MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2007 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services; Appropriations
By: Representative Straughter, Espy
AN ACT TO CREATE THE RURAL MISSISSIPPI MOSQUITO ABATEMENT ACT; TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES FOR MOSQUITO ABATEMENT; TO CREATE THE RURAL MISSISSIPPI MOSQUITO ABATEMENT FUND AND PROVIDE FOR ITS ADMINISTRATION; TO REQUIRE AN APPROPRIATION TO THE FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is established the Rural Mississippi Mosquito Abatement Act. The purpose of this fund is to provide grants to towns and municipalities with populations of less than twenty thousand (20,000) to establish a comprehensive mosquito abatement program. Monies from this fund shall be administered by the Mississippi Department of Health.
(2) Any eligible town or municipality may submit an application for assistance in mosquito abatement, to the Department of Health. The application must include a description of the purpose for which assistance is requested, the amount of assistance requested and any other information required by the Department of Health. Grant applications may request equipment and/or funds to establish a local abatement program. Grants awarded of up to Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) may be awarded under this section.
(3) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the "Rural Mississippi Mosquito Abatement Fund," which shall consist of funds appropriated or otherwise made available by the Legislature in any manner and funds from any other source designated for deposit into such fund.
Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any investment earnings or interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund. Monies in the fund shall be distributed to eligible towns by the Department of Health for the purposes described in this section.
(4) During the 2007 regular legislative session the Legislature shall appropriate Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) to the Rural Mississippi Mosquito Abatement Fund.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.