House Bill 1154

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO CREATE A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY, DESIGNATED AS THE "MISSISSIPPI OUTDOORS AND NATURAL RESOURCES FUND"; TO PROVIDE THAT THE FUND SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS AND THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS AUTHORIZED TO SOLICIT AND ACCEPT DONATIONS, GIFTS AND GRANTS OF FUNDS FROM PRIVATE SOURCES FOR DEPOSIT INTO THE FUND; TO PROVIDE THAT MONIES IN THE SPECIAL FUND MAY BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT, UPON APPROPRIATION BY THE LEGISLATURE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING GRANTS TO PRIVATE ENTITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING WITH THE PROMOTION, SUPPORT AND ENHANCEMENT OF STATE AND PRIVATE PARKS AND TRAILS AND RELATED PROPERTIES AND FACILITIES, OUTDOOR RECREATION AND SPORTING PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, WILDLIFE AND NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, AND PROJECTS AND OUTDOOR AND RECREATIONAL RELATED TOURISM AND RELATED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) (a) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the "Mississippi Outdoors and Natural Resources Fund." The fund shall consist of monies deposited therein under this section and monies from any other source designated for deposit into such fund. The fund shall be administered by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (hereinafter referred to as "department") and the department is authorized to solicit and accept donations, gifts and grants of funds from private sources for deposit into the fund. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.

(b) Monies in the fund shall be used by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purpose of making grants as authorized in subsection (2) of this section.

(c) Monies in the fund may not be used, expended or transferred for any other purpose except upon amendment to this section by a bill enacted by the Legislature with a vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the members of each house present and voting.

(2) The department shall establish a program to make grants to private entities for the purpose of assisting with the promotion, support and enhancement of: (a) state parks and trails and related properties and facilities, (b) private parks and trails and related properties and facilities, (c) outdoor recreation and sporting programs and activities, (d) wildlife and natural resource conservation and preservation programs, activities, and projects, including acquisition of and improvements to land related to such purposes and (e) outdoor and recreational related tourism and related economic development. An entity may apply to the department for a grant under this section in the manner provided for in this section.

(3) An entity desiring a grant under this section must submit an application to the department. The application must include a description of the project for which the grant is requested, the cost of the project for which the grant is requested, the amount of the grant requested and any other information required by the department.

(4) The department shall have all powers necessary to implement and administer the program established under this section, and the department shall promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law, necessary for the implementation of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.