House Bill 588

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-3-101, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND TO FORM A NONPROFIT FOUNDATION; TO AMEND SECTION 43-3-107, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING SECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 43-3-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-3-101. There is hereby created and established an agency of the State of Mississippi known as the Mississippi Industries for the Blind, hereinafter referred to as the "MIB." The MIB shall be a body politic and corporate, may acquire and hold real and personal property, may form a nonprofit foundation, may receive, hold and disperse monies appropriated to it by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi received from the federal government, received from the sale of products which it produces, and received from any other sources whatsoever, and may sue and be sued in its name.

SECTION 2. Section 43-3-107, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-3-107. The purposes of MIB are as follows:

(a) To establish industries, businesses, shops and workshops primarily for the employment of blind persons and other persons;

(b) To employ blind persons whose training is not otherwise provided for and to market their products; * * *

(c) To furnish materials, tools and books for use in rehabilitating blind persons for employment, and to do any and all other things for blind persons as it deems advisable; and

(d) To establish a nonprofit foundation for the purpose of defraying costs incurred in carrying out its purposes and exercising its powers.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.