House Bill 1734

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF GREENE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, TO CONSTRUCT OR ACQUIRE A COUNTY JAIL ANYWHERE WITHIN THE COUNTY; TO REQUIRE AN ELECTION BE HELD ON THE CONSTRUCTION OR ACQUISITION OF SUCH COUNTY JAIL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 19-7-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, or any other provisions of law to the contrary, the Board of Supervisors of Greene County, Mississippi, is authorized, in its discretion, to construct or acquire a county jail anywhere within the county.

(2) Before a county jail may be constructed or acquired anywhere within the county as authorized under this section, the board shall adopt a resolution declaring its intention to construct or acquire such county jail, setting forth the purpose of the construction or acquisition of the county jail, the date upon which such proposed construction or acquisition of the county jail shall commence and calling for an election to be held on the question. The election shall be held during the November 2019 general election, and such date shall be fixed in the resolution. Notice of such intention shall be published once each week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in the county, with the first publication of the notice to be made not less than twenty-one (21) days before the date fixed in the resolution for the election and the last publication to be made not more than seven (7) days before the election. At the election, all qualified electors of the county may vote, and the ballots used in the election shall have printed thereon a brief statement of the proposed construction or acquisition of a county jail anywhere in the county and the words "FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OR ACQUISITION OF A COUNTY JAIL ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY" and, on a separate line, "AGAINST THE CONSTRUCTION OR ACQUISITION OF A COUNTY JAIL ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY" and the voters shall vote by placing a cross (X) or check (√) opposite their choice on the proposition. When the results of the election shall have been canvassed and certified, the county may construct or acquire a county jail anywhere in the county if sixty percent (60%) of the qualified electors who vote in the election vote in favor of such construction or acquisition.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.