MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2005 Regular Session

To: Public Property; Appropriations

By: Representative Weathersby

House Bill 1081

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 31-11-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ASSIGN ADDITIONAL POWERS AND DUTIES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION RELATING TO STATE AGENCY LEASES, PARKING SPACES AND EASEMENT ACQUISITIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 27-104-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ASSIGN ADDITIONAL POWERS TO THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REVIEW BOARD RELATING TO THE APPROVAL OF STATE AGENCY LEASES; TO AMEND SECTION 29-5-2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION RELATING TO STATE AGENCY PARKING; TO AMEND SECTIONS 7-9-151 AND 7-9-153, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE FROM $200,000.00 TO $250,000.00 THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PREPLANNING FUND WHICH MAY BE EXPENDED; TO AMEND SECTION 31-11-27, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE FROM ONE MILLION TO FIVE MILLION DOLLARS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT COST OF A PROJECT THAT NEED NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION; TO AMEND SECTION 31-11-30, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE FROM ONE MILLION TO FIVE MILLION DOLLARS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF PROJECTS THAT SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO BE PREPLANNED; TO AMEND SECTION 27-104-107, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 31-11-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     31-11-3.  (1)  The Department of Finance and Administration, for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this chapter, in addition to all other rights and powers granted by law, shall have full power and authority to escalate, and compensate architects or other employees necessary for the purpose of making inspections, preparing plans and specifications, supervising the erection of any buildings, and making any repairs or additions as may be determined by the Department of Finance and Administration to be necessary, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board.  The department shall have entire control and supervision of, and determine what, if any, buildings, additions, repairs, demolitions or improvements are to be made under the provisions of this chapter, subject to the regulations adopted by the Public Procurement Review Board.

     (2)  The department shall have full power to erect buildings, make repairs, additions, demolitions or improvements, and buy materials, supplies and equipment for any of the institutions or departments of the state subject to the regulations adopted by the Public Procurement Review Board.  In addition to other powers conferred, the department shall have full power and authority as directed by the Legislature, or when funds have been appropriated for its use for these purposes, to:

          (a)  Build a state office building;

          (b)  Build suitable plants or buildings for the use and housing of any state schools or institutions, including the building of plants or buildings for new state schools or institutions, as provided for by the Legislature;

          (c)  Provide state aid for the construction of school buildings;

          (d)  Promote and develop the training of returned veterans of the United States in all sorts of educational and vocational learning to be supplied by the proper educational institution of the State of Mississippi, and in so doing allocate monies appropriated to it for these purposes to the Governor for use by him in setting up, maintaining and operating an office and employing a state director of on-the-job training for veterans and the personnel necessary in carrying out Public Law No. 346 of the United States;

          (e)  Build and equip a hospital and administration building at the Mississippi State Penitentiary;

          (f)  Build and equip additional buildings and wards at the Boswell Retardation Center;

          (g)  Construct a sewage disposal and treatment plant at the state insane hospital, and in so doing acquire additional land as may be necessary, and to exercise the right of eminent domain in the acquisition of this land;

          (h)  Build and equip the Mississippi central market and purchase or acquire by eminent domain, if necessary, any lands needed for this purpose;

          (i)  Build and equip suitable facilities for a training and employing center for the blind;

          (j)  Build and equip a gymnasium at Columbia Training School;

          (k)  Approve or disapprove the expenditure of any money appropriated by the Legislature when authorized by the bill making the appropriation;

          (l)  Expend monies appropriated to it in paying the state's part of the cost of any street paving;

          (m)  Sell and convey state lands when authorized by the Legislature, cause said lands to be properly surveyed and platted, execute all deeds or other legal instruments, and do any and all other things required to effectively carry out the purpose and intent of the Legislature.  Any transaction which involves state lands under the provisions of this paragraph shall be done in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 29-1-1;

          (n)  Collect and receive from educational institutions of the State of Mississippi monies required to be paid by these institutions to the state in carrying out any veterans' educational programs;

          (o)  Purchase lands for building sites, or as additions to building sites, for the erection of buildings and other facilities which the department is authorized to erect, and demolish and dispose of old buildings, when necessary for the proper construction of new buildings.  Any transaction which involves state lands under the provisions of this paragraph shall be done in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 29-1-1; * * *

          (p)  Obtain business property insurance with a deductible of not less than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) on state-owned buildings under the management and control of the department;

          (q)  Take the following actions, with approval of the Chairmen of the Public Property Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives in the event that waiting for legislative direction and/or appropriation required under this subsection (2) will not be economically advantageous to the state:

              (i)  With approval of the Public Procurement Review Board, enter into, sign, execute and deliver long-term or multiyear leases of real and personal property to and from other state and federal agencies and any governmental entity;

              (ii)  Enter into contracts for the purpose of providing parking spaces for state employees;

              (iii)  Grant easements and rights-of-way; and

              (iv)  Acquire easements and rights-of-way.

     (3)  The department shall survey state-owned and state-utilized buildings to establish an estimate of the costs of architectural alterations, pursuant to the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 USCS, Section 12111 et seq.  The department shall establish priorities for making the identified architectural alterations and shall make known to the Legislative Budget Office and to the Legislature the required cost to effectuate such alterations.  To meet the requirements of this section, the department shall use standards of accessibility that are at least as stringent as any applicable federal requirements and may consider:

          (a)  Federal minimum guidelines and requirements issued by the United States Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board and standards issued by other federal agencies;

          (b)  The criteria contained in the American Standard Specifications for Making Buildings Accessible and Usable by the Physically Handicapped and any amendments thereto as approved by the American Standards Association, Incorporated (ANSI Standards);

          (c)  Design manuals;

          (d)  Applicable federal guidelines;

          (e)  Current literature in the field;

          (f)  Applicable safety standards; and

          (g)  Any applicable environmental impact statements.

     (4)  The department shall observe the provisions of Section 31-5-23, in letting contracts and shall use Mississippi products, including paint, varnish and lacquer which contain as vehicles tung oil and either ester gum or modified resin (with rosin as the principal base of constituents), and turpentine shall be used as a solvent or thinner, where these products are available at a cost not to exceed the cost of products grown, produced, prepared, made or manufactured outside of the State of Mississippi.

     (5)  The department shall have authority to accept grants, loans or donations from the United States government or from any other sources for the purpose of matching funds in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

     (6)  The department shall build a wheelchair ramp at the War Memorial Building which complies with all applicable federal laws, regulations and specifications regarding wheelchair ramps.

     (7)  The department shall review and preapprove all architectural or engineering service contracts entered into by any state agency, institution, commission, board or authority regardless of the source of funding used to defray the costs of the construction or renovation project for which services are to be obtained.  The provisions of this subsection (7) shall not apply to any architectural or engineering contract paid for by self-generated funds of any of the state institutions of higher learning, nor shall they apply to community college projects that are funded from local funds or other nonstate sources which are outside the Department of Finance and Administration's appropriations or as directed by the Legislature.  The provisions of this subsection (7) shall not apply to any construction or design projects of the State Military Department that are funded from federal funds or other nonstate sources.

     (8)  The department shall have the authority to obtain annually from the state institutions of higher learning information on all building, construction and renovation projects including duties, responsibilities and costs of any architect or engineer hired by any such institutions.

     (9)  (a)  As an alternative to other methods of awarding contracts as prescribed by law, the department may use the design-build method or the design-build bridging method of contracting for new capital construction projects to be used as a pilot program for the following projects:

              (i)  Projects for the Mississippi Development Authority pursuant to agreements between both governmental entities;

              (ii)  Any project with an estimated cost of not more than Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00), not to exceed two (2) projects per fiscal year; and

              (iii)  Any project which has an estimated cost of more than Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00), not to exceed one (1) project per fiscal year.

          (b)  As used in this subsection:

              (i)  "Design-build method of contracting" means a contract that combines the design and construction phases of a project into a single contract and the contractor is required to satisfactorily perform, at a minimum, both the design and construction of the project.

              (ii)  "Design-build bridging method of contracting" means a contract that requires design through the design development phase by a professional designer, after which a request for qualifications for design completion and construction is required for the completion of the project from a single contractor that combines the balance of design and construction phases of a project into a single contract.  The contractor is required to satisfactorily perform, at a minimum, both the balance of design and construction of the project.

          (c)  The department shall establish detailed criteria for the selection of the successful design-build/design-build bridging contractor in each request for design-build/design-build bridging proposals.  The request for qualifications evaluation of the selection committee is a public record and shall be maintained for a minimum of three (3) years after project completion.

          (d)  The department shall maintain detailed records on projects separate and apart from its regular record keeping.  The department shall file a report to the Legislature evaluating the design-build/design-build bridging method of contracting by comparing it to the low-bid method of contracting.  At a minimum, the report must include:

              (i)  The management goals and objectives for the design-build/design-build bridging system of management;

              (ii)  A complete description of the components of the design-build/design-build bridging management system, including a description of the system the department put into place on all projects managed under the system to insure that it has the complete information on building segment costs and to insure proper analysis of any proposal the department receives from a contractor;

              (iii)  The accountability systems the department established to monitor any design-build/design-build bridging project's compliance with specific goals and objectives for the project;

              (iv)  The outcome of any project or any interim report on an ongoing project let under a design-build/design-build bridging management system showing compliance with the goals, objectives, policies and procedures the department set for the project; and

              (v)  The method used by the department to select projects to be let under the design-build/design-build bridging system of management and all other systems, policies and procedures that the department considered as necessary components to a design-build/design-build bridging management system.

          (e)  All contracts let under the provisions of this subsection shall be subject to oversight and review by the State Auditor.

     SECTION 2.  Section 27-104-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     27-104-7.  (1)  There is hereby created within the Department of Finance and Administration the Public Procurement Review Board, which shall be composed of the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, the head of the Office of Budget and Policy Development and an employee of the Office of General Services who is familiar with the purchasing laws of this state.  The Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall be chairman and shall preside over the meetings of the board.  The board shall annually elect a vice chairman, who shall serve in the absence of the chairman.  No business shall be transacted, including adoption of rules of procedure, without the presence of a quorum of the board.  Two (2) members shall be a quorum.  No action shall be valid unless approved by the chairman and one (1) other of those members present and voting, entered upon the minutes of the board and signed by the chairman.  The board shall meet on a monthly basis and at any other time when notified by the chairman.  Necessary clerical and administrative support for the board shall be provided by the Department of Finance and Administration.  Minutes shall be kept of the proceedings of each meeting, copies of which shall be filed on a monthly basis with the Legislative Budget Office.

     (2)  The Public Procurement Review Board shall have the following powers and responsibilities:

          (a)  Approve all purchasing regulations governing the purchase or lease by any agency, as defined in Section 31-7-1, of commodities and equipment, except computer equipment acquired pursuant to Sections 25-53-1 through 25-53-29;

          (b)  Adopt regulations governing the approval of contracts let for the construction and maintenance of state buildings and other state facilities;

          (c)  Adopt regulations governing any lease or rental agreement by any state agency or department, including any state agency financed entirely by federal funds, for space outside the buildings under the jurisdiction of the Department of Finance and Administration; * * *

          (d)  Adopt, in its discretion, regulations to set aside at least five percent (5%) of anticipated annual expenditures for the purchase of commodities from minority businesses; however, all such set-aside purchases shall comply with all purchasing regulations promulgated by the department and shall be subject to all bid requirements.  Set-aside purchases for which competitive bids are required shall be made from the lowest and best minority business bidder; however, if no minority bid is available or if the minority bid is more than two percent (2%) higher than the lowest bid, then bids shall be accepted and awarded to the lowest and best bidder.  Provided, however, that the provisions herein shall not be construed to prohibit the rejection of a bid when only one (1) bid is received.  Such rejection shall be placed in the minutes.  For the purposes of this paragraph, the term "minority business" means a business which is owned by a person who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States and who is:

              (i)  Black:  having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

              (ii)  Hispanic:  of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish or Portuguese culture or origin regardless of race.

              (iii)  Asian American:  having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands.

              (iv)  American Indian or Alaskan Native:  having origins in any of the original peoples of North America.

              (v)  Female;

          (e)  Authorize state agencies to enter into long-term or multiyear leases of real property to and from other state and federal agencies or any other governmental entities;

          (f)  Approve leases entered into by state agencies for the purpose of providing parking arrangements; and

          (g)  Authorize state agencies to obtain business personal property insurance on state-owned buildings under the management and control of the Department of Finance and Administration.

     (3)  No member of the Public Procurement Review Board shall use his official authority or influence to coerce, by threat of discharge from employment, or otherwise, the purchase of commodities or the contracting for public construction under this chapter.

     SECTION 3.  Section 29-5-2, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     29-5-2.  The duties of the Department of Finance and Administration shall be as follows:

          (a)  (i)  To exercise general supervision and care over and keep in good condition the following state property located in the City of Jackson:  the New State Capitol Building, the Woolfolk State Office Building, the Carroll Gartin Justice Building, the Walter Sillers Office Building, the War Veterans' Memorial Building, the Charlotte Capers Building, the William F. Winter Archives and History Building, the Ike Sanford Veterans Affairs Building, the Old State Capitol Building, the Governor's Mansion, the Heber Ladner Building, the Burroughs Building, the Robert E. Lee Office Building, the Robert E. Lee Parking Garage, the Manship House Restoration and Visitor Center, the State Records Center, the Robert G. Clark, Jr., Building, and all other properties acquired in the same transaction at the time of the purchase of the Robert E. Lee Hotel property from the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Jackson, Mississippi, which properties are more particularly described in a warranty deed heretofore executed and delivered on April 22, 1969, and filed for record in the office of the Chancery Clerk of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, located in Jackson, Mississippi, on April 25, 1969, at 9:00 a.m., and recorded in Deed Book No. 1822, page 136 et seq., and the Central High Building and 101 Capitol Centre.

              (ii)  To exercise general supervision and care over and keep in good condition the Dr. Eldon Langston Bolton Building located in Biloxi, Mississippi.

              (iii)  To exercise general supervision and care over and keep in good condition the State Service Center, located at the intersection of State Highway 49 and John Merl Tatum Industrial Drive in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

          (b)  To assign suitable office space for the various state departments, officers and employees who are provided with an office in any of the buildings under the jurisdiction or control of the Department of Finance and Administration.  However, the assignment of space in the New Capitol Building shall be designated by duly passed resolution of the combined Senate Rules Committee and the House Management Committee, meeting as a joint committee, approved by the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House of Representatives.  A majority vote of the members of the Senate Rules Committee and a majority vote of the members of the House Management Committee shall be required on all actions taken, resolutions or reports adopted, and all other matters considered by the full combined committee on occasions when the Senate Rules Committee and the House Management Committee shall meet as a full combined committee.

          (c)  To approve or disapprove with the concurrence of the Public Procurement Review Board, any lease or rental agreements by any state agency or department, including any state agency financed entirely by federal and special funds, for space including, but not limited to, parking, outside the buildings under the jurisdiction of the Department of Finance and Administration.  In no event shall any employee, officer, department, federally funded agency or bureau of the state be authorized to enter a lease or rental agreement without prior approval of the Department of Finance and Administration and the Public Procurement Review Board.

     The Department of Finance and Administration is authorized to use architects, engineers, building inspectors and other personnel for the purpose of making inspections as may be deemed necessary in carrying out its duties and maintaining the facilities.

          (d)  To acquire by lease, lease-purchase agreement, or otherwise, as provided in Section 27-104-107, and to assign through the Office of General Services, by lease or sublease agreement from the office, and with the concurrence of the Public Procurement Review Board, to any state agency or department, including any state agency financed entirely by federal and special funds, appropriate office space in the buildings acquired.

     SECTION 4.  Section 7-9-151, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     7-9-151.  There is hereby established in the State Treasury a revolving fund to be designated as the "Capital Improvements Preplanning Fund" which shall consist of monies appropriated or otherwise made available therefor by the Legislature.  Such funds as may be deposited in the revolving fund may be expended by the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management to obtain preliminary studies and plans for projects authorized by the Legislature.  Funds also may be expended, in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) for any project, for the purpose of obtaining preliminary studies and plans, to include appraisals and the purchase of options on real property, for projects the bureau may consider proposing to the Legislature for authorization.  The bureau shall consider architectural and aesthetic compatibility in the preplanning of any project conducted using money from the Capital Improvements Preplanning Fund.

     SECTION 5.  Section 7-9-153, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     7-9-153.  (1)  All expenses for preplanning projects authorized by the Legislature shall be paid upon warrants drawn on the Capital Improvements Preplanning Fund created pursuant to Sections 7-9-151 through 7-9-159.  The Department of Finance and Administration shall issue warrants upon requisitions signed by the Director of the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management.  Such requisitions shall set forth the name of the project and estimated cost of the project, and the total of prior expenditures for such project.  The Department of Finance and Administration shall not issue a warrant against the Capital Improvements Preplanning Fund if the total amount expended for preliminary study and planning on the project exceeds two and one-half percent (2 1/2%) of the estimated cost of such project or appraised price of the proposed property.

     (2)  Expenses for preliminary studies and plans, to include appraisals and the purchase of options on real property, for projects the bureau may consider proposing to the Legislature for authorization shall be paid upon warrants drawn on the Capital Improvements Preplanning Fund created pursuant to Sections 7-9-151 through 7-9-159.  The Department of Finance and Administration shall issue warrants upon requisitions signed by the Director of the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management.  Such requisitions shall set forth the name of the project and estimated cost of the project, and the total of prior expenditures for such project.  The Department of Finance and Administration shall not issue a warrant against the Capital Improvements Preplanning Fund for a project if the total amount expended for preliminary studies and plans, to include appraisals and the purchase of options on real property, for the project exceeds Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00).

     SECTION 6.  Section 31-11-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     31-11-27.  (1)  (a)  The Department of Finance and Administration shall conduct a detailed study of the building and other capital needs at each state institution and at each junior college immediately prior to September first in each year.  This study shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following matters:  (i) an inventory of every state building and other capital facility which is the property of the State of Mississippi; (ii) the location, date of construction or acquisition, the purpose for which used, outstanding indebtedness against such facility, if any, and cost of repairs for the preceding fiscal year; (iii) an examination of the condition of the building or other facility; (iv) an estimate of the cost of repairs required to place the facility in good condition; (v) an estimate of the cost of major renovations, if contemplated; and (vi) a determination of the new building and other facility needs of each institution with such needs classified under immediate or long-range requirements.

          (b)  All state agencies, departments and institutions are hereby authorized and directed to cooperate with the Department of Finance and Administration in carrying out the provisions of this section.

          (c)  The Department of Finance and Administration shall submit a detailed report to the Legislative Budget Office on or before September first of each year.  Such report shall be in such detail and in such form as may be prescribed by the Legislative Budget Office.

          (d)  The architect or building inspector of the Department of Finance and Administration shall make a biennial inspection of the New Capitol, Old Capitol, Woolfolk State Office Building, War Memorial Building, the Governor's Mansion, and all other buildings under jurisdiction of the Department of Finance and Administration for structural or other physical needs or defects of such buildings, and he shall further inquire of the department or its representatives regarding the condition of the buildings.  He shall make a written report of his finding to the Department of Finance and Administration, Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House of Representatives.  The report shall also make recommendations for repairs and list, by number, the priority which should be given to making necessary repairs.

     (2)  (a)  In addition to any report required in subsection (1) of this section, the Department of Finance and Administration shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Legislative Budget Office, the House Public Buildings, Grounds and Lands Committee and the Senate Public Property Committee describing the proposed capital improvements projects for state agencies, departments and institutions for the upcoming five-year period.  The Department of Finance and Administration shall not be required to include in the report any project costing less than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00).  The department shall submit the report before September 1 of each year.  The report shall include at least the following information:

              (i)  A prioritized list of the projects proposed for the five-year period, with each project ranked on the basis of need;

              (ii)  A prioritized list of the projects proposed for the next regular legislative session, with each project ranked on the basis of need;

              (iii)  A prioritized list of the projects requested by each state agency, department or institution;

              (iv)  A detailed explanation of criteria used by the Department of Finance and Administration to rank projects for purposes of any list it prepares under this paragraph (a);

              (v)  A detailed statement of justification for each project;

              (vi)  The approximate cost for each project, including, but not limited to, itemized estimates of costs for preplanning, constructing, furnishing and equipping a project, and costs for property acquisition;

              (vii)  The estimated beginning date and completion date for each project;

              (viii)  Whether a project, as proposed, is a complete project or a phase or part of a project;

              (ix)  How a project will affect the operating budget of the applicable agency, department or institution for the upcoming five-year period, regarding such items as additional personnel requirements, utility costs, maintenance costs, security costs, etc.;

              (x)  The proposed method of financing each project and the effect such financing will have on the state budget, including an estimate of any required debt service for the project, and an estimate of any federal funds or other funds that the agency, department or institution may have access to because of the project; and

              (xi)  A list of the projects requested by each agency, department or institution for the five-year period, with each project ranked by the appropriate agency, department or institution on the basis of need.

          (b)  To enable the Department of Finance and Administration to prepare the report required in this subsection (2), it may require all state agencies, departments and institutions to file a capital improvements projects request with such information and in such form and in such detail as the department may deem necessary and advisable.  Such request shall be filed with the Department of Finance and Administration no later than August 1 of each year.

     SECTION 7.  Section 31-11-30, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     31-11-30.  (1)  Every capital improvements project, costing Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) or more, which is developed to repair, renovate, construct, remodel, add to or improve a state-owned public building shall be funded by the Legislature in two (2) phases.  The two-phase funding requirement shall not apply to capital improvements projects for a state-owned port or where the Legislature finds that an emergency or critical need must be met or a court order complied with.  The two (2) phases shall not be funded in the same regular session of the Legislature.  Each phase shall be funded in a separate session of the Legislature.  Phase 1 shall be a preplanned capital improvements project budget projection for the project and shall be funded first.  Phase 2 shall be the actual repair, renovation, construction, remodeling, addition to or improvement of the state-owned public building and  the acquisition of furniture and equipment for the capital improvements project and shall be funded second.

     (2)  For the purposes of this section, the term "preplanned" or "preplanning" means the preliminary planning that establishes the program, scope, design and budget for a capital improvements project.

     (3)  Every state agency that plans to repair, renovate, construct, remodel, add to or improve a state-owned public building shall submit a preplanned capital improvements project budget projection to the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management for evaluation.  The bureau shall assess the need for all preplanned projects submitted and shall compile a report on its findings.  Any capital improvements project costing less than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) shall not be required to be preplanned.

     (4)  Upon the completion of any preplanning for a capital improvements project, if such preplanning is funded with self-generated funds by a state agency, the plan shall be submitted to the bureau for evaluation.

     (5)  This section shall not apply to capital improvements projects authorized by the Legislature before the 2001 Regular Session of the Legislature.

     SECTION 8.  Section 27-104-107, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     27-104-107.  (1)  As used in this section, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

          (a)  "Department" means the Department of Finance and Administration.

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

          (c)  "Director" means the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration.

          (d)  "Committee" means the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

          (e)  "Office" means the Office of General Services of the Department of Finance and Administration.

     (2)  In addition to any other authority conferred upon it and except as otherwise provided in Section 31-11-3, and subject to the approval of its proposal by the commission, the department may enter into purchase contracts, lease-purchase agreements, rental agreements or other similar contracts for the ultimate acquisition of real property by the state.  Before entering into any purchase contract or lease-purchase agreement, the office must first demonstrate to the Public Procurement Review Board satisfactory evidence that the contract would be economically advantageous to the state and that any consolidation of agencies into buildings at a common location would not impair or impede the function of that agency in this location.  The contracts shall be approved by the Public Procurement Review Board and the State Bond Commission.

     (3)  Acquisitions shall be made only with legislative approval and be in accordance with a long-range development plan which the department shall annually prepare and present to the Legislature as a part of the Governor's capitol budget recommendation; however, if in the opinion of the Department of Finance and Administration circumstances involving a proposed acquisition are such that waiting for legislative approval will not be economically advantageous to the state or may cause the state financial loss, then such acquisition may be made upon approval by the State Bond Commission after consultation with the Chairmen of the Public Property Committees of the Senate and the * * * House of Representatives.  Acquisition of lands and buildings shall be based upon appraisals approved by the Department of Finance and Administration.  The office shall not pay an amount in excess of the appraised value of the land and buildings to be acquired.  The appraised value shall be determined by taking the average of two (2) appraisals performed by two (2) appraisers, one (1) to be selected by the Department of Finance and Administration and one (1) to be selected by the Department of Audit.  Further, the office shall file quarterly reports describing this process and its progress with the Chairmen of the House and Senate Public Property Committees * * *.

     (4)  With the exception of the Public Employees' Retirement System, whenever any contract or agreement entered into is for and on behalf of the State of Mississippi, title to property, when acquired, shall vest in the State of Mississippi and not in the name of any state agency.  Any building subject to a lease purchase agreement with the state shall be considered a state-owned building and therefore exempt from the assessment and levy of ad valorem taxes.

     (5)  All contracts executed under this section shall include provisions whereby the obligation of the state for any payment in excess of reasonable rental of the property while actually occupying the property is dependent upon the availability of appropriated funds for the purchase of the property.

     (6)  Activity under this section shall be reported annually in a detailed resolution from the commission to the committee.

     (7)  All funds allocated to rents and chargeable by the department shall be paid into a special fund hereby created in the State Treasury.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the special fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned on amounts in the special fund shall be deposited to the credit of the special fund.  This fund shall be used by the department (a) to retire indebtedness incurred in the acquisition of properties under this section; (b) to renovate, maintain and otherwise protect subject properties; (c) to pay the cost of utilities necessary to operate the buildings; and (d) to acquire properties in accordance with this section.

     SECTION 9.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.