Senate Bill 3051

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF THE CITY OF BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI, TO ESTABLISH A NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY-BASED CORPORATION TO BE KNOWN AS "BILOXI BIOMETRICS AND CYBERSECURITY CENTER, INC."; TO AUTHORIZE SUCH AUTHORITIES TO ACQUIRE, PURCHASE AND/OR CONSTRUCT A BIOMETRICS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER; TO CREATE A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT AND NONPROFIT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FIRMS AND INSTITUTIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. As used in this act, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context in which they are used:

(a) "City" means the City of Biloxi, Mississippi.

(b) "Governing authorities" means the Mayor and City Council of the City of Biloxi, Mississippi.

SECTION 2. In addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law, the city is granted the following powers:

(a) The city and its governing authorities are authorized to establish a Mississippi nonprofit corporation, to be known as the "Biloxi Biometrics and Cybersecurity Center, Inc." for research, development, manufacturing and marketing of products involving biometrics, nanotechnology, cybernetics, computer science, and digital hardware and software and other science and technology. The articles of incorporation and bylaws shall be subject to approval of the governing authorities. The Mayor of Biloxi shall appoint the Board of Directors of the Biloxi Biometrics and Cybersecurity Center, Inc., subject to confirmation by the city council, as provided by general law.

(b) The city and its governing authorities are authorized to make loans and grants to Biloxi Biometrics and Cybersecurity Center, Inc., from federal and state loans and grants, and program income from such loans and grants, as obtained from time to time by the city, according to terms and conditions provided by general law.

(c) The city and its governing authorities are also authorized to make loans to the Biloxi Biometrics and Cybersecurity Center, Inc., from funds received through, or arising out of, court judgments for economic damages to the city.

(d) The city and its governing authorities are authorized to provide in the bylaws of Biloxi Biometrics and Cybersecurity Center, Inc., that the nonprofit corporation may join in the formation of, invest in the capital stock of, and make loans and grants to, one or more for-profit and nonprofit business ventures, and public and private institutions for education, research and development, for the purpose of producing and marketing the following:

(i) Biometric sensors for smartcards, smartphones and other devices for assuring positive identity and accomplishing specialized cybersecurity applications;

(ii) Other products from nanotechnology-enabled materials;

(iii) Other products involving biometrics, nanotechnology, cybernetics, computer science, digital hardware and software and other science and technology, invented or enhanced by research and development arising out of the Biloxi Center; and

(iv) Other related purposes.

(e) The city is authorized to acquire and/or construct real and personal property to establish an approximately fifty thousand (50,000) square-foot, initial manufacturing, research and development facility in Biloxi to be known as, "Biloxi Center for Excellence in Biometrics and Cybersecurity Development" and to lease or sell the facility or any part thereof, and any expansions thereof, to produce and market the following:

(i) Biometric sensors, for smartcards, smartphones, and other devices for assuring positive identity and accomplishing specialized cybersecurity applications;

(ii) Other products from nanotechnology-enabled materials;

(iv) Other related purposes.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.