MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Highways and Transportation

By: Senator(s) Hall

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 65-1-165, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE KEEP MISSISSIPPI BEAUTIFUL, INC., TO IMPLEMENT AN ANNUAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS' AWARDS PROGRAM FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN IMPLEMENTING THE LITTER LAWS; TO AUTHORIZE A NON-MONETARY AWARD AND TO PROHIBIT THE PURCHASE OF THAT AWARD FROM PUBLIC FUNDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 65-1-165, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

65-1-165. (1) The State Department of Transportation may execute a contract with Keep Mississippi Beautiful, Inc., to develop and implement a comprehensive statewide program of litter prevention. The contract shall contain provisions to require that Keep Mississippi Beautiful, Inc., will:

(a) Encourage and assist local communities to become certified Keep America Beautiful systems;

(b) Serve as a state clearinghouse of information on ideas and projects to make local litter prevention programs more effective;

(c) Implement statewide communication programs to alert people to the problem of littering and how it can be corrected;

(d) Coordinate an annual statewide project which will heighten public awareness of the problem of littering;

(e) Establish an annual awards program to recognize individual and community achievement in litter prevention, including law enforcement officers as provided in subsection (2) of this section;

(f) Serve as the authority which approves and disburses financial assistance to any nonprofit corporation, county or municipality which, in a written application, seeks * * *

assistance to implement a local litter prevention project. The financial assistance authorized herein shall not exceed forty percent (40%) of the cost of the local litter prevention project for which * * * assistance is sought.

(g) Encourage donation of funds from the private sector to assist in defraying the operation of the litter prevention program implemented under this section.

The contract may include any additional provisions which the State Department of Transportation deems necessary to effectuate the litter prevention program contemplated by this section.

Keep Mississippi Beautiful, Inc., shall submit to the State Department of Transportation on or before August 1 of each year a written report detailing the operation of the litter prevention program statewide and its expenditure of monies for such program during the preceding state fiscal year.

(2) Keep Mississippi Beautiful, Inc., may implement an annual awards program to recognize law enforcement officers who have distinguished themselves in the enforcement of litter laws. Keep Mississippi Beautiful, Inc., may provide a non-monetary award to each recognized law enforcement officer. The non-monetary award shall not be paid for from public funds.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.