House Bill 569

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 861, LOCAL AND PRIVATE LAWS OF 1991, TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE KILN WATER AND PROTECTION DISTRICT OF HANCOCK COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, TO THE KILN UTILITY AND FIRE DISTRICT OF HANCOCK COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI; TO AMEND SECTIONS 19-5-171 AND 49-17-737, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 861, Local and Private Laws of 1991, is amended as follows:

Section 1. The governing authority of the Kiln Utility and Fire * * * District of Hancock County, Mississippi, is hereby authorized, in its discretion, to construct, acquire and extend a natural gas distribution system within the service area of the Kiln Utility and Fire * * * District.

SECTION 2. Section 19-5-171, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

19-5-171. (1) Every resident citizen of the county in which is located any district created under Sections 19-5-151 through 19-5-207, of good reputation, being the owner of land or the conductor of a business situated within the district and being over twenty-five (25) years of age and of sound mind and judgment, shall be eligible to hold the office of commissioner.

(2) Except as provided in Section 19-5-164(3), each person appointed or elected as a commissioner, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of the person's office, shall be required to execute a bond payable to the State of Mississippi in the penal sum of not less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) conditioned that the person will faithfully discharge the duties of the office. Each bond shall be approved by the clerk of the board of supervisors and filed with the clerk.

(3) Each commissioner shall take and subscribe to an oath of office prescribed in Section 268, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, before the clerk of the board of supervisors that the person will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of commissioner, which oath shall also be filed with the clerk and preserved with the official bond.

(4) Except as provided in subsection (5), the commissioners so appointed or elected and qualified shall be compensated for their services for each meeting of the board of commissioners attended, either regular or special, at a rate to be fixed by the board of supervisors, not to exceed the rate established in Section 25-3-69 for officers of state boards, commissions and agencies, and shall be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties in accordance with Section 25-3-41. However, in no one (1) calendar year shall any commissioner be compensated for more than twenty-four (24) meetings.

(5) (a) The commissioners of the Hancock County Water and Sewer District shall be compensated for their services at a rate up to Eighty-four Dollars ($84.00) per day for each meeting of the board of commissioners attended, either regular or special, and shall be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties in accordance with Section 25-3-41.

(b) The commissioners of the Kiln Utility and Fire * * * District of Hancock County shall be compensated for their services at a rate up to Eighty-four Dollars ($84.00) per day for each meeting of the board of commissioners attended, either regular or special, and shall be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties in accordance with Section 25-3-41.

(c) The commissioners of the Pearlington Water and Sewer District of Hancock County shall be compensated for their services at a rate up to Eighty-four Dollars ($84.00) per day for each meeting of the board of commissioners attended, either regular or special, and shall be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties in accordance with Section 25-3-41.

(d) The commissioners of the Diamondhead Water and Sewer District of Hancock County shall be compensated for their services at a rate up to the Eighty-four Dollars ($84.00) per day for each meeting of the board of commissioners attended, either regular or special, and shall be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties in accordance with Section 25-3-41.

(e) The commissioners of the Hancock County Solid Waste Authority shall be compensated for their services at a rate up to the Eighty-four Dollars ($84.00) per day for each meeting of the board of commissioners attended, either regular or special, and shall be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties in accordance with Section 25-3-41.

(f) The commissioners of the Standard Dedeaux Water District shall be compensated for their services at a rate up to the Eighty-four Dollars ($84.00) per day for each meeting of the board of commissioners attended, either regular or special, and shall be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties in accordance with Section 25-3-41.

SECTION 3. Section 49-17-737, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-17-737. (1) After consolidation, all powers of the Hancock County Utility Authority shall be exercised by a board consisting of the following:

(a) One (1) director who is the Mayor of Bay St. Louis, or his or her designee, for an initial term of two (2) years;

(b) One (1) director who is the Mayor of Waveland, or his or her designee, for an initial term of three (3) years;

(c) One (1) director who is the President of the Board of Supervisors of Hancock County, or his or her designee, for an initial term of four (4) years;

(d) One (1) director who is the Chairman of the Diamondhead Water and Sewer District;

(e) One (1) director who is the Chairman of the Kiln Utility and Fire * * * District;

(f) One (1) director who is the Chairman of the Hancock County Water and Sewer District; and

(g) One (1) director who is the Chairman of the Pearlington Water and Sewer District.

After expiration of the initial terms, the directors in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) shall serve a term of four (4) years.

(2) In addition to any other powers and rights conferred upon such board of directors, the board is granted and may exercise all powers and rights granted pursuant to Sections 49-17-739 through 49-17-773 to promote the health, welfare and prosperity of the general public.

(3) Any designee serving as a director shall serve at the will and pleasure of the governing authority that designated the director.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.