MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2022 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representative Lamar

House Bill 1675

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR STATE AGENCIES; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 27-7-22.41, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES AN INCOME TAX CREDIT, INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX CREDIT AND AD VALOREM TAX CREDIT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS BY TAXPAYERS THAT ARE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES TO ELIGIBLE CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, FOR THE PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The provisions of this section shall apply to every section of this act that relates to the issuance of bonds unless otherwise provided in this act.

(2) As used in this act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "State" means the State of Mississippi.

(b) "Commission" means the State Bond Commission.

(3) The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under this act shall be payable in the manner provided in this subsection. Such bonds shall bear such date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates (not to exceed the limits set forth in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972), be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times not to exceed twenty-five (25) years from date of issue, be redeemable before maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the commission.

(4) The bonds authorized by this act shall be signed by the chairman of the commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the commission shall be affixed thereto, attested by the secretary of the commission. The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to such bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of such officers. Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials designated to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers before the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until their delivery to the purchaser, or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear. However, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, such bonds may be issued as provided in the Registered Bond Act of the State of Mississippi.

(5) All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of this act have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, and in exercising the powers granted by this act, the commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

(6) The commission shall act as issuing agent for the bonds authorized under this act, prescribe the form of the bonds, determine the appropriate method for sale of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids or negotiate the sale of the bonds, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, pay all fees and costs incurred in such issuance and sale, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds. The commission is authorized and empowered to pay the costs that are incident to the sale, issuance and delivery of the bonds authorized under this act from the proceeds derived from the sale of such bonds. The commission may sell such bonds on sealed bids at public sale or may negotiate the sale of the bonds for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi. All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually.

If such bonds are sold by sealed bids at public sale, notice of the sale shall be published at least one time, not less than ten (10) days before the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, selected by the commission.

The commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of this act, may provide that bonds, at the option of the State of Mississippi, may be called in for payment and redemption at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.

(7) The bonds issued under the provisions of this act are general obligations of the State of Mississippi, and for the payment thereof the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi is irrevocably pledged. If the funds appropriated by the Legislature are insufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on such bonds as they become due, then the deficiency shall be paid by the State Treasurer from any funds in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated. All such bonds shall contain recitals on their faces substantially covering the provisions of this subsection.

(8) Upon the issuance and sale of bonds under the provisions of this act, the commission shall transfer the proceeds of any such sale or sales to the special fund created in subsection (1) of the applicable section of this act. The proceeds of such bonds shall be disbursed from the special fund under such restrictions, if any, as may be contained in the resolution providing for the issuance of the bonds.

(9) The bonds authorized under this act may be issued without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things other than those proceedings, conditions and things which are specified or required by this act. Any resolution providing for the issuance of bonds under the provisions of this act shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the commission, and any such resolution may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of the commission by a majority of its members.

(10) The bonds authorized under the authority of this act may be validated in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect provided by Title 31, Chapter 13, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the validation of county, municipal, school district and other bonds. The notice to taxpayers required by such statutes shall be published in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.

(11) Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of this act or of any of the interest coupons pertaining thereto may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights granted under this act, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by this act to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.

(12) All bonds issued under the provisions of this act shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries, and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and political subdivisions for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.

(13) Bonds issued under the provisions of this act and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.

(14) The proceeds of the bonds issued under this act shall be used solely for the purposes herein provided, including the costs incident to the issuance and sale of such bonds.

(15) The State Treasurer is authorized, without further process of law, to certify to the Department of Finance and Administration the necessity for warrants, and the Department of Finance and Administration is authorized and directed to issue such warrants, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, or the accreted value of, all bonds issued under this act; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof. As used in this section, the "accreted value" of any bond means, as of any date of computation, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the stated initial value of such bond, plus (b) the interest accrued thereon from the issue date to the date of computation at the rate, compounded semiannually, that is necessary to produce the approximate yield to maturity shown for bonds of the same maturity.

(16) This act shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers granted in this act that relate to the issuance of bonds, but this act shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state that relates to the issuance of bonds.

SECTION 2. (1) (a) (i) A special fund, to be designated as the "2022 State Agencies Capital Improvements Fund," is created within the State Treasury. The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state. 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 into such fund to pay the costs of capital improvements, renovation and/or repair of existing facilities, furnishings and/or equipping facilities for public facilities as hereinafter described:

STATE AGENCIES...................................$ 80,000,000.00

Department of Corrections........................$ 6,000,000.00

Planning, critical repair

and renovation of and code

and security upgrades and improvements

to department buildings,

facilities and infrastructure

and facilities under

the care and control

of the department.........$ 6,000,000.00

Department of Finance and Administration.........$ 21,500,000.00

Continuation of planning,

repair, restoration of

and improvements to the

New Capitol Grounds.......$ 5,000,000.00

Phase II of repair,

renovation, furnishing

and equipping of the

660 North Street Building..$ 9,500,000.00

Phase II of repair,

renovation, furnishing

and equipping of the

350 High Street Building..$ 7,000,000.00

Department of Mental Health.......................$ 7,750,000.00

Phase II of ligature

compliance measures

at the Mississippi

State Hospital............$ 1,250,000.00

Planning, construction,

furnishing and equipping

of new north entry gate

security station and

perimeter fencing at

the Boswell Regional

Center....................$ 1,500,000.00

Planning, repair

and renovation, furnishing

and equipping of Buildings

#42, #49 and #50 at

Ellisville State School...$ 3,000,000.00

Planning, construction,

furnishing and equipping

of new entry security

station and reconstruction

of north passage bridge

at North Mississippi

Regional Center...........$ 2,000,000.00

Department of Public Safety...................$ 36,000,000.00

Continuation of construction,

furnishing and equipping of

a headquarters replacement

building and related

facilities adjacent

to the State Crime Lab....$ 32,000,000.00

Continuation of construction,

furnishing and equipping of

new Troop G Highway Patrol

Substation in Starkville..$ 4,000,000.00

Mississippi Military Department...................$4,000,000.00

Planning, repairs,

renovations, expansions,

upgrades and furnishing

and equipping of Readiness

Centers..................$ 4,000,000.00

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks......$ 4,750,000.00

Phase I of planning, repair,

renovation, replacement,

furnishing and equipping

of existing park buildings,

facilities, and infrastructure

and planning, construction,

furnishing and equipping of

new park buildings, facilities

and infrastructure......$ 3,000,000.00

Planning, repair, renovations,

and improvements to the

Natural Science Museum..$ 1,750,000.00

TOTAL...........................................$ 80,000,000.00

(b) (i) Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of projects described in paragraph (a) of this subsection. If any monies in such special fund are not used within four (4) years after the date the proceeds of the bonds authorized under this section are deposited into the special fund, then the agency for which any unused monies are allocated under paragraph (a) of this subsection shall provide an accounting of such unused monies to the commission. Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under this section, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

(ii) Monies in the special fund may be used to reimburse reasonable actual and necessary costs incurred by the Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, in administering or providing assistance directly related to a project described in paragraph (a) of this subsection. An accounting of actual costs incurred for which reimbursement is sought shall be maintained for each project by the Department of Finance and Administration, Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management. Reimbursement of reasonable actual and necessary costs for a project shall not exceed two percent (2%) of the proceeds of bonds issued for such project. Monies authorized for a particular project may not be used to reimburse administrative costs for unrelated projects.

(c) The Department of Finance and Administration, acting through the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management, is expressly authorized and empowered to receive and expend any local or other source funds in connection with the expenditure of funds provided for in this subsection. The expenditure of monies deposited into the special fund shall be under the direction of the Department of Finance and Administration, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by such department, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, or his designee.

(d) Any amounts allocated to an agency that are in excess of that needed to complete the projects at such agency that are described in paragraph (a) of this subsection may be used for general repairs and renovations at the agency.

(2) (a) The commission, at one time, or from time to time, may declare by resolution the necessity for issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi to provide funds for all costs incurred or to be incurred for the purposes described in subsection (1) of this section. Upon the adoption of a resolution by the Department of Finance and Administration, declaring the necessity for the issuance of any part or all of the general obligation bonds authorized by this section, the department shall deliver a certified copy of its resolution or resolutions to the commission. Upon receipt of such resolution, the commission is authorized to proceed under the provisions of Section 1(6) of this act. The total amount of bonds issued under this section shall not exceed Eighty Million Dollars ($80,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this section after July 1, 2026.

(b) Any investment earnings on amounts deposited into the special fund created in subsection (1) of this section shall be used to pay debt service on bonds issued under this section, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing issuance of such bonds.

(3) The provisions of Section 1 of this act shall apply to the issuance of bonds authorized under this section.

SECTION 3. (1) (a) (i) A special fund, to be designated as the "2022 Department of Finance and Administration Statewide Repair and Renovation Fund," is created within the State Treasury. The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state. 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 into such fund.

(ii) Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Department of Finance and Administration, to pay the costs of site and infrastructure improvements, general repairs and renovations, weatherization, roofing, environmental mitigation, mechanical, electrical and structural repairs required for state-owned facilities, universities and community and junior colleges, repairs, renovations and improvements necessary for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act or other codes, purchase and installation of necessary furniture and equipment, and continuation and completion of previously authorized projects.

(b) Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of the projects described in paragraph (a) of this subsection. Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall have been completed, abandoned, or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under this section, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the commission.

(2) (a) The commission, at one time, or from time to time, may declare by resolution the necessity for issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi to provide funds for all costs incurred or to be incurred for the purposes described in subsection (1) of this section. Upon the adoption of a resolution by the Department of Finance and Administration, declaring the necessity for the issuance of any part or all of the general obligation bonds authorized by this section, the department shall deliver a certified copy of its resolution or resolutions to the commission. Upon receipt of such resolution, the commission is authorized to proceed under the provisions of Section 1(6) of this act. The total amount of bonds issued under this section shall not exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this section after July 1, 2026.

(3) The provisions of Section 1 of this act shall apply to the issuance of bonds authorized under this section.

SECTION 4. Section 27-7-22.41, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

27-7-22.41. (1) For the purposes of this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) "Department" means the Department of Revenue.

(b) "Eligible charitable organization" means an organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is:

(i) Licensed by or under contract with the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services and provides services for:

1. The prevention and diversion of children from custody with the Department of Child Protection Services,

2. The safety, care and well-being of children in custody with the Department of Child Protection Services, or

3. The express purpose of creating permanency for children through adoption; or

(ii) Certified by the department as an educational services charitable organization and provides services to:

1. Children in a foster care placement program established by the Department of Child Protection Services, children placed under the Safe Families for Children model, or children at significant risk of entering a foster care placement program established by the Department of Child Protection Services,

2. Children who have a chronic illness or physical, intellectual, developmental or emotional disability, or

3. Children eligible for free or reduced price meals programs under Section 37-11-7, or selected for participation in the Promise Neighborhoods Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

(2) (a) The tax credit authorized in this section shall be available only to a taxpayer who is a business enterprise engaged in commercial, industrial or professional activities and operating as a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or sole proprietorship. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a credit is allowed against the taxes imposed by Sections 27-7-5, 27-15-103, 27-15-109 and 27-15-123, for voluntary cash contributions made by a taxpayer during the taxable year to an eligible charitable organization. From and after January 1, 2022, for a taxpayer that is not operating as a corporation, a credit is also allowed against ad valorem taxes assessed and levied on real property for voluntary cash contributions made by the taxpayer during the taxable year to an eligible charitable organization. The amount of credit that may be utilized by a taxpayer in a taxable year shall be limited to (i) an amount not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total tax liability of the taxpayer for the taxes imposed by such sections of law and (ii) an amount not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total tax liability of the taxpayer for ad valorem taxes assessed and levied on real property. Any tax credit claimed under this section but not used in any taxable year may be carried forward for five (5) consecutive years from the close of the tax year in which the credits were earned.

(b) A contribution to an eligible charitable organization for which a credit is claimed under this section does not qualify for and shall not be included in any credit that may be claimed under Section 27-7-22.39.

(c) A contribution for which a credit is claimed under this section may not be used as a deduction by the taxpayer for state income tax purposes.

(3) Taxpayers taking a credit authorized by this section shall provide the name of the eligible charitable organization and the amount of the contribution to the department on forms provided by the department.

(4) An eligible charitable organization shall provide the department with a written certification that it meets all criteria to be considered an eligible charitable organization. An eligible charitable organization must also provide the department with written documented proof of its license and/or written contract with the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services. The organization shall also notify the department of any changes that may affect eligibility under this section.

(5) The eligible charitable organization's written certification must be signed by an officer of the organization under penalty of perjury. The written certification shall include the following:

(a) Verification of the organization's status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(b) A statement that the organization does not provide, pay for or provide coverage of abortions and does not financially support any other entity that provides, pays for or provides coverage of abortions;

(6) The department shall review each written certification and determine whether the organization meets all the criteria to be considered an eligible charitable organization and notify the organization of its determination. The department may also periodically request recertification from the organization. The department shall compile and make available to the public a list of eligible charitable organizations.

(7) Tax credits authorized by this section that are earned by a partnership, limited liability company, S corporation or other similar pass-through entity, shall be allocated among all partners, members or shareholders, respectively, either in proportion to their ownership interest in such entity or as the partners, members or shareholders mutually agree as provided in an executed document.

(8) (a) A taxpayer shall apply for credits with the department on forms prescribed by the department. In the application the taxpayer shall certify to the department the dollar amount of the contributions made or to be made during the calendar year. Within thirty (30) days after the receipt of an application, the department shall allocate credits based on the dollar amount of contributions as certified in the application. However, if the department cannot allocate the full amount of credits certified in the application due to the limit on the aggregate amount of credits that may be awarded under this section in a calendar year, the department shall so notify the applicant within thirty (30) days with the amount of credits, if any, that may be allocated to the applicant in the calendar year. Once the department has allocated credits to a taxpayer, if the contribution for which a credit is allocated has not been made as of the date of the allocation, then the contribution must be made not later than sixty (60) days from the date of the allocation. If the contribution is not made within such time period, the allocation shall be cancelled and returned to the department for reallocation. Upon final documentation of the contributions, if the actual dollar amount of the contributions is lower than the amount estimated, the department shall adjust the tax credit allowed under this section.

(b) A taxpayer who applied for a tax credit under this section during calendar year 2020, but who was unable to be awarded the credit due to the limit on the aggregate amount of credits authorized for calendar year 2020, shall be given priority for tax credits authorized to be allocated to taxpayers under this section by Section 27-7-22.39.

(c) For the purposes of using a tax credit against ad valorem taxes assessed and levied on real property, a taxpayer shall present to the appropriate tax collector the tax credit documentation provided to the taxpayer by the Department of Revenue, and the tax collector shall apply the tax credit against such ad valorem taxes. The tax collector shall forward the tax credit documentation to the Department of Revenue along with the amount of the tax credit applied against ad valorem taxes, and the department shall disburse funds to the tax collector for the amount of the tax credit applied against ad valorem taxes. Such payments by the Department of Revenue shall be made from current tax collections.

(9) The aggregate amount of tax credits that may be allocated by the department under this section during a calendar year shall not exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00), and not more than fifty percent (50%) of tax credits allocated during a calendar year may be allocated for contributions to eligible charitable organizations described in subsection (1)(b)(ii) of this section. However, for calendar year 2021, the aggregate amount of tax credits that may be allocated by the department under this section during a calendar year shall not exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00), and for calendar year 2022, and for each calendar year thereafter, the aggregate amount of tax credits that may be allocated by the department under this section during a calendar year shall not exceed Sixteen Million Dollars ($16,000,000.00). For calendar year 2021, and for each calendar year thereafter, fifty percent (50%) of the tax credits allocated during a calendar year shall be allocated for contributions to eligible charitable organizations described in subsection (1)(b)(i) of this section and fifty percent (50%) of the tax credits allocated during a calendar year shall be allocated for contributions to eligible charitable organizations described in subsection (1)(b)(ii) of this section. For calendar year 2022, and for each calendar year thereafter, of the amount of tax credits that may be allocated for contributions to eligible charitable organizations described in subsection (1)(b)(ii) of this section, fifteen percent (15%) of the tax credits shall be available solely for allocation for contributions to eligible charitable organizations described in subsection (1)(b)(ii)2; however, any such tax credits not allocated before April 1 of a calendar year may be allocated for contributions to eligible charitable organizations described in subsection (1)(b)(ii)1 of this section. For calendar year 2021, and for each calendar year thereafter, for credits allocated during a calendar year for contributions to eligible charitable organizations described in subsection (1)(b)(i) of this section, no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of such credits may be allocated for contributions to a single eligible charitable organization. Except as otherwise provided in this section, for calendar year 2021, and for each calendar year thereafter, for credits allocated during a calendar year for contributions to eligible charitable organizations described in subsection (1)(b)(ii) of this section, no more than five percent (5%) of such credits may be allocated for contributions to a single eligible charitable organization. However, for calendar year 2022, of the additional amount of tax credits authorized under this section, as amended by Chapter 480, Laws of 2021, for allocation for contributions to eligible charitable organizations described in subsection (1)(b)(ii) of this section, Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) of the tax credits shall be available solely for allocation for contributions to Magnolia Speech School; however, any such tax credits not allocated before April 1, 2022, may be allocated for contributions to eligible charitable organizations described in subsection (1)(b)(ii) of this section.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.