House Bill 613

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-64, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE FROM THREE TO EIGHT YEARS THE MAXIMUM LEASE TERM FOR WHICH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS MAY LEASE LAND OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 47-5-64, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

47-5-64. The Mississippi Commissioner of Corrections is * * * directed to determine the number of acres and location of land under its jurisdiction which are needed for security purposes and for Prison Agricultural Enterprises. The Commissioner of Corrections shall designate and reserve such additional land for agricultural enterprise projects of the Department of Corrections, as he deems necessary. The Mississippi Commissioner of Corrections shall then recommend to the Governor's Office of General Services the number of acres of department land which should be leased to private entities and the term of the leases. The Governor's Office of General Services shall have the authority to lease for agricultural purposes that Penitentiary land so recommended for not less than one (1) nor more than eight (8) years, with the approval of the Public Procurement Review Board.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.