Senate Bill 2958

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 1 OF CHAPTER 578, LAWS OF 2006, TO EXTEND FOR ONE YEAR THE DUTIES OF THE JOINT STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES OF THE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND PROPERTY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 578, Laws of 2006, is hereby amended as follows:

Section 1. (1) There is created a joint committee of the Legislature for the purpose of studying development possibilities and alternatives for the real property owned by the State of Mississippi and formerly occupied by the Mississippi School for the Blind. The joint committee shall consider the best interests of nearby neighborhoods, the Mississippi School for the Blind and preservation thereof in making its report. The joint committee shall also study and consider the disposal of any state property determined by the Department of Finance and Administration to be surplus property. The joint committee shall be composed of five (5) members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House and five (5) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. The joint committee shall make an initial report to the House of Representatives and the Senate by January 5, 2007, as to its findings and recommendations. The joint committee shall continue to meet and make a subsequent report no later than January 5, 2008. Upon presentation of the second report, the joint committee shall be dissolved.

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