Senate Bill 3080

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO LEE COUNTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ACQUIRING AND INSTALLING TORNADO SHELTERS AT EACH FIRE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE COUNTY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

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 Lee County Tornado Shelter Fund not otherwise appropriated, to Lee County for the purpose of defraying costs associated with acquiring and installing tornado shelters at each fire department and volunteer fire department within the county for the period beginning upon July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025 $ 304,000.00.

SECTION 2. It is the intent of the Legislature that:

(a) Each fire department and volunteer fire department in the county receives at least two (2) above-ground tornado shelters.

(b) No fire department shall receive more than two (2) tornado shelters or the funds for more than two (2) tornado shelters unless each fire department and volunteer fire department in the county has received a minimum of two (2) tornado shelters or the funds for such shelters.

(c) Lee County may purchase the tornado shelters in bulk to be distributed to the fire departments throughout the county.

(d) The tornado shelters must be placed on public property housing or adjacent to a fire department or a volunteer fire department.

(e) Lee County shall provide a quarterly report to the Department of Finance and Administration of the number of tornado shelters purchased and installed in the county and the use of funds under the program.

(f) Lee County shall maintain an accounting of actual costs and expenses incurred under this act.

SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, Lee County is authorized to expend not more than five percent (5%) of the funds for administrative expenses in administering this act.

SECTION 4. The money appropriated by this act shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the Lee County Tornado Shelter 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 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.