Senate Bill 2520

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-19-403, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR STAGGERED TERMS OF THE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE MISSISSIPPI INSTITUTE FOR FOREST INVENTORY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 49-19-403, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-19-403. (1) (a) There is hereby created the Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory. The institute shall be governed by a board of directors. The board shall consist of eleven (11) members. The Director of the Mississippi Automated Resource Information System; the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, or his designee; the Director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center at Mississippi State University, or his designee; and the State Forester, or his designee; shall be ex officio members with full voting power.

(b) The Governor shall appoint four (4) members from the state at large with the advice and consent of the Senate. * * * The Governor shall appoint one (1) member from each of the following categories: a private nonindustrial forest landowner, a Mississippi registered forester, a certified wildlife or fisheries biologist, and a representative of an environmental organization. Appointments made after January 1, 2005, shall be for initial terms as follows: a private nonindustrial forest landowner, four (4) years; a Mississippi registered forester, three (3) years; a certified wildlife or fisheries biologist, two (2) years; and a representative of an environmental organization one (1) year. After the expiration of the initial terms, the terms shall be for four (4) years.

(c) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint three (3) members from the state at large with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint one (1) member from each of the following categories: the timber harvesting industry, the forest products industry, and a citizen with forestry related interests. Appointments made after January 1, 2005, shall be for initial terms as follows: timber harvesting industry, four (4) years; forest products industry, three (3) years; and a citizen with forestry related interests, two (2) years. After the expiration of the initial terms, the terms shall be for four (4) years.

(d) Members of the board may be reimbursed for mileage and actual and necessary expenses as provided under Section 25-3-41.

(e) The Chairman of the Senate Forestry Committee and the Chairman of the House Forestry Committee shall serve as members of the Joint Institute for Forest Inventory Oversight Committee. For attending meetings, the legislators shall receive per diem and expenses from their respective contingent expense funds at the rate authorized for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session. No per diem and expenses will be paid for attending meetings when the Legislature is in session.

(2) The board shall appoint a director of the institute who serves at the will and pleasure of the board.

(3) The board shall have the following powers:

(a) To apply for, accept and expend any funds, grants or gifts from any public or private sources in furtherance of the institute's duties;

(b) To expend funds by appropriation or directly from any federal, local or private sources;

(d) To authorize the executive director with the approval of the board to execute all contracts and agreements and to employ such personnel as may be required to carry out the duties of the institute; and

(e) To do all acts necessary to carry out the duties of the institute.

(4) All funds received by the institute shall be deposited in the State Treasury for the use of the institute.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after passage.