House Bill 1346

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDS TO THE STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING FOR THE REPAIR, RENOVATION OR IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE CAMPUSES OF THE INSTITUTIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024.

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

SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much of it as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the Capital Expense Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for the purpose of providing funds to the state-supported institutions of higher learning for the repair, renovation or improvement of existing infrastructure on the campuses of the institutions, as provided in Section 2 of this act, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024................. $ 100,000,000.00.

SECTION 2. (1) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall distribute the funds appropriated under Section 1 of this act on a pro rata basis to Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State University, the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi, with each university receiving the same percentage of these funds as the percentage of the fiscal year 2024 appropriation for the general support of the state-supported institutions of higher learning that the board of trustees allocates to that university.

(2) The funds received by the universities under this section shall be used for the repair, renovation or improvement of existing infrastructure on the university campuses, and may be used for the expansion of existing infrastructures such as gas, electrical, water and lighting. The funds may not be used to construct new buildings or to expand the square footage of the university campuses.

(3) The funds received by the universities under this section may be used by the universities in their own discretion for the purposes described in this section, without oversight of the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management of the Department of Finance and Administration.

(4) The receipt of funds by the universities under this section shall not affect or reduce the amount of state funds provided annually to the universities through state bonds or other appropriations that are primarily for future planning and new capital improvements at the university campuses.

SECTION 3. The money appropriated by this act shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the Capital Expense Fund not otherwise appropriated, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his or her warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, officer or officers in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.