Senate Bill 2528

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-21-111, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION ON WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO SHARE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF FEDERAL OR NONSTATE FUNDS FOR BOAT AND WATER SAFETY WITH THE COMMISSION ON MARINE RESOURCES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 59-21-111, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

59-21-111. (1) The Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall be the Mississippi Boat and Water Safety Commission, and shall exercise the duties and responsibilities of the Mississippi Boat and Water Safety Commission through the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, insofar as practicable under the provisions of Chapter 4 of Title 49, Mississippi Code of 1972; except on marine waters under the jurisdiction of the Commission on Marine Resources.

(2) The Commission on Marine Resources shall exercise the duties and responsibilities of the Mississippi Boat and Water Safety Commission through the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources on the marine waters of the state. The Commission on Marine Resources shall not exercise any powers related to numbering of undocumented vessels. Those powers are vested exclusively in the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

(3) The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and the Commission on Marine Resources shall enter into a memorandum of agreement to share in the use of any federal or other nonstate funds awarded for boat and water safety and the funds shall be timely distributed. The memorandum shall provide that the Department of Marine Resources, on behalf of the Commission on Marine Resources, shall be awarded at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the total amount of such funds for use on boat and water safety related programs.

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