MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2023 Regular Session
To: Universities and Colleges; Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Norwood, Simmons (12th), Thomas, Frazier, Blount, Jackson, Hickman, Butler (38th)
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 37-125-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE A PROGRAM WITHIN THE BUREAU OF BUILDING, GROUNDS AND REAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSTRUCTING A NEW FOOTBALL STADIUM FOR THE USE OF JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY; TO REQUIRE THE UNIVERSITY, IN COORDINATION WITH THE BUREAU, TO CONSTRUCT A NEW FOOTBALL STADIUM; TO AUTHORIZE THE BUREAU AND THE UNIVERSITY TO PURCHASE LAND, CONTRACT WITH ARCHITECTS, EMPLOY SURVEYORS, CONTRACT WITH CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERS AND/OR CONTRACT WITH CONSTRUCTION CREWS IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROJECT SHALL NOT BE EXEMPT FROM ANY CONTRACTING, BIDDING OR OTHER RESTRICTIONS CURRENTLY EXISTING IN STATUTE OR ANY RULE OR REGULATION ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING OR OTHER STATE AUTHORITY PERTAINING TO SUCH CONSTRUCTION; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO COOPERATE WITH THE UNIVERSITY TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAINTAIN ULTIMATE OVERSIGHT AND ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 37-125-11, Mississippi Code of 1972:
37-125-11. (1) As used in this section,
(a) "Bureau" means Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management within the Department of Finance and Administration.
(b) "Department" means the Department of Finance and Administration.
(c) "Program" means the program established within the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management in subsection (2) of this section.
(d) "University" means Jackson State University.
(2) There is established a program within the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management within the Department of Finance and Administration for the purposes of constructing a new football stadium for the use of Jackson State University.
(3) (a) The university, in coordination with the bureau, shall construct a new football stadium.
(b) The bureau and the university are authorized to purchase land, contract with architects, employ surveyors, contract with construction engineers and/or contract with construction crews in order to effectuate the purposes of this section.
(4) This section shall not exempt such construction or purchases from any contracting, bidding or other restrictions currently existing in statute or any rule or regulation adopted by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or other state authority pertaining to such construction.
(5) The department shall cooperate with the university to effectuate the purposes of this act. The department shall maintain ultimate oversight and administrative authority of the program.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.