Senate Bill 2776

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 11-27-81, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN PUBLIC AGENCIES TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO IMMEDIATE POSSESSION OF EASEMENTS OR RIGHTS-OF-WAY FOR PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND ROADS, AND FOR WATER UTILITIES, SEWER UTILITIES, DRAINAGE UTILITIES AND OTHER PUBLIC UTILITY PURPOSES IN CONNECTION WITH A PROJECT DEFINED IN SECTION 57-75-5(f)(xxxiii); AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 11-27-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

11-27-81. The right of immediate possession pursuant to Sections 11-27-81 through 11-27-89, Mississippi Code of 1972, may be exercised only:

(a) By the State Highway Commission for the acquisition of highway rights-of-way only;

(b) By any county or municipality for the purpose of acquiring rights-of-way to connect existing roads and streets to highways constructed or to be constructed by the State Highway Commission;

(c) By any county or municipality for the purpose of acquiring rights-of-way for widening existing roads and streets of such county or municipality; provided, however, that said rights-of-way shall not displace a property owner from his dwelling or place of business;

(d) By the boards of supervisors of any county of this state for the acquisition of highway or road rights-of-way in connection with a state-aid project designated and approved in accordance with Sections 65-9-1 through 65-9-31, Mississippi Code of 1972;

(e) By any county, municipality or county utility authority created under the Mississippi Gulf Region Utility Act, Section 49-17-701 et seq., for the purpose of acquiring rights-of-way for water, sewer, drainage and other public utility purposes; provided, however, that such acquisition shall not displace a property owner from his dwelling or place of business. A county utility authority should prioritize utilizing easements within ten (10) feet of an existing right-of-way when economically feasible. A county utility authority may not exercise the right to immediate possession under this paragraph after July 1, 2013. Provisions of this paragraph (e) shall not apply to House District 109;

(f) By any county authorized to exercise the power of eminent domain under Section 19-7-41 for the purpose of acquiring land for construction of a federal correctional facility or other federal penal institution;

(g) By the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority for the purpose of acquiring land, property and rights-of-way for a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv)1 or any facility related to the project as provided in Section 57-75-11(e)(ii);

(h) By the boards of supervisors of any county of this state for the purpose of constructing dams or low-water control structures on lakes or bodies of water under the provisions of Section 19-5-92;

(i) By the board of supervisors of any county of this state for the purpose of acquiring land, property and/or rights-of-way for any project the board of supervisors, by a duly adopted resolution, determines to be related to a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv). The board of supervisors of a county may not exercise the right to immediate possession under this paragraph (i) after July 1, 2003;

(j) By a regional economic development alliance created under Section 57-64-1 et seq., for the purpose of acquiring land, property and/or rights-of-way within the project area and necessary for any project such an alliance, by a duly adopted resolution, determines to be related to a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi). An alliance may not exercise the right to immediate possession under this paragraph (j) after July 1, 2012; * * * or

(k) By the board of supervisors of any county of this state for the purpose of acquiring or clearing title to real property, property and/or rights-of-way within the project site and necessary for any project such board of supervisors, by a duly adopted resolution, determines to be related to a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii). A county may not exercise the right to immediate possession under this paragraph (k) after July 1, 2012 * * *.; or

(l) By any public agency, as defined in Section 57-75-37(7)(a)(ii), for the purpose of acquiring land, property or interests therein, including, but not limited to, easements or rights-of-way for public highways and roads, and for public water utilities, public wastewater and wastewater treatment utilities, public drainage utilities and other public utility purposes in connection with a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxiii).

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