Miss. Code Ann. § 57-47-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 45 / Section 47-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-47-1
Status: in_force

The Southeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Compact is hereby enacted into law and entered into by this state with any and all states legally joining therein in accordance with its terms, in the form substantially as follows:

Article I.

Policy and Purpose

There is hereby created the Southeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Compact. The party states recognize and declare that each state is responsible for providing for the availability of capacity either within or outside the state for disposal of low-level radioactive waste generated within its borders, except for waste generated as a result of defense activities of the federal government or federal research and development activities. They also recognize that the management of low-level radioactive waste is handled most efficiently on a regional basis. The party states further recognize that the Congress of the United States, by enacting the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act ( P.L. 96-573 ), has provided for and encourages the development of low-level radioactive waste compacts as a tool for disposal of such waste. The party states recognize that the safe and efficient management of low-level radioactive waste generated within the region requires that sufficient capacity to dispose of such waste be properly provided.

It is the policy of the party states to: enter into a regional low-level radioactive waste management compact for the purpose of providing the instrument and framework for a cooperative effort, provide sufficient facilities for the proper management of low-level radioactive waste generated in the region, promote the health and safety of the region, limit the number of facilities required to effectively and efficiently manage low-level radioactive waste generated in the region, encourage the reduction of the amounts of low-level waste generated in the region, distribute the costs, benefits and obligations of successful low-level radioactive waste management equitably among the party states, and ensure the ecological and economical management of low-level radioactive wastes.

Implicit in the congressional consent to this compact is the expectation by the Congress and the party states that the appropriate federal agencies will actively assist the compact commission and the individual party states to this compact by:

1. Expeditious enforcement of federal rules, regulations and laws; and

2. Imposing sanctions against those found to be in violation of federal rules, regulations and laws; and

3. Timely inspection of their licensees to determine their capability to adhere to such rules, regulations and laws; and

4. Timely provision of technical assistance to this compact in carrying out their obligations under the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act as amended.

Article II.

Definitions

As used in this compact, unless the context clearly requires a different construction:

a. “Commission” or “compact commission” means the Southeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Commission.

b. “Facility” means a parcel of land, together with the structures, equipment and improvements thereon or appurtenant thereto, which is used or is being developed for the treatment, storage or disposal of low-level radioactive waste.

c. “Generator” means any person who produces or possesses low-level radioactive waste in the course of or as an incident to manufacturing, power generation, processing, medical diagnosis and treatment, research, or other industrial or commercial activity. This does not include persons who provide a service to generators by arranging for the collection, transportation, storage or disposal of wastes with respect to such waste generated outside the region.

d. “High-level waste” means irradiated reactor fuel, liquid wastes from reprocessing irradiated reactor fuel and solids into which such liquid wastes have been converted, and other high-level radioactive waste as defined by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

e. “Host state” means any state in which a regional facility is situated or is being developed.

f. “Low-level radioactive waste” or “waste” means radioactive waste not classified as high-level radioactive waste, transuranic waste, spent nuclear fuel or by-product material as defined in Section 11e(2) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, or as may be further defined by federal law or regulation.

g. “Party state” means any state which is a signatory party to this compact.

h. “Person” means any individual, corporation, business enterprise or other legal entity (either public or private).

i. “Region” means the collective party states.

j. “Regional facility” means (1) a facility as defined in this article which has been designated, authorized, accepted or approved by the commission to receive waste or (2) the disposal facility in Barnwell County, South Carolina, owned by the State of South Carolina and as licensed for the burial of low-level radioactive waste on July 1, 1982, but in no event shall this disposal facility serve as a regional facility beyond December 31, 1992.

k. “State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands or any other territorial possession of the United States.

l. “Transuranic wastes” means waste material containing transuranic elements with contamination levels as determined by the regulations of (1) the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission or (2) any host state, if it is an agreement state under Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.

m. “Waste management” means the storage, treatment or disposal of waste.

Article III.

Rights and Obligations

The rights granted to the party states by this compact are additional to the rights enjoyed by sovereign states, and nothing in this compact shall be construed to infringe upon, limit or abridge those rights.

a. Subject to any license issued by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission or a host state, each party state shall have the right to have all wastes generated within its borders stored, treated or disposed of, as applicable, at regional facilities, and additionally shall have the right of access to facilities made available to the region through agreements entered into by the commission pursuant to Article IV(e)(9). The right of access by a generator within a party state to any regional facility is limited by its adherence to applicable state and federal law and regulation.

b. If no operating regional facility is located within the borders of a party state and wastes generated within its borders must therefore be stored, treated, or disposed of at a regional facility in another party state, the party state without such facilities may be required by the host state or states to establish a mechanism which provides compensation for access to the regional facility according to terms and conditions established by the host state or states and approved by a two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) vote of the commission.

c. Each party state must establish the capability to regulate, license and ensure the maintenance and extended care of any facility within its borders. Host states are responsible for the availability, the subsequent post closure observation and maintenance, and the extended institutional control of their regional facilities, in accordance with the provisions of Article V(b).

d. Each party state must establish the capability to enforce any applicable federal or state laws and regulations pertaining to the packaging and transportation of waste generated within or passing through its borders.

e. Each party state must provide to the commission on an annual basis, any data and information necessary to the implementation of the commission's responsibilities. Each party state shall establish the capability to obtain any data and information necessary to meet its obligation herein defined.

f. Each party state must, to the extent authorized by federal law, require generators within its borders to use the best available waste management technologies and practices to minimize the volumes of wastes requiring disposal.

Article IV.

The Commission

a. There is hereby created the Southeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Commission, (“the commission” or “compact commission”). The commission shall consist of two (2) voting members from each party state to be appointed according to the laws of each state. The appointing authorities of each state must notify the commission in writing of the identity of its members and any alternates. An alternate may act on behalf of the member only in the member's absence.

b. Each commission member is entitled to one (1) vote. No action of the commission shall be binding unless a majority of the total membership cast their vote in the affirmative, or unless a greater than majority vote is specifically required by any other provision of this compact.

c. The commission must elect from among its members a presiding officer. The commission shall adopt and publish, in convenient form, bylaws which are consistent with this compact.

d. The commission must meet at least once a year and shall also meet upon the call of the presiding officer, by petition of a majority of the party states, or upon the call of a host state. All meetings of the commission must be open to the public.

e. The commission has the following duties and powers:

1. To receive and approve the application of a nonparty state to become an eligible state in accordance with Article VII(b); and

2. To receive and approve the application of an eligible state to become a party state in accordance with Article VII(c); and

3. To submit an annual report and other communications to the governors and to the presiding officer of each body of the legislature of the party states regarding the activities of the commission; and

4. To develop and use procedures for determining, consistent with considerations for public health and safety, the type and number of regional facilities which are presently necessary and which are projected to be necessary to manage waste generated within the region; and

5. To provide the party states with reference guidelines for establishing the criteria and procedures for evaluating alternative locations for emergency or permanent regional facilities; and

6. To develop and adopt, within one (1) year after the commission is constituted as provided for in Article VII(d), procedures and criteria for identifying a party state as a host state for a regional facility as determined pursuant to the requirements of this article. In accordance with these procedures and criteria, the commission shall identify a host state for the development of a second regional disposal facility within three (3) years after the commission is constituted as provided for in Article VII(d) and shall seek to ensure that such facility is licensed and ready to operate as soon as required, but in no event later than 1991.

In developing criteria, the commission must consider the following: the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the party states; the existence of regional facilities within each party state; the minimization of waste transportation; the volumes and types of wastes generated within each party state; and the environmental, economic, and ecological impacts on the air, land and water resources of the party states.

The commission shall conduct such hearings, require such reports, studies, evidence and testimony; and do what is required by its approved procedures in order to identify a party state as a host state for a needed facility; and

7. In accordance with the procedures and criteria developed pursuant to Section (e)(6) of this article, to designate, by a two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) vote, a host state for the establishment of a needed regional facility. The commission shall not exercise this authority unless the party states have failed to voluntarily pursue the development of such facility. The commission shall have the authority to revoke the membership of a party state that willfully creates barriers to the siting of a needed regional facility; and

8. To require of and obtain from party states, eligible states seeking to become party states, and nonparty states seeking to become eligible states, data and information necessary to the implementation of commission responsibilities; and

9. Notwithstanding any other provision of this compact, to enter into agreements with any person, state or similar regional body or group of states for the importation of waste into the region and for the right of access to facilities outside the region for waste generated within the region. The authorization to import requires a two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) majority vote of the commission, including an affirmative vote of both representatives of a host state in which any affected regional facility is located. This shall be done only after an assessment of the affected facilities' capability to handle such wastes; and

10. To act or appear on behalf of any party state or states, only upon written request of both members of the commission for such state or states, as an intervenor or party in interest before Congress, state legislatures, any court of law, or any federal, state or local agency, board or commission which has jurisdiction over the management of wastes. The authority to act, intervene or otherwise appear shall be exercised by the commission only after approval by a majority vote of the commission; and

11. To revoke the membership of a party state in accordance with Article VII(f).

f. The commission may establish any advisory committees as it deems necessary for the purpose of advising the commission on any matters pertaining to the management of low-level radioactive waste.

g. The commission may appoint or contract for and compensate a limited staff necessary to carry out its duties and functions. The staff shall serve at the commission's pleasure irrespective of the civil service, personnel or other merit laws of any of the party states or the federal government and shall be compensated from funds of the commission. In selecting any staff, the commission shall assure that the staff has adequate experience and formal training to carry out such functions as may be assigned to it by the commission. If the commission has a headquarters it shall be in a party state.

h. Funding for the commission shall be provided as follows:

1. Each eligible state, upon becoming a party state, shall pay Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($ 25,000.00) to the commission which shall be used for costs of the commission's services.

2. Each state hosting a regional disposal facility shall annually levy special fees or surcharges on all users of such facility, based upon the volume of wastes disposed of at such facilities, the total of which:

(a) Must be sufficient to cover the annual budget of the commission; and

(b) Must represent the financial commitments of all party states to the commission; and

(c) Must be paid to the commission, provided, however, that each host state collecting such fees or surcharges may retain a portion of the collection sufficient to cover its administrative costs of collection, and that the remainder be sufficient only to cover the approved annual budgets of the commission.

3. The commission must set and approve its first annual budget as soon as practicable after its initial meeting. Host states for disposal facilities must begin imposition of the special fees and surcharges provided for in this section as soon as practicable after becoming party states, and must remit to the commission funds resulting from collection of such special fees and surcharges within sixty (60) days of their receipt.

i. The commission must keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. An independent certified public accountant shall annually audit all receipts and disbursements of commission funds, and submit an audit report to the commission. Such audit report shall be made a part of the annual report of the commission required by Article IV(e)(3).

j. The commission may accept for any of its purposes and functions any and all donations, grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services (conditional or otherwise) from any state or the United States or any subdivision or agency thereof, or interstate agency, or from any institution, person, firm or corporation, and may receive, utilize and dispose of the same. The nature, amount and condition, if any, attendant upon any donation or grant accepted pursuant to this paragraph together with the identity of the donor, grantor or lender, shall be detailed in the annual report of the commission.

k. The commission is not responsible for any costs associated with (1) the creation of any facility, (2) the operation of any facility, (3) the stabilization and closure of any facility, (4) the postclosure observation, and maintenance of any facility, or (5) the extended institutional control, after postclosure observation and maintenance of any facility.

l. As of January 1, 1986, the management of wastes at regional facilities is restricted to wastes generated within the region, and to wastes generated within nonparty states when authorized by the commission pursuant to the provisions of this compact. After January 1, 1986, the commission may prohibit the exportation of waste from the region for purposes of management.

m.1. The commission herein established is a legal entity separate and distinct from the party states, capable of acting in its own behalf, and is liable for its actions. Liabilities of the commission shall not be deemed liabilities of the party states. Members of the commission shall not be personally liable for actions taken by them in their official capacity.

2. Except as specifically provided in this compact, nothing in this compact shall be construed to alter the incidence of liability of any kind for any act, omission, course of conduct, or on account of any causal or other relationships. Generators, transporters of wastes, owners and operators of sites shall be liable for their acts, omissions, conduct, or relationships in accordance with all laws relating thereto.

Article V.

Development and Operation of Facilities

a. Any party state which becomes a host state in which a regional facility is operated shall not be designated by the compact commission as a host state for an additional regional facility until each party state has fulfilled its obligation, as determined by the commission, to have a regional facility operated within its borders.

b. A host state desiring to close a regional facility located within its borders may do so only after notifying the commission in writing of its intention to do so and the reasons therefor. Such notification shall be given to the commission at least four (4) years prior to the intended date of closure. Notwithstanding the four-year notice requirement herein provided, a host state is not prevented from closing its facility or establishing conditions of its use and operations as necessary for the protection of the health and safety of its citizens. A host state may terminate or limit access to its regional facility if it determines that Congress has materially altered the conditions of this compact.

c. Each party state designated as a host state for a regional facility shall take appropriate steps to ensure that an application for a license to construct and operate a facility of the designated type is filed with and issued by the appropriate authority.

d. No party state shall have any form of arbitrary prohibition on the treatment, storage or disposal of low-level radioactive waste within its borders.

e. No party state shall be required to operate a regional facility for longer than a twenty-year period, or to dispose of more than thirty-two million (32,000,000) cubic feet of low-level radioactive waste, whichever first occurs.

Article VI.

Other Laws and Regulations

a. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to:

1. Abrogate or limit the applicability of any act of Congress or diminish or otherwise impair the jurisdiction of any federal agency expressly conferred thereon by the Congress;

2. Abrogate or limit the regulatory responsibility and authority of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission or of an agreement state under Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 in which a regional facility is located;

3. Make inapplicable to any person or circumstance any other law of a party state which is not inconsistent with this compact;

4. Make unlawful the continued development and operation of any facility already licensed for development or operation on the date this compact becomes effective, except that any such facility shall comply with Article III, Article IV and Article V and shall be subject to any action lawfully taken pursuant thereto;

5. Prohibit any storage or treatment of waste by the generator on its own premises;

6. Affect any judicial or administrative proceeding pending on the effective date of this compact;

7. Alter the relations between, and the respective internal responsibilities of, the government of a party state and its subdivisions;

8. Affect the generation, treatment, storage or disposal of waste generated by the atomic energy defense activities of the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy or federal research and development activities as defined in P.L. 96-573 ;

9. Affect the rights and powers of any party state and its political subdivisions to regulate and license any facility within its borders or to affect the rights and powers of any party state and its political subdivisions to tax or impose fees on the waste managed at any facility within its borders.

b. No party state shall pass any law or adopt any regulation which is inconsistent with this compact. To do so may jeopardize the membership status of the party state.

c. Upon formation of the compact, no law or regulation of a party state or of any subdivision or instrumentality thereof may be applied so as to restrict or make more inconvenient access to any regional facility by the generators of another party state than for the generators of the state where the facility is situated.

d. Restrictions of waste management of regional facilities pursuant to Article IV(l) shall be enforceable as a matter of state law.

Article VII.

Eligible Parties, Withdrawal, Revocation, Entry into Force, Termination

a. This compact shall have as initially eligible parties the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

b. Any state not expressly declared eligible to become a party state to this compact in Section (a) of this article may petition the commission, once constituted, to be declared eligible. The commission may establish such conditions as it deems necessary and appropriate to be met by a state wishing to become eligible to become a party state to this compact pursuant to the provisions of this section. Upon satisfactorily meeting such conditions and upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) of the commission, including the affirmative vote of both representatives of a host state in which any affected regional facility is located, the petitioning state shall be eligible to become a party state to this compact and may become a party state in the same manner as those states declared eligible in Section (a) of this article.

c. Each state eligible to become a party state to this compact shall be declared a party state upon enactment of this compact into law by the state and upon payment of the fees required by Article IV(h)(1). The commission shall be the judge of the qualifications of the party states and of its members and of their compliance with the conditions and requirements of this compact and the laws of the party states relating to the enactment of this compact.

d.1. The first three (3) states eligible to become party states to this compact which enact this compact into law and appropriate the fees required by Article IV(h)(1) shall immediately, upon the appointment of their commission members, constitute themselves as the Southeast Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Commission, shall cause legislation to be introduced into the Congress which grants the consent of the Congress to this compact, and shall do those things necessary to organize the commission and implement the provisions of this compact.

2. All succeeding states eligible to become party states to this compact shall be declared party states pursuant to the provisions of Section (c) of this article.

3. The consent of the Congress shall be required for full implementation of this compact. The provisions of Article V(d) shall not become effective until the effective date of the import ban authorized by Article IV(l) as approved by Congress. The Congress may by law withdraw its consent only every five (5) years.

e. No state which holds membership in any other regional compact for the management of low-level radioactive waste may be considered by the compact commission for eligible state status or party state status.

f. Any party state which fails to comply with the provisions of this compact or to fulfill the obligations incurred by becoming a party state to this compact may be subject to sanctions by the commission, including suspension of its rights under this compact, and revocation of its status as a party state. Any sanction shall be imposed only upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) of the commission members. Revocation of party state status may take effect on the date of the meeting at which the commission approves the resolution imposing such sanction, but in no event shall revocation take effect later than ninety (90) days from the date of such meeting. Rights and obligations incurred by being declared a party state to this compact shall continue until the effective date of the sanction imposed or as provided in the resolution of the commission imposing the sanction.

The commission must, as soon as practicable after the meeting at which a resolution revoking status as a party state is approved, provide written notice of the action along with a copy of the resolution to the governors, the presidents of the senates, and the speakers of the houses of representatives of the party states, as well as chairmen of the appropriate committees of the Congress.

g. Subject to the provisions of Article VII(h), any party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a law repealing the compact, provided that if a regional facility is located within such state, such regional facility shall remain available to the region for four (4) years after the date the commission receives verification in writing from the governor of such party state of the rescission of the compact. The commission, upon receipt of the notification, shall, as soon as practicable, provide copies of such notification to the governors, the presidents of the senates, and the speakers of the houses of representatives of the party states, as well as the chairmen of the appropriate committees of the Congress.

h. The right of a party state to withdraw pursuant to Article VII(g) shall terminate thirty (30) days following the commencement of operation of the second host state facility. Thereafter, a party state may withdraw only with the unanimous approval of the commission and with the consent of Congress. For purposes of this section, the low-level radioactive waste disposal facility located in Barnwell County, South Carolina, shall be considered the first host state disposal facility.

i. This compact may be terminated only by the affirmative action of the Congress or by the rescission of all laws enacting the compact in each party state.

Article VIII.

Penalties

a. Each party state, consistently with its own law, shall prescribe and enforce penalties against any person not an official of another state for violation of any provision of this compact.

b. Each party state acknowledges that the receipt by a host state of waste packaged or transported in violation of applicable laws and regulations can result in imposition of sanctions by the host state which may include suspension or revocation of the violator's right of access to the facility in the host state.

Article IX.

Severability and Construction

The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be contrary to the constitution of any participating state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any other government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If any provision of this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state participating therein, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters. The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to give effect to the purposes thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-26-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 13 / Section 26-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-26-1
Status: in_force

As used in Sections 57-26-1 through 57-26-5 , the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Approved project costs ” means actual costs incurred by an approved participant for land acquisition, construction, engineering, design and other costs approved by the Mississippi Development Authority relating to a tourism project; however, for the purposes of a tourism project described in paragraph (d)(iv) of this section, such costs include only those incurred after January 1, 2011, relating to the hotel portion of the project consisting of facilities used for lodging and common areas in that portion of the project. All costs must be verified by an independent third party approved by the MDA. An approved participant shall pay the costs for the third-party verification of costs. Approved project costs may not increase regardless of the actual costs incurred by the project.

(b) “ Approved participant ” means a person, corporation or other entity issued a certificate by the Mississippi Development Authority under Section 57-26-5 .

(c) “ MDA ” means the Mississippi Development Authority.

(d) “ Tourism project ” shall include any of the following as may be approved by the MDA:

(i) Theme parks, water parks, entertainment parks or outdoor adventure parks, cultural or historical interpretive educational centers or museums, motor speedways, indoor or outdoor entertainment centers or complexes, convention centers, professional sports facilities, spas, attractions created around a natural phenomenon or scenic landscape and marinas open to the public with a minimum private investment of not less than Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00);

(ii) A hotel with a minimum private investment of Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00) in land, buildings, architecture, engineering, fixtures, equipment, furnishings, amenities and other related soft costs approved by the Mississippi Development Authority, and having a minimum private investment of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) per guest room which amount shall be included within the minimum private investment of Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00);

(iii) A public golf course with a minimum private investment of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00);

(iv) A full service hotel with a minimum private investment of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00) in land, buildings, architecture, engineering, fixtures, equipment, furnishings, amenities and other related soft costs approved by the Mississippi Development Authority, and having a minimum private investment of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) per guest room or suite which amount shall be included within the minimum private investment of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00), a minimum of twenty-five (25) guest rooms or suites, and guest amenities such as restaurants, spas and other amenities as determined by the Mississippi Development Authority; however, in a county in which the Grammy Museum Mississippi or the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center is located, in a county in which the Saenger Theater and the main campus of a state institution of higher learning are located, and in the downtown historic district of the city in which the NWCC Performing Arts Center is located, the minimum private investment per guest room or suite shall be One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) which amount shall be included within the minimum private investment of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00);

(v) A tourism attraction located within an “entertainment district” as defined in Section 17-29-3 that is open to the public, has seating to accommodate at least forty (40) persons, is open at least five (5) days per week from at least 6:00 p.m. until midnight, serves food and beverages, and provides live entertainment at least three (3) nights per week;

(vi) A cultural retail attraction;

(vii) A tourism attraction located within a historic district where the district is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, where the tourism attraction is open to the public, has seating to accommodate at least forty (40) persons, is open at least five (5) days per week from at least 6:00 p.m. until midnight, serves food and beverages, and provides live entertainment at least three (3) nights per week;

(viii) A tourism attraction, located in a county bordered by the Mississippi River and including Interstate 69 and U.S. Highways 3, 4 and 61, with a minimum investment of One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00) and subject to an urban renewal plan that redevelops two (2) hotels, a golf course and clubhouse, a shooting range and a convention center and develops an entertainment center and waterpark, together with other attraction-related amenities, on an area not less than two thousand (2,000) acres.

The term “tourism project” does not include any licensed gaming establishment owned, leased or controlled by a business, corporation or entity having a gaming license issued under Section 75-76-1 et seq. ; however, the term “ tourism project ” may include a project described in this paragraph (d) that is owned, leased or controlled by such a business, corporation or entity or in which the business, corporation or entity has a direct or indirect financial interest if the project is in excess of development that the State Gaming Commission requires for the issuance or renewal of a gaming license and is not part of a licensed gaming establishment in which gaming activities are conducted.

The term “tourism project” does not include any facility within the project whose primary business is retail sales or any expansions of existing projects; however, pro shops, souvenir shops, gift shops, concessions and similar retail activities, and cultural retail attractions may be included within the definition of the term “tourism project.” In addition, retail activities, regardless of whether the primary business is retail sales, that are part of a resort development may be included within the definition of “tourism project.”

(e) “ Resort development ” means a travel destination development with a minimum private investment of One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00) and which consists of (i) a hotel with a minimum of two hundred (200) guest rooms or suites and having a minimum private investment of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) per guest room or suite, and (ii) guest amenities such as restaurants, golf courses, spas, fitness facilities, entertainment activities and other amenities as determined by the MDA. Not more than an amount equal to forty percent (40%) of the private investment required by this paragraph may be expended on facilities to house retail activity.

(f) “ Cultural retail attraction ” means a project which combines destination shopping with cultural or historical interpretive elements specific to Mississippi with a minimum private investment of Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00) in land, buildings, architecture, engineering, fixtures, equipment, furnishings, amenities and other related soft costs approved by the Mississippi Development Authority and which:

(i) Is located in a qualified resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5 ;

(ii) Is a part of a master-planned development with a total investment of not less than One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00) in land, buildings, architecture, engineering, fixtures, equipment, furnishings, amenities and other related soft costs approved by the Mississippi Development Authority;

(iii) Has a minimum of fifty (50) retail tenants with a minimum of three hundred thousand (300,000) square feet of heated and cooled space; and

(iv) Has a minimum investment of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) in one or more of the following:

1. Art created by Mississippi artists or portraying themes specific to Mississippi;

2. Memorabilia, signage or historical markers which serve to promote the State of Mississippi;

3. Audio/visual equipment used to showcase Mississippi artists;

4. A minimum of one thousand two hundred fifty (1,250) square feet of heated and cooled space available to the Mississippi Development Authority or its assignee for a period of not less than ten (10) years.

(g) “ Retail activity ” means businesses whose inventory consists primarily of upscale name brands or their equivalent as determined by the MDA.

(h) “ State ” means the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-29 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 18 / Section 44-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-29
Status: in_force

Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 57-44-11 through 57-44-39 or of any of the interest coupons pertaining thereto may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights granted under Sections 57-44-11 through 57-44-39 , or under such resolution, and may enforce and compel performance of all duties required by Sections 57-44-11 through 57-44-39 to be performed, in order to provide for the payment of bonds and interest thereon.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-45-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 43 / Section 45-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-45-1
Status: in_force

(a) The Governor, on behalf of this state, is hereby authorized to execute a compact in substantially the following form with the States of Louisiana and Alabama; and the Legislature hereby signifies in advance its approval and ratification of such compact, which compact is as follows:

The purpose of this compact is to study the feasibility of rapid rail transit service between Mississippi and the States of Louisiana and Alabama and to establish a joint interstate commission to assist in this effort.

This compact shall become effective immediately as to the states ratifying it whenever the States of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama have ratified it, and Congress has given consent thereto. Any state not mentioned in this article which is contiguous with any member state may become a party to this compact, subject to approval by the Legislature of each of the member states.

The states which are parties to this compact (hereinafter referred to as “party states”) do hereby establish and create a joint agency which shall be known as the Mississippi-Louisiana Rapid Rail Transit Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “commission”). The membership of such commission shall consist of: the Governor of each party state, one (1) representative each from the Mississippi Energy and Transportation Board, or its successor, and the Office of Aviation and Public Transportation of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, or its successor, five (5) other citizens of each party state, to be appointed by the Governor thereof. The appointive members of the commission shall serve for terms of four (4) years each. Vacancies on the commission shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the unexpired portion of the term. The members of the commission shall not be compensated for service on the commission, but each of the appointed members shall be entitled to actual and reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings, or incurred otherwise in the performance of his duties as a member of the commission. The members of the commission shall hold regular quarterly meetings and such special meetings as its business may require. They shall choose annually a chairman and vice chairman from among their members, and the chairmanship shall rotate each year among the party states in order of their acceptance of this compact. The commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the transaction of its business and a record shall be kept of all its business. It shall be the duty of the commission to study the feasibility of providing interstate rapid rail transit service between the party states. Toward this end, the commission shall have power to hold hearings; to conduct studies and surveys of all problems, benefits and other matters associated with such service, and to make reports thereon; to acquire, by gift, grant or otherwise, from local, state, federal or private sources such money or property as may be provided for the proper performance of their function, and to hold and dispose of same; to cooperate with other public or private groups, whether local, state, regional or national, having an interest in such service; to formulate and execute plans and policies for emphasizing the purpose of this compact before the Congress of the United States and other appropriate officers and agencies of the United States; and to exercise such other powers as may be appropriate to enable it to accomplish its functions and duties and to carry out the purposes of this compact.

Each party state agrees that its Legislature may, in its discretion, from time to time make available and pay over to the commission funds for the establishment and operation of the commission. The contribution of each party state shall be in equal amounts, if possible, but nothing in this article shall be construed as binding the Legislature of either state to make an appropriation of a set amount of funds at any particular time.

Nothing in this compact shall be construed so as to conflict with any existing statute, or to limit the powers of any party state, or to repeal or prevent legislation, or to affect any existing or future cooperative arrangement or relationship between any federal agency and a party state.

(1) This compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each party state until the Legislature or Governor of each or either state takes action to withdraw therefrom. However, any such withdrawal shall not become effective until six (6) months after the date of the action taken by the Legislature or Governor. Notice of such action shall be given to the other party state or states by the Secretary of State of the party state which takes such action.

(2) There is hereby granted to the Governor, to the members of the commission for Louisiana, and to the compact administrator all the powers provided for in the compact and in this section. All officers of the State of Mississippi are hereby authorized and directed to do all things falling within their respective jurisdictions which are necessary or incidental to carrying out the purpose of the compact.

(b) Pursuant to Article II of this compact, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi hereby assents to the State of Alabama becoming a party to such compact, subject to ratification by the State of Alabama of the terms and provisions thereof.

(c) Pursuant to Article III of this compact, in the exercise of such other powers as may be appropriate to enable the commission to accomplish its functions and duties and to carry out the purposes of this compact, the name of the commission shall be changed to the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission, subject to ratification by the States of Alabama and Louisiana.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-19 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 18 / Section 44-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-19
Status: in_force

The State Bond Commission shall act as the issuing agent for the bonds authorized under Section 57-44-11 , prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, pay all fees and costs incurred in such issuance and sale, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds. The State Bond Commission is authorized and empowered to pay the costs that are incident to the sale, issuance and delivery of the bonds authorized under Sections 57-44-11 through 57-44-39 from the proceeds derived from the sale of such bonds. The State Bond Commission shall sell such bonds on sealed bids at public sale, and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale shall be made at a price less than par plus accrued interest to the date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser. All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually; however, the first interest payment may be for any period of not more than one (1) year.

Notice of the sale of any such bond shall be published at least one (1) time, not less than ten (10) days before the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and in one or more other newspapers or financial journals with a national circulation, to be selected by the State Bond Commission.

The State Bond Commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of Sections 57-44-11 through 57-44-39 , may provide that bonds, at the option of the State of Mississippi, may be called in for payment and redemption at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-21-7 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 19 / Section 21-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-21-7
Status: in_force

The chief executive officer of the laboratory shall be the State Chemist.

(a) Qualifications: The State Chemist shall be an individual who has earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree or its equivalent at a recognized university or college qualified to grant such degrees. The major field of his or her training should be preferably in traditional or applied fields of chemistry or biochemistry, but other disciplines may be acceptable if the individual has experience qualifying him or her otherwise. He or she should also have knowledge by training or experience of agricultural, industrial or health-related fields. The candidate for State Chemist must be acceptable as a faculty member in a department of the university appropriate to his or her earned doctorate degree.

(b) Appointment: The State Chemist shall be appointed by the president of the university, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of six (6) years; and the said State Chemist shall serve for said six-year term and until his successor shall have been appointed and qualified. However, it is provided that the said State Chemist may be removed from office by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning upon the demonstration of his inability to serve due to illness, incompetence, malfeasance in office, dereliction of duty or moral turpitude. The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall fix the annual salary of the State Chemist, who shall be paid from the budget of the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory or from the budget of the university, or from both, whichever is deemed desirable by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

(c) Status: The State Chemist shall simultaneously hold an appointment as professor in a department of the university appropriate to the discipline of their doctorate degree. He or she may be granted tenure as a faculty member in accordance with the rules current at the university upon his or her appointment. As a state regulatory official, the duties of the State Chemist are service in nature. However, as time permits, the State Chemist may teach or direct research as part of his or her professional duties, and may serve in other administrative positions as deemed desirable with the consent and approval of the president of the university and the board of trustees. He or she shall receive appropriate reimbursement for such services.

(d) Responsibility: The State Chemist shall be responsible to and shall report to the president of the university or a designee of the president.

(e) Duties: The State Chemist shall:

1. Serve as the chief executive officer and director of the State Chemical Laboratory.

2. Recommend the appointment, discharge, annual salaries, duties, and titles of administrative, technical and support personnel and staff of the laboratory to assist him or her in carrying out its authorized functions.

3. Prepare and submit budget requests for the laboratory to the appropriate agency, subject to approval by the president of the university and the board of trustees. The State Chemist shall present such requests before the Legislative Budget Office and legislative committees. He or she shall prepare an annual budget for operation of the laboratory from appropriated or special funds or other income available, and shall make monthly, quarterly and other reports of such income and expenditures to the appropriate agencies as required by law.

4. Maintain an inventory of laboratory equipment and report it appropriately to the proper agencies as required by law.

5. Prepare annual or biennial reports and special reports as needed of laboratory activities, programs and recommendations. Such reports shall be submitted to governmental heads and agencies as required by statutes, to the president of the university, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and to the chief executive officer of each agency with which it cooperates.

6. Serve on such state or national agencies, commissions, boards, organizations or committees as required by law.

7. Conduct other business necessary and desirable for proper discharge of his or her responsibilities to the state or as may be stipulated here or elsewhere in the laws of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-47-7 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 18 / Section 47-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-47-7
Status: in_force

The commission shall submit its budget of estimated expenditures to the legislative budget office for presentation to the legislature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-47-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 26 / Section 47-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-47-1
Status: in_force

The Southeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Compact is hereby enacted into law and entered into by this state with any and all states legally joining therein in accordance with its terms, in the form substantially as follows:

Article I.

Policy and Purpose

There is hereby created the Southeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Compact. The party states recognize and declare that each state is responsible for providing for the availability of capacity either within or outside the state for disposal of low-level radioactive waste generated within its borders, except for waste generated as a result of defense activities of the federal government or federal research and development activities. They also recognize that the management of low-level radioactive waste is handled most efficiently on a regional basis. The party states further recognize that the Congress of the United States, by enacting the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act ( P.L. 96-573 ), has provided for and encourages the development of low-level radioactive waste compacts as a tool for disposal of such waste. The party states recognize that the safe and efficient management of low-level radioactive waste generated within the region requires that sufficient capacity to dispose of such waste be properly provided.

It is the policy of the party states to: enter into a regional low-level radioactive waste management compact for the purpose of providing the instrument and framework for a cooperative effort, provide sufficient facilities for the proper management of low-level radioactive waste generated in the region, promote the health and safety of the region, limit the number of facilities required to effectively and efficiently manage low-level radioactive waste generated in the region, encourage the reduction of the amounts of low-level waste generated in the region, distribute the costs, benefits and obligations of successful low-level radioactive waste management equitably among the party states, and ensure the ecological and economical management of low-level radioactive wastes.

Implicit in the congressional consent to this compact is the expectation by the Congress and the party states that the appropriate federal agencies will actively assist the compact commission and the individual party states to this compact by:

1. Expeditious enforcement of federal rules, regulations and laws; and

2. Imposing sanctions against those found to be in violation of federal rules, regulations and laws; and

3. Timely inspection of their licensees to determine their capability to adhere to such rules, regulations and laws; and

4. Timely provision of technical assistance to this compact in carrying out their obligations under the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act as amended.

Article II.

Definitions

As used in this compact, unless the context clearly requires a different construction:

a. “Commission” or “compact commission” means the Southeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Commission.

b. “Facility” means a parcel of land, together with the structures, equipment and improvements thereon or appurtenant thereto, which is used or is being developed for the treatment, storage or disposal of low-level radioactive waste.

c. “Generator” means any person who produces or possesses low-level radioactive waste in the course of or as an incident to manufacturing, power generation, processing, medical diagnosis and treatment, research, or other industrial or commercial activity. This does not include persons who provide a service to generators by arranging for the collection, transportation, storage or disposal of wastes with respect to such waste generated outside the region.

d. “High-level waste” means irradiated reactor fuel, liquid wastes from reprocessing irradiated reactor fuel and solids into which such liquid wastes have been converted, and other high-level radioactive waste as defined by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

e. “Host state” means any state in which a regional facility is situated or is being developed.

f. “Low-level radioactive waste” or “waste” means radioactive waste not classified as high-level radioactive waste, transuranic waste, spent nuclear fuel or by-product material as defined in Section 11e(2) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, or as may be further defined by federal law or regulation.

g. “Party state” means any state which is a signatory party to this compact.

h. “Person” means any individual, corporation, business enterprise or other legal entity (either public or private).

i. “Region” means the collective party states.

j. “Regional facility” means (1) a facility as defined in this article which has been designated, authorized, accepted or approved by the commission to receive waste or (2) the disposal facility in Barnwell County, South Carolina, owned by the State of South Carolina and as licensed for the burial of low-level radioactive waste on July 1, 1982, but in no event shall this disposal facility serve as a regional facility beyond December 31, 1992.

k. “State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands or any other territorial possession of the United States.

l. “Transuranic wastes” means waste material containing transuranic elements with contamination levels as determined by the regulations of (1) the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission or (2) any host state, if it is an agreement state under Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.

m. “Waste management” means the storage, treatment or disposal of waste.

Article III.

Rights and Obligations

The rights granted to the party states by this compact are additional to the rights enjoyed by sovereign states, and nothing in this compact shall be construed to infringe upon, limit or abridge those rights.

a. Subject to any license issued by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission or a host state, each party state shall have the right to have all wastes generated within its borders stored, treated or disposed of, as applicable, at regional facilities, and additionally shall have the right of access to facilities made available to the region through agreements entered into by the commission pursuant to Article IV(e)(9). The right of access by a generator within a party state to any regional facility is limited by its adherence to applicable state and federal law and regulation.

b. If no operating regional facility is located within the borders of a party state and wastes generated within its borders must therefore be stored, treated, or disposed of at a regional facility in another party state, the party state without such facilities may be required by the host state or states to establish a mechanism which provides compensation for access to the regional facility according to terms and conditions established by the host state or states and approved by a two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) vote of the commission.

c. Each party state must establish the capability to regulate, license and ensure the maintenance and extended care of any facility within its borders. Host states are responsible for the availability, the subsequent post closure observation and maintenance, and the extended institutional control of their regional facilities, in accordance with the provisions of Article V(b).

d. Each party state must establish the capability to enforce any applicable federal or state laws and regulations pertaining to the packaging and transportation of waste generated within or passing through its borders.

e. Each party state must provide to the commission on an annual basis, any data and information necessary to the implementation of the commission's responsibilities. Each party state shall establish the capability to obtain any data and information necessary to meet its obligation herein defined.

f. Each party state must, to the extent authorized by federal law, require generators within its borders to use the best available waste management technologies and practices to minimize the volumes of wastes requiring disposal.

Article IV.

The Commission

a. There is hereby created the Southeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Commission, (“the commission” or “compact commission”). The commission shall consist of two (2) voting members from each party state to be appointed according to the laws of each state. The appointing authorities of each state must notify the commission in writing of the identity of its members and any alternates. An alternate may act on behalf of the member only in the member's absence.

b. Each commission member is entitled to one (1) vote. No action of the commission shall be binding unless a majority of the total membership cast their vote in the affirmative, or unless a greater than majority vote is specifically required by any other provision of this compact.

c. The commission must elect from among its members a presiding officer. The commission shall adopt and publish, in convenient form, bylaws which are consistent with this compact.

d. The commission must meet at least once a year and shall also meet upon the call of the presiding officer, by petition of a majority of the party states, or upon the call of a host state. All meetings of the commission must be open to the public.

e. The commission has the following duties and powers:

1. To receive and approve the application of a nonparty state to become an eligible state in accordance with Article VII(b); and

2. To receive and approve the application of an eligible state to become a party state in accordance with Article VII(c); and

3. To submit an annual report and other communications to the governors and to the presiding officer of each body of the legislature of the party states regarding the activities of the commission; and

4. To develop and use procedures for determining, consistent with considerations for public health and safety, the type and number of regional facilities which are presently necessary and which are projected to be necessary to manage waste generated within the region; and

5. To provide the party states with reference guidelines for establishing the criteria and procedures for evaluating alternative locations for emergency or permanent regional facilities; and

6. To develop and adopt, within one (1) year after the commission is constituted as provided for in Article VII(d), procedures and criteria for identifying a party state as a host state for a regional facility as determined pursuant to the requirements of this article. In accordance with these procedures and criteria, the commission shall identify a host state for the development of a second regional disposal facility within three (3) years after the commission is constituted as provided for in Article VII(d) and shall seek to ensure that such facility is licensed and ready to operate as soon as required, but in no event later than 1991.

In developing criteria, the commission must consider the following: the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the party states; the existence of regional facilities within each party state; the minimization of waste transportation; the volumes and types of wastes generated within each party state; and the environmental, economic, and ecological impacts on the air, land and water resources of the party states.

The commission shall conduct such hearings, require such reports, studies, evidence and testimony; and do what is required by its approved procedures in order to identify a party state as a host state for a needed facility; and

7. In accordance with the procedures and criteria developed pursuant to Section (e)(6) of this article, to designate, by a two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) vote, a host state for the establishment of a needed regional facility. The commission shall not exercise this authority unless the party states have failed to voluntarily pursue the development of such facility. The commission shall have the authority to revoke the membership of a party state that willfully creates barriers to the siting of a needed regional facility; and

8. To require of and obtain from party states, eligible states seeking to become party states, and nonparty states seeking to become eligible states, data and information necessary to the implementation of commission responsibilities; and

9. Notwithstanding any other provision of this compact, to enter into agreements with any person, state or similar regional body or group of states for the importation of waste into the region and for the right of access to facilities outside the region for waste generated within the region. The authorization to import requires a two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) majority vote of the commission, including an affirmative vote of both representatives of a host state in which any affected regional facility is located. This shall be done only after an assessment of the affected facilities' capability to handle such wastes; and

10. To act or appear on behalf of any party state or states, only upon written request of both members of the commission for such state or states, as an intervenor or party in interest before Congress, state legislatures, any court of law, or any federal, state or local agency, board or commission which has jurisdiction over the management of wastes. The authority to act, intervene or otherwise appear shall be exercised by the commission only after approval by a majority vote of the commission; and

11. To revoke the membership of a party state in accordance with Article VII(f).

f. The commission may establish any advisory committees as it deems necessary for the purpose of advising the commission on any matters pertaining to the management of low-level radioactive waste.

g. The commission may appoint or contract for and compensate a limited staff necessary to carry out its duties and functions. The staff shall serve at the commission's pleasure irrespective of the civil service, personnel or other merit laws of any of the party states or the federal government and shall be compensated from funds of the commission. In selecting any staff, the commission shall assure that the staff has adequate experience and formal training to carry out such functions as may be assigned to it by the commission. If the commission has a headquarters it shall be in a party state.

h. Funding for the commission shall be provided as follows:

1. Each eligible state, upon becoming a party state, shall pay Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($ 25,000.00) to the commission which shall be used for costs of the commission's services.

2. Each state hosting a regional disposal facility shall annually levy special fees or surcharges on all users of such facility, based upon the volume of wastes disposed of at such facilities, the total of which:

(a) Must be sufficient to cover the annual budget of the commission; and

(b) Must represent the financial commitments of all party states to the commission; and

(c) Must be paid to the commission, provided, however, that each host state collecting such fees or surcharges may retain a portion of the collection sufficient to cover its administrative costs of collection, and that the remainder be sufficient only to cover the approved annual budgets of the commission.

3. The commission must set and approve its first annual budget as soon as practicable after its initial meeting. Host states for disposal facilities must begin imposition of the special fees and surcharges provided for in this section as soon as practicable after becoming party states, and must remit to the commission funds resulting from collection of such special fees and surcharges within sixty (60) days of their receipt.

i. The commission must keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. An independent certified public accountant shall annually audit all receipts and disbursements of commission funds, and submit an audit report to the commission. Such audit report shall be made a part of the annual report of the commission required by Article IV(e)(3).

j. The commission may accept for any of its purposes and functions any and all donations, grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services (conditional or otherwise) from any state or the United States or any subdivision or agency thereof, or interstate agency, or from any institution, person, firm or corporation, and may receive, utilize and dispose of the same. The nature, amount and condition, if any, attendant upon any donation or grant accepted pursuant to this paragraph together with the identity of the donor, grantor or lender, shall be detailed in the annual report of the commission.

k. The commission is not responsible for any costs associated with (1) the creation of any facility, (2) the operation of any facility, (3) the stabilization and closure of any facility, (4) the postclosure observation, and maintenance of any facility, or (5) the extended institutional control, after postclosure observation and maintenance of any facility.

l. As of January 1, 1986, the management of wastes at regional facilities is restricted to wastes generated within the region, and to wastes generated within nonparty states when authorized by the commission pursuant to the provisions of this compact. After January 1, 1986, the commission may prohibit the exportation of waste from the region for purposes of management.

m.1. The commission herein established is a legal entity separate and distinct from the party states, capable of acting in its own behalf, and is liable for its actions. Liabilities of the commission shall not be deemed liabilities of the party states. Members of the commission shall not be personally liable for actions taken by them in their official capacity.

2. Except as specifically provided in this compact, nothing in this compact shall be construed to alter the incidence of liability of any kind for any act, omission, course of conduct, or on account of any causal or other relationships. Generators, transporters of wastes, owners and operators of sites shall be liable for their acts, omissions, conduct, or relationships in accordance with all laws relating thereto.

Article V.

Development and Operation of Facilities

a. Any party state which becomes a host state in which a regional facility is operated shall not be designated by the compact commission as a host state for an additional regional facility until each party state has fulfilled its obligation, as determined by the commission, to have a regional facility operated within its borders.

b. A host state desiring to close a regional facility located within its borders may do so only after notifying the commission in writing of its intention to do so and the reasons therefor. Such notification shall be given to the commission at least four (4) years prior to the intended date of closure. Notwithstanding the four-year notice requirement herein provided, a host state is not prevented from closing its facility or establishing conditions of its use and operations as necessary for the protection of the health and safety of its citizens. A host state may terminate or limit access to its regional facility if it determines that Congress has materially altered the conditions of this compact.

c. Each party state designated as a host state for a regional facility shall take appropriate steps to ensure that an application for a license to construct and operate a facility of the designated type is filed with and issued by the appropriate authority.

d. No party state shall have any form of arbitrary prohibition on the treatment, storage or disposal of low-level radioactive waste within its borders.

e. No party state shall be required to operate a regional facility for longer than a twenty-year period, or to dispose of more than thirty-two million (32,000,000) cubic feet of low-level radioactive waste, whichever first occurs.

Article VI.

Other Laws and Regulations

a. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to:

1. Abrogate or limit the applicability of any act of Congress or diminish or otherwise impair the jurisdiction of any federal agency expressly conferred thereon by the Congress;

2. Abrogate or limit the regulatory responsibility and authority of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission or of an agreement state under Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 in which a regional facility is located;

3. Make inapplicable to any person or circumstance any other law of a party state which is not inconsistent with this compact;

4. Make unlawful the continued development and operation of any facility already licensed for development or operation on the date this compact becomes effective, except that any such facility shall comply with Article III, Article IV and Article V and shall be subject to any action lawfully taken pursuant thereto;

5. Prohibit any storage or treatment of waste by the generator on its own premises;

6. Affect any judicial or administrative proceeding pending on the effective date of this compact;

7. Alter the relations between, and the respective internal responsibilities of, the government of a party state and its subdivisions;

8. Affect the generation, treatment, storage or disposal of waste generated by the atomic energy defense activities of the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy or federal research and development activities as defined in P.L. 96-573 ;

9. Affect the rights and powers of any party state and its political subdivisions to regulate and license any facility within its borders or to affect the rights and powers of any party state and its political subdivisions to tax or impose fees on the waste managed at any facility within its borders.

b. No party state shall pass any law or adopt any regulation which is inconsistent with this compact. To do so may jeopardize the membership status of the party state.

c. Upon formation of the compact, no law or regulation of a party state or of any subdivision or instrumentality thereof may be applied so as to restrict or make more inconvenient access to any regional facility by the generators of another party state than for the generators of the state where the facility is situated.

d. Restrictions of waste management of regional facilities pursuant to Article IV(l) shall be enforceable as a matter of state law.

Article VII.

Eligible Parties, Withdrawal, Revocation, Entry into Force, Termination

a. This compact shall have as initially eligible parties the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

b. Any state not expressly declared eligible to become a party state to this compact in Section (a) of this article may petition the commission, once constituted, to be declared eligible. The commission may establish such conditions as it deems necessary and appropriate to be met by a state wishing to become eligible to become a party state to this compact pursuant to the provisions of this section. Upon satisfactorily meeting such conditions and upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) of the commission, including the affirmative vote of both representatives of a host state in which any affected regional facility is located, the petitioning state shall be eligible to become a party state to this compact and may become a party state in the same manner as those states declared eligible in Section (a) of this article.

c. Each state eligible to become a party state to this compact shall be declared a party state upon enactment of this compact into law by the state and upon payment of the fees required by Article IV(h)(1). The commission shall be the judge of the qualifications of the party states and of its members and of their compliance with the conditions and requirements of this compact and the laws of the party states relating to the enactment of this compact.

d.1. The first three (3) states eligible to become party states to this compact which enact this compact into law and appropriate the fees required by Article IV(h)(1) shall immediately, upon the appointment of their commission members, constitute themselves as the Southeast Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Commission, shall cause legislation to be introduced into the Congress which grants the consent of the Congress to this compact, and shall do those things necessary to organize the commission and implement the provisions of this compact.

2. All succeeding states eligible to become party states to this compact shall be declared party states pursuant to the provisions of Section (c) of this article.

3. The consent of the Congress shall be required for full implementation of this compact. The provisions of Article V(d) shall not become effective until the effective date of the import ban authorized by Article IV(l) as approved by Congress. The Congress may by law withdraw its consent only every five (5) years.

e. No state which holds membership in any other regional compact for the management of low-level radioactive waste may be considered by the compact commission for eligible state status or party state status.

f. Any party state which fails to comply with the provisions of this compact or to fulfill the obligations incurred by becoming a party state to this compact may be subject to sanctions by the commission, including suspension of its rights under this compact, and revocation of its status as a party state. Any sanction shall be imposed only upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) of the commission members. Revocation of party state status may take effect on the date of the meeting at which the commission approves the resolution imposing such sanction, but in no event shall revocation take effect later than ninety (90) days from the date of such meeting. Rights and obligations incurred by being declared a party state to this compact shall continue until the effective date of the sanction imposed or as provided in the resolution of the commission imposing the sanction.

The commission must, as soon as practicable after the meeting at which a resolution revoking status as a party state is approved, provide written notice of the action along with a copy of the resolution to the governors, the presidents of the senates, and the speakers of the houses of representatives of the party states, as well as chairmen of the appropriate committees of the Congress.

g. Subject to the provisions of Article VII(h), any party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a law repealing the compact, provided that if a regional facility is located within such state, such regional facility shall remain available to the region for four (4) years after the date the commission receives verification in writing from the governor of such party state of the rescission of the compact. The commission, upon receipt of the notification, shall, as soon as practicable, provide copies of such notification to the governors, the presidents of the senates, and the speakers of the houses of representatives of the party states, as well as the chairmen of the appropriate committees of the Congress.

h. The right of a party state to withdraw pursuant to Article VII(g) shall terminate thirty (30) days following the commencement of operation of the second host state facility. Thereafter, a party state may withdraw only with the unanimous approval of the commission and with the consent of Congress. For purposes of this section, the low-level radioactive waste disposal facility located in Barnwell County, South Carolina, shall be considered the first host state disposal facility.

i. This compact may be terminated only by the affirmative action of the Congress or by the rescission of all laws enacting the compact in each party state.

Article VIII.

Penalties

a. Each party state, consistently with its own law, shall prescribe and enforce penalties against any person not an official of another state for violation of any provision of this compact.

b. Each party state acknowledges that the receipt by a host state of waste packaged or transported in violation of applicable laws and regulations can result in imposition of sanctions by the host state which may include suspension or revocation of the violator's right of access to the facility in the host state.

Article IX.

Severability and Construction

The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be contrary to the constitution of any participating state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any other government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If any provision of this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state participating therein, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters. The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to give effect to the purposes thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-75-37 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 67 / Section 75-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-75-37
Status: in_force

(1)(a)(i) Any county in which there is to be constructed a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xviii) is authorized to assist in defraying the costs incurred or to be incurred by the enterprise establishing such project by:

1. Contributing a sum of up to Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) to such enterprise for use in connection with the construction of the project; and/or

2. Lending a sum of up to Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) upon such terms as the board of supervisors of such county and such enterprise may agree, the proceeds of which loan shall be used by such enterprise in connection with the construction or financing of the project.

(ii) In order to provide the amounts set forth in paragraph (a)(i) of this subsection (1), any such county may appropriate monies from the county's general funds or provide such amounts from the proceeds of general obligation bonds, or any combination of the foregoing. Any such county may issue the bonds for such purpose pursuant to the procedures for the issuance of bonds under Chapter 9, Title 19, Mississippi Code of 1972, or Section 19-5-99 .

(b) The board of supervisors of any county may donate real property for use in the location, construction and/or operation of a project as defined under Section 57-75-5(f)(xviii) to one or more economic development authorities, economic development districts, industrial development authorities or similar public agencies created pursuant to state law that engage in economic or industrial development in the county, and any such public agencies may accept such donation of real property from the county. Such public agencies also may transfer and convey among themselves, with or without consideration being paid or received, real property to be used in the location, construction and/or operation of such a project, and may accept such transfers or donations.

(2) Any county or municipality in which there is to be constructed a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxvi) or 57-75-5(f)(xxvii) is authorized to:

(a) Acquire the site for such project and contribute the site to the enterprise owning or operating the project;

(b) Apply for grants and loans and utilize the proceeds of such grants and loans for infrastructure related to the project; and

(c) Enter into a lease agreement with the enterprise owning or operating the project for a term not to exceed ninety-nine (99) years.

(3)(a) As used in this subsection:

(i) “ Project ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 57-75-5(f) (xxviii).

(ii) “ Public agency ” means the county in which the project is located, any municipality located in the county, and/or any economic development authority, economic development district, industrial development authority or similar public agency created pursuant to state law that engages in economic or industrial development in the county or a municipality in the county.

(b) Any county in which there is to be located a project is authorized to assist as provided in this paragraph in defraying the costs incurred or to be incurred by the enterprise establishing the project and any public agency in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project. The county may provide such assistance by contributing or lending any sum approved for such purpose by the board of supervisors of the county, upon such terms as the board of supervisors may agree, to the entity that directly or indirectly incurs or will incur such costs or as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection. The proceeds of the contribution or loan shall be used by the recipient in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project.

(c) In order to provide the amounts set forth in paragraph (b) of this subsection, any such county may appropriate monies from the county's general funds or provide such amounts from the proceeds of general obligation bonds, or any combination of the foregoing. Any such county may issue the bonds for such purpose pursuant to the procedures for the issuance of bonds under Chapter 9, Title 19, Mississippi Code of 1972, or Section 19-5-99 .

(d) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the governing authorities of any public agency may:

(i) Transfer and convey to the authority or the Mississippi Development Authority, with or without consideration being paid or received, any real and/or personal property for use in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, and the authority and the Mississippi Development Authority may accept such transfers or donations;

(ii) Transfer and convey among themselves, with or without consideration being paid or received, any real and/or personal property for use in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of a project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, and may accept such transfers or donations; and

(iii) Make grants or other contributions of funds to one another for use in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of such a project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, and may accept such grants or contributions of funds.

(e) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the person, entity or other agency seeking to acquire any real property to be used in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project, shall be exempt with respect to such property from the requirements of Section 43-37-3(1)(b) and (c) if the purchase price for such property equals the lowest price negotiated between the owner of the property and the person, agency or other entity seeking to acquire the property, and at which the owner of the property is willing to sell the property.

(4)(a) As used in this subsection:

(i) “ Project ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxix) .

(ii) “ Public agency ” means the county in which the project is located, any municipality located in the county, and/or any economic development authority, economic development district, industrial development authority or similar public agency created pursuant to state law that engages in economic or industrial development in the county or a municipality in the county.

(iii) “ Board of education ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 29-3-1.1 .

(iv) “ Superintendent of education ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 29-3-1.1 .

(b) In any county in which there is to be located a project, any public agency is authorized to assist as provided in this paragraph in defraying the costs incurred or to be incurred by the enterprise establishing the project and/or any public agency in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project. Any such public agency may provide such assistance by contributing or lending any sum approved for such purpose by the governing authority of such public agency, upon such terms as the governing authority of such public agency may agree, to the entity or public agency that directly or indirectly incurs or will incur such costs or as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection. The proceeds of the contribution or loan shall be used by the recipient in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, including, without limitation, to defray the costs of site preparation, utilities, real estate purchases, purchase options and improvements, infrastructure, roads, rail improvements, public works, job training, as well as planning, design and environmental impact studies with respect to a project, and any other expenses approved by any such public agency.

(c) In order to provide the amounts set forth in paragraph (b) of this subsection:

(i) Any such county may appropriate monies from the county's general funds or provide such amounts from the proceeds of general obligation bonds. Any such county may issue the bonds for such purpose pursuant to the procedures for the issuance of bonds under Chapter 9, Title 19, Mississippi Code of 1972, Section 19-5-99 or in any other manner permitted by any local and private law or other general laws; and

(ii) Any public agency may borrow or accept grants of such amounts from the authority or the Mississippi Development Authority for such duration and upon such terms and conditions approved by the governing authority of such public agency and the authority or Mississippi Development Authority, as applicable.

(d) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the governing authority of any public agency may:

(i) Transfer and convey to the authority or the Mississippi Development Authority, with or without consideration being paid or received, any real and/or personal property for use in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, and the authority and the Mississippi Development Authority may accept such transfers or donations;

(ii) Transfer and convey among themselves, with or without consideration being paid or received, any real and/or personal property for use in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of a project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, and may accept such transfers or donations;

(iii) Make grants or other contributions of funds to:

1. One another for use in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of such a project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, and may accept such grants or contributions of funds; and/or

2. A local water association incorporated as a nonprofit corporation and located within such county for the purpose of defraying the costs incurred or to be incurred thereby in connection with water or wastewater-related infrastructure improvements, including an elevated water tank, located within the project area; and

(iv) Make one or more periodic grants or other contributions of funds to an enterprise or affiliate thereof owning and/or operating a project in such amount or amounts approved by such governing authority, and enter into an agreement with such enterprise to make such periodic grants or other contributions of funds; however, the duration of any such obligation of the public agency to make such grants or other contributions shall not exceed thirty (30) years.

(e) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the public agency seeking to acquire any real property to be used in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project, shall be exempt with respect to such property from the requirements of Section 43-37-3(1)(b) and (c) if the purchase price for such property equals the lowest price negotiated between the owner of the property and the public agency seeking to acquire the property, and at which the owner of the property is willing to sell the property, and any such public agency is further authorized to procure an option to purchase any such real property for such purchase price authorized by this subsection for the lowest option payment at which the owner of the property is willing to grant such option.

(f) In any county in which there is to be located a project, upon the sale of any sixteenth section lands for industrial purposes as provided by law for such project, the board of education controlling such lands, the superintendent of education and the Mississippi Development Authority, on behalf of the state, may sell and convey all minerals in, on and under any such lands for such consideration determined to be adequate by, and upon such terms and conditions prescribed by, such board of education, superintendent of education and the Mississippi Development Authority.

(g) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the governing authority of the applicable public agency may enter into an agreement binding on future governing authorities, for any period not to exceed thirty (30) years to:

(i) Waive any and all fees and expenses associated with building permits and privilege licenses required for the project;

(ii) Establish and/or maintain a rate structure for water supplied to the project and wastewater received from the project, which shall be no higher than the lowest tariff prices for such water and wastewater charged to any customer of equal or lesser volume located within the boundaries of the public agency;

(iii) Provide firefighting, hazardous materials emergency response, technical rescue and medical response assistance to the enterprise owning or operating the project; and

(iv) Require any contractor hired by the public agency for purposes of entering onto the project site for such project to perform work-related to the provision of water supply or wastewater services, to procure customary liability insurance designating the enterprise owning or operating the project as an additional insured and to contractually indemnify such enterprise for any losses incurred by the enterprise as a result of such contractor's negligence and/or willful acts or omissions arising from the contractor's entry upon such project site.

(5)(a) As used in this subsection:

(i) “ Project ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxi) .

(ii) “ Public agency ” means the county in which the project is located, any municipality located in the county, and/or any economic development authority, economic development district, industrial development authority, port authority or airport authority or similar public agency created pursuant to state law.

(iii) “ Board of education ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 29-3-1.1 .

(iv) “ Superintendent of education ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 29-3-1.1 .

(b) In any county in which there is to be located a project, any public agency is authorized to assist as provided in this paragraph in defraying the costs incurred or to be incurred by the enterprise establishing the project and/or any public agency in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project. Any such public agency may provide such assistance by contributing or lending any sum approved for such purpose by the governing authority of such public agency, upon such terms as the governing authority of such public agency may agree, to the entity or public agency that directly or indirectly incurs or will incur such costs or as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection. The proceeds of the contribution or loan shall be used by the recipient in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, including, without limitation, to defray the costs of site preparation, utilities, real estate purchases, purchase options and improvements, infrastructure, roads, rail improvements, public works, job training, as well as planning, design and environmental impact studies with respect to a project, and any other expenses approved by any such public agency.

(c) In order to provide the amounts set forth in paragraph (b) of this subsection:

(i) Any such county may appropriate monies from the county's general funds or provide such amounts from the proceeds of general obligation bonds. Any such county may issue the bonds for such purpose pursuant to the procedures for the issuance of bonds under Chapter 9, Title 19, Mississippi Code of 1972, Section 19-5-99 or in any other manner permitted by any local and private law or other general laws; and

(ii) Any public agency may borrow or accept grants of such amounts from the authority or the Mississippi Development Authority for such duration and upon such terms and conditions approved by the governing authority of such public agency and the authority or Mississippi Development Authority, as applicable.

(d) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the governing authorities of public agencies may:

(i) Transfer and convey among themselves, with or without consideration being paid or received, any real and/or personal property for use in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of a project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, and may accept such transfers or donations;

(ii) Make grants or other contributions of funds to one another for use in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of such a project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, and may accept such grants or contributions of funds; and

(iii) Make one or more grants or other contributions of funds to an enterprise or affiliate thereof owning and/or operating a project in such amount or amounts approved by such governing authority, and enter into an agreement with such enterprise to make such grants or other contributions of funds; however, the duration of any such obligation of the public agency to make such grants or other contributions shall not exceed thirty (30) years.

(e) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the public agency seeking to acquire any real property to be used in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project, shall be exempt with respect to such property from the requirements of Section 43-37-3(1)(b) and (c) if the purchase price for such property equals the lowest price negotiated between the owner of the property and the public agency seeking to acquire the property, and at which the owner of the property is willing to sell the property, and any such public agency is further authorized to procure an option to purchase any such real property for such purchase price authorized by this subsection for the lowest option payment at which the owner of the property is willing to grant such option.

(f) In any county in which there is to be located a project, upon the sale of land owned by an industrial development authority, port authority or airport authority for industrial purposes as provided by law for such project, the governing authorities controlling such lands may sell and convey all minerals in, on and under any such lands for such consideration determined to be adequate by, and upon such terms and conditions prescribed by, such governing authority or may otherwise enter into a written agreement with the enterprise owning and/or operating such project pursuant to which such governing authority of the industrial development authority, port authority or airport authority, as the case may be, may agree to perpetually refrain from using the surface of such land upon which the project is located to access any minerals located thereunder in which such public agency has a retained ownership interest. Any such written agreement shall be binding upon future governing authorities.

(g) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the governing authority of the applicable public agency may enter into an agreement binding on future governing authorities, for any period not to exceed thirty (30) years to:

(i) Waive any and all fees and expenses associated with building permits and privilege licenses required for the project;

(ii) Establish and/or maintain a rate structure for water supplied to the project and wastewater received from the project, which shall be no higher than the lowest tariff prices for such water and wastewater charged to any customer of equal or lesser volume located within the boundaries of the public agency; and

(iii) Require any contractor hired by the public agency for purposes of entering onto the project site for such project to perform work related to the provision of water supply or wastewater services, to procure customary liability insurance designating the enterprise owning or operating the project as an additional insured and to contractually indemnify such enterprise for any losses incurred by the enterprise as a result of such contractor's negligence and/or willful acts or omissions arising from the contractor's entry upon such project site.

(6)(a) As used in this subsection:

(i) “ Project ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii) .

(ii) “ Public agency ” means the county in which the project is located, any municipality located in the county, and/or any economic development authority, economic development district, industrial development authority, port authority, airport authority, public utility or similar public agency created pursuant to state law.

(b) In any county in which there is to be located a project, any public agency is authorized to assist as provided in this paragraph in defraying the costs incurred or to be incurred by the enterprise establishing the project and/or any public agency in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project. Any such public agency may provide such assistance by contributing or lending any sum approved for such purpose by the governing authority of such public agency, upon such terms as the governing authority of such public agency may agree, to the entity or public agency that directly or indirectly incurs or will incur such costs or as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection. The proceeds of the contribution or loan shall be used by the recipient in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, including, without limitation, to defray the costs of site preparation, utilities, real estate purchases, purchase options and improvements, infrastructure, roads, rail improvements, public works, job training, as well as planning, design and environmental impact studies with respect to a project, and any other expenses approved by any such public agency. Any such public agency may alternatively provide such assistance by undertaking the acquisition of real and/or personal property, or interests therein, with respect to, and the design, engineering, construction and installation of, any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project regardless of whether it is authorized by applicable statutes to operate such facilities or public infrastructure and/or provide any utility services therefrom following the completion thereof; provided that, if the public agency is authorized by applicable statutes to operate such facilities or public infrastructure following the completion thereof, such public agency may transfer, and if the public agency is not authorized by applicable statutes to operate such facilities or public infrastructure and/or provide any utility services therefrom following the completion thereof, the public agency shall transfer, such facilities or public infrastructure to another public agency that is authorized by applicable statutes to operate such facilities or public infrastructure and/or provide any utility services therefrom.

(c) In order to provide the amounts or otherwise perform any permitted actions set forth in paragraph (b) of this subsection:

(i) Any such county may appropriate monies from the county's general funds or provide such amounts from the proceeds of general obligation bonds or other indebtedness permitted by any local and private law or other general laws. Any such county may issue the bonds for such purpose pursuant to the procedures for the issuance of bonds under Chapter 9, Title 19, Mississippi Code of 1972, Section 19-5-99 or in any other manner permitted by any local and private law or other general laws; and

(ii) Any public agency may borrow or accept grants or other funds of such amounts from the authority or the Mississippi Development Authority for such duration and upon such terms and conditions approved by the governing authority of such public agency and the authority or Mississippi Development Authority, as applicable.

(iii) Any such county may enter into one or more agreements with the authority or Mississippi Development Authority approved by the board of supervisors of the county and, as applicable, to remit to the authority or Mississippi Development Authority, as applicable, on an annual or other periodic basis for a duration up to thirty (30) years, a portion of any fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes, together with a portion of any county ad valorem taxes, derived from the project. Any such written agreement shall be binding upon future boards of supervisors of the county.

(d) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the governing authorities of public agencies may:

(i) Transfer and convey among themselves, or to the authority, the Mississippi Development Authority, the Mississippi Department of Transportation or any other state agency, with or without consideration being paid or received, any real and/or personal property for use in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of a project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, and may accept such transfers or donations;

(ii) Make grants or other contributions of funds to any public agency and/or any local water association incorporated as a nonprofit corporation and located within such county for the purpose of defraying the costs incurred or to be incurred thereby in connection with water or wastewater-related infrastructure improvements, including one or more water tanks, related to the project, and/or undertake the acquisition of real and/or personal property, or interests therein, with respect to, and the design, engineering, construction and installation of, any water or wastewater-related infrastructure, including one or more water tanks, related to the project, and thereafter transfer and convey to any other public agency and/or any local water association any real and/or personal property for use in connection with water or wastewater-related infrastructure improvements, including one or more water tanks, related to the project, in consideration solely of the acceptance by the public agency and/or the local water association, as applicable, of such improvements and its agreement to operate the improvements to provide water or wastewater-related services to the project;

(iii) Make grants or other contributions of funds to a municipality located within such county for the purpose of defraying the costs incurred or to be incurred thereby in connection with natural gas-related infrastructure improvements related to the project, and/or undertake the acquisition of real and/or personal property, or interests therein, with respect to, and the design, engineering, construction and installation of, any natural gas-related infrastructure improvements related to the project, and thereafter transfer and convey to any such municipality any real and/or personal property for use in connection with natural gas-related infrastructure improvements related to the project, in consideration solely of the acceptance by the municipality of such improvements and its agreement to operate the improvements to provide natural gas-related services to the project;

(iv) Make grants or other contributions of funds to one another, or to the authority, the Mississippi Development Authority, the Mississippi Department of Transportation or any other state agency, for use in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of such a project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, and may accept such grants or contributions of funds;

(v) Make one or more grants or other contributions of funds to an enterprise or affiliate thereof owning and/or operating a project in such amount or amounts approved by such governing authority, and enter into an agreement with such enterprise that is binding on future governing authorities to make such grants or other contributions of funds; however, the duration of any such obligation of the public agency to make such grants or other contributions shall not exceed thirty (30) years; and

(vi) Provide firefighting, hazardous materials emergency response, technical rescue and medical response assistance to the enterprise owning or operating the project, and enter into an agreement binding on future governing authorities with such enterprise to provide such firefighting, hazardous materials emergency response, technical rescue and medical response assistance for a term not to exceed thirty (30) years, to be determined by the governing authority of the public agency entering into such agreement.

(e) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the public agency seeking to acquire any real property to be used in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, shall be exempt with respect to such property from the requirements of Section 43-37-3(1)(b) and (c) if the purchase price for such property equals the lowest price negotiated between the owner of the property and the public agency seeking to acquire the property, and at which the owner of the property is willing to sell the property, and any such public agency is further authorized to procure an option to purchase any such real property for such purchase price authorized by this subsection for the lowest option payment at which the owner of the property is willing to grant such option.

(f) In any county in which there is to be located a project, upon the conveyance or other disposition of land owned by a public agency for industrial purposes as provided by law for such project, the governing authority of the public agency controlling such lands may enter into a written agreement with the enterprise owning and/or operating such project pursuant to which such governing authority may agree to perpetually refrain from using the surface of such land upon which the project is located to access any minerals located thereunder in which such public agency has a retained ownership interest. Any such written agreement shall be binding upon future governing authorities.

(g) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the governing authority of the applicable public agency may enter into an agreement binding on future governing authorities, for any period not to exceed thirty (30) years to:

(i) Waive any and all fees and expenses associated with building permits and privilege licenses required for the project;

(ii) Establish and/or maintain a rate structure for water and natural gas supplied to the project and wastewater received from the project, which shall be no higher than the lowest tariff prices for such water, natural gas and wastewater charged to any customer of equal or lesser volume located within the boundaries of the public agency; and

(iii) Require any contractor hired by the public agency for purposes of entering onto the project site for such project to perform work related to the provision of water or natural gas supply or wastewater services, to procure customary liability insurance designating the enterprise owning or operating the project as an additional insured and to contractually indemnify such enterprise for any losses incurred by the enterprise as a result of such contractor's negligence and/or willful acts or omissions arising from the contractor's entry upon such project site.

(7)(a) As used in this subsection:

(i) “ Project ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 57-75-5(f) (xxxiii).

(ii) “ Public agency ” means the county in which the project is located, any municipality located in the county, and/or any economic development authority, economic development district, industrial development authority, port authority, airport authority, public utility or similar public agency created pursuant to state law.

(b) In any county in which there is to be located a project, any public agency is authorized to assist as provided in this paragraph in defraying the costs incurred or to be incurred by the enterprise establishing the project and/or any public agency in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project. Any such public agency may provide such assistance by contributing or lending any sum approved for such purpose by the governing authority of such public agency, upon such terms as the governing authority of such public agency may agree, to the entity or public agency that directly or indirectly incurs or will incur such costs or as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection. The proceeds of the contribution or loan shall be used by the recipient in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, including, without limitation, to defray the costs of site preparation, utilities, real estate purchases, purchase options and improvements, infrastructure, roads, rail improvements, public works, job training, as well as planning, design and environmental impact studies with respect to a project, and any other expenses approved by any such public agency. Any such public agency may alternatively provide such assistance by undertaking the acquisition of real and/or personal property, or interests therein, with respect to, and the design, engineering, construction and installation of, any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project regardless of whether it is the public agency authorized by applicable statutes to operate such facilities or public infrastructure and/or provide any utility services therefrom following the completion thereof; provided that, if the public agency is authorized by applicable statutes to operate such facilities or public infrastructure following the completion thereof, such public agency may transfer, and if the public agency is not authorized by applicable statutes to operate such facilities or public infrastructure and/or provide any utility services therefrom following the completion thereof, the public agency shall transfer such facilities or public infrastructure to another public agency that is authorized by applicable statutes to operate such facilities or public infrastructure and/or provide any utility services therefrom.

(c) In order to provide the amounts or otherwise perform any permitted actions set forth in paragraph (b) of this subsection:

(i) Any such county may appropriate monies from the county's general fund or provide such amounts from the proceeds of general obligation bonds or other indebtedness permitted by any local and private law or other general laws. Any such county may issue the bonds for such purpose pursuant to the procedures for the issuance of bonds under Title 19, Chapter 9, Mississippi Code of 1972, Section 19-5-99 or in any other manner permitted by any local and private law or other general laws;

(ii) Any public agency may borrow or accept grants or other funds of such amounts from the authority or the Mississippi Development Authority for such duration and upon such terms and conditions approved by the governing authority of such public agency and the authority or Mississippi Development Authority, as applicable; and

(iii) Any such county and/or municipality may enter into one or more agreements with the authority or Mississippi Development Authority approved by the board of supervisors of such county and/or the governing authority of such municipality, as applicable, to remit to the authority or Mississippi Development Authority, as applicable, on an annual or other periodic basis for a duration up to thirty (30) years, a portion of any fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes, together with a portion of any ad valorem taxes that the county and/or municipality derives from the project. Any such written agreement shall be binding upon future governing authorities of the county and/or municipality, as applicable.

(d) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the governing authorities of public agencies may:

(i) Transfer and convey among themselves, or to the authority, the Mississippi Development Authority, the Mississippi Department of Transportation or any other state agency, with or without consideration being paid or received, any real and/or personal property for use in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of a project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, and may accept such transfers or donations;

(ii) Make grants or other contributions of funds to any public agency and/or any local water association incorporated as a nonprofit corporation and located within such county for the purpose of defraying the costs incurred or to be incurred thereby in connection with water or wastewater-related infrastructure improvements, including one or more water tanks, related to the project, and/or undertake the acquisition of real and/or personal property, or interests therein, with respect to, and the design, engineering, construction and installation of, any water or wastewater-related infrastructure, including one or more water tanks, related to the project, and thereafter transfer and convey to any other public agency and/or any local water association any real and/or personal property for use in connection with water or wastewater-related infrastructure improvements, including one or more water tanks, related to the project, in consideration solely of the acceptance by the public agency and/or the local water association, as applicable, of such improvements and its agreement to operate the improvements to provide water or wastewater-related services to the project;

(iii) Make grants or other contributions of funds to one another, or to the authority, the Mississippi Development Authority, the Mississippi Department of Transportation or any other state agency, for use in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of such a project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, and may accept such grants or contributions of funds;

(iv) Make one or more grants or other contributions of funds to an enterprise or affiliate thereof owning and/or operating a project in such amount or amounts approved by such governing authority, and enter into an agreement with such enterprise that is binding on future governing authorities to make such grants or other contributions of funds; however, the duration of any such obligation of the public agency to make such grants or other contributions shall not exceed thirty (30) years; and

(v) Provide firefighting, hazardous materials emergency response, technical rescue and medical response assistance to the enterprise owning or operating the project, and enter into an agreement binding on future governing authorities with such enterprise to provide such firefighting, hazardous materials emergency response, technical rescue and medical response assistance for a term not to exceed thirty (30) years, to be determined by the governing authority of the public agency entering into such agreement.

(e) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the public agency seeking to acquire any real property to be used in connection with the location, construction and/or operation of the project or any facilities or public infrastructure related to the project, shall be exempt with respect to such property from the requirements of Section 43-37-3(1)(b) and (c) if the purchase price for such property equals the lowest price negotiated between the owner of the property and the public agency seeking to acquire the property, and at which the owner of the property is willing to sell the property, and any such public agency is further authorized to procure an option to purchase any such real property for such purchase price authorized by this subsection for the lowest option payment at which the owner of the property is willing to grant such option.

(f) In any county in which there is to be located a project, upon the conveyance or other disposition of land owned by a public agency for industrial purposes as provided by law for such project, the governing authority of the public agency controlling such lands may enter into a written agreement with the enterprise owning and/or operating such project pursuant to which such governing authority may agree to perpetually refrain from using the surface of such land upon which the project is located to access any minerals located thereunder in which such public agency has a retained ownership interest. Any such written agreement shall be binding upon future governing authorities.

(g) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the governing authority of the applicable public agency may enter into an agreement binding on future governing authorities, for any period not to exceed thirty (30) years, to:

(i) Waive or reduce any fees and expenses associated with building permits and privilege licenses required for the project;

(ii) Establish and/or maintain a rate structure for potable water to the project, nonpotable and treated, reclaimed wastewater supplied to the project for nonpotable purposes, and wastewater received from the project, which rates shall be established and/or maintained, as applicable, in the manner prescribed by state law and the local tariffs of the public agency providing such water and accepting such wastewater; and

(iii) Require any contractor hired by the public agency for purposes of entering onto the project site for such project to perform work related to the provision of water or wastewater services, to procure customary liability insurance designating the enterprise owning or operating the project as an additional insured and to contractually indemnify such enterprise for any losses incurred by the enterprise as a result of such contractor's negligence and/or willful acts or omissions arising from the contractor's entry upon such project site.

(h) In any county in which there is to be located a project, the governing authority of any public agency accepting and treating wastewater from the project may provide and sell to any public agency providing water to the project treated, reclaimed wastewater supplied for nonpotable purposes for resale by such public agency providing water to the project to any enterprise or affiliate thereof owning and/or operating the project or any portion thereof for use in the operation of the project for cooling or other exclusively nonpotable purposes. Such public agencies may enter into an agreement binding on future governing authorities thereof, for any period designated thereby, to memorialize the terms and conditions of the provision, sale and use of treated, reclaimed wastewater supplied for nonpotable purposes to the project, including, but not limited to, the rates applicable for such reclaimed wastewater supplied for nonpotable purposes.

(8) The powers and authority granted in this section are an additional, alternative and supplemental method for doing the things authorized by this section and are additional and supplemental to, and not in derogation of, any other powers conferred by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-114-9 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 78 / Section 114-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-114-9
Status: in_force

The total amount of the initial mFlex tax incentive determined and awarded by the authority to the certified applicant shall be calculated by the authority as follows:

(a) Subject to paragraph (f) below, one and one-half percent (1.5%) of the total purchase or sales price, or value, including any installation costs thereof, as applicable, of all manufacturing or processing machinery acquired, leased or otherwise moved into the state following the project certification date to establish and equip the qualified economic development project; plus

(b) Subject to paragraph (f) below, seven percent (7%) of the total purchase or sales price, or value, including any installation costs thereof, as applicable, of all nonmanufacturing equipment, other than tagged over-the-road vehicles, acquired, leased or otherwise moved into the state following the project certification date to establish and equip the qualified economic development project; plus

(c) Subject to paragraph (f) below, two percent (2%) of the total contract price or compensation paid to any contractor pursuant to any construction contract entered into following the project certification date by the qualified business or industry or any affiliate thereof, to construct, build, erect, repair or add to any building, facility, structure or other improvement to real property described in Section 27-65-21(1)(a)(i) to establish and construct the qualified economic development project; plus, if applicable;

(d) To the extent that the average employer wage is equal to or more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the average state or county wage, then an additional fifteen percent (15%) of the product derived by multiplying the average employer wage by the number of new full-time jobs; plus, if applicable;

(e)(i) To the extent that 1. the qualified economic development project is an enterprise enumerated in Section 2(x)(i) or Section 2(x)(ii) of this act; 2. the number of new full-time jobs totals fifty (50) or more; 3. the qualified investment totals Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) or more; 4. the average employer wage is equal to or more than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the average state or county wage; and 5. all full-time employees are eligible for and offered health insurance coverage funded in whole or at least fifty percent (50%) by the qualified business or industry (or by a leasing company with respect to leased employees), then an additional thirty percent (30%) of the product derived by multiplying the average employer wage by the number of new full-time jobs; or

(ii) To the extent that subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (e) does not apply, but 1. the number of new full-time jobs totals twenty-five (25) or more; 2. the average employer wage is equal to or more than one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the average state or county wage; and 3. all full-time employees are eligible for and offered health insurance coverage funded in whole or at least fifty percent (50%) by the qualified business or industry (or by a leasing company with respect to leased employees), then an additional thirty percent (30%) of the product derived by multiplying the average employer wage by the number of new full-time jobs; provided, however, that the initial mFlex tax incentive award amount determined by the authority and awarded on the project certification date shall be based upon estimates provided by the qualified business or industry to the authority with respect to paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, which estimates shall be memorialized as project performance measures agreed to by the qualified business or industry in the mFlex agreement; provided, further, that such initial award amount shall be subject to any subsequent adjustments made by the authority pursuant to Section 7 of this act;

(f) To the extent that all or any portion of the purchases to establish a qualified economic development project which are financed by proceeds from bonds issued pursuant to Section 57-10-201 et seq. or Section 57-10-401 et seq. , the mFlex tax incentive determined in accordance with this section shall exclude the amount calculated in accordance with paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above; provided that, this paragraph (f) shall not apply in determining the mFlex tax incentive for a qualified economic development project to the extent that (i) the qualified economic development project is an expansion of an existing project, (ii) all or any portion of the purchases to establish the existing project were financed by proceeds from bonds issued pursuant to Section 57-10-201 et seq. or Section 57-10-401 et seq. , and (iii) no purchases to establish the expansion constituting a qualified economic development project are financed by proceeds from bonds issued pursuant to Section 57-10-201 et seq. or Section 57-10-401 et seq.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-56-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 34 / Section 56-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-56-1
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created and established the Mississippi Office of Space and Technology, which office shall be administered and staffed by the Mississippi Development Authority.

(2) The Mississippi Development Authority shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

(a) Manage and control the Mississippi Office of Space and Technology, and recommend from time to time to the Governor such utilization of space available at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Stennis Space Center deemed appropriate as having a direct impact on the transfer of technology or commercial space activities;

(b) Establish a mechanism through which utilization of available space within the center can best be determined to be in the state's best interest, including leasing or subleasing and contracting authority;

(c) Provide an office for and maintain liaison with the NASA Stennis Space Center for a direct interface for technology transfer and economic development endeavors;

(d) Assist the Director of the University Research Center to examine the potential for including the establishment at or near the NASA Stennis Space Center of university research centers in engineering, science or technology in the strategy and planning for any future research and development programs for the state, such university centers to focus on areas of fundamental research and technology that are scientifically promising and have the potential to contribute to Mississippi's long-term economic competitiveness and growth;

(e) Encourage and facilitate collaboration among state and local governments, universities, the private sector, particularly small business, and the NASA Stennis Space Center and other federal laboratories in order to assist in the transfer of science and technology to the marketplace;

(f) Facilitate communication, coordination and cooperation between state and local technology transfer organizations and the Offices of Research and Technology Applications of federal laboratories; and

(g) Prepare and submit quarterly to the Governor a report summarizing the activities performed by the Mississippi Office of Space and Technology.

(3) The Mississippi Office of Space and Technology shall have the following functions and duties:

(a) In order to ensure that Mississippi benefits from and fully exploits scientific research and technology developed at the NASA Stennis Space Center and other federal laboratories, participate with the NASA Stennis Space Center not only in generating new knowledge and understanding in advanced technologies, but also in encouraging the swiftest possible transfer of federally developed science and technology to the private sector of the state;

(b) Be the conduit between and among the NASA Stennis Space Center and other federal laboratories and consortiums, state and local governments, universities and the private sector for the transfer of technology developed from federal research and development efforts at the NASA Stennis Space Center;

(c) Provide state and local governments, universities and the private sector with information on technology, expertise and facilities available at the NASA Stennis Space Center and other federal laboratories;

(d) Identify areas of research and technology of potential importance to long-term state economic competitiveness;

(e) Cooperate with and assist the NASA Stennis Space Center in broadening Mississippi's technology base by moving new knowledge from the research laboratory into the development of new products and processes;

(f) Provide a clearinghouse for requests received at the NASA Stennis Space Center for technical assistance from state agencies, units of local governments, businesses, industrial development organizations, not-for-profit organizations including universities, federal agencies and laboratories and other persons;

(g) Assist the private sector of Mississippi to participate, where appropriate, in federal technology exchange programs whereby scientists and engineers in the private sector may take temporary assignments in federal laboratories, and scientists and engineers in federal laboratories may take temporary assignments in the private sector;

(h) When requested, assist the NASA Stennis Space Center, colleges or universities, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, state agencies, local governments or regional organizations to establish programs to stimulate research and to encourage technology transfer in such areas as technology program development, curriculum design, long-term research planning, personnel needs projections and productivity assessments; and

(i) Encourage and participate in the establishment and operation of centers at or near the NASA Stennis Space Center, which centers may be affiliated with any university or other nonprofit institution, or any group thereof, that will have as objectives:

(i) The enhancement of technological innovation through the participation of individuals from federal laboratories, industry, universities and other nonprofit institutions, or any group thereof, in cooperative technological innovation activities; and

(ii) The improvement of mechanisms for the dissemination of scientific, engineering and technical information among federal laboratories, universities, other nonprofit institutions and industry.

(4) The public interest demands and the general welfare requires this procedure so that the comprehensive state policy on technology transfer may be implemented in the most effective, efficient and economical manner.

(5) It shall be the duty of every department, agency, office, institution and political subdivision of the State of Mississippi, and the officers thereof, to cooperate with and assist the Mississippi Office of Space and Technology in every reasonable way.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-39 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 40 / Section 44-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-39
Status: in_force

Sections 57-44-11 through 57-44-39 shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers herein granted, but this chapter shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-55-21 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 55 / Section 55-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-55-21
Status: in_force

The said board of trustees may employ such full and part-time employees as is necessary to perform the duties of the institutions set forth above consistent with the availability of funds. Reasonable compensation and reimbursement of expenses may be made to such employees and others who provide professional services to the research institutions established by this chapter, including other employees of the state of Mississippi whose duties are increased by rendition of professional services to such institutions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-25-9 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 1 / Section 25-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-25-9
Status: in_force

Pursuant to article III(a) of Section 57-25-1 , the southern states energy board shall submit its budgets of estimated expenditures to the legislative budget office for presentation to the Legislature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-55-15 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 30 / Section 55-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-55-15
Status: in_force

(1) The Mississippi Energy Research Center, hereinafter referred to as the MERC, is hereby established under the management and control of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning. The MERC shall be a unit of Mississippi State University under the direct supervision of the president thereof or a vice president to be designated by the president.

(2) It shall be the purpose of the MERC to develop, implement and coordinate energy and energy-related research programs in Mississippi. It shall be the duty of the MERC to:

(a) Conduct basic and applied research related to energy needs within Mississippi;

(b) Consult with state and local government agencies, utilities, industry and legislature and other potential users of research in identifying and prioritizing energy problems for research;

(c) Negotiate and administer contracts with other universities of the state for the conduct of research projects;

(d) Report to the governor and to the legislature each year on the progress and findings of research projects;

(e) Facilitate the transfer and application of new technologies as they are developed; and

(f) Facilitate and stimulate research that:

(i) Deals with policy issues facing the legislature;

(ii) Supports state agencies' missions with research on problems encountered and expected; and

(iii) Provides energy planning and management organizations with tools to increase efficiency and effectiveness of energy planning and management.

(3) The principal administrative officer of the MERC shall be a director, who shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning. To meet the purposes of the center, the director shall develop appropriate policies and procedures (a) for identification of priority research problems; (b) for collaborating with local and state government agencies, utilities, industry, other universities, federal government agencies and the legislature in the formulation of its research program; (c) for selection of projects to be funded; and (d) for the transfer of technology which is produced by the research.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-9 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 45 / Section 61-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-9
Status: in_force

(1) Any private company desiring assistance from a municipality shall submit to the municipality a letter of intent to locate, expand or build a facility entirely or partially within the municipality or on land the municipality is authorized to own or otherwise acquire. The letter of intent shall include:

(a) Except for strategic investments, a commitment that the proposed project will create and maintain a minimum of ten (10) net new full-time equivalent jobs, will create and maintain at least a five percent (5%) increase in full-time equivalent jobs in the case of expansion of an enterprise already located at the site or at least a twenty-five percent (25%) increase in full-time equivalent jobs pursuant to subsection (9) of Section 57-61-15 and will create and maintain at least one (1) net new full-time equivalent job for every Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($ 15,000.00) either loaned or granted for the project. The commitment required by this paragraph (a) shall include any jobs created prior to March 31, 1986 resulting from contracts entered into contingent upon assistance being made available under this chapter. All jobs required to be maintained by this paragraph (a) shall be maintained until such time as any loan made under this chapter for the benefit of a private company is repaid.

(b) A statement that the specific improvements are necessary for the efficient and cost-effective operation of the private company, together with supporting financial and engineering documentation.

(c) Any commitment to pay rental on, or to make loan repayments related to, the improvements to be made with funds loaned to a municipality under this chapter.

(d) If required by the Mississippi Development Authority, a notarized statement of willingness to grant a lien on the facility for which the improvement is being provided, in an amount and a manner to be determined by the Mississippi Development Authority, which lien may be foreclosed in the event that the private company fails to operate in the facility according to the terms of the agreement and/or to collateralize the loan made for the benefit of the private company for which the improvement is being provided in an amount and manner to be determined by the Mississippi Development Authority. In the event the contractual agreement is to be entered into with a department or subsidiary of the United States government, the Mississippi Development Authority shall determine that the governmental unit will operate the proposed project for a sufficient number of years to retire the loan based on increased revenue estimates by the University Research Center and any agreement entered into shall reflect that the interest paid on any loan for such purpose shall be included in Mississippi's contributory value in the project. In the event the private company requesting the assistance is a subsidiary of another corporation, if required by the Mississippi Development Authority, any contractual agreement entered into shall also require the parent company to unconditionally warrant the performance of the subsidiary in carrying out the terms of the agreement or it shall require the subsidiary and/or the parent company to pledge assets in an amount and a manner to be determined by the Mississippi Development Authority and/or to collateralize the loan in an amount and a manner to be determined by the Mississippi Development Authority to ensure the performance of the terms of the contract.

(2) Upon receipt of the letter of intent from a private company, the municipality may apply to the Mississippi Development Authority for a loan or grant. The application from the municipality shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) A statement of the purpose of the proposed loan or grant, including a list of eligible items and the cost of each.

(b) A statement showing the sources of funding for the entire project, including the private company's or governmental unit's investment in the project and any public and other private sources of funding.

(c) A certified copy of the signed letter of intent from a private company or governmental unit, as specified in this section.

(d) Evidence that there will be a private match of at least Three Dollars ($ 3.00) for every One Dollar ($ 1.00) of state assistance, except:

(i) In the case of ports the private match will be at least Two Dollars ($ 2.00) for every One Dollar ($ 1.00) of state assistance; and

(ii) In the case where the Mississippi Development Authority determines that a private company is a high technology enterprise the private match will be at least Two Dollars ($ 2.00) for every One Dollar ($ 1.00) of state assistance.

The Mississippi Development Authority shall establish criteria for determining whether a private company is a high technology enterprise.

(e) Demonstration that the private company is financially sound and is likely to fulfill the commitments made in its letter of intent.

(f) A proposed timetable for the provision of the improvements.

(g) Evidence that the project will be expeditiously carried out and completed as planned.

(h) A demonstration that insufficient local capital improvement funds at reasonable rates and terms are available within the necessary time to provide the needed improvement on public property. This includes local funds available through issuance of bonds or other means, state funds available through existing programs, and available federal program funds such as community development block grant funds, urban development action grant funds, and economic development administration funds.

(i) A demonstration that insufficient private funds are available at reasonable rates and terms within the necessary time to fund improvement on property owned by the private company.

(3) The Mississippi Development Authority shall consider grant and loan applications based on the following criteria:

(a) The number of net new full-time equivalent jobs that will be provided and the amount of additional state and local tax revenue estimated by the University Research Center to be directly generated by the private company's new investment, and additionally, as to loan applications by state agencies, the extent to which shipping through the port will be increased by the proposed port development projects, the degree to which jobs will be increased in the port area and the impact on port revenues.

(b) The ability to repay the principal and interest, in the case of a loan, based on increased revenue estimates and any revenue-producing provision of a contractual agreement.

(c) The increase in the employment base of the state.

The Mississippi Development Authority and the University Research Center may use the resources and capabilities of the planning and development districts in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

(4) No loan shall be made in excess of the amounts which can be repaid with the increased revenues estimated by the University Research Center, provided that this subsection (4) shall not apply to loans in connection with a United States Navy home port.

(5)(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in this chapter, an agency of the State of Mississippi operating a state-owned port, and hereinabove identified as a “ municipality ” and “ governmental unit ” for purposes of this chapter, may make application for a loan or grant under the terms and provisions of this chapter. In addition, a public agency operating a port bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, which shall be considered to be a “ municipality ” or a “ governmental unit ” for the purposes of this chapter, may make application for a loan or grant under the terms and provisions of this chapter from funds other than those funds authorized for a state-owned port under paragraph (e)(iii) of Section 57-61-11 . The application shall be initiated by submission of a letter of intent to engage in a project or projects for the purpose of effecting enlargement and improvement in all facilities used and useful in attracting international and foreign commerce through the port. Projects eligible for inclusion in the letter of intent may include, but not be restricted to:

(i) Dredging and deepening the access channel and harbor basin of the port;

(ii) Effecting the enlargement of the land area of the port by reclamation;

(iii) Construction and installation of piling, bulkheads, docks, wharves, warehouses and appurtenances; and

(iv) Acquisition of facilities and equipment for handling bulk and containerized cargo.

(b) With respect to a state-owned port bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, the letter of intent shall include the following information and any other information required by the Mississippi Development Authority:

(i) Present and future annual tonnages expected as a result of the improvements.

(ii) Reasons why present facilities are inadequate to enable the port to compete, including limitations imposed by insufficient depth of channel and basin.

(iii) Increased channel and basin depths necessary to accommodate modern shipping.

(iv) Comparison of the percentage of the world's cargo shipping that can now be accommodated with what could be accommodated with project improvements.

(v) Economic contribution to the region and state resulting from increased shipping activity.

(vi) Statement of degree to which port revenues are expected to be increased as a result of projects.

(vii) Financial data of port activities, including cost of project, degree of federal funding available and required local participation.

On or before January 1, 1989, a state-owned port described in this paragraph (b) shall submit to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee of the Mississippi Legislature a comprehensive, written report updating for each committee the information listed in items (i) through (vii) of this paragraph (b) with particular emphasis on the economic contribution to the region and state by shipping activity at the port; on financial data with respect to the degree of federal funding available and local participation in funding port activities; and on progress made in dredging and completing other improvements necessary to accommodate modern shipping.

(c) The Mississippi Development Authority shall consider grant and loan applications based on the following:

(i) The extent to which shipping through the port will be increased by the proposed projects.

(ii) The degree to which jobs will be increased in the port area.

(iii) Impact on port revenues.

(iv) The ability of the port to repay interest and principal in the case of a loan.

(6) A municipality may apply to the Mississippi Development Authority for a grant under the terms and provisions of this chapter, and the Mississippi Development Authority may award grants to a municipality subject to limitations contained in this chapter. The application shall be initiated by submission of a letter of intent to engage in a project or projects for the purpose of providing improvements necessary to accommodate a United States Navy home port.

(7) The Legislature hereby finds and determines that financing facilities necessary to accommodate a Navy home port serves a valid public purpose in that a Navy home port will significantly contribute to the employment base of the state which is in great need of assistance; provided, that in the event such facilities are no longer required for use by the Navy as a home port, such facilities shall revert as provided in Section 59-9-21 .

(8) Notwithstanding any provision or requirement of this chapter to the contrary, a municipality may make application for a loan under this chapter, in an amount not to exceed Five Million Dollars ($ 5,000,000.00), for the purpose of acquiring and developing land to be used as a technology/industrial park for which there is a binding commitment by one or more private companies to create and maintain not less than an aggregate of three hundred (300) jobs meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority. Such a commitment by a private company shall not disqualify the private company from obtaining assistance under this section. The match requirements of this section shall not apply to any loan made pursuant to this subsection (8).

(9) Notwithstanding any provision or requirement of this chapter to the contrary, a municipality operating a county-owned port or municipally owned port may make application for a loan under this chapter, in an amount not to exceed Three Million Dollars ($ 3,000,000.00), for the purpose of acquiring land, buildings and other improvements and for repairing, renovating, maintaining and improving such a port.

(10)(a) A municipality is authorized to negotiate a contract for the acquisition, construction and erection of a project or any portion of a project hereunder where a municipality finds that, because of the particular nature of a project or any portion thereof, it would be in the best public interest of the municipality to negotiate.

(b) Contracts by a private company for the acquisition, construction or erection of a project which receives assistance under this chapter shall be effected in the manner prescribed by law for public contracts, unless the Mississippi Development Authority makes a written finding that, because of special circumstances with respect to the projects or any portion thereof, it would better serve the public interest or more effectively achieve the purposes of this chapter to enter into such contracts based on negotiation.

(11) A municipality is authorized upon such terms and conditions as the municipality may deem advisable, provided such terms and conditions shall not be in conflict with the provisions of this chapter, to (a) acquire, whether by construction, purchase, gift or lease, all of or any portion of a project hereunder; (b) to lease or sell to others all of or any portion of a project hereunder; and (c) to lend to the private company the proceeds of the loan from the board to such municipality.

(12) All agreements between a municipality and a private company related directly or indirectly to a project or a portion of a project to be funded in whole or in part under this chapter are subject to approval by the Mississippi Development Authority.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-55-5 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 1 / Section 55-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-55-5
Status: in_force

(1) In order to promote the orderly modernization and simplification of the law of the state and more complete utilization of the law resources of this state, the Mississippi Law Research Institute, hereafter referred to as MLRI, is hereby established as an official advisory law revision, research and reform agency of the state of Mississippi under the management and control of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning as an academic department of the University of Mississippi Law Center.

(2) The general purpose of the MLRI shall be to promote and encourage the clarification and simplification of the law of Mississippi, to improve the administration of justice, and to carry on scholarly legal research in anticipation of legal requirements for the efficient utilization and conservation of the natural resources of the state and the promotion of social, agricultural, industrial and commercial development. To that end it shall be the duty of said institute (a) to consider needed improvements in both substantive and adjective law and to make recommendations concerning same to the legislature; (b) to examine and study the law of Mississippi and Mississippi jurisprudence with the object of discovering defects and inequities and of recommending needed reforms; (c) to receive and consider suggestions from judges, justices, public officials, lawyers and the public generally as to defects and anachronisms in the law; (d) to recommend from time to time such changes in the law as it deems necessary to reform or eliminate antiquated and inequitable rules of law and to bring the law of the state, both civil and criminal, into harmony with modern conditions; (e) to perform research and prepare reports on matters of law in support of the legislature; (f) to advise and assist local governments, state agencies and associations by performing law research and preparation of related material, such as statutes and ordinances, reports, manuals, handbooks, codes, and conducting courses of instruction for the more efficient application of law and utilization of governmental resources; and (g) to prepare and publish texts and other scholarly works on law and procedure to aid in the administration of government within the state. In addition, the MLRI in cooperation with the legislature and its staff shall devise and carry out a plan for continuous and comprehensive improvement in the utility and quality of the Mississippi Code. The MLRI shall coordinate its efforts with the work of the American Law Institute, National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, the law and government institutes of the several states, and other such organizations in aid of the mission of said institute.