Senate Bill 2556

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-39-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE GEOGRAPHIC STANDARDS FOR APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MISSISSIPPI OUTDOOR STEWARDSHIP TRUST FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 49-39-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-39-5. (1) There is established the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, which shall consist of the following members:

(a) Four (4) members appointed by the Governor * * * from geographically diverse areas;

(b) Three (3) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor * * * from geographically diverse areas;

(c) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission, as an ex officio, nonvoting member;

(d) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, as an ex officio, nonvoting member;

(e) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, as an ex officio, nonvoting member;

(f) The Secretary of State, as an ex officio, nonvoting member;

(g) The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, as an ex officio, nonvoting member;

(h) The Chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, as ex officio, nonvoting members;

(i) The Chairs of the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee, as ex officio, nonvoting members; and

(j) The Chairs of the Senate and House Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committees, as ex officio, nonvoting members.

One (1) of the members to be appointed by the Governor shall be appointed only after consideration of recommendations for those appointments made by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the Governor. One (1) of the members to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor shall be appointed only after consideration of recommendations for those appointments made by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the Lieutenant Governor.

(2) The members of the board appointed by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be appointed from the following private sectors: forestry, conservation, agriculture, business, marine resources, hunting or fishing. Such members shall be and shall remain Mississippi residents during their tenure on the board and shall possess a demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to public lands, land conservation and outdoor recreation. These seven (7) appointments shall be subject to the advice and consent of the Mississippi State Senate.

(3) (a) Two (2) persons initially appointed by the Governor and two (2) persons initially appointed by the Lieutenant Governor shall serve terms ending June 30, 2025. The other two (2) persons initially appointed by the Governor and the remaining person initially appointed by the Lieutenant Governor shall serve terms ending June 30, 2026.

After the expiration of the initial terms, each such appointment shall be for a term of four (4) years from the expiration of the previous term.

(b) A majority of the voting members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of meetings, and all actions of the board shall require a majority vote of the voting members of the board.

(c) The board shall annually elect one (1) voting member to serve as chairman and one (1) voting member to serve as vice chairman. The vice chairman shall act as chairman in the absence or disability of the chairman, or if there is a vacancy in the office of chairman.

(4) The members of the board appointed by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall receive a per diem as provided in Section 25-3-69, plus travel and necessary expenses incidental to the attendance at each board meeting, including mileage, as provided in Section 25-3-41.

(5) No board member shall use his official position to obtain, or attempt to obtain, pecuniary benefit for himself other than that compensation provided for by law, or to obtain, or attempt to obtain, pecuniary benefit for any relative or any business with which he is associated, as provided in Section 25-4-105.

(6) The board shall not approve any funding to any entity of which a voting member of the board is an executive, member or employee.

(7) The Department of Finance and Administration shall provide the office space, staff and other support necessary for the board to perform its duties.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.