Amendment_Report_for

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 69-1-119, Mississippi Code of 1972:

69-1-119. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce may provide technical guidance and outreach to landowners, farmers and producers regarding the management of nuisance wildlife on private agricultural and forestry lands. The commissioner is authorized to partner with state and federal agencies regarding nuisance wildlife management and to promote awareness across the state. The department is authorized to accept and expend any special funds received through grants or any other source as appropriated by the Legislature.

SECTION 2. Section 69-29-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-29-1. (1) (a) There is established the Mississippi Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau.

(b) The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce shall appoint a director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau. Such director shall have at least five (5) years of law enforcement experience. Such director shall be responsible solely to the supervision of the Commissioner of Agriculture and to no other person or entity. Such director may be discharged only for just cause shown.

(c) The director may employ * * * ~~nine (9)~~ twelve (12) agricultural and livestock theft investigators * * *. Each investigator shall be certified as a law enforcement officer, successfully completing at least a nine-week training course, in accordance with Section 45-6-11. The curriculum for the training of constables shall not be sufficient for meeting the certification requirements of this paragraph. In the selection of investigators under this section, preference shall be given to persons who have previous law enforcement experience.

(d) The director appointed under this section, under the direction, control and supervision of the commissioner, and the investigators employed under this section shall perform only the duties described in subsection (2) of this section and shall not be assigned any other duties.

(2) The director appointed under this section and the investigators employed under this section shall have the following powers, duties and authority:

(a) To enforce all of the provisions of Sections 69-29-9 and 69-29-11, and particularly those portions requiring persons transporting livestock to have a bill of sale in their possession; to make investigations of violations of such sections and to arrest persons violating same;

(b) To enforce all of the laws of this state enacted for the purpose of preventing the theft of livestock, poultry, timber and agricultural, aquacultural and timber products and implements; to make investigations of violations thereof and to arrest persons violating same;

(d) To serve warrants and other process emanating from any court of lawful jurisdiction, including search warrants, in all matters herein set forth;

(e) To carry proper credentials evidencing their authority, which shall be exhibited to any person making demand therefor;

(f) To make arrests without warrant in all matters herein set forth in cases where same is authorized under the constitutional and general laws of this state;

(g) To handle the registration of brands of cattle and livestock;

(h) To investigate, prevent, apprehend and arrest those persons anywhere in the state who are violating any of the laws administered by the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, including, but not limited to, all agriculture-related crimes * * *.;

(i) To access and examine records of any person, business or entity that harvests, loads, carries, receives or manufactures timber products as defined in this section. Each such person or entity shall permit the director or any investigator of the Mississippi Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau to examine records of the sale, transfer or purchase of timber or timber products, including, but not limited to, contracts, load tickets, settlement sheets, drivers' logs, invoices, checks and any other records or documents related to an ongoing investigation of the Mississippi Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau * * *.;

(j) To conduct training for law enforcement regarding laws enforced by the bureau and to assist any other law enforcement agencies in responding to matters that may be related to agriculture and commerce in the State of Mississippi and in cases of natural disasters or other disasters to respond as needed or as requested by other agencies.

(3) The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce shall furnish such investigators with such vehicles, equipment and supplies as may be necessary. All expenses of same, and all other expenses incurred in the administration of this section, shall be paid from such appropriation as may be made by the Legislature.

(4) The * * * ~~State Tax Commission~~ Mississippi Department of Revenue and its agents and employees shall cooperate with such investigators by furnishing to them information as to any possible or suspected violations of any of the laws mentioned herein, including specifically Section 69-29-27, and in any other lawful manner.

(5) The conservation officers of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks are authorized to cooperate with and assist the agricultural and livestock theft investigators in the enforcement and apprehension of violators of laws regarding agricultural and livestock theft.

(6) The Mississippi Forestry Commission employees are excluded from any timber and timber products theft investigative responsibilities except when technical expertise is needed and requested through the State Forester or his designee.

(7) For the purposes of this section, "timber product" means timber of all kinds, species or sizes, including, but not limited to, logs, lumber, poles, pilings, posts, blocks, bolts, cordwood and pulpwood, pine stumpwood, pine knots or other distillate wood, crossties, turpentine (crude gum), pine straw, firewood and all other products derived from timber or trees that have a sale or commercial value.

SECTION 3. Section 25-1-77, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-1-77. (1) There is created the Bureau of Fleet Management within the Office of Purchasing, Travel and Fleet Management, Department of Finance and Administration, for the purposes of coordinating and promoting efficiency and economy in the purchase, lease, rental, acquisition, use, maintenance and disposal of vehicles by state agencies. The Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration may employ a Fleet Management Officer to manage the bureau and carry out its purposes. The bureau may employ other suitable and competent personnel as necessary. The bureau shall encourage the use of fuel efficient or hybrid vehicles appropriate for the state agency's intended purpose and, when feasible, the use of alternative fuels or energy sources, including, but not limited to, ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas or electric power. The bureau shall prepare a fiscal analysis of the cost-effectiveness of using alternative fuel or energy source vehicles by state agencies, and submit a report of that fiscal analysis to the Legislature by December 15, 2009. Not later than July 1, 2014, at least seventy-five percent (75%) of all vehicles to which the bureau holds title in the name of the state must have a fuel economy estimate by the United States Environmental Protection Agency of forty (40) miles per gallon or higher for highway driving.

(2) The Bureau of Fleet Management shall perform the following duties:

(a) To hold title in the name of the State of Mississippi to all vehicles currently in possession of state agencies as defined in Section 25-9-107(d) and to assign vehicles to such agencies for use; however, the bureau shall exempt any agency or agency vehicles from the provisions of this paragraph (a) if it determines that state or federal law requires that title be vested only in the agency;

(b) To establish rules and regulations for state agency use of vehicles;

(d) To acquire fleet management software and require agencies to provide necessary information for the bureau to properly monitor the size, use, maintenance and disposal of the state's fleet of vehicles; the bureau shall communicate regularly with the fleet managers of each state agency to determine strengths and weaknesses of the various fleet operations; the bureau shall disseminate information to the agencies so that each can take advantage of any beneficial practices being incorporated at other entities; the bureau shall promulgate rules and regulations concerning the mileage reimbursement practices of each state agency;

(e) To carry out responsibilities relative to budget recommendations as provided in Section 27-103-129;

(f) To reassign vehicles in the possession of any state agency if the bureau believes that another state agency can make more efficient use of a vehicle; however, except as otherwise provided in Section 51-11-101, the state agency receiving the reassigned vehicle shall pay to the previous agency's special fund, or if no special fund exists to the State General Fund, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) wholesale value for the vehicle or the estimated amount for which the vehicle would have sold at auction, as shall be determined by the bureau, whichever is less;

(g) To investigate at any time the vehicle usage practices of any state agency; and

(h) To require each agency to submit to the bureau a vehicle acquisition/use/disposal plan on an annual basis. From the plans received, the bureau shall evaluate the proposed plans and shall submit a recommendation to the Legislature prior to January 1 of each year.

(3) No state department, institution or agency shall purchase, rent, lease or acquire any motor vehicle, regardless of the source of funds from which the motor vehicle is to be purchased, except under authority granted by the Department of Finance and Administration. The Bureau of Fleet Management, Department of Finance and Administration, shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the purchase, rental, lease or acquisition of any motor vehicle by a state department, institution or agency with regard to the appropriateness of the vehicle to its intended use. The Bureau of Fleet Management, Department of Finance and Administration, shall only grant authority to purchase, rent, lease or acquire a motor vehicle which is the lowest cost vehicle to carry out its intended use. Before the disposal or sale of any vehicle, the Bureau of Fleet Management shall make a determination that the lifetime use and mileage of the vehicle has been maximized and that it would not be feasible for another state agency to use the vehicle.

(4) The department, institution or agency shall maintain proper documentation which provides the intended use of the vehicle and the basis for choosing the vehicle. Such documentation shall show that the department, institution or agency made diligent efforts to purchase, rent, lease or acquire a vehicle that is the lowest cost vehicle for its intended use. Such documentation shall be updated as needed when the intended use of the vehicle or any other facts concerning the vehicle are changed. All such documentation shall be approved by the State Fleet Officer prior to purchase, rental, lease or acquisition or change in use of any vehicle and shall be maintained and made available for review by the State Auditor, any other reviewing agency and the Legislature. The Bureau of Fleet Management shall immediately notify the department head of any agency that has a vehicle found to be in violation of the bureau's rules and regulations. At the same time, the bureau shall notify the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Lieutenant Governor of its findings regarding any such vehicle. If the violation is not rectified within five (5) days of the notice, then the bureau may seize the vehicle and dispose of it as the bureau deems to be in the best interest of the State of Mississippi.

(5) On or before September 1 of each year, the Bureau of Fleet Management shall prepare and deliver to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee a report containing any irregularities that it finds concerning purchases of state-owned vehicles.

(6) The Department of Public Safety and the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks may retain any vehicle seized pursuant to the forfeiture laws of this state, and the total number of vehicles assigned to each such agency shall not be reduced by the number of seized vehicles which the agency retains.

(7) The Bureau of Fleet Management, upon request, shall grant an exemption from the provisions of this section for only any vehicle assigned to a sworn officer of the Department of Public Safety or of the Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce and used in undercover operations when the bureau determines that compliance could jeopardize the life, health or safety of the sworn officer.

(8) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any state institution of higher learning.

(9) When making requests for authority to purchase, rent, lease or acquire vehicles as provided in subsection (3) of this section, agencies shall submit the lowest cost vehicle possible to carry out its intended use. Any such request shall be in writing from the agency head, certifying the vehicle requested is the lowest cost option available and acknowledging that any request contrary to this provision shall subject the agency head to penalties as provided in Sections 25-1-91, 31-7-55 and 31-7-57, where applicable. The Bureau of Fleet Management shall only approve the lowest cost vehicle, which in its estimation, will carry out the intended use. No agency may purchase any vehicle that the Bureau of Fleet Management has disapproved as being a higher cost option.

(10) No requests authorized under subsections (3) and (9) of this section shall be approved by the Bureau of Fleet Management if the requesting agency has not properly maintained in the fleet/asset reporting system all information required by the Bureau of Fleet Management. Agencies shall correct any inadequacies or discrepancies in the system noted by the Bureau of Fleet Management before the bureau may approve any requests.

SECTION 4. Section 69-5-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-5-1. (1) The Mississippi Fair Commission is hereby abolished, and all of the powers, duties, property, contractual rights and obligations and unexpended funds of that commission shall be transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce on July 1, 2020. Wherever the term "Mississippi Fair Commission" appears in any law or regulation, the same shall mean the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. The transfer of personnel shall be commensurate with the number and classification of positions allocated to the commission.

(2) In order to promote agricultural and industrial development in Mississippi and to encourage the farmers to grow better livestock and agricultural products, there is hereby created * * * ~~a body politic and corporate~~ an advisory council to be hereafter known as the "Mississippi Fair * * * Advisory Council." The department shall receive input and guidance from the advisory council, which shall be composed of the following: The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, chairman, the Director of the Mississippi State University Extension Service, President of the Mississippi Livestock Association, the Director of Mississippi Vocational Education, * * * the Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, the Mayor of the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and an appointee of the Governor, all to serve * * * ~~four (4) years~~ without salary compensation. * * *

SECTION 5. Section 69-5-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-5-3. (1) The * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce shall set up rules and regulations consistent with the law governing the distribution of state monies for premiums or awards. It will be the duty of the * * * ~~commission to meet at the call of the chairman~~ department, at least twice each year, to approve premium lists or awards, and give out rules governing participants in state premium money in Mississippi. The * * * ~~commission~~ department may invite the presidents of the various district livestock shows before the * * * ~~commission~~ department when determining policies affecting district livestock shows.

(2) The * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce is hereby authorized to accept money or funds donated to the * * * ~~commission~~ department, including funds to be awarded as prizes in livestock competition.

(3) The * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce shall have charge of the State Fairgrounds located in Jackson, Mississippi, including all buildings and improvements thereon, and shall have full power and authority in perfecting plans and causing to be held thereon the Mississippi State Fair and other such events that may be authorized by the * * * ~~commission~~ department.

(4) The * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce is hereby authorized to employ an attorney as prescribed in Section 69-1-14.

(5) The * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce may take any action authorized in Section 1 of Laws 2000, Chapter 306.

(6) The * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce may allow a commercial, charitable or governmental entity to use, publish and advertise such entity's name in connection with any of the buildings, improvements, grounds or objects located on the State Fairgrounds in Jackson, except for the Kirk Fordice Equine Center, or in connection with any of the events conducted on the State Fairgrounds in return for a monetary consideration paid to the * * * ~~commission~~ department. Furthermore, the * * * ~~commission~~ department may lease to any public, private, commercial or charitable entity for a term not to exceed twenty (20) years naming rights to buildings, except for the Kirk Fordice Equine Center, or property, including, but not limited to, new construction, improvements to existing buildings, grounds and/or objects located on the State Fairgrounds in return for consideration benefitting the commission. The lessee shall pay the cost of erecting, maintaining and removing signage related to the property. Those funds received from an entity for allowing its name to be used, published or advertised in connection with the buildings, improvements, objects or events shall be retained by the * * * ~~commission~~ department to be used for capital improvements to the fairgrounds or in its annual operating budget. The * * * ~~commission~~ department shall not enter into any such agreement with any vendor whose products are illegal for participation in or use by persons eighteen (18) years of age and under.

(7) The * * * ~~chairman of the commission~~ Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce is authorized to form and establish a private foundation or nonprofit corporation to receive and disburse the funds generated by the sale of naming rights described in subsection (6) of this section and for any other donations made to the * * * ~~commission~~ department. The funds shall be disbursed in accordance with guidelines described in this section, and the foundation or nonprofit corporation shall be subject to the reporting requirements described in subsection (10) of this section. All funds shall remain with the foundation until disbursement and shall not be transferred to the State General Fund. No public funds shall be deposited into the account of the private foundation or nonprofit corporation established by the * * * ~~commission~~ department for the benefit of the State Fairgrounds, nor shall the Legislature appropriate any State General Fund or Special Fund monies to the foundation or nonprofit corporation for such purposes. All monies received by the foundation shall be maintained separately from funds allocated to the * * * ~~commission~~ department for operating and administrative costs associated with the State Fairgrounds. In addition to the reporting of information to be included in the annual legislative report of the * * * ~~commission~~ department, the private foundation or nonprofit corporation shall be subject to annual financial audits by the State Auditor and by auditors of donors in the same manner as required for state agencies.

(8) The * * * ~~commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce shall have the authority to enter into a lease or right-of-way with a third party covering any land or buildings on the State Fairgrounds and any funds generated from such lease or right-of-way shall remain in a special fund managed by the * * * ~~commission~~ department for the benefit of the State Fairgrounds. All monies in the special fund may be used for capital improvements to the State Fairgrounds or in the * * * ~~commission's~~ department's annual operating budget for operating and administrative costs associated with the State Fairgrounds. Any unexpended funds remaining in the special fund shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited in the fund.

(9) The * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce is hereby authorized, with the advice of the Mississippi Fair Advisory Council, to adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary or desirable to carry out, execute or implement the provisions of this article.

(10) The * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce shall report by January 1 of each year a detailed financial statement of all monies received and expended under subsection (6) and subsection (7) of this section to the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee.

SECTION 6. Section 69-5-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-5-5. The * * * Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce shall appoint, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, a director within the department who shall oversee all operations at the State Fairgrounds Complex and its adjoining properties and who shall * * * give full and detailed reports of livestock shows and fairs participating in premium monies, for report to the Governor and Legislature. The compensation of the director shall be fixed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, subject to approval by the State Personnel Board, and shall be exempt from the provisions of subsection (2) of Section 25-3-39.

SECTION 7. Section 69-5-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-5-7. Headquarters of the Mississippi State Fair * * * ~~Commission~~ operations shall be in connection with the office of the * * * ~~state~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

SECTION 8. Section 69-5-8, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-5-8. The building under the jurisdiction of the * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce, that is located in Jackson, Mississippi, and used primarily as an arena for rodeo and livestock expositions and related events, shall be named the Kirk Fordice Equine Center. The * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce shall prepare or have prepared a distinctive plaque, to be placed in a prominent place within the Kirk Fordice Equine Center, that states the background, accomplishments and service to the state of Governor Kirk Fordice.

SECTION 9. Section 69-5-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-5-11. (1) The * * * Department of Agriculture and Commerce shall charge for admission to the State Fair. The proceeds thereof shall be used for the repayment of revenue bonds issued for the purpose of constructing, equipping and furnishing new buildings and making improvements on the State Fairgrounds.

(2) Funds collected in excess of those required to retire any outstanding bond indebtedness may be used as operating revenue for the * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce for operating and administrative costs associated with the State Fairgrounds, and such excess funds received by the * * * ~~Fair Commission~~ department shall be deposited in * * * ~~its~~ a special fund account managed by the department for the benefit of the State Fairgrounds.

(3) The State Treasurer is hereby directed to invest such excess funds to the credit of the * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission's~~ special account managed by the department for the benefit of the State Fairgrounds.

SECTION 10. Section 69-5-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-5-13. The * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce is hereby authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to declare by resolution the number and type buildings which need to be constructed and the type improvements that need to be made on the state fairgrounds, and file a certified copy of said resolution with the State Building Commission. If the State Building Commission believes such construction and improvements to be in the best public interest, and that receipts from admission to the State Fair reasonably shall be expected to produce sufficient revenues over a period not to exceed twenty (20) years to retire bonds issued to pay the cost of such improvements as well as the interest thereon, it may, in its discretion, approve the request of the * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

SECTION 11. Section 69-5-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-5-15. (1) The words "revenue bonds" shall be deemed to mean bonds payable solely from the net revenue received by the * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

The Department of Finance and Administration shall have power and is hereby authorized, at one time or from time to time by resolution, to authorize the issuance of negotiable revenue bonds to provide funds for the purpose of paying all or any part of the cost of construction and/or improvements requested by the * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce pursuant to Section 69-5-13, or the cost of any purchase of property or improvements thereon pursuant to Section 17-17-49, but in no event shall the amount of such bonds outstanding at any one time exceed Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000.00); and shall cause a certified copy of such resolution to be delivered to the State Bond Commission. No bonds shall be issued under this section after April 23, 2008. Upon the receipt of said authorizing resolution, the State Bond Commission, acting as the issuing agent, shall issue and sell the revenue bonds of the State of Mississippi when authorized at the time and in the amount indicated in said resolution, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids therefor, issue and sell the bonds, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in the issuance and sale of said bonds. The principal of and the interest on such revenue bonds shall be payable solely from a special fund to be provided for that purpose from the net revenue received by the * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Such bonds shall bear date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates, provided that the bonds of any issue shall not bear a greater overall maximum interest rate to maturity than that allowed in Section 75-17-103, be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature at such time or times, be redeemable prior to maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by the State Bond Commission. Such bonds shall mature in annual installments beginning not more than three (3) years from date thereof and extending not more than twenty (20) years from date thereof. Such bonds shall be signed by the Chairman of the State Bond Commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the State Bond Commission shall be affixed thereto, and attested by the Secretary of the State Bond Commission. The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to such bonds or other certificates thereon may be executed by the facsimile signatures of said officers. Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials herein designated to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers prior to the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until the delivery of the same to the purchaser or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear.

(2) No bonds shall be issued under the authority of this section prior to February 1, 1983; thereafter such bonds may be issued provided that the expansion and other improvements of the Mississippi Industrial Showcase and Trade Mart Building shall have priority in the use of the proceeds of such bonds and provided that the Department of Finance and Administration has approved plans to increase the size of such building by at least fifty percent (50%).

SECTION 12. Section 69-5-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-5-27. The * * * Department of Agriculture and Commerce shall have the power and authority, in its discretion, to borrow money from any bank or banks in an amount not in excess of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00), to be used for the repair, renovation or maintenance of buildings located at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. The * * * ~~Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce may use any funds accruing to it to service and retire said indebtedness. Such loan shall not exceed a term of ten (10) years and shall bear interest at a rate not in excess of that provided for in Section 75-17-101.

Any loan secured under the provisions of this section shall be approved by the State Bond Commission.

SECTION 13. Section 69-5-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-5-29. The * * * ~~Mississippi State Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce may by regulation establish policies for the issuance of free passes. These policies shall not prohibit officials of the fair or designated authority from entering said places for inspection purposes; shall not apply to press reporters designated to report news items; and shall not prohibit the commission from declaring specified days, such as Press Day, Legislator's Day, or any other special day.

SECTION 14. Section 69-5-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-5-31. (1) The * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce is authorized to hire and designate area law enforcement officers on a contractual basis to provide security and to enforce all laws of the State of Mississippi on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds Complex. All officers must have attended and satisfactorily completed the training course required for law enforcement officers at the Law Enforcement Officer's Training Academy or an equivalent facility. All officers must be current with this certification. A complete record of all law enforcement training of each employee will be maintained in each employee's record of employment. Furthermore, the * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce may enter into a contract with any certified law enforcement officer to provide security to the * * * ~~Mississippi Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce with jurisdiction to enforce all laws of the State of Mississippi on property known as the "Mississippi State Fairgrounds Complex" and any and all of its outlying buildings and property.

(2) (a) All officers while in performance of their duty on the premises or at any of the facilities at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds Complex under the direction or control of the * * * ~~Mississippi State Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce and public property immediately adjacent to such facilities shall:

(i) Be required to dress in uniforms prescribed by * * * ~~the Mississippi State Fair Commission~~ the respective law enforcement agency by which he or she is employed; and

(ii) Be authorized to carry weapons.

(b) Employees designated as officers shall be duly sworn and vested with authority to bear arms and make arrests, and shall exercise primarily the responsibilities of the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of criminals, and the enforcement of the ordinances and policies of the * * * ~~Mississippi State Fair Commission~~ Department of Agriculture and Commerce, a political subdivision of the State of Mississippi. Employees designated as such officers shall be considered law enforcement officers within the meaning of Section 45-6-3.

SECTION 15. Sections 4 through 14 of this act shall stand repealed on July 1, 2022.

SECTION 16. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.