MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Ports and Marine Resources

By: Senator(s) Hewes

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-15-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR AN ARTIFICIAL REEF DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT FOR THE COMMISSION ON MARINE RESOURCES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 49-15-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-15-17. (1) (a) All monies received or obtained by the commission under the provisions of this chapter shall be paid over by the commission to the State Treasurer and shall be deposited into the fund known as the "Seafood Fund." All revenues collected through the department, to include, but not limited to, commercial saltwater licenses and taxes, permits, fines and penalties, and confiscated catches, shall be deposited into the department operating account (Seafood Fund) and expended for the operation of the department, as authorized by the Legislature.

(b) There is established a special account to be known as the "Artificial Reef Development Account" within the seafood fund. Any funds received from any public or private source for the purpose of promoting, constructing, monitoring or maintaining artificial reefs in the marine waters of the state or in federal waters adjacent to the marine waters of the state shall be credited to the account. Any funds in the account shall not lapse into the General fund at the end of the fiscal year but shall remain in the account. The commission may expend the funds, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, to accomplish the purpose of the account.

(2) The fund shall be treated as a special trust fund and interest earned on the principal shall be credited to the fund.

(3) The secretary of the commission shall keep accurate reports of monies handled as a part of the permanent records of the commission, and the State Treasurer shall furnish the secretary of the commission such forms as may be needed, and the secretary shall account for such forms in his reports to the treasurer.

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