MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2014 Regular Session

To: Rules; Ways and Means

By: Representative Formby

House Bill 381

(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 69-2-19, 69-2-23, 69-2-25 AND 69-2-27, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE REVERSIONARY LANGUAGE ON PROVISIONS THAT AUTHORIZE THE STATE BOND COMMISSION TO NEGOTIATE THE SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS ISSUED UNDER THE EMERGING CROPS FUND, AND THAT REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT NOTICE OF THE SALE OF BONDS ISSUED UNDER THE EMERGING CROPS FUND THAT ARE TO BE SOLD ON SEALED BIDS MUST BE PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS OR FINANCIAL JOURNALS WITH A LARGE NATIONAL CIRCULATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 69-2-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

 * * *   

[Until June 30, * * * 20142017, this section shall read as follows:]

     69-2-19.  (1)  The Mississippi Development Authority is authorized, at one time, or from time to time, to declare by resolution the necessity for issuance of negotiable general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi to provide funds for the Emerging Crops Fund established in Section 69-2-13.  Upon the adoption of a resolution by the board, declaring the necessity for the issuance of any part or all of the general obligation bonds authorized by Sections 69-2-19 through 69-2-39, the authority shall deliver a certified copy of its resolution or resolutions to the State Bond Commission.  Upon receipt of same, the State Bond Commission, in its discretion, shall act as the issuing agent, prescribe the form of the bonds, determine the appropriate method for sale of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids or negotiate the sale of the bonds, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds.  The amount of bonds issued under Sections 69-2-19 through 69-2-39 shall not exceed One Hundred Nine Million Dollars ($109,000,000.00) in the aggregate; however:

          (a)  An additional amount of bonds may be issued under Sections 69-2-19 through 69-2-39 in an amount not to exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00), and the proceeds of any such additional bonds shall be used solely for the purposes described in Section 69-2-13(14); and

          (b)  An additional amount of bonds may be issued under Sections 69-2-19 through 69-2-39 in an amount not to exceed Seventeen Million Dollars ($17,000,000.00), and the proceeds of such additional bonds shall be used solely for the purposes described in Section 69-2-13(16).

     (2)  No bonds may be issued under Sections 69-2-19 through 69-2-39 after October 1, 2019.

 * * *    [From and after July 1, * * * 20142017, this section shall read as follows:]

69‑2‑19.  (1)  The Mississippi Development Authority is authorized, at one time, or from time to time, to declare by resolution the necessity for issuance of negotiable general obligation bonds of the State of Mississippi to provide funds for the Emerging Crops Fund established in Section 69‑2‑13.  Upon the adoption of a resolution by the board, declaring the necessity for the issuance of any part or all of the general obligation bonds authorized by Sections 69‑2‑19 through 69‑2‑39, the authority shall deliver a certified copy of its resolution or resolutions to the State Bond Commission.  Upon receipt of same, the State Bond Commission, in its discretion, shall act as the issuing agent, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds.  The amount of bonds issued under Sections 69‑2‑19 through 69‑2‑39 shall not exceed One Hundred Nine Million Dollars ($109,000,000.00) in the aggregate; however:

  (a)  An additional amount of bonds may be issued under Sections 69‑2‑19 through 69‑2‑39 in an amount not to exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00), and the proceeds of any such additional bonds shall be used solely for the purposes described in Section 69‑2‑13(14); and

  (b)  An additional amount of bonds may be issued under Sections 69‑2‑19 through 69‑2‑39 in an amount not to exceed Seventeen Million Dollars ($17,000,000.00), and the proceeds of such additional bonds shall be used solely for the purposes described in Section 69‑2‑13(16).

(2)  No bonds may be issued under Sections 69‑2‑19 through 69‑2‑39 after October 1, 2019.

     SECTION 2.  Section 69-2-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

 * * *    [Until June 30, * * * 20142017, this section shall read as follows:]

     69-2-23.  Such bonds may be executed and delivered by the state at any time and from time to time, may be in such form and denominations and of such terms and maturities, may be in fully registered form or in bearer form registrable either as to principal or interest, or both, may bear such conversion privileges and be payable in such installments and at such time or times not exceeding twenty (20) years from the date thereof, may be payable at such place or places, whether within or without the State of Mississippi, may bear interest payable at such time or times and at such place or places and evidenced in such manner, and may contain such provisions not inconsistent herewith, all as shall be provided in the proceedings of the State Bond Commission under which the bonds are authorized to be issued.  Such bonds shall not bear a greater overall maximum interest rate to maturity than that authorized by law for general obligation bonds.  If deemed advisable by the State Bond Commission, there may be retained in the proceedings under which any such bonds are authorized to be issued an option to redeem all or any part thereof as may be specified in such proceedings, at such price or prices and after such notice or notices and on such terms and conditions as may be set forth in such proceedings and briefly recited or referred to on the face of the bonds, but nothing herein contained shall be construed to confer on the state any right or option to redeem any bonds, except as may be provided in the proceedings under which they shall be issued.  The State Bond Commission may sell such bonds on sealed bids at public sale or may negotiate the sale of the bonds for such price as the State Bond Commission determines to be in the best interest of the State of Mississippi.  The state may pay all expenses, premiums and commissions which the State Bond Commission may deem necessary or advantageous in connection with the issuance thereof, but solely from the proceeds of the bonds.  The issuance by the state of one or more series of bonds shall not preclude it from issuing other series of bonds, but the proceedings under which any subsequent bonds may be issued shall recognize and protect any prior pledge made for any prior issuance of bonds.

 * * * [From and after July 1, * * * 20142017, this section shall read as follows:]

     69‑2‑23.  Such bonds may be executed and delivered by the state at any time and from time to time, may be in such form and denominations and of such terms and maturities, may be in fully registered form or in bearer form registrable either as to principal or interest, or both, may bear such conversion privileges and be payable in such installments and at such time or times not exceeding twenty (20) years from the date thereof, may be payable at such place or places, whether within or without the State of Mississippi, may bear interest payable at such time or times and at such place or places and evidenced in such manner, and may contain such provisions not inconsistent herewith, all as shall be provided in the proceedings of the State Bond Commission under which the bonds are authorized to be issued.  Such bonds shall not bear a greater overall maximum interest rate to maturity than that authorized by law for general obligation bonds.  If deemed advisable by the State Bond Commission, there may be retained in the proceedings under which any such bonds are authorized to be issued an option to redeem all or any part thereof as may be specified in such proceedings, at such price or prices and after such notice or notices and on such terms and conditions as may be set forth in such proceedings and briefly recited or referred to on the face of the bonds, but nothing herein contained shall be construed to confer on the state any right or option to redeem any bonds, except as may be provided in the proceedings under which they shall be issued.  Any such bonds shall be sold on sealed bids at public sale, and for such price as the State Bond Commission determines to be in the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale shall be made at a price less than par value plus accrued interest to date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser.  The state may pay all expenses, premiums and commissions which the State Bond Commission may deem necessary or advantageous in connection with the issuance thereof, but solely from the proceeds of the bonds.  The issuance by the state of one or more series of bonds shall not preclude it from issuing other series of bonds, but the proceedings under which any subsequent bonds may be issued shall recognize and protect any prior pledge made for any prior issuance of bonds.

     SECTION 3.  Section 69-2-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

 * * * [Until June 30, * * * 20142017, this section shall read as follows:]

    

     69-2-25.  No bond issued under Sections 69-2-19 through 69-2-39 of this chapter shall bear more than one (1) rate of interest; each bond shall bear interest from its date to its stated maturity date at the interest rate specified on the bonds; and all bonds of the same maturity shall bear the same rate of interest from date to maturity.  All interest accruing on bonds shall be payable semiannually or annually.  If bonds are issued in coupon form, no interest payment shall be evidenced by more than one (1) coupon, and neither cancelled nor supplemental coupons shall be permitted.  If serial bonds, such bonds shall mature annually, and the first maturity date thereof shall not be more than five (5) years from the date of such bonds.

 * * *    [From and after July 1, * * * 20142017, this section shall read as follows:]

69‑2‑25.  No bond issued under Sections 69‑2‑19 through 69‑2‑39 of this chapter shall bear more than one (1) rate of interest; each bond shall bear interest from its date to its stated maturity date at the interest rate specified on the bonds; and all bonds of the same maturity shall bear the same rate of interest from date to maturity.  All interest accruing on bonds shall be payable semiannually or annually, except the first interest coupon attached to any bond may be for any period not exceeding one (1) year.  If bonds are issued in coupon form, no interest payment shall be evidenced by more than one (1) coupon, and neither cancelled nor supplemental coupons shall be permitted.  If serial bonds, such bonds shall mature annually, and the first maturity date thereof shall not be more than five (5) years from the date of such bonds.

     SECTION 4.  Section 69-2-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

 * * *

     [Until June 30, * * * 20142017, this section shall read as follows:]

     69-2-27.  If the bonds are to be sold by sealed bid at public sale, notice of the sale of any such bonds shall be published at least one time which shall be made not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers having a general circulation in the City of Jackson selected by the State Bond Commission.

     [From and after July 1, * * * 20142017, this section shall read as follows:]

     69‑2‑27.  Notice of the sale of any such bonds shall be published at least one time which shall be made not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers having a general circulation in the City of Jackson selected by the State Bond Commission.

     SECTION 5.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.