MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2025 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Hopson

Senate Bill 2840

(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-113-55, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT MONIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY VETERINARY SCHOOL FUND SHALL BE DISBURSED BY MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY; TO AMEND SECTION 1, CHAPTER 534, LAWS OF 2024, TO REVISE THE FUND NUMBER OF THE 2022 EMERGENCY ROAD AND BRIDGE FUND; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 29-9-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES A PROCEDURE FOR THE SALE OR DISPOSAL OF CERTAIN STATE PROPERTY, FOR THE PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; TO DIRECT THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND-DFA TO THE 2022 IHL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND; TO DIRECT THE TRANSFER OF CERTAIN FUNDS FROM THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE LAND IMPROVEMENT FUND AND TO THE MISSISSIPPI VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER LENGTH-OF-SERVICE AWARDS PROGRAM FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 37-113-55, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     37-113-55.  There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the "Mississippi State University Veterinary School Fund."  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.  Monies in the fund shall be disbursed by * * * the Department of Finance and Administration to assist Mississippi State University * * * with for the purpose of paying costs associated with the design, construction, renovation, repairs, and equipping of the Wise Center.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund.

     SECTION 2. Section 1 of Chapter 534, Laws of 2024, is amended as follows:

     Section 1.  Upon the effective date of this act, the State Treasurer, in conjunction with the State Fiscal Officer, shall transfer the amounts listed below from the Capital Expense Fund (Fund No. 6499C00000) to each of the following named funds:

       FUND                  FUND NUMBER             AMOUNT

2024 Local Improvements

   Projects Fund created

   in Section 4 of this act                   $  227,375,000.00

2022 IHL Capital

   Improvements Fund          6611330000       $  110,000,000.00

2022 Community and Junior

   Colleges Capital

   Improvements Fund          6611300000       $   45,000,000.00

2022 State Agencies Capital

   Improvements Fund          6611320000       $   26,100,000.00

2022 Department of Finance

   and Administration

   Statewide Repair and

   Renovation Fund            6611310000       $   23,900,000.00

Mississippi State University

   Veterinary School Fund

   created in Section 9 of

   this act                                   $   18,000,000.00

Mississippi Site Development

   Grant Fund                6614170000       $   40,000,000.00

2023 Lafayette County

   Infrastructure

   Improvements Fund          6611380000       $  160,000,000.00

2023 Desoto County

   Infrastructure

   Improvements Fund          6611370000       $   90,000,000.00

2022 Emergency Road and

   Bridge Fund                * * *66194400006619441000      $   30,000,000.00

Strategic Multi-Modal

   Investments Fund           6695500000       $   10,000,000.00

2022 Infrastructure

   Match Fund                6619430000       $   40,000,000.00

TOTAL                                        $  820,375,000.00

     SECTION 3.  Section 29-9-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

     29-9-9.  (1)  Whenever any vehicle, equipment, office furniture, office fixture or any other personal property which has been acquired or is owned by any institution, department or agency of the State of Mississippi becomes obsolete or is no longer needed or required for the use of such institution, department or agency, the same may be:  (a) sold for cash, transferred, traded or exchanged for other property, furniture, equipment, fixture or vehicle needed by said institution, department or agency after having first obtained the written approval of the Governor's Office of General Services and the State Auditor or approval by the Legislative Budget Office if utilized under the jurisdiction of the Legislature; or (b) donated to any institution, department or agency of the State of Mississippi, or any political subdivision or local governing authority of the state.  The singular shall include the plural.  Transfers, trades, exchanges or donations made pursuant to this subsection may be made to any political subdivision or local governing authority of the State of Mississippi.

     (2)  The proceeds of all cash sales made, as authorized in this section, shall be paid over into the support and maintenance or contingent fund of the institution, department or agency as it deems best.

     (3)  The head of each state institution, department or agency shall be responsible and liable personally and on his official bond, in the amount of the value shown on the state inventory, for the disposal of any property contrary to the provisions of this section.

     (4)  The Office of General Services, on the approval of the Public Procurement Review Board, is hereby authorized and empowered to make reasonable rules and regulations and to require such information as may be necessary to carry out the purpose and provisions of this section.

     (5)  Any violation of the provisions hereof by any elected head of any institution, department, commission or agency of the State of Mississippi, or any appointee or employee of any institution, department, agency or commission coming under the provisions of this section, shall constitute a misdemeanor and, upon conviction therefor, shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) in addition to personal and official liability, as hereinabove provided.

     (6)  The disposal of any unneeded personal property at the project described in Section 57-75-5(f)(vi), may be made in accordance with the provisions of the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Act by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority, under such rules and regulations as may be adopted by such authority.

     (7)  The disposal of any alternative housing units purchased through the Mississippi Alternative Housing Pilot Program may be made by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency as required by federal law to be in compliance with regulations of the federal articles of agreement and its awarded conditions, and upon approval of the Public Procurement Review Board.

     (8)  This section shall not be applicable to the State Veterans Homes in the event the State Veterans Affairs Board has contracted for property management services at the State Veterans Homes.

     SECTION 4.  (1)  Upon the effective date of this act, the State Treasurer, in conjunction with the State Fiscal Officer, shall transfer the sum of Two Million Forty-seven Thousand Four Hundred Twenty-five Dollars and Seventy-seven Cents ($2,047,425.77) from the Capital Expense Funds- DFA (Fund No. 6494300000) to the 2022 IHL Capital Improvements Fund (Fund No. 6611330000) created in Section 37-101-83, Mississippi Code of 1972.

     (2)  These funds shall be disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration to the University of Southern Mississippi, with the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning on those projects related to the universities under its management and control, to pay the costs for the repair or renovation of systems or buildings on the Hattiesburg campus.

     SECTION 5.  On the effective date of this act, the State Treasurer, in conjunction with the State Fiscal Officer, shall transfer the sum of Sixteen Million Dollars ($16,000,000.00) from the Capital Expense Fund (Fund No. 6449C00000) to each of the following named funds:

       FUND                       FUND NUMBER             AMOUNT

Secretary of State Land

   Improvement Fund                6611100000     $  13,000,000.00

Mississippi Volunteer Firefighter

   Length-of-Service Awards

   Program Fund                   3351600000     $   3,000,000.00

     SECTION 6.  During the period beginning July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, the University of Mississippi Medical Center shall transfer Four Million Thirty Thousand Four Hundred and Sixteen Dollars ($4,030,416.00) for the Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce, to the Mississippi State Department of Health for the transfer of the program that occurred in House Bill 1129, 2024 Regular Session.

     SECTION 7.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.