Senate Bill 2230

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 19-5-173 AND 19-5-177, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT WASTEWATER DISPOSAL DISTRICTS SHALL PAY FOR THE EXPENSE OF CONNECTING TO A CENTRALIZED SYSTEM IF THE DISTRICT REQUIRES AN OWNER OF AN INDIVIDUAL ON-SITE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL SYSTEM TO CONNECT TO THE CENTRALIZED SYSTEM; TO PROHIBIT THE DISTRICT FROM CHARGING A FEE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OR INSPECTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL ON-SITE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL SYSTEM; TO AMEND SECTION 41-67-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAY NOT RESTRICT OR PROHIBIT THE USE OF ANY TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL ON-SITE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL SYSTEM THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RECOMMENDS AS SUITABLE FOR A TRACT OF LAND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 19-5-173, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

19-5-173. The board of commissioners shall have the power to make regulations to secure the general health of those residing in the district; to prevent, remove and abate nuisances; to regulate or prohibit the construction of privy-vaults and cesspools, and to regulate or suppress those already constructed; and to compel and regulate the connection of all property with sewers. If the board of commissioners requires an owner of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system to connect to a sewer system, the board shall pay for the connection to the sewer system. The board shall not charge a fee for the maintenance or inspection of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system.

SECTION 2. Section 19-5-177, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

19-5-177. (1) Any district created under Sections 19-5-151 through 19-5-207, acting by and through the board of commissioners of such district as its governing authority, shall have the following, among other, powers:

(a) To sue and be sued;

(b) To acquire by purchase, gift, devise and lease or any other mode of acquisition, other than by eminent domain, hold and dispose of real and personal property of every kind within or without the district;

(c) To make and enter into contracts, conveyances, mortgages, deeds of trust, bonds, leases or contracts for financial advisory services;

(d) To incur debts, to borrow money, to issue negotiable bonds, and to provide for the rights of the holders thereof;

(e) To fix, maintain, collect and revise rates and charges for services rendered by or through the facilities of such district, which rates and charges shall not be subject to review or regulation by the Mississippi Public Service Commission except in those instances where a city operating similar services would be subject to regulation and review; however, the district may furnish services, including connection to the facilities of the district, free of charge to the county or any agency or department of the county and to volunteer fire departments located within the service area of the district. The district shall obtain a certificate of convenience and necessity from the Mississippi Public Service Commission for operating of water and/or sewer systems;

(f) To pledge all or any part of its revenues to the payment of its obligations;

(g) To make such covenants in connection with the issuance of bonds or to secure the payment of bonds that a private business corporation can make under the general laws of the state;

(h) To use any right-of-way, public right-of-way, easement, or other similar property or property rights necessary or convenient in connection with the acquisition, improvement, operation or maintenance of the facilities of such district held by the state or any political subdivision thereof; however, the governing body of such political subdivision shall consent to such use;

(i) To enter into agreements with state and federal agencies for loans, grants, grants-in-aid, and other forms of assistance including, but not limited to, participation in the sale and purchase of bonds;

(j) To acquire by purchase any existing works and facilities providing services for which it was created, and any lands, rights, easements, franchises and other property, real and personal necessary to the completion and operation of such system upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon, and if necessary as part of the purchase price to assume the payment of outstanding notes, bonds or other obligations upon such system;

(k) To extend its services to areas beyond but within one (1) mile of the boundaries of such district; however, no such extension shall be made to areas already occupied by another corporate agency rendering the same service so long as such corporate agency desires to continue to serve such areas. Areas outside of the district desiring to be served which are beyond the one (1) mile limit must be brought into the district by annexation proceedings;

(l) To be deemed to have the same status as counties and municipalities with respect to payment of sales taxes on purchases made by such districts;

(m) To borrow funds for interim financing subject to receipt of funds as outlined in Section 19-5-181;

(n) To provide group life insurance coverage for all or specified groups of employees of the district and group hospitalization benefits for those employees and their dependents, and to pay the total cost of these benefits. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "employees" does not include any person who is a commissioner of a district created under Sections 19-5-151 through 19-5-207, and such commissioners are not eligible to receive any insurance coverage or benefits made available to district employees under this paragraph.

(2) Any district which is incorporated under Sections 19-5-151 through 19-5-207 to provide sewer services may install or provide for the installation of sewage holding tanks at residential properties within the district, if funding for municipal or community sewers has been awarded to the district. The district shall maintain or provide for the maintenance of the sewage holding tank systems. * * * When municipal or community sewers are available and ready for use, residences with sewage holding tanks shall be connected to the sewer system at the expense of the district.

SECTION 3. Section 41-67-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-67-15. (1) Nothing in this chapter shall limit the authority of a municipality or board of supervisors to adopt similar ordinances which may be, in whole or in part, more restrictive than this chapter, and in those cases the more restrictive ordinances will govern, except as provided in subsection (2).

(2) (a) If a centralized sewerage system is not available, a board of supervisors shall not prohibit or restrict the use of any type of individual on-site wastewater disposal systems recommended by the board as suitable for that tract of land.

(b) The board of supervisors shall not charge a fee for the maintenance or inspection of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system.

(c) If the board of supervisors requires an owner of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system to connect to a centralized sewerage system, the board shall pay for the connection to the centralized system.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.