Senate Bill 2830

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 19-9-29, 21-33-323, 27-105-303, 27-105-365, 31-19-5, 37-59-43, 27-105-315 AND 27-105-353, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR PUBLIC FUNDS DEPOSITORIES BY PROVIDING THAT A DEPOSIT OR INVESTMENT SHALL BE WITHIN THE AMOUNT THAT IS INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION IF THE DEPOSIT OR INVESTMENT IS MADE ON CERTAIN CONDITIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 19-9-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

19-9-29. Whenever any county shall have on hand any bond and interest funds, any funds derived from the sale of bonds, special funds, or any other funds in excess of the sums which will be required to meet the current needs and demands of no more than seven (7) business days, the board of supervisors of such county shall invest such excess funds in the following manner:

(a) Such excess funds shall be invested for periods of from fourteen (14) days to one (1) year in interest-bearing time certificates of deposit with or through county depositories serving in accordance with Section 27-105-303 which are willing to accept the same, at a negotiated rate of interest. The negotiated rate of interest shall be at the highest rate possible at the date of purchase or investment for such time certificates of deposit or interest-bearing accounts, but such rate of interest shall not be less than the rate of interest paid to the general public on passbook savings. The rate of interest established herein shall be the minimum rate of interest and there shall be no maximum rate of interest.

(b) The balance, if any, of such excess funds shall be invested in interest-bearing time certificates of deposit for the same maturity periods and at the same rate of interest as prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section in or through state depositories located in such county which are willing to accept the same, to the same extent as such depositories are eligible for invested state funds.

(c) To the extent that the board of supervisors finds that such excess funds cannot be invested pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section for the stated maturity of from fourteen (14) days to one (1) year, the board of supervisors may invest such funds in any bonds or other direct obligations of the United States of America, the State of Mississippi, or any county, municipality or school district of this state, if such county, municipal or school district bonds have been approved by a reputable bond attorney or have been validated by a decree of the chancery court, or the board of supervisors may invest such funds, together with any other funds required for current operation, in obligations issued or guaranteed in full as to principal and interest by the United States of America which are subject to a repurchase agreement with a county or state depository, or the board of supervisors may deposit such funds in interest-bearing accounts with a county or state depository. Such bonds or obligations purchased may have any maturity date, provided that they shall mature or be redeemable prior to the time that the funds so invested will be needed for expenditure.

Any excess funds invested in certificates of deposit or interest-bearing accounts with county or state depositories under this section shall be secured in the manner required by Section 27-105-315. The proceeds of such certificates of deposit shall be immediately reinvested on the date of maturity in accordance with paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this section, unless the board of supervisors determines that such funds are required for current operation.

When bonds or other obligations have been purchased, the same may be sold or surrendered for redemption at any time, except certificates of deposit which must mature, by order or resolution of such board of supervisors. The president of the board of supervisors, when authorized by such order or resolution, shall have the power and authority to execute all instruments and take such other action as may be necessary to effectuate the sale or redemption thereof. When such bonds or other obligations are sold or redeemed, the proceeds thereof, including accrued interest thereon, shall be paid into the same fund as that from which the investment was made and shall in all respects be dealt with as are other monies in such fund. Except as hereinafter provided, any interest derived from the investments authorized in this section may, as an alternative, be deposited into the general fund of the county. Any interest derived from the investment of sums received under the terms of the federal State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972, and any subsequent revisions or reenactments of that act, shall be paid into the same fund as that from which the investment was made. Any interest derived from the investment of school bond funds shall be handled as provided in Section 37-59-43. Any interest derived from investment of other bond proceeds or from investment of any bond and interest fund, bond reserve fund or bond redemption sinking fund shall be deposited either in the same fund from which the investment was made or in the bond and interest fund established for payment of the principal or interest on the bonds. Any interest derived from special purpose funds which are outside the function of general county government shall be paid into that special purpose fund.

SECTION 2. Section 21-33-323, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-33-323. Whenever any municipality shall have on hand any bond and interest funds, any funds derived from the sale of bonds, special funds, or any other funds in excess of the sums which will be required for immediate expenditure and which are not needed or cannot by law be used for the payment of the current obligations or expenses of such municipality, the governing authorities of such municipality shall have the power and authority to invest such excess funds in any bonds or other direct obligations of the United States of America or the State of Mississippi, or of any county or municipality of this state, or of any school district, which such county or municipal or school district bonds have been approved by a reputable bond attorney or have been validated by a decree of the chancery court, or in obligations issued or guaranteed in full as to principal and interest by the United States of America which are subject to a repurchase agreement with a qualified depository. In any event the bonds or obligations in which such funds are invested shall mature or be redeemable prior to the time the funds so invested will be needed for expenditure. However, such excess funds may first be offered for investment in interest-bearing time certificates of deposit with or through municipal depositories serving in accordance with Section 27-105-353 at a rate of interest not less than a simple interest rate numerically equal to the average bank discount rate on United States Treasury bills of comparable maturity. The rate of interest established herein shall be the minimum rate of interest and there shall be no maximum rate of interest. Such excess funds may also be invested in time certificates of deposit in or through state depositories located in such municipality to the same extent as such depositories are eligible for invested state funds. When bonds or other obligations have been so purchased, the same may be sold or surrendered for redemption at any time by order or resolution of the governing authorities of the municipality, and the mayor of the municipality, when authorized by such order or resolution, shall have the power and authority to execute all instruments and take such other action as may be necessary to effectuate the sale or redemption thereof. When such bonds or other obligations are sold or redeemed, the proceeds thereof, including accrued interest thereon, shall be paid into the same fund as that from which the investment was made and shall in all respects be dealt with as are other monies in such fund. Except as hereinafter provided, any interest derived from the investments authorized in this section may, as an alternative, be deposited into the general fund of the municipality. Any interest derived from the investment of sums received under the terms of the federal State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972 and any subsequent revisions or reenactments of that act shall be paid into the same fund as that from which the investment was made. Any interest derived from the investment of school bond funds shall be handled as provided in Section 37-59-43. Any interest derived from investment of other bond proceeds or from investment of any bond and interest fund, bond reserve fund or bond redemption sinking fund shall be deposited either in the same fund from which the investment was made or in the bond and interest fund established for payment of the principal or interest on the bonds. Any interest derived from special purpose funds which are outside the function of general municipal government shall be paid into that special purpose fund. The authority granted by this section shall be cumulative and in addition to any other law relating to the investment of funds by municipalities.

SECTION 3. Section 27-105-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-105-303. The amount of money belonging to the several funds in the county treasury of each county in the state which is required to meet the current needs and demands of no more than seven (7) business days shall be kept on deposit in or through qualified financial institutions whose accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, or in or through some of them doing business in the several counties, provided that where there is no such financial institution in a county qualifying as a depository, some such financial institution in an adjoining county may qualify as a depository. All such deposits shall be subject to payment when demanded on warrant issued by the clerk of the board of supervisors on the order of the said board or on the allowance of a court authorized to allow the same. Each financial institution qualifying as such county depository shall not be required to pay interest to the county for the privilege of holding the deposits unless federal law permits the payment of interest on such deposits, in which case the maximum permitted interest rate shall be paid on such deposits. Where more than one (1) financial institution in a county offers to qualify as a depository, the board of supervisors may allocate such money to each qualified financial institution as nearly as practicable in proportion to their respective net worth, and may adopt the rules for receiving such deposits.

SECTION 4. Section 27-105-365, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-105-365. (1) The commissioners or board of trustees of any hospital owned and operated separately or jointly by one or more counties, cities, towns, supervisors districts, or election districts or combinations thereof, including hospitals established under the authority of Sections 41-13-1 through 41-13-9, as now or hereafter amended, are hereby authorized and empowered to deposit the funds of such hospital in or through one or more financial institutions whose accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, selected by the board of trustees in the same manner as county depositories are selected by boards of supervisors pursuant to Section 27-105-305, located in its county or counties, except as otherwise provided in the following paragraphs.

At the regular December meeting of the board of trustees in 1995, or at any regular December meeting of the board thereafter, the board may, in its discretion, give notice by publication to all financial institutions in its county or counties whose accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, that bids will be received from financial institutions at the following January meeting, or some subsequent meeting, for the privilege of keeping the hospital funds or any part thereof for a period of three (3) years, subject to earlier termination as authorized in this subsection. Such bids shall be submitted and accepted in the same manner as provided in Section 27-105-305. After the board has selected a depository or depositories as provided in this subsection, the board may, at any regular December meeting during the three-year period, give notice to and receive bids from financial institutions in the manner provided in this subsection, for the privilege of keeping the hospital funds or any part thereof for a period of three (3) years, subject to earlier termination as authorized in this subsection; and after receiving such bids, the board may reject all bids and elect to keep the funds in the current depository or depositories for the remainder of the three-year period under the terms originally agreed to with the depository or depositories, or if the board determines it to be in the best interests of the hospital, it may terminate the agreement with the current depository or depositories and select a new depository or depositories or the same depository or depositories from the bids received, choosing the bid or bids proposing the best terms for the hospital.

Such hospital funds, when so deposited, shall have the same security and protection as required for county funds in Section 27-105-315. When more than one (1) depository of whatever type is authorized, the commissioners or board of trustees may select one or more of such depositories and may apportion such deposits, at their or its discretion, if more than one (1) depository is selected. If there is no financial institution located within such county or counties, the commissioners or board of trustees of such hospital may select, in their or its discretion, a depository located outside of such county or counties.

The commissioners or boards of trustees of such community hospitals shall deposit the funds of such hospital into the depository selected under this section on the day when they are received or collected, or on the next business day thereafter.

(2) The commissioners or board of trustees of any such hospital may, in their or its discretion, maintain one or more special funds for the purpose of making necessary repairs, necessary purchases of equipment, meeting operational and maintenance expenses, allowing for depreciation, providing contingent funds for emergencies, funding hospital improvements, or providing for other special needs, and may deposit any part of such special fund in accordance with the provisions contained in subsection (1) for the deposit of other funds of such hospital. Said commissioners or board of trustees may also invest any part of such special fund, any funds derived from the sale of bonds, or any other funds in excess of the sums which will be required to meet the current needs and demands of no more than seven (7) business days in the following:

(a) In any bonds or other direct obligations of the United States of America or the State of Mississippi, or of any county, school district or municipality of this state, which such county, school district or municipal bonds have been approved by a reputable bond attorney or have been validated by decree of the chancery court;

(b) In obligations issued or guaranteed in full as to principal and interest by the United States of America which are subject to a repurchase agreement with a financial institution certified as a qualified depository;

(c) In any United States government agency, United States government instrumentality, or United States government sponsored enterprise obligations, the principal and interest of which are fully guaranteed by the government of the United States, such as the Government National Mortgage Association; or any United States government agency, United States government instrumentality, or United States government sponsored enterprise obligations, the principal and interest of which are guaranteed by any United States government agency, United States government instrumentality, or United States government sponsored enterprise. However, at no time shall the funds invested in United States government agency, United States government instrumentality, or United States government sponsored enterprise obligations enumerated in the preceding sentence exceed fifty percent (50%) of all monies invested with maturities of thirty (30) days or longer. The limitation set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applicable only at the time of purchase and shall not require the liquidation of any investment at any time;

(d) In an account or accounts in or through one or more financial institutions located in this state, and such funds when so invested shall have the same security and protection as required in Section 27-105-315;

(e) In an insured account or accounts in or through one or more financial institutions in this state whose accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; provided that the amount in any single account shall not exceed the amount which at any one time is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;

(f) In any open-end or closed-end management-type investment company or investment trust registered under the provisions of 15 USCS Section 80(a)-1 et seq., provided that the portfolio of such investment company or investment trust is limited to direct obligations issued by the United States of America, United States government agencies, United States government instrumentalities or United States government sponsored enterprises, and to repurchase agreements fully collateralized by direct obligations of the United States of America, United States government agencies, United States government instrumentalities or United States government sponsored enterprises, and the investment company or investment trust takes delivery of such collateral for the repurchase agreement, either directly or through an authorized custodian. The total dollar amount of funds invested in all open-end and closed-end management-type investment companies and investment trusts at any one time shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total dollar amount of funds invested under this subsection. The limitation set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applicable only at the time of purchase and shall not require the liquidation of any investment at any time;

(g) In a trust fund consisting of pooled or commingled funds of other hospitals, provided that:

(i) The portfolio of such trust fund may include investments in commercial paper and bankers acceptances or other short-term obligations issued by banks having one (1) of the two (2) highest short-term rating categories of either Standard & Poor's Corporation or Moody's Investors Service, or corporate notes and bonds having one (1) of the three (3) highest long-term rating categories of either Standard & Poor's Corporation or Moody's Investors Service, or in any open-ended or closed-ended management-type investment company or investment trust registered under the provisions of 15 USCS Section 80(a)-1 et seq., that would contain the aforementioned securities;

(ii) The portfolio of such trust fund is otherwise limited to investments authorized under this section; provided, however, that such investments shall not be subject to the percentage limitations set forth in subsection (2)(c) or subsection (2)(f) of this section;

(iii) Such trust is managed by an entity with trust powers or by an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and retained as an investment manager by the commissioners or the board of trustees, as the case may be; and

(iv) Any investment manager approved by the commissioners or the board of trustees, as the case may be, shall invest such commingled funds as a fiduciary.

In addition, the commissioners or the board of trustees, in their or its discretion, may invest such funds as permitted by Section 19-9-29, 21-33-323, 27-105-33 or 37-59-43, as the same may be amended from time to time.

In any event, the bonds or obligations described in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this subsection (2) in which such funds are invested shall mature or be redeemable prior to the time the funds so invested will be needed for expenditures. When bonds or other obligations have been so purchased, the same may be sold or surrendered for redemption at any time by order or resolution of the commissioners or board of trustees of any such hospital, and the president or vice president, when authorized by such order or resolution, shall have the power and authority to execute all instruments and take such other action as may be necessary to effectuate the sale or redemption thereof.

When any such special fund is maintained for a purpose that requires contract letting or other action by the governing authority or authorities of the counties, cities, towns, supervisors districts or election districts, separately or jointly owning and operating such hospital, the commissioners or board of trustees of the hospital may transfer the whole or any part of any such special fund to the governing authority or authorities aforesaid on condition that the same be used for such purpose or returned to the transferring commissioners or board of trustees within the time designated in the conditions.

(3) All funds which shall be derived from any tax levied for the support and maintenance of any such hospital, and all other funds which may be made available for the support and maintenance of any such hospital by the state or any county or municipality, and all fees and other monies which may be collected or received by or for such hospital shall be placed in a special fund to the credit of such hospital within sixty (60) days after collection, and all such funds shall be expended and paid out upon the allowance of the board of trustees or commissioners of the hospital, as the case may be, and disbursed by checks signed by such person, officer or officers, as may be designated by such board of trustees or commissioners. Any officer or person who shall be designated by such board of trustees or commissioners to execute such checks shall furnish to such board of trustees or commissioners a good and sufficient surety bond in such amount as such board of trustees may fix, conditioned upon the faithful discharge of his duties, and the premium on such bond shall be paid from the funds available for the support and maintenance of such hospital. No funds shall be disbursed by any such hospital until the board of trustees or the commissioners thereof shall have adopted an annual budget and submitted same to the respective governing authority or authorities of the counties, cities, towns, supervisors districts, or election districts, separately or jointly owning and operating such hospital, and until such budget shall have been approved by the governing authority or authorities, as the case may be, which approval shall be evidenced by a proper order recorded upon the minutes of each such authority. The accounts and records of any such hospital shall be audited by the State Department of Audit at the same time and in the same manner as the accounts and financial records of the county are audited, and for such purpose shall be considered in all respects as county accounts and records; however, this provision with regard to such audits shall be applicable only to hospitals owned wholly or in part by a county.

(4) The provisions of this section shall not apply to hospitals owned jointly by a city and county and operated by lease agreement or contract with a nonprofit hospital corporation.

SECTION 5. Section 31-19-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

31-19-5. Any funds received from the sale of bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness heretofore or hereafter sold by the State of Mississippi or any agency or department thereof or by any county, municipality, road district, levee district, development district, utility district, school district, drainage district or other entity authorized by law to issue bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness, which are not immediately required for disbursement for the purpose for which issued, may be invested by the proper authorities in any direct obligation issued by or guaranteed in full as to principal and interest by the United States of America or in certificates of deposit issued by or through a qualified depository of the State of Mississippi as approved by the State Treasurer, maturing or being redeemable by the holder on or prior to the date upon which such funds will be required for disbursement and bearing interest at a rate per annum not less than a simple interest rate numerically equal to the average bank discount rate on United States Treasury bills of comparable maturity or the current rate of interest paid on certificates of deposit or on United States Treasury obligations of comparable maturities, whichever is the higher, provided, however, that the proceeds from the sale of bonds issued pursuant to Sections 57-1-131 through 57-1-145, Mississippi Code of 1972, or Chapter 3 of Title 57, Mississippi Code of 1972, may be invested in certificates of deposit issued by or through qualified depositories of the State of Mississippi bearing interest at any rate per annum which may be mutually agreed upon, but in no case shall said rate be less than such average bank discount rate.

Funds received pursuant to this section shall be invested as heretofore described or may be invested, pursuant to rules promulgated by the State Treasurer, in obligations described in Section 27-105-33(d), Mississippi Code of 1972; however, funds described in this section may not be invested in securities of, or interests in, any open-end or closed-end management-type investment company or investment trust, such as those described in Section 27-105-33(e).

SECTION 6. Section 37-59-43, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-59-43. (1) Whenever any school district or levying authority, as defined in Section 37-57-1(1)(b), acting on behalf of a school district, shall have on hand any bond and interest funds, any funds derived from the sale of bonds, or any other funds in excess of the sums which will be required for payment of current obligations and expenses as they come due, and which are not needed or cannot by law be used for the payment of the current obligations or expenses of the school district, the school board of the district shall have the power and authority to invest such excess funds in any bonds or other direct obligations of the United States of America or the State of Mississippi, or of any county or municipality of this state, which such county or municipal bonds have been approved by a reputable bond attorney or have been validated by a decree of the chancery court; or in interest-bearing time certificates of deposit or interest-bearing accounts with or throughany financial institution approved for the deposit of state funds; and such institution shall be eligible to hold school district funds to the extent that it is qualified as a depository for state funds; or in any type of investment permitted by Sections 27-105-33(d) and 27-105-33(e). The rate of interest on such time certificates of deposit and interest-bearing accounts may be negotiated. The negotiated rate of interest shall be at the highest rate possible at the date of purchase or investment for such time certificates of deposit or interest-bearing accounts. In any event, the bonds or obligations in which such funds are invested shall mature or be redeemable prior to the time the funds so invested will be needed for expenditure. When bonds or other obligations have been so purchased, the same may be sold or surrendered for redemption at any time, except certificates of deposit which must mature, by order or resolution of such school board, and the president of the school board, when authorized by such order or resolution, shall have the power and authority to execute all instruments and take such other action as may be necessary to effectuate the sale or redemption thereof. In addition to the foregoing, any school board may invest any such funds in the same manner as provided for the investment of sixteenth section principal funds pursuant to Section 29-3-113.

(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall also apply to funds of community and junior college districts, and the governing authorities of such districts are vested with all power and authority with respect to such funds and matters herein mentioned as are vested in the other boards mentioned above with respect to such matters.

(3) All earnings from funds other than bond funds or bond sinking funds in excess of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) in any fiscal year, invested according to the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall be deposited in the district fund from which the investment was made, or the treasury of the junior college, as the case may be. Earnings from such school district funds which are less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) in any fiscal year may be deposited in the school district maintenance fund, or in the district fund from which the investment was made, in the discretion of the school board. Earnings from funds invested out of bond funds or bond sinking funds, together with the principal thereof, shall be deposited in the fund from which the investment was made.

(4) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent the payment of a portion of the earnings derived from the investment of bond proceeds or any other amounts in the bond fund or related reserve or sinking funds to the federal government to the extent required by the federal laws applicable to such bonds or the interest income thereon in order to maintain their tax exempt status.

SECTION 7. Section 27-105-315, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-105-315. (1) Any financial institution in a county, or in an adjoining county where there is no financial institution in the county qualifying, whose accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any successors to that insurance corporation may qualify as a county depository, if the institution qualifies as a public funds depository under Section 27-105-5 or a public funds guaranty pool member under Sections 27-105-5 and 27-105-6. The qualified financial institution shall secure those deposits by placing qualified securities on deposit with the State Treasurer as provided in Section 27-105-5.

(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any financial institution whether or not meeting the prescribed ratio requirement whose accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any successors to that insurance corporation, may receive county funds in an amount not exceeding the amount that is insured by that insurance corporation and may qualify as a county depository to the extent of that insurance.

(3) For purposes of the foregoing subsection (2), a deposit or investment shall be within the amount that is insured by that insurance corporation if the deposit or investment is made on the following conditions:

(a) The financial institution arranges for the investment of the funds in book entry certificates of deposit in one or more banks or savings and loan associations wherever located in the United States, for the account of the public depositor;

(b) The full amount of the principal and accrued interest of each such certificate of deposit is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;

(c) The financial institution acts as custodian for the public depositor with respect to the certificates of deposit issued for the public depositor's account; and

(d) At the same time that such certificates of deposit are issued, the financial institution receives an amount of deposits from customers of other financial institutions located in the United States equal to or greater than the amount of the funds invested by the public depositor through the financial institution.

SECTION 8. Section 27-105-353, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-105-353. The board of mayor and aldermen or other municipal authorities of each and every city, town or village in the state are required to select a depository in the manner provided by law for the selection of county depositories. Before being selected, a depository must be certified by the State Treasurer as meeting the capital ratio requirement specified in Section 27-105-5 or 27-105-6. An institution shall not be a qualified depository and shall not receive any municipal funds unless its ratio has been certified annually by the State Treasurer as meeting the prescribed requirement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any financial institution whether or not meeting the prescribed ratio requirement whose accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any successors to that insurance corporation may receive municipal funds in an amount not exceeding the amount that is insured by that insurance corporation and may qualify as a municipal depository to the extent of that insurance as prescribed in Section 27-105-315.

SECTION 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.