Senate Bill 2909

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 69-48-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, INC., SHALL MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO THE MISSISSIPPI PEANUT PROMOTION BOARD AS THE TERMS EXPIRE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 69-48-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

69-48-3. (1) The Mississippi Peanut Promotion Board is hereby created, to be composed of six (6) members to be appointed by the Governor to serve terms of three (3) years. All of the six (6) members of the board shall be producers of peanuts in the State of Mississippi. Within ten (10) days following the effective date of this chapter, the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., and the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association shall each submit the names of six (6) peanut producers to the Governor, and he shall appoint three (3) members from the nominees of each organization to serve on the board on rotating three-year terms. The original board shall be appointed with members of each of the organizations appointed as follows: one (1) for one (1) year, one (1) for two (2) years, and one (1) for three (3) years. Members serving on the board on June 30, 2012, shall continue to serve as members until the expiration of the member's term. * * * Not less than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the term of a board member, the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., shall submit the names of three (3) nominees to the Governor. * * * Any vacancy in the office of an appointed board member shall be for the balance of the unexpired term.

(2) The members of the board shall meet and organize immediately after their appointment, and shall elect a chairman, vice chairman and secretary-treasurer from the membership of the board, whose duties shall be those customarily exercised by such officers or specifically designated by the board. The chairman, vice chairman and secretary-treasurer shall be bonded in an amount not less than Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00). The cost of the bonds shall be paid from the funds received under this chapter. The bond shall be a security for any illegal act of such member of the board and recovery thereon may be had by the state for any injury by the illegal act of the member. The board may establish rules and regulations for its own government and the administration of the affairs of the board.

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