House Bill 1356

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 21-37-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE FROM FIVE TO SEVEN THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF MEMBERS AUTHORIZED TO SERVE AS MUNICIPAL PARK COMMISSIONERS; TO REQUIRE SUCH COMMISSIONERS TO BE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OR THE COUNTY WHERE THE MUNICIPALITY IS LOCATED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 21-37-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-37-33. The governing authorities of any municipality are hereby authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to create a park commission, and to elect not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) members thereof, who shall be known as "park commissioners" of such municipality to manage and control all of the parks, playgrounds and swimming pools maintained and established in such municipality. Said park commissioners shall be qualified electors of the municipality or the county where the municipality is located and shall not hold any other municipal or county office of honor or profit. They shall receive such compensation as may be allowed by the governing authorities of such municipality. The terms of office of the commissioners, authorized to be elected hereunder shall be one (1) for one (1) year, one (1) for two (2) years, and so on for the number of members of such park commission, and thereafter the term of each commissioner shall be for a number of years as there are members of said commission. Said governing authorities shall have the power to remove any member of such commission for inefficiency or incompetency, or for any other cause.

Provided, however, the governing authorities of any municipality which has been organized under the provisions of Title 21, Chapter 8, Mississippi Code of 1972, are hereby authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to create an advisory park and recreation commission which shall serve as an advisory board to said governing authorities on all such matters in the municipality. The members of the commission shall be appointed by the governing authorities, and in those municipalities which have been divided into five (5) wards, the commission shall consist of not less than five (5) nor more than seven (7) members; in those municipalities which have been divided into seven (7) wards, the commission shall consist of not less than seven (7) nor more than nine (9) members; in those municipalities which have been divided into nine (9) wards, the commission shall consist of nine (9) members; and at least one (1) of the members of the commission shall be a resident of each of the wards of the municipality. Appointment of members of the commission by the governing authorities under this paragraph shall be made by the mayor with the confirmation of an affirmative vote of a majority of the city council present and voting at any meeting. The governing authorities of said municipality shall have vested in them all the powers and duties of a park commission as provided by law and shall be the successor in title to all real and personal property held by the park commission in existence under the previous form of government and shall be the successor to all contracts to which said previous commission was a party. The commissioners shall serve in the manner, for such term, and with such powers as said governing authorities may prescribe by ordinance.

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