House Bill 774

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 21-19-12, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET FOR ENTITIES TO RECEIVE LIEN AMNESTY FROM MUNICIPALITIES FOR BLIGHTED REAL PROPERTY THAT THE ENTITIES HAVE PURCHASED FOR DEVELOPMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 21-19-12, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-19-12. (1) The governing authority of any municipality may forgive liens imposed on real property for the costs, fines, penalties and other assessments associated with the municipality's cleaning of real property under Section 21-19-11, subject to the following:

(a) The real property must be in a blighted condition if it has been vacant and in a deteriorated condition that necessitated the municipality's imposition of a lien in order to correct specific code violations.

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(b) The real property must be purchased by a nonprofit entity or for-profit developer and converted from its blighted condition. For purposes of this section, "nonprofit" entity means an association, organization, or corporation that is a nonprofit organization in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and provides proof of its tax exempt status. "For-profit developer" means an individual partnership or corporation other than the real property's owner who purchases property considered to be in blighted condition and converts it to productive use.

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(2) The for-profit developer or nonprofit entity must file an application with the municipality seeking lien amnesty. The application must include the following:

(a) The contract of sale; and

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(b) Plans for the real estate's development and anticipated use.

(3) The for-profit developer or nonprofit entity may be granted conditional lien amnesty and allowed eighteen (18) months to develop the blighted real property. For good cause shown, the municipality may allow the developer or nonprofit an additional six (6) to twelve (12) months to develop the blighted property.

(4) If the blighted property remains undeveloped after eighteen (18) months and the municipality has not extended the period for development of the real estate, the nonprofit entity or for-profit developer must pay the principal amount of the municipality's lien plus interest at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum.

(5) If the nonprofit entity or for-profit developer desires to sell or dispose of the real property before its development, the nonprofit entity or for-profit developer must first obtain the municipality's approval. If the municipality approves the sale or disposal of the real estate before development, the nonprofit entity or for-profit developer shall pay the principal amount of the lien on or before the closing date of the sale unless a later purchaser of the blighted realty property has applied for and been granted conditional lien amnesty.

(6) If a for-profit developer or nonprofit entity sells or disposes of the real property before development from its blighted condition without the municipality's approval, then the for-profit developer or nonprofit entity shall be liable to the municipality for the principal amount of the lien plus interest at the rate of eight percent (8%), and a penalty of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) will also be assessed against the developer.

(7) Conditional lien amnesty may not be sold, conveyed, transferred or assigned.

(8) No lien imposed upon real property under the provisions of Section 21-19-11 shall be finally released until real property in a blighted condition has been developed according to plan.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.