House Bill 1190

AN ACT TO ABOLISH THE MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MEMORIAL STADIUM COMMISSION AND TRANSFER ITS DUTIES TO THE JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY STADIUM COMMISSION, WHICH SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STADIUM SHALL BE UNDER THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY STADIUM COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 55-23-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Commission is abolished on July 1, 2005, and all records, duties, responsibilities, assets, contractual rights and obligations, property rights and any unexpended balances of appropriations that are vested on June 30, 2005, in the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Commission, are vested on July 1, 2005, in the Jackson State University Stadium Commission established under subsection (2) of this section. From and after July 1, 2005, the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium shall be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Jackson State University Stadium Commission, and the Jackson State University Stadium Commission shall assume all liabilities and indebtedness of the stadium. The Jackson State University Stadium Commission is authorized to enter into any contractual agreement for the purpose of leasing the stadium to provide revenue to help retire any indebtedness of the stadium. However, the Legislature, in its discretion, may retire all obligations on the stadium by making an appropriation for that purpose from the State General Fund. In no event shall the appropriation for the upkeep of the stadium be less than the fiscal year 2005 appropriation made to the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Commission for its operation.

(2) Jackson State University, with the advice of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, shall establish a commission to be known as the Jackson State University Stadium Commission, which shall operate and maintain the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. Whenever the term "Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Commission," "Stadium Commission" or "commission," when referring to the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Commission, is used in any statute, rule, regulation or document, the term shall be construed to mean the Jackson State University Stadium Commission established under this subsection.

SECTION 2. Section 55-23-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

55-23-5. * * *

(1) * * * From and after May 1, 1987, the stadium shall be known as the "Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium." * * *

* * *

(2) * * * The commission shall contract with a certified public accounting firm to conduct audits of concession and novelty sales by vendors at the stadium, and shall, as far as is practicable, provide that the cost of those audits shall be paid by the vendor of those concessions or novelties, or both.

(3) The commission may appoint a director of the stadium, who shall have at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college. The director shall have the responsibility for insuring the marketing of tickets to events conducted in the stadium, in addition to such other duties as the commission may designate. Before entering upon the duties of his office, the director shall give bond to the State of Mississippi in the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), and the bond shall be conditioned upon the faithful discharge and performance of his official duty. The principal and surety on the bond shall be liable under the bond to the state for double the amount of value of any money or property that the state may lose, if any, by reason of any wrongful or criminal act of the director. The bond, when approved by the commission, shall be filed with the Secretary of State, and the premium on the bond shall be paid from the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Operating Fund.

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