MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2023 Regular Session
To: Public Property
By: Representatives Bounds, Aguirre, Anderson (110th), Anderson (122nd), Anthony, Arnold, Bailey, Bain, Banks, Barnett, Barton, Bell (21st), Bell (65th), Bennett, Blackmon, Bomgar, Boyd (19th), Boyd (37th), Brown (20th), Brown (70th), Burnett, Busby, Byrd, Calvert, Carpenter, Clark, Clarke, Cockerham, Crawford, Creekmore IV, Criswell, Crudup, Currie, Darnell, Denton, Deweese, Eure, Evans (45th), Evans (91st), Faulkner, Felsher, Ford (54th), Ford (73rd), Foster, Gibbs, Goodin, Guice, Gunn, Hale, Haney, Harness, Hines, Holloway, Hood, Hopkins, Horan, Horne, Huddleston, Hulum, Jackson, Johnson, Karriem, Kinkade, Ladner, Lamar, Lancaster, Mangold, Massengill, McCarty, McCray, McGee, McKnight, McLean, McLeod, Mickens, Miles, Mims, Morgan, Newman, Oliver, Osborne, Paden, Patterson, Pigott, Porter, Powell, Read, Reynolds, Roberson, Robinson, Rosebud, Rushing, Sanders, Sanford, Scoggin, Scott, Shanks, Smith, Stamps, Steverson, Straughter, Summers, Taylor, Thompson, Tubb, Tullos, Turner, Walker, Wallace, Watson, Weathersby, White, Williamson, Yancey, Yates, Young, Zuber
AN ACT DESIGNATING THE BUILDING AT 1505 EASTOVER DRIVE IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, AS THE "SAM G. POLLES STATE OFFICE BUILDING"; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, Sam G. Polles, Ph.D., served the State of Mississippi as Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for approximately thirty (30) years, making him one of the longest-serving executive director of a state executive branch agency; and
WHEREAS, during Dr. Polles' tenure as executive director, the department has experienced several noteworthy achievements, including enhanced educational requirements to become a conservation officer; increased salaries; development and implementation of a career ladder that provides for advancement of conservation officers; improved training and state of the art equipment; elevation of conservation officers into the status of first responders; and improvement of educational requirements and salaries for wildlife biologists; and
WHEREAS, by capitalizing on available federal grant monies, the department has been able to make significant purchases of land, more than doubling the amount of public lands held in trust for natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation; and
WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi continues to benefit tremendously from the cardinal guidance and innate leadership abilities of Dr. Polles, and throughout his tenure he used his expertise to serve in the role of executive director with efficiency and effectiveness; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature to recognize and commend outstanding Mississippians, especially those such as Dr. Polles, whose distinguished service to the people of the State of Mississippi in leading efforts to promote conservation of our state's abundant natural resources brings honor to this great Magnolia State, and it is most fitting that the department's central office building be named in his honor; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks central office building, located at 1505 Eastover Drive, in Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, shall be named the "Sam G. Polles State Office Building." The Department of Finance and Administration shall prepare or have prepared a distinctive plaque, to be placed in a prominent place within the building, that states the background, accomplishments and service to the state of Dr. Sam G. Polles. The Department of Finance and Administration in conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall erect or cause to be erected proper lettering or signage on the outdoor facade of the main front entrance of the building displaying the official name of the building as the "Sam G. Polles State Office Building."
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.