MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2016 Regular Session

To: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

By: Representative Bounds

House Bill 1158

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-1-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION ON WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO SET FEES FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO AN OFFICIAL MAGAZINE; TO AUTHORIZE THE PUBLISHING OF A DIGITAL MAGAZINE; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO SELL ADVERTISEMENTS TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE MAGAZINE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 49-1-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     49-1-35.  (1)  The commission may publish an official magazine concerning the activities of the department and other matters of interest to Mississippi hunters, fishermen, boaters and other outdoorsmen.  The commission may set, charge and collect a fee for subscriptions and make such other rules and regulations as may be necessary for the publishing of such magazine. * * *The subscription rates shall be as follows:  for a one‑year subscription, not less than Five Dollars ($5.00) nor more than Nine Dollars ($9.00); for a two‑year subscription, not less than Nine Dollars and Fifty Cents ($9.50) nor more than Seventeen Dollars and Fifty Cents ($17.50); and for a three‑year subscription, not less than Fourteen Dollars and Fifty Cents ($14.50) nor more than Twenty‑six Dollars and Fifty Cents ($26.50).

(2)  For the purposes of this section, the term "publish" includes the publishing and production of the current print version of a magazine, as well as the production and distribution of a digital version of the magazine which shall be available exclusively online and/or in a mobile application. 

(3)  In order to offset costs related to the print and digital versions of the magazine, and to minimize subscription costs, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is authorized to sell advertisements in and on any media falling under its control, including the official magazine, the department's website and any mobile application.

(3)  The department may establish a fund to be known as the MS Outdoors Fund.  The proceeds from subscriptions and sales of advertisements shall be deposited in such fund.  Monies in such fund shall be deposited in an interest-bearing account in an approved state depository.  Proceeds from this account, along with the interest earned on the same, for each fiscal year's magazine shall be transferred to the * * *Bureau of Administration's department's operating account to defray the publishing expenses of MS Outdoors, the digital magazine and related expenses.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.

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