MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Universities and Colleges
By: Representatives Lamar, Hawkins
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION OF CERTAIN COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICTS, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2027, THEREBY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICTS FROM 15 TO TWELVE 12; TO REQUIRE THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT INTO THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, WITH COAHOMA OPERATING AS THE "COAHOMA CAMPUS" OF MISSISSIPPI DELTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND WITH THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES TO BE LOCATED IN CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI; TO REQUIRE THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE MERIDIAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT INTO THE EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, WITH MERIDIAN TO OPERATE AS THE "MERIDIAN CAMPUS" OF EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND WITH THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES TO BE LOCATED IN SCOOBA, MISSISSIPPI; TO REQUIRE THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT INTO THE COPIAH-LINCOLN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, WITH SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS TO OPERATE AS THE "SUMMIT CAMPUS" OF COPIAH-LINCOLN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND WITH THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES TO BE LOCATED IN WESSON, MISSISSIPPI; TO PROVIDE FOR SUCCESSOR BOARDS OF TRUSTEES FOR EACH CONSOLIDATED DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE COMPOSITION, APPOINTING AUTHORITIES, INITIAL STAGGERED TERMS, SUCCESSOR TERMS, QUALIFICATIONS AND FILLING OF VACANCIES; TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD TO PROVIDE NOTICE AND INSTRUCTIONS TO AFFECTED DISTRICTS ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2026, AND TO ADMINISTRATIVELY CONSOLIDATE ANY DISTRICT THAT FAILS TO VOLUNTARILY COMPLY BY JULY 1, 2027; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ABOLITION OF FORMER BOARDS OF TRUSTEES AND THE TRANSFER OF ALL REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TO THE SUCCESSOR CONSOLIDATED DISTRICTS; TO AUTHORIZE THE SUCCESSOR BOARDS TO EMPLOY PERSONNEL AND ESTABLISH CONTRACTS FOR THE 2027-2028 SCHOOL YEAR AND THEREAFTER AND TO PREPARE AND APPROVE DISTRICT BUDGETS; TO PROVIDE LIMITED APPEAL RIGHTS FROM CERTAIN SUCCESSOR BOARD ORDERS IN THE SAME MANNER AS APPEALS FROM COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS UNDER SECTION 11-51-75; TO PROVIDE THAT NO COLLEGE OR FACILITY SHALL BE REQUIRED TO CLOSE EXCEPT UNNEEDED ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES IN ABOLISHED DISTRICTS; TO AUTHORIZE RULES AND REGULATIONS BY THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD TO IMPLEMENT THE CONSOLIDATION; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-29-31, 37-29-65, 37-29-451, 37-29-453, 37-29-455, 37-29-457, 37-29-459, 37-29-461, 37-29-463, 37-29-465, 37-29-467, 37-29-469, 37-29-471, 37-29-501, 37-29-503, 37-29-505, 37-29-507, 37-29-509, 37-29-511, 37-29-513, 37-29-515, 37-29-551, 37-29-553, 37-29-555, 37-29-557, 37-29-559, 37-29-561, 37-29-563, 37-29-565, 37-29-567, 37-29-569 AND 37-29-571, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) In the State of Mississippi, in which are located, as of January 1, 2026, fifteen (15) community and junior college districts, there shall be an administrative consolidation of six (6) of those districts, effectively reducing the number to twelve (12) such districts, which are further identified and enumerated, accordingly in subsection (2) of this section and Section 37-29-31.
(2) For purposes of this act the consolidation shall impact the following community college districts, with regard to the composition of boards of trustees, administrative leadership and the transfers of duties, responsibilities and property. Effective on July 1, 2027:
(a) The Mississippi Delta Community College District shall be consolidated with the Coahoma Community College District, and shall officially be known as the Mississippi Delta Community College District. The central administrative offices shall be located in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and the college's administrative leadership shall consist of those officers serving in said capacities for Coahoma Community College as that district existed on July 1, 2026. At that time, Coahoma Community College shall be known as the Coahoma Campus of Mississippi Delta Community College. The board of trustees for the newly consolidated Mississippi Delta Community College District shall consist of seventeen (17) members, with two (2) members appointed by the county board of supervisors of each county comprising the district as prescribed in Section 37-29-31, and one (1) member appointed by the members of the board of trustees. Once appointed, the new board of trustees shall determine the initial terms of office for each member ranging from (1) to five (5) years. Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for a designated term of five (5) years in order to prevent the term expiration of more than one (1) member of any one (1) county in any one (1) year. The members appointed by the county boards of supervisors shall be appointed in accordance with the qualifications established in Section 37-29-65(6). The member appointed by the board of trustees shall alternate terms between Bolivar, Coahoma and Washington Counties, The first board-appointed member shall be appointed from Coahoma County, and succeeded by an appointee from Washington and then Bolivar Counties;
(c) The Copiah-Lincoln Community College District shall be consolidated with the Southwest Mississippi Community College District, and shall officially be known as the Copiah-Lincoln Community College District. The central administrative offices shall be located in Wesson, Mississippi, and the college's administrative leadership shall consist of those officers serving in said capacities for Copiah-Lincoln Community College as that district existed on July 1, 2026. At that time, Southwest Community College shall be known as the Summit Campus of Copiah-Lincoln Community College. The board of trustees for the newly consolidated Copiah-Lincoln Community College District shall consist of twenty-seven (27) members, with three (3) members appointed by each of the county board of supervisors for Adams, Copiah, Lincoln, Pike and Simpson Counties, and two (2) members appointed by each of the county board of supervisors for Amite, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Walthall and Wilkinson, whose terms of office shall begin on July 1, 2027. Once appointed, those counties having three (3) members, the board shall determine the initial terms of office for each member as one (1), three (3) or five (5) years. Once appointed, those counties having two (2) members, the board shall determine the initial terms of office for each member as two (2) or four (4) years. Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for a designated term of five (5) years. Members shall be appointed in accordance with the qualifications established in Section 37-29-65(6).
(d) All vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms by appointment by a majority vote of the original appointing governing authority.
(3) (a) On or before December 31, 2026, the Mississippi Community College Board shall serve the boards of trustees of each community college district scheduled for consolidation with notice and instructions regarding the timetable for action to be taken to comply with the administrative consolidation required in this section. The Mississippi Community College Board shall provide for the administrative consolidation of those community college districts identified in subsection (2) of this section on or before July 1, 2027. The Mississippi Community College Board shall declare that the territory embraced by counties forming each consolidated community college district shall be the boundary lines for the territory of those and shall spread a legal description of the new community college districts on the minutes of its January 2027 meeting and shall serve the applicable county boards of supervisors with an adequate legal description of these new boundaries.
(b) It shall be the responsibility of the board of supervisors of each county within a specific community college district to provide for the financial support of the community college district to which it is assigned. The board of supervisors of the county shall thereafter publish the same in some newspaper of general circulation in the county for at least three (3) consecutive weeks and after having given notice of publication.
(c) Any community college district affected by the required administrative consolidation in the community college districts identified in subsection (2) of this section that does not voluntarily consolidate as ordered by the Mississippi Community College Board shall be administratively consolidated by the Mississippi Community College Board, to be effective on July 1, 2027. The Mississippi Community College Board shall promptly move on its own motion to administratively consolidate a community college district which does not voluntarily consolidate in order to enable the affected community college districts to reasonably accomplish the resulting administrative consolidation by July 1, 2027. The affected community college districts shall comply with any consolidation order issued by the Mississippi Community College Board on or before July 1, 2027.
(4) (a) On July 1, 2027, following the consolidation of the community college districts identified in subsection (2) of this section, the former boards of trustees of those community college districts shall be abolished. All real and personal property which is owned or titled in the name of the community college district located in such former community college districts shall be transferred to the new community college district to which it has been consolidated.
(b) The new boards of trustees of the consolidated community college districts shall be responsible for establishing the contracts for administrators, instructors, clerical and administrative staff personnel for the 2027-2028 school year and each school year thereafter.
(c) The presidents of the colleges with each community college district may recommend for employment, with approval by the boards of trustees, vice presidents of colleges and campuses for the district, and shall employ as many such individuals to administer the daily operations of such colleges and campuses. It shall be the responsibility of the successor board of trustees to prepare and approve the budget of the new consolidated community college district, and the successor board of trustees may use staff from the former community college district with which it has been consolidated to prepare the budget. Any proposed order of the Mississippi Community College Board directing the transfer of the assets, real or personal property of an affected community college district in the county, shall be final and conclusive for the purposes of the transfer of property required by such administrative consolidation.
(d) Any person or community college district aggrieved by an order of the successor newly selected board of trustees of the Copiah County Community college district pursuant to the required administrative consolidation may appeal therefrom within ten (10) days from the date of the adjournment of the meeting at which such order is entered. The appeal shall be taken in the same manner as appeals are taken from judgments or decisions of the board of supervisors as provided in Section 11-51-75, the provisions of which shall be fully applicable to appeals taken hereunder. The board of trustees of the newly community college district against whom the grievance is made shall not pass upon or approve or disapprove any such order until the time for an appeal therefrom has expired, nor shall the board pass upon or approve or disapprove any such order from which an appeal is taken until said appeal has been finally determined.
(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the closing of any college or facility, unless the facility is an unneeded administrative office located within a community college district which has been abolished under the provisions of this section. The Mississippi Community College Board shall promulgate rules and regulations to facilitate the administrative consolidation of the community college districts pursuant to this section.
SECTION 2. Section 37-29-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-31. (1) There are hereby created the following community or junior college districts comprising the entire counties therein named and having boundaries coinciding with the external boundaries thereof, each of which shall be separate juristic entities and bodies politic and corporate:
(a) East Central * * * Community College District shall
be comprised of the counties of Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott and Winston.
(b) East Mississippi * * * Community College District shall
be comprised of the counties of Clay, Kemper, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Noxubee and
Oktibbeha.
(c) Hinds * * * Community College District shall
be comprised of the counties of Hinds, Rankin, Warren and Claiborne.
(d) Holmes * * * Community College District shall
be comprised of the counties of Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Grenada, Holmes,
Madison, Montgomery, Webster and Yazoo.
(e) Itawamba * * * Community College District shall
be comprised of the counties of Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe and Pontotoc.
(f) Jones County Junior College District shall be comprised of the counties of Clarke, Covington, Greene, Jasper, Jones, Perry, Smith and Wayne.
(g) * * * Coahoma Community
College District shall be comprised of the counties of Bolivar, Coahoma,
Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Sharkey, Sunflower and Washington.
(h) Northeast * * * Community College District shall
be comprised of the counties of Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo and Union.
(i) Northwest * * * Community College District shall
be comprised of the counties of Benton, Calhoun, DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall,
Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica and Yalobusha.
(j) Pearl River Junior College District shall be comprised of the counties of Forrest, Hancock, Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Marion and Pearl River.
(k) * * * Copiah-Lincoln College
District shall be comprised of the counties of Adams, Amite, Copiah,
Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pike, Simpson, Walthall and
Wilkinson.
(j) Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College shall be comprised of the counties of George, Harrison, Jackson and Stone.
(2) The boards of supervisor of each county belonging to a community college district, shall only provide the amount of any millage levied for the support and maintenance of the community college district to which the county is assigned such county under Section 37-29-141. No county shall contribute to more than one (1) community college district.
SECTION 3. Section 37-29-65, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-65. (1) Except as provided in this section and in Sections 37-29-409, 37-29-457 and 37-29-505, there shall be five (5) trustees from each county of the community/junior college district which originally entered into and gave financial aid in establishing the community/junior college. On June 30, 1992, the offices of the six (6) trustees from each of the original counties in the Northwest Community College District shall stand vacated. The board of supervisors of those respective counties shall appoint two (2) members on July 1, 1992, to serve full terms of office as provided in this section. The board of supervisors of those respective counties shall appoint one (1) member who is a qualified elector from each supervisors district to serve as a member, either of which may be the county superintendent of education if he or she resides in a respective supervisors district. Counties which subsequent to the establishment of the community/junior college joined the district shall have only one (1) trustee. However, the board of trustees so constituted, by appropriate resolution, may enlarge its number to six (6) trustees from each county. The board of trustees shall also be authorized within its discretion to reduce its number to two (2) trustees at large from each county. In any case in which there is an equal number of trustees the board of trustees may appoint another person to membership.
(2) The county superintendent, if appointed by the county board of supervisors, may, in his discretion, choose not to serve as a member of such board of trustees. Such decision not to serve shall be in writing and entered on the minutes of the board of trustees of the community/junior college district. The county board of supervisors of any county whose county superintendent of education appointed under the authority of this section, declines the appointment or resigns, pursuant to this subsection (2), shall fill the vacancy caused by such resignation by appointing a member who is a qualified elector of the county at large in accordance with subsection (6) of this section. No county superintendent whose community college district is located within the East Mississippi Community College District shall serve on the board of trustees for that community college district.
(3) From and after * * * July 1, 2027, the Board
of Trustees of the East Mississippi Community College District shall consist of * * * fourteen (14) members. The
appointing authorities shall appoint a new board of trustees as follows: Clay
County shall be entitled to two (2) members, Kemper County shall be entitled to
two (2) members, Lauderdale County shall be entitled to * * * four (4) members, two of whom
shall be residents of the incorporated limits of the City of Meridian appointed
by the city council, Lowndes County shall be entitled to two (2) members,
Noxubee County shall be entitled to two (2) members and Oktibbeha County shall
be entitled to two (2) members. * * * Members of the Board of Trustees of
the East Mississippi Community College District * * *
on the board on July 1, 2026, shall continue to serve until the natural
expiration of their appointment term. The two (2) additional appointees from
Lauderdale County, representing the incorporated limits of the City of Meridian
shall be appointed for a term of five (5) years.
(4) * * * From and after July 1,
2027, the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Delta Community College District
shall consist of seventeen (17) members. The appointing authorities shall
appoint a new board of trustees as follows: Bolivar County shall be entitled
to two (2) members, Coahoma County shall be entitled to two (2) members,
Humphreys County shall be entitled to two (2) members, Issaquena County shall
be entitled to two (2) members, Leflore County shall be entitled to two (2)
members, Sharkey County shall be entitled to two (2) members, Sunflower County
shall be entitled to two (2) members and Washington County shall be entitled to
two (2) members. The newly appointed board of trustees of the Mississippi
Delta Community College District shall appoint one (1) member on an
alternating basis from Bolivar, Coahoma and Washington Counties for a term of
five (5) years. The first alternating appointee shall be from Coahoma County,
and succeeded by an appointee from Washington and then Bolivar Counties.
(5) Except as otherwise
provided in Section 1, the terms of office shall be five (5) years * * *. Where the board chooses or is required by statute to reduce
its number, the board shall specify the expiration dates of such terms of
office in order to prevent the retirement of more than one (1) member of any
one (1) county in any one (1) year.
(6) The board of supervisors shall elect the requisite number of discreet persons of good moral character, sufficient education and experience, and of proven interest in public education, who are qualified electors of the county, as trustees of the community/junior college; and annually thereafter the board of supervisors in like manner shall fill vacancies. All trustees so appointed shall be listed in the minutes of the board of supervisors and their appointment shall be certified by the chancery clerk to the president of the community/junior college.
(7) Each community/junior
college trustee may be paid, out of community/junior college funds, a
per diem as authorized in Section 25-3-69, * * * per meeting of said
board and, in addition thereto, the mileage authorized under Section 25-3-41, * * * per mile in coming to
and returning from said meeting, calculated upon the customary and normally
traveled route from the home of such trustee to the campus of said community/junior
college. Such allowance of per diem and mileage shall not, however, be allowed
for more than fifteen (15) meetings for any one (1) fiscal year and shall only
be paid for meetings actually attended by such trustees.
(8) The provisions of this section, other than those provisions pertaining to per diem compensation and travel allowances for community/junior college trustees, shall not apply to any existing publicly operated community/junior college, lying in and operated by a county bordering on the Mississippi River, and the community/junior college trustees of such community/junior college shall be appointed and confirmed as heretofore.
(9) No county
superintendent of education, by virtue of his or her office, shall be
automatically placed on the board of trustees for any community/junior
college district to which this section applies. * * * However,
if the county board of supervisors, in making an appointment to the community/junior
college district board of trustees, chooses to appoint the county
superintendent of education at the expiration of the term of * * * a member, the
superintendent may serve, unless otherwise disqualified.
SECTION 4. Section 37-29-451, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-451. There is hereby
created the Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District
comprised of the territory lying within Adams, Amite, Copiah, Franklin,
Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln * * *, Pike, Simpson, Walthall and
Wilkinson Counties and having boundaries coinciding with the external
boundaries thereof. The said district shall be and is hereby constituted a
legal political governmental subdivision and a body corporate. The board of
trustees of said district, with the consent of the Mississippi Community
College Board, is hereby empowered to change the name of the district.
SECTION 5. Section 37-29-453, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-453. The Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District shall
be under the executive direction of a president elected by the board of
trustees of said district for a term not to exceed four (4) years.
SECTION 6. Section 37-29-455, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-455. The president of
the * * * community
college shall have the power to recommend to the trustees all teachers to be
employed; and he may remove or suspend any member of the faculty subject to the
approval of the trustees. He shall be the general manager of all fiscal and
administrative affairs of the district with full authority to select, direct,
employ and discharge any and all employees other than teachers; however, the
board may make provisions and establish policies for leave for faculty members
and other key personnel.
The president shall have the authority, subject to the provisions of Sections 37-29-451 through 37-29-471 and the approval of the trustees, to arrange and survey courses of study, fix schedules, and establish and enforce rules and discipline for the governing of teachers and students. He shall be the general custodian of the property of the district.
SECTION 7. Section 37-29-457, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-457. (1) From and
after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of the Southwest Community College
District into the Copiah-Lincoln Community College District is effectuated as
required under Section 1 of this act, the operation and control of the
Copiah-Lincoln * * *
Community College District shall be vested in a board of trustees
representing the * * * eleven (11) counties lying within the district. The said
board shall consist of * * * twenty-seven (27) members to be chosen as follows:
(a) Copiah County
shall be entitled to * * * three (3) members who shall be elected and serve
according to Section 1(2) of this act and the required qualifications of
Section 37-29-65(6) * * *;
(b) Lincoln County
shall be entitled to * * * three (3) members who shall be elected and serve
according to Section 1(2) of this act and the required qualification of
Section 37-29-65(6) * * *;
(c) Lawrence County
shall be entitled to * * * two (2) members who shall be elected and serve
according to Section 1(2) of this act and the required qualifications of
Section 37-29-65(6) * * *;
(d) Franklin County
shall be entitled to * * * two (2) members who shall be elected and serve
according to Section 1(2) of this act and the required qualifications of
Section 37-29-65(6) * * *;
(e) Simpson County
shall be entitled to * * * three (3) members who shall be elected and serve
according to Section 1(2) of this act and the required qualifications of
Section 37-29-65(6) * * *;
(f) Jefferson County
shall be entitled to * * * two (2) members who shall be elected and serve
according to Section 1(2) of this act and the required qualifications of
Section 37-29-65(6) * * *;
(g) Adams County shall
be entitled to * * * three (3) members who shall be elected * * *
and serve according to Section 1(2) of this act and the required qualifications
of Section 37-29-65(6);
(h) Amite County shall be entitled to two (2) members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) of this act and the required qualifications of Section 37-29-65(6);
(i) Pike County shall be entitled to three (3) members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) of this act and the required qualifications of Section 37-29-65(6);
(j) Walthall County shall be entitled to two (2) members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) of this act and the required qualifications of Section 37-29-65(6); and
(k) Wilkinson County shall be entitled to two (2) members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) of this act and the required qualifications of Section 37-29-65(6).
* * *
As prescribed in Section 1 of this act, once appointed from those counties having three (3) members, the board shall determine the initial terms of office for each member as one (1), three (3) or five (5) years. Once appointed, those counties having two (2) members, the board shall determine the initial terms of office for each member as two (2) or four (4) years. Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for a designated term of five (5) years. Members shall be appointed in accordance with the qualifications established in Section 37-29-65(6).
* * *
(2) * * * As prescribed in Section 1 of this act,
once appointed from those counties having three (3) members, the board shall
determine the initial terms of office for each member as one (1), three (3) or
five (5) years. Once appointed, those counties having two (2) members, the
board shall determine the initial terms of office for each member as two (2) or
four (4) years. Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for a designated
term of five (5) years. Members shall be appointed in accordance with the
qualifications established in Section 37-29-65(6).
SECTION 8. Section 37-29-459, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-459. The President
and the Board of Trustees of the Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District shall
have the powers to do all things necessary for the successful operation of said
district and the campuses located therein.
The several colleges of the district shall be under the direction of the board of trustees and the president. The board of trustees shall, by resolution or order, provide for the government, maintenance and operation of each campus of the district.
The President and the Board
of Trustees of the Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District shall
have the same powers as the presidents and trustees of other community/junior
colleges in the State of Mississippi.
The delineation and enumeration of the powers and purposes set out in Sections 37-29-451 through 37-29-471 shall be deemed to be supplemental and additional and shall not be construed to restrict the powers of the governing authorities of the district or of any college or campus located therein so as to deny any of the rights, privileges and powers enjoyed by other community/junior colleges and community/junior college districts in the State of Mississippi.
The said Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District shall
remain subject to the jurisdiction and control of the Mississippi
Community College Board as now established or as the same may be hereafter
changed by law, and shall be subject to all rules and regulations and all
statutory limitations which are now in effect or may hereafter be imposed,
except as the same may be in direct conflict with the provisions of Sections 37-29-451
through 37-29-471.
SECTION 9. Section 37-29-461, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-461. There shall be * * * four (4) campuses in the Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District:
(a) One (1)
located in or near Natchez to be known as the Natchez Campus * * *;
(b) One (1) to located in or near Wesson to be known as the Copiah-Lincoln Campus;
(c) One (1) located in or near Mendenhall to be known as the Simpson County Center; and
(d) One (1) located in or near Summit to be known as the Summit Campus.
SECTION 10. Section 37-29-463, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-463. From and
after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of the Southwest Community College
District into the Copiah-Lincoln Community College District is effectuated as
required under Section 1 of this act, the board of trustees of the Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District shall
each year, on or before June 15, prepare a budget which shall contain a
detailed estimate of the revenues and expenses anticipated for the ensuing year
for general operation and maintenance, and shall set forth the reasonable
requirements for anticipated needs for capital outlays for land, buildings,
initial equipment for new buildings and major repairs, a reasonable
accumulation for such purposes being hereby expressly authorized.
SECTION 11. Section 37-29-465, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-465. The board of
trustees of the Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District shall
have the authority to purchase property, make capital improvements, and lease
or use private or public facilities at either the Copiah-Lincoln, Summit
or Natchez Campuses or the Simpson County Center, in the discretion of
the board.
SECTION 12. Section 37-29-467, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-467. The Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District is
charged with the responsibility for providing preprofessional courses, liberal
arts, technical, vocational and adult education courses, and shall undertake to
provide the same as conveniently as is possible to the residents of the
district, and to this end the board of trustees is authorized and empowered to
transport such students as, in its discretion, should be transported in the
best interest of the district.
SECTION 13. Section 37-29-469, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-469. The board of
trustees of the Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District shall
have the general borrowing and bonding authority provided in Sections 37-29-101
through 37-29-127. The said board of trustees shall have the taxation
authority provided in Sections 37-29-141 through 37-29-145.
SECTION 14. Section 37-29-471, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-471. All of the
property belonging to the board of trustees of Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College and all of the
property belonging to any or all of the counties, prior to and as of the
effective date hereof, cooperating in the Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College or the
agricultural high school * * *‑junior community college located at Wesson,
Mississippi, or the campus in Adams County, Mississippi, and utilized or
held for the present or future use and benefit of said * * * community college and/or
agricultural high school * * *‑junior community college, shall be and the same
is hereby transferred to and vested in the Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District as
created by Sections 37-29-451 through 37-29-471.
SECTION 15. Section 37-29-501, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-501. (1)
There is hereby created a community/junior college district comprised of
the territory lying within the Meridian Municipal Separate Community college
district and having boundaries coinciding with the external boundaries thereof.
The name of the said community/junior college district shall be the
Meridian * * *
Community College District and the said district shall be and the same
is hereby constituted a legal political governmental subdivision and a body
corporate.
(2) From and after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of the Meridian Community College District into the East Mississippi Community College District is effectuated as required under Section 1 of this act, the Meridian Community College District shall be dissolved, and this section shall stand repealed.
SECTION 16. Section 37-29-503, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-503. From and
after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of the Meridian Community College
District into the East Mississippi Community College District is effectuated as
required under Section 1 of this act, all of the property owned by the
Meridian Municipal Separate Community college district utilized by Meridian * * * Community College as of September
1, 1979, shall be and the same is hereby transferred to and vested in the board
of trustees of the * * * East Central Community College District and their
successors in office for the use and benefit of the Meridian Campus of East
Mississippi Community College.
SECTION 17. Section 37-29-505, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-505. From and after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of
the Meridian Community College District into the East Mississippi Community
College District is effectuated as required under Section 1 of this act, the
control and operation of the Meridian * * * Community College District shall
be vested in * * *
the board of trustees * * *
of the East Mississippi Community College District. The board of
trustees of the Meridian * * *Junior Community College District * * * shall be dissolved on June 30, 2027, and
two (2) new members appointed by the City Council of the City of Meridian shall
begin their terms of service on the board of trustees for the East Mississippi
Community College District on July 1, 2027, in accordance with the terms
prescribed in Section 1(2) of this act, and thereafter all appointments for
representation on the East Mississippi Community College District Board of
Trustees shall be for a term of five (5) years. Trustees * * * shall
be appointed by a majority vote of the full membership of the city council of
the City of Meridian at the first meeting of the council held in the month of * * * June of each year, and the term
of office of each trustee so appointed shall commence on * * * July 1
immediately following * * *, except that the existing trustees of the Meridian Municipal Separate
Community college district as of April 30, 1980, shall constitute the initial
board of trustees of the Meridian Junior College District. As the terms of
these individual trustees expire, trustees for the Meridian Junior College
District shall be appointed as provided herein. All vacancies shall
be filled for unexpired terms by appointment by majority vote of the full
membership of the city council.
SECTION 18. Section 37-29-507, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-507. (1) The Board
of Trustees of the Meridian * * * Community College District shall
have the power to do all things necessary for the successful operation of the
district; and, the duties of such board shall be the general government of the
district and the direction of the administration thereof.
(2) The Meridian * * * Community College District shall
have all the powers of other * * * community colleges and * * * community college districts in
the State of Mississippi; and, the delineation and enumeration of the powers
and purposes set out in Sections 37-29-501 through 37-29-515 shall not be
construed to restrict the powers of the governing authorities of the district
so as to deny to the district any of the rights, privileges and powers enjoyed
by other * * *
community colleges and * * * community college districts in
the State of Mississippi.
(3) The Meridian * * * Community College District shall
remain subject to the jurisdiction and control of the Mississippi
Community College Board as now established or as the same may be hereafter
changed by law and shall be subject to all rules and regulations and all statutory
limitations which are now in effect or may hereafter be imposed, except as the
same may be in direct conflict with the provisions of Sections 37-29-501
through 37-29-515.
(4) From and after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of the Meridian Community College District into the East Mississippi Community College District is effectuated as required under Section 1 of this act, the Meridian Community College District shall be dissolved, and this section shall stand repealed.
SECTION 19. Section 37-29-509, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-509. (1) The
Meridian * * *
Community College District shall be under the executive direction of a
president elected by the board of trustees of such district.
(2) The president of the community college shall be general manager of all fiscal and administrative affairs of the district with full authority to select, employ, direct and discharge any and all employees other than faculty. He shall have the power to recommend to the board of trustees all faculty to be employed, and he may remove or suspend any member of the faculty subject to the approval of the board of trustees. The president shall have the authority, subject to the approval of the board of trustees, to arrange and survey courses of study, fix schedules and establish and enforce rules and discipline for the governing of faculty and students. He shall be the general custodian of the property of the district.
(3) From and after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of the Meridian Community College District into the East Mississippi Community College District is effectuated as required under Section 1 of this act, the Meridian Community College District shall be dissolved, and this section shall stand repealed.
SECTION 20. Section 37-29-511, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-511. (1) The
board of trustees of the Meridian * * * Community College District shall
on or before the twenty-fifth day of June each year prepare and file the annual
budget of the district. The budget shall contain a detailed estimate of the
revenues and expenses anticipated for the ensuing year for general operation
and maintenance and shall set forth reasonable requirements for anticipated
needs for capital outlays for land, buildings, equipment and major repairs, a
reasonable accumulation for such purposes being hereby expressly authorized.
Funds derived from the levy for capital outlay shall be kept in a separate
account and expended for capital outlay purposes only.
(2) From and after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of the Meridian Community College District into the East Mississippi Community College District is effectuated as required under Section 1 of this act, the Meridian Community College District shall be dissolved, the authority granted under subsection (1) of this section shall be transferred to the board of trustees of the East Mississippi Community College District.
SECTION 21. Section 37-29-513, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-513. (1)
After the annual budget has been prepared, the Board of Trustees of the
Meridian * * *
Community College District shall certify the same in writing to the City
Council of the City of Meridian and shall certify to the number of mills of ad
valorem taxation required to make provisions for the revenue required in said
budget. It shall thereupon become the duty of the City of Meridian to levy
taxes upon the Meridian * * *Junior Community College District in the amount
specified by the board of trustees. The tax levy for maintenance and operation
of the Meridian * * *
Community College District shall not exceed three (3) mills nor shall
the levy for construction exceed an additional three (3) mills.
(2) From and after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of the Meridian Community College District into the East Mississippi Community College District is effectuated as required under Section 1 of this act, the Meridian Community College District shall be dissolved, the authority granted under subsection (1) of this section shall be transferred to the board of trustees of the East Mississippi Community College District.
SECTION 22. Section 37-29-515, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-515. On or before the
thirtieth day of each month, the city council of the City of Meridian shall
transmit warrants constituting all of the revenues received from taxation for
the prior month for purposes of support of the Meridian * * * Community College District to the
president of East Mississippi Community College for the use and benefit of
the Meridian * * * Campus. Such warrant or warrants shall bear
indication of revenues received for general support and maintenance and
revenues received for capital outlay purposes. All such warrants evidencing
income from the authorized tax levies shall be deposited forthwith in one (1)
or more banking institutions and public depositories previously selected by the
board of trustees of the Meridian * * * Community College District serving
on June 30,2026, and spread upon its official minutes. Such funds shall be
paid out of the depository by order of the board of trustees for the East
Mississippi Community College District for lawful purposes only.
SECTION 23. Section 37-29-551, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-551. There is hereby
created the * * *
Mississippi Delta Community College District comprised of the territory
lying within Bolivar County, Coahoma County, * * * Humphreys County, Issaquena County, Leflore
County, Sharkey County, Sunflower County and Washington County, and having
boundaries coinciding with the external boundaries thereof. The district shall
be, and is hereby constituted, a legal political governmental subdivision and a
body corporate.
SECTION 24. Section 37-29-553, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-553. (1) The * * * Mississippi Delta Community
College District shall be under the executive direction of a president elected
by the board of trustees of the district for a term not to exceed four (4)
years.
SECTION 25. Section 37-29-555, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-555. The president of the Mississippi Delta Community College district shall have the power to recommend to the trustees all teachers to be employed; and he may remove or suspend any member of the faculty subject to the approval of the trustees. He shall be the general manager of all fiscal and administrative affairs of the district with full authority to select, direct, employ and discharge any and all employees other than teachers; however, the board may make provisions and establish policies for leave for faculty members and other key personnel.
(2) The president shall have the authority, subject to the provisions of Sections 37-29-551 through 37-29-569 and the approval of the trustees, to arrange and survey courses of study, fix schedules, and establish and enforce rules and discipline for the governing of teachers and students. He shall be the general custodian of the property of the district.
SECTION 26. Section 37-29-557, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-557. From and
after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of the Coahoma Community College
District into the Mississippi Delta Community College District is effectuated
as required under Section 1 of this act, the operation and control of the * * * Mississippi Delta Community
College District shall be vested in a board of trustees representing the
counties lying within the district. The board shall consist of * * * seventeen (17) trustees
selected in the manner provided in Section 1(2) of this act and Section
37-29-65(4) * * *.
SECTION 27. Section 37-29-559, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-559. (1) The
President and the Board of Trustees of the * * * Mississippi Delta Community
College District shall have the powers to do all things necessary for the
successful operation of the district and the campuses located therein.
(2) The college of
the district shall be under the direction of the board of trustees and the
president. The board of trustees shall, by resolution or order, provide for
the government, maintenance and operation of * * * campuses of the district.
(3) The President
and the Board of Trustees of the * * * Mississippi Delta Community
College District shall have the same powers as the presidents and trustees of
other community colleges in the State of Mississippi.
(4) The delineation and enumeration of the powers and purposes set out in Sections 37-29-551 through 37-29-569 shall be deemed to be supplemental and additional and shall not be construed to restrict the powers of the governing authorities of the district or of any college or campus located therein so as to deny any of the rights, privileges and powers enjoyed by other community/junior colleges and community/junior college districts in the State of Mississippi.
(5) The * * * Mississippi Delta Community
College District shall remain subject to the jurisdiction of the Mississippi
Community College Board as now established or as the same may be hereafter changed
by law, and shall be subject to all rules and regulations and all statutory
limitations which are now in effect or may hereafter be imposed, except as the
same may be in direct conflict with the provisions of Sections 37-29-551
through 37-29-569.
SECTION 28. Section 37-29-561, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-561. From and
after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of the Coahoma Community College
District into the Mississippi Delta Community College District is effectuated
as required under Section 1 of this act, the Board of Trustees of the * * * Mississippi Delta Community
College District shall each year, on or before June 15, prepare a budget which
shall contain a detailed estimate of the revenues and expenses anticipated for
the ensuing year for general operation and maintenance, and shall set forth the
reasonable requirements for anticipated needs for capital outlays for land,
buildings, initial equipment for new buildings and major repairs, a reasonable
accumulation for such purposes being hereby expressly authorized.
SECTION 29. Section 37-29-563, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-563. The Board of
Trustees of the * * *
Mississippi Delta Community College District shall have the authority to
purchase property, make capital improvements, and lease or use private or
public facilities at the campus, in the discretion of the board.
SECTION 30. Section 37-29-565, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-565. The * * * Mississippi Delta Community
College District is charged with the responsibility for providing
preprofessional courses, liberal arts, technical, vocational and adult
education courses, and shall undertake to provide the same as conveniently as
is possible to the residents of the district, and to this end the board of
trustees is authorized and empowered to transport such students as, in its
discretion, should be transported in the best interest of the district.
SECTION 31. Section 37-29-567, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-567. The Board of
Trustees of the * * *
Mississippi Delta Community College District shall have the general
borrowing and bonding authority provided in Sections 37-29-101 through 37-29-127.
The board of trustees shall have the taxation authority provided in Sections
37-29-141 through 37-29-145.
SECTION 32. Section 37-29-569, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-569. All of the
property located in Coahoma County and belonging to the Board of Trustees of
Mississippi Delta Community College prior to and as of the effective date
hereof, cooperating in the Coahoma County Community College, and utilized or
held for the present or future use and benefit of such community college, shall
be and the same is hereby transferred to and vested in the * * * Mississippi Delta
Community College District as created by Sections 37-29-551 through 37-29-569.
SECTION 33. Section 37-29-571, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-29-571. (1) All counties located within the Coahoma Community College District shall allocate fifty percent (50%) of any millage levied for the support and maintenance of community colleges by such county under Section 37-29-141, Mississippi Code of 1972, to the Coahoma Community College District and the remaining fifty percent (50%) of such millage to the other community college district in which such county is located. Provided, however, that Coahoma County shall allocate one hundred percent (100%) of the millage levied for the support and maintenance of community colleges to the Coahoma Community College District. Provided further, however, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1995, Tunica County's allocation of any millage shall be prorated with thirty-five percent (35%) being allocated to the Coahoma Community College District and the remaining sixty-five percent (65%) being allocated to the Northwest Community College District. From and after July 1, 1996, the Tunica County millage shall be divided equally between the Coahoma Community College District and the Northwest Community College District.
(2) From and after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of the Coahoma Community College District into the Mississippi Delta Community College District is effectuated as required under Section 1 of this act, this section shall be repealed.
SECTION 34. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.