MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2019 Regular Session
To: Appropriations
By: Representative Gunn
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 29-5-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ESTABLISH THE POSITION OF CURATOR OF THE NEW CAPITOL BUILDING, WHO SHALL BE EMPLOYED BY AND UNDER THE JOINT JURISDICTION OF THE HOUSE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE; TO SPECIFY THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CURATOR; TO PROVIDE THAT THE EXPENSES OF THE CURATOR SHALL BE PAID FROM THE FUNDS APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE; TO TRANSFER THE CURATOR OF THE NEW CAPITOL BUILDING WHO IS EMPLOYED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT FROM THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT TO THE JOINT JURISDICTION OF THE HOUSE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE; TO AMEND SECTION 39-5-6, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 29-5-13, Mississippi Code of 1972:
29-5-13. There is established the position of Curator of the New Capitol Building, who shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) To oversee, initiate, approve and monitor the care of the New Capitol Building and grounds to ensure long-term preservation, conservation and maintenance of the building, historic furnishings and grounds;
(b) To coordinate with personnel of the Department of Finance and Administration and the project professionals on any repair, renovation or restoration plans for the New Capitol Building or grounds, ensuring that all work is in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation;
(c) To request quotations for projects at the New Capitol Building or grounds upon instructions from the Department of Finance and Administration and from the House Management committee and the Senate Rules Committee acting jointly; apply for permits from the Department of Archives and History when applicable; request that projects be initiated through the proper agency and serve as the in-house professional depending upon the scope of work; maintain contact with any project professional involved in a project, beginning with the bid or quote process through initiation and completion of the project; and notify the House, the Senate, joint legislative operations or the Department of Finance and Administration, as appropriate, when the project is complete and ready for final payment;
(d) To coordinate special state events and approved private events held at the New Capitol Building or grounds other than those held in the Chambers of the House of Representatives or the Senate;
(e) To serve as a liaison to the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Secretary of the Senate, Department of Finance and Administration, Department of Archives and History and project professionals on all projects at the New Capitol Building or grounds;
(f) To supervise visitor services personnel in providing tours and events for the public and members of the Legislature that are held at the New Capitol Building or grounds; and
(g) To perform such other duties relating to the New Capitol Building or grounds as jointly prescribed by the House Management Committee and the Senate Rules Committee.
(2) The Curator of the New Capitol Building shall be employed by and under the joint jurisdiction of the House Management Committee and the Senate Rules Committee, and the expenses of the curator shall be paid from the funds appropriated by the Legislature for the joint legislative operations of the House and the Senate. The curator shall provide quarterly reports to the House Management committee and the Senate Rules Committee on the activities and expenses of the curator during the preceding quarter.
(3) The Curator of the New Capitol Building who is employed by the Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History under the provisions of Section 39-5-6 on the effective date of this act shall be transferred from the jurisdiction of the department to the joint jurisdiction of the House Management Committee and the Senate Rules Committee.
SECTION 2. Section 39-5-6, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
39-5-6. The duties and powers of the Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History shall include, in addition to other duties and powers granted or prescribed by law, the following:
(a) To promulgate rules and regulations governing the use of the historic portion of the Governor's Mansion;
(b) To promulgate rules and regulations governing the acquisition of furniture and furnishings, including, but not limited to, carpets, rugs, paintings, draperies and objects of art, for the original or historic portion of the Governor's Mansion;
(c) To employ a curator of the mansion who shall have the following duties:
(i) To maintain a descriptive inventory of and be responsible for the care and custody of all furniture and furnishings in the Governor's Mansion that have been catalogued by the Department of Archives and History, including flat silver and silver hollowware. However, the Department of Finance and Administration shall maintain a descriptive inventory of and be responsible for the care and custody of all publicly owned furniture and furnishings in the Governor's Mansion that have not been catalogued by the Department of Archives and History, including flat silver and silver hollowware; and
(ii) To conduct an educational training program for staff and volunteer guides who may conduct tours of the mansion when it is open to the public at specified times agreed upon by the Governor;
(d) To promote the donation or loaning of money or property, real or personal, from any agency of the United States, state or local government, any person, firm, corporation, association or group, for the purpose of furnishing or decorating the original or historic portion of the Governor's Mansion;
(e) To accept such donations of money or property, real or personal, from any agency of the United States, state or local government, any person, firm, corporation, association or group, for the purpose of furnishing or decorating the original or historic portion of the Governor's Mansion, provided that the board of trustees shall not be required to accept any donation of furniture or furnishings without its consent;
(f) To sell, donate or otherwise dispose of unused surplus property of the Governor's Mansion, excluding any property located in the mansion which belongs to the Governor's Office, and to deposit the proceeds of such sales in the Governor's Mansion Fund of the Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History for use, in the board's discretion, in acquiring furniture or furnishings, including, but not limited to, carpets, rugs, paintings, draperies and objects of art, for the original or historic portion of the Governor's Mansion; and
(g) To review and
approve any major changes in the architecture, furniture, furnishings,
decoration or landscaping of the grounds of the Governor's Mansion * * *.
* * *
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2019.