House Bill 1212

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 39-5-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL DUTY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD TO INVENTORY CERTAIN BUILDINGS IN THE MISSISSIPPI-YAZOO DELTA; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 39-5-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

39-5-5. The duties and powers of the Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History shall include, in addition to other duties and powers granted or prescribed by law, the following:

(a) To determine the location of places of historical interest within the state;

(b) To make a survey of buildings of all types throughout the state which are in danger of destruction, without proper care, and which in the opinion of the board of trustees should be preserved for historical purposes;

(c) To contact the proper authorities of the United States national cemeteries and military parks to determine whether or not the record of Mississippi troops is adequately commemorated;

(d) To acquire, preserve, restore or operate any real or personal property deemed significant for historical, architectural, archaeological or cultural reasons, to expend funds for such purposes, to enter into contracts or agreements with any agency of the United States or any person, firm, corporation or association for such purposes and to do any and all things which may be necessary or desirable to carry out such purposes;

(e) To participate with any agency of the United States, any other governmental agency or any person, firm, corporation, association or group in mutual or cooperative programs or projects within the duties and powers of the board of trustees;

(f) To accept grants or donations of money or property, real or personal, from any agency of the United States, any other governmental agency or any person, firm, corporation, association or group. However, the board of trustees shall not be required, except by specific act of the Legislature, to accept any property without its consent; * * *

(g) To provide suitable markers with adequate descriptions of the historical sites to which they refer, for places of historical interest and to provide suitable markers on the highways and roads of this state showing the direction and distance to the historical sites; and

(h) To inventory and assess all houses and buildings of historical and architectural significance, located in the Mississippi-Yazoo Delta, that are in danger of destruction or neglect.

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