MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Finance

By: Senator(s) Canon

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF A GOLF COURSE AND RELATED FACILITIES AT LAKE LOWNDES STATE PARK; TO ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GOLF COURSE PROJECT AT LAKE LOWNDES STATE PARK, AS PROVIDED IN THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 67-1-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOLF COURSE CLUBHOUSE AT THE LAKE LOWNDES STATE PARK SHALL BE A QUALIFIED RESORT AREA FOR PURPOSES OF THE STATE LOCAL OPTION ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. As used in Sections 1 through 17 of this act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "Commission" means the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

(b) "Department" means the Department of Finance and Administration.

SECTION 2. (1) (a) A special fund, to be designated as the "2000 Lake Lowndes Golf Course Construction Fund" is created within the State Treasury. 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 and investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund.

(b) Monies deposited into the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, to pay the costs of construction and development of a golf course and related facilities at Lake Lowndes State Park as described in Section 3 of this act.

(2) Amounts deposited into such special fund shall be disbursed to pay the costs of the project described in Section 3 of this act. Promptly after the commission has certified, by resolution duly adopted, that the projects described in Section 3 of this act have been completed, abandoned or cannot be completed in a timely fashion, any amounts remaining in such special fund shall be applied to pay debt service on the bonds issued under this act, in accordance with the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such bonds and as directed by the State Bond Commission.

(3) The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks may receive and expend any local or other source funds in connection with the expenditure of funds provided for in this section. The expenditure of monies deposited into the special fund shall be under the direction of the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by such commission, which warrants shall be issued upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration or his designee.

SECTION 3. (1) (a) Before the issuance of any of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 17 of this act, the commission shall forward to the State Bond Commission its resolution declaring the necessity for the issuance of general obligation bonds as authorized by Sections 1 through 17 of this act for the purpose of development and construction at the Lake Lowndes State Park of the following: an eighteen-hole golf course, a driving range, practice areas, a clubhouse facility which shall include service of food and beverages, a cart storage facility, maintenance areas and equipment, any other appurtenances related to the operation of such golf facilities and all furnishings and equipment.

(b) All clubhouse facilities, cart storage facilities, maintenance areas and equipment, and any other appurtenances related to the operation of the golf course and all furnishings and equipment described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) shall be of the same design, size, and specifications as those at the Mallard Pointe Golf Course at John Kyle State Park.

(2) All contracts for construction performed or related to the projects authorized under Sections 1 through 17 of this act shall be advertised, bid and accepted by the commission in accordance with the same procedure as prescribed for the advertisement and acceptance of bids for the purchase of commodities and contracts for public construction under Section 31-7-1 et seq. Contracts for professional services shall be in accordance with a fair and open procedure similar to that used by the Department of Finance and Administration.

SECTION 4. Upon receipt of a certified copy of a resolution of the commission declaring the necessity for the issuance of any part or all of the bonds authorized by Sections 1 through 17 of this act, the State Bond Commission is authorized and empowered, at one time or from time to time, to declare the necessity for issuance of, and to sell and issue general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi in the principal amount requested, not to exceed an aggregate principal amount of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00), for the purposes hereinabove set forth. The State Bond Commission is authorized and empowered to pay the costs that are incident to the sale, issuance and delivery of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 17 of this act, from the proceeds derived from the sale of such bonds.

SECTION 5. The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 17 of this act shall be payable in the manner provided in this section. Such bonds shall bear such date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates (not to exceed the limit set forth in Section 8 of this act), be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times not to exceed twenty-five (25) years from date of issue, be redeemable before maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the State Bond Commission.

SECTION 6. The bonds authorized by Section 4 of this act shall be signed by the Chairman of the State Bond Commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the State Bond Commission shall be affixed thereto, attested by the Secretary of the State Bond Commission. The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to such bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of such officers. Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials herein designated to sign the bonds, who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers before the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until the delivery of the same to the purchaser, or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear. However, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, such bonds may be issued as provided in the Registered Bond Act of the State of Mississippi.

SECTION 7. All bonds and interest coupons issued under Sections 1 through 17 of this act, have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Mississippi Uniform Commercial Code and in exercising the powers granted by Sections 1 through 17 of this act, the State Bond Commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Mississippi Uniform Commercial Code. Such bonds and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation within the State of Mississippi.

SECTION 8. The State Bond Commission shall act as the issuing agent for the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 17 of this act, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, pay all fees and costs incurred in such issuance and sale, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds. The State Bond Commission may pay the costs that are incident to the sale, issuance and delivery of the bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 17 of this act from the proceeds derived from the sale of the bonds. The State Bond Commission shall sell such bonds on sealed bids at public sale and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale shall be made at a price less than par plus accrued interest to date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser. All bonds shall bear interest at such rate or rates not exceeding the limits set forth in Section 75-17-101. All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually, except that the first interest payment may be for any period of not more than one (1) year.

Notice of the sale of any such bond shall be published at least one (1) time, not less than ten (10) days before the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and in one or more other newspapers or financial journals with a national circulation, to be selected by the State Bond Commission.

The State Bond Commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of Sections 1 through 17 of this act, may provide that bonds, at the option of the State of Mississippi, may be called in for payment and redemption at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.

SECTION 9. The bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 17 of this act are general obligations of the State of Mississippi, and for the payment thereof the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi is hereby irrevocably pledged. If the funds appropriated by the Legislature are insufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on such bonds as they become due, then the deficiency shall be paid by the State Treasurer from any funds in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated. All such bonds shall contain recitals on their faces substantially covering the provisions of this section.

SECTION 10. The State Treasurer is authorized to certify to the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration the necessity for warrants, and the executive director is authorized and directed to issue such warrants, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of and interest on all bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 17 of this act; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.

SECTION 11. The bonds authorized under Sections 1 through 17 of this act may be issued without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things other than those proceedings, conditions and things which are specified or required by Sections 1 through 17 of this act. Any resolution providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds under the provisions of Sections 1 through 17 of this act shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the State Bond Commission, and any such resolution may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of the State Bond Commission by a majority of its members.

SECTION 12. The bonds authorized under the authority of Sections 1 through 17 of this act may be validated in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect provided by Chapter 13, Title 31, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the validation of county, municipal, school district and other bonds. The notice to taxpayers required by such statutes shall be published in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.

SECTION 13. The proceeds of the bonds authorized in Sections 1 through 17 of this act shall be deposited in a special fund created in the State Treasury to be known as the "2000 Lake Lowndes Golf Course Construction Fund." The proceeds of such bonds shall be used solely for the purposes provided in Sections 1 through 17 of this act, including the costs incident to the issuance and sale of such bonds. The costs incident to the issuance and sale of such bonds shall be disbursed by warrant upon requisition of the State Bond Commission, signed by the Governor. The expenditure of the remaining money shall be under the direction of the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration.

SECTION 14. Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 17 of this act, or of any of the interest coupons pertaining thereto may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights granted under Sections 1 through 17 of this act, or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by Sections 1 through 17 of this act to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.

SECTION 15. All bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 1 through 17 of this act shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries, and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and political subdivisions for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.

SECTION 16. The provisions of Sections 1 through 17 of this act shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers therein granted, but Sections 1 through 17 of this act shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state.

SECTION 17. For the purpose of aiding in the planning, design, undertaking and carrying out of the project specified in Section 3 of this act, any county or municipality, or governmental subdivision thereof, is authorized to contribute funds or property to defray any expenses of the specified project; to furnish or pledge public resources to the project, including but not limited to, buildings, facilities, equipment and employees; or to participate in the effectuation of the specified project in any manner.

SECTION 18. After authorization by the commission, any person who is employed by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks as a golf professional at the Lake Lowndes State Park golf course may charge and collect fees for teaching golf lessons at the park in reasonable amounts that have been approved in advance by the commission. Any such person who charges and collects fees for teaching golf lessons shall be authorized to keep those fees as personal income in addition to his regular salary from the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Such fees shall not be considered to be public funds. However, each person who charges and collects such fees shall keep a detailed record of all fees collected and shall report to the commission on a regular basis, as prescribed by the commission, the amount of all fees collected during the preceding reporting period.

SECTION 19. Section 67-1-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

67-1-5. For the purposes of this chapter and unless otherwise required by the context:

(a) The words "alcoholic beverage" mean any alcoholic liquid, including wines of more than five percent (5%) of alcohol by weight, capable of being consumed as a beverage by a human being, but shall not include wine containing five percent (5%) or less of alcohol by weight and shall not include beer containing not more than five percent (5%) of alcohol by weight, as provided for in Section 67-3-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, but shall include native wines. The words "alcoholic beverage" shall not include ethyl alcohol manufactured or distilled solely for fuel purposes.

(b) The word "alcohol" means the product of distillation of any fermented liquid, whatever the origin thereof, and includes synthetic ethyl alcohol, but does not include denatured alcohol or wood alcohol.

(c) The words "distilled spirits" mean any beverage containing more than four percent (4%) of alcohol by weight produced by distillation of fermented grain, starch, molasses or sugar, including dilutions and mixtures of these beverages.

(d) The words "wine" or "vinous liquor" mean any product obtained from the alcoholic fermentation of the juice of sound, ripe grapes, fruits or berries and made in accordance with the revenue laws of the United States.

(e) The word "person" means and includes any individual, partnership, corporation, association or other legal entity whatsoever.

(f) The word "manufacturer" means any person engaged in manufacturing, distilling, rectifying, blending or bottling any alcoholic beverage.

(g) The word "wholesaler" means any person, other than a manufacturer, engaged in distributing or selling any alcoholic beverage at wholesale for delivery within or without this state when such sale is for the purpose of resale by the purchaser.

(h) The word "retailer" means any person who sells, distributes, or offers for sale or distribution, any alcoholic beverage for use or consumption by the purchaser and not for resale.

(i) The word "commission" means the State Tax Commission of the State of Mississippi, which shall create a division in its organization to be known as the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division. Any reference to the commission hereafter means the powers and duties of the State Tax Commission with reference to supervision of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.

(j) The word "division" means the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the State Tax Commission.

(k) The word "municipality" means any incorporated city or town of this state.

(l) The word "hotel" means an establishment within a municipality, or within a qualified resort area approved as such by the commission, where, in consideration of payment, food and lodging are habitually furnished to travelers and wherein are located at least twenty (20) adequately furnished and completely separate sleeping rooms with adequate facilities that persons usually apply for and receive as overnight accommodations. Hotels in towns or cities of more than twenty-five thousand (25,000) population are similarly defined except that they must have fifty (50) or more sleeping rooms. Any such establishment described in this paragraph with less than fifty (50) beds shall operate one or more regular dining rooms designed to be constantly frequented by customers each day. When used in this chapter, the word "hotel" shall also be construed to include any establishment that meets the definition of "bed and breakfast inn" as provided in this section.

(m) The word "restaurant" means a place which is regularly and in a bona fide manner used and kept open for the serving of meals to guests for compensation, which has suitable seating facilities for guests, and which has suitable kitchen facilities connected therewith for cooking an assortment of foods and meals commonly ordered at various hours of the day; the service of such food as sandwiches and salads only shall not be deemed in compliance with this requirement. No place shall qualify as a restaurant under this chapter unless twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the revenue derived from such place shall be from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages, or unless the value of food given to and consumed by customers is equal to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of total revenue.

(n) The word "club" means an association or a corporation:

(1) Organized or created under the laws of this state for a period of five (5) years prior to July 1, 1966;

(2) Organized not primarily for pecuniary profit but for the promotion of some common object other than the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages;

(3) Maintained by its members through the payment of annual dues;

(4) Owning, hiring or leasing a building or space in a building of such extent and character as may be suitable and adequate for the reasonable and comfortable use and accommodation of its members and their guests;

(5) The affairs and management of which are conducted by a board of directors, board of governors, executive committee, or similar governing body chosen by the members at a regular meeting held at some periodic interval; and

(6) No member, officer, agent or employee of which is paid, or directly or indirectly receives, in the form of a salary or other compensation any profit from the distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages to the club or to members or guests of the club beyond such salary or compensation as may be fixed and voted at a proper meeting by the board of directors or other governing body out of the general revenues of the club.

The commission may, in its discretion, waive the five-year provision of this paragraph. In order to qualify under this paragraph, a club must file with the commission, at the time of its application for a license under this chapter, two (2) copies of a list of the names and residences of its members and similarly file, within ten (10) days after the election of any additional member, his name and address. Each club applying for a license shall also file with the commission at the time of the application a copy of its articles of association, charter of incorporation, bylaws or other instruments governing the business and affairs thereof.

(o) The term "qualified resort area" means any area or locality outside of the limits of incorporated municipalities in this state commonly known and accepted as a place which regularly and customarily attracts tourists, vacationists and other transients because of its historical, scenic or recreational facilities or attractions, or because of other attributes which regularly and customarily appeal to and attract tourists, vacationists and other transients in substantial numbers; however, no area or locality shall so qualify as a resort area until it has been duly and properly approved as such by the commission.

(i) The commission may approve an area or locality outside of the limits of an incorporated municipality that is in the process of being developed as a qualified resort area if such area or locality, when developed, can reasonably be expected to meet the requisites of the definition of the term "qualified resort area." In such a case, the status of qualified resort area shall not take effect until completion of the development.

(ii) The term includes any state park which is declared a resort area by the commission; however, such declaration may only be initiated in a written request for resort area status made to the commission by the Executive Director of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and no permit for the sale of any alcoholic beverage, as defined in this chapter, except an on-premises retailer's permit, shall be issued for a hotel, restaurant or bed and breakfast inn in such park.

(iii) The term includes the clubhouses associated with the state park golf courses at the Lefleur's Bluff State Park, the John Kyle State Park, the Percy Quin State Park * * *, the Hugh White State Park and the Lake Lowndes State Park. The status of these clubhouses as qualified resort areas does not require any declaration of same by the commission.

(p) The words "native wine" shall mean any product, produced in Mississippi for sale, having an alcohol content not to exceed twenty-one percent (21%) by weight and made in accordance with revenue laws of the United States, which shall be obtained primarily from the alcoholic fermentation of the juice of ripe grapes, fruits, berries or vegetables grown and produced in Mississippi; provided that bulk, concentrated or fortified wines used for blending may be produced without this state and used in producing native wines. The commission shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to permit a producer to import such bulk and/or fortified wines into this state for use in blending with native wines without payment of any excise tax that would otherwise accrue thereon.

(q) The words "native winery" shall mean any place or establishment within the State of Mississippi where native wine is produced in whole or in part for sale.

(r) The words "bed and breakfast inn" mean an establishment within a municipality where in consideration of payment, breakfast and lodging are habitually furnished to travelers and wherein are located not less than eight (8) and not more than nineteen (19) adequately furnished and completely separate sleeping rooms with adequate facilities, that persons usually apply for and receive as overnight accommodations; however, such restriction on the minimum number of sleeping rooms shall not apply to establishments on the National Register of Historic Places. No place shall qualify as a bed and breakfast inn under this chapter unless on the date of the initial application for a license under this chapter more than fifty percent (50%) of the sleeping rooms are located in a structure formerly used as a residence.

SECTION 20. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.