MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Yancey
AN ACT TO LIMIT THE POWERS OF THE PEARL RIVER VALLEY WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT TO THE BASIC PURPOSES FOR WHICH IT WAS CREATED: TO PRESERVE, STORE, CONSERVE AND CONTROL WATERS OF THE PEARL RIVER FOR DOMESTIC MUNICIPAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AGRICULTURAL AND MANUFACTURING PURPOSES; TO AMEND SECTION 51-9-107, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT TWO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PEARL RIVER VALLEY WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT SHALL BE ELECTED BY EACH MEMBER COUNTY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DISTRICT SHALL CONTINUE TO MANAGE THE RESERVOIR DAM; TO ABOLISH THE RESERVOIR PATROL OFFICER AND TRANSFER EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL TO THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE WATERS LYING IN THE DISTRICT; TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL LEASEHOLDERS IN PEARL RIVER VALLEY WATER DISTRICT WITH AN OPTION TO PURCHASED PROPERTY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSFER OF LANDS BELONGING TO THE DISTRICT TO THE COUNTIES IN WHICH THE LAND LIES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COUNTIES SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THOSE LANDS; TO AMEND SECTION 51-9-155, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF EACH COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY THAT IS A PART OF THE DISTRICT MAY ADOPT, ENACT AND ENFORCE ANY ZONING ORDINANCE OR REGULATION WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 51-9-171 THROUGH 51-9-185, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZED THE PEARL RIVER VALLEY WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT TO EMPLOY RESERVOIR PATROL OFFICERS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 63-9-31, 63-11-5 AND 53-11-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE REFERENCES TO RESERVOIR PATROL OFFICERS; TO REPEAL SECTION 51-9-125, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE DISTRICT TO ESTABLISH PUBLIC PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 27-31-33, 27-31-34, 27-33-17 AND 27-33-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The powers of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District are restricted to the basic purposes for which it was created: to preserve, store, conserve and control waters of the Pearl River for domestic municipal, commercial, industrial, agricultural and manufacturing purposes.
(2) The district shall continue to maintain the dam and spillway, dredge canals, remove debris and unwanted flora, and provide water to the City of Jackson, Nissan and other commercial entities.
(3) Any transfers or appropriations of Special Fund No. 8970 and any other funds belonging to the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District shall be commensurate with the number of positions and direct resources required for an agency to perform the duties transferred from the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District.
SECTION 2. Section 51-9-107, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
51-9-107. All powers of the district shall be exercised by a board of directors, to be composed of the following:
(a) Until January 1, 2012, each member of the Pearl River Industrial Commission whose county becomes a part of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District shall be a member of the Board of Directors of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District. Such directors shall serve on this board during their term of office on the Pearl River Industrial Commission. In addition, the board of supervisors of each county which becomes a part of the district shall appoint one (1) additional member. The term of the members appointed under this paragraph shall terminate on January 1, 2012. This paragraph shall repeal on January 2, 2012.
(b) From and after January 1, 2012, the board shall be reconstituted and shall be composed as provided in this paragraph. Each county that is a part of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District shall elect two (2) members to the board of directors of the district. The members shall be elected at the general election to be held in 2011. The term of the elected members shall be four (4) years. The members must be residents of the county.
(c) The Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality, the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, the State Forestry Commission and the State Board of Health each shall * * * appoint one (1) director from that department to serve on the district's board, to serve at the pleasure of the respective commission appointing him.
(d) Each director shall take and subscribe to the oath of office required by Section 268 of the Constitution of the State of Mississippi before a chancery clerk, that he will faithfully discharge the duties of the office, which oath shall be filed with the said clerk and by him preserved.
(e) Each director shall receive per diem compensation in the amount as provided in Section 25-3-69 for attending each meeting of the board and for each day spent in attending to the necessary business of the district and shall be reimbursed for actual expenses thus incurred upon express authorization of the board, including travel expenses, as provided in Section 25-3-41.
(f) The board of directors shall annually elect from its number a president and a vice president of the district, and such other officers as in the judgment of the board are necessary. The president shall be the chief executive officer of the district and the presiding officer of the board, and shall have the same right to vote as any other director. The vice president shall perform all duties and exercise all powers conferred by this article upon the president when the president is absent or fails or declines to act, except the president's right to vote. The board shall also appoint a secretary and a treasurer who may or may not be members of the board, and it may combine those offices. The treasurer shall give bond in the sum of not less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) as set by the board of directors and each director shall give bond in the sum of not less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), and the premiums on said bonds shall be an expense of the district. The condition of each such bond shall be that the treasurer or director will faithfully perform all duties of office and account for all money which shall come into his custody as treasurer or director of the district.
SECTION 3. (1) Until June 30, 2011, a residential leaseholder may compute the remaining lease payments of his residential property currently under lease from the district within the district. After the retirement of bonds issued under Sections 51-9-133 and 51-9-145 of this article each residential leaseholder shall have the option to purchase the property currently under lease for the total amount of all remaining lease payments less eight percent (8%). The costs of determining such purchase price of the property shall be borne by the residential leaseholder. Upon payment of the purchase price the district shall present a deed giving such residential leaseholder, exercising the option provided herein, title to the property that was previously under a lease from the district. The proceeds from the sale of any property under this section shall be placed in the special fund established in the State Treasury.
(2) (a) On June 30, 2011, the board of directors of the district shall transfer and convey all interest in residential property to the county in which the property lies. A residential leaseholder may exercise an option to purchase the property from the county in the same manner as provided in subsection (1).
(b) All monies derived from leaseholds and sales shall be collected by the county tax assessor. The chancery clerk of the county shall deposit all such monies with the State Treasurer pursuant to appropriate procedures established by the State Auditor. It shall be the duty of the Department of Finance and Administration to deposit all such monies into the special fund in the State Treasury. The Department of Finance and Administration shall deposit twenty percent (20%) of these monies into a special fund for use by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District.
SECTION 4. (1) (a) The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District shall transfer and convey all forest lands and other lands including public parks, campgrounds, and other recreational facilities to the county or municipality in which they are located.
(b) The district shall retain the dam and spillway and any lands essential to maintaining the dam and spillway.
(2) The counties and municipalities shall be responsible for law enforcement on the lands conveyed by the district.
(3) The district shall allow the cities of Flowood, Madison, Ridgeland, and any other municipality lying within the district, to purchase any water and sewer system operated by the district.
SECTION 5. (1) Before July 1, 2011, the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District shall transfer all powers, duties, employees, equipment, buildings, facilities, inventory and resources of the reservoir patrol to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall be responsible for law enforcement only on the waters of the reservoir, the Pearl River and its tributaries lying within the district. The department shall be responsible for maintaining all piers and boat landings on the reservoir. Any personnel actions of the Executive Director of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall be exempt from State Personnel Board rules, regulations and procedures in order to give the executive director flexibility in making effective use of the personnel.
(2) The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District and the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall comply with Sections 5-11-1 through 5-11-5 in the transfer of the reservoir patrol.
SECTION 6. Section 27-31-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
27-31-33. (1) All leasehold interests in any property, real or personal, belonging to the State of Mississippi, counties, districts, municipalities or any other political subdivision, which were created prior to July 1, 1984, pursuant to a lease agreement or contract and which had been allowed an ad valorem tax exemption, or treated as exempt from ad valorem taxation, prior to July 1, 1984, shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation unless such leasehold interest is made subject to ad valorem taxation by statute or by the terms of the lease agreement or contract creating such leasehold interest.
(2) The exemption granted in this section shall not apply to a leasehold interest in property belonging to the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District.
(3) This section shall apply to assessments of real property for ad valorem taxation for the 1984 taxable year and each taxable year thereafter.
SECTION 7. Section 51-9-155, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
51-9-155. (1) The provisions of any other law, general, special or local, except as provided in this article and in subsection (2) of this section, shall not limit or restrict the powers granted by this article. The water supply district herein provided for shall not be subject to regulation or control by the Public Service Commission.
(2) The governing authority of each county that is a part of the district and that borders on the reservoir under the jurisdiction of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, or any municipality within that county, may adopt, enact and/or enforce any zoning ordinance or regulation within the boundaries of the applicable county or municipality, and the district may not limit or restrict that ordinance or regulation or interfere with its enforcement.
SECTION 8. Section 27-31-34, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
27-31-34. (1) For purposes of this section, "state" means the State of Mississippi or any county, district, municipality or other political subdivision thereof.
All lease contracts, leases or leaseholds in existence on or before April 16, 1993, (a) to which the state is a party, (b) which provide that the leased premises and all facilities and replacements thereof are and shall be the property of the state, and (c) which provide a term or period of time for exemption from ad valorem taxation, shall, along with the possessory and leasehold interests as described under and originally created by such lease contract, lease or leasehold, be exempt from all ad valorem taxation for the term or period of time as stated in such lease contracts, leases or leaseholds and any extension or renewal thereof. Lease contracts, leases, or leaseholds meeting the requirements of subparts (a) and (b) above, which were entered into prior to July 1, 1984, and which do not contain an express term or period for exemption from ad valorem taxation, shall be exempt from all ad valorem taxation for the term of such lease contracts, leases, or leaseholds, including any option periods which may be exercised by the lessee. Any newly created lease contracts, leases or leaseholds created on or after January 18, 1984, shall not be exempt under this section from ad valorem taxes for school district purposes.
(2) It is the sense of the Legislature that the provisions of Section 112, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, allowing the Legislature to exempt, by general laws, particular species of property from taxation, in whole or in part, authorize the enactment of this section. Further, the provisions of this section shall not be construed as the surrender or abridgement by the state of the power to tax the property which is the subject of the contracts, leases or leaseholds referred to in subsection (1) of this section. This section affirms the power of the state to grant such an exemption when it is in the best interests of the state to do so.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(a) A leasehold interest in property belonging to the Pearl River Water Supply District; or
(b) Any civil action filed before April 16, 1993.
SECTION 9. Section 27-33-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
27-33-17. The meaning of the words "own," "owned," "ownership" and similar words, for the purpose of this article, shall be limited to real estate, and to title, as follows:
(a) "Fee title," meaning inheritable title (whether by inheritance, gift or purchase), limited to only ownerships known as (i) "absolute" (freehold), or (ii) "tenancy for life" (life estate), or (iii) "tenancy in common," "joint tenancy," "joint ownership" and "common title"; the conditions of none of which may be restricted during the life of the owner as to possession, occupancy and use; and the words "joint owner," "joint tenant" or "joint tenancy" when used in this article shall include "tenant in common," "tenancy in common" and "estate in common," unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context.
(b) "An express trust of record," meaning a trust created in express terms in a recorded deed, will or other writing, with reference to the land to which it applies, the beneficiary of which trust is the head of a family, who under the terms of the trust, is entitled to and does occupy and use the property as a home, which property is assessed for taxation to the beneficiary and on which property the beneficiary pays the taxes, unless otherwise provided in the trust.
(c) "School lands legally leased," meaning a legal lease of school land which is perpetually renewable, or school land legally leased for a term of ten (10) years or more under the provisions of Section 211 of the Mississippi Constitution, the owner of which lease is the head of a family who is entitled to and does occupy and use the property as a home, and who renders the property for assessment and pays the taxes thereon, as required by law.
(d) "Pearl River Valley Water Supply District lands legally leased," meaning a legal lease of lands owned in fee by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, an agency of the State of Mississippi, for a period of twenty (20) years or more, with the option of renewal for successive periods of ten (10) years, to a person, individually or in joint tenancy, who is the head of a family and is entitled to and does occupy and use the property as a home, and who renders the property for assessment and pays the taxes thereon, as required by law.
(e) "Mississippi-Yazoo Delta Levee Board lands legally leased," meaning a legal lease of lands owned in fee title by the Mississippi-Yazoo Delta Levee Board, an agency of the State of Mississippi, for a period of five (5) years or more, with the option of renewal for successive periods of five (5) years, to a person, individually or in joint tenancy, who is the head of a family and is entitled to and does occupy and use the property as a home, and who renders the property for assessment and pays the taxes thereon, as required by law. This exemption shall include all leases in existence that were entered into prior to July 1, 1992.
(f) If title is held by deed or other grant, such instrument shall be dated and acknowledged on or before January 1 of the year for which homestead exemption is applied and shall be filed for record with the chancery clerk on or before January 7 of the year for which homestead exemption is applied and the book and page, or properly assigned unique identification number, of such recordation shall be noted on the application. If title is held by will, inheritance, adverse possession or any means other than grant, same may be proved by affidavit, citation of any court record, or such other evidence as may be required by the commission. However, nothing shall prevent homestead exemptions where it shall be shown that title was derived through inheritance and the recording evidence otherwise necessary was later recorded.
(g) "Fraternal or benevolent organization land legally leased," meaning a legal lease of land from any fraternal or benevolent organization owning land exempt from ad valorem taxation under the provisions of Section 27-31-1, leased for ten (10) years or more or for life, the owner of which lease is a head of a family who is entitled to and does occupy and uses the property as a home, and who renders the property for assessment and pays the tax thereon, as required by law. This paragraph shall not apply to any leased land if the dwelling located thereon is owned by the fraternal or benevolent organization.
(h) "A remainder interest in the dwelling and eligible land," meaning an interest held by the children of a testator in a dwelling and the eligible land on which it is located, created by the express terms of the will of the testator, in which the children of the testator are granted the use of property only upon the death or remarriage of the spouse of the testator or the occurrence of certain other contingencies and such dwelling and the eligible land on which it is located is assessed for taxation to the children of the testator and on which dwelling and eligible land the children of the testator pay the taxes thereon, as required by law.
(i) "Old School for the Blind land legally subleased," meaning a legal sublease of land leased pursuant to Section 1 of Chapter 564, Laws of 2007, subleased for twenty (20) years or more, the owner of which lease is a head of a family who is entitled to and does occupy and uses the property as a home, and who renders the property for assessment and pays the tax thereon, as required by law.
SECTION 10. Section 27-33-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
27-33-19. The word "home" or "homestead" whenever used in this article shall mean the dwelling, the essential outbuildings and improvements, and the eligible land assessed on the land roll actually occupied as the primary home of a family group, eligible title to which is owned by the head of the family, a bona fide resident of this state, and when the dwelling is separately assessed on the land roll for the year in which the application is made, subject to the limitations and conditions contained in this article. And the meaning of the word is hereby extended to specifically include:
(a) One or more separate, bona fide dwellings and the land on which they are located, each occupied under eligible ownership rights by the widow or the widower, or the children of a deceased parent, each separate home being property or a portion of property owned by a deceased person whose estate has not been distributed or divided or vested in a person or persons for life. But in each case the property for which exemption is sought may not be more than the applicant's inherited portion, and must be accurately described on the application and the conditions explained in writing. But the heirs may elect to accept one (1) homestead for the estate. The home occupied by the surviving spouse as provided by the laws of this state shall be preferred over the homes claimed by the children, and the exemption to any other heir shall not exceed the remaining amount obtained by deducting the assessed value of the surviving spouse's portion from the assessed value of the whole, divided by the number of heirs other than the surviving spouse. Each heir claiming exemption shall meet the requirements as to occupancy, residence and head of a family, and no part of the undivided inherited lands shall be combined with other lands and included in a homestead exemption under this article except in the case of the surviving spouse.
(b) One or more separated dwellings and eligible land, not apartments, occupied each by a family group as a bona fide home, eligible title to which entire property is held jointly by purchase or otherwise by the heads of the families, and each joint owner shall be allowed exemption on the proportion of the total assessed value of all the property, equal to his fractional interest (except as otherwise provided in paragraph (r) of this section), provided no part of the jointly owned property shall be exempted to a joint owner who has been allowed an exemption on another home in the state.
(c) A dwelling and eligible lands owned jointly or severally by a husband and wife, if they are actually and legally living together. But if husband and wife are living apart, not divorced, as provided by paragraphs (c) and (d) of Section 27-33-13, jointly owned land shall not be included except that the dwelling occupied as a home at the time of separation shall be eligible if owned jointly or severally.
(d) The dwelling and eligible land on which it is located, owned and actually occupied as a home by a minister of the gospel or by a licensed school teacher actively engaged whose duties as such require them to be away from the home for the major part of each year, including January 1, provided it was eligible before such absence, and no income is derived therefrom, and no part of the dwelling claimed as a home is rented, leased or occupied by another family group, and when the home is eligible except for the temporary absence of the owner.
(e) The dwelling and the eligible land on which it is located, consisting of not more than four (4) apartments; provided (1) if one (1) apartment is actually occupied as a home by the owner the exemption shall be limited to one-fourth (1/4) the exemption granted pursuant to this article, or (2) if the dwelling and land is owned by four (4) persons and the four (4) owners each occupy one (1) apartment as a home, the exemption shall be granted equally to each owner; provided revenue is not derived from any part of the property except as permitted by paragraphs (g) and (h) of this section. If the dwelling and the eligible land on which it is located consists of not more than three (3) apartments, and one (1) apartment is actually occupied as a home by the owner, the exemption shall be limited to one-third (1/3) the exemption granted pursuant to this article, or if the dwelling and land is owned by three (3) persons and the three (3) owners each occupy one (1) apartment as a home, the exemption shall be granted equally to each owner; provided revenue is not derived from any part of the property except as permitted by paragraphs (g) and (h) of this section. If the dwelling and the eligible land on which it is located consists of not more than two (2) apartments and one (1) apartment is actually occupied as a home by the owner, the exemption shall be limited to one-half (1/2) the exemption granted pursuant to this article, or if the dwelling and land is owned by two (2) persons and the two (2) owners each occupy one (1) apartment as a home, the exemption shall be granted equally to each owner; provided revenue is not derived from any part of the property except as permitted by paragraphs (g) and (h) of this section.
(f) The dwelling and eligible land on which it is located, actually occupied as the bona fide home of a family group owned by the head of the family whereof five (5) and not more than six (6) rooms are rented to tenants or boarders, and where there are rented rooms and an apartment, the apartment shall be counted as three (3) rooms; provided the exemption shall be limited to one-half (1/2) the exemption granted pursuant to this article.
(g) The dwelling and eligible land being the bona fide home of a family group owned by the head of the family used partly as a boarding house, or for the entertainment of paying guests, if the number of boarders or paying guests does not exceed eight (8).
(h) The dwelling and eligible land being the bona fide home of a family group owned by the head of the family wherein activity of a business nature is carried on, but where the assessed value of the property associated with the business activity is less than one-fifth (1/5) of the total assessed value of the bona fide home; provided, however, that when the owner's full-time business is located in the bona fide home of the head of the family, such owner shall be limited to one-half (1/2) of the exemption granted pursuant to this article.
(i) The dwelling and the eligible land on which it is located and other eligible land even though ownership of and title to the dwelling and the land on which it is located has been conveyed to a housing authority for the purpose of obtaining the benefits of the Housing Authorities Law as authorized by Sections 43-33-1 through 43-33-53 or related laws.
(j) A dwelling and the eligible land on which it is located owned by a person who is physically or mentally unable to care for himself and confined in an institution for treatment shall be eligible notwithstanding the absence of the owner unless the home is excluded under other provisions of this article. The exemption is available for a period of ten (10) years from the day of confinement.
(k) The dwelling and the eligible land on which it is located owned by two (2) or more persons of a group, as defined in paragraph (f) of Section 27-33-13, when two (2) or more of the group have eligible title, or if the group holds a life estate, a joint estate or an estate in common; provided the title of the several owners shall be of the same class.
(l) A dwelling and the eligible land on which it is located under a lease of sixty (60) years by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District at the reservoir known as the "Ross Barnett Reservoir" actually occupied as the home or homestead of a family or person as defined heretofore in this article. However, no such family group or any other person heretofore qualified and defined in this article shall be allowed to establish more than one (1) home or homestead for the purpose and intent of this article.
(m) Units of a condominium constructed in accordance with Section 89-9-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, known as the "Mississippi Condominium Law," and actually occupied as the home or homestead of a family or person as defined heretofore in this article. However, no such family group or any other person heretofore qualified and defined in this article shall be allowed to establish more than one (1) home or homestead for the purpose and intent of this article.
(n) A dwelling and the eligible land on which it is located held under a lease of ten (10) years or more or for life, from a fraternal or benevolent organization and actually occupied as the home or homestead of a family or person as defined heretofore in this article. No such family group or any other person heretofore qualified and defined in this article shall be allowed to establish more than one (1) home or homestead for the purpose and intent of this article.
(o) A dwelling being the bona fide home of a family group owned by the head of the family and located on land owned by a corporation incorporated more than fifty (50) years ago and in which the homeowner is a shareholder, and which corporation owns no land outside Monroe and Itawamba Counties. No family group or any other person heretofore qualified and defined in this article shall be allowed to establish more than one (1) home or homestead for the purpose and intent of this article.
(p) A dwelling and the eligible land on which it is located under a lease of five (5) years or more by the Mississippi-Yazoo Delta Levee Board actually occupied as the home or homestead of a family or person as defined pursuant to this article. However, no such family group or any other person qualified and defined pursuant to this article shall be allowed to establish more than one (1) home or homestead for the purpose and intent of this article. The definition shall include all leases in existence that were entered into prior to July 1, 1992.
(q) A dwelling and the eligible land on which the spouse of a testator is granted the use of such dwelling for life or until the occurrence of certain contingencies and the children of such testator are granted a remainder interest in the dwelling and eligible land. Such dwelling and eligible land will only qualify as a home or homestead if (i) the spouse of the testator would otherwise qualify as head of a family if the interest were a tenancy for life (life estate) and (ii) the dwelling and eligible land is actually occupied as the home of the spouse of the testator. The children of the testator shall be allowed to establish an additional homestead for purposes of this article.
(r) A dwelling and the eligible land actually occupied as the bona fide home of a family group. If a person has been granted use and possession of a home in a divorce decree, that individual is eligible for full exemption, regardless of whether the property is jointly owned.
(s) A dwelling being the bona fide home of a family group located on land owned by a corporation incorporated more than forty (40) years ago and in which the head of the family group is a shareholder, and which corporation owns no land outside Lee County, Mississippi. No family group or any other person qualified and defined in this article shall be allowed to establish more than one (1) home or homestead for the purpose and intent of this article.
(t) The floor or floors of a building used solely for the residence of a family group when the building is owned by the head of the family and another floor or floors of the building are used for business activity.
(u) A dwelling being the bona fide home of a family group located on land owned by an incorporated club and in which the head of the family group is a shareholder, and which incorporated club owns no land outside Union County, Mississippi; provided, the incorporated club pays all ad valorem taxes levied on the land upon which the dwelling is located. No family group or any other person qualified and defined in this article shall be allowed to establish more than one (1) home or homestead for the purpose and intent of this article.
(v) A dwelling and the eligible land on which it is located under a sublease of twenty (20) years or more on land leased pursuant to Section 1 of Chapter 564, Laws of 2007, actually occupied as the home or homestead of a family or person as defined pursuant to this article. However, no such family group or any other person qualified and defined pursuant to this article shall be allowed to establish more than one (1) home or homestead for the purpose and intent of this article.
(w) The portion of a building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places that is used solely for the residence of a family group when the building is owned by the head of the family and rooms in the building are rented to transient guests; however, not more than ten (10) rooms in the building may be rented to transient guests.
SECTION 11. Section 63-9-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
Until July 1, 2011, this section shall read as follows:
63-9-31. (1) In addition to any other monetary penalties and other penalties imposed by law, any county, municipality or the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Patrol which participates in a wireless radio communications program approved by the applicable governing authorities may assess an additional surcharge in an amount not to exceed Ten Dollars ($10.00) on each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for each violation of Title 63, Mississippi Code of 1972, except offenses relating to vehicular parking or registration. On all citations issued by Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol officers, a surcharge in the amount of Ten Dollars ($10.00) shall be collected by the court and deposited as provided in subsection (2) of this section. The proceeds from the surcharge on citations issued by county and municipal law enforcement officers or the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Patrol may be used by a county or municipality only to fund that county's or municipality's or the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Patrol's participation in the wireless radio communications program by funding public safety wireless communications systems and related computer and communications equipment. The proceeds from the surcharge on citations issued by Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol officers shall be used as provided in subsection (2) of this section. All proceeds from the surcharge imposed by this subsection shall be deposited into a special fund in the Department of Public Safety's Office of Public Safety Planning. The Office of Public Safety Planning shall promulgate rules and procedures relating to the administration of the special fund and the disbursement of monies in the fund to participating governmental entities. The maximum amount that a governmental entity may receive from the special fund shall be an amount equal to the deposits made into the fund by that entity, less one percent (1%) to be retained by the Office of Public Safety Planning to defray the costs of administering the special fund. Interest earned on the special fund shall remain in the fund and shall be used by the Office of Public Safety Planning to further defray the costs of administering the special fund.
(2) Deposits into the special fund resulting from citations issued by the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol shall be utilized as follows: Fifty percent (50%) of the deposits into the special fund shall be used to automate the citations issued by Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol officers (including the transmittal of citations to the justice court, retrieval of the disposition from the justice court, and updating the driver's records) and fifty percent (50%) of the deposits into the special fund shall be used for the purpose of funding wireless communications and related computer equipment and computer software, subject to the approval of the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services.
(3) Approval of a wireless radio communications program must be given by the applicable governing authorities when:
(a) The program includes the sharing of support facilities including, but not limited to, towers, shelters and microwave by participating entities; or
(b) The program includes the establishment of a mutual aid system using common radio frequency channels between participating entities; or
(c) The program sets forth a feasible methodology that utilizes the radio frequency spectrum in an efficient manner.
(4) Participating counties, municipalities, the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Patrol and the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol must provide notification of facilities available for interoperability to the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services annually.
(5) Counties and municipalities and the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Patrol participating in a wireless radio communications program and the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol must comply with competitive bidding requirements prescribed in Section 31-7-13 and are encouraged to utilize an open architecture, nonproprietary system.
[From and after July 1, 2011, this section shall read as follows:]
63-9-31. (1) In addition to any other monetary penalties and other penalties imposed by law, any county or municipality * * * which participates in a wireless radio communications program approved by the applicable governing authorities may assess an additional surcharge in an amount not to exceed Ten Dollars ($10.00) on each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for each violation of Title 63, Mississippi Code of 1972, except offenses relating to vehicular parking or registration. On all citations issued by Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol officers, a surcharge in the amount of Ten Dollars ($10.00) shall be collected by the court and deposited as provided in subsection (2) of this section. The proceeds from the surcharge on citations issued by county and municipal law enforcement officers * * * may be used by a county or municipality only to fund that county's or municipality's participation in the wireless radio communications program by funding public safety wireless communications systems and related computer and communications equipment. The proceeds from the surcharge on citations issued by Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol officers shall be used as provided in subsection (2) of this section. All proceeds from the surcharge imposed by this subsection shall be deposited into a special fund in the Department of Public Safety's Office of Public Safety Planning. The Office of Public Safety Planning shall promulgate rules and procedures relating to the administration of the special fund and the disbursement of monies in the fund to participating governmental entities. The maximum amount that a governmental entity may receive from the special fund shall be an amount equal to the deposits made into the fund by that entity, less one percent (1%) to be retained by the Office of Public Safety Planning to defray the costs of administering the special fund. Interest earned on the special fund shall remain in the fund and shall be used by the Office of Public Safety Planning to further defray the costs of administering the special fund.
(2) Deposits into the special fund resulting from citations issued by the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol shall be utilized as follows: Fifty percent (50%) of the deposits into the special fund shall be used to automate the citations issued by Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol officers (including the transmittal of citations to the justice court, retrieval of the disposition from the justice court, and updating the driver's records) and fifty percent (50%) of the deposits into the special fund shall be used for the purpose of funding wireless communications and related computer equipment and computer software, subject to the approval of the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services.
(3) Approval of a wireless radio communications program must be given by the applicable governing authorities when:
(a) The program includes the sharing of support facilities including, but not limited to, towers, shelters and microwave by participating entities; or
(b) The program includes the establishment of a mutual aid system using common radio frequency channels between participating entities; or
(c) The program sets forth a feasible methodology that utilizes the radio frequency spectrum in an efficient manner.
(4) Participating counties, municipalities and the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol must provide notification of facilities available for interoperability to the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services annually.
(5) Counties and municipalities participating in a wireless radio communications program and the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol must comply with competitive bidding requirements prescribed in Section 31-7-13 and are encouraged to utilize an open architecture, nonproprietary system.
SECTION 12. Section 63-11-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
[Until July 1, 2011, this section shall read as follows:]
63-11-5. (1) Any person who operates a motor vehicle upon the public highways, public roads and streets of this state shall be deemed to have given his consent, subject to the provisions of this chapter, to a chemical test or tests of his breath for the purpose of determining alcohol concentration. A person shall give his consent to a chemical test or tests of his breath, blood or urine for the purpose of determining the presence in his body of any other substance which would impair a person's ability to operate a motor vehicle. The test or tests shall be administered at the direction of any highway patrol officer, any sheriff or his duly commissioned deputies, any police officer in any incorporated municipality, any national park ranger, any officer of a state-supported institution of higher learning campus police force if such officer is exercising this authority in regard to a violation that occurred on campus property, or any security officer appointed and commissioned pursuant to the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Security Officer Law of 1978 if such officer is exercising this authority in regard to a violation that occurred within the limits of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, when such officer has reasonable grounds and probable cause to believe that the person was driving or had under his actual physical control a motor vehicle upon the public streets or highways of this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any other substance which had impaired such person's ability to operate a motor vehicle. No such test shall be administered by any person who has not met all the educational and training requirements of the appropriate course of study prescribed by the Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training; provided, however, that sheriffs and elected chiefs of police shall be exempt from such educational and training requirement. No such tests shall be given by any officer or any agency to any person within fifteen (15) minutes of consumption of any substance by mouth.
(2) If the officer has reasonable grounds and probable cause to believe such person to have been driving a motor vehicle upon the public highways, public roads, and streets of this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, such officer shall inform such person that his failure to submit to such chemical test or tests of his breath shall result in the suspension of his privilege to operate a motor vehicle upon the public streets and highways of this state for a period of ninety (90) days in the event such person has not previously been convicted of a violation of Section 63-11-30, or, for a period of one (1) year in the event of any previous conviction of such person under Section 63-11-30.
(3) The traffic ticket, citation or affidavit issued to a person arrested for a violation of this chapter shall conform to the requirements of Section 63-9-21(3)(b).
(4) Any person arrested under the provisions of this chapter shall be informed that he has the right to telephone for the purpose of requesting legal or medical assistance immediately after being booked for a violation under this chapter.
(5) The Commissioner of Public Safety and the State Crime Laboratory created pursuant to Section 45-1-17 are hereby authorized from and after the passage of this section to adopt procedures, rules and regulations, applicable to the Implied Consent Law.
[From and after July 1, 2011, this section shall read as follows:]
63-11-5. (1) Any person who operates a motor vehicle upon the public highways, public roads and streets of this state shall be deemed to have given his consent, subject to the provisions of this chapter, to a chemical test or tests of his breath for the purpose of determining alcohol concentration. A person shall give his consent to a chemical test or tests of his breath, blood or urine for the purpose of determining the presence in his body of any other substance which would impair a person's ability to operate a motor vehicle. The test or tests shall be administered at the direction of any highway patrol officer, any sheriff or his duly commissioned deputies, any police officer in any incorporated municipality, any national park ranger, any officer of a state-supported institution of higher learning campus police force if such officer is exercising this authority in regard to a violation that occurred on campus property, * * * when such officer has reasonable grounds and probable cause to believe that the person was driving or had under his actual physical control a motor vehicle upon the public streets or highways of this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any other substance which had impaired such person's ability to operate a motor vehicle. No such test shall be administered by any person who has not met all the educational and training requirements of the appropriate course of study prescribed by the Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training; provided, however, that sheriffs and elected chiefs of police shall be exempt from such educational and training requirement. No such tests shall be given by any officer or any agency to any person within fifteen (15) minutes of consumption of any substance by mouth.
(2) If the officer has reasonable grounds and probable cause to believe such person to have been driving a motor vehicle upon the public highways, public roads, and streets of this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, such officer shall inform such person that his failure to submit to such chemical test or tests of his breath shall result in the suspension of his privilege to operate a motor vehicle upon the public streets and highways of this state for a period of ninety (90) days in the event such person has not previously been convicted of a violation of Section 63-11-30, or, for a period of one (1) year in the event of any previous conviction of such person under Section 63-11-30.
(3) The traffic ticket, citation or affidavit issued to a person arrested for a violation of this chapter shall conform to the requirements of Section 63-9-21(3)(b).
(4) Any person arrested under the provisions of this chapter shall be informed that he has the right to telephone for the purpose of requesting legal or medical assistance immediately after being booked for a violation under this chapter.
(5) The Commissioner of Public Safety and the State Crime Laboratory created pursuant to Section 45-1-17 are hereby authorized from and after the passage of this section to adopt procedures, rules and regulations, applicable to the Implied Consent Law.
SECTION 13. Section 63-11-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
[Until July 1, 2011, this section shall read as follows:]
63-11-19. A chemical analysis of the person's breath, blood or urine, to be considered valid under the provisions of this section, shall have been performed according to methods approved by the State Crime Laboratory created pursuant to Section 45-1-17 and the Commissioner of Public Safety and performed by an individual possessing a valid permit issued by the State Crime Laboratory for making such analysis. The State Crime Laboratory and the Commissioner of Public Safety are authorized to approve satisfactory techniques or methods, to ascertain the qualifications and competence of individuals to conduct such analyses, and to issue permits which shall be subject to termination or revocation at the discretion of the State Crime Laboratory. The State Crime Laboratory shall not approve the permit required herein for any law enforcement officer other than a member of the State Highway Patrol, a sheriff or his deputies, a city policeman, an officer of a state-supported institution of higher learning campus police force, a security officer appointed and commissioned pursuant to the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Security Officer Law of 1978, a national park ranger, a national park ranger technician, a military policeman stationed at a United States military base located within this state other than a military policeman of the Army or Air National Guard or of Reserve Units of the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps, a marine law enforcement officer employed by the Department of Marine Resources, or a conservation officer employed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The permit given a marine law enforcement officer shall authorize such officer to administer tests only for violations of Sections 59-23-1 through 59-23-7. The permit given a conservation officer shall authorize such officer to administer tests only for violations of Sections 59-23-1 through 59-23-7 and for hunting related incidents resulting in injury or death to any person by discharge of a weapon as provided under Section 49-4-31.
The State Crime Laboratory shall make periodic, but not less frequently than quarterly, tests of the methods, machines or devices used in making chemical analysis of a person's breath as shall be necessary to ensure the accuracy thereof, and shall issue its certificate to verify the accuracy of the same.
[From and after July 1, 2011, this section shall read as follows:]
63-11-19. A chemical analysis of the person's breath, blood or urine, to be considered valid under the provisions of this section, shall have been performed according to methods approved by the State Crime Laboratory created pursuant to Section 45-1-17 and the Commissioner of Public Safety and performed by an individual possessing a valid permit issued by the State Crime Laboratory for making such analysis. The State Crime Laboratory and the Commissioner of Public Safety are authorized to approve satisfactory techniques or methods, to ascertain the qualifications and competence of individuals to conduct such analyses, and to issue permits which shall be subject to termination or revocation at the discretion of the State Crime Laboratory. The State Crime Laboratory shall not approve the permit required herein for any law enforcement officer other than a member of the State Highway Patrol, a sheriff or his deputies, a city policeman, an officer of a state-supported institution of higher learning campus police force, * * * a national park ranger, a national park ranger technician, a military policeman stationed at a United States military base located within this state other than a military policeman of the Army or Air National Guard or of Reserve Units of the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps, a marine law enforcement officer employed by the Department of Marine Resources, or a conservation officer employed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The permit given a marine law enforcement officer shall authorize such officer to administer tests only for violations of Sections 59-23-1 through 59-23-7. The permit given a conservation officer shall authorize such officer to administer tests only for violations of Sections 59-23-1 through 59-23-7 and for hunting related incidents resulting in injury or death to any person by discharge of a weapon as provided under Section 49-4-31.
The State Crime Laboratory shall make periodic, but not less frequently than quarterly, tests of the methods, machines or devices used in making chemical analysis of a person's breath as shall be necessary to ensure the accuracy thereof, and shall issue its certificate to verify the accuracy of the same.
SECTION 14. Section 51-9-125, Mississippi Code of 1972, which authorizes the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District to establish public parks and recreational facilities, shall stand repealed on July 1, 2011.
SECTION 15. Sections 51-9-171, 51-9-173, 51-9-175, 51-9-176, 51-9-177, 51-9-179, 51-9-181, 51-9-183 and 51-9-185, Mississippi Code of 1972, which authorized the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District to employ reservoir patrol officers, shall stand repealed on July 1, 2011.
SECTION 16. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.