House Bill 865

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-201, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT REQUIRED TO BE CONTRIBUTED BY A COUNTY THAT DESIRES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BEAVER CONTROL AND ERADICATION PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 49-7-201, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-201. (1) There is hereby established a beaver control program which shall be developed by the Beaver Control Advisory Board created in Section 49-7-203 and administered by the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks with the advice of the board or administered by a federal agency pursuant to an agreement with the commission for such purpose. The program shall be limited to the control or eradication of beavers only on private lands or public lands, excluding federally owned lands but including lands whereupon easements are granted to a federal entity. The commission may employ such personnel as is necessary to implement its duties to administer the program and set the salary of such personnel subject to State Personnel Board guidelines.

(2) Any state, local or private funds available to the commission to fund the program shall be used to match federal funds available for such purpose. The commission may execute such agreements with any agency of the federal government as are necessary to obtain federal matching funds to finance the beaver control program.

(3) Nonfederal funds to help finance the program may be obtained by the commission from the following sources:

(a) Appropriations by the Legislature;

(b) Contributions from participating counties;

(d) Contributions from any other sources for such purpose.

(4) (a) Any county in the state desiring to participate in the program during its fiscal year shall contribute Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00) for such purpose from any funds available in its general fund. Such county shall commit such funds to the program for the ensuing fiscal year by adopting and submitting a resolution to that effect on or before August 1 to the commission. The commission shall establish the due date for the payment of contributions by counties.

(b) The sum of county contributions may be matched by nonfederal funds available to the state for the beaver control program.

(5) Participating landowner means any person, corporation or association owning land in this state and taking part in the beaver control program.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.