House Bill 1033

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION SHALL CONVEY TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE OLD FARMERS' MARKET AND LOCATED IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI; TO REQUIRE THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER SHALL USE THE PROPERTY FOR A RESEARCH PARK; TO REQUIRE THAT A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY SHALL BE RESERVED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MISSISSIPPI INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND FACILITY AND THE STATE RECORDS CENTER; TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE PROPERTY GENERALLY KNOWN AS THE "MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MEMORIAL STADIUM PROPERTY," IS OFFERED BY THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI FOR SALE, LEASE OR OTHER CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER, THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER SHALL HAVE PREFERENCE IN OBTAINING THE PROPERTY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Acting on behalf of the State of Mississippi, the Department of Finance and Administration shall convey to the University of Mississippi Medical Center certain state-owned real property, and any improvements, rights and appurtenances thereon, that is known as the old Farmers' Market and located in Jackson, Mississippi, subject to the conditions set forth in this section, which shall be specified with particularity in the conveyance document:

(a) The property shall be used by the University of Mississippi Medical Center exclusively as a research park, and if the property is not so used within five (5) years from the effective date of this act, then the title to the property and all improvements, rights and appurtenances thereon shall revert to and be vested in the State of Mississippi.

(b) A portion of the property, as approved by the Department of Finance and Administration, shall be reserved exclusively for the construction of the Mississippi Industries for the Blind facility and of the State Records Center, both of which have been authorized under Sections 97 through 118, Chapter 1, Laws of 2004 Third Extraordinary Session, as amended by Section 13, Chapter 538, Laws of 2006 Regular Session, and such portion of the property may not be used for any other purpose. However, if either the State Records Office or the Mississippi Industries for the Blind finds a more suitable facility or location in the City of Jackson based on construction costs, financing costs and time for occupancy that, acting through the Department of Finance and Administration, such entity either purchase or lease purchase, then the land reserved for that entity under this act and authorized under Sections 97 through 118, Chapter 1, Laws of 2004 Third Extraordinary Session, as amended by Section 13, Chapter 538, Laws of 2006 Regular Session, shall be transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center under the terms included herein.

(c) After the conveyance of the property, the Department of Finance and Administration shall have jurisdiction over the enforcement of all laws of the State of Mississippi on the property and shall provide the security personnel and equipment necessary to maintain safety and order on the property.

(d) The State of Mississippi shall retain all mineral rights in the property.

SECTION 2. If the property generally known as the "Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Property," and more particularly described in Section 55-23-8, Mississippi Code of 1972, is offered for sale, lease or other conveyance or transfer, by the State of Mississippi, at any time after the effective date of this act, then the University of Mississippi Medical Center shall have preference in any opportunities that may exist to obtain the property.

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