House Concurrent Resolution 36

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CREATE A LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE NEED AND FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING DESTINATION CAMPING RESORT AREAS FOR PURPOSES OF SCENIC NATURE TRAILS ACCESSIBLE ON HORSEBACK, ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES AND HIKING AND ESTABLISHING AREAS FOR BIRD AND WILDLIFE VIEWING, CAMPING AREAS AND FACILITIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, the Legislature realizes the importance of our state's abundant natural and wildlife resources; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature realizes the value of including these destination camping resort areas with full amenities to attract tourism by accommodating recreational vehicles and the value to be benefited from promoting family and recreational activities as a learning tool within the state by fostering a hands-on, first-hand experience approach to become more attuned with nature and its vast potentiality; and

WHEREAS, through the development of designated areas for scenic nature trails, viewing areas, camping areas and facilities in the state's parks accessible by means of natural hiking, horseback riding and all-terrain vehicle trails, tourism will be promoted in our state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That a legislative study committee is created to study the need and feasibility of establishing designated public areas for purposes of scenic nature trails accessible on horseback, all-terrain vehicles and hiking, and establishing area for bird and wildlife viewing, camping areas and facilities.

(1) The legislative study committee shall be composed of the following eight (8) members:

(a) Two (2) members appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(b) Two (2) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(d) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Division, or a designated appointee thereof; and

(e) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, or a designated appointee thereof.

(2) After the members are appointed, the membership shall meet on a date mutually agreed upon by a majority of the members for the purpose of organizing the committee and establishing rules for transacting its business and keeping records. A majority of members of the committee shall constitute a quorum at all committee meetings. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting shall be required in the adoption of rules, resolutions, reports and in any other actions taken by the committee. All members of the committee shall be notified in writing of all regular and special meetings of the committee, which notices shall be mailed at least five (5) days before the date of the meetings.

(3) The study committee shall make a written report of its findings and recommendations, and shall file its report with the Clerk of the House, no later than December 1, 2007. Upon filing its report, the study committee shall be dissolved.

(4) Members of the task force who are not legislators, state

officials or state employees shall be compensated at the per diem

rate authorized by Section 25-3-69 and shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 25-3-41 for mileage and actual expenses

incurred in the performance of their duties. Legislative members

of the task force 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.

However, no per diem or expense for attending meetings of the task

force will be paid to legislative members of the task force while

the Legislature is in session. No task force member may incur per

diem, travel or other expenses unless previously authorized by

vote, at a meeting of the task force, which action shall be

recorded in the official minutes of the meeting. Nonlegislative members shall be paid from any funds made available to the task force for that purpose.

(5) In carrying out the provisions of this resolution, the committee may utilize the services, facilities and personnel of all departments, agencies, offices and institutions of the state.