MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Ways and Means
By: Representatives Bell (65th), Rosebud
AN ACT TO CREATE A NEW CHAPTER IN TITLE 67, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE MISSISSIPPI LIQUOR DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION LAW; TO CREATE THE LIQUOR DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION AS A WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTOR AND SELLER OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN THE STATE; TO DEFINE TERMS; TO ENUMERATE THE DUTIES AND PREROGATIVES OF THE CORPORATION; TO CONSTITUTE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CORPORATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ENUMERATE THE BOARD'S DUTIES; TO ALLOW THE BOARD TO CHARGE FEES TO DEFRAY THE COSTS OF OPERATING AND MAINTAINING FACILITIES FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, TO BE USED FOR THE RENOVATION OR EXPANSION OF CORPORATION EQUIPMENT OR PROPERTY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT, TERM OF OFFICE AND DUTIES OF THE CORPORATION'S PRESIDENT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE CORPORATION'S RECORDS SHALL BE PUBLIC AND SUBJECT TO INSPECTION, WITH EXCEPTIONS; TO PERMIT INFORMATION-SHARING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; TO ALLOW THE CORPORATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO EMPLOY ATTORNEYS AND CONTRACT WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL; TO DIRECT THE CORPORATION TO MAINTAIN A PERSONNEL PROGRAM WITH BENEFITS FOR ITS EMPLOYEES, WHO SHALL SERVE AT THE WILL AND PLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT AND SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO CIVIL SERVICE PROVISIONS OR BE CONSIDERED EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; TO ENUMERATE PROHIBITED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND DIRECT ENFORCEMENT BY THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION; TO REQUIRE THE CORPORATION TO PUBLISH QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC; TO AUTHORIZE THE CORPORATION TO ENTER CONTRACTS AND ADOPT PROCEDURES FOR PROCUREMENTS; TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE CORPORATION THROUGH A CORPORATE OPERATING ACCOUNT RETAINED BY AND TO THE CREDIT OF THE LIQUOR DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION, TO CONTAIN MONIES FROM THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND OTHER SOURCES; TO DESIGNATE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE CORPORATION AS PUBLIC SERVANTS UNDER SECTION 25-4-103; TO REQUIRE THAT OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION FILE A STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEREST WITH THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION UNDER SECTION 25-4-25; TO REQUIRE THE CORPORATION TO SUBMIT QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; TO REQUIRE AN ANNUAL AUDIT OF THE CORPORATION'S RECORDS BY AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR; TO REQUIRE THE CORPORATION TO SUBMIT ITS ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR TO THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMITTEE; TO AMEND SECTIONS 7-7-211, 25-9-107, 25-11-103, 25-41-3, 31-7-13, 27-71-1, 27-71-5, 27-71-7, 27-71-9, 27-71-11, 27-71-13, 27-71-15, 27-71-17, 27-71-23, 27-71-27, 27-71-29, 67-1-5, 67-1-9, 67-1-18, 67-1-19, 67-1-33, 67-1-37, 67-1-43, 67-1-45, 67-1-49, 67-1-51, 67-1-73, 67-5-5, 67-5-11 AND 67-5-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE ABOVE; TO REPEAL SECTION 67-1-41, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AS THE EXCLUSIVE WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTOR AND SELLER OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WITHIN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation Law."
SECTION 2. (1) This chapter hereby creates the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation for the distribution of alcoholic beverages to persons with valid alcoholic beverage permits issued by the Mississippi Department of Revenue. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation shall be accountable to the Governor, the Legislature and the people of the state through a system of audits, reports and disclosures as required by this chapter. The corporation shall be managed in such a manner that enables the people of the state to benefit from its profits.
(2) The existence of the corporation, which shall be domiciled in the State of Mississippi, shall begin upon the appointment of all five (5) members of the board as provided in Section 6 of this act.
SECTION 3. As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Corporation" means the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation.
(b) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Revenue.
(c) "Alcoholic beverage" means any alcoholic liquid, including wines of more than five percent (5%) of alcohol by weight, capable of being consumed as a beverage by a human being, but shall not include light wine and beer, as defined in Section 67-3-3, but shall include native wines. The words "alcoholic beverage" shall not include ethyl alcohol manufactured or distilled solely for fuel purposes or beer of an alcoholic content of more than eight percent (8%) by weight if the beer is legally manufactured in this state for sale in another state.
(d) "Major procurement" means any item, product or service in the amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) or more, including, but not limited to, major commodities and services unique to the distribution of alcoholic beverages.
(e) "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other legal entity.
(f) "President" means the president of the corporation, who shall also serve as chief executive officer of the corporation.
(g) "Officer" means an executive-level agent of the corporation who reports directly to the president.
(h) "Retailer" means any person who has received and maintains a permit to sell or distribute alcoholic beverages from the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the department.
(i) "Vendor" means any person who has entered into a contract with the corporation.
(j) "Fiscal year" means the fiscal year used by the State of Mississippi.
(k) "Board" means the corporation's board of directors.
(l) "Net proceeds" means the total of all monies collected by the corporation less all costs, expenses and salaries required to be paid to fulfill its obligations and duties based on its budget as approved by the board.
SECTION 4. Corporation's duties and prerogatives. (1) The corporation shall control and administer the wholesale distribution of alcoholic beverages to retailers within the state.
(2) In pursuing the objectives and purposes of this act, the corporation may:
(a) Sue and be sued in its corporate name;
(b) Adopt a corporate seal and a symbol;
(c) Hold patents, copyrights, trademarks and service marks, and enforce its rights with respect thereto;
(d) Acquire real property and make improvements thereon;
(e) Make, solicit and request proposals and offers, and execute and effectuate any and all agreements or contracts necessary for the proper administration of its duties and responsibilities;
(f) Adopt and amend such bylaws, rules and regulations, with the approval of the board, as it deems necessary to administer this chapter; and
(g) Charge such fees to manufacturers and retailers as are necessary to defray costs associated with the distribution of alcoholic beverages in this state.
(3) Any and all equipment or property, real or personal, currently owned by the Department of Revenue or the state on the department's behalf and used in the storage or distribution of alcoholic beverages located at the Liquor Distribution Center in Gluckstadt, Mississippi, is hereby transferred to the corporation and may be used, sold or disposed of by the corporation at the board's direction.
SECTION 5. Wholesale distributor and seller. (1) The corporation is hereby created a wholesale distributor and seller of alcoholic beverages, not including malt liquors, within the State of Mississippi. It is granted the sole right to import and sell intoxicating liquors at wholesale within the state, and no person who is granted the right to sell, distribute or receive intoxicating liquors at retail shall purchase any intoxicating liquors from any source other than the corporation except as authorized in this chapter. The corporation may establish warehouses, purchase alcoholic beverages in such quantities and from such sources as it may deem desirable, and sell the alcoholic beverages to authorized permittees within the state, including any retail distributors operating within any military post or qualified resort areas within the boundaries of the state. The corporation shall keep a correct and accurate record of all such transactions and exercising such control over the distribution of alcoholic beverages as seems right and proper in keeping with the provisions and purposes of this chapter.
(2) No person shall sell or, for the purpose of sale, shall manufacture, distill, brew, possess, export, transport, distribute, warehouse, store, solicit, take orders for, bottle, rectify, blend, treat, mix or process any alcoholic beverage except in accordance with the authority granted under this chapter, or as otherwise provided by law for native wines.
(3) No alcoholic beverage intended for sale or resale shall be imported, shipped or brought into this state for delivery to any person other than as provided in this chapter, or as otherwise provided by law for native wines.
(4) The corporation may promulgate rules and regulations authorizing on-premises retailers to purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from package retailers and authorizing package retailers to purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from other package retailers. The corporation shall develop and provide forms to be completed by the on-premises retailers and the package retailers verifying the transaction. The completed forms shall be forwarded to the corporation within a period of time prescribed by the corporation.
(5) The corporation may promulgate rules authorizing the holder of a package retailer's permit to allow individual retail purchasers of packages of alcoholic beverages to return, for exchange, credit or refund, limited quantities of originally sealed and unopened packages of alcoholic beverages purchased by the individual from the package retailer.
(6) The corporation may promulgate rules authorizing the manufacturer of an alcoholic beverage to import, transport and furnish, and give samples of alcoholic beverages, to the holders of package retailer's permits, on-premises retailer's permits, native wine retailer's permits and temporary retailer's permits who have not previously purchased the brand of that manufacturer from the corporation. For each holder of the designated permits, the manufacturer may furnish not more than five hundred (500) milliliters of any brand of alcoholic beverage other than wine, and not more than three (3) liters of any brand of wine.
(7) The department may promulgate rules disallowing open product sampling of alcoholic beverages by the holders of package retailer's permits and permitting open product sampling of alcoholic beverages by the holders of on-premises retailer's permits. Permitted sample products shall be plainly identified "sample," and the actual sampling must occur in the presence of the manufacturer's representatives during the legal operating hours of on-premises retailers.
(8) The corporation may promulgate rules and regulations authorizing the holder of a research permit to import and purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from importers, wineries and distillers of alcoholic beverages or from the corporation. The corporation shall develop and provide forms to be completed by the research permittee verifying each transaction. The completed forms shall be forwarded to the corporation within a period of time prescribed by the corporation. The records and inventory of alcoholic beverages shall be open to inspection at any time by the corporation or the department.
(9) This section shall not apply to alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold by the holder of a distillery retailer's permit.
(10) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to govern, affect or limit the department's authority to issue alcoholic beverage permits or enforce the provisions of this section, nor shall this chapter be construed to supersede or preempt the authority of the department as it relates to investigating activities occurring on permitted premises or elsewhere pertaining to the possession, sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages.
(11) Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be a one-year transition period beginning on July 1, 2021, during which both the department and the corporation will be authorized to distribute alcoholic beverages to retailers. This period may be shortened or lengthened at the agreement of both the department and the corporation. If alcoholic beverages are distributed by the department during this period, the department shall act in all matters in accordance with the authorizations and responsibilities in place prior to July 1, 2021.
(12) During this transition period, twelve percent (12%) of the funds derived from the twenty-seven and one-half percent (27-1/2%) markup created by Section 27-71-11 and collected by the department and/or the corporation shall be distributed to a corporate operating account retained by and to the credit of the corporation. The account shall be established in a custodian financial institution domiciled in the State of Mississippi and insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. These funds shall be used by the corporation to pay initial costs and expenses associated with the preparation of facilities, property, software and equipment necessary for the corporation to administer its responsibilities.
SECTION 6. Board of directors. (1) The affairs of the corporation shall be administered by its board of directors. The board shall be composed of five (5) members, with one (1) member being the Commissioner of Revenue. The remaining four (4) members will be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Members appointed when the Senate is not in session shall serve only until the end of the next regular session, unless confirmed by the Senate. All members shall be voting members.
(2) (a) Members of the board shall be residents of the State of Mississippi, and the Governor shall take into account the goals of geographic, racial, gender and other categories of diversity when nominating board members.
(b) Of the initial appointees, the members' terms shall be staggered as follows: one (1) term each to expire on December 31, 2022; December 31, 2023; December 31, 2024; and December 31, 2025. After the expiration of the initial terms, board members other than the Commissioner of Revenue shall serve terms of five (5) years. The Commissioner of Revenue shall serve for so long as he or she holds the position.
(c) Members may serve beyond the end of their respective terms until their successors have been appointed and qualified. No member other than the Commissioner of Revenue shall serve more than two (2) consecutive five-year terms. Members other than the Commissioner of Revenue may be removed by the Governor for neglect of duty, misfeasance or nonfeasance in office. The board shall annually elect a chairman from among its members.
(3) Appointed members of the board shall be entitled to per diem compensation paid by the corporation pursuant to Section 25-3-69 and shall be reimbursed by the corporation for necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. No appointed member of the board shall be considered a public officer.
(4) The board, upon the initial call of the Governor and the chairman thereafter, shall meet at least monthly for the first eighteen (18) months and at such other times as the chairman may determine. Three (3) members of the board shall constitute a quorum. The board shall also meet upon the call of three (3) or more of its members. The board shall keep accurate and complete records of all its meetings.
(5) All meetings of the board shall be subject to the Open Meetings Act in Section 25–41–1, et seq.
SECTION 7. Board responsibilities. (1) The board shall:
(a) Approve, disapprove, amend or modify the budget recommended by the president for the operation of the corporation;
(b) Approve, disapprove, amend or modify the terms of major procurements recommended by the president;
(c) Adopt such administrative rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out and implement its powers and duties, the operations of the corporation, the distribution of alcoholic beverages in general and any other matters necessary or desirable for the efficient and effective operation of corporation facilities; and
(d) Prescribe and charge reasonable fees to defray the costs of operating and maintaining facilities used for the wholesale distribution of alcoholic beverages. Funds derived from these fees may only be used for the renovation or expansion of corporation equipment or property.
(2) Any policies adopted by authority of this section or any other section of this chapter must be published and posted on the corporation's website thirty (30) days prior to becoming effective.
(3) The board shall periodically review the corporation's performance and:
(a) Advise and make recommendations to the president regarding the corporation's operations;
(b) Identify potential improvements in this chapter and in the corporation's management and administrative rules and regulations; and
(c) Request from the corporation any information the board determines to be relevant to its duties.
SECTION 8. President. (1) The president of the corporation shall be appointed by the board subject to the approval of the Governor. The Governor shall, within thirty (30) days after receiving the nomination of the president in writing, either approve or reject the nomination. Failure to take either action within the required time shall constitute approval by the Governor. If the Governor rejects the nomination of the president, then the board shall submit a different nominee to the Governor. The president shall manage the corporation's daily affairs and shall have such powers and duties as specified by this chapter and by any rules or regulations adopted by the board. The president shall not be a member of the board but shall serve at the will and pleasure of the board.
(2) The president shall employ such personnel as he or she deems necessary. All personnel shall serve at the will and pleasure of the president, unless otherwise specified by the president.
(3) The board shall set the salary of the president.
(4) No employee of the corporation shall be a member of the board.
SECTION 9. Presidential responsibilities. (1) The president, as chief executive officer of the corporation, shall direct and supervise all administrative and operational activities in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the administrative rules and regulations adopted by the board. The president shall:
(a) Supervise and administer the operation of the corporation and the ordering and distribution of alcoholic beverages;
(b) Employ and direct such personnel as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter and utilize such services, personnel and facilities of the corporation as he or she may deem necessary;
(c) Contract with vendors in accordance with the corporation's administrative rules and regulations as necessary to operate the facilities and fulfill the responsibilities of the corporation;
(d) Make available for inspection by the board or any board member, upon request, all books, records, files and other information and documents of his or her office, and advise the board and recommend such administrative rules and regulations and other measures he or she deems necessary and advisable to improve the operation and administration of alcoholic beverage distribution to retailers throughout the state;
(e) Enter into any contract pursuant to this chapter with any person for the performance of any functions as provided in this act or the administrative rules and regulations adopted by the board;
(f) Attend board meetings or appoint a designee to attend on his or her behalf; and
(g) Not later than thirty (30) days before the beginning of the corporation's fiscal year, submit the corporation's proposed annual budget. In addition, the proposed budget shall include a personnel table reporting information for each full-time and part-time permanent position as follows:
(i) The position title and salary for each position in the existing operating budget for the current fiscal year, indicating whether each position is filled or vacant as of the reporting date; and
(ii) The position title and salary recommended for each position for the next fiscal year.
(2) The president, with the board's approval, may amend or modify the budget at any time and in any manner deemed necessary for the proper operation of the corporation.
(3) Following approval by the Governor and during the entire term of his or her employment by the board, the president shall reside in Mississippi.
SECTION 10. Confidentiality. (1) All records of the corporation shall be deemed public records and subject to public inspection as provided by Section 25–61–1 et seq., unless:
(a) The record involves a tax liability of a retailer, supplier or manufacturer or contains information derived from a return filed by a retailer, supplier or manufacturer;
(b) The record is part of any application for a permit issued by the department;
(c) The record involves a trade secret of the corporation or of a vendor; or
(d) The record is covered by another exemption under federal or state law.
(2) The department and the corporation are authorized to enter into a sharing agreement under which each entity may exchange information required to properly administer their respective responsibilities. The corporation and its employees shall treat all information provided by the department as confidential and are subject to the same statutory restrictions and penalties as to the use, release and handling of this information that are applicable to the department and its employees.
SECTION 11. Attorneys. The board may employ attorneys and may contract with outside counsel when the board determines the need. Such counsel may initiate or defend actions on the corporation's behalf.
SECTION 12. Employment practices. The corporation shall establish and maintain a personnel program, including administrative rules and regulations for its employees. The corporation may procure benefit programs or group insurance plans and shall provide or arrange for a retirement plan. Unless otherwise specified by the president, employees of the corporation shall serve at the will and pleasure of the president, who shall determine their compensation and benefits. The employees shall be subject to suspension, dismissal, reduction in pay, demotion, transfer or other personnel action at the discretion of the president and shall not be subject to civil service provisions. The compensation of officers shall be determined by the board. Corporation employees shall not be considered employees of the State of Mississippi.
SECTION 13. Conflicts of interest. (1) No board member, officer or employee of the corporation or any spouse, sibling, ancestor or descendant of a board member, officer or employee shall have a financial interest in any vendor doing business or proposing to do business with the corporation.
(2) No board member, officer or employee of the corporation may, directly or indirectly, individually or as a member of a partnership or limited liability company, or as a shareholder of a corporation, have any interest whatsoever in the manufacture, sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages, or receive any compensation or profit therefrom, or have any interest whatsoever in the purchases or sales made by the persons authorized by the department to purchase or to sell alcoholic beverages.
(3) No former board member or officer of the corporation, or a corporation or other entity owned, in whole or in part, by a former board member or officer of the corporation, shall solicit or accept employment or enter into a contract for compensation of any kind with a vendor of the corporation within one (1) year after leaving the employment of or appointment to the corporation.
(4) Violation of any provision of this section by a board member, officer or employee of the corporation shall constitute cause for removal from office or dismissal from employment in addition to any other available remedies.
(5) The State Ethics Commission shall administer and enforce the provisions of this section. The procedures and penalties provided for in Section 25-4-101, et seq., shall apply to the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this section.
SECTION 14. Financial statements. The corporation shall publish quarterly and annual financial statements, which shall be made available to the public within thirty (30) days following the close of each quarter. The quarterly and annual financial statements shall include disposition of all funds expended by the corporation for any purpose, including disclosure of any major procurements.
SECTION 15. Procurement. (1) The corporation shall enter into its contracts for major procurements after receipt of bids or proposals. The corporation shall adopt administrative rules and regulations pursuant to the provisions of this chapter providing for specific procedures to be utilized for all other procurements made by the corporation based on the monetary amount of the services or commodities being purchased.
(2) The corporation may do its own procurement or may utilize the services of the Department of Finance and Administration, the Department of Information Technology Services, or other state agencies as appropriate and necessary. The president of the corporation may, with board approval, declare an emergency for purchasing purposes, which shall be governed by the administrative rules and regulations adopted by the board.
SECTION 16. Funding. (1) (a) With the exception of the markup created by Section 27-71-7 and deposited into the Mental Health Programs Fund, all monies received by the corporation from the sale of alcoholic beverages and all other sources shall be deposited into a corporate operating account retained by and to the credit of the corporation. This account shall be established in a custodian financial institution domiciled in the State of Mississippi and insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The corporation may use the monies in this account for the purposes of paying costs, expenses and salaries required to be paid to fulfill its obligations and duties based on its budget as approved by the board.
(b) Within twenty (20) days following the close of each calendar month, the corporation shall transfer to the General Fund in the State Treasury the amount of net proceeds. The corporation shall not retain more than [insert percentage here] of the funds derived from the excise tax created by Section 27-71-7 and the twenty-seven and one-half percent (27-1/2%) markup created by Section 27-71-11, during any period.
(2) The corporation is intended to be self-sustaining and self-funded.
(3) The corporation may accept and expend such monies as may be appropriated by the Legislature or such monies as may be received from any source, including income from the corporation's operations, for effectuating its corporate purposes, including the payment of the initial expenses of administration and operation of the corporation.
SECTION 17. Employment ethics. All officers and employees of the corporation shall be considered public servants as defined in Section 25–4–103. All officers of the corporation are subject to Section 25–4–25 and shall be required to file a Statement of Economic Interest with the Mississippi Ethics Commission.
SECTION 18. Audit. The corporation, through its board, shall:
(a) Compile and submit quarterly and annual reports and financial statements; and
(b) Contract with an independent auditor who is a certified public accountant or firm to conduct an annual financial audit of the corporation's books and records. The cost of this annual financial audit shall be an operating expense of the corporation. This audit is subject to the following requirements:
(i) The independent auditor shall have no financial interest in any vendor with whom the corporation is under contract;
(ii) All contracts for independent auditors shall be reviewed by and subject to the approval of the State Auditor to ensure that the independent auditor is qualified to perform the audit;
(iii) The audit shall be completed within ninety (90) days after the close of the corporation's fiscal year; and
(iv) Contracts may be entered into for audit services for a period not to exceed five (5) years, and the same firm shall not receive two (2) consecutive audit contracts.
SECTION 19. For informational purposes only, the corporation shall submit to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee a copy of the corporation's annual operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
SECTION 20. Section 7-7-211, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
7-7-211. The department shall have the power and it shall be its duty:
(a) To identify and define for all public offices of the state and its subdivisions generally accepted accounting principles or other accounting principles as promulgated by nationally recognized professional organizations and to consult with the State Fiscal Officer in the prescription and implementation of accounting rules and regulations;
(b) To provide best practices, for all public offices of regional and local subdivisions of the state, systems of accounting, budgeting and reporting financial facts relating to said offices in conformity with legal requirements and with generally accepted accounting principles or other accounting principles as promulgated by nationally recognized professional organizations; to assist such subdivisions in need of assistance in the installation of such systems; to revise such systems when deemed necessary, and to report to the Legislature at periodic times the extent to which each office is maintaining such systems, along with such recommendations to the Legislature for improvement as seem desirable;
(c) To study and analyze existing managerial policies, methods, procedures, duties and services of the various state departments and institutions upon written request of the Governor, the Legislature or any committee or other body empowered by the Legislature to make such request to determine whether and where operations can be eliminated, combined, simplified and improved;
(d) To postaudit each year and, when deemed necessary, preaudit and investigate the financial affairs of the departments, institutions, boards, commissions, or other agencies of state government, as part of the publication of a comprehensive annual financial report for the State of Mississippi, or as deemed necessary by the State Auditor. In complying with the requirements of this paragraph, the department shall have the authority to conduct all necessary audit procedures on an interim and year-end basis;
(e) To postaudit and, when deemed necessary, preaudit and investigate separately the financial affairs of (i) the offices, boards and commissions of county governments and any departments and institutions thereof and therein; (ii) public school districts, departments of education and junior college districts; and (iii) any other local offices or agencies which share revenues derived from taxes or fees imposed by the State Legislature or receive grants from revenues collected by governmental divisions of the state; the cost of such audits, investigations or other services to be paid as follows: Such part shall be paid by the state from appropriations made by the Legislature for the operation of the State Department of Audit as may exceed the sum of Thirty-five Dollars ($35.00) per man-hour for the services of each staff person engaged in performing the audit or other service plus the actual cost of any independent specialist firm contracted by the State Auditor to assist in the performance of the audit, which sum shall be paid by the county, district, department, institution or other agency audited out of its general fund or any other available funds from which such payment is not prohibited by law. Costs paid for independent specialists or firms contracted by the State Auditor shall be paid by the audited entity through the State Auditor to the specialist or firm conducting the postaudit.
Each school district in the state shall have its financial records audited annually, at the end of each fiscal year, either by the State Auditor or by a certified public accountant approved by the State Auditor. Beginning with the audits of fiscal year 2010 activity, no certified public accountant shall be selected to perform the annual audit of a school district who has audited that district for three (3) or more consecutive years previously. Certified public accountants shall be selected in a manner determined by the State Auditor. The school district shall have the responsibility to pay for the audit, including the review by the State Auditor of audits performed by certified public accountants;
(f) To postaudit and, when deemed necessary, preaudit and investigate the financial affairs of the levee boards; agencies created by the Legislature or by executive order of the Governor; profit or nonprofit business entities administering programs financed by funds flowing through the State Treasury or through any of the agencies of the state, or its subdivisions; and all other public bodies supported by funds derived in part or wholly from public funds, except municipalities which annually submit an audit prepared by a qualified certified public accountant using methods and procedures prescribed by the department;
(g) To make written demand, when necessary, for the recovery of any amounts representing public funds improperly withheld, misappropriated and/or otherwise illegally expended by an officer, employee or administrative body of any state, county or other public office, and/or for the recovery of the value of any public property disposed of in an unlawful manner by a public officer, employee or administrative body, such demands to be made (i) upon the person or persons liable for such amounts and upon the surety on official bond thereof, and/or (ii) upon any individual, partnership, corporation or association to whom the illegal expenditure was made or with whom the unlawful disposition of public property was made, if such individual, partnership, corporation or association knew or had reason to know through the exercising of reasonable diligence that the expenditure was illegal or the disposition unlawful. Such demand shall be premised on competent evidence, which shall include at least one (1) of the following: (i) sworn statements, (ii) written documentation, (iii) physical evidence, or (iv) reports and findings of government or other law enforcement agencies. Other provisions notwithstanding, a demand letter issued pursuant to this paragraph shall remain confidential by the State Auditor until the individual against whom the demand letter is being filed has been served with a copy of such demand letter. If, however, such individual cannot be notified within fifteen (15) days using reasonable means and due diligence, such notification shall be made to the individual's bonding company, if he or she is bonded. Each such demand shall be paid into the proper treasury of the state, county or other public body through the office of the department in the amount demanded within thirty (30) days from the date thereof, together with interest thereon in the sum of one percent (1%) per month from the date such amount or amounts were improperly withheld, misappropriated and/or otherwise illegally expended. In the event, however, such person or persons or such surety shall refuse, neglect or otherwise fail to pay the amount demanded and the interest due thereon within the allotted thirty (30) days, the State Auditor shall have the authority and it shall be his duty to institute suit, and the Attorney General shall prosecute the same in any court of the state to the end that there shall be recovered the total of such amounts from the person or persons and surety on official bond named therein; and the amounts so recovered shall be paid into the proper treasury of the state, county or other public body through the State Auditor. In any case where written demand is issued to a surety on the official bond of such person or persons and the surety refuses, neglects or otherwise fails within one hundred twenty (120) days to either pay the amount demanded and the interest due thereon or to give the State Auditor a written response with specific reasons for nonpayment, then the surety shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount of twelve percent (12%) of the bond, not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), to be deposited into the State General Fund;
(h)
To investigate any alleged or suspected violation of the laws of the state by
any officer or employee of the state, county or other public office in the
purchase, sale or the use of any supplies, services, equipment or other
property belonging thereto; and in such investigation to do any and all things
necessary to procure evidence sufficient either to prove or disprove the
existence of such alleged or suspected violations. The * * * Division of Investigation of
the State Department of Audit may investigate, for the purpose of prosecution,
any suspected criminal violation of the provisions of this chapter. For the
purpose of administration and enforcement of this chapter, the enforcement
employees of the * * * Division of Investigation of the State Department
of Audit have the powers of a law enforcement officer of this state, and shall
be empowered to make arrests and to serve and execute search warrants and other
valid legal process anywhere within the State of Mississippi. All enforcement
employees of the * * * Division of Investigation of the State Department
of Audit hired on or after July 1, 1993, shall be required to complete the Law
Enforcement Officers Training Program and shall meet the standards of the
program;
(i) To issue subpoenas, with the approval of, and returnable to, a judge of a chancery or circuit court, in termtime or in vacation, to examine the records, documents or other evidence of persons, firms, corporations or any other entities insofar as such records, documents or other evidence relate to dealings with any state, county or other public entity. The circuit or chancery judge must serve the county in which the records, documents or other evidence is located; or where all or part of the transaction or transactions occurred which are the subject of the subpoena;
(j) In any instances in which the State Auditor is or shall be authorized or required to examine or audit, whether preaudit or postaudit, any books, ledgers, accounts or other records of the affairs of any public hospital owned or owned and operated by one or more political subdivisions or parts thereof or any combination thereof, or any school district, including activity funds thereof, it shall be sufficient compliance therewith, in the discretion of the State Auditor, that such examination or audit be made from the report of any audit or other examination certified by a certified public accountant and prepared by or under the supervision of such certified public accountant. Such audits shall be made in accordance with generally accepted standards of auditing, with the use of an audit program prepared by the State Auditor, and final reports of such audits shall conform to the format prescribed by the State Auditor. All files, working papers, notes, correspondence and all other data compiled during the course of the audit shall be available, without cost, to the State Auditor for examination and abstracting during the normal business hours of any business day. The expense of such certified reports shall be borne by the respective hospital, or any available school district funds other than minimum program funds, subject to examination or audit. The State Auditor shall not be bound by such certified reports and may, in his or their discretion, conduct such examination or audit from the books, ledgers, accounts or other records involved as may be appropriate and authorized by law;
(k) The State Auditor shall have the authority to contract with qualified public accounting firms to perform selected audits required in paragraphs (d), (e), (f) and (j) of this section, if funds are made available for such contracts by the Legislature, or if funds are available from the governmental entity covered by paragraphs (d), (e), (f) and (j). Such audits shall be made in accordance with generally accepted standards of auditing. All files, working papers, notes, correspondence and all other data compiled during the course of the audit shall be available, without cost, to the State Auditor for examination and abstracting during the normal business hours of any business day;
(l) The State Auditor shall have the authority to establish training courses and programs for the personnel of the various state and local governmental entities under the jurisdiction of the Office of the State Auditor. The training courses and programs shall include, but not be limited to, topics on internal control of funds, property and equipment control and inventory, governmental accounting and financial reporting, and internal auditing. The State Auditor is authorized to charge a fee from the participants of these courses and programs, which fee shall be deposited into the Department of Audit Special Fund. State and local governmental entities are authorized to pay such fee and any travel expenses out of their general funds or any other available funds from which such payment is not prohibited by law;
(m) Upon written request by the Governor or any member of the State Legislature, the State Auditor may audit any state funds and/or state and federal funds received by any nonprofit corporation incorporated under the laws of this state;
(n) To conduct performance audits of personal or professional service contracts by state agencies on a random sampling basis, or upon request of the State Personal Service Contract Review Board under Section 25-9-120(3);
(o) At the discretion of the State Auditor, the Auditor may conduct risk assessments, as well as performance and compliance audits based on Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) of any state-funded economic development program authorized under Title 57, Mississippi Code of 1972. After risk assessments or program audits, the State Auditor may conduct audits of those projects deemed high-risk, specifically as they identify any potential wrongdoing or noncompliance based on objectives of the economic development program. The Auditor is granted authority to gather, audit and review data and information from the Mississippi Development Authority or any of its agents, the Department of Revenue, and when necessary under this paragraph, the recipient business or businesses or any other private, public or nonprofit entity with information relevant to the audit project. The maximum amount the State Auditor may bill the oversight agency under this paragraph in any fiscal year is One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), based on reasonable and necessary expenses;
(p)
To review and approve any independent auditor selected by the Mississippi
Lottery Corporation in accordance with Section 27-115-89, to conduct an annual
audit of the corporation; * * * and
(q)
To conduct audits or investigations of the Mississippi Lottery Corporation if
in the opinion of the State Auditor conditions justify such audits or
investigations * * *;
(r) To review and approve any independent auditor selected by the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation to conduct an annual audit of the corporation; and
(s) To conduct audits or investigations of the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation if, in the opinion of the State Auditor, conditions justify such audits or investigations.
SECTION 21. Section 25-9-107, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-9-107. The following terms, when used in this chapter, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Board" means the State Personnel Board created under the provisions of this chapter.
(b) "State service" means all employees of state departments, agencies and institutions as defined herein, except those officers and employees excluded by this chapter.
(c) "Nonstate service" means the following officers and employees excluded from the state service by this chapter. The following are excluded from the state service:
(i) Members of the State Legislature, their staff and other employees of the legislative branch;
(ii) The Governor and staff members of the immediate Office of the Governor;
(iii) Justices and judges of the judicial branch or members of appeals boards on a per diem basis;
(iv) The Lieutenant Governor, staff members of the immediate Office of the Lieutenant Governor and officers and employees directly appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;
(v) Officers and officials elected by popular vote and persons appointed to fill vacancies in elective offices;
(vi) Members of boards and commissioners appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor or the State Legislature;
(vii) All academic officials, members of the teaching staffs and employees of the state institutions of higher learning, the Mississippi Community College Board, and community and junior colleges;
(viii) Officers and enlisted members of the National Guard of the state;
(ix) Prisoners, inmates, student or patient help working in or about institutions;
(x) Contract personnel; provided that any agency which employs state service employees may enter into contracts for personal and professional services only if such contracts are approved in compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Personal Service Contract Review Board under Section 25-9-120(3). Before paying any warrant for such contractual services in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), the Auditor of Public Accounts, or the successor to those duties, shall determine whether the contract involved was for personal or professional services, and, if so, was approved by the State Personal Service Contract Review Board;
(xi) Part-time employees; provided, however, part-time employees shall only be hired into authorized employment positions classified by the board, shall meet minimum qualifications as set by the board, and shall be paid in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan as certified by the board;
(xii) Persons appointed on an emergency basis for the duration of the emergency; the effective date of the emergency appointments shall not be earlier than the date approved by the State Personnel Director, and shall be limited to thirty (30) working days. Emergency appointments may be extended to sixty (60) working days by the State Personnel Board;
(xiii) Physicians, dentists, veterinarians, nurse practitioners and attorneys, while serving in their professional capacities in authorized employment positions who are required by statute to be licensed, registered or otherwise certified as such, provided that the State Personnel Director shall verify that the statutory qualifications are met prior to issuance of a payroll warrant by the Auditor;
(xiv) Personnel who are employed and paid from funds received from a federal grant program which has been approved by the Legislature or the Department of Finance and Administration whose length of employment has been determined to be time-limited in nature. This subparagraph shall apply to personnel employed under the provisions of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973, as amended, and other special federal grant programs which are not a part of regular federally funded programs wherein appropriations and employment positions are appropriated by the Legislature. Such employees shall be paid in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan and shall meet all qualifications required by federal statutes or by the Mississippi Classification Plan;
(xv) The administrative head who is in charge of any state department, agency, institution, board or commission, wherein the statute specifically authorizes the Governor, board, commission or other authority to appoint said administrative head; provided, however, that the salary of such administrative head shall be determined by the State Personnel Board in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan unless otherwise fixed by statute;
(xvi) The State Personnel Board shall exclude top-level positions if the incumbents determine and publicly advocate substantive program policy and report directly to the agency head, or the incumbents are required to maintain a direct confidential working relationship with a key excluded official. Provided further, a written job classification shall be approved by the board for each such position, and positions so excluded shall be paid in conformity with the Variable Compensation Plan;
(xvii) Employees whose employment is solely in connection with an agency's contract to produce, store or transport goods, and whose compensation is derived therefrom;
(xviii) Repealed;
(xix) The associate director, deputy directors and bureau directors within the Department of Agriculture and Commerce;
(xx) Personnel employed by the Mississippi Industries for the Blind; provided that any agency may enter into contracts for the personal services of MIB employees without the prior approval of the State Personnel Board or the State Personal Service Contract Review Board; however, any agency contracting for the personal services of an MIB employee shall provide the MIB employee with not less than the entry-level compensation and benefits that the agency would provide to a full-time employee of the agency who performs the same services;
(xxi) Personnel employed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources as law enforcement trainees (cadets); such personnel shall be paid in accordance with the Colonel Guy Groff State Variable Compensation Plan;
(xxii) Administrators and instructional employees under contract or employed by the Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA) established in Section 37-140-1 et seq.;
(xxiii)
The President of the Mississippi Lottery Corporation and personnel employed by
the Mississippi Lottery Corporation * * *; and
(xxiv) The President of the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation and personnel employed by the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation.
(d) "Agency" means any state board, commission, committee, council, department or unit thereof created by the Constitution or statutes if such board, commission, committee, council, department, unit or the head thereof, is authorized to appoint subordinate staff by the Constitution or statute, except a legislative or judicial board, commission, committee, council, department or unit thereof.
SECTION 22. Section 25-11-103, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-11-103. (1) The following words and phrases as used in Articles 1 and 3, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, have the following meanings:
(a) "Accumulated contributions" means the sum of all the amounts deducted from the compensation of a member and credited to his or her individual account in the annuity savings account, together with regular interest as provided in Section 25-11-123.
(b) "Actuarial cost" means the amount of funds presently required to provide future benefits as determined by the board based on applicable tables and formulas provided by the actuary.
(c) "Actuarial equivalent" means a benefit of equal value to the accumulated contributions, annuity or benefit, as the case may be, when computed upon the basis of such mortality tables as adopted by the board of trustees, and regular interest.
(d) "Actuarial tables" mean such tables of mortality and rates of interest as adopted by the board in accordance with the recommendation of the actuary.
(e) "Agency" means any governmental body employing persons in the state service.
(f) "Average compensation" means the average of the four (4) highest years of earned compensation reported for an employee in a fiscal or calendar year period, or combination thereof that do not overlap, or the last forty-eight (48) consecutive months of earned compensation reported for an employee. The four (4) years need not be successive or joined years of service. In computing the average compensation for retirement, disability or survivor benefits, any amount lawfully paid in a lump sum for personal leave or major medical leave shall be included in the calculation to the extent that the amount does not exceed an amount that is equal to thirty (30) days of earned compensation and to the extent that it does not cause the employee's earned compensation to exceed the maximum reportable amount specified in paragraph (k) of this subsection; however, this thirty-day limitation shall not prevent the inclusion in the calculation of leave earned under federal regulations before July 1, 1976, and frozen as of that date as referred to in Section 25-3-99. In computing the average compensation, no amounts shall be used that are in excess of the amount on which contributions were required and paid, and no nontaxable amounts paid by the employer for health or life insurance premiums for the employee shall be used. If any member who is or has been granted any increase in annual salary or compensation of more than eight percent (8%) retires within twenty-four (24) months from the date that the increase becomes effective, then the board shall exclude that part of the increase in salary or compensation that exceeds eight percent (8%) in calculating that member's average compensation for retirement purposes. The board may enforce this provision by rule or regulation. However, increases in compensation in excess of eight percent (8%) per year granted within twenty-four (24) months of the date of retirement may be included in the calculation of average compensation if satisfactory proof is presented to the board showing that the increase in compensation was the result of an actual change in the position held or services rendered, or that the compensation increase was authorized by the State Personnel Board or was increased as a result of statutory enactment, and the employer furnishes an affidavit stating that the increase granted within the last twenty-four (24) months was not contingent on a promise or agreement of the employee to retire. Nothing in Section 25-3-31 shall affect the calculation of the average compensation of any member for the purposes of this article. The average compensation of any member who retires before July 1, 1992, shall not exceed the annual salary of the Governor.
(g) "Beneficiary" means any person entitled to receive a retirement allowance, an annuity or other benefit as provided by Articles 1 and 3. The term "beneficiary" may also include an organization, estate, trust or entity; however, a beneficiary designated or entitled to receive monthly payments under an optional settlement based on life contingency or under a statutory monthly benefit may only be a natural person. In the event of the death before retirement of any member who became a member of the system before July 1, 2007, and whose spouse and/or children are not entitled to a retirement allowance on the basis that the member has less than four (4) years of membership service credit, or who became a member of the system on or after July 1, 2007, and whose spouse and/or children are not entitled to a retirement allowance on the basis that the member has less than eight (8) years of membership service credit, and/or has not been married for a minimum of one (1) year or the spouse has waived his or her entitlement to a retirement allowance under Section 25-11-114, the lawful spouse of a member at the time of the death of the member shall be the beneficiary of the member unless the member has designated another beneficiary after the date of marriage in writing, and filed that writing in the office of the executive director of the board of trustees. No designation or change of beneficiary shall be made in any other manner.
(h) "Board" means the board of trustees provided in Section 25-11-15 to administer the retirement system created under this article.
(i) "Creditable service" means "prior service," "retroactive service" and all lawfully credited unused leave not exceeding the accrual rates and limitations provided in Section 25-3-91 et seq., as of the date of withdrawal from service plus "membership service" and other service for which credit is allowable as provided in Section 25-11-109. Except to limit creditable service reported to the system for the purpose of computing an employee's retirement allowance or annuity or benefits provided in this article, nothing in this paragraph shall limit or otherwise restrict the power of the governing authority of a municipality or other political subdivision of the state to adopt such vacation and sick leave policies as it deems necessary.
(j) "Child" means either a natural child of the member, a child that has been made a child of the member by applicable court action before the death of the member, or a child under the permanent care of the member at the time of the latter's death, which permanent care status shall be determined by evidence satisfactory to the board. For purposes of this paragraph, a natural child of the member is a child of the member that is conceived before the death of the member.
(k) "Earned compensation" means the full amount earned during a fiscal year by an employee not to exceed the employee compensation limit set pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code for the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins and proportionately for less than one (1) year of service. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the value of maintenance furnished to an employee shall not be included in earned compensation. Earned compensation shall not include any amounts paid by the employer for health or life insurance premiums for an employee. Earned compensation shall be limited to the regular periodic compensation paid, exclusive of litigation fees, bond fees, performance-based incentive payments, and other similar extraordinary nonrecurring payments. In addition, any member in a covered position, as defined by Public Employees' Retirement System laws and regulations, who is also employed by another covered agency or political subdivision shall have the earnings of that additional employment reported to the Public Employees' Retirement System regardless of whether the additional employment is sufficient in itself to be a covered position. In addition, computation of earned compensation shall be governed by the following:
(i) In the case of constables, the net earnings from their office after deduction of expenses shall apply, except that in no case shall earned compensation be less than the total direct payments made by the state or governmental subdivisions to the official.
(ii) In the case of chancery or circuit clerks, the net earnings from their office after deduction of expenses shall apply as expressed in Section 25-11-123(f)(4).
(iii) In the case of members of the State Legislature, all remuneration or amounts paid, except mileage allowance, shall apply.
(iv) The amount by which an eligible employee's salary is reduced under a salary reduction agreement authorized under Section 25-17-5 shall be included as earned compensation under this paragraph, provided this inclusion does not conflict with federal law, including federal regulations and federal administrative interpretations under the federal law, pertaining to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act or to Internal Revenue Code Section 125 cafeteria plans.
(v) Compensation in addition to an employee's base salary that is paid to the employee under the vacation and sick leave policies of a municipality or other political subdivision of the state that employs him or her that exceeds the maximums authorized by Section 25-3-91 et seq. shall be excluded from the calculation of earned compensation under this article.
(vi) The maximum salary applicable for retirement purposes before July 1, 1992, shall be the salary of the Governor.
(vii) Nothing in Section 25-3-31 shall affect the determination of the earned compensation of any member for the purposes of this article.
(viii) The value of maintenance furnished to an employee before July 1, 2013, for which the proper amount of employer and employee contributions have been paid, shall be included in earned compensation. From and after July 1, 2013, the value of maintenance furnished to an employee shall be reported as earned compensation only if the proper amount of employer and employee contributions have been paid on the maintenance and the employee was receiving maintenance and having maintenance reported to the system as of June 30, 2013. The value of maintenance when not paid in money shall be fixed by the employing state agency, and, in case of doubt, by the board of trustees as defined in Section 25-11-15.
(ix) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the value of any in-kind benefits provided by the employer shall not be included in earned compensation. As used in this subparagraph, "in-kind benefits" shall include, but not be limited to, group life insurance premiums, health or dental insurance premiums, nonpaid major medical and personal leave, employer contributions for social security and retirement, tuition reimbursement or educational funding, day care or transportation benefits.
(l) "Employee" means any person legally occupying a position in the state service, and shall include the employees of the retirement system created under this article.
(m) "Employer" means the State of Mississippi or any of its departments, agencies or subdivisions from which any employee receives his or her compensation.
(n) "Executive director" means the secretary to the board of trustees, as provided in Section 25-11-15(9), and the administrator of the Public Employees' Retirement System and all systems under the management of the board of trustees. Wherever the term "Executive Secretary of the Public Employees' Retirement System" or "executive secretary" appears in this article or in any other provision of law, it shall be construed to mean the Executive Director of the Public Employees' Retirement System.
(o) "Fiscal year" means the period beginning on July 1 of any year and ending on June 30 of the next succeeding year.
(p) "Medical board" means the board of physicians or any governmental or nongovernmental disability determination service designated by the board of trustees that is qualified to make disability determinations as provided for in Section 25-11-119.
(q) "Member" means any person included in the membership of the system as provided in Section 25-11-105. For purposes of Sections 25-11-103, 25-11-105, 25-11-109, 25-11-111, 25-11-113, 25-11-114, 25-11-115 and 25-11-117, if a member of the system withdrew from state service and received a refund of the amount of the accumulated contributions to the credit of the member in the annuity savings account before July 1, 2007, and the person reenters state service and becomes a member of the system again on or after July 1, 2007, and repays all or part of the amount received as a refund and interest in order to receive creditable service for service rendered before July 1, 2007, the member shall be considered to have become a member of the system on or after July 1, 2007, subject to the eight-year membership service requirement, as applicable in those sections. For purposes of Sections 25-11-103, 25-11-111, 25-11-114 and 25-11-115, if a member of the system withdrew from state service and received a refund of the amount of the accumulated contributions to the credit of the member in the annuity savings account before July 1, 2011, and the person reenters state service and becomes a member of the system again on or after July 1, 2011, and repays all or part of the amount received as a refund and interest in order to receive creditable service for service rendered before July 1, 2011, the member shall be considered to have become a member of the system on or after July 1, 2011.
(r) "Membership service" means service as an employee in a covered position rendered while a contributing member of the retirement system.
(s) "Position" means any office or any employment in the state service, or two (2) or more of them, the duties of which call for services to be rendered by one (1) person, including positions jointly employed by federal and state agencies administering federal and state funds. The employer shall determine upon initial employment and during the course of employment of an employee who does not meet the criteria for coverage in the Public Employees' Retirement System based on the position held, whether the employee is or becomes eligible for coverage in the Public Employees' Retirement System based upon any other employment in a covered agency or political subdivision. If or when the employee meets the eligibility criteria for coverage in the other position, then the employer must withhold contributions and report wages from the noncovered position in accordance with the provisions for reporting of earned compensation. Failure to deduct and report those contributions shall not relieve the employee or employer of liability thereof. The board shall adopt such rules and regulations as necessary to implement and enforce this provision.
(t) "Prior service" means:
(i) For persons who became members of the system before July 1, 2007, service rendered before February 1, 1953, for which credit is allowable under Sections 25-11-105 and 25-11-109, and which shall allow prior service for any person who is now or becomes a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System and who does contribute to the system for a minimum period of four (4) years.
(ii) For persons who became members of the system on or after July 1, 2007, service rendered before February 1, 1953, for which credit is allowable under Sections 25-11-105 and 25-11-109, and which shall allow prior service for any person who is now or becomes a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System and who does contribute to the system for a minimum period of eight (8) years.
(u) "Regular interest" means interest compounded annually at such a rate as determined by the board in accordance with Section 25-11-121.
(v) "Retirement allowance" means an annuity for life as provided in this article, payable each year in twelve (12) equal monthly installments beginning as of the date fixed by the board. The retirement allowance shall be calculated in accordance with Section 25-11-111. However, any spouse who received a spouse retirement benefit in accordance with Section 25-11-111(d) before March 31, 1971, and those benefits were terminated because of eligibility for a social security benefit, may again receive his or her spouse retirement benefit from and after making application with the board of trustees to reinstate the spouse retirement benefit.
(w) "Retroactive service" means service rendered after February 1, 1953, for which credit is allowable under Section 25-11-105(b) and Section 25-11-105(k).
(x) "System" means the Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi established and described in Section 25-11-101.
(y) "State" means the State of Mississippi or any political subdivision thereof or instrumentality of the state.
(z) "State service" means all offices and positions of trust or employment in the employ of the state, or any political subdivision or instrumentality of the state, that elect to participate as provided by Section 25-11-105(f), including the position of elected or fee officials of the counties and their deputies and employees performing public services or any department, independent agency, board or commission thereof, and also includes all offices and positions of trust or employment in the employ of joint state and federal agencies administering state and federal funds and service rendered by employees of the public schools. Effective July 1, 1973, all nonprofessional public school employees, such as bus drivers, janitors, maids, maintenance workers and cafeteria employees, shall have the option to become members in accordance with Section 25-11-105(b), and shall be eligible to receive credit for services before July 1, 1973, provided that the contributions and interest are paid by the employee in accordance with that section; in addition, the county or municipal separate school district may pay the employer contribution and pro rata share of interest of the retroactive service from available funds. "State service" shall not include the President of the Mississippi Lottery Corporation and personnel employed by the Mississippi Lottery Corporation, or the President of the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation and personnel employed by the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation. From and after July 1, 1998, retroactive service credit shall be purchased at the actuarial cost in accordance with Section 25-11-105(b).
(aa) "Withdrawal from service" or "termination from service" means complete severance of employment in the state service of any member by resignation, dismissal or discharge.
(bb) The masculine pronoun, wherever used, includes the feminine pronoun.
(2) For purposes of this article, the term "political subdivision" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 25-11-5 and shall also include public charter schools.
SECTION 23. Section 25-41-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-41-3. For purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the meaning ascribed herein, to wit:
(a) "Public body" means any executive or administrative board, commission, authority, council, department, agency, bureau or any other policymaking entity, or committee thereof, of the State of Mississippi, or any political subdivision or municipal corporation of the state, whether the entity be created by statute or executive order, which is supported wholly or in part by public funds or expends public funds, and any standing, interim or special committee of the Mississippi Legislature. The term "public body" includes the governing board of a charter school authorized by the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board and the board of trustees of a community hospital as defined in Section 41-13-10. The term "public body" includes the Mississippi Lottery Corporation and the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation. There shall be exempted from the provisions of this chapter:
(i) The judiciary, including all jury deliberations;
(ii) Law enforcement officials;
(iii) The military;
(iv) The State Probation and Parole Board;
(v) The Workers' Compensation Commission;
(vi) Legislative subcommittees and legislative conference committees;
(vii) The arbitration council established in Section 69-3-19;
(viii) License revocation, suspension and disciplinary proceedings held by the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners; and
(ix) Hearings and meetings of the Board of Tax Appeals and of the hearing officers and the board of review of the Department of Revenue as provided in Section 27-77-15.
(b) "Meeting" means an assemblage of members of a public body at which official acts may be taken upon a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power, including an assemblage through the use of video or teleconference devices that conforms to Section 25-41-5.
SECTION 24. Section 31-7-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
31-7-13. All agencies and governing authorities shall purchase their commodities and printing; contract for garbage collection or disposal; contract for solid waste collection or disposal; contract for sewage collection or disposal; contract for public construction; and contract for rentals as herein provided.
(a) Bidding procedure for purchases not over $5,000.00. Purchases which do not involve an expenditure of more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), exclusive of freight or shipping charges, may be made without advertising or otherwise requesting competitive bids. However, nothing contained in this paragraph (a) shall be construed to prohibit any agency or governing authority from establishing procedures which require competitive bids on purchases of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or less.
(b) Bidding procedure for purchases over $5,000.00 but not over $50,000.00. Purchases which involve an expenditure of more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) but not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), exclusive of freight and shipping charges, may be made from the lowest and best bidder without publishing or posting advertisement for bids, provided at least two (2) competitive written bids have been obtained. Any state agency or community/junior college purchasing commodities or procuring construction pursuant to this paragraph (b) may authorize its purchasing agent, or his designee, to accept the lowest competitive written bid under Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00). Any governing authority purchasing commodities pursuant to this paragraph (b) may authorize its purchasing agent, or his designee, with regard to governing authorities other than counties, or its purchase clerk, or his designee, with regard to counties, to accept the lowest and best competitive written bid. Such authorization shall be made in writing by the governing authority and shall be maintained on file in the primary office of the agency and recorded in the official minutes of the governing authority, as appropriate. The purchasing agent or the purchase clerk, or their designee, as the case may be, and not the governing authority, shall be liable for any penalties and/or damages as may be imposed by law for any act or omission of the purchasing agent or purchase clerk, or their designee, constituting a violation of law in accepting any bid without approval by the governing authority. The term "competitive written bid" shall mean a bid submitted on a bid form furnished by the buying agency or governing authority and signed by authorized personnel representing the vendor, or a bid submitted on a vendor's letterhead or identifiable bid form and signed by authorized personnel representing the vendor. "Competitive" shall mean that the bids are developed based upon comparable identification of the needs and are developed independently and without knowledge of other bids or prospective bids. Any bid item for construction in excess of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) shall be broken down by components to provide detail of component description and pricing. These details shall be submitted with the written bids and become part of the bid evaluation criteria. Bids may be submitted by facsimile, electronic mail or other generally accepted method of information distribution. Bids submitted by electronic transmission shall not require the signature of the vendor's representative unless required by agencies or governing authorities.
(c) Bidding procedure for purchases over $50,000.00.
(i) Publication requirement.
1. Purchases which involve an expenditure of more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), exclusive of freight and shipping charges, may be made from the lowest and best bidder after advertising for competitive bids once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a regular newspaper published in the county or municipality in which such agency or governing authority is located. However, all American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects in excess of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) shall be bid. All references to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects in this section shall not apply to programs identified in Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
2. Reverse auctions shall be the primary method for receiving bids during the bidding process. If a purchasing entity determines that a reverse auction is not in the best interest of the state, then that determination must be approved by the Public Procurement Review Board. The purchasing entity shall submit a detailed explanation of why a reverse auction would not be in the best interest of the state and present an alternative process to be approved by the Public Procurement Review Board. If the Public Procurement Review Board authorizes the purchasing entity to solicit bids with a method other than reverse auction, then the purchasing entity may designate the other methods by which the bids will be received, including, but not limited to, bids sealed in an envelope, bids received electronically in a secure system, or bids received by any other method that promotes open competition and has been approved by the Office of Purchasing and Travel. However, reverse auction shall not be used for any public contract for design or construction of public facilities, including buildings, roads and bridges. The Public Procurement Review Board must approve any contract entered into by alternative process. The provisions of this item 2 shall not apply to the individual state institutions of higher learning.
3. The date as published for the bid opening shall not be less than seven (7) working days after the last published notice; however, if the purchase involves a construction project in which the estimated cost is in excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), such bids shall not be opened in less than fifteen (15) working days after the last notice is published and the notice for the purchase of such construction shall be published once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks. However, all American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects in excess of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) shall be bid. For any projects in excess of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, publication shall be made one (1) time and the bid opening for construction projects shall not be less than ten (10) working days after the date of the published notice. The notice of intention to let contracts or purchase equipment shall state the time and place at which bids shall be received, list the contracts to be made or types of equipment or supplies to be purchased, and, if all plans and/or specifications are not published, refer to the plans and/or specifications on file. If there is no newspaper published in the county or municipality, then such notice shall be given by posting same at the courthouse, or for municipalities at the city hall, and at two (2) other public places in the county or municipality, and also by publication once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks in some newspaper having a general circulation in the county or municipality in the above-provided manner. On the same date that the notice is submitted to the newspaper for publication, the agency or governing authority involved shall mail written notice to, or provide electronic notification to the main office of the Mississippi Procurement Technical Assistance Program under the Mississippi Development Authority that contains the same information as that in the published notice. Submissions received by the Mississippi Procurement Technical Assistance Program for projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act shall be displayed on a separate and unique internet web page accessible to the public and maintained by the Mississippi Development Authority for the Mississippi Procurement Technical Assistance Program. Those American Recovery and Reinvestment Act related submissions shall be publicly posted within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt by the Mississippi Development Authority and the bid opening shall not occur until the submission has been posted for ten (10) consecutive days. The Department of Finance and Administration shall maintain information regarding contracts and other expenditures from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, on a unique internet web page accessible to the public. The Department of Finance and Administration shall promulgate rules regarding format, content and deadlines, unless otherwise specified by law, of the posting of award notices, contract execution and subsequent amendments, links to the contract documents, expenditures against the awarded contracts and general expenditures of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Within one (1) working day of the contract award, the agency or governing authority shall post to the designated web page maintained by the Department of Finance and Administration, notice of the award, including the award recipient, the contract amount, and a brief summary of the contract in accordance with rules promulgated by the department. Within one (1) working day of the contract execution, the agency or governing authority shall post to the designated web page maintained by the Department of Finance and Administration a summary of the executed contract and make a copy of the appropriately redacted contract documents available for linking to the designated web page in accordance with the rules promulgated by the department. The information provided by the agency or governing authority shall be posted to the web page for the duration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding or until the project is completed, whichever is longer.
(ii) Bidding process amendment procedure. If all plans and/or specifications are published in the notification, then the plans and/or specifications may not be amended. If all plans and/or specifications are not published in the notification, then amendments to the plans/specifications, bid opening date, bid opening time and place may be made, provided that the agency or governing authority maintains a list of all prospective bidders who are known to have received a copy of the bid documents and all such prospective bidders are sent copies of all amendments. This notification of amendments may be made via mail, facsimile, electronic mail or other generally accepted method of information distribution. No addendum to bid specifications may be issued within two (2) working days of the time established for the receipt of bids unless such addendum also amends the bid opening to a date not less than five (5) working days after the date of the addendum.
(iii) Filing requirement. In all cases involving governing authorities, before the notice shall be published or posted, the plans or specifications for the construction or equipment being sought shall be filed with the clerk of the board of the governing authority. In addition to these requirements, a bid file shall be established which shall indicate those vendors to whom such solicitations and specifications were issued, and such file shall also contain such information as is pertinent to the bid.
(iv) Specification restrictions.
1. Specifications pertinent to such bidding shall be written so as not to exclude comparable equipment of domestic manufacture. However, if valid justification is presented, the Department of Finance and Administration or the board of a governing authority may approve a request for specific equipment necessary to perform a specific job. Further, such justification, when placed on the minutes of the board of a governing authority, may serve as authority for that governing authority to write specifications to require a specific item of equipment needed to perform a specific job. In addition to these requirements, from and after July 1, 1990, vendors of relocatable classrooms and the specifications for the purchase of such relocatable classrooms published by local school boards shall meet all pertinent regulations of the State Board of Education, including prior approval of such bid by the State Department of Education.
2. Specifications for construction projects may include an allowance for commodities, equipment, furniture, construction materials or systems in which prospective bidders are instructed to include in their bids specified amounts for such items so long as the allowance items are acquired by the vendor in a commercially reasonable manner and approved by the agency/governing authority. Such acquisitions shall not be made to circumvent the public purchasing laws.
(v) Electronic bids. Agencies and governing authorities shall provide a secure electronic interactive system for the submittal of bids requiring competitive bidding that shall be an additional bidding option for those bidders who choose to submit their bids electronically. The Department of Finance and Administration shall provide, by regulation, the standards that agencies must follow when receiving electronic bids. Agencies and governing authorities shall make the appropriate provisions necessary to accept electronic bids from those bidders who choose to submit their bids electronically for all purchases requiring competitive bidding under this section. Any special condition or requirement for the electronic bid submission shall be specified in the advertisement for bids required by this section. Agencies or governing authorities that are currently without available high speed internet access shall be exempt from the requirement of this subparagraph (v) until such time that high speed internet access becomes available. Any county having a population of less than twenty thousand (20,000) shall be exempt from the provisions of this subparagraph (v). Any municipality having a population of less than ten thousand (10,000) shall be exempt from the provisions of this subparagraph (v). The provisions of this subparagraph (v) shall not require any bidder to submit bids electronically. When construction bids are submitted electronically, the requirement for including a certificate of responsibility, or a statement that the bid enclosed does not exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), on the exterior of the bid envelope as indicated in Section 31-3-21(1) and (2) shall be deemed in compliance with by including same as an attachment with the electronic bid submittal.
(d) Lowest and best bid decision procedure.
(i) Decision procedure. Purchases may be made from the lowest and best bidder. In determining the lowest and best bid, freight and shipping charges shall be included. Life-cycle costing, total cost bids, warranties, guaranteed buy-back provisions and other relevant provisions may be included in the best bid calculation. All best bid procedures for state agencies must be in compliance with regulations established by the Department of Finance and Administration. If any governing authority accepts a bid other than the lowest bid actually submitted, it shall place on its minutes detailed calculations and narrative summary showing that the accepted bid was determined to be the lowest and best bid, including the dollar amount of the accepted bid and the dollar amount of the lowest bid. No agency or governing authority shall accept a bid based on items not included in the specifications.
(ii) Decision procedure for Certified Purchasing Offices. In addition to the decision procedure set forth in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (d), Certified Purchasing Offices may also use the following procedure: Purchases may be made from the bidder offering the best value. In determining the best value bid, freight and shipping charges shall be included. Life-cycle costing, total cost bids, warranties, guaranteed buy-back provisions, documented previous experience, training costs and other relevant provisions, including, but not limited to, a bidder having a local office and inventory located within the jurisdiction of the governing authority, may be included in the best value calculation. This provision shall authorize Certified Purchasing Offices to utilize a Request For Proposals (RFP) process when purchasing commodities. All best value procedures for state agencies must be in compliance with regulations established by the Department of Finance and Administration. No agency or governing authority shall accept a bid based on items or criteria not included in the specifications.
(iii) Decision procedure for Mississippi Landmarks. In addition to the decision procedure set forth in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (d), where purchase involves renovation, restoration, or both, of the State Capitol Building or any other historical building designated for at least five (5) years as a Mississippi Landmark by the Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History under the authority of Sections 39-7-7 and 39-7-11, the agency or governing authority may use the following procedure: Purchases may be made from the lowest and best prequalified bidder. Prequalification of bidders shall be determined not less than fifteen (15) working days before the first published notice of bid opening. Prequalification criteria shall be limited to bidder's knowledge and experience in historical restoration, preservation and renovation. In determining the lowest and best bid, freight and shipping charges shall be included. Life-cycle costing, total cost bids, warranties, guaranteed buy-back provisions and other relevant provisions may be included in the best bid calculation. All best bid and prequalification procedures for state agencies must be in compliance with regulations established by the Department of Finance and Administration. If any governing authority accepts a bid other than the lowest bid actually submitted, it shall place on its minutes detailed calculations and narrative summary showing that the accepted bid was determined to be the lowest and best bid, including the dollar amount of the accepted bid and the dollar amount of the lowest bid. No agency or governing authority shall accept a bid based on items not included in the specifications.
(iv) Construction project negotiations authority. If the lowest and best bid is not more than ten percent (10%) above the amount of funds allocated for a public construction or renovation project, then the agency or governing authority shall be permitted to negotiate with the lowest bidder in order to enter into a contract for an amount not to exceed the funds allocated.
(e) Lease-purchase authorization. For the purposes of this section, the term "equipment" shall mean equipment, furniture and, if applicable, associated software and other applicable direct costs associated with the acquisition. Any lease-purchase of equipment which an agency is not required to lease-purchase under the master lease-purchase program pursuant to Section 31-7-10 and any lease-purchase of equipment which a governing authority elects to lease-purchase may be acquired by a lease-purchase agreement under this paragraph (e). Lease-purchase financing may also be obtained from the vendor or from a third-party source after having solicited and obtained at least two (2) written competitive bids, as defined in paragraph (b) of this section, for such financing without advertising for such bids. Solicitation for the bids for financing may occur before or after acceptance of bids for the purchase of such equipment or, where no such bids for purchase are required, at any time before the purchase thereof. No such lease-purchase agreement shall be for an annual rate of interest which is greater than the overall maximum interest rate to maturity on general obligation indebtedness permitted under Section 75-17-101, and the term of such lease-purchase agreement shall not exceed the useful life of equipment covered thereby as determined according to the upper limit of the asset depreciation range (ADR) guidelines for the Class Life Asset Depreciation Range System established by the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to the United States Internal Revenue Code and regulations thereunder as in effect on December 31, 1980, or comparable depreciation guidelines with respect to any equipment not covered by ADR guidelines. Any lease-purchase agreement entered into pursuant to this paragraph (e) may contain any of the terms and conditions which a master lease-purchase agreement may contain under the provisions of Section 31-7-10(5), and shall contain an annual allocation dependency clause substantially similar to that set forth in Section 31-7-10(8). Each agency or governing authority entering into a lease-purchase transaction pursuant to this paragraph (e) shall maintain with respect to each such lease-purchase transaction the same information as required to be maintained by the Department of Finance and Administration pursuant to Section 31-7-10(13). However, nothing contained in this section shall be construed to permit agencies to acquire items of equipment with a total acquisition cost in the aggregate of less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) by a single lease-purchase transaction. All equipment, and the purchase thereof by any lessor, acquired by lease-purchase under this paragraph and all lease-purchase payments with respect thereto shall be exempt from all Mississippi sales, use and ad valorem taxes. Interest paid on any lease-purchase agreement under this section shall be exempt from State of Mississippi income taxation.
(f) Alternate bid authorization. When necessary to ensure ready availability of commodities for public works and the timely completion of public projects, no more than two (2) alternate bids may be accepted by a governing authority for commodities. No purchases may be made through use of such alternate bids procedure unless the lowest and best bidder cannot deliver the commodities contained in his bid. In that event, purchases of such commodities may be made from one (1) of the bidders whose bid was accepted as an alternate.
(g) Construction contract change authorization. In the event a determination is made by an agency or governing authority after a construction contract is let that changes or modifications to the original contract are necessary or would better serve the purpose of the agency or the governing authority, such agency or governing authority may, in its discretion, order such changes pertaining to the construction that are necessary under the circumstances without the necessity of further public bids; provided that such change shall be made in a commercially reasonable manner and shall not be made to circumvent the public purchasing statutes. In addition to any other authorized person, the architect or engineer hired by an agency or governing authority with respect to any public construction contract shall have the authority, when granted by an agency or governing authority, to authorize changes or modifications to the original contract without the necessity of prior approval of the agency or governing authority when any such change or modification is less than one percent (1%) of the total contract amount. The agency or governing authority may limit the number, manner or frequency of such emergency changes or modifications.
(h) Petroleum purchase alternative. In addition to other methods of purchasing authorized in this chapter, when any agency or governing authority shall have a need for gas, diesel fuel, oils and/or other petroleum products in excess of the amount set forth in paragraph (a) of this section, such agency or governing authority may purchase the commodity after having solicited and obtained at least two (2) competitive written bids, as defined in paragraph (b) of this section. If two (2) competitive written bids are not obtained, the entity shall comply with the procedures set forth in paragraph (c) of this section. In the event any agency or governing authority shall have advertised for bids for the purchase of gas, diesel fuel, oils and other petroleum products and coal and no acceptable bids can be obtained, such agency or governing authority is authorized and directed to enter into any negotiations necessary to secure the lowest and best contract available for the purchase of such commodities.
(i) Road construction petroleum products price adjustment clause authorization. Any agency or governing authority authorized to enter into contracts for the construction, maintenance, surfacing or repair of highways, roads or streets, may include in its bid proposal and contract documents a price adjustment clause with relation to the cost to the contractor, including taxes, based upon an industry-wide cost index, of petroleum products including asphalt used in the performance or execution of the contract or in the production or manufacture of materials for use in such performance. Such industry-wide index shall be established and published monthly by the Mississippi Department of Transportation with a copy thereof to be mailed, upon request, to the clerks of the governing authority of each municipality and the clerks of each board of supervisors throughout the state. The price adjustment clause shall be based on the cost of such petroleum products only and shall not include any additional profit or overhead as part of the adjustment. The bid proposals or document contract shall contain the basis and methods of adjusting unit prices for the change in the cost of such petroleum products.
(j) State agency emergency purchase procedure. If the governing board or the executive head, or his designees, of any agency of the state shall determine that an emergency exists in regard to the purchase of any commodities or repair contracts, so that the delay incident to giving opportunity for competitive bidding would be detrimental to the interests of the state, then the head of such agency, or his designees, shall file with the Department of Finance and Administration (i) a statement explaining the conditions and circumstances of the emergency, which shall include a detailed description of the events leading up to the situation and the negative impact to the entity if the purchase is made following the statutory requirements set forth in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this section, and (ii) a certified copy of the appropriate minutes of the board of such agency requesting the emergency purchase, if applicable. Upon receipt of the statement and applicable board certification, the State Fiscal Officer, or his designees, may, in writing, authorize the purchase or repair without having to comply with competitive bidding requirements.
If the governing board or the executive head, or his designees, of any agency determines that an emergency exists in regard to the purchase of any commodities or repair contracts, so that the delay incident to giving opportunity for competitive bidding would threaten the health or safety of any person, or the preservation or protection of property, then the provisions in this section for competitive bidding shall not apply, and any officer or agent of the agency having general or specific authority for making the purchase or repair contract shall approve the bill presented for payment, and he shall certify in writing from whom the purchase was made, or with whom the repair contract was made.
Total purchases made under this paragraph (j) shall only be for the purpose of meeting needs created by the emergency situation. Following the emergency purchase, documentation of the purchase, including a description of the commodity purchased, the purchase price thereof and the nature of the emergency shall be filed with the Department of Finance and Administration. Any contract awarded pursuant to this paragraph (j) shall not exceed a term of one (1) year.
Purchases under the grant program established under Section 37-68-7 in response to COVID-19 and the directive that school districts create a distance learning plan and fulfill technology needs expeditiously shall be deemed an emergency purchase for purposes of this paragraph (j).
(k) Governing authority emergency purchase procedure. If the governing authority, or the governing authority acting through its designee, shall determine that an emergency exists in regard to the purchase of any commodities or repair contracts, so that the delay incident to giving opportunity for competitive bidding would be detrimental to the interest of the governing authority, then the provisions herein for competitive bidding shall not apply and any officer or agent of such governing authority having general or special authority therefor in making such purchase or repair shall approve the bill presented therefor, and he shall certify in writing thereon from whom such purchase was made, or with whom such a repair contract was made. At the board meeting next following the emergency purchase or repair contract, documentation of the purchase or repair contract, including a description of the commodity purchased, the price thereof and the nature of the emergency shall be presented to the board and shall be placed on the minutes of the board of such governing authority. Purchases under the grant program established under Section 37-68-7 in response to COVID-19 and the directive that school districts create a distance learning plan and fulfill technology needs expeditiously shall be deemed an emergency purchase for purposes of this paragraph (k).
(l) Hospital purchase, lease-purchase and lease authorization.
(i) The commissioners or board of trustees of any public hospital may contract with such lowest and best bidder for the purchase or lease-purchase of any commodity under a contract of purchase or lease-purchase agreement whose obligatory payment terms do not exceed five (5) years.
(ii) In addition to the authority granted in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (l), the commissioners or board of trustees is authorized to enter into contracts for the lease of equipment or services, or both, which it considers necessary for the proper care of patients if, in its opinion, it is not financially feasible to purchase the necessary equipment or services. Any such contract for the lease of equipment or services executed by the commissioners or board shall not exceed a maximum of five (5) years' duration and shall include a cancellation clause based on unavailability of funds. If such cancellation clause is exercised, there shall be no further liability on the part of the lessee. Any such contract for the lease of equipment or services executed on behalf of the commissioners or board that complies with the provisions of this subparagraph (ii) shall be excepted from the bid requirements set forth in this section.
(m) Exceptions from bidding requirements. Excepted from bid requirements are:
(i) Purchasing agreements approved by department. Purchasing agreements, contracts and maximum price regulations executed or approved by the Department of Finance and Administration.
(ii) Outside equipment repairs. Repairs to equipment, when such repairs are made by repair facilities in the private sector; however, engines, transmissions, rear axles and/or other such components shall not be included in this exemption when replaced as a complete unit instead of being repaired and the need for such total component replacement is known before disassembly of the component; however, invoices identifying the equipment, specific repairs made, parts identified by number and name, supplies used in such repairs, and the number of hours of labor and costs therefor shall be required for the payment for such repairs.
(iii) In-house equipment repairs. Purchases of parts for repairs to equipment, when such repairs are made by personnel of the agency or governing authority; however, entire assemblies, such as engines or transmissions, shall not be included in this exemption when the entire assembly is being replaced instead of being repaired.
(iv) Raw gravel or dirt. Raw unprocessed deposits of gravel or fill dirt which are to be removed and transported by the purchaser.
(v) Governmental equipment auctions. Motor vehicles or other equipment purchased from a federal agency or authority, another governing authority or state agency of the State of Mississippi, or any governing authority or state agency of another state at a public auction held for the purpose of disposing of such vehicles or other equipment. Any purchase by a governing authority under the exemption authorized by this subparagraph (v) shall require advance authorization spread upon the minutes of the governing authority to include the listing of the item or items authorized to be purchased and the maximum bid authorized to be paid for each item or items.
(vi) Intergovernmental sales and transfers. Purchases, sales, transfers or trades by governing authorities or state agencies when such purchases, sales, transfers or trades are made by a private treaty agreement or through means of negotiation, from any federal agency or authority, another governing authority or state agency of the State of Mississippi, or any state agency or governing authority of another state. Nothing in this section shall permit such purchases through public auction except as provided for in subparagraph (v) of this paragraph (m). It is the intent of this section to allow governmental entities to dispose of and/or purchase commodities from other governmental entities at a price that is agreed to by both parties. This shall allow for purchases and/or sales at prices which may be determined to be below the market value if the selling entity determines that the sale at below market value is in the best interest of the taxpayers of the state. Governing authorities shall place the terms of the agreement and any justification on the minutes, and state agencies shall obtain approval from the Department of Finance and Administration, prior to releasing or taking possession of the commodities.
(vii) Perishable supplies or food. Perishable supplies or food purchased for use in connection with hospitals, the school lunch programs, homemaking programs and for the feeding of county or municipal prisoners.
(viii) Single source items. Noncompetitive items available from one (1) source only. In connection with the purchase of noncompetitive items only available from one (1) source, a certification of the conditions and circumstances requiring the purchase shall be filed by the agency with the Department of Finance and Administration and by the governing authority with the board of the governing authority. Upon receipt of that certification the Department of Finance and Administration or the board of the governing authority, as the case may be, may, in writing, authorize the purchase, which authority shall be noted on the minutes of the body at the next regular meeting thereafter. In those situations, a governing authority is not required to obtain the approval of the Department of Finance and Administration. Following the purchase, the executive head of the state agency, or his designees, shall file with the Department of Finance and Administration, documentation of the purchase, including a description of the commodity purchased, the purchase price thereof and the source from whom it was purchased.
(ix) Waste disposal facility construction contracts. Construction of incinerators and other facilities for disposal of solid wastes in which products either generated therein, such as steam, or recovered therefrom, such as materials for recycling, are to be sold or otherwise disposed of; however, in constructing such facilities, a governing authority or agency shall publicly issue requests for proposals, advertised for in the same manner as provided herein for seeking bids for public construction projects, concerning the design, construction, ownership, operation and/or maintenance of such facilities, wherein such requests for proposals when issued shall contain terms and conditions relating to price, financial responsibility, technology, environmental compatibility, legal responsibilities and such other matters as are determined by the governing authority or agency to be appropriate for inclusion; and after responses to the request for proposals have been duly received, the governing authority or agency may select the most qualified proposal or proposals on the basis of price, technology and other relevant factors and from such proposals, but not limited to the terms thereof, negotiate and enter contracts with one or more of the persons or firms submitting proposals.
(x) Hospital group purchase contracts. Supplies, commodities and equipment purchased by hospitals through group purchase programs pursuant to Section 31-7-38.
(xi) Information technology products. Purchases of information technology products made by governing authorities under the provisions of purchase schedules, or contracts executed or approved by the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services and designated for use by governing authorities.
(xii) Energy efficiency services and equipment. Energy efficiency services and equipment acquired by school districts, community and junior colleges, institutions of higher learning and state agencies or other applicable governmental entities on a shared-savings, lease or lease-purchase basis pursuant to Section 31-7-14.
(xiii) Municipal electrical utility system fuel. Purchases of coal and/or natural gas by municipally owned electric power generating systems that have the capacity to use both coal and natural gas for the generation of electric power.
(xiv) Library books and other reference materials. Purchases by libraries or for libraries of books and periodicals; processed film, videocassette tapes, filmstrips and slides; recorded audiotapes, cassettes and diskettes; and any such items as would be used for teaching, research or other information distribution; however, equipment such as projectors, recorders, audio or video equipment, and monitor televisions are not exempt under this subparagraph.
(xv) Unmarked vehicles. Purchases of unmarked vehicles when such purchases are made in accordance with purchasing regulations adopted by the Department of Finance and Administration pursuant to Section 31-7-9(2).
(xvi) Election ballots. Purchases of ballots printed pursuant to Section 23-15-351.
(xvii) Multichannel interactive video systems. From and after July 1, 1990, contracts by Mississippi Authority for Educational Television with any private educational institution or private nonprofit organization whose purposes are educational in regard to the construction, purchase, lease or lease-purchase of facilities and equipment and the employment of personnel for providing multichannel interactive video systems (ITSF) in the school districts of this state.
(xviii) Purchases of prison industry products by the Department of Corrections, regional correctional facilities or privately owned prisons. Purchases made by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, regional correctional facilities or privately owned prisons involving any item that is manufactured, processed, grown or produced from the state's prison industries.
(xix) Undercover operations equipment. Purchases of surveillance equipment or any other high-tech equipment to be used by law enforcement agents in undercover operations, provided that any such purchase shall be in compliance with regulations established by the Department of Finance and Administration.
(xx) Junior college books for rent. Purchases by community or junior colleges of textbooks which are obtained for the purpose of renting such books to students as part of a book service system.
(xxi) Certain school district purchases. Purchases of commodities made by school districts from vendors with which any levying authority of the school district, as defined in Section 37-57-1, has contracted through competitive bidding procedures for purchases of the same commodities.
(xxii) Garbage, solid waste and sewage contracts. Contracts for garbage collection or disposal, contracts for solid waste collection or disposal and contracts for sewage collection or disposal.
(xxiii) Municipal water tank maintenance contracts. Professional maintenance program contracts for the repair or maintenance of municipal water tanks, which provide professional services needed to maintain municipal water storage tanks for a fixed annual fee for a duration of two (2) or more years.
(xxiv) Purchases of Mississippi Industries for the Blind products. Purchases made by state agencies or governing authorities involving any item that is manufactured, processed or produced by the Mississippi Industries for the Blind.
(xxv) Purchases of state-adopted textbooks. Purchases of state-adopted textbooks by public school districts.
(xxvi) Certain purchases under the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Act. Contracts entered into pursuant to the provisions of Section 57-75-9(2), (3) and (4).
(xxvii) Used heavy or specialized machinery or equipment for installation of soil and water conservation practices purchased at auction. Used heavy or specialized machinery or equipment used for the installation and implementation of soil and water conservation practices or measures purchased subject to the restrictions provided in Sections 69-27-331 through 69-27-341. Any purchase by the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission under the exemption authorized by this subparagraph shall require advance authorization spread upon the minutes of the commission to include the listing of the item or items authorized to be purchased and the maximum bid authorized to be paid for each item or items.
(xxviii) Hospital lease of equipment or services. Leases by hospitals of equipment or services if the leases are in compliance with paragraph (l)(ii).
(xxix) Purchases made pursuant to qualified cooperative purchasing agreements. Purchases made by certified purchasing offices of state agencies or governing authorities under cooperative purchasing agreements previously approved by the Office of Purchasing and Travel and established by or for any municipality, county, parish or state government or the federal government, provided that the notification to potential contractors includes a clause that sets forth the availability of the cooperative purchasing agreement to other governmental entities. Such purchases shall only be made if the use of the cooperative purchasing agreements is determined to be in the best interest of the governmental entity.
(xxx) School yearbooks. Purchases of school yearbooks by state agencies or governing authorities; provided, however, that state agencies and governing authorities shall use for these purchases the RFP process as set forth in the Mississippi Procurement Manual adopted by the Office of Purchasing and Travel.
(xxxi) Design-build method and dual-phase design-build method of contracting. Contracts entered into under the provisions of Section 31-7-13.1, 37-101-44 or 65-1-85.
(xxxii) Toll roads and bridge construction projects. Contracts entered into under the provisions of Section 65-43-1 or 65-43-3.
(xxxiii) Certain purchases under Section 57-1-221. Contracts entered into pursuant to the provisions of Section 57-1-221.
(xxxiv) Certain transfers made pursuant to the provisions of Section 57-105-1(7). Transfers of public property or facilities under Section 57-105-1(7) and construction related to such public property or facilities.
(xxxv) Certain purchases or transfers entered into with local electrical power associations. Contracts or agreements entered into under the provisions of Section 55-3-33.
(xxxvi) Certain purchases by an academic medical center or health sciences school. Purchases by an academic medical center or health sciences school, as defined in Section 37-115-50, of commodities that are used for clinical purposes and 1. intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease, and 2. medical devices, biological, drugs and radiation-emitting devices as defined by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
(xxxvii) Certain purchases made under the Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law. Contracts made by the Mississippi Lottery Corporation pursuant to the Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law.
(xxxviii) Certain purchases made by the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation. Contracts made by the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation pursuant to the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation Law.
(n) Term contract authorization. All contracts for the purchase of:
(i) All contracts for the purchase of commodities, equipment and public construction (including, but not limited to, repair and maintenance), may be let for periods of not more than sixty (60) months in advance, subject to applicable statutory provisions prohibiting the letting of contracts during specified periods near the end of terms of office. Term contracts for a period exceeding twenty-four (24) months shall also be subject to ratification or cancellation by governing authority boards taking office subsequent to the governing authority board entering the contract.
(ii) Bid proposals and contracts may include price adjustment clauses with relation to the cost to the contractor based upon a nationally published industry-wide or nationally published and recognized cost index. The cost index used in a price adjustment clause shall be determined by the Department of Finance and Administration for the state agencies and by the governing board for governing authorities. The bid proposal and contract documents utilizing a price adjustment clause shall contain the basis and method of adjusting unit prices for the change in the cost of such commodities, equipment and public construction.
(o) Purchase law violation prohibition and vendor penalty. No contract or purchase as herein authorized shall be made for the purpose of circumventing the provisions of this section requiring competitive bids, nor shall it be lawful for any person or concern to submit individual invoices for amounts within those authorized for a contract or purchase where the actual value of the contract or commodity purchased exceeds the authorized amount and the invoices therefor are split so as to appear to be authorized as purchases for which competitive bids are not required. Submission of such invoices shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment for thirty (30) days in the county jail, or both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, the claim or claims submitted shall be forfeited.
(p) Electrical utility petroleum-based equipment purchase procedure. When in response to a proper advertisement therefor, no bid firm as to price is submitted to an electric utility for power transformers, distribution transformers, power breakers, reclosers or other articles containing a petroleum product, the electric utility may accept the lowest and best bid therefor although the price is not firm.
(q) Fuel management system bidding procedure. Any governing authority or agency of the state shall, before contracting for the services and products of a fuel management or fuel access system, enter into negotiations with not fewer than two (2) sellers of fuel management or fuel access systems for competitive written bids to provide the services and products for the systems. In the event that the governing authority or agency cannot locate two (2) sellers of such systems or cannot obtain bids from two (2) sellers of such systems, it shall show proof that it made a diligent, good-faith effort to locate and negotiate with two (2) sellers of such systems. Such proof shall include, but not be limited to, publications of a request for proposals and letters soliciting negotiations and bids. For purposes of this paragraph (q), a fuel management or fuel access system is an automated system of acquiring fuel for vehicles as well as management reports detailing fuel use by vehicles and drivers, and the term "competitive written bid" shall have the meaning as defined in paragraph (b) of this section. Governing authorities and agencies shall be exempt from this process when contracting for the services and products of fuel management or fuel access systems under the terms of a state contract established by the Office of Purchasing and Travel.
(r) Solid waste contract proposal procedure. Before entering into any contract for garbage collection or disposal, contract for solid waste collection or disposal or contract for sewage collection or disposal, which involves an expenditure of more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), a governing authority or agency shall issue publicly a request for proposals concerning the specifications for such services which shall be advertised for in the same manner as provided in this section for seeking bids for purchases which involve an expenditure of more than the amount provided in paragraph (c) of this section. Any request for proposals when issued shall contain terms and conditions relating to price, financial responsibility, technology, legal responsibilities and other relevant factors as are determined by the governing authority or agency to be appropriate for inclusion; all factors determined relevant by the governing authority or agency or required by this paragraph (r) shall be duly included in the advertisement to elicit proposals. After responses to the request for proposals have been duly received, the governing authority or agency shall select the most qualified proposal or proposals on the basis of price, technology and other relevant factors and from such proposals, but not limited to the terms thereof, negotiate and enter into contracts with one or more of the persons or firms submitting proposals. If the governing authority or agency deems none of the proposals to be qualified or otherwise acceptable, the request for proposals process may be reinitiated. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this paragraph, where a county with at least thirty-five thousand (35,000) nor more than forty thousand (40,000) population, according to the 1990 federal decennial census, owns or operates a solid waste landfill, the governing authorities of any other county or municipality may contract with the governing authorities of the county owning or operating the landfill, pursuant to a resolution duly adopted and spread upon the minutes of each governing authority involved, for garbage or solid waste collection or disposal services through contract negotiations.
(s) Minority set-aside authorization. Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, any agency or governing authority, by order placed on its minutes, may, in its discretion, set aside not more than twenty percent (20%) of its anticipated annual expenditures for the purchase of commodities from minority businesses; however, all such set-aside purchases shall comply with all purchasing regulations promulgated by the Department of Finance and Administration and shall be subject to bid requirements under this section. Set-aside purchases for which competitive bids are required shall be made from the lowest and best minority business bidder. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term "minority business" means a business which is owned by a majority of persons who are United States citizens or permanent resident aliens (as defined by the Immigration and Naturalization Service) of the United States, and who are Asian, Black, Hispanic or Native American, according to the following definitions:
(i) "Asian" means persons having origins in any of the original people of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands.
(ii) "Black" means persons having origins in any black racial group of Africa.
(iii) "Hispanic" means persons of Spanish or Portuguese culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race.
(iv) "Native American" means persons having origins in any of the original people of North America, including American Indians, Eskimos and Aleuts.
(t) Construction punch list restriction. The architect, engineer or other representative designated by the agency or governing authority that is contracting for public construction or renovation may prepare and submit to the contractor only one (1) preliminary punch list of items that do not meet the contract requirements at the time of substantial completion and one (1) final list immediately before final completion and final payment.
(u) Procurement of construction services by state institutions of higher learning. Contracts for privately financed construction of auxiliary facilities on the campus of a state institution of higher learning may be awarded by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning to the lowest and best bidder, where sealed bids are solicited, or to the offeror whose proposal is determined to represent the best value to the citizens of the State of Mississippi, where requests for proposals are solicited.
(v) Insurability of bidders for public construction or other public contracts. In any solicitation for bids to perform public construction or other public contracts to which this section applies, including, but not limited to, contracts for repair and maintenance, for which the contract will require insurance coverage in an amount of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00), bidders shall be permitted to either submit proof of current insurance coverage in the specified amount or demonstrate ability to obtain the required coverage amount of insurance if the contract is awarded to the bidder. Proof of insurance coverage shall be submitted within five (5) business days from bid acceptance.
(w) Purchase authorization clarification. Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing any purchase not authorized by law.
SECTION 25. Section 27-71-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-1. This article and the terms and provisions hereof shall be administered and enforced by the Department of Revenue, hereinafter referred to as the "State Tax Commission," the "commission" or the "department," and/or the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation, hereinafter referred to as the "corporation."
SECTION 26. Section 27-71-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-5. (1) Upon each person approved for a permit under the provisions of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law and amendments thereto, there is levied and imposed for each location for the privilege of engaging and continuing in this state in the business authorized by such permit, an annual privilege license tax in the amount provided in the following schedule:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (1), manufacturer's permit, Class 1, distiller's and/or
rectifier's................................................ $4,500.00
(b) Manufacturer's permit, Class 2, wine
Manufacturer............................................... $1,800.00
(c) Manufacturer's permit, Class 3, native wine
manufacturer per ten thousand (10,000) gallons or part thereof produced.......................................................... $ 10.00
(d) Native wine retailer's permit................ $ 50.00
(e) Package retailer's permit, each.............. $ 900.00
(f) On-premises retailer's permit, except for clubs and common carriers, each............................................. $ 450.00
(g) On-premises retailer's permit for wine of more than five percent (5%) alcohol by weight, but not more than twenty-one percent (21%) alcohol by weight, each.................................. $ 225.00
(h) On-premises retailer's permit for clubs...... $ 225.00
(i) On-premises retailer's permit for common carriers, per car, plane, or other vehicle............................... $ 120.00
(j) Solicitor's permit, regardless of any other provision of law, solicitor's permits shall be issued only in the discretion of the department................................................. $ 100.00
(k) Filing fee for each application except for an employee identification card........................................ $ 25.00
(l) Temporary permit, Class 1, each.............. $ 10.00
(m) Temporary permit, Class 2, each.............. $ 50.00
(n) (i) Caterer's permit........................ $ 600.00
(ii) Caterer's permit for holders of on-premises retailer's permit.......................................... $ 150.00
(o) Research permit............................. $ 100.00
(p) Temporary permit, Class 3 (wine only)........ $ 10.00
(q) Special service permit....................... $ 225.00
(r) Merchant permit............................. $ 225.00
(s) Temporary alcoholic beverages charitable auction permit.......................................................... $ 10.00
(t) Event venue retailer's permit................ $ 225.00
(u) Temporary theatre permit, each............... $ 10.00
(v) Charter ship operator's permit............... $ 100.00
(w) Distillery retailer's permit................. $ 450.00
(x) Festival wine permit......................... $ 10.00
If a person approved for a manufacturer's permit, Class 1, distiller's permit produces a product with at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the finished product by volume being obtained from alcoholic fermentation of grapes, fruits, berries, honey and/or vegetables grown and produced in Mississippi, and produces all of the product by using not more than one (1) still having a maximum capacity of one hundred fifty (150) liters, the annual privilege license tax for such a permit shall be Ten Dollars ($10.00) per ten thousand (10,000) gallons or part thereof produced. Bulk, concentrated or fortified ingredients used for blending may be produced outside this state and used in producing such a product.
In addition to the filing fee imposed by paragraph (k) of this subsection, a fee to be determined by the Department of Revenue may be charged to defray costs incurred to process applications. The additional fees shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of a special fund account, which is hereby created, and expenditures therefrom shall be made only to defray the costs incurred by the Department of Revenue in processing alcoholic beverage applications. Any unencumbered balance remaining in the special fund account on June 30 of any fiscal year shall lapse into the State General Fund.
All privilege taxes imposed by this section shall be paid in advance of doing business. The additional privilege tax imposed for an on-premises retailer's permit based upon purchases shall be due and payable on demand.
Paragraph (x) of this subsection shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2023.
(2) (a) There is imposed and shall be collected from each permittee, except a common carrier, solicitor or a temporary permittee, by the department, an additional license tax equal to the amounts imposed under subsection (1) of this section for the privilege of doing business within any municipality or county in which the licensee is located.
(b) (i) In addition to the tax imposed in paragraph (a) of this subsection, there is imposed and shall be collected by the department from each permittee described in subsection (1)(f), (g), (h), (m) and (t) of this section, an additional license tax for the privilege of doing business within any municipality or county in which the licensee is located in the amount of Two Hundred Twenty-five Dollars ($225.00) on purchases exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and Two Hundred Twenty-five Dollars ($225.00) for each additional purchase of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or fraction thereof.
(ii) In addition to the tax imposed in paragraph (a) of this subsection, there is imposed and shall be collected by the department from each permittee described in subsection (1)(n) and (r) of this section, an additional license tax for the privilege of doing business within any municipality or county in which the licensee is located in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) on purchases exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and Two Hundred Twenty-five Dollars ($225.00) for each additional purchase of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or fraction thereof.
(iii) Any person who has paid the additional privilege license tax imposed by this paragraph, and whose permit is renewed, may add any unused fraction of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) purchases to the first Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) purchases authorized by the renewal permit, and no additional license tax will be required until purchases exceed the sum of the two (2) figures.
(c) If the licensee is located within a municipality, the department shall pay the amount of additional license tax collected under this section to the municipality, and if outside a municipality the department shall pay the additional license tax to the county in which the licensee is located. Payments by the department to the respective local government subdivisions shall be made once each month for any collections during the preceding month.
(d) The corporation shall provide the department with weekly reports containing such information as is required by the department to meet its obligations under this section.
(3) When an application for any permit, other than for renewal of a permit, has been rejected by the department, such decision shall be final. Appeal may be made in the manner provided by Section 67-1-39. Another application from an applicant who has been denied a permit shall not be reconsidered within a twelve-month period.
(4) The number of permits issued by the department shall not be restricted or limited on a population basis; however, the foregoing limitation shall not be construed to preclude the right of the department to refuse to issue a permit because of the undesirability of the proposed location.
(5) If any person shall engage or continue in any business which is taxable under this section without having paid the tax as provided in this section, the person shall be liable for the full amount of the tax plus a penalty thereon equal to the amount thereof, and, in addition, shall be punished by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
(6) It shall be unlawful for any person to consume alcoholic beverages on the premises of any hotel restaurant, restaurant, club or the interior of any public place defined in Chapter 1, Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972, when the owner or manager thereof displays in several conspicuous places inside the establishment and at the entrances of establishment a sign containing the following language: NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ALLOWED.
SECTION 27. Section 27-71-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-7.
(1) There is hereby levied and assessed an excise tax upon each case of
alcoholic beverages sold by the * * * corporation to be collected
from each retail licensee at the time of sale in accordance with the following
schedule:
(a) Distilled spirits................ $2.50 per gallon
(b) Sparkling wine and champagne...... $1.00 per gallon
(c) Other wines, including native
Wines.............................................$ .35 per gallon
(2)
(a) In addition to the tax levied by subsection (1) of this section, and in
addition to any other markup collected, the * * * corporation
shall collect a markup of three percent (3%) on all alcoholic beverages, as
defined in Section 67-1-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, which are sold by the * * * corporation. The proceeds of
the markup shall be collected by the * * * corporation from each purchaser
at the time of purchase.
(b) Until June 30, 1987, the revenue derived from this three percent (3%) markup shall be deposited by the division in the State Treasury to the credit of the "Alcoholism Treatment and Rehabilitation Fund," a special fund which is hereby created in the State Treasury, and shall be used by the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse of the State Department of Mental Health and public or private centers or organizations solely for funding of treatment and rehabilitation programs for alcoholics and alcohol abusers which are sponsored by the division or public or private centers or organizations in such amounts as the Legislature may appropriate to the division for use by the division or public or private centers or organizations for such programs. Any tax revenue in the fund which is not encumbered at the end of the fiscal year shall lapse to the General Fund. It is the intent of the Legislature that the State Department of Mental Health shall continue to seek funds from other sources and shall use the funds appropriated for the purposes of this section and Section 27-71-29 to match all federal funds which may be available for alcoholism treatment and rehabilitation.
From and after July 1, 1987, the revenue derived from this three percent (3%) markup shall be deposited by the division in the State Treasury to the credit of the "Mental Health Programs Fund," a special fund which is hereby created in the State Treasury and shall be used by the State Department of Mental Health for the service programs of the department. Any revenue in the "Alcoholism Treatment and Rehabilitation Fund" which is not encumbered at the end of Fiscal Year 1987 shall be deposited to the credit of the "Mental Health Programs Fund."
SECTION 28. Section 27-71-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-9.
The * * *
corporation may promulgate regulations authorizing persons holding on-premises
retailer's permits for common carriers, as provided herein, to file periodic
reports and pay a tax based upon the value of alcoholic beverages sold while in
this state, in lieu of purchasing all such alcoholic beverages from the * * * corporation. Such tax shall
not be less than an amount equivalent to the gross profit plus all taxes that
would have been derived from the sale of a like quantity of alcoholic beverages
by the * * *
corporation.
SECTION 29. Section 27-71-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-11.
The * * *
corporation shall from time to time by resolution request the State Bond
Commission to provide sufficient funds required to maintain an adequate
alcoholic beverage inventory. Said funds shall be provided under the
provisions of Chapter 557, Laws of 1966.
The * * * corporation shall add to the
cost of all alcoholic beverages a minimum markup of twenty-seven and one-half
percent (27-1/2%), inclusive of the three percent (3%) markup imposed
by Section 27-71-7(2).
The * * * corporation shall sell
alcoholic beverages at uniform prices, including volume discounts,
throughout the state.
SECTION 30. Section 27-71-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-13.
The * * *
corporation shall purchase directly from the manufacturer, except under
the following conditions:
(a) Foreign brands which are not readily obtainable directly from the manufacturer.
(b)
When the * * *
corporation can conclusively prove that unusual or extraordinary
circumstances exist and the required or desired brands can be purchased at
substantially lower prices from wholesalers or brokerage firms.
In
all instances involving purchases, other than directly from the manufacturer,
the * * *
corporation shall maintain full and complete records clearly reflecting
the justification for such purchases. Said records shall include invoices,
price lists, comparative prices, bills of lading and a certificate of
justification signed by the director of the alcoholic beverage control
division, as to the conditions requiring the purchase or purchases. All such
records shall be retained for a period of three (3) years.
SECTION 31. Section 27-71-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-15.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 67-9-1 for the transportation of
limited amounts of alcoholic beverages for the use of an alcohol processing
permittee, if transportation requires passage through a county which has not
authorized the sale of alcoholic beverages, such transportation shall be by a
sealed vehicle. Such seal shall remain unbroken until the vehicle shall reach
the place of business operated by the permittee. The operator of any vehicle
transporting alcoholic beverages shall have in his possession an invoice issued
by the * * *
corporation at the time of the wholesale sale covering the merchandise
transported by the vehicle. The * * * corporation is authorized to
issue regulations controlling the transportation of alcoholic beverages.
When
the restrictions imposed by this section and by the regulation of the * * * corporation have not been
violated, the person transporting alcoholic beverages through a county wherein
the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited shall not be guilty of unlawful
possession and such merchandise shall be immune from seizure.
SECTION 32. Section 27-71-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-17.
It shall be unlawful for any person to counterfeit or reuse any label
prescribed by the * * *
corporation and used to identify alcoholic beverages sold at wholesale
by the * * *
corporation and, upon conviction, the person shall be punished by a fine
of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment in the
State Penitentiary for not less than one (1) year, nor more than ten (10) years,
or both.
SECTION 33. Section 27-71-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-23.
Any person liable for the payment of a privilege tax under the provisions of this
article who shall violate any of the provisions of this article, or any rules
or regulations promulgated by the * * * department or corporation
under authority of this article, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than One Thousand
Dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than
six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the
court. Any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of this
article, or any rules or regulations promulgated by the * * * department or
corporation under authority of this article, shall forfeit his permit and
shall not thereafter be permitted to engage in any business taxable under the
provisions of this article for a period of five (5) years.
SECTION 34. Section 27-71-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-27.
The * * *
department, the corporation or * * * the authorized agents of either
may examine any books, papers, records or other data bearing upon the
correctness of any report required to be made under the provisions of this
article, and may require the attendance of any person and take his testimony
with respect to any such matter, and shall have power to administer an oath to
such person. If any person summoned as a witness shall fail to obey any
summons to appear before the * * * department, the corporation
or * * * the
authorized agent of either, or shall refuse to testify or answer any
material question or to produce any book, record, paper or other data when
required to do so, such failure or refusal shall be reported to the Attorney
General, the district attorney or county attorney, who shall thereupon institute
proceedings in the chancery court of the county where such witness resides to
compel obedience to any summons of the * * * department, the corporation
or * * * the
authorized agent of either.
SECTION 35. Section 27-71-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-29. All taxes levied
by this article shall be paid to the * * * corporation in
cash or by personal check, cashier's check, bank exchange, post office money
order or express money order and shall be deposited by the * * * corporation in the * * * corporate operating account
retained by and to the credit of the corporation on the same day collected,
but no remittances other than cash shall be a final discharge of liability for
the tax herein imposed and levied unless and until it has been paid in cash to
the * * *
corporation.
All taxes levied under
Section 27-71-7(1) and received by the * * * corporation under this
article shall be paid into the * * * corporate operating
account retained by and to the credit of the corporation, but the three
percent (3%) levied under Section 27-71-7(2) * * *
shall be paid into the special fund in the State Treasury designated as the * * *
"Mental Health Programs Fund" as required by law. Any funds
derived from the sale of alcoholic beverages in excess of inventory
requirements shall be paid * * * into the corporate operating account
retained by and to the credit of the corporation.
* * *
SECTION 36. Section 67-1-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-5. For the purposes of this chapter and unless otherwise required by the context:
(a) "Alcoholic beverage" means any alcoholic liquid, including wines of more than five percent (5%) of alcohol by weight, capable of being consumed as a beverage by a human being, but shall not include light wine, light spirit product and beer, as defined in Section 67-3-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, but shall include native wines. The words "alcoholic beverage" shall not include ethyl alcohol manufactured or distilled solely for fuel purposes or beer of an alcoholic content of more than eight percent (8%) by weight if the beer is legally manufactured in this state for sale in another state.
(b) "Alcohol" means the product of distillation of any fermented liquid, whatever the origin thereof, and includes synthetic ethyl alcohol, but does not include denatured alcohol or wood alcohol.
(c) "Distilled spirits" means any beverage containing more than four percent (4%) of alcohol by weight produced by distillation of fermented grain, starch, molasses or sugar, including dilutions and mixtures of these beverages.
(d) "Wine" or "vinous liquor" means any product obtained from the alcoholic fermentation of the juice of sound, ripe grapes, fruits, honey or berries and made in accordance with the revenue laws of the United States.
(e) "Person" means and includes any individual, partnership, corporation, association or other legal entity whatsoever.
(f) "Manufacturer" means any person engaged in manufacturing, distilling, rectifying, blending or bottling any alcoholic beverage.
(g) "Wholesaler" means any person, other than a manufacturer, engaged in distributing or selling any alcoholic beverage at wholesale for delivery within or without this state when such sale is for the purpose of resale by the purchaser.
(h) "Retailer" means any person who sells, distributes, or offers for sale or distribution, any alcoholic beverage for use or consumption by the purchaser and not for resale.
(i) "State Tax Commission," "commission" or "department" means the Department of Revenue of the State of Mississippi, which shall create a division in its organization to be known as the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division. Any reference to the commission or the department hereafter means the powers and duties of the Department of Revenue with reference to supervision of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.
(j) "Division" means the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Department of Revenue.
(k) "Municipality" means any incorporated city or town of this state.
(l) "Hotel" means an establishment within a municipality, or within a qualified resort area approved as such by the department, where, in consideration of payment, food and lodging are habitually furnished to travelers and wherein are located at least twenty (20) adequately furnished and completely separate sleeping rooms with adequate facilities that persons usually apply for and receive as overnight accommodations. Hotels in towns or cities of more than twenty-five thousand (25,000) population are similarly defined except that they must have fifty (50) or more sleeping rooms. Any such establishment described in this paragraph with less than fifty (50) beds shall operate one or more regular dining rooms designed to be constantly frequented by customers each day. When used in this chapter, the word "hotel" shall also be construed to include any establishment that meets the definition of "bed and breakfast inn" as provided in this section.
(m) "Restaurant" means:
(i) A place which is regularly and in a bona fide manner used and kept open for the serving of meals to guests for compensation, which has suitable seating facilities for guests, and which has suitable kitchen facilities connected therewith for cooking an assortment of foods and meals commonly ordered at various hours of the day; the service of such food as sandwiches and salads only shall not be deemed in compliance with this requirement. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, no place shall qualify as a restaurant under this chapter unless twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the revenue derived from such place shall be from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages, or unless the value of food given to and consumed by customers is equal to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of total revenue; or
(ii) Any privately owned business located in a building in a historic district where the district is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, where the building has a total occupancy rating of not less than one thousand (1,000) and where the business regularly utilizes ten thousand (10,000) square feet or more in the building for live entertainment, including not only the stage, lobby or area where the audience sits and/or stands, but also any other portion of the building necessary for the operation of the business, including any kitchen area, bar area, storage area and office space, but excluding any area for parking. In addition to the other requirements of this subparagraph, the business must also serve food to guests for compensation within the building and derive the majority of its revenue from event-related fees, including, but not limited to, admission fees or ticket sales to live entertainment in the building, and from the rental of all or part of the facilities of the business in the building to another party for a specific event or function.
(n) "Club" means an association or a corporation:
(i) Organized or created under the laws of this state for a period of five (5) years prior to July 1, 1966;
(ii) Organized not primarily for pecuniary profit but for the promotion of some common object other than the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages;
(iii) Maintained by its members through the payment of annual dues;
(iv) Owning, hiring or leasing a building or space in a building of such extent and character as may be suitable and adequate for the reasonable and comfortable use and accommodation of its members and their guests;
(v) The affairs and management of which are conducted by a board of directors, board of governors, executive committee, or similar governing body chosen by the members at a regular meeting held at some periodic interval; and
(vi) No member, officer, agent or employee of which is paid, or directly or indirectly receives, in the form of a salary or other compensation any profit from the distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages to the club or to members or guests of the club beyond such salary or compensation as may be fixed and voted at a proper meeting by the board of directors or other governing body out of the general revenues of the club.
The department may, in its discretion, waive the five-year provision of this paragraph. In order to qualify under this paragraph, a club must file with the department, at the time of its application for a license under this chapter, two (2) copies of a list of the names and residences of its members and similarly file, within ten (10) days after the election of any additional member, his name and address. Each club applying for a license shall also file with the department at the time of the application a copy of its articles of association, charter of incorporation, bylaws or other instruments governing the business and affairs thereof.
(o) "Qualified resort area" means any area or locality outside of the limits of incorporated municipalities in this state commonly known and accepted as a place which regularly and customarily attracts tourists, vacationists and other transients because of its historical, scenic or recreational facilities or attractions, or because of other attributes which regularly and customarily appeal to and attract tourists, vacationists and other transients in substantial numbers; however, no area or locality shall so qualify as a resort area until it has been duly and properly approved as such by the department. The department may not approve an area as a qualified resort area after July 1, 2018, if any portion of such proposed area is located within two (2) miles of a convent or monastery that is located in a county traversed by Interstate 55 and U.S. Highway 98. A convent or monastery may waive such distance restrictions in favor of allowing approval by the department of an area as a qualified resort area. Such waiver shall be in written form from the owner, the governing body, or the appropriate officer of the convent or monastery having the authority to execute such a waiver, and the waiver shall be filed with and verified by the department before becoming effective.
(i) The department may approve an area or locality outside of the limits of an incorporated municipality that is in the process of being developed as a qualified resort area if such area or locality, when developed, can reasonably be expected to meet the requisites of the definition of the term "qualified resort area." In such a case, the status of qualified resort area shall not take effect until completion of the development.
(ii) The term includes any state park which is declared a resort area by the department; however, such declaration may only be initiated in a written request for resort area status made to the department by the Executive Director of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and no permit for the sale of any alcoholic beverage, as defined in this chapter, except an on-premises retailer's permit, shall be issued for a hotel, restaurant or bed and breakfast inn in such park.
(iii) The term includes:
1. The clubhouses associated with the state park golf courses at the Lefleur's Bluff State Park, the John Kyle State Park, the Percy Quin State Park and the Hugh White State Park;
2. The clubhouse and associated golf course, tennis courts and related facilities and swimming pool and related facilities where the golf course, tennis courts and related facilities and swimming pool and related facilities are adjacent to one or more planned residential developments and the golf course and all such developments collectively include at least seven hundred fifty (750) acres and at least four hundred (400) residential units;
3. Any facility located on property that is a game reserve with restricted access that consists of at least three thousand (3,000) contiguous acres with no public roads and that offers as a service hunts for a fee to overnight guests of the facility;
4. Any facility located on federal property surrounding a lake and designated as a recreational area by the United States Army Corps of Engineers that consists of at least one thousand five hundred (1,500) acres;
5. Any facility that is located in a municipality that is bordered by the Pearl River, traversed by Mississippi Highway 25, adjacent to the boundaries of the Jackson International Airport and is located in a county which has voted against coming out from under the dry law; however, any such facility may only be located in areas designated by the governing authorities of such municipality;
6. Any municipality with a population in excess of ten thousand (10,000) according to the latest federal decennial census that is located in a county that is bordered by the Pearl River and is not traversed by Interstate Highway 20, with a population in excess of forty-five thousand (45,000) according to the latest federal decennial census; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages;
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
7. The West Pearl Restaurant Tax District as defined in Chapter 912, Local and Private Laws of 2007;
8. a. Land that is located in any county in which Mississippi Highway 43 and Mississippi Highway 25 intersect and:
A. Owned by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, and/or
B. Located within the Reservoir Community District, zoned commercial, east of Old Fannin Road, north of Regatta Drive, south of Spillway Road, west of Hugh Ward Boulevard and accessible by Old Fannin Road, Spillway Road, Spann Drive and/or Lake Vista Place, and/or
C. Located within the Reservoir Community District, zoned commercial, west of Old Fannin Road, south of Spillway Road and extending to the boundary of the corporate limits of the City of Flowood, Mississippi;
b. The board of supervisors of such county, with respect to B and C of item 8.a., may by resolution or other order:
A. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale,
B. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages, and
C. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
9. Any facility located on property that is a game reserve with restricted access that consists of at least eight hundred (800) contiguous acres with no public roads, that offers as a service hunts for a fee to overnight guests of the facility, and has accommodations for at least fifty (50) overnight guests;
10. Any facility that:
a. Consists of at least six thousand (6,000) square feet being heated and cooled along with an additional adjacent area that consists of at least two thousand two hundred (2,200) square feet regardless of whether heated and cooled,
b. For a fee is used to host events such as weddings, reunions and conventions,
c. Provides lodging accommodations regardless of whether part of the facility and/or located adjacent to or in close proximity to the facility, and
d. Is located on property that consists of at least thirty (30) contiguous acres;
11. Any facility and related property:
a. Located on property that consists of at least one hundred twenty-five (125) contiguous acres and consisting of an eighteen (18) hole golf course, and/or located in a facility that consists of at least eight thousand (8,000) square feet being heated and cooled,
b. Used for the purpose of providing meals and hosting events, and
c. Used for the purpose of teaching culinary arts courses and/or turf management and grounds keeping courses, and/or outdoor recreation and leadership courses;
12. Any facility and related property that:
a. Consist of at least eight thousand (8,000) square feet being heated and cooled,
b. For a fee is used to host events,
c. Is used for the purpose of culinary arts courses, and/or outdoor recreation and leadership courses;
13. The clubhouse and associated golf course where the golf course is adjacent to one or more residential developments and the golf course and all such developments collectively include at least two hundred (200) acres and at least one hundred fifty (150) residential units and are located a. in a county that has voted against coming out from under the dry law; and b. outside of but in close proximity to a municipality in such county which has voted under Section 67-1-14, after January 1, 2013, to come out from under the dry law;
14. The clubhouse and associated eighteen (18) hole golf course located in a municipality traversed by Interstate Highway 55 and U.S. Highway 51 that has voted to come out from under the dry law;
15. Land that is planned for mixed use development and consists of at least two hundred (200) contiguous acres with one or more planned residential developments collectively planned to include at least two hundred (200) residential units when completed and which land is located:
a. In a county that has voted to come out from under the dry law,
b. Outside the corporate limits of any municipality in such county and adjacent to or in close proximity to a golf course located in a municipality in such county, and
c. Within one (1) mile of a state institution of higher learning;
16. Any facility with a capacity of five hundred (500) people or more, to be used as a venue for private events, on a tract of land in the Southwest Quarter of Section 33, Township 2 South, Range 7 East, of a county where U.S. Highway 45 and U.S. Highway 72 intersect and that has not voted to come out from under the dry law;
17. One hundred five (105) contiguous acres, more or less, located in Hinds County, Mississippi, and in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, whereon are constructed a variety of buildings, improvements, grounds or objects for the purpose of holding events thereon to promote agricultural and industrial development in Mississippi;
18. Land that is owned by a state institution of higher learning and:
a. Located entirely within a county that has elected by majority vote not to permit the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of light wine and beer pursuant to Section 67-3-7, and
b. Adjacent to but outside the incorporated limits of a municipality that has elected by majority vote to permit the sale, receipt, storage and transportation of light wine and beer pursuant to Section 67-3-9.
If any portion of the land described in this item 18 has been declared a qualified resort area by the department before July 1, 2020, then that qualified resort area shall be incorporated into the qualified resort area created by this item 18;
19. Any facility and related property:
a. Used as a flea market or similar venue during a weekend (Saturday and Sunday) immediately preceding the first Monday of a month and having an annual average of at least one thousand (1,000) visitors for each such weekend and five hundred (500) vendors for Saturday of each such weekend, and
b. Located in a county that has not voted to come out from under the dry law and outside of but in close proximity to a municipality located in such county and which municipality has voted to come out from under the dry law;
20. Blocks 1, 2 and 3 of the original town square in any municipality with a population in excess of one thousand five hundred (1,500) according to the latest federal decennial census and which is located in:
a. A county traversed by Interstate 55 and Interstate 20, and
b. A judicial district that has not voted to come out from under the dry law;
21. Any municipality with a population in excess of two thousand (2,000) according to the latest federal decennial census and in which is located a part of White's Creek Lake and in which U.S. Highway 82 intersects with Mississippi Highway 9 and located in a county that is partially bordered on one (1) side by the Big Black River; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located.
22. A restaurant located on a two-acre tract adjacent to a five-hundred-fifty-acre lake in the northeast corner of a county traversed by U.S. Interstate 55 and U.S. Highway 84.
23. Any tracts of land in Oktibbeha County, situated east of Mississippi Boulevard, north of Coliseum Boulevard and east of Montgomery Hill Road, and not located on the property of a state institution of higher learning.
The status of these municipalities, districts, clubhouses, facilities, golf courses and areas described in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph (o) as qualified resort areas does not require any declaration of same by the department.
(p) "Native wine" means any product, produced in Mississippi for sale, having an alcohol content not to exceed twenty-one percent (21%) by weight and made in accordance with revenue laws of the United States, which shall be obtained primarily from the alcoholic fermentation of the juice of ripe grapes, fruits, berries, honey or vegetables grown and produced in Mississippi; provided that bulk, concentrated or fortified wines used for blending may be produced without this state and used in producing native wines. The department shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to permit a producer to import such bulk and/or fortified wines into this state for use in blending with native wines without payment of any excise tax that would otherwise accrue thereon.
(q) "Native winery" means any place or establishment within the State of Mississippi where native wine is produced, in whole or in part, for sale.
(r) "Bed and breakfast inn" means an establishment within a municipality where in consideration of payment, breakfast and lodging are habitually furnished to travelers and wherein are located not less than eight (8) and not more than nineteen (19) adequately furnished and completely separate sleeping rooms with adequate facilities, that persons usually apply for and receive as overnight accommodations; however, such restriction on the minimum number of sleeping rooms shall not apply to establishments on the National Register of Historic Places. No place shall qualify as a bed and breakfast inn under this chapter unless on the date of the initial application for a license under this chapter more than fifty percent (50%) of the sleeping rooms are located in a structure formerly used as a residence.
(s) "Board" shall refer to the Board of Tax Appeals of the State of Mississippi.
(t) "Spa facility" means an establishment within a municipality or qualified resort area and owned by a hotel where, in consideration of payment, patrons receive from licensed professionals a variety of private personal care treatments such as massages, facials, waxes, exfoliation and hairstyling.
(u) "Art studio or gallery" means an establishment within a municipality or qualified resort area that is in the sole business of allowing patrons to view and/or purchase paintings and other creative artwork.
(v) "Cooking school" means an establishment within a municipality or qualified resort area and owned by a nationally recognized company that offers an established culinary education curriculum and program where, in consideration of payment, patrons are given scheduled professional group instruction on culinary techniques. For purposes of this paragraph, the definition of cooking school shall not include schools or classes offered by grocery stores, convenience stores or drugstores.
(w) "Campus" means property owned by a public school district, community or junior college, college or university in this state where educational courses are taught, school functions are held, tests and examinations are administered or academic course credits are awarded; however, the term shall not include any "restaurant" or "hotel" that is located on property owned by a community or junior college, college or university in this state, and is operated by a third party who receives all revenue generated from food and alcoholic beverage sales.
(x) "Liquor Distribution Corporation" or "corporation" shall mean the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation.
SECTION 37. Section 67-1-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-9. (1) It shall be
unlawful for any person to manufacture, distill, brew, sell, import into this
state, export from the state, transport, distribute, warehouse, store, solicit,
take order for, bottle, rectify, blend, treat, mix or process any alcoholic
beverage except as authorized in this chapter. However, nothing contained
herein shall prevent importers, wineries and distillers of alcoholic beverages
from storing such alcoholic beverages in private bonded warehouses located
within the State of Mississippi for the ultimate use and benefit of the * * * Liquor Distribution Corporation
as provided in * * * Section 5 of this act. The department is
hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for the establishment of
such private bonded warehouses and for the control of alcoholic beverages
stored in such warehouses. Additionally, nothing herein contained shall prevent
any duly licensed practicing physician or dentist from possessing or using
alcoholic liquor in the strict practice of his profession, or prevent any
hospital or other institution caring for sick and diseased persons, from
possessing and using alcoholic liquor for the treatment of bona fide patients
of such hospital or other institution. Any drugstore employing a licensed
pharmacist may possess and use alcoholic liquors in the combination of
prescriptions of duly licensed physicians. The possession and dispensation of
wine by an authorized representative of any church for the purpose of
conducting any bona fide rite or religious ceremony conducted by such church
shall not be prohibited by this chapter.
(2) Any person, upon conviction of any provision of this section, shall be punished as follows:
(a) By a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than one (1) week nor more than three (3) months, or both, for the first conviction under this section.
(b) By a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than sixty (60) days, nor more than six (6) months, or both fine and imprisonment, for the second conviction for violating this section.
(c) By a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not less than one (1) year, nor more than five (5) years, or both fine and imprisonment, for conviction the third time under this section for the violation thereof after having been twice convicted of its violation.
(3) Nothing in this section shall make it unlawful to transport bottles or containers of alcoholic beverages that are legally purchased in this state if the bottles or containers are unopened and are being transported on state or federal highway.
SECTION 38. Section 67-1-18, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-18. (1) Any alcoholic beverage, light wine, beer, light spirit product or raw material seized under the authority of this chapter, Chapter 3 of Title 67, or Chapter 31 of Title 97, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall be submitted to the custody of the Mississippi Department of Revenue for disposition.
(2) (a) Except as
otherwise provided in this paragraph, the department shall not dispose of any
alcoholic beverage, light wine, beer, light spirit product or raw material without
first providing reasonable notice to all individuals having an interest in the
property and an opportunity for them to appear and establish their right or
claim to the property. If no hearing is requested by the passage of the
appropriate deadline, * * *
alcoholic beverages shall be transferred to the
Liquor Distribution Corporation to be placed in its inventory for resale or
destroyed, as determined by the corporation. Light wine, beer or raw materials
may be sold by the department for the benefit of the state or destroyed.
(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection shall not apply in cases in which the owner or possessor of the alcoholic beverage, light wine, beer, light spirit product or raw material is convicted of selling or possessing alcoholic beverages, beer, light spirit products, light wine or raw materials in a manner or location prohibited by law, or convicted of a violation of Section 67-1-81(2) or 67-3-70. In such cases, the alcoholic beverage, light wine, beer, light spirit product or raw materials seized in connection with the violation may be disposed of in the manner prescribed by the department.
(3) (a) If the department orders the property, other than alcoholic beverages, sold, then the property shall be sold to the highest bidder, the bidder being any person, firm or government agency. The offer for sale shall be made to not less than three (3) qualified prospective buyers, by mailing them an invitation to bid, which shall describe the property, terms of sale, method of delivery, manner of bidding and fixing a time of not more than fifteen (15) days from the date of invitation for opening of bids received by the department.
(b) All bids and payment shall be made in the manner as prescribed by the department. Bids, after opening, shall be subject to public inspection.
(4) If the department orders the sale of seized alcoholic beverages, it may place the alcoholic beverages in the state inventory to be sold to authorized retailers in the same manner as other alcoholic beverages in the state inventory are sold.
(5) Any appeal from a seizure and disposal made under this section shall be made pursuant to Section 67-1-72.
SECTION 39. Section 67-1-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-19. Except as otherwise noted, the administration and enforcement of this chapter shall be vested in the Department of Revenue. There is hereby created the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division within and as a part of the Department of Revenue.
SECTION 40. Section 67-1-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-33.
(1) No member, appointee or employee of the Board of Tax Appeals, * * * the Department of
Revenue * * * or the Liquor Distribution Corporation shall solicit, accept or receive any gift, gratuity,
emolument or employment from any person subject to the provisions of this
chapter, or from any officer, agent or employee thereof.
(2)
No member, appointee or employee of the Board of Tax Appeals, * * * the Department
of Revenue * * * or the Liquor Distribution Corporation shall
solicit, request from or recommend, directly or indirectly, to any person
subject to the provisions of this chapter, or to any officer, agent or employee
thereof, the appointment of any person to any place or position.
(3)
Every person subject to the provisions of this chapter, and every officer,
agent or employee thereof, is hereby forbidden to offer to any member,
appointee or employee of the Board of Tax Appeals, * * * the Department of
Revenue or * * * the
Liquor Distribution Corporation any gift, gratuity, emolument or
employment.
(4)
If any member of the Board of Tax Appeals, the * * * Department of Revenue or * * * the Liquor Distribution Corporation shall
violate any of the provisions of this section, he shall be removed from the
office or employment held by him.
(5) Every person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(6) For purposes of this provision, the terms "gift," "gratuity," "emolument" and "employment" do not include the payment of expenses associated with social occasions afforded public servants or any other benefit that does not come within the definition of "pecuniary benefit" as defined in Section 25-4-103.
SECTION 41. Section 67-1-37, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-37. The Department of Revenue, under its duties and powers with respect to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division therein, shall have the following powers, functions and duties:
(a) To issue or refuse to issue any permit provided for by this chapter, or to extend the permit or remit in whole or any part of the permit monies when the permit cannot be used due to a natural disaster or act of God.
(b) To revoke, suspend or cancel, for violation of or noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter, or the law governing the production and sale of native wines, or any lawful rules and regulations of the department issued hereunder, or for other sufficient cause, any permit issued by it under the provisions of this chapter. The department shall also be authorized to suspend the permit of any permit holder for being out of compliance with an order for support, as defined in Section 93-11-153. The procedure for suspension of a permit for being out of compliance with an order for support, and the procedure for the reissuance or reinstatement of a permit suspended for that purpose, and the payment of any fees for the reissuance or reinstatement of a permit suspended for that purpose, shall be governed by Section 93-11-157 or Section 93-11-163, as the case may be. If there is any conflict between any provision of Section 93-11-157 or Section 93-11-163 and any provision of this chapter, the provisions of Section 93-11-157 or Section 93-11-163, as the case may be, shall control.
(c) To prescribe forms of permits and applications for permits and of all reports which it deems necessary in administering this chapter.
(d) To fix standards, not in conflict with those prescribed by any law of this state or of the United States, to secure the use of proper ingredients and methods of manufacture of alcoholic beverages.
(e) To issue rules regulating the advertising of alcoholic beverages in the state in any class of media and permitting advertising of the retail price of alcoholic beverages.
* * *
( * * *f) Subject to the provisions of
subsection (3) of Section 67-1-51, to issue rules and regulations governing the
issuance of retail permits for premises located near or around schools,
colleges, universities, churches and other public institutions, and specifying
the distances therefrom within which no such permit shall be issued. The
Alcoholic Beverage Control Division shall not issue a package retailer's or on-premises
retailer's permit for the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages in or on
the campus of any public school, community or junior college, college or university.
( * * *g) To adopt and promulgate, repeal and
amend, such rules, regulations, standards, requirements and orders, not
inconsistent with this chapter or any law of this state or of the United
States, as it deems necessary to control the manufacture, * * * and
sale of alcoholic liquor, whether intended for beverage or nonbeverage use in a
manner not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter or any other
statute, including the native wine laws.
( * * *h) To call upon other administrative
departments of the state, county and municipal governments, county and city
police departments and upon prosecuting officers for such information and
assistance as it may deem necessary in the performance of its duties.
( * * *i) To prepare and submit to the
Governor during the month of January of each year a detailed report of its
official acts during the preceding fiscal year ending June 30, including such
recommendations as it may see fit to make, and to transmit a like report to
each member of the Legislature of this state upon the convening thereof at its
next regular session.
( * * *j) To inspect, or cause to be
inspected, any premises where alcoholic liquors intended for sale are manufactured,
stored, distributed or sold, and to examine or cause to be examined all books
and records pertaining to the business conducted therein.
( * * *k) To investigate the administration
of laws in relation to alcoholic liquors in this and other states and any
foreign countries, and to recommend from time to time to the Governor and
through him to the Legislature of this state such amendments to this chapter,
if any, as it may think desirable.
( * * *l) To designate hours and days when
alcoholic beverages may be sold in different localities in the state which
permit such sale.
( * * *m) To assign employees to posts of
duty at locations where they will be most beneficial for the control of
alcoholic beverages and to take any other action concerning persons employed
under this chapter as authorized by law and taken in accordance with the rules,
regulations and procedures of the State Personnel Board.
( * * *n) To enforce the provisions made
unlawful by Chapter 3, Title 67 and Section 97-5-49.
( * * *o) To delegate its authority under
this chapter to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, its director or any
other officer or employee of the department that it deems appropriate.
( * * *p) To prescribe and charge a fee to
defray the costs of shipping alcoholic beverages, provided that such fee is determined
in a manner provided by the department by rules and/or regulations adopted in
accordance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law.
SECTION 42. Section 67-1-43, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-43. Any authorized retail
distributor who shall purchase or receive * * * alcoholic beverages
from any source except * * *
the * * *
Liquor Distribution Corporation, unless authorized by rules and
regulations of the * * *
corporation promulgated under * * * Section 5 of this
act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be
punished by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), nor more
than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), to which may be added imprisonment in the
county jail for not more than six (6) months. Any authorization of such person
to sell * * *
alcoholic beverages may be revoked as provided by law.
SECTION 43. Section 67-1-45, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-45. No manufacturer,
rectifier or distiller of alcoholic beverages shall sell or attempt to sell any
such alcoholic beverages, except malt liquor, within the State of Mississippi,
except to the * * *
Liquor Distribution Corporation, or as provided in * * * Section 5 of this
act, or pursuant to Section 67-1-51. A producer of native wine may sell
native wines to the * * *
corporation or to consumers at the location of the native winery or its
immediate vicinity.
Any violation of this section by any manufacturer, rectifier or distiller shall be punished by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and not more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), to which may be added imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six (6) months.
SECTION 44. Section 67-1-49, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-49.
All distillers or distributors having contracts with the * * * Liquor Distribution
Corporation for the sale of alcoholic beverages to * * * the corporation, shall,
on or before February 1st of each year, file a statement, under oath, with the * * * corporation and
with the Secretary of State, listing the names and addresses of each person,
firm or corporation in Mississippi to whom or which said distiller or
distributor shall have paid or agreed to pay any fee, retainer, salary, or remuneration,
during the preceding year, together with a statement of the purpose for such
payment. Failure to file such statement shall constitute grounds for the * * * corporation to suspend the
right of the distiller or distributor to sell to * * * the corporation until
such time as said statement shall be filed.
SECTION 45. Section 67-1-51, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-51. (1) Permits which may be issued by the department shall be as follows:
(a) Manufacturer's permit. A manufacturer's permit shall permit the manufacture, importation in bulk, bottling and storage of alcoholic liquor and its distribution and sale to manufacturers holding permits under this chapter in this state and to persons outside the state who are authorized by law to purchase the same, and to sell as provided by this chapter.
Manufacturer's permits shall be of the following classes:
Class 1. Distiller's and/or rectifier's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to operate a distillery for the production of distilled spirits by distillation or redistillation and/or to operate a rectifying plant for the purifying, refining, mixing, blending, flavoring or reducing in proof of distilled spirits and alcohol.
Class 2. Wine manufacturer's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to manufacture, import in bulk, bottle and store wine or vinous liquor.
Class 3. Native wine producer's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to produce, bottle, store and sell native wines.
(b) Package retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph and Section 67-1-52, a package retailer's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to operate a store exclusively for the sale at retail in original sealed and unopened packages of alcoholic beverages, including native wines, not to be consumed on the premises where sold. Alcoholic beverages shall not be sold by any retailer in any package or container containing less than fifty (50) milliliters by liquid measure. A package retailer's permit, with prior approval from the department, shall authorize the holder thereof to sample new product furnished by a manufacturer's representative or his employees at the permitted place of business so long as the sampling otherwise complies with this chapter and applicable department regulations. Such samples may not be provided to customers at the permitted place of business. In addition to the sale at retail of packages of alcoholic beverages, the holder of a package retailer's permit is authorized to sell at retail corkscrews, wine glasses, soft drinks, ice, juices, mixers and other beverages commonly used to mix with alcoholic beverages. Nonalcoholic beverages sold by the holder of a package retailer's permit shall not be consumed on the premises where sold.
(c) On-premises retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, an on-premises retailer's permit shall authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages, including native wines, for consumption on the licensed premises only; however, a patron of the permit holder may remove one (1) bottle of wine from the licensed premises if: (i) the patron consumed a portion of the bottle of wine in the course of consuming a meal purchased on the licensed premises; (ii) the permit holder securely reseals the bottle; (iii) the bottle is placed in a bag that is secured in a manner so that it will be visibly apparent if the bag is opened; and (iv) a dated receipt for the wine and the meal is available. Additionally, as part of a carryout order, a permit holder may sell one (1) bottle of wine to be removed from the licensed premises for every two (2) entrees ordered. Such a permit shall be issued only to qualified hotels, restaurants and clubs, and to common carriers with adequate facilities for serving passengers. In resort areas, whether inside or outside of a municipality, the department, in its discretion, may issue on-premises retailer's permits to such establishments as it deems proper. An on-premises retailer's permit when issued to a common carrier shall authorize the sale and serving of alcoholic beverages aboard any licensed vehicle while moving through any county of the state; however, the sale of such alcoholic beverages shall not be permitted while such vehicle is stopped in a county that has not legalized such sales. If an on-premises retailer's permit is applied for by a common carrier operating solely in the water, such common carrier must, along with all other qualifications for a permit, (i) be certified to carry at least one hundred fifty (150) passengers and/or provide overnight accommodations for at least fifty (50) passengers and (ii) operate primarily in the waters within the State of Mississippi which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi and/or on the Mississippi River or navigable waters within any county bordering on the Mississippi River.
(d) Solicitor's permit. A solicitor's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to act as salesman for a manufacturer or wholesaler holding a proper permit, to solicit on behalf of his employer orders for alcoholic beverages, and to otherwise promote his employer's products in a legitimate manner. Such a permit shall authorize the representation of and employment by one (1) principal only. However, the permittee may also, in the discretion of the department, be issued additional permits to represent other principals. No such permittee shall buy or sell alcoholic beverages for his own account, and no such beverage shall be brought into this state in pursuance of the exercise of such permit otherwise than through a permit issued to a wholesaler or manufacturer in the state.
(e) Native wine retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a native wine retailer's permit shall be issued only to a holder of a Class 3 manufacturer's permit, and shall authorize the holder thereof to make retail sales of native wines to consumers for on-premises consumption or to consumers in originally sealed and unopened containers at an establishment located on the premises of or in the immediate vicinity of a native winery. When selling to consumers for on-premises consumption, a holder of a native wine retailer's permit may add to the native wine alcoholic beverages not produced on the premises, so long as the total volume of foreign beverage components does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the mixed beverage. Hours of sale shall be the same as those authorized for on-premises permittees in the city or county in which the native wine retailer is located.
(f) Temporary retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a temporary retailer's permit shall permit the purchase and resale of alcoholic beverages, including native wines, during legal hours on the premises described in the temporary permit only.
Temporary retailer's permits shall be of the following classes:
Class 1. A temporary one-day permit may be issued to bona fide nonprofit civic or charitable organizations authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages, including native wine, for consumption on the premises described in the temporary permit only. Class 1 permits may be issued only to applicants demonstrating to the department, by a statement signed under penalty of perjury submitted ten (10) days prior to the proposed date or such other time as the department may determine, that they meet the qualifications of Sections 67-1-11, 67-1-37, 67-1-51(2) and (3), 67-1-55, 67-1-57 (excluding paragraph (e)) and 67-1-59. Class 1 permittees shall obtain all alcoholic beverages from package retailers located in the county in which the temporary permit is issued. Alcoholic beverages remaining in stock upon expiration of the temporary permit may be returned by the permittee to the package retailer for a refund of the purchase price upon consent of the package retailer or may be kept by the permittee exclusively for personal use and consumption, subject to all laws pertaining to the illegal sale and possession of alcoholic beverages. The department, following review of the statement provided by the applicant and the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations, may issue the permit.
Class 2. A temporary permit, not to exceed seventy (70) days, may be issued to prospective permittees seeking to transfer a permit authorized in paragraph (c) of this subsection. A Class 2 permit may be issued only to applicants demonstrating to the department, by a statement signed under the penalty of perjury, that they meet the qualifications of Sections 67-1-5(l), (m), (n), (o), (p) or (q), 67-1-37, 67-1-51(2) and (3), 67-1-55, 67-1-57 and 67-1-59. The department, following a preliminary review of the statement provided by the applicant and the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations, may issue the permit.
Class 2 temporary permittees
must purchase their alcoholic beverages directly from the * * * Liquor Distribution Corporation
or, with approval of the department, purchase the remaining stock of the
previous permittee. If the proposed applicant of a Class 1 or Class 2
temporary permit falsifies information contained in the application or statement,
the applicant shall never again be eligible for a retail alcohol beverage
permit and shall be subject to prosecution for perjury.
Class 3. A temporary one-day permit may be issued to a retail establishment authorizing the complimentary distribution of wine, including native wine, to patrons of the retail establishment at an open house or promotional event, for consumption only on the premises described in the temporary permit. A Class 3 permit may be issued only to an applicant demonstrating to the department, by a statement signed under penalty of perjury submitted ten (10) days before the proposed date or such other time as the department may determine, that it meets the qualifications of Sections 67-1-11, 67-1-37, 67-1-51(2) and (3), 67-1-55, 67-1-57 (excluding paragraph (e)) and 67-1-59. A Class 3 permit holder shall obtain all alcoholic beverages from the holder(s) of a package retailer's permit located in the county in which the temporary permit is issued. Wine remaining in stock upon expiration of the temporary permit may be returned by the Class 3 temporary permit holder to the package retailer for a refund of the purchase price, with consent of the package retailer, or may be kept by the Class 3 temporary permit holder exclusively for personal use and consumption, subject to all laws pertaining to the illegal sale and possession of alcoholic beverages. The department, following review of the statement provided by the applicant and the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations, may issue the permit. No retailer may receive more than twelve (12) Class 3 temporary permits in a calendar year. A Class 3 temporary permit shall not be issued to a retail establishment that either holds a merchant permit issued under paragraph (l) of this subsection, or holds a permit issued under Chapter 3, Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972, authorizing the holder to engage in the business of a retailer of light wine or beer.
(g) Caterer's permit. A caterer's permit shall permit the purchase of alcoholic beverages by a person engaging in business as a caterer and the resale of alcoholic beverages by such person in conjunction with such catering business. No person shall qualify as a caterer unless forty percent (40%) or more of the revenue derived from such catering business shall be from the serving of prepared food and not from the sale of alcoholic beverages and unless such person has obtained a permit for such business from the Department of Health. A caterer's permit shall not authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages on the premises of the person engaging in business as a caterer; however, the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit may hold a caterer's permit. When the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit or an affiliated entity of the holder also holds a caterer's permit, the caterer's permit shall not authorize the service of alcoholic beverages on a consistent, recurring basis at a separate, fixed location owned or operated by the caterer, on-premises retailer or affiliated entity and an on-premises retailer's permit shall be required for the separate location. All sales of alcoholic beverages by holders of a caterer's permit shall be made at the location being catered by the caterer, and, except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, such sales may be made only for consumption at the catered location. The location being catered may be anywhere within a county or judicial district that has voted to come out from under the dry laws or in which the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages is otherwise authorized by law. Such sales shall be made pursuant to any other conditions and restrictions which apply to sales made by on-premises retail permittees. The holder of a caterer's permit or his employees shall remain at the catered location as long as alcoholic beverages are being sold pursuant to the permit issued under this paragraph (g), and the permittee shall have at the location the identification card issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the department. No unsold alcoholic beverages may be left at the catered location by the permittee upon the conclusion of his business at that location. Appropriate law enforcement officers and Alcoholic Beverage Control Division personnel may enter a catered location on private property in order to enforce laws governing the sale or serving of alcoholic beverages.
(h) Research permit. A research permit shall authorize the holder thereof to operate a research facility for the professional research of alcoholic beverages. Such permit shall authorize the holder of the permit to import and purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from the department or from importers, wineries and distillers of alcoholic beverages for professional research.
(i) Alcohol processing permit. An alcohol processing permit shall authorize the holder thereof to purchase, transport and possess alcoholic beverages for the exclusive use in cooking, processing or manufacturing products which contain alcoholic beverages as an integral ingredient. An alcohol processing permit shall not authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages on the premises of the person engaging in the business of cooking, processing or manufacturing products which contain alcoholic beverages. The amounts of alcoholic beverages allowed under an alcohol processing permit shall be set by the department.
(j) Hospitality cart permit. A hospitality cart permit shall authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages from a mobile cart on a golf course that is the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit. The alcoholic beverages sold from the cart must be consumed within the boundaries of the golf course.
(k) Special service permit. A special service permit shall authorize the holder to sell commercially sealed alcoholic beverages to the operator of a commercial or private aircraft for en route consumption only by passengers. A special service permit shall be issued only to a fixed-base operator who contracts with an airport facility to provide fueling and other associated services to commercial and private aircraft.
(l) Merchant permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a merchant permit shall be issued only to the owner of a spa facility, an art studio or gallery, or a cooking school, and shall authorize the holder to serve complimentary by the glass wine only, including native wine, at the holder's spa facility, art studio or gallery, or cooking school. A merchant permit holder shall obtain all wine from the holder of a package retailer's permit.
(m) Temporary alcoholic beverages charitable auction permit. A temporary permit, not to exceed five (5) days, may be issued to a qualifying charitable nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The permit shall authorize the holder to sell alcoholic beverages for the limited purpose of raising funds for the organization during a live or silent auction that is conducted by the organization and that meets the following requirements: (i) the auction is conducted in an area of the state where the sale of alcoholic beverages is authorized; (ii) if the auction is conducted on the premises of an on-premises retailer's permit holder, then the alcoholic beverages to be auctioned must be stored separately from the alcoholic beverages sold, stored or served on the premises, must be removed from the premises immediately following the auction, and may not be consumed on the premises; (iii) the permit holder may not conduct more than two (2) auctions during a calendar year; (iv) the permit holder may not pay a commission or promotional fee to any person to arrange or conduct the auction.
(n) Event venue retailer's permit. An event venue retailer's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to purchase and resell alcoholic beverages, including native wines, for consumption on the premises during legal hours during events held on the licensed premises if food is being served at the event by a caterer who is not affiliated with or related to the permittee. The caterer must serve at least three (3) entrees. The permit may only be issued for venues that can accommodate two hundred (200) persons or more. The number of persons a venue may accommodate shall be determined by the local fire department and such determination shall be provided in writing and submitted along with all other documents required to be provided for an on-premises retailer's permit. The permittee must derive the majority of its revenue from event-related fees, including, but not limited to, admission fees or ticket sales for live entertainment in the building. "Event-related fees" do not include alcohol, beer or light wine sales or any fee which may be construed to cover the cost of alcohol, beer or light wine. This determination shall be made on a per event basis. An event may not last longer than two (2) consecutive days per week.
(o) Temporary theatre permit. A temporary theatre permit, not to exceed five (5) days, may be issued to a charitable nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code and owns or operates a theatre facility that features plays and other theatrical performances and productions. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, the permit shall authorize the holder to sell alcoholic beverages, including native wines, to patrons of the theatre during performances and productions at the theatre facility for consumption during such performances and productions on the premises of the facility described in the permit. A temporary theatre permit holder shall obtain all alcoholic beverages from package retailers located in the county in which the permit is issued. Alcoholic beverages remaining in stock upon expiration of the temporary theatre permit may be returned by the permittee to the package retailer for a refund of the purchase price upon consent of the package retailer or may be kept by the permittee exclusively for personal use and consumption, subject to all laws pertaining to the illegal sale and possession of alcoholic beverages.
(p) Charter ship operator's permit. Subject to the provisions of this paragraph (p), a charter ship operator's permit shall authorize the holder thereof and its employees to serve, monitor, store and otherwise control the serving and availability of alcoholic beverages to customers of the permit holder during private charters under contract provided by the permit holder. A charter ship operator's permit shall authorize such action by the permit holder and its employees only as to alcoholic beverages brought onto the permit holder's ship by customers of the permit holder as part of such a private charter. All such alcoholic beverages must be removed from the charter ship at the conclusion of each private charter. A charter ship operator's permit shall not authorize the permit holder to sell, charge for or otherwise supply alcoholic beverages to customers, except as authorized in this paragraph (p). For the purposes of this paragraph (p), "charter ship operator" means a common carrier that (i) is certified to carry at least one hundred fifty (150) passengers and/or provide overnight accommodations for at least fifty (50) passengers, (ii) operates only in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, and (iii) provides charters under contract for tours and trips in such waters.
(q) Distillery retailer's
permit. The holder of a Class 1 manufacturer's permit may obtain a
distillery retailer's permit. A distillery retailer's permit shall authorize
the holder thereof to sell at retail alcoholic beverages by the sealed and
unopened bottle from a retail location at the distillery for off-premises consumption.
The holder may only sell product manufactured by the manufacturer at the distillery
described in the permit. The holder shall not sell at retail more than ten
percent (10%) of the alcoholic beverages produced annually at its distillery.
The holder shall not make retail sales of more than two and twenty-five one-hundredths
(2.25) liters, in the aggregate, of the alcoholic beverages produced at its
distillery to any one (1) individual for consumption off the premises of the
distillery within a twenty-four-hour period. The hours of sale shall be the
same as those hours for package retailers under this chapter. The holder of a
distillery retailer's permit is not required to purchase the alcoholic
beverages authorized to be sold by this paragraph from the * * * Liquor
Distribution Corporation; however, if the holder does not purchase the
alcoholic beverages from the * * * corporation liquor
distribution warehouse, the holder shall pay to the department all taxes, fees
and surcharges on the alcoholic beverages that are imposed upon the sale of
alcoholic beverages shipped by the * * * corporation. In addition to alcoholic beverages, the
holder of a distillery retailer's permit may sell at retail promotional
products from the same retail location, including shirts, hats, glasses, and
other promotional products customarily sold by alcoholic beverage
manufacturers.
(r) Festival Wine Permit. Any wine manufacturer or native wine producer permitted by Mississippi or any other state is eligible to obtain a Festival Wine Permit. This permit authorizes the entity to transport product manufactured by it to festivals held within the State of Mississippi and sell sealed, unopened bottles to festival participants. The holder of this permit may provide samples at no charge to participants. "Festival" means any event at which three (3) or more vendors are present at a location for the sale or distribution of goods. The holder of a Festival Wine Permit is not required to purchase the alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold by this paragraph from the department's liquor distribution warehouse. However, if the holder does not purchase the alcoholic beverages from the department's liquor distribution warehouse, the holder of this permit shall pay to the department all taxes, fees and surcharges on the alcoholic beverages sold at such festivals that are imposed upon the sale of alcoholic beverages shipped by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Department of Revenue. Additionally, the entity shall file all applicable reports and returns as prescribed by the department. This permit is issued per festival and provides authority to sell for two (2) consecutive days during the hours authorized for on-premises permittees' sales in that county or city. The holder of the permit shall be required to maintain all requirements set by Local Option Law for the service and sale of alcoholic beverages. This permit may be issued to entities participating in festivals at which a Class 1 temporary permit is in effect.
This paragraph (r) shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2023.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section, retail permittees may hold more than one (1) retail permit, at the discretion of the department.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no authority shall be granted to any person to manufacture, sell or store for sale any intoxicating liquor as specified in this chapter within four hundred (400) feet of any church, school, kindergarten or funeral home. However, within an area zoned commercial or business, such minimum distance shall be not less than one hundred (100) feet.
A church or funeral home may waive the distance restrictions imposed in this subsection in favor of allowing issuance by the department of a permit, pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, to authorize activity relating to the manufacturing, sale or storage of alcoholic beverages which would otherwise be prohibited under the minimum distance criterion. Such waiver shall be in written form from the owner, the governing body, or the appropriate officer of the church or funeral home having the authority to execute such a waiver, and the waiver shall be filed with and verified by the department before becoming effective.
The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a bed and breakfast inn listed in the National Register of Historic Places or to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages in a historic district that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is a qualified resort area and is located in a municipality having a population greater than one hundred thousand (100,000) according to the latest federal decennial census.
(4) No person, either individually or as a member of a firm, partnership, limited liability company or association, or as a stockholder, officer or director in a corporation, shall own or control any interest in more than one (1) package retailer's permit, nor shall such person's spouse, if living in the same household of such person, any relative of such person, if living in the same household of such person, or any other person living in the same household with such person own any interest in any other package retailer's permit.
(5) (a) In addition to any other authority granted under this section, the holder of a permit issued under subsection (1)(c), (e), (f), (g), (l), (n) and/or (o) of this section may sell or otherwise provide alcoholic beverages and/or wine to a patron of the permit holder in the manner authorized in the permit and the patron may remove an open glass, cup or other container of the alcoholic beverage and/or wine from the licensed premises and may possess and consume the alcoholic beverage or wine outside of the licensed premises if: (i) the licensed premises is located within a leisure and recreation district created under Section 67-1-101 and (ii) the patron remains within the boundaries of the leisure and recreation district while in possession of the alcoholic beverage or wine.
(b) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to allow a person to bring any alcoholic beverages into a permitted premises except to the extent otherwise authorized by this chapter.
SECTION 46. Section 67-1-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-73.
Every manufacturer, including native wine producers, within or without the
state, and every other shipper of alcoholic beverages who sells any alcoholic
beverage, including native wine, within the state, shall, at the time of making
such sale, file with the * * * commission Liquor Distribution Corporation a copy of
the invoice of such sale showing in detail the kind of alcoholic beverage sold,
the quantities of each, the size of the container and the weight of the
contents, the alcoholic content, and the name and address of the person to whom
sold.
Every
person transporting alcoholic beverages, including native wine, within this
state to a point within this state, whether such transportation originates
within or without this state, shall, within five (5) days after delivery of
such shipment, furnish the * * * corporation a copy of the
bill of lading or receipt, showing the name or consignor or consignee, date,
place received, destination, and quantity of alcoholic beverages delivered.
Upon failure to comply with the provisions of this section, such person shall
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, thereof
shall be fined in the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for each offense.
SECTION 47. Section 67-5-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-5-5. For purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the definitions ascribed herein, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Native wine" shall mean any product, produced in Mississippi for sale, having an alcohol content not to exceed twenty-one percent (21%) by weight and made in accordance with revenue laws of the United States, which shall be obtained primarily from the alcoholic fermentation of the juice of ripe grapes, fruits, berries, honey or vegetables grown and produced in Mississippi; provided that bulk, concentrated or fortified wines used for blending may be produced without this state and used in producing native wines. The commission shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to permit a producer to import such bulk and/or fortified wines into this state for use in blending with native wines without payment of any excise tax that would otherwise accrue thereon. In order to be classified as "native wine" under the provisions of this chapter, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the finished product by volume shall have been obtained from fermentation of grapes, fruits, berries, honey or vegetables grown and produced in Mississippi.
(b) "Native winery" shall mean any place or establishment within this state where native wine is produced in whole or in part for sale.
(c) "Produce" shall mean to do or to perform any act or thing in the process of making native wine.
(d) "Person" shall mean one or more natural persons, or a corporation, partnership or association.
(e) "Producer" shall mean any person who owns, operates or conducts a native winery, but it does not mean the employees of such persons.
(f) "Consumer" shall mean any person who purchases native wine for the purpose of consuming it, giving it away, or distributing it in any way other than by sale, barter or exchange.
(g)
"Commission," "State Tax Commission" or
"department" shall mean the Mississippi * * * Department of Revenue.
(h)
"Division" shall mean the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the * * * department.
(i) "Corporation" shall mean the Mississippi Liquor Distribution Corporation.
SECTION 48. Section 67-5-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-5-11.
Within the State of Mississippi, every native winery is authorized to make
sales to the * * * corporation or to consumers at the location of the
native winery or its immediate vicinity. Every native winery is authorized to
make sales to any producer, manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer or consumer located
outside of the State of Mississippi who are authorized by law to purchase the
same.
SECTION 49. Section 67-5-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-5-13. (1) Upon every producer holding a permit for the production of native wine, there is levied and imposed for each location for the privilege of engaging and continuing in this state in the production of native wine an annual privilege license tax in an amount equal to Ten Dollars ($10.00) for each ten thousand (10,000) gallons, or any part thereof, of native wine produced by the winery.
(2)
There is levied and assessed an excise tax upon each case of native wine sold
by a producer to any source to be collected from the producer in the amount
provided for in Section 27-71-7. However, native wine produced in Mississippi
for export and sale without this state and native wine produced in Mississippi
and sold to the * * * corporation shall not be subject to the excise
tax, nor shall the tax accrue or be collected on native wines dispensed, as
free samples in quantities of not more than six (6) ounces, in the tasting room
of a native winery.
(3) The privilege tax imposed by subsection (1) of this section shall be collected in the same manner as presently provided by law for the collection of other alcoholic beverages. The excise tax imposed by subsection (2) of this section shall be reported monthly by the producer to the commission on all sales made in Mississippi to consumers at the location of the native winery or its immediate vicinity, along with a statement of gallonage produced during that month, and the producer shall remit the tax due and owing with each report. The producer shall also include in the report a statement of gallonage sold and exported for sale outside this state.
(4) All taxes levied by and collected under this section shall be deposited in the General Fund.
SECTION 50. Sections 1 through 19 of this act shall be codified in a new chapter of Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 51. Section 67-1-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, which authorizes the Department of Revenue as the exclusive wholesale distributor and seller of alcoholic beverages within the State of Mississippi, subject to certain exceptions, is repealed.
SECTION 52. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.