MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2025 Regular Session

To: Tourism; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Chassaniol, Fillingane, Blackwell, Simmons (13th), Berry, Whaley

Senate Bill 2883

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 57-1-59, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS WITH COUNTY BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS FOR THE PURPOSE OF STAFFING MISSISSIPPI WELCOME CENTERS; TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI WELCOME CENTERS STAFF GRANT PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY; TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI WELCOME CENTERS STAFF GRANT FUND TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 57-1-59, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     57-1-59.  The Mississippi Development Authority shall have the following general powers and duties with respect to tourism:

          (a)  To promote and advertise the image of Mississippi both within and without the boundaries of this state;

          (b)  To promote and advertise fairs and similar activities of interest to tourists and the traveling public;

          (c)  To promote and advertise the use of wildlife and natural areas by tourists and the traveling public;

          (d)  To promote and advertise the use of state recreational and park facilities by tourists and the traveling public;

          (e)  To promote and advertise all resources of the State of Mississippi as attractions to tourists and the traveling public;

          (f)  To develop for all agencies of state government the necessary promotional and advertising materials needed to promote all facilities and programs which may be of interest to travelers and tourists;

          (g)  To maintain an educational awareness program for the citizens of the state to constantly encourage increased development of activities of interest to tourists and the traveling public;

          (h)  To develop and maintain an information services system to adequately guide tourists and the traveling public within the boundaries of the state;

          (i)  To develop and maintain an extensive media program to adequately inform the national and international consumer about Mississippi;

          (j)  To enter into contracts and other agreements with local tourism commissions or similar entities for the purpose of developing regional strategies for tourism promotion.  The Mississippi Development Authority, in conjunction with the formulation of regional strategies for tourism promotion, may require that local tourism commissions or similar entities enter into agreements with the authority as a condition for receiving any state grants to promote tourism; * * * and

          (k)  To develop programs and projects promoting the state's heritage, history, culture, literature and arts, including the positive recovery of the state after damages caused by natural disasters, and demonstrating the state's attractiveness as a tourism destination for those and other reasons * * *.; and

          (l)  To enter into contracts and other agreements with county boards of supervisors for the purpose of employing staff members, who shall not be state service employees or members of the Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi, at Mississippi welcome centers located within the boundaries of the county with grant funds provided by the department.

     SECTION 2.  (1)  For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context requires otherwise:

          (a)  "Grant program" means the Mississippi Welcome Centers Staff Grant established in this section.

          (b)  " * * *AuthorityMDA" means the Mississippi Development Authority * * * or "MDA.".

     (2)  (a)  There is established the Mississippi Welcome Centers Staff Grant Program, which shall be administered by the  * * * authority MDA for the purpose of staffing welcome centers with county employees * * * according to Section 1 of this act as authorized under Section 57-1-59.

          (b)  Subject to the provisions of this act and any other applicable state law and regulations, * * * welcome centers or counties receiving a grant shall have the authority to use the funds provided in this grant program in a way that best facilitates their agreement to staff welcome centers with county employees.

     (3)  The * * * authority MDA shall:

          (a)  Inform all counties with welcome centers about the grant program;

          (b)  Develop regulations and procedures to govern the administration of the grant program, including application requirements, within two (2) months after enactment; and

          (c)  Subject to appropriation, award welcome centers meeting the requirements of the program a grant for expenses related to staffing the centers with certain county employees.

 * * * (4)  The authority shall administer this program with existing personnel and resources and shall not contract for external support.

     ( * * *54)  An application for an award from the grant program shall include:

          (a)  A detailed budget of operating expenses for the welcome center, specifically as it pertains to expenses related to staffing; and

          (b)  The number of employees needed to effectively staff the welcome center, and the weekly hours to be worked by each employee.

     ( * * *65)  Grants awarded shall be used for expenses incurred as a result of staffing welcome centers with county employees, including, but not limited to * * *:

  (a)  Salaries, compensation for county employees * * *; and

  (b)  Potential transportation expenses for county employees.

     ( * * *76)  (a)  The * * * Mississippi Development Authority MDA shall have the authority to determine reasonable * * * salaries compensation for any employees hired at welcome centers under this * * * act section.

          (b)  The amount awarded each year shall be based on the actual budget and plan submitted by the * * * welcome center county.

          (c)  Grants received by * * * welcome centers counties under this act shall only be used to offset staffing costs.

     ( * * *87)  There is created a special fund in the State Treasury, to be known as the "Mississippi Welcome Centers Staff Grant Fund," from which the grants authorized by this act shall be disbursed by the * * * authority MDA.  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the State General Fund * * * of the state.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not lapse into the State General Fund.  Any interest earned or investment earnings or interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.

     ( * * *98)  By October 1, 2025, and by October 1 of each year thereafter, the * * * authority MDA shall provide a comprehensive report on the use of * * * funds monies distributed under this grant program and * * * the its effectiveness on * * * the ability of welcome centers to contract with counties for welcome center staffing * * * purposes to the Legislature by October 1, 2025, and October 1 of each year thereafter.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.