House Bill 1181

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO SEEK AN ENTITY TO PURCHASE AND CONTINUE THE OPERATION OF MISSISSIPPI EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION; TO PROVIDE FOR THE SALE AND TRANSFER OF MISSISSIPPI EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION TO THE ENTITY; TO AMEND SECTION 37-63-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT AFTER THE DEPARTMENT HAS TRANSFERRED THE OPERATION OF MISSISSIPPI EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION TO AN ENTITY, SECTIONS 37-63-1 THROUGH 37-63-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATION OF MISSISSIPPI EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION, SHALL STAND REPEALED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Department of Finance and Administration shall seek a responsible entity to purchase and continue the operation of Mississippi Educational Television (METV). After the department has found such an entity, the department shall sell and transfer the real and personal property associated with METV to the entity for not less than the current fair market value as determined by the averaging of at least two (2) appraisals by professional appraisers who are licensed by the Mississippi Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board. The department shall deposit the proceeds from the sale into the State General Fund.

(2) After METV is sold to the entity, no state funds shall be provided to the entity through appropriations, grants or bonds for the operation of METV; however, the State of Mississippi shall continue to be liable for payment of the principal and interest on any state general obligation bonds that provided any money to or financed any projects for METV.

(3) All contracts to which the Authority for Educational Television is a party that are in existence at the time of the sale and transfer of METV to the entity shall be transferred to the entity, which shall assume all duties and responsibilities of the authority under those contracts.

SECTION 2. Section 37-63-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-63-1. (1) It is declared to be the legislative purpose of this chapter, and the public policy of the State of Mississippi, that there be established and developed in the public interest an educational television and radio system which shall provide educational and instructional, professional growth, and public service programs for the students and citizens of Mississippi, such system to be known as Mississippi Educational Television. The Legislature therefore declares and determines that for these and other related purposes there is hereby established an agency of state government to be known as the Mississippi authority for educational television which shall have the responsibility for the administration, operation, control and supervision of educational television and radio in Mississippi.

(2) After the Department of Finance and Administration has transferred the operation of Mississippi Educational Television to an entity as provided in Section 1 of this act, Sections 37-63-1 through 37-63-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall stand repealed.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.