MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Ports, Harbors and Airports; Appropriations A
By: Representative Roberson
AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI AIRPORT CRITICAL NEEDS GRANT PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION; TO PROVIDE THE ELIGIBLE AIRPORTS AND ELIGIBLE PROJECTS FOR THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM SHALL BE FUNDED FROM MONIES APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Mississippi Airport Critical Needs Grant Program, hereinafter referred to as "the program", which shall be a one-time grant program, to be administered by the Mississippi Department of Transportation. The grant program shall be funded from monies appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.
(2) The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) shall promulgate rules and regulations for the Mississippi Airport Critical Needs Program. The program shall not be subject to the requirements of the current Multi-Modal Transportation Improvement Fund or the Strategic Multi-Modal Investments Fund. Any funds appropriated for the Mississippi Airport Critical Needs Program shall be separate from funds in the Multi-Modal Transportation Improvement Fund or the Strategic Multi-Modal Investments Fund.
(3) Eligible airports under the program shall be all public-use airports within the state that are on the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration.
(4) Eligible projects under the program shall include any project to develop, construct, enlarge, improve, maintain, equip, operate, regulate and protect airports and air navigation facilities, including any structures, mechanisms, lights, beacons, markers, communicating systems or other instrumentalities, or devices used or useful as an aid, or constituting an advantage or convenience, to the safe taking off, navigation and landing of aircraft, or the safe and efficient operation or maintenance of an airport, and any combination of any or all of such facilities, that the airport has certified is critical to its ability to provide or continue to provide safe and efficient air navigation facilities.
(5) There shall be no cap on the amount of funds that can be requested and awarded to each airport, and there shall be no limit to the number of projects that can be requested. Program funds cannot be used to fund more than ten percent (10%) of an eligible project's cost. Program funds may be used as a match to other federal or local funds requested to cover the cost of the project.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.