House Bill 929

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM TRAIL COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO PROMOTE MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM TRAIL LOCATIONS AND HISTORY FOR PURPOSES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; TO PRESCRIBE THE FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION; TO EMPOWER THE COMMISSION TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND GRANT FUNDS; TO PROVIDE FOR INTERDEPARTMENTAL COOPERATION; TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION TO PURCHASE AND ERECT "MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM TRAIL" HISTORICAL MARKERS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created the Mississippi Freedom Trail Commission, hereinafter referred to as the "commission", to be in existence for the period from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2026. The commission may accept and expend grants and private donations from any source, including federal, state, public and private entities, to assist it to carry out its functions.

(2) For purposes of this act, the term "Movement" shall mean the American Civil Rights Movement.

(3) The powers, functions and duties of the commission shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) To study, deliberate and report to the Governor and the Legislature on or before January 1, 2023, on the best method to market and promote the Freedom Trail, to include tourism, academic study and historic archives, historic preservation, cultural education and the support of veterans of the Movement. Such marketing shall be designed to attract tourists, conferences, filmmakers and others for the purpose of economic development of all geographic areas of the state through the promotion of the stories and sites of the Movement and the historic context for the Movement, and to analyze the tourism potential of the Freedom Trail for Mississippi.

(b) To make an inventory of "assets" that make up the Movement history that could be developed into Freedom Trail sites for domestic and international tourism, and opportunities for investment.

(c) To establish a statewide Mississippi Freedom Trail infrastructure to offer to tourists and targeted groups a structured tour of Mississippi historic sites.

(d) Coordinate with Visit Mississippi and the Mississippi Development Authority, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Mississippi Educational Television Authority, the State Institutions of Higher Learning, the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi, the University Center for Economic Development at Mississippi Valley State University, the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University, and similar organizations in the sharing of resources and information in order to ensure a comprehensive approach to marketing the Freedom Trail and the history of the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi.

(e) Coordination of the Freedom Trail marketing plan with any existing state historic preservation programs, in order to:

(i) Identify and preserve historic properties and sites of the Civil Rights Movement;

(ii) Determine the eligibility of such properties and sites for listing on the National Register;

(iii) Prepare nominations of such sites for inclusion on the National Register;

(iv) Maintenance of historical and archaeological data bases; and

(v) Evaluation of such sites for eligibility for state and federal preservation incentives.

(4) The commission shall be composed of the following members:

(a) The Director of the Division of Tourism of the Mississippi Development Authority or their designee;

(b) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, or their designee;

(d) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Educational Television Authority, or their designee;

(e) The Director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi;

(f) A person designated by the President of Mississippi Valley State University;

(g) The Director of the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University;

(h) The Director of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum;

(j) Two (2) members of the Mississippi Senate designated by the Lieutenant Governor, who shall serve on a nonvoting basis;

(k) Two (2) members of the Mississippi House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House, who shall serve on a nonvoting basis;

(l) Two (2) members appointed by the Governor, who shall have experience in cultural affairs or tourism development in Mississippi; and

(m) Four (4) members appointed by the Governor from the state at large, who shall have demonstrated a commitment to furthering the stories of the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi.

(5) The Governor shall designate one (1) commission member to serve as chairman for a term concurrent with that of the Governor. The commission shall meet upon the call of the chairman not later than August 1, 2022, and shall organize for business by adopting internal organizational procedures necessary for efficient operation of the commission, including officers, quorum requirements and policies for any commission staff. Each member of the commission shall designate necessary staff of his or her respective agency, department, university or business entity, as the case may be, to provide administrative support to assist the commission in performing its duties and responsibilities. The commission shall meet and conduct business at least quarterly each year. Meetings of the commission shall be open to the public and opportunity for public comment shall be made available.

(6) Members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

(7) The commission shall submit a report, including any proposed legislation, to the Governor and to the Legislature before the convening of the 2023 Regular Session. The report shall include a comprehensive state plan for marketing the Freedom Trail as specifically provided above.

(8) All departments, boards, agencies, officers and institutions of the state, and all subdivisions thereof, shall cooperate with the commission in carrying out its purposes under this act.

(9) Any funds or donations received by the commission shall be deposited into a special fund which is created in the State Treasury. The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state. Unexpended amounts remaining in the special 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 special fund. Monies in the fund shall be expended by the Department of Finance and Administration, upon appropriation by the Legislature, after receipt of requisitions submitted by the appropriate person designated by the commission. Monies in the special fund may be used by the commission in carrying out its responsibilities under this act.

SECTION 2. The commission shall designate specific sites for erection of appropriate "Mississippi Freedom Trail" markers to offer to tourists and targeted groups a structured tour of Civil Rights Movement historical sites. The commission shall be authorized to purchase appropriate Mississippi Freedom Trail markers from any of its available funds. The texts for the Mississippi Freedom Trail markers shall be approved by the commission. The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall cooperate with the commission by erecting and maintaining the markers that have been approved by the commission.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.