MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Public Property

By: Senator(s) Mettetal, Furniss

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO TRANSFER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN QUITMAN COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, ALSO KNOWN AS THE "O'KEEFE DIVISION LANDS"; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 47-5-56 AND 47-5-57, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Department of Corrections is authorized to transfer to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks certain real property located in Quitman County, Mississippi, also known as the "O'Keefe Division Lands", described more specifically as follows:

All Mississippi Department of Corrections lands that

lie in Township 26, Range 1 West: Section 2 less

NW 1/4, Section 3, Section 10, Section 11, Section 12, Section 13, Section 14, Section 15, Section 22,

Section 23, Section 24, Section 25, Section 26 and

Section 27 of Quitman County, Mississippi.

(2) The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall assume all supervision, management, maintenance and control of the property described in subsection (1) of this act.

(3) Upon the effective date of this act, the lease agreement entered into by the Department of Corrections and the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks pertaining to the real property described in subsection (1) of this act shall be terminated.

SECTION 2. Section 47-5-56, Mississippi Code of 1972, which requires the Department of Corrections to lease the O'Keefe Division Lands to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and provides for the disposal of income from any forest management practice on such lands, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. Section 47-5-57, Mississippi Code of 1972, which requires a public hearing to be held before timber is cleared by the Department of Corrections on the O'Keefe Division Lands, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.