House Bill 13

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO ENTER INTO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE COMMISSION ON WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS AND/OR WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING, IMPROVING OR RESTORING STATE PARKS, PUBLIC GAME AND FISH HABITAT; TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, SUPPLIES AND EMPLOYEES OF COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES FOR SUCH PURPOSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) Any governmental entity, individually or jointly with any other governmental entity, may enter into cooperative agreements with each other and with the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and/or any water management district, for the purpose of creating, improving or restoring state parks, public game and fish habitat lying or to be situated wholly or partially within the territorial jurisdiction of the governmental entity or within the territorial jurisdiction of an adjoining governmental entity; and any such governmental entity may use property, equipment, materials, supplies and employees of the governmental entity for such purposes.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them under this subsection:

(a) "Governmental entity" means the board of supervisors of any county and the governing authorities of any municipality;

(b) "Water management district" means the Pat Harrison Waterway District, the Pearl River Basin Development District, the Pearl River Valley Water Management District, the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District and the Yellow Creek Watershed Authority.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.