Senate Bill 2277

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI BOARD OF MENTAL HEALTH, ACTING THROUGH THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, TO SELL CERTAIN STATE-OWNED REAL PROPERTY AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, WHICH SERVED AS THE FORMER FRIENDSHIP CENTER LOCATED IN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, LAUDERDALE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Mississippi Board of Mental Health, acting through the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, is authorized to sell certain state-owned real property and any improvements thereon, which served as the former Friendship Center located in the City of Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi, such property being more specifically described as follows:

Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Block 8, Section 13, Township 6, Range 15 of Gallagher's (addition) Survey; recorded in Book 2294, page 56 of the records in the office of the Chancery Clerk of Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

(2) The real property and any improvements thereon described in subsection (1) of this section shall be sold for not less than the current fair market value as determined by the average of at least two (2) appraisals by qualified appraisers, one (1) of which shall be selected by the Department of Finance and Administration, and both of whom shall be certified and licensed by the Mississippi Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board.

(3) All monies derived from the sale of the property described in subsection (1) of this section shall be deposited into a special fund created in the State Treasury for the use and benefit of the East Mississippi State Hospital. Unexpended amounts remaining in the special fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned on the amounts in the special fund shall be deposited to the credit of the special fund.

(4) The Department of Finance and Administration may correct any discrepancies in the legal description provided in this section.

(5) The State of Mississippi shall retain all mineral rights to the property sold under this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.