MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2023 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representative Roberson

House Bill 394

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 69-2-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE DATE BY WHICH THE STATE BOND COMMISSION MAY ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE EMERGING CROPS FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 69-2-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     69-2-19.  (1)  The Mississippi Development Authority is authorized, at one time, or from time to time, to declare by resolution the necessity for issuance of negotiable general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi to provide funds for the Emerging Crops Fund established in Section 69-2-13.  Upon the adoption of a resolution by the board, declaring the necessity for the issuance of any part or all of the general obligation bonds authorized by * * *Sections 69‑2‑19 this section through Section 69-2-39, the authority shall deliver a certified copy of its resolution or resolutions to the State Bond Commission.  Upon receipt of same, the State Bond Commission, in its discretion, shall act as the issuing agent, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds.  The amount of bonds issued under * * *Sections 69‑2‑19 this section through Section 69-2-39 shall not exceed One Hundred Fourteen Million Dollars ($114,000,000.00) in the aggregate; however:

          (a)  An additional amount of bonds may be issued under * * *Sections 69‑2‑19 this section through Section 69-2-39 in an amount not to exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00), and the proceeds of any such additional bonds shall be used solely for the purposes described in Section 69-2-13(14); and

          (b)  An additional amount of bonds may be issued under * * *Sections 69‑2‑19 this section through Section 69-2-39 in an amount not to exceed Seventeen Million Dollars ($17,000,000.00), and the proceeds of such additional bonds shall be used solely for the purposes described in Section 69-2-13(16).

     (2)  No bonds may be issued under * * *Sections 69‑2‑19 this section through Section 69-2-39 after October 1, * * *2023 2026.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.