House Bill 1010

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UPON CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION, TO RELOCATE CERTAIN OFFICES TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING ACADEMY IN RANKIN COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI; TO AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO ENTER INTO A LONG-TERM LEASE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Mississippi Department of Public Safety, upon consultation with the Department of Finance and Administration, is authorized to relocate the existing offices of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, the Mississippi Crime Laboratory, and the Public Safety Planning Division, currently located at 1900 East Woodrow Wilson, Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, to the Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy property, located at 5000 Highway 468 East, Pearl, Rankin County, Mississippi.

(2) The Department of Public Safety shall have the power and discretion to enter into, sign, execute and deliver long-term or multiyear leases of real and personal property with the Department of Mental Health.

SECTION 2. (1) There is hereby created a study committee for the purpose of studying the relocation of the State Tax Commission from its existing location to Rankin County, Mississippi. The study committee shall also study and consider the sale or long-term lease of the Robert E. Lee Building, located at the southwest intersection of Lamar and Griffith Streets in Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi. The committee shall be composed of the respective Chairmen of the House and Senate Public Property Committees, three (3) House members appointed by the Speaker and three (3) Senate members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. The committee shall meet and determine the highest and best use of the current Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, State Tax Commission and Robert E. Lee Building properties and report to the Legislature by December 31, 2007.

Appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days after the enactment of this act; and, within fifteen (15) days thereafter on a day to be designated jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, the committee shall meet and organize by selecting from its membership a chairman and a vice chairman. The vice chairman shall also serve as secretary and shall be responsible for keeping all records of the committee. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. In the selection of its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the joint committee from each house shall be required. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings, such notices to be mailed at least five (5) days prior to the date on which a meeting is to be held. Members of the committee shall be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same manner as provided for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session.

(2) No action shall be taken with respect to any sale, lease or development of the real property described in subsection (1) of this section without specific legislative act.

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