Senate Concurrent Resolution 641

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE INCREASED INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS AND NEEDS INCURRED BY THE CITY OF JACKSON AS A RESULT OF BEING THE SEAT OF STATE GOVERNMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That:

(1) There is hereby created a Task Force to Study the Increased Infrastructure and Public Safety Costs and Needs Incurred by the City of Jackson as a result of Being the Seat of State Government. The task force shall be composed of seven (7) members as follows:

(a) Three (3) members appointed by the Governor, each of whom shall represent the interest of business, law enforcement and the general public;

(b) Three (3) members appointed by the Mayor of the City of Jackson, each of whom shall represent the interest of law enforcement, transportation and the general public;

(d) One (1) member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall represent the interest of the Legislature.

(2) The task force shall develop a study and make recommendations with any necessary legislation to the Legislature and the Governor on the increased infrastructure and public safety costs and needs incurred by the City of Jackson as a result of being the Seat of State Government. The task force shall specifically examine the needs and increased costs associated with the Capitol Complex in downtown Jackson, the area surrounding the State Fairgrounds, the area surrounding the campus of Jackson State University and the area surrounding the University of Mississippi Medical Center/Mississippi Memorial Stadium. The report shall examine all aspects of the needs of law enforcement, transportation, utilities, economic development and ad valorem tax exemption, associated with the specific areas of the city mentioned above. The task force shall issue its report to the Legislature and the Governor on or before December 1, 2007, and upon the presentation of the report the task force shall be dissolved.

(3) All members of the task force shall be designated or appointed in accordance with subsection (1) above and shall be so designated or appointed in sufficient time so as to allow for all members of the task force to be identified prior to the first meeting of the task force.

(4) The first meeting of the task force shall take place no later than July 1, 2007, on the call of the Governor at a place designated by him. At the first meeting of the task force, the members shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman from its membership. Following the election of the chairman and the vice chairman, the task force shall adopt rules for transacting its business and keeping records. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation.

(5) The Department of Finance and Administration shall provide appropriate staff support and shall designate an appropriate employee to act as a point of contact for the provision of staff support to the task force. All other agencies, departments, offices and institutions of the state, including all state universities and community and junior colleges, shall cooperate with the task force and provide such assistance as requested by the task force.

(6) Upon presentation of its report, the task force shall be dissolved.