Senate Bill NO. 2157

By Representative(s) Davis

AMEND by inserting the following new section after line 36 and renumbering the succeeding section:

"SECTION 2. The following shall be codified as Section 55-25-6, Mississippi Code of 1972:

55-25-6. (1) The rules and regulations adopted by the Rails-to-trails Recreational District shall be published once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper qualified to publish legal notices in each county that is a member of the district. When rules and regulations have been adopted by the district in accordance with Section 55-25-5 and have been published as required by this section, such rules and regulations shall have the force and effect of general law, and any violation of such rules and regulations shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(2) Any recreational facility developed and operated pursuant to this chapter, specifically including Section 55-25-5(f), shall constitute a public highway, and all applicable rules and regulations of the Mississippi Transportation Commission and other state agencies shall be enforceable on such recreational facilities. However, no motor vehicle may be operated or used on such recreational facility except law enforcement vehicles, emergency vehicles, maintenance vehicles or other vehicles authorized by the district."

AMEND FURTHER, the title, by inserting the following after the semicolon on line 6: "TO CREATE A NEW SECTION TO BE CODIFIED AS SECTION 55-25-6, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY COUNTIES THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED A RAILS-TO-TRAILS RECREATIONAL DISTRICT TO BE PUBLISHED; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS, UPON PUBLICATION, SHALL HAVE THE FORCE AND EFFECT OF LAW; TO PROVIDE THAT VIOLATION OF ANY SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS SHALL CONSTITUTE A MISDEMEANOR AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR SUCH VIOLATION; TO PROVIDE THAT RECREATIONAL FACILITIES DEVELOPED AND OPERATED BY THE DISTRICT SHALL CONSTITUTE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND THAT APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND OTHER STATE AGENCIES SHALL BE ENFORCEABLE ON SUCH FACILITIES; TO RESTRICT THE TYPES OF VEHICLES THAT MAY BE OPERATED ON SUCH RECREATIONAL FACILITIES;"