purposes of this subsection.

SECTION 5. (1) (a) A special fund, to be designated as the "2004 Bureau of Buildings Discretionary 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 be disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration, to pay the costs of:

(i) Correction of structural, environmental and weatherization problems, required site protection, repair of finishes, completion of furnishing and equipping of the Mississippi Valley State University Administration Building and the Greenville Higher Education Center and temporary relocation of occupants of such buildings; and

(ii) General weatherization, demolition and roofing, environmental, mechanical, electrical and structural repairs required for state-owned facilities, and repair and renovation of state-owned facilities necessary for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

(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 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 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. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7 of this act, the total amount of bonds issued under Sections 1 through 21 of this act shall not exceed One Hundred Thirty-eight Million Eight Hundred Forty-six Thousand Dollars ($138,846,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this section after July 1, 2007.

(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 2004 IHL Capital and State Agencies Improvements Fund created pursuant to Section 2 of this

act............................................ $ 94,846,000.00.

(b) The 2004 Community and Junior College Capital Improvements Fund created pursuant to Section 3 of this

act............................................ $ 30,000,000.00.

(c) The 2004 Bureau of Buildings Discretionary Fund created pursuant to Section 5 of this act................... ....$ 14,000,000.00.

(3) Any investment earnings on amounts deposited into the special funds created in Sections 2, 3 and 5 of this act shall be used to pay debt service on bonds issued under Sections 1 through 21 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing issuance of such bonds.

SECTION 7. (1) The United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi having approved the Settlement Agreement in the case of Ayers v. Musgrove and on notification that such agreement has become final and effective according to its terms, including, but not limited to, the exhaustion of all rights to appeal, the commission, at one time, or from time to time, shall 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 Section 4 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 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 pursuant to this section shall not exceed Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00).

(2) The proceeds of the bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the special fund created in Section 4 of this act. Any investment earnings on amount deposited into the special fund created in Section 4 of this act shall be used to pay debt service on bonds issued under Sections 1 through 21 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds.

SECTION 8. The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 21 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 9. The bonds authorized by Sections 1 through 21 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 10. All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 21 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 21 of this act, the commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

SECTION 11. The commission shall act as the issuing agent for the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 21 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 21 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 21 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 12. The bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 21 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 13. Upon the issuance and sale of bonds under the provisions of Sections 1 through 21 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 Sections 6(2) and 7 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 14. The bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 21 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 21 of this act. Any resolution providing for the issuance of bonds under the provisions of Sections 1 through 21 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 15. The bonds authorized under the authority of Sections 1 through 21 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 16. Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 21 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 21 of this act, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by Sections 1 through 21 of this act to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.

SECTION 17. All bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 21 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 18. Bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 21 of this act and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.

SECTION 19. The proceeds of the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 21 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 20. 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 21 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 21. Sections 1 through 21 of this act shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers herein granted, but Sections 1 through 21 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 24, Chapter 522, Laws of 2003, are amended as follows:

Section 1. As used in Sections 1 through 24 of this act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

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

Section 2. (1) (a) A special fund to be designated as the "2003 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, with the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning on those projects related to the universities under its management and control, 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................. $ 63,760,000.00

Alcorn State University......................... $ 2,500,000.00

Complete renovation of the baseball

field, to include dugouts, bleachers,

concession stands, backstops

and fencing ................ $ 500,000.00

Repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities and repair,

renovation, replacement and improvement

of campus infrastructure ... $ 2,000,000.00

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

Repair, renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure, including

repairs and renovations of

the Chadwick-Dickson

Building ................... $ 3,000,000.00

Repair, renovation and

restoration of the

Cutrer House at the

Clarksdale Center and

repair, renovation and

restoration of the Coahoma

Community College - Delta

State University Education

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

Purchase of two (2)

airplanes and three (3)

flight simulators for the

Gibson-Gunn Aviation

School ..................... $ 700,000.00

Jackson State University........................ $ 6,400,000.00

Acquisition of land adjacent

to campus in the surrounding

neighborhood ............... $ 500,000.00

Parking construction, paving and

repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities ... $ 1,500,000.00

Acquisition and installation

of any equipment necessary

in establishing and maintaining

a digital transmission system

for TV23 ................... $ 1,000,000.00

Construction of a new

baseball stadium and field

and related facilities ..... $ 1,500,000.00

Work necessary to correct

drainage problems on the

west side of the campus .... $ 400,000.00

Phase II of construction of

the Lynch Street Corridor

Project, including landscaping

and irrigation for the

project .................... $ 1,500,000.00

Mississippi University for Women................ $ 4,500,000.00

Repair and renovation of

Martin Hall for

purpose of housing the

School of Nursing .......... $ 4,500,000.00

Mississippi State University.................... $ 8,960,000.00

Phase I of repair and renovation

of Colvard Student

Union ...................... $ 8,000,000.00

Expansion of the North

Mississippi Research

and Extension Center ....... $ 960,000.00

Mississippi State University/Division of Agriculture,

Forestry and Veterinary Medicine.............. $ 4,750,000.00

Phase I construction of

a new building for the

Department of

Agricultural and

Biological Engineering ..... $ 4,750,000.00

Mississippi Valley State University............. $ 5,000,000.00

Repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities and

repair, renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure ............. $ 4,000,000.00

Design through construction

documents and Phase I of

construction of a wellness

center ..................... $ 1,000,000.00

University of Mississippi....................... $ 9,000,000.00

Renovation of Farley Hall ..... $ 5,000,000.00

Final phase of renovation

of Bryant Hall ............. $ 2,500,000.00

Final phase of relocation

of the Physical Plant ...... $ 1,000,000.00

Repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities and

repair, renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure ............. $ 500,000.00

University Medical Center....................... $ 4,000,000.00

To aid in the purchase or,

to construct, furnish and

equip a clinical/teaching

facility as determined by

the Vice Chancellor for

Health Affairs for the

University Medical Center

to be in the best interest of

the University Medical Center

and approved by the Board

of Trustees of State

Institutions of

Higher Learning ............ $ 4,000,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi.............. $ 8,000,000.00

Repair and renovation of the

Reed Green Multipurpose

Facility ................... $ 3,000,000.00

Completion of construction

of the Polymer Institute

Product Process Unit/Building

to house donated equipment

from industry .............. $ 2,000,000.00

Repair and renovation of

campus buildings, facilities

and infrastructure ......... $ 3,000,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi/

Gulf Coast Campus............................. $ 2,000,000.00

Design through construction

documents and Phase I of

construction of a

nursing/allied health/science

laboratory facility ........ $ 2,000,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi/

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory................ $ 750,000.00

Repair and renovation of campus

buildings and facilities and

repair, renovation, replacement

and improvement of campus

infrastructure ............. $ 750,000.00

University of Southern Mississippi/

Stennis Space Center.......................... $ 1,000,000.00

Completion of expansion,

furnishing and equipping

of the High Performance

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

Education and Research Center................... $ 700,000.00

Repair and renovation of

buildings, facilities

and infrastructure ......... $ 700,000.00

STATE AGENCIES.................................. $ 55,434,000.00

Department of Human Services.................... $ 2,000,000.00

Renovation of cottages

and construction of a visitors

center and staff housing at

Columbia and Oakley

Training Schools ........... $ 2,000,000.00

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

Construction of a vehicle

maintenance facility ....... $ 1,000,000.00

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

Repair, renovation, replacement,

demolition, improvement and

upgrade of facilities and

infrastructure at the State

Fairgrounds and construction

of facilities necessary to relocate

the retail portion of the

Mississippi Farmers Central Market

to the State Fairgrounds ... $ 4,000,000.00

Department of Education......................... $ 2,984,000.00

Renovation, furnishing and

equipping of Dobyns Hall

at the Mississippi Schools

for the Blind and Deaf ..... $ 1,984,000.00

Equipping, furnishing and other

start-up costs for the

Mississippi School for the

Arts, including,

but not limited to, computer

equipment; visual art, music

and theater supplies; cafeteria

equipment and supplies;

textbooks; classroom supplies;

infirmary and residential

life supplies ............ $ 1,000,000.00

Department of Mental Health..................... $ 6,200,000.00

Completion of construction

of mental health crisis

intervention centers first

authorized by Chapter 463,

Laws of 1999 ............... $ 2,400,000.00

Construction of a

maintenance/warehouse

building at the Mississippi

State Hospital ............. $ 1,400,000.00

Completion of furnishing and

equipping of nursing

home facilities at

the East Mississippi

State Hospital ............. $ 1,000,000.00

Construction, furnishing and

equipping of two (2)

intermediate care facilities

for the mentally retarded

(community group homes) .... $ 1,400,000.00

Department of Finance and Administration........ $ 19,500,000.00

Completion of construction, equipping

and furnishing of a justice

facility to accommodate the

Supreme Court, Court of Appeals

and State Law Library ...... $16,000,000.00

Acquisition of real property

and improvements located

thereon in the vicinity of the

New Capitol for use as

part of the Capitol

Complex .................... $ 1,000,000.00

To continue an ongoing program for

repair and renovation of state-owned

facilities necessary for

compliance with the Americans

with Disabilities Act ...... $ 1,000,000.00

To continue an ongoing program for

repair and renovation of state

institutions of higher learning

necessary for compliance with

the Americans with Disabilities

Act ........................ $ 1,000,000.00

Development of requirements

and Phase I of the

implementation of a

construction and property

management information

system .................. $ 500,000.00

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks..... $ 750,000.00

Construction, furnishing and

equipping of two (2) duplex

cabins at Trace State Park

and utility connections,

road extensions and

parking areas for

such cabins ............... $ 325,000.00

Construction, furnishing and

equipping of two (2) duplex

cabins at Lake Lowndes State

Park and utility connections,

road extensions and parking

areas for such cabins ..... $ 325,000.00

A proposed plan which the Department

of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

shall provide not later than

December 1, 2003, for an eighty-

to one-hundred-fifty-acre general

purpose lake located in, adjacent

to or in close proximity to the

Tuscumbia Wildlife Management

Area located in Alcorn County,

Mississippi. This plan shall

consist of an exact location

for the proposed lake with

detailed property descriptions,

preliminary plans and specifications

for the lake and shall be made

available not later than December 1,

2003 ...................... $ 100,000.00

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

Repair, renovation of equipment

storage facilities and

asbestos removal .......... $ 500,000.00

Construction of facilities

to produce containerized

seedlings ................. $ 500,000.00

State Veterans Affairs Board.................... $ 900,000.00

Repair and renovation of the

state veterans homes ...... $ 900,000.00

Mississippi Library Commission.................. $ 3,500,000.00

Furnishing and equipping

of the new Mississippi

Library Commission

Building and moving/relocation

expenses and other necessary

expenses associated with

such facility ............. $ 3,000,000.00

Acquiring and implementing a

statewide, technology

standards-compliant

interlibrary loan/booksharing

system .................... $ 500,000.00

Mississippi National Guard...................... $ 1,900,000.00

Provide matching funds to the

National Guard for construction

of an armory in Kosciusko,

Mississippi ............... $ 1,400,000.00

Provide matching funds to the

National Guard for armory

maintenance and repair

projects .................. $ 500,000.00

Department of Archives and History.............. $ 1,500,000.00

Finalization of architectural and

exhibit design through

construction documents and

limited site preparation/

improvement for the new

State Historical Museum

authorized by Chapter 560,

Laws of 1998 .............. $ 1,500,000.00

Department of Information Technology Services... $ 1,900,000.00

Phase I of installation of

communications infrastructure

and related equipment at the

Capitol Complex, the Education

and Research Center Campus

and other state buildings

and connections between such

locations ................. $ 1,900,000.00

Mississippi Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.... $ 6,000,000.00

Phase II of construction,

furnishing and equipping of the

Mississippi Veterinary Diagnostic

Laboratory in Jackson ..... $ 6,000,000.00

State Fire Academy.............................. $ 2,300,000.00

Construction, equipping and

furnishing a new burn building

with gas fire simulators

and other related

facilities at State Fire Academy

in Rankin County .......... $ 2,300,000.00

TOTAL........................................... $119,194,000.00

(2) (a) 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 24 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 24 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

(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 or previously authorized capital projects 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) Continuation of preplanning of Phase I of repair and renovation or construction of dining facilities at Alcorn State University;

(b) Construction of a new men's dormitory at Alcorn State University;

(d) Renovation of Poindexter Hall at the Mississippi University for Women; and

(e) Relocation of State Records Center.

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

(6) The use of monies allocated to Delta State University under subsection (1) of this section for use at the Coahoma Community College - Delta State University Education Center shall be conditioned upon Coahoma County, Mississippi, providing matching funds in an amount not less than the monies allocated to such center under subsection (1) of this section.

Section 3. (1) (a) A special fund to be designated as the "2003 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 24 of this act.

Coahoma..................................... $ 578,799.00

Copiah-Lincoln.............................. 683,117.00

East Central................................ 614,715.00

East Mississippi............................ 709,527.00

Hinds....................................... 1,341,127.00

Holmes...................................... 738,315.00

Itawamba.................................... 776,873.00

Jones....................................... 930,845.00

Meridian.................................... 710,056.00

Mississippi Delta........................... 747,822.00

Mississippi Gulf Coast...................... 1,185,439.00

Northeast Mississippi....................... 742,672.00

Northwest Mississippi....................... 949,992.00

Pearl River................................. 716,262.00

Southwest Mississippi....................... 574,439.00

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 24 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) 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 24 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

Section 4. (1) (a) A special fund to be designated as the "2003 Mississippi State-Owned Buildings and IHL 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 repair and renovation of state institutions of higher learning, including having environmental studies or other studies performed for the purpose of determining, assessing and/or correcting problems regarding black mold and other hazardous substances; however, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) shall be disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration to pay the cost of repairs and renovations at the Mississippi School for the Deaf and the Mississippi School for the Blind.

(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 24 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 24 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

Section 5. (1) (a) A special fund to be designated as the "2003 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.

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

Section 6. (1) (a) A special fund to be designated as the "2003 Mississippi EDNET 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 be disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration to the Mississippi EDNET Institute, to pay the costs of engineering, procuring and installing equipment and facilities consisting of digital microwave interconnect and support equipment, digital video encoding and decoding equipment, digital ITFS transmission equipment, antennas and transmission lines and/or any equipment useful in establishing or maintaining a digital or analog transmission or origination system in order to complete the existing but incomplete EDNET ITFS statewide network.

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

(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 to the Mississippi EDNET Institute 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 "2003 Chalmers Institute 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 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 be disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration, to pay the costs of repairs and renovations of the Chalmers Institute in Holly Springs, Mississippi.

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

Section 8. (1) (a) A special fund to be designated as the "2003 Hillcrest Cemetery Repair 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 be disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration to the City of Holly Springs, Mississippi, to pay the costs of repairs to the historical portion of the Hillcrest Cemetery.

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

(3) Such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer to the City of Holly Springs, Mississippi, upon warrants issued by the Department of Finance and Administration, 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, 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. Except as otherwise provided in Section 10 of this act, the total amount of bonds issued under Sections 1 through 24 of this act shall not exceed One Hundred Thirty-nine Million Four Hundred Eighty-four Thousand Dollars ($139,484,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this section after July 1, 2006.

(2) The proceeds of the bonds issued pursuant to Sections 1 through 24 of this act shall be deposited into the following special funds in not more than the following amounts:

(a) The 2003 IHL Capital and State Agencies Improvements Fund created pursuant to Section 2 of this

act............................................ $119,194,000.00.

(b) The 2003 Community and Junior College Capital Improvements Fund created pursuant to Section 3 of this

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

of this act.................................... $ 3,000,000.00.

(d) The 2003 Mississippi EDNET Fund created pursuant to

Section 6 of this act.......................... $ 900,000.00.

(e) The 2003 Chalmers Institute Repair and Renovation

Fund created pursuant to Section 7 of this act. $ 90,000.00.

(f) The 2003 Hillcrest Cemetery Fund created pursuant

to Section 8 of this act....................... $ 300,000.00.

(g) The Rural Fire Truck Fund created pursuant to Section 17-23-1 for the rural fire truck acquisition assistance

program........................................ $ 4,000,000.00.

(3) Any investment earnings on amounts deposited into the special funds created in Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 of this act shall be used to pay debt service on bonds issued under Sections 1 through 24 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing issuance of such bonds.

Section 10. (1) The United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi having approved the Settlement Agreement in the case of Ayers v. Musgrove and on notification that such agreement has become final and effective according to its terms, including, but not limited to, the exhaustion of all rights to appeal, the commission, at one time, or from time to time, shall 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 describe in Section 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 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 pursuant to this section shall not exceed Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00).

(2) The proceeds of the bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the special fund created in Section 6 of this act. Any investment earnings on amount deposited into the special fund created in Section 5 of this act shall be used to pay debt service on bonds issued under Sections 1 through 24 of this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds.

Section 11. The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 24 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 12. The bonds authorized by Sections 1 through 24 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 13. All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 24 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 24 of this act, the commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

Section 14. The commission shall act as the issuing agent for the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 24 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 24 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.

The commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of Sections 1 through 24 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 15. The bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 24 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 16. Upon the issuance and sale of bonds under the provisions of Sections 1 through 24 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 amounts provided for in Sections 9(2) and 10 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 17. The bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 24 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 24 of this act. Any resolution providing for the issuance of bonds under the provisions of Sections 1 through 24 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 18. The bonds authorized under the authority of Sections 1 through 24 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 19. Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 24 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 24 of this act, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by Sections 1 through 24 of this act to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.

Section 20. All bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 24 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 21. Bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 24 of this act and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.

Section 22. The proceeds of the bonds issued under Sections 1 through 24 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 23. 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 24 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 24. Sections 1 through 24 of this act shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers herein granted, but this act shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state.

SECTION 23. Sections 1 through 20, Chapter 583, Laws of 2000, as amended by Chapter 550, Laws of 2002, as amended by Chapter 522, Laws of 2003, 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:

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

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,with the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning on those projects related to the universities under its management and control, 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, furnishing 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.

(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.

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.

(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.

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.

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.

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.

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