MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2007 Regular Session

To: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

By: Senator(s) Carmichael, Mettetal, King, Burton, White

Senate Bill 2240

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 55-3-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE A LIFETIME STATE PARK PASS FOR DISABLED VETERANS AND FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR; TO SET A FEE FOR THE PASS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 55-3-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     55-3-33.  (1)  The * * * department * * * shall * * *:

          (a)  Take charge and have full jurisdiction and control over all state parks, which * * * shall be operated for the purpose of providing outdoor recreational activities and enjoyment for the citizens of the State of Mississippi and for the purpose of attracting visitors to the state.

          (b)  Set up a uniform accounting procedure for the state parks and prescribe the manner in which books, records and accounts shall be kept.  The procedure shall account for all monies taken in and expended by the various parks and shall provide for periodic audits of such books.

          (c)  Accept gifts, bequests of money or other property, real or personal, to be used for the purpose of advancing the recreation and conservation interests in state parks.  The department may, subject to approval by the State Legislature, * * * purchase property, real or personal, to be used for state park purposes.

          (d)  Contract with the Mississippi Transportation Commission, any municipality or board of supervisors of the state for locating, constructing and maintaining roads and other improvements in state parks and for payment of a part of the costs thereof; however, no county or municipality more than twenty-five (25) miles distant from a state park may contract for, or do, or pay for any such work for a state park other than the International Gardens of Mississippi.  Any county or municipality authorized to assist financially under the provisions of Sections 55-3-31 through 55-3-51 is authorized, in the discretion of its respective governing authority, to set aside, appropriate and expend monies from the General Fund for the purpose of defraying such expense after a mandatory election is held on the question within the county or municipality.

          (e)  Designate employees as peace officers with power to make arrests for infraction of the rules and regulations of the department.  Such officers are authorized to carry weapons and to enforce the laws of the State of Mississippi within the confines of a state park.

          (f)  Enforce and delegate the responsibility to enforce all reasonable rules and regulations governing the occupancy and use of lands and waters in state parks under its jurisdiction, supply recreational and conservation facilities and charge fees for the use of same; review all rates and charges for facilities and accommodations furnished at the various state parks annually, making such charges as are justified; and establish fees for entrance to state parks.  Any resident who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rated at fifty percent (50%) or greater or who is a former Prisoner of War may obtain a lifetime pass to all state parks.  The person must show proof of residency in this state and provide a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs verifying the service-connected disability or former Prisoner of War status.  The fee for the lifetime pass shall be Three Dollars and Fifty Cents ($3.50).

     Each park shall retain from revenues generated therein, a sum sufficient to pay necessary expenses of operation, but in no event to be less than seventy-five percent (75%) of such revenues.

     (2)  The department shall have the authority to lease to any entity, sell and convey or otherwise transfer to any county or municipality, or close any state park or historical site within its jurisdiction which received a General Fund subsidy in Fiscal Year 1985 in excess of Two Dollars ($2.00) per visitor to such state park or historical site; provided, however, that this authority shall not include the authority to sell, lease or convey any park that was not in operation under the jurisdiction of the department for a full fiscal year prior to fiscal year 1986.

     (3)  The department may execute agreements with rails-to-trails and recreational districts by which the department will assume responsibility for the operation and maintenance of trails developed under Sections 55-25-1 through 55-25-15.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.