Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 4 / Section 31-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-1
Status: in_force

Any county in the State of Mississippi bordering on the Mississippi-Alabama state line, traversed by the Tombigbee River and in which is situated a senior institution of higher learning under the control of the Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning of the State of Mississippi, where the board of supervisors of such county shall find and determine that the public convenience and necessity requires the same, as evidenced by a resolution duly adopted and entered on the official minutes of such board, shall establish an industrial development authority, to be known as the industrial development authority of such county. The county industrial development authority shall be composed of seven (7) resident citizens of such county, who shall be qualified electors therein, appointed by the board of supervisors of such county for a term of four (4) years. One (1) member of such authority shall be appointed by the board of supervisors from each of the five (5) supervisors' districts of said county, and the remaining two (2) members thereof shall be appointed from the county-at-large by said board of supervisors, from a list of four (4) nominees recommended by a nonprofit industrial development foundation operating within such county. Upon the creation of such authority, the members appointed thereto from supervisor district numbers one (1) and two (2) of such county shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year; the members thereof appointed from supervisor district numbers three (3) and four (4) shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years; the members thereof appointed from the county-at-large shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years; and the members thereof appointed from supervisor district number five (5) shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years. Thereafter, all appointments to such authority shall be for a term of four (4) years, or until a successor is qualified and appointed.

Said authority may, with the approval of the board of supervisors of the county in which the same is situated, authorize appointment of two (2) additional associate members of said authority to be appointed by the board of supervisors of any counties adjacent and contiguous to the county in which such authority is created, to serve without a vote.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-57-7 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 33 / Section 57-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-57-7
Status: in_force

The Certified Development Company of Mississippi, Inc., is hereby given the authority to create a committee to assist the company in implementing this chapter and establishing a source of guarantees and financial assistance to support export development, particularly to small business as defined in Section 503 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended. The company is hereby authorized to:

(a) Utilize any funds not to exceed one million dollars ($ 1,000,000.00), authorized to be expended under Chapter 10, Title 57, Mississippi Code of 1972 .

(b) Provide a guarantee against political or commercial loss in whole or in part of the outstanding principal balance on any eligible export trade transaction. Such a guarantee may include, without limitation, the cost of insurance provided by the exporting business against loss up to a stated amount. The maximum amount payable under any guarantee shall be specifically set forth in writing, and shall not exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the total principal amount. The amount of all outstanding loan guarantees shall not exceed five million dollars ($ 5,000,000.00) at any one (1) time. A reasonable and legal guarantee fee may be set by the company. Any guarantee entered into by the company hereunder shall not constitute a general obligation of the state of Mississippi. Any guarantee made by the company hereunder shall not be terminated, cancelled, or otherwise revoked except in accordance with the terms thereof; shall be conclusive evidence that such guarantee complies fully with the provisions of this chapter; and shall be valid and incontestable in the hands of a holder in due course of a guaranteed eligible export trade transaction.

(c) Prior to providing a guarantee, the participating bank shall make a thorough credit investigation of the exporting business in order to determine its viability, the economic benefits to be derived therefrom, the prospects for repayment, and such other facts as it deems necessary in order to determine that such a guarantee is consistent with the purpose of this chapter. The company shall provide a guarantee if, and only if and to the extent that, it determines that such a guarantee is reasonably necessary in order to stimulate or facilitate the making of the eligible export trade transaction, upon terms which will enable the export transaction to be reasonably competitive with export transactions in other states or in foreign countries, or such guarantee is reasonably necessary in order to stimulate or facilitate the sale or resale of such eligible export trade transaction to a holder in due course which would not otherwise purchase such eligible export trade transaction; provided, however, that the guarantee provided by the company to the bank shall be loaned to the business at a fixed interest rate and term as the company may from time to time require. The interest rate and term of such loan shall not be in violation of the 1947 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The company may condition the provision of guarantee hereunder upon such terms and conditions as it may deem desirable to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-18-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 18 / Section 18-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-18-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Renewable Natural Resources Research Act of 1994.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-21-5 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 4 / Section 21-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-21-5
Status: in_force

The laboratory shall be located on the main campus of Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, hereinafter referred to as the university. Housing and facilities of the laboratory shall be in the university chemistry department building or in separate quarters nearby in a building or buildings provided by legislative appropriation. The university shall provide building and facilities maintenance, utilities, fiscal, purchasing, data processing, collection, and delivery services and all other services and equipment available to other departments.

The laboratory shall pay for such services or equipment from its funds at rates mutually agreed upon by university and laboratory representatives, but not to exceed those charged other departments of the university.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-77-11 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 69 / Section 77-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-77-11
Status: in_force

(1) The Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation shall be formed and operated pursuant to the laws of this state. The articles of incorporation, bylaws and any other agreement relating to the organization or operation of the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation must comply with the provisions set forth in this section. The Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation will be a for profit corporation.

(2) The executive director of the department shall cause the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation to be formed, and he shall designate the incorporators. The initial board of directors shall consist of five (5) members, all of whom will be appointed by the executive director of the department. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (2), members of the initial board of directors shall serve staggered terms as follows: three (3) for terms of five (5) years each and two (2) for terms of three (3) years each. The terms of the members of the board of directors in place (including any initial directors and successors), shall expire on April 17, 1998, and such persons shall cease to serve on the board of directors and shall relinquish all powers and control of the corporation and assets of the corporation. From and after April 17, 1998, the board of directors shall be composed of five (5) members, three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the Governor and two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. Members of the initial board, appointed from and after April 17, 1998, shall serve staggered terms as follows: one (1) member appointed by the Governor for a term of one (1) year, one (1) member appointed by the Governor for a term of two (2) years, one (1) member appointed by the Governor for a term of three (3) years, one (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor for a term of four (4) years, and one (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor for a term of five (5) years. If the position of an initial director, appointed from and after April 17, 1998, becomes vacant through death, resignation or otherwise, the appropriate appointing authority shall appoint another person to complete the unexpired term. If the position of a successor director becomes vacant through death, resignation or otherwise, the appropriate appointing authority shall appoint another person to complete the unexpired term. After the terms of the initial directors, appointed from and after April 17, 1998, expire, successors shall be chosen by the appropriate appointing authority and shall serve for terms of five (5) years. The appropriate appointing authority may remove a member of the board of directors if, in the opinion of the appointing authority, the board member is not performing his or her duties in a manner consistent with the provisions of this chapter. Members of the initial board, appointed from and after April 17, 1998, and successor directors are eligible to succeed themselves if reappointed by the appropriate appointing authority. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two (2) nonvoting advisory members to the board. Such nonvoting advisory members shall serve for terms concurrent with the term of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. If the position of an advisory member becomes vacant through death, resignation or otherwise, the Speaker shall appoint another person to complete the unexpired term. Members of the board shall receive a per diem as provided in Section 25-3-69 , for each day or fraction thereof in performance of their duties, and shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in Section 25-3-41 . Members of the board shall receive no compensation other than that provided in this subsection (2). If a director is a full-time state employee, he may not receive per diem.

(3) The articles of incorporation shall provide that the name of the entity is the “Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation,” and the registered agent shall be designated by the executive director of the department. The Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation's existence begins upon filing of the articles of incorporation. The Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation's existence is perpetual, unless dissolved as provided herein. The Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation is authorized to issue shares of a number, class and par or no-par value as provided in its articles of incorporation. The general nature of the business of the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation is to serve as general partner of the Magnolia Venture Capital Fund Limited Partnership, to provide venture capital to Mississippi businesses, to provide financing to high-growth oriented businesses, and to undertake any acts appropriate or necessary to carry out the foregoing. Consistent with the provisions of this chapter, the bylaws, the organizational minutes, the election of officers, the issuance of any stock of the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation, and any other actions appropriate or necessary for the organization and operation of the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation shall be of that form and content as determined by the board of directors. Nothing contained in this chapter may prohibit the shareholders or board of directors of the corporation from altering, amending or otherwise modifying the articles of incorporation, bylaws or any other agreement governing the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation as otherwise permitted under the laws of this state, except that the method of electing directors shall not be amended, altered or otherwise modified; except that the general nature of the business of the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation may not be amended, altered or otherwise modified or restricted; and except that the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation may be dissolved, merged or otherwise cease to exist pursuant to the appropriate vote of the board of directors and shareholders. The executive director of the department may expend any discretionary funds he has available and considers appropriate for the purpose of organizing the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation and promoting the sale of the qualified investments.

(4) The Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation shall cause the fund to be formed as a limited partnership. The partnership agreement relating to the organization and operation of the fund must be of that form and content as determined by the board of directors of the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation. The Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation shall be the sole general partner of the fund, and the initial limited partner shall be a person or entity designated by the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation's board of directors. Additional limited partners may be admitted to the fund in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement.

(5) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (8), the fund shall raise funds to provide financing to high-growth oriented businesses. A “ high-growth oriented business ” is a corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, trust, proprietorship, or other similar entity or organization which is expected to experience significant sales growth over the subsequent five-year period. All investments made from investment monies raised by the fund, for which the tax credit provided by this chapter is allowed and for which the tax credit is made available by the fund in the prospectus or offering, must be made to provide venture capital to Mississippi businesses, this venture capital to be used primarily for the purpose of enhancing the production capacity of these businesses or their ability to do business in Mississippi. Seventy percent (70%) of these investment monies acquired by the fund for which the tax credit is allowed and available must be invested to provide venture capital financing of start-up businesses. The remaining thirty percent (30%) may be invested as the general partner of the fund determines to provide capital to Mississippi businesses.

(6)(a) No business may be transacted or indebtedness incurred (not including indebtedness authorized to be incurred in Sections 57-77-15 and 57-77-17 ) except that as is incidental to the organization of the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation or of the fund or to obtaining subscriptions to or payment for qualified interests, until consideration of Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($ 4,500,000.00) has been paid as a capital investment by a private investor or private investors to Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation or to the fund. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation and/or the fund shall always maintain a capital investment from a private investor or private investors of at least Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($ 4,500,000.00). If the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation and/or the fund fail to obtain a capital investment from a private investor or private investors of at least Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($ 4,500,000.00), or if after having obtained such investment, the total of the private capital investments ever falls below Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($ 4,500,000.00), Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation and the fund shall suspend making investments and incurring indebtedness, and, if so directed by Magnolia Capital Corporation, the board of directors of Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation shall dissolve Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation and the fund in the manner provided by law and direct that all sums, causes of action and other assets held by the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation and the fund be paid and/or assigned to the State Treasurer who shall administer such sums and other assets as provided by law.

(b) If directed by Magnolia Capital Corporation pursuant to Section 57-77-9(5) , the board of directors of Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation shall dissolve Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation and the fund in the manner provided by law and direct that all sums, causes of action and other assets held by the Magnolia Venture Capital Corporation and the fund be paid and/or assigned to the State Treasurer who shall administer such sums and other assets as provided by law.

(7) All securities issued by either the Mississippi Venture Capital Corporation or the fund shall be exempt securities with regard to the Mississippi Uniform Securities Act.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-5 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 56 / Section 61-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-5
Status: in_force

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Department ” means the Mississippi Development Authority.

(b) “ Board ” means the Mississippi Development Authority operating through its executive director.

(c) “ Improvements ” means the construction, rehabilitation or repair of drainage systems; energy facilities (power generation and distribution); fire safety facilities (excluding vehicles); sewer systems (pipe treatment); transportation directly affecting the site of the proposed investment, including roads, sidewalks, bridges, rail, port, river, airport or pipeline (excluding vehicles); bulkheads; buildings; and facilities necessary to accommodate a United States Navy home port; and means land reclamation; waste disposal; water supply (storage, treatment and distribution); land acquisition; and the dredging of channels and basins.

(d) “ Municipality ” means any county or any incorporated city, or town, acting individually or jointly, or any agency of the State of Mississippi operating a state-owned port.

(e) “ Private company ” means any agricultural, aquacultural, maricultural, industrial, manufacturing, service, tourism, or research and development enterprise or enterprises. The term “private company” shall not include any retail trade enterprise except regional shopping malls having a minimum capital investment of One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00). The term “private company” shall not include any medical cannabis establishment as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act. No more than fifteen percent (15%) of the aggregate funds made available under this chapter shall be used to fund aquacultural, maricultural and tourism enterprises. The funds made available to tourism enterprises under this chapter shall be limited to infrastructure improvements and to the acquisition of land and shall not be made available to fund tourism promotions or to fund the construction, improvement or acquisition of hotels and/or motels or to finance or refinance any obligations of hotels and/or motels.

(f) “ Governmental unit ” means a department or subsidiary of the United States government, or an agency of the State of Mississippi operating a state-owned port.

(g) “ Private match ” means any new private investment by the private company and/or governmental unit in land, buildings, depreciable fixed assets, and improvements of the project used to match improvements funded under this chapter. The term “ private match ” includes improvements made prior to the effective date of this chapter [Laws, 1986, Chapter 419, effective March 31, 1986] pursuant to contracts entered into contingent upon assistance being made available under this chapter.

(h) “ Publicly owned property ” means property which is owned by the local, state or United States government and is not under the control of a private company.

(i) “ Director ” means the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority.

(j) “ Small community ” means a county with a population of twenty-five thousand (25,000) or less; or a municipality with a population of ten thousand (10,000) or less and any area within five (5) miles of the limits of such municipality, according to the most recent federal decennial census.

(k) “ Strategic investment ” means an investment by the private and public sectors that will have a major impact on job creation and maintenance in the state of no less than one hundred fifty (150) jobs, that will have a major impact on enlargement and enhancement of international and foreign trade and commerce to and from the State of Mississippi, or which is considered to be unique to the state and have statewide or regional impact as determined by the department.

(l) “ Seller ” means the State Bond Commission or the State Development Bank.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-47-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 21 / 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. § 57-27-7 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 7 / Section 27-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-27-7
Status: in_force

(1) The travel and tourism department of the board is hereby authorized, upon approval of the board, to make grants, from funds specifically appropriated for such purposes, to regional tourist promotion councils to assist such councils in the financing of promotional and advertising programs and to encourage and stimulate tourist travel and vacation business within the region. Provided, that before any such grant may be made, the regional tourist promotional council shall have made application to the board for such grant, and shall have set forth therein the promotion and advertising program and project, or projects, proposed to be undertaken for the purpose of encouraging and stimulating the tourist travel and vacation business within the region. The application shall further state, under oath or affirmation, the amount of funds held by or committed or subscribed to the regional tourist promotion council for application to the purposes herein described and the amount of the grant for which application is made.

(2) The board, after review of the application, if satisfied that the program of the regional tourist promotion council appears to be in accord with the purposes of this chapter, shall authorize the making of a matching grant to such regional tourist promotion council equal to the funds of the council allocated by it to the program described in the application; provided, however, that the state grant shall not exceed an amount equal to the total amount apportioned to the region as outlined herein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-57-11 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 26 / Section 57-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-57-11
Status: in_force

The board is hereby authorized to assist in the creation of and actively participate in an export trading company as defined in Title I, Section 103 of the United States Export Trading Company Act of 1982 to promote and facilitate increased exports in Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-9-3 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 7 / Section 9-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-9-3
Status: in_force

It is hereby declared that the state public welfare demands, and the state public policy requires:

(a) That a balanced economic development of this state is essential.

(b) That the present and prospective health, safety, morals, pursuit of happiness, right of gainful employment and the general welfare of the citizens demand as a public purpose, the development within Mississippi of trade preparatory or industrial plant training and recruitment program for the various commercial, industrial, agricultural and manufacturing enterprises.

(c) That the means and measures herein authorized to promote said commercial, industrial, agricultural and manufacturing enterprises, are as a matter of public policy, for the public purposes of increasing gainful employment and business activities of the municipalities, counties, and supervisors districts of Mississippi, hereinafter called “municipalities.”

(d) That the currently existing critical gap in the employment and use of skilled and semiskilled residents of the state resulting from deficient training programs and facilities be eliminated, and that the proper promotion of the health, safety, morals, pursuit of happiness, right of gainful employment, and the general welfare of the state demands the enactment of the program herein authorized.

(e) That the accomplishment of the things herein authorized will stimulate and provide ready and attractive employment for the skilled and semiskilled residents of the state through the proper increase of the skilled and semiskilled labor force available which will further develop the agricultural, commercial, industrial and other resources of the state for the general welfare.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-37 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 39 / Section 44-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-37
Status: in_force

The State Treasurer is authorized to certify to the Department of Finance and Administration the necessity for warrants, and the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration is authorized and directed to issue such warrants, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, or the accreted value of, all bonds issued under Sections 57-44-11 through 57-44-39 ; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-77-31 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 71 / Section 77-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-77-31
Status: in_force

(1) All bonds issued under the authority of this chapter shall be redeemed at maturity, together with all interest due, from time to time, on the bonds, and these principal and interest payments shall be paid from the general fund.

(2) In the event that all or any part of the bonds and notes are purchased, they shall be canceled and returned to the loan and transfer agent as canceled and paid bonds and notes; and, thereafter, all payments of interest thereon shall cease and the canceled bonds, notes and coupons shall be destroyed as promptly as possible after cancellation but not later than two (2) years after cancellation. A certificate evidencing the destruction of the canceled bonds, notes and coupons shall be provided by the loan and transfer agent to the seller.

(3) The State Treasurer shall determine and report to the Department of Finance and Administration and Joint Legislative Budget Office by September 1 of each year the amount of money necessary for the payment of the principal of and interest on outstanding obligations for the following fiscal year and the times and amounts of the payments. It shall be the duty of the Governor to include in every executive budget submitted to the Legislature full information relating to the issuance of bonds and notes under the provisions of this chapter and the status of the general fund for the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds and notes.

(4) Except as otherwise provided by law, the rate of interest on any loans made using funds from the Venture Capital Fund shall be in accordance with Section 57-77-17 . Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, the interest rate charged shall not be set such that the aggregate of the interest, penalties and other payments in connection with such assistance made using funds from the Venture Capital Fund will cause the bonds issued pursuant to this chapter to be deemed arbitrage bonds pursuant to Section 148 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the regulations promulgated thereunder. In the case of assistance initially funded from the proceeds of notes and subsequently funded from renewal bonds and notes, the interest rate to be charged on the assistance shall be established in accordance with Section 57-77-17 upon the sale of bonds or notes, as the case may be, for such assistance.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-114-21 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 67 / Section 114-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-114-21
Status: in_force

From and after January 1, 2023, if the amount of any mFlex tax incentive or other incentive that a qualified business or other entity is eligible to receive under the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive Act is less than the amount of the mFlex tax incentive or other incentive that the qualified business or other entity would have been eligible to receive or to use if the mFlex tax incentive or other incentive had been calculated using any applicable income tax rates in Section 27-7-5, Mississippi Code of 1972 , that were in effect before January 1, 2023, then the qualified business or other entity shall receive a grant from the Mississippi Development Authority equal to the difference between such two amounts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-21 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 47 / Section 61-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-21
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created a special fund in the State Treasury to be known as the Mississippi Business Investment Fund dedicated to the purpose of providing grants and/or loans to municipalities for the purpose of providing for improvements authorized by this chapter. All monies received by the board to carry out the purposes of this chapter, by legislative appropriation, issuance of bonds or otherwise, shall be deposited into the Mississippi Business Investment Fund. Expenditures authorized herein shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants drawn from the Mississippi Business Investment Fund, and the State Auditor, or his successor to such duties, shall issue warrants upon requisitions signed by the Chairman or Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority.

(2) Any monies repaid to the state from loans funded through the Mississippi Business Investment Fund shall be deposited into the Mississippi Business Investment Sinking Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury. Funds required in excess of the amounts available in the Mississippi Business Investment Sinking Fund to retire bonds issued pursuant to this chapter shall be appropriated from the State General Fund.

(3) Monies in the fund which are derived from the proceeds of general obligation bonds or provided by the Legislature may be used to reimburse reasonable actual and necessary costs incurred by the MDA for the administration of the various grant, loan and financial incentive programs administered by the MDA. An accounting of actual costs incurred for which reimbursement is sought shall be maintained by the MDA. Reimbursement of reasonable actual and necessary costs shall not exceed three percent (3%) of the proceeds of bonds issued or the monies provided by the Legislature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-39-13 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 27 / Section 39-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-39-13
Status: in_force

Hearings shall be open to the public and shall be held upon such call or notice as the board shall deem advisable, in compliance with and as directed by federal and state statutes. The chairman, vice chairman or employee of the board designated by it to hold any inquiry, investigation or hearing shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations and certify to all official acts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-77-19 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 69 / Section 77-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-77-19
Status: in_force

The department shall assist the Magnolia Capital Corporation with such corporation's compliance with the program provided for in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-15-17 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 4 / Section 15-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-15-17
Status: in_force

The executive director of the council shall keep regular and accurate minutes of the council's proceedings in a minute book provided for that purpose which shall be a public record and all findings and recommendations and acts of the said council shall be entered upon its minutes as may be necessary for its official acts, deeds, expenditures and other major objectives to be in keeping with established state agencies.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-35 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 13 / Section 31-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-35
Status: in_force

(1) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) “ Authority ” means an industrial development authority created pursuant to this chapter or an economic development district created pursuant to Section 19-5-99 of any county in which an industrial development authority is created pursuant to this chapter.

(b) “ Costs of a megasite project ” means all costs of a megasite project including site preparation and other start-up costs, construction, fixtures and real and personal property required for the purposes of a megasite project, whether publicly or privately owned, including land and any rights or undivided interest therein, options, easements, franchises, fees, permits, approvals, licenses, and certificates and the securing of such permits, approvals, licenses, and certificates and all machinery and equipment; any cost associated with the closure, post-closure maintenance or corrective action on environmental matters, financing charges and interest prior to and during development and/or construction and during such additional period necessary for the development and operation of a megasite project; costs of engineering, surveying, environmental, geotechnical, architectural and legal services; costs of plans and specifications and all expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of a megasite project; administrative expenses; and such other expenses as may be necessary or incidental to the financing authorized in this chapter. The costs of a megasite project may also include funds for the creation of a debt service reserve, a renewal and replacement reserve, bond insurance and credit enhancement, and such other reserves as may be authorized by any bond resolution or trust agreement or indenture pursuant to the provisions of which the issuance of any such bonds may be authorized by a county board of supervisors pursuant to subsection (3) below. Any obligation or expense incurred for any of the foregoing purposes shall be regarded as a part of the costs of a megasite project and may be paid or reimbursed as such out of the proceeds of any revenues obtained by the county including, without limitation, special assessments, general obligation bonds or notes issued pursuant to Section 19-9-1 et seq. or revenue bonds or notes.

(c) “ Facilities related to a megasite ” means and includes the acquisition, construction, restoration, repair, renovation, improvement, demolition or removal of any of the following, or any portion thereof, as they may pertain to a megasite and/or the development of one or more industrial projects thereon: (i) megasite preparation and improvements (including clearing, grubbing and grading activities); (ii) potable and nonpotable water supply systems that will serve the megasite or any portion thereof, whether or not such potable and nonpotable water supply systems are located on or outside of the megasite; (iii) sewage and waste disposal systems that will serve the megasite or any portion thereof, whether or not such sewage and waste disposal systems are located on or outside of the megasite; (iv) storm water drainage and other drainage systems that will serve the megasite or any portion thereof, whether or not such storm water drainage and other drainage systems are located on or outside of the megasite; (v) highways, streets and other roadways located upon the megasite or which are otherwise necessary to provide any access to and from the megasite or any portion thereof; (vi) fire suppression and prevention systems that will serve the megasite or any portion thereof, whether or not such fire suppression and prevention systems are located on or outside of the megasite; (vii) utility distribution systems, including, but not limited to, electricity, natural gas, telephone and other information and telecommunications facilities, whether by wire, fiber or wireless means, that will serve the megasite, whether or not such utility distribution systems are located on or outside of the megasite; provided that this subsection (vii) shall not empower the authority to acquire, construct, restore, repair, renovate, improve, demolish or remove any utility distribution system with respect to the megasite or any portion thereof which the authority is not otherwise already permitted to do under other applicable law; (viii) any other purposes authorized by or defined in Section 19-9-1 .

(d) “ Megasite project ” means the acquisition and development of a megasite by an authority created pursuant to this chapter for purposes of establishing a new industrial park or a single or multiple parcel industrial development zone to attract significant single- or multi-use industrial development projects, together with, as applicable, any industrial project undertaken on a megasite and/or any facilities related to a megasite.

(e) “ Megasite ” means any single tract or combination of contiguous tracts, excluding intervening roadways, railways, waterways or utility-ways, of at least eight hundred (800) acres acquired or otherwise under the control of an authority for the purposes of undertaking a megasite project on all or portion thereof; provided that, in the event a megasite initially contains at least eight hundred (800) acres, the use of the term megasite shall also include any adjoining real property tracts that are subsequently acquired or otherwise brought under the control of such authority.

(2) An authority is authorized and empowered to:

(a) Acquire by gift, purchase or otherwise, and to own, hold, maintain, control and develop real estate situated within the county and/or any interests therein for the purposes of undertaking a megasite project;

(b) Acquire by gift, purchase or otherwise, and to own, hold, repair, maintain, control and develop any facilities related to a megasite;

(c) Sell, lease, sublease, sub-sub lease, sell and leaseback, lease and sublease-back, trade, exchange or otherwise convey or dispose of a megasite project or any portions thereof or any interests therein to individuals, firms or business enterprises, public or private; in each of the above instances for such consideration, and with such safeguards as are determined by the authority will best promote and protect the public interest, convenience and necessity, and to enter into and execute purchase options, purchase agreements, deeds, leases, subleases, development agreements and other contracts, easements and other legal instruments necessary or convenient therefor. Such authority is further authorized and empowered to undertake any of the preceding authorized transactions, and enter into and execute any contract, agreement or instruments with respect thereto on the basis of negotiation with the authority without the necessity of any appraisal, advertisement for proposals, bids or offers, or of any other public procurement or sale requirements.

(3) The county board of supervisors of any county in which an authority is created pursuant to this chapter is authorized to (a) (i) incur bonded and floating indebtedness by issuing general obligation bonds, revenue bonds or special assessment bonds as authorized by any statute authorizing the issuance of such bonds, (ii) accept and borrow any loan from the federal government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and/or (iii) incur any other indebtedness in any manner for which it is authorized by law to incur debt, (b) may appropriate funds for the purposes and in the manner prescribed by law, and (c) may accept and utilize grants, donations or contributions from any source, whether public or private, to fund any costs of a megasite project. Any revenues derived from a project financed with indebtedness incurred pursuant to this section may be pledged, in whole or in part, by such county board of supervisors to secure payment of the bonded indebtedness incurred to finance a project.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-62-5 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 56 / Section 62-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-62-5
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Qualified business or industry ” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietorship, business trust or other legal entity and subunits or affiliates thereof, pursuant to rules and regulations of the MDA, which provides an average annual salary, excluding benefits which are not subject to Mississippi income taxes, of at least one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the most recently published state average annual wage or the most recently published average annual wage of the county in which the qualified business or industry is located as determined by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, whichever is the lesser. An establishment shall not be considered to be a qualified business or industry unless it offers, or will offer within one hundred eighty (180) days of the date it receives the first incentive payment pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, a basic health benefits plan to the individuals it employs in new direct jobs in this state which is approved by the MDA. Qualified business or industry does not include retail business or gaming business;

(b) “ New direct job ” means full-time employment in this state in a qualified business or industry that has qualified to receive an incentive payment pursuant to this chapter, which employment did not exist in this state before the date of approval by the MDA of the application of the qualified business or industry pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. “New direct job” shall include full-time employment in this state of employees who are employed by an entity other than the establishment that has qualified to receive an incentive payment and who are leased to the qualified business or industry, if such employment did not exist in this state before the date of approval by the MDA of the application of the establishment;

(c) “ Full-time job ” means a job of at least thirty-five (35) hours per week;

(d) “ Estimated direct state benefits ” means the tax revenues projected by the MDA to accrue to the state as a result of the qualified business or industry;

(e) “ Estimated direct state costs ” means the costs projected by the MDA to accrue to the state as a result of the qualified business or industry;

(f) “ Estimated net direct state benefits ” means the estimated direct state benefits less the estimated direct state costs;

(g) “ Net benefit rate ” means the estimated net direct state benefits computed as a percentage of gross payroll, provided that:

(i) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (g), the net benefit rate may be variable and shall not exceed four percent (4%) of the gross payroll; and shall be set in the sole discretion of the MDA;

(ii) In no event shall incentive payments, cumulatively, exceed the estimated net direct state benefits;

(h) “ Gross payroll ” means wages for new direct jobs of the qualified business or industry; and

(i) “ MDA ” means the Mississippi Development Authority.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-1-18 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 1 / Section 1-18
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-1-18
Status: in_force

(1) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Limited population county ” means a county in the State of Mississippi with a population of thirty thousand (30,000) or less according to the most recent federal decennial census at the time the county submits its application to the MDA under this section.

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

(c) “ Project ” means highways, streets and other roadways, bridges, sidewalks, utilities, airfields, airports, acquisition of equipment, acquisition of real property, development of real property, improvements to real property, and any other project approved by the MDA.

(d) “ Small municipality ” means a municipality in the State of Mississippi with a population of ten thousand (10,000) or less according to the most recent federal decennial census at the time the municipality submits its application to the MDA under this section. The term “ small municipality ” also includes a municipal historical hamlet as defined in Section 17-27-5 .

(2)(a) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the “Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties Fund,” which shall consist of funds appropriated or otherwise made available by the Legislature in any manner and funds from any other source designated for deposit into such fund. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any investment earnings or interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund. Monies in the fund shall be used to make grants to small municipalities and limited population counties or natural gas districts created by law and contained therein to assist in completing projects under this section.

(b) Monies in the fund which are derived from proceeds of bonds issued under Sections 1 through 16 of Chapter 538, Laws of 2002, Sections 1 through 16 of Chapter 508, Laws of 2003, Sections 55 through 70 of Chapter 1, Laws of 2004 Third Extraordinary Session, Sections 1 through 16 of Chapter 482, Laws of 2006, Section 15 of Chapter 580, Laws of 2007, Section 1 of Chapter 503, Laws of 2008, Section 42 of Chapter 557, Laws of 2009, Section 38 of Chapter 533, Laws of 2010, Section 41 of Chapter 480, Laws of 2011, Section 30 of Chapter 569, Laws of 2013, Section 4 of Chapter 530, Laws of 2014, Section 11 of Chapter 472, Laws of 2015, Section 19 of Chapter 511, Laws of 2016, Section 5 of Chapter 452, Laws of 2018, Section 19 of Chapter 454, Laws of 2019, or Section 11 of Chapter 492, Laws of 2020, may be used to reimburse reasonable actual and necessary costs incurred by the MDA for the administration of the various grant, loan and financial incentive programs administered by the MDA. An accounting of actual costs incurred for which reimbursement is sought shall be maintained by the MDA. Reimbursement of reasonable actual and necessary costs shall not exceed three percent (3%) of the proceeds of bonds issued. Reimbursements under this subsection shall satisfy any applicable federal tax law requirements.

(3) The MDA shall establish a grant program to make grants to small municipalities and limited population counties from the Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties Fund. Grants made under this section to a small municipality or a limited population county shall not exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) during any grant period established by the MDA. A small municipality or limited population county may apply to the MDA for a grant under this section in the manner provided for in this section.

(4) A small municipality or limited population county desiring assistance under this section must submit an application to the MDA. The application must include a description of the project for which assistance is requested, the cost of the project for which assistance is requested, the amount of assistance requested and any other information required by the MDA.

(5) The MDA shall have all powers necessary to implement and administer the program established under this section, and the department shall promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law, necessary for the implementation of this section.

(6) The MDA shall file an annual report with the Governor, the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives not later than December 1 of each year, describing all assistance provided under this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-31 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 27 / Section 44-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-31
Status: in_force

All bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 57-44-11 through 57-44-39 shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries, and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and political subdivisions for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-7 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 39 / Section 61-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-7
Status: in_force

There is hereby established, under the direction of the department, a program to be known as the Business Investment Program for the purpose of making grants or loans to municipalities in order to install and effect specific improvements and projects necessary to complement industrial investment by private companies, the federal government or municipalities which increase Mississippi's share of domestic, international and foreign commerce to create and maintain new full-time jobs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-49-39 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 46 / Section 49-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-49-39
Status: in_force

The board shall attempt to finance all of its expenses from monies received from the federal department of energy and other federal agencies and from gifts and grants received from other persons. Expenses of the council and committee members to attend meetings shall be reimbursed by the board from these funds at the rates set forth in Sections 57-49-7 and 57-49-11 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-85-3 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 78 / Section 85-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-85-3
Status: in_force

The Legislature finds and determines that:

(a) There exists in the State of Mississippi a continuing need for gainful employment for the citizens of the rural areas of the state.

(b) To help provide employment opportunities and to impact the quality of life in these rural areas, a division within the Mississippi Development Authority should be created with power to promote business and economic development through job producing programs and by providing financial assistance to communities and businesses.

(c) In accomplishing this purpose, such division will be acting in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state in the performance of essential public functions and serving a valid purpose in improving or otherwise promoting their health, welfare and prosperity, and the enactment of the provisions hereinafter set forth is for a valid public purpose.

(d) The borrowing of money and the issuance of bonds for the purposes hereinafter set forth serves valid public purposes that will contribute to the employment base of the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-55-11 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 34 / Section 55-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-55-11
Status: in_force

(1) The Mississippi Small Business Development Center, hereinafter referred to as SBDC, is hereby established. The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby authorized to establish the Mississippi Small Business Development Center at the University of Mississippi under the direct supervision of the chancellor of the university and the dean of the business school.

(2) It shall be the function and duty of the SBDC to:

(a) Develop a system to deliver management assistance to the small business community utilizing the resources of local, state and federal government programs, various segments of the private sector, and universities and colleges throughout the state;

(b) Make management and technical assistance available to small businesses in Mississippi by linking together the above resources;

(c) Develop small business opportunities for new start-ups and the expansion of existing businesses;

(d) Develop the economic area served by the SBDC by providing opportunities for increased productivity through utilization of modern technology as developed by government, the university and the private sector;

(e) Develop a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of economic and business data;

(f) Assist businesses in developing more efficient marketing and distribution channels, including foreign trade marketing;

(g) Increase opportunities for socially and/or economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs to enter the mainstream of our economy through an organized outreach program; and

(h) Increase small business viability so that the small business client “graduates” from the SBDC.

(3) The principal officer of the SBDC shall be an executive director who shall be appointed by the chancellor of the University of Mississippi, with the approval of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-49-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 46 / Section 49-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-49-1
Status: in_force

The purposes of this chapter are:

(a) To transfer to the Department of Environmental Quality the duties of the Mississippi Energy and Transportation Board with respect to nuclear-related activities within the state.

(b) To clarify the manner in which the Department of Environmental Quality shall perform its duty to develop, coordinate and review all nuclear-related activities in the state.

In order to assist and advise the Department of Environmental Quality in the implementation of this duty, there is hereby created a nuclear waste policy advisory council and a nuclear waste technical review committee.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-47-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 18 / 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. § 57-39-45 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 25 / Section 39-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-39-45
Status: in_force

(1) The division shall be responsible for compiling on an ongoing basis data related to the energy resources, both natural and manmade, of the State of Mississippi. This information shall be compiled from trusted and verified sources for the purposes of aggregation for analysis and dissemination to partners and the public with the intent to maximize the energy resources of the state.

(2) Biomass resources . The division shall be responsible for maintaining a current database and map of biomass feedstocks found in the State of Mississippi. The division shall work with the Mississippi Forestry Commission, the Department of Agriculture, the institutions of higher learning, and other knowledgeable partners to produce and maintain accurate data on the renewable biomass resources of the state. The division shall analyze the data and prepare reports on a regular basis in order to highlight and promote the biomass resources of the state.

(3) Energy infrastructure . The division shall be responsible for maintaining a current database and map of the infrastructure that transports energy fuels and products across the state. The division shall analyze the data and prepare reports on a regular basis in order to highlight and promote the energy infrastructure of the state.

(4) Energy production and reserves. The division shall be responsible for maintaining information from all readily available resources on the energy production capacity in the state. The division shall maintain information on the energy reserves of the state.

(5) Reports and publications. The division shall produce reports, white papers, or articles for placement in targeted publications that include information to promote Mississippi as a leader in the energy sector.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-100-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 73 / Section 100-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-100-1
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Qualified business or industry ” means a manufacturing enterprise that has been operating in this state for not less than two (2) consecutive years that meets minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority.

(b) “ Qualified job ” means a full-time job in this state:

(i) At the location of a qualified business or industry that has qualified to receive an incentive payment pursuant to this chapter;

(ii) Which did not exist in this state before the date of approval by the MDA of the application of the qualified business or industry pursuant to the provisions of this chapter; and

(iii) The average annual salary of which is at least one hundred percent (100%) of the state or county average annual wage, whichever is the lesser.

(c) “ Full-time employment ” means a job of at least thirty-five (35) hours per week.

(d) “ Rebate amount ” means the amount of Mississippi income taxes withheld from employees in qualified jobs that is available for rebate to the qualified business or industry, provided that:

(i) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (d), the rebate amount shall be three and one-half percent (3- 1 / 2 %) of the wages and taxable benefits for qualified jobs; and

(ii) In no event shall incentive payments exceed the actual Mississippi income taxes withheld from employees in qualified jobs that are available for rebate to the qualified business or industry.

(e) “ MDA ” means the Mississippi Development Authority.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-49-31 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 47 / Section 49-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-49-31
Status: in_force

(1) The board shall negotiate separate agreements with the federal department of energy concerning different stages of the process of evaluating and selecting a site for the long-term or temporary storage and/or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste. The board shall negotiate a separate agreement with the federal department of energy for the final states of the selection of any site for the long-term or temporary storage and/or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste.

(2) Any agreement negotiated by the board with the federal department of energy under section 57-49-29 shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) A specification of those procedures:

(i) By which the state may study, determine, comment on, and make recommendations with regard to the possible public health and safety, environmental, social, and economic impacts of any such facility for the long-term or temporary storage and/or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste;

(ii) By which the secretary of energy shall consider and respond to comments and recommendations made by the state, including the period in which the secretary shall so respond;

(iii) By which the secretary of energy and the state may review and/or modify the agreement periodically;

(iv) By which the state is to submit an impact report and request for impact assistance;

(v) By which the secretary of energy shall assist the state and the units of general local government in the vicinity of the site under consideration for the long-term or temporary storage and/or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste, in resolving the offsite concerns of the state and units of general local government, including, but not limited to, questions of state liability arising from accidents, necessary road upgrading and access to the site, ongoing emergency preparedness and emergency response, monitoring of transportation of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel through the state, conduct of baseline health studies of inhabitants in neighboring communities near the site and reasonable periodic monitoring thereafter, and monitoring of said site upon any decommissioning and decontamination;

(vi) By which the secretary of energy shall consult and cooperate with the state on a regular, ongoing basis and provide for an orderly process and timely schedule for state review and evaluation, including identification in the agreement of key events, milestones, and decision points in the activities of the secretary of energy at the potential site;

(vii) By which the secretary of energy shall notify the state prior to the transportation of any high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel into or through the state;

(viii) By which the state may conduct reasonable independent monitoring and testing of activities on the site, except that such monitoring and testing shall not unreasonably interfere with or delay onsite activities;

(ix) For sharing, in accordance with applicable law, of all technical and licensing information, the utilization of available expertise, the facilitating of permit procedures, joint project review, and the formulation of joint surveillance and monitoring arrangements to carry out applicable federal and state laws;

(x) For public notification of the procedures specified under the preceding subparagraphs; and

(xi) For resolving objections of the state at any state of the planning, siting and development of any facility for the long-term or temporary storage or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste within the state.

(b) The criteria that the federal department of energy shall use in evaluating the suitability of any site in the state for the long-term or temporary storage and/or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste;

(c) A requirement that the federal department of energy shall comply with all federal laws, state laws and local ordinances and shall respect state sovereignty consistent with the United States Constitution and the Tenth Amendment, regardless of the ownership of the land on which the activity takes place;

(d) A requirement that the federal department of energy and any of its contractors or subcontractors shall provide the board with all reports and documents the board requests and any other relevant reports and documents in a timely manner and in accordance with any applicable law, regulation or rule. The requirement shall specify that the federal department of energy may not charge a fee for searching for or for supplying reports and documents requested by the board. The requirement shall specify that the federal department of energy shall provide the board with all reports and documents the board requests and any other relevant reports and documents from contractors and subcontractors after the reports and documents are submitted to the federal department of energy regardless of whether the reports and documents have received the final approval of the department of energy;

(e) A requirement that, upon request by the board, the federal department of energy shall provide the data, methods and underlying assumptions used in the preparation of reports and documents in accordance with any applicable law, regulation or rule;

(f) A requirement that the federal department of energy shall notify the board of any grants related to the long-term or temporary storage and/or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste and transuranic waste from the federal department of energy to any person in this state;

(g) A requirement that the federal department of energy shall notify the board in a timely manner of any proposed field work, on-site evaluation, on-site testing or similar activities it or any contractor or subcontractor intends to conduct and a requirement that the federal department of energy shall allow the board to monitor these activities by any appropriate means;

(h) A requirement that the federal department of energy shall provide the board in a timely manner with a copy of any requests for proposals and final contracts issued by the federal department of energy relating to the evaluation, selection or construction of a site for the long-term or temporary storage and/or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste in this state;

(i) A provision that the federal department of energy shall agree to provide funds to be used to provide educational programs as set forth in section 117 of P.L. 97-425 , and to review the activities of the federal department of energy and its contractors and subcontractors which relate to assessing the suitability of the site(s) for the long-term or temporary storage and/or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste;

(j) A requirement that the federal department of energy and the board shall identify impacts associated with studies related to the characterization of an area or site(s) for its potential as a repository or the impacts associated with the development of a site as a repository for the long-term or temporary storage and/or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste and that the federal department of energy will provide a mechanism to mitigate those impacts;

(k) A requirement that if the federal department of energy selects a site in the state for construction of a repository for the long-term or temporary storage and/or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste or transuranic waste, the federal department of energy shall prepare, prior to submission of an application to license or construct the repository, a repository plan which shall include descriptions of the federal department of energy's plans for construction of the repository, transportation of wastes to the repository, operation of the repository, closing of the repository and monitoring the repository after closure;

(l) A requirement that the location of any site for the long-term or temporary storage and/or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive or transuranic waste shall not be in a highly populated area.

(3) Any agreement negotiated by the board with the federal department of energy under Section 57-49-29 shall include a provision which acknowledges the authority of the governor or the legislature to object to the selection of a site within this state for the long-term or temporary storage and/or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste and transuranic waste.

(4) Any agreement negotiated by the board with the federal department of energy shall be in compliance with the requirements or standards prescribed in this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-7 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 13 / Section 61-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-7
Status: in_force

There is hereby established, under the direction of the department, a program to be known as the Business Investment Program for the purpose of making grants or loans to municipalities in order to install and effect specific improvements and projects necessary to complement industrial investment by private companies, the federal government or municipalities which increase Mississippi's share of domestic, international and foreign commerce to create and maintain new full-time jobs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-11-63 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 10 / Section 11-63
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-11-63
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Agricultural and Industrial Board is hereby authorized and empowered to contract with a firm or firms which are experienced, competent and qualified to make market, operating and financial feasibility studies as may be necessary to accomplish the following:

(a) To make specific marketing, operating and financial feasibility studies of selected heavy industries in the chemical, petrochemical, mineral, wood and pulp-using, and related fields that can properly be constructed and operated in the State of Mississippi to preempt markets that now exist or may exist.

(b) To contract with the firm or firms making such feasibility studies on the basis that they will recommend methods which will promptly cause to be constructed and/or operated, such manufacturing and industrial facilities, or either, as may prove by these studies to be feasible.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-18-11 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 13 / Section 18-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-18-11
Status: in_force

(1) Personnel of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center are also authorized, subject to policies and procedures in force at Mississippi State University, to conduct research on a contractual basis for industries, governmental agencies, public or private organizations or corporations, and individuals at a price and on a basis to be determined by such personnel. Proceeds derived from such research shall be used, in addition to other funds provided from the State General Fund, for the operation and support of the center.

(2) The personnel of the center shall cooperate fully with the various departments of state government, with the colleges and universities of the state, with the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, with the University Research Center and with the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development in an effort to fully effectuate the purposes of this chapter. All state agencies and departments are authorized and directed to give the center and its personnel their full cooperation in every possible manner.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-37 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 32 / Section 61-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-37
Status: in_force

(1) Each municipality is hereby authorized and empowered to borrow money from the board pursuant to the terms and provisions of this chapter. Each municipality is further authorized and empowered to pay to the board such fees and charges for services hereunder as the board may prescribe.

(2) Each municipality is hereby authorized to evidence the borrowing of money from the board pursuant to this chapter by the issuance of evidences of indebtedness under the provisions of this section and to sell such evidences of indebtedness to the board to raise money for any purpose or purposes for which the board is authorized to loan money to such municipality under the terms of this chapter. Except as specifically provided in this chapter, such evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of Sections 21-33-307, 21-33-309, 21-33-311, 21-33-313, 21-33-315, 21-33-317, 21-33-319, 21-33-321 and 21-33-323 in the case of cities or incorporated towns, and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 19-9-7, 19-9-9, 19-9-11, 19-9-13, 19-9-15, 19-9-17, 19-9-19, 19-9-21, 19-9-23, 19-9-25 and 19-9-29 in the case of counties. Bonds or other evidences of indebtedness which are issued either pursuant to this chapter, or pursuant to any other law as evidence of loans made pursuant to this chapter, shall not be deemed indebtedness within the meaning specified in Section 21-33-303 with regard to cities or incorporated towns, and in Section 19-9-5 with regard to counties. The preceding sentence shall apply to all such bonds and evidences of indebtedness outstanding as of the effective date of this provision and to all such bonds and evidences of indebtedness hereafter issued.

(3) In connection with the issuance of evidences of indebtedness under the provisions of this chapter by cities, incorporated towns and counties, the following provisions shall specifically apply:

(a) When publishing notice of intent to issue bonds as required under the terms of Section 21-33-307 or Section 19-9-11 , as the case may be, the municipality shall publish such notice once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, the first publication to be not less than twenty-one (21) days prior to the date set for authorizing such issuance and the last publication to be not more than seven (7) days prior to such date.

(b) Such evidences of indebtedness shall be secured: (i) by the revenues derived by the municipality from the ownership, operation or lease of the project or improvements funded with proceeds of the loan from the board to such municipality under the terms of this chapter or by loan repayments from the private company derived by the municipality from the loan to the private company of the proceeds of the loan from the board to such municipality under the terms of this chapter, but only to the extent, in whole or in part, pledged by the municipality, which pledge may be on a basis subordinate to other obligations or agreements of the municipality; (ii) by the sources of repayment provided for under the terms of subsections (7) and (8) of Section 57-61-15 of this chapter; (iii) and as provided by Chapter 33, Title 21, Mississippi Code of 1972 , in the case of cities and incorporated towns, and Chapter 9, Title 19, Mississippi Code of 1972 , in the case of counties but only in the event that the sources provided by items (i) and (ii) hereof are insufficient therefor. For the purposes of Section 27-39-321 , the evidences of indebtedness issued hereunder shall be deemed to be “general obligation bonds.”

(c) Such evidences of indebtedness may be sold only to the board at private sale and may be sold at such price or prices, in such manner and at such times as may be agreed to by the municipality and the board, and the municipality may pay all expenses, premiums, fees and commissions which it may deem necessary and advantageous in connection with the issuance and sale thereof and such evidences of indebtedness shall mature at such time or times not exceeding thirty (30) years and in such amounts and shall bear interest at such rate or rates as required for loans made under the provisions of this chapter and as may be agreed upon by the board and the municipality; provided, that in connection with financing a Navy home port, the municipality may obtain a letter of credit and pledge to the repayment thereof the same sources pledged to such evidences of indebtedness or negotiate and enter into a credit agreement, trust indenture or other agreement with any bank, trust company or other lending institution for the purpose of making or receiving any payments required to be made to the United States Navy to accommodate a Navy home port.

(d) The proceeds of such evidences of indebtedness shall be applied to the following: (i) the purpose for which such evidences of indebtedness were issued; (ii) the payment of all costs of issuance of such evidences of indebtedness; (iii) the payment of any fees and charges established by the board; (iv) the payment of interest on such evidences of indebtedness for a period of time not greater than the period of time estimated to be required to complete the purpose for which the evidences of indebtedness were issued or to the extent provided by resolution of the municipality and approved by the board; (v) the payment of any costs relating to obtaining or entering into a credit agreement, loan disbursement agreement, trust indenture or other agreement with any bank, trust company or other lending institution for the purpose of securing, making or receiving any payments required to be made to the United States Navy to accommodate a Navy home port.

(e) Evidences of indebtedness issued under this section may be validated in the manner and with the force and effect provided in Section 31-13-1 et seq.

(f) This section shall be deemed to provide an additional, alternate and complete method for the doing of the things authorized hereby and shall be deemed and construed to be supplemental to any provisions of any other laws and not in derogation of any such provisions. In connection with the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, a municipality shall not be required to comply with the provisions of any other law except as provided herein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-75-13 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 69 / Section 75-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-75-13
Status: in_force

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning is hereby authorized to support the project by creating institutes and developing curricula of direct benefit to the enterprise. Upon notification to the authority by the enterprise that the state has been selected as the site of the project, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning may establish and create programs to enhance the project's success.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-43-17 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 5 / Section 43-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-43-17
Status: in_force

The Southern Rail Commission is granted the authority to execute and enter into contracts with parties for the purpose of construction of any related infrastructure and/or operations of intercity passenger rail service subject to the approval of any affected railroad and other interested party. The Southern Rail Commission is granted the authority to prepare grant applications related to the establishment or maintenance of passenger rail service, enter into operating and other contractual agreements with providers of passenger rail service, and enter into agreements with owners or operators of railway tracks in order to provide for upgrades necessary to establish or maintain passenger rail service.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-114-13 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 63 / Section 114-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-114-13
Status: in_force

(1) Unless its mFlex agreement prescribes a longer reporting period or additional reporting requirements, each qualified business or industry shall file an annual report with the authority for each qualified economic development project which has been certified, and for which any mFlex tax incentive has been awarded, by the authority in accordance with this chapter, for the longer of the following periods: (a) until the reporting year during which all or any remaining portion of the mFlex tax incentive amount awarded to such qualified business or industry has been applied to offset state taxes, or (b) until the seventh reporting year, provided that an annual report shall in either instance be due in the final reporting year prescribed hereby or by the mFlex agreement. Each annual report shall be due to the authority no later than the last business day of the month following the quarter during which the annual anniversary of its project certification date occurred. Each annual report shall include the information set forth in this section, together with any other information required to be provided by the qualified business or industry pursuant to its mFlex agreement, for the immediately preceding twelve-month period ending on the last day of the month during which the annual anniversary of its project certification date occurred.

(2) Each annual report submitted to the authority by a qualified business or industry shall, at a minimum, contain the following information:

(a) The total qualified investment made between the project certification date through the end of the reporting year, including a breakout of actual expenditures made by the qualified business or industry for manufacturing machinery, nonmanufacturing equipment and component building materials to establish and equip the qualified economic development project;

(b) The incremental qualified investment made during the reporting year, including a breakout of actual expenditures made by the qualified business or industry for manufacturing machinery, nonmanufacturing equipment and component building materials to establish and equip the qualified economic development project;

(c) If applicable, the total number of base full-time jobs;

(d) The total number of people employed in new full-time jobs as of the last day the year preceding the reporting year;

(e) The total number of people employed in new full-time jobs as of the last day the year of the reporting year;

(f) The average employer wage for the reporting year;

(g) The percentage and number, as of the last day of the reporting year, of new full-time employees who are eligible for and offered a 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);

(h) A description of employee benefits, including but not limited to, health, dental and/or vision insurance, retirement savings account, etc. made available to employees, as well as a description of any employees to whom the benefits are not made available (e.g., part-time employees);

(i) The total amount of the mFlex tax incentive awarded thereto, which the qualified business or industry has already applied and taken as a credit to offset state taxes through the end of the reporting period;

(j) A list of all affiliates of the qualified business or industry, including the Federal Employer Identification Number for each affiliate, for which any state tax liability thereof has been or is expected to be offset by all or some portion of the mFlex tax incentives awarded to the qualified business or industry, which list shall further identify (i) any affiliate of the qualified business or industry that was not disclosed as such on its application or annual report submitted for the prior reporting period, whichever was more recent, but which has either become an affiliate of the qualified business or industry as of the date the current annual report or which the qualified business or industry desires to utilize all or a portion of its mFlex tax incentive as a credit to offset the affiliate's state tax liability following the date of the current annual report; (ii) any change in the name of any previously disclosed affiliate since the date the qualified business or industry filed its application or annual report for the prior reporting period, whichever was more recent; (iii) any prior affiliate of the qualified business or industry disclosed as such on its application or annual report for the prior reporting period, whichever was more recent, and which is no longer an affiliate of the qualified business or industry as of the date the current annual report; and (iv) any affiliate of the qualified business or industry disclosed as such on its application or annual report for the prior reporting period, whichever was more recent, and which the qualified business or industry no longer desires that the affiliate utilize all or a portion of its mFlex tax incentive as a credit to offset the affiliate's state tax liability following the date of the current annual report.

(3) The authority shall prescribe a form or forms for the annual report.

(4) Notwithstanding the obligation of a qualified business or industry to file an annual report with the authority for each qualified economic development project which has been certified, and for which any mFlex tax incentive has been awarded, the authority is authorized to request from the qualified business or industry at any other time any of the information set forth herein that must be included in an annual report for purposes of determining whether a qualified business or industry has met any of the project performance measures set forth in its mFlex agreement on or before the respective deadlines imposed with respect thereto. Upon any such written request by the authority, the qualified business or industry shall, within thirty (30) days after receipt of the request, provide to the authority a certified copy of the information requested.

(5) If a qualified business or industry fails to either file an annual report with the authority on or before the deadline mandated by subsection (1) of this section, or provide any information requested by the authority pursuant to subsection (4) of this section within the time period mandated by such subsection, the authority shall provide written notice to the qualified business or industry of the failure to report, and the qualified business or industry shall have thirty (30) additional days to cure the reporting failure following its receipt of the notice. If the qualified business or industry thereafter fails to file its annual report with the authority, or provide such information requested by the authority within the thirty-day-cure period, the authority is authorized to suspend or revoke, at the discretion thereof, all or a portion of the amount of the mFlex tax incentive previously awarded to the qualified business or industry for its qualified economic development project.

(6) If a qualified business or industry either fails to achieve or exceeds any project performance measure set forth in its mFlex agreement within or for any time period required by such agreement, the authority shall, following its (a) review of any annual report filed by the qualified business or industry or of any certified information provided by the qualified business or industry pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, and (b) verification based upon such information that the qualified business or industry either failed to achieve or exceeded any of the project performance measures set forth in its mFlex agreement within or for any time period required by such agreement, adjust the mFlex tax incentive awarded thereto for its qualified economic development project such that the award is no longer based upon any one or more of the performance measures set forth in its mFlex agreement, but is instead based upon one or more of the following, as applicable, as of the end of the most recent reporting year for which the annual report was filed: (a) the actual expenditures made by the qualified business or industry for purposes of the calculation prescribed by Section 57-114-9(a) , (b) and (c) ; and (b)(i) the actual number of new full-time jobs created by the qualified business or industry, together with (ii) the actual average employer wage associated therewith, for purposes of the calculations prescribed by Section 57-114-9(d) and (e) .

(7) A qualified business or industry and the authority may, at any time, amend or restate an mFlex agreement in order to modify the performance measures of the qualified business or industry with respect to its qualified economic development project, and in connection with such amendment or amendment and restatement, the authority shall modify the amount of the mFlex tax incentive awarded for the qualified economic development project to comport with the modified performance measures; provided that the modified award amount shall thereafter be subject to the adjustment requirements of subsection (6) of this section.

(8) If the authority adjusts any mFlex tax incentive award pursuant to subsection (6) or subsection (7) of this section, the authority shall issue an amended certification of the corresponding qualified economic development project, which shall specify the amount of mFlex tax incentive award adjustment. The authority shall forward the amended certification, along with any other necessary information, to the Department of Revenue so that the mFlex tax incentive award adjustment for the qualified business or industry can be recorded by the Department of Revenue and used to verify each state tax credit subsequently applied by the qualified business or industry.

(9) If at any time the authority reduces the mFlex tax incentive award granted for the qualified economic development project to an amount less than the total amount of credits already applied and taken by the qualified business or industry, or by one or more affiliates thereof eligible to utilize such credit, to offset state taxes thereof, the Department of Revenue shall charge the qualified business or industry, or such affiliate or affiliates, with an assessment for the amount of state taxes for which no mFlex tax incentive is available, following such reduction by the authority, for application as a tax credit, beginning with those state taxes against which the qualified business or industry most recently applied the credit, and such state tax assessment shall be immediately due and payable.

(10) Any portion of an mFlex tax incentive awarded to the qualified business or industry by the authority for its qualified economic development project pursuant to this chapter that has not been applied, on or before the tenth annual anniversary of the project certificate date, as a credit by such qualified business or industry, or by one or more affiliates thereof eligible to utilize such credit, to offset state taxes otherwise payable, shall expire.

(11) Within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar quarter, the authority shall provide to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a copy of each amendment to any certification made, together with a copy of each amendment to any mFlex agreement approved and executed, during the immediately preceding calendar quarter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-67-15 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 67 / Section 67-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-67-15
Status: in_force

(1) Upon notification to the authority by the Department of Energy that the state has been finally selected as the site for the project, the State Bond Commission shall have the power and is hereby authorized and directed, upon receipt of a declaration from the Governor as hereinafter provided, to borrow money and issue general obligation bonds of the state in one or more series for the purposes herein set out. Upon such notification, the Governor may thereafter from time to time declare the necessity for the issuance of general obligation state bonds as authorized by this section and forward such declaration to the State Bond Commission, provided that prior to said notification, the Governor may enter into agreements with the United States Government and others that will commit the Governor to direct the State Bond Commission to issue bonds for eligible undertakings set out in subsection (4) of this section, conditioned on the siting of the project in the state.

(2) Upon receipt of any such declaration from the Governor, the State Bond Commission, upon verifying that the state has been selected as the site of the project, shall act as the issuing agent for the series of state bonds directed to be issued in such declaration pursuant to authority granted in this section.

(3) Bonds issued under the authority of this section shall not exceed an aggregate principal amount in the sum of Five Hundred Million Dollars ($ 500,000,000.00).

(4) The proceeds from the sale of the state bonds issued pursuant to this section may be applied for the purposes of: (a) defraying all or any designated portion of the costs incurred with respect to acquisition, planning, design, construction, installation, rehabilitation, improvement and relocation of the project and any facility related to the project located within the project area, including costs of design and engineering, all costs incurred to provide land, easements and rights-of-way, relocation costs with respect to the project and with respect to any facility related to the project located within the project area, and costs associated with mitigation of environmental impacts; (b) providing for the payment of interest on the bonds; (c) providing debt service reserves; and (d) paying underwriters discount, original issue discount, accountants' fees, engineers' fees, attorneys' fees, rating agency fees and other fees and expenses in connection with the issuance of the bonds. Such bonds shall be issued from time to time and in such principal amounts as shall be designated by the Governor not to exceed in aggregate principal amount the amount authorized in subsection (3) of this section. Proceeds from the sale of the state bonds issued pursuant to this section may be invested, subject to federal limitations, pending their use, in such securities as may be specified in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or the trust indenture securing them, and the earning on such investment applied as provided in such resolution or trust indenture.

(5) The principal of and the interest on the state bonds shall be payable in the manner hereinafter set forth. The state bonds shall bear date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates, be payable at such place or places within or without the state, shall mature absolutely at such time or times, be redeemable prior to maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the State Bond Commission. Provided, however, that such state bonds shall mature or otherwise be retired in annual installments beginning not more than five (5) years from date thereof and extending not more than twenty-five (25) years from date thereof. The state bonds shall be signed by the Chairman of the State Bond Commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the State Bond Commission shall be imprinted on or affixed thereto, attested by the manual or facsimile signature of the Secretary of the State Bond Commission. Whenever any such state bonds shall have been signed by the officials herein designated to sign the bonds, who were in the office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers prior to the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until the delivery of the same to the purchaser, or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear.

(6) All state bonds issued under the provisions of this section shall be and are hereby declared to have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code and in exercising the powers granted by this chapter, the State Bond Commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

(7) The State Bond Commission shall sell the state 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 date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser. The state bonds shall bear interest at such rate or rates not exceeding the limits set forth in Section 75-17-101 as shall be fixed by the State Bond Commission. All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually; provided that the first interest payment may be for any period of not more than one (1) year.

The lowest interest rate specified for any bonds issued shall not be less than sixty percent (60%) of the highest interest rate specified for the same bond issue. Each interest rate specified in any bid must be in a multiple of one-eighth of one percent ( 1 / 8 of 1%) or one-tenth of one percent ( 1 / 10 of 1%) and a zero rate of interest cannot be named. Notice of the sale of any state bond shall be published at least one (1) time, the first of which shall be made not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers having a general circulation in the City of Jackson and in one or more other newspapers or financial journals with a large national circulation, to be selected by the State Bond Commission.

The State Bond Commission, when issuing any state bonds under the authority of this section, may provide that the bonds, at the option of the state, may be called in for payment and redemption in reverse order of maturity at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.

(8) State bonds issued under the provisions of this section shall be the general obligations of the state and backed by the full faith and credit of the state, and if the funds appropriated by the Legislature shall be insufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on such bonds as they become due, then the deficiency shall be paid by the State Treasurer from any funds in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated. All state bonds shall contain recitals on their faces substantially covering the foregoing provisions of this section.

(9) The State Treasurer is hereby authorized, without further process of law, to certify to the State Fiscal Management Board the necessity for warrants, and the State Fiscal Management Board is hereby authorized and directed to issue such warrants payable out of any funds authorized by this section for such purpose, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of and interest on all state bonds issued under the provisions of this section; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.

(10) The state bonds may be issued without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things other than those proceedings, conditions and things which are specified or required by this chapter. Any resolution providing for the issuance of general obligation state bonds under the provisions of this section shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the State Bond Commission, and any such resolution may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of the State Bond Commission by a majority of its members.

(11) In anticipation of the issuance of state bonds hereunder, the State Bond Commission is hereby authorized to negotiate and enter into any purchase, loan, credit or other agreement with any bank, trust company or other lending institution or to issue and sell short-term notes for the purpose of making any payments authorized under this section. All borrowings made under this provision shall be evidenced by notes of the state which shall be issued from time to time, for such amounts not exceeding the amount of state bonds authorized herein, in such form and in such denomination and subject to such terms and conditions of sale and issuance, prepayment or redemption and maturity, rate or rates of interest not to exceed the maximum rate authorized herein for bonds, and time of payment of interest as the State Bond Commission shall agree to in such agreement. Such notes shall constitute general obligations of the state and shall be backed by the full faith and credit of the state. Such notes may also be issued for the purpose of refunding previously issued notes; provided that no notes shall mature more than three (3) years following the date of issuance of the first note hereunder and provided further, that all outstanding notes shall be retired from the proceeds of the first issuance of bonds hereunder. The State Bond Commission is authorized to provide for the compensation of any purchaser of the notes by payment of a fixed fee or commission and for all other costs and expenses of issuance and service, including paying agent costs. Such costs and expenses may be paid from the proceeds of the notes.

(12) The bonds and notes authorized under the authority of this section may be validated in the First Judicial District of the Chancery Court of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect provided now or hereafter by Chapter 13, Title 31, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for the validation of county, municipal, school district and other bonds. The necessary papers for such validation proceedings shall be transmitted to the state bond attorney, and the required notice shall be published in a newspaper published in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.

(13) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund, separate and apart from any other fund, to be designated as the “Superconducting Super Collider Special Fund.” On July 15 immediately succeeding the date that the state has been finally selected as the site for the project and on or before the fifteenth day of each succeeding month thereafter until a period of time not to exceed twenty-five (25) years from the initial deposit or until the date that all state bonds issued under this chapter are retired, whichever occurs last in time, the State Treasurer shall deposit into the Superconducting Super Collider Special Fund the sum of Three Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($ 3,750,000.00) from taxes collected under the provisions of Chapter 7, Title 27, Mississippi Code of 1972 . Funds deposited in the special fund shall be used to pay the principal of and interest on the state bonds issued under this section and any balance in the special fund in excess of the amount needed to pay the principal of and interest on the state bonds shall be appropriated by the Legislature to defray expenses of the project, facilities related to the project or enhancements within the project area.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-43-15 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 41 / Section 43-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-43-15
Status: in_force

(1) There is established within the Railroad Revitalization Fund a new account to be entitled the Mississippi Highway-Railroad Grade Crossing Safety Account. The account shall be administered by the Mississippi Department of Transportation and shall consist of:

(a) Such monies as are transferred to it on July 1, 2001, from the Mississippi Grade Crossing Closure Account;

(b) Thirty-five percent (35%) of collections from the locomotive fuel tax imposed under Section 27-59-307 for the previous year; and

(c) Monies transferred to it from the Railroad Revitalization Fund, pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 497, Laws of 2009.

Unexpended amounts remaining in the account at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund; and any interest earned on amounts in the account shall be deposited to the credit of the account.

(2) The Mississippi Transportation Commission, after consulting with the railroads operating in Mississippi, shall promulgate rules to ensure equitable allocation of the funds described in subsection (1) of this section to projects throughout the state, and shall consider the proportionate number of main line track miles of each railroad and the number of public roadway/railroad grade crossings on each railroad's main line. Expenditure of monies from the Mississippi Highway-Railroad Grade Crossing Safety Account shall be limited to the following purposes:

(a) Financial aid for closure of public roadway/railroad grade crossings;

(b) Realignment of construction costs of roadways being rerouted to facilitate a closure of a public roadway/railroad grade crossing;

(c) Monies to match federal or other funds for a grade separation eliminating an at-grade crossing of a public roadway and railroad;

(d) Installation, maintenance or upgrade of highway-railroad grade crossing signals, at the discretion of the Mississippi Transportation Commission, based upon the federal Railroad Administration ranking of all Mississippi highway-railroad grade crossings. Not less than ten percent (10%) of the monies necessary to defray the costs of such installations must be federal funds;

(e) Separation of grades of highway/railroad crossings;

(f) Improvement of any grade crossing including the necessary roadway approaches thereto of any railroad across a public road highway;

(g) Construction, reconstruction, repair or replacement of the grade crossing surface structure; and

(h) Installation of an automatic advance warning signal alerting a motorist that a grade crossing is ahead.

(3) The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall consider all requests from the state's diagnostic review of public roadway/railroad grade crossings and from individual railroads for expenditure of funds for the purposes described in subsection (2) of this section, and shall establish uniform criteria and guidelines relating to such crossings and the expenditure of funds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-13 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 7 / Section 31-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-13
Status: in_force

The authority may sell such bonds in such manner 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 date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser. Notice of the sale of any such bonds shall be published at least one time not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of sale and shall be so published in one (1) or more newspapers published in such county and in one (1) or more other newspapers or financial journals as may be directed by the authority.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-43-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 43 / Section 43-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-43-1
Status: in_force

(1) There is established in the State Treasury a revolving fund to be designated as the “Railroad Revitalization Fund.” Monies (including interest earnings) in this fund shall be expended either separately or in combination with any available federal funds for railroad research, railroad planning and railroad administration costs incurred by the Mississippi Department of Transportation directly attributable to railroad revitalization projects; assistance to railroads for the rehabilitation or improvement of rail lines; and construction, improvement or rehabilitation of railroad facilities.

(2) The Mississippi Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Mississippi Development Authority, the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission as created in Section 57-45-1 and the railroads operating in the State of Mississippi, shall develop the State Rail Plan, which shall be a comprehensive plan that coordinates all aspects of the rail infrastructure within the state and includes distinct freight and passenger components, and is described as follows:

(a) The passenger component of the State Rail Plan means that part of the plan developed by the Mississippi Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Mississippi Development Authority and the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission and with the railroads operating in the state and in concert with the freight component of the State Rail Plan, that promotes passenger rail travel within the state in a manner that is compatible with opportunities for the state to obtain federal funding assistance that may be available for intercity passenger rail service and/or high-speed rail corridor service, and that contains provisions that include, but are not limited to, the following:

(i) Articulating the ongoing comprehensive vision and objectives associated with promoting passenger rail travel within the state;

(ii) Identifying all viable routes for passenger rail service;

(iii) Enhancing the existing passenger rail segments within the state and constructing additional segments; and

(iv) Providing recommendations to the providers of passenger rail service within the state for complying with federal requirements necessary for the state to qualify for any available federal funding.

(b) The freight component of the State Rail Plan means the plan developed by the Mississippi Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Mississippi Development Authority and the railroads operating in the state and in concert with the passenger component of the State Rail Plan, that promotes freight rail service within the state, including, but not limited to, service to and from water ports in the state and the articulation of the ongoing comprehensive vision and objectives associated with promoting freight rail service within the state.

(3) During fiscal years 2009 and 2010, a total cumulative sum not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($ 250,000.00) of the “Railroad Revitalization Fund” shall be used specifically for the purpose of initially developing the State Rail Plan, as described in subsection (2) of this section. After the initial development of the State Rail Plan, the plan shall be updated periodically, not less than every five (5) years.

(4) Except as may be otherwise provided in Section 2 of Chapter 497, Laws of 2009, funds appropriated or otherwise provided by the Legislature for rail line assistance as described in subsections (1) through (3) of this section shall be deposited in the Railroad Revitalization Fund. Any monies received by the Mississippi Department of Transportation by agreements, grants, gifts or other means from individuals, companies or other business entities, municipalities, counties, local railroad authorities or regional railroad authorities or other governmental agencies for the purposes set forth in this chapter, except federal grants made under Section 5 of the Department of Transportation Act, as amended ( 49 USCS 1654 ), shall be credited to the Railroad Revitalization Fund. Any interest received from investment of monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund and shall not be deposited into the State General Fund. Use of this fund for the required periodic updates to the State Rail Plan and for railroad research, planning and administration costs incurred by the Mississippi Department of Transportation that are directly attributable to railroad revitalization projects shall be paid from any available funds of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, including those derived from collections from the locomotive fuel tax for the previous year.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-10-707 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 7 / Section 10-707
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-10-707
Status: in_force

(1) To the extent funds are available, the Mississippi Development Authority, in cooperation with public and private sector partners, is authorized to establish a program modeled on comparable initiatives throughout the nation that provides grants and loans and/or promotes access to healthy food retailers that increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables, in natural and/or frozen form, and other affordable healthy food in underserved communities.

(2) The agency may contract with one or more qualified nonprofit organizations or community development financial institutions to administer the program described in this article through a public-private partnership, to raise matching funds, market the program statewide, evaluate applicants, make award decisions, underwrite loans and monitor compliance and impact. The agency and its partners shall coordinate with complementary nutrition assistance and education programs.

(3) Any funding provided under the program shall be provided on a competitive, one-time basis as appropriate for the eligible project. No state funds shall be directly provided as a source of funding for any food retailer under this program, but may be used by the agency for its administrative duties in carrying out the provisions of this article.

(4)(a) The program may provide technical assistance and/or funding for projects such as:

(i) New construction of healthy food retailers.

(ii) Store renovations, expansion and infrastructure upgrades that improve the availability and quality of fresh produce.

(iii) Farmers' markets and public markets, food cooperatives, mobile markets and delivery projects and distribution projects that enable food retailers in underserved communities to regularly obtain fresh produce.

(iv) Other projects that create or improve healthy food retail outlets that meet the intent of this article as determined by the agency.

(b) Funding made available for projects included in paragraph (a) of this subsection may be used for the following purposes:

(i) Site acquisition and preparation.

(ii) Construction costs.

(iii) Equipment and furnishings.

(iv) Workforce training.

(v) Security.

(vi) Certain predevelopment costs such as market studies and appraisals.

(vii) Working capital for initial inventory and costs.

(5) An applicant for funding may include, but not be limited to, a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation or cooperative.

(6) In order to be considered for funding, an applicant shall meet the following eligibility criteria:

(a) The project for which the applicant seeks funding shall benefit an underserved community.

(b) The applicant shall demonstrate a meaningful commitment to sell fresh fruits and vegetables, in natural and/or frozen form, according to a measurable standard established by the agency.

(c) The applicant shall not locate the project in an area where it would be directly competing against an existing food retailer.

(7) Applicants shall be evaluated on the following financial criteria in order to determine the funding awarded:

(a) Demonstrated capacity to successfully implement the project, including the applicant's relevant experience and the likelihood that the project will be economically self-sustaining.

(b) The ability of the applicant to repay debt.

(c) The degree to which the project requires an investment of public funding to move forward, create impact or be competitive, and the level of need in the area to be served. Additional factors that will improve or preserve retail access for low-income residents, such as proximity to public transit lines, also may be taken into account.

(d) The degree to which the project will promote sales of fresh produce, particularly Mississippi-grown fruits and vegetables.

(e) The degree to which the project will have a positive economic impact on the underserved community, including, creating or retaining jobs for local residents.

(f) Other criteria that the agency determines to be consistent with the purposes of this article.

(8) The agency shall establish program benchmarks and reporting processes to make certain that the program benefits the communities in the program area. The agency shall likewise establish monitoring and accountability mechanisms for projects receiving grants or loans, such as tracking fruit and vegetable sales data.

(9) The agency shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Legislature on any projects funded and outcome data.

(10) The agency shall establish rules for the implementation of this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-123-3 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 67 / Section 123-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-123-3
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Destination marketing organization ” means special local governmental units created by local and private laws of the State of Mississippi for the purpose of tourism promotion, funded by special local tax levies, and staffed with professionals engaged in out-of-state tourism marketing and tourism product development for municipalities, counties and/or regions.

(b) “ Marketing activities ” means multimedia marketing and advertising, including digital media, broadcast media and printed media, including travel publications, production, travel market sector analysis, consumer travel sentiment, public relations, communication strategy, direct sales bookings, group tour bookings, tourism development and administrative costs to execute marketing activities related to the business disruption effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 as expressed in Section 57-123-1 .

(2)(a) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the “Mississippi Tourism Recovery Fund,” which shall consist of funds made available by the Legislature in any manner and funds from any other source designated for deposit into such fund. The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any investment earnings or interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund. Monies in the fund shall be used by the Department of Finance and Administration, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes provided in this section. Monies in the fund shall be disbursed in compliance with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. If on December 1, 2020, there are unexpended monies in the fund, those monies shall be transferred to the Unemployment Compensation Fund. Monies in the fund shall be disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration as follows:

(i) Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) shall be disbursed to the Tate County Economic Development Foundation for use by the foundation to assist the Senatobia Chamber of Commerce Main Street program in paying the costs of marketing activities;

(ii) Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) shall be disbursed to the Brookhaven Tourism Council to assist in paying the costs of marketing activities; and

(iii) Thirteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($13,500,000.00) shall be disbursed as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (2) to assist destination marketing organizations in paying costs for marketing activities.

(b)(i) The Department of Finance and Administration shall determine, in conjunction with the destination marketing organizations, the allocations of monies provided under paragraph (a)(iii) of this subsection (2) as follows:

1. Not more than Nine Million Seven Hundred Forty-four Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty-eight Dollars ($9,744,788.00) of such monies shall be allocated to destination marketing organizations in a manner that will provide monies to a destination marketing organization in an amount equal to seventy-five percent (75%) of the destination marketing organization's marketing and advertising expenditures during the 2019 fiscal year, and

2. Not more than Three Million Seven Hundred Fifty-five Thousand Two Hundred Thirteen Dollars ($3,755,213.00) of such monies shall be allocated to destination marketing organizations based on the proportion that a destination marketing organization's contribution toward total tourism visitors in the state according to the 2019 Fiscal Year Visit Mississippi Visitors Profile Report bears to all destination marketing organizations' contributions toward total tourism visitors in the state according to the 2019 Fiscal Year Visit Mississippi Visitors Profile Report. However, a destination marketing organization shall not receive an amount less than Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) under this item 2.

(ii) Within fifteen (15) days of enactment, the Department of Finance and Administration shall distribute the funds allocated under paragraph (b)(i) to eligible destination marketing organizations. Before receiving funds under this paragraph (b), a destination marketing organization must certify to the Department of Finance and Administration that:

1. The funds will only be used for marketing activities, and

2. The funds will be expended before December 30, 2020, unless otherwise authorized by federal law or guidance.

(iii) Destination marketing organizations receiving funds under this paragraph (b) shall keep and maintain records related to expenditures. Destination marketing organizations receiving funds under this paragraph (b) shall also track impacts of their marketing activities through special levy tax receipts, hotel occupancy indicators, other tourism industry metrics, and analytics from marketing campaigns, as appropriate. Such destination marketing organizations shall provide quarterly reports on expenditures and economic impacts of their marketing activities to the Department of Finance and Administration, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Department of Audit.

(iv) Subject to applicable purchasing laws, destination marketing organizations will give preference, when available and practical, to Mississippi-based companies for any new contracts entered into for marketing activities.

(3) The Department of Finance and Administration and the Department of Audit shall have all powers necessary for the implementation of this section.

(4) If the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of the Treasury, or the Office of Inspector General of any other federal agency having oversight over the use of monies from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the CARES Act (a) determines that the Department of Finance and Administration or recipient has expended or otherwise used any of the funds appropriated to the Department of Finance and Administration under this article for any purpose that is not in compliance with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, by the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the CARES Act, and (b) the State of Mississippi is required to repay the federal government for any of those funds that the Office of the Inspector General determined were expended or otherwise used improperly by the Department of Finance and Administration or recipient, then the Department of Finance and Administration or recipient, as the case may be, that expended or otherwise used those funds improperly shall be required to pay the amount of those funds to the State of Mississippi for repayment to the federal government.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-35 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 29 / Section 31-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-35
Status: in_force

(1) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) “ Authority ” means an industrial development authority created pursuant to this chapter or an economic development district created pursuant to Section 19-5-99 of any county in which an industrial development authority is created pursuant to this chapter.

(b) “ Costs of a megasite project ” means all costs of a megasite project including site preparation and other start-up costs, construction, fixtures and real and personal property required for the purposes of a megasite project, whether publicly or privately owned, including land and any rights or undivided interest therein, options, easements, franchises, fees, permits, approvals, licenses, and certificates and the securing of such permits, approvals, licenses, and certificates and all machinery and equipment; any cost associated with the closure, post-closure maintenance or corrective action on environmental matters, financing charges and interest prior to and during development and/or construction and during such additional period necessary for the development and operation of a megasite project; costs of engineering, surveying, environmental, geotechnical, architectural and legal services; costs of plans and specifications and all expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of a megasite project; administrative expenses; and such other expenses as may be necessary or incidental to the financing authorized in this chapter. The costs of a megasite project may also include funds for the creation of a debt service reserve, a renewal and replacement reserve, bond insurance and credit enhancement, and such other reserves as may be authorized by any bond resolution or trust agreement or indenture pursuant to the provisions of which the issuance of any such bonds may be authorized by a county board of supervisors pursuant to subsection (3) below. Any obligation or expense incurred for any of the foregoing purposes shall be regarded as a part of the costs of a megasite project and may be paid or reimbursed as such out of the proceeds of any revenues obtained by the county including, without limitation, special assessments, general obligation bonds or notes issued pursuant to Section 19-9-1 et seq. or revenue bonds or notes.

(c) “ Facilities related to a megasite ” means and includes the acquisition, construction, restoration, repair, renovation, improvement, demolition or removal of any of the following, or any portion thereof, as they may pertain to a megasite and/or the development of one or more industrial projects thereon: (i) megasite preparation and improvements (including clearing, grubbing and grading activities); (ii) potable and nonpotable water supply systems that will serve the megasite or any portion thereof, whether or not such potable and nonpotable water supply systems are located on or outside of the megasite; (iii) sewage and waste disposal systems that will serve the megasite or any portion thereof, whether or not such sewage and waste disposal systems are located on or outside of the megasite; (iv) storm water drainage and other drainage systems that will serve the megasite or any portion thereof, whether or not such storm water drainage and other drainage systems are located on or outside of the megasite; (v) highways, streets and other roadways located upon the megasite or which are otherwise necessary to provide any access to and from the megasite or any portion thereof; (vi) fire suppression and prevention systems that will serve the megasite or any portion thereof, whether or not such fire suppression and prevention systems are located on or outside of the megasite; (vii) utility distribution systems, including, but not limited to, electricity, natural gas, telephone and other information and telecommunications facilities, whether by wire, fiber or wireless means, that will serve the megasite, whether or not such utility distribution systems are located on or outside of the megasite; provided that this subsection (vii) shall not empower the authority to acquire, construct, restore, repair, renovate, improve, demolish or remove any utility distribution system with respect to the megasite or any portion thereof which the authority is not otherwise already permitted to do under other applicable law; (viii) any other purposes authorized by or defined in Section 19-9-1 .

(d) “ Megasite project ” means the acquisition and development of a megasite by an authority created pursuant to this chapter for purposes of establishing a new industrial park or a single or multiple parcel industrial development zone to attract significant single- or multi-use industrial development projects, together with, as applicable, any industrial project undertaken on a megasite and/or any facilities related to a megasite.

(e) “ Megasite ” means any single tract or combination of contiguous tracts, excluding intervening roadways, railways, waterways or utility-ways, of at least eight hundred (800) acres acquired or otherwise under the control of an authority for the purposes of undertaking a megasite project on all or portion thereof; provided that, in the event a megasite initially contains at least eight hundred (800) acres, the use of the term megasite shall also include any adjoining real property tracts that are subsequently acquired or otherwise brought under the control of such authority.

(2) An authority is authorized and empowered to:

(a) Acquire by gift, purchase or otherwise, and to own, hold, maintain, control and develop real estate situated within the county and/or any interests therein for the purposes of undertaking a megasite project;

(b) Acquire by gift, purchase or otherwise, and to own, hold, repair, maintain, control and develop any facilities related to a megasite;

(c) Sell, lease, sublease, sub-sub lease, sell and leaseback, lease and sublease-back, trade, exchange or otherwise convey or dispose of a megasite project or any portions thereof or any interests therein to individuals, firms or business enterprises, public or private; in each of the above instances for such consideration, and with such safeguards as are determined by the authority will best promote and protect the public interest, convenience and necessity, and to enter into and execute purchase options, purchase agreements, deeds, leases, subleases, development agreements and other contracts, easements and other legal instruments necessary or convenient therefor. Such authority is further authorized and empowered to undertake any of the preceding authorized transactions, and enter into and execute any contract, agreement or instruments with respect thereto on the basis of negotiation with the authority without the necessity of any appraisal, advertisement for proposals, bids or offers, or of any other public procurement or sale requirements.

(3) The county board of supervisors of any county in which an authority is created pursuant to this chapter is authorized to (a) (i) incur bonded and floating indebtedness by issuing general obligation bonds, revenue bonds or special assessment bonds as authorized by any statute authorizing the issuance of such bonds, (ii) accept and borrow any loan from the federal government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and/or (iii) incur any other indebtedness in any manner for which it is authorized by law to incur debt, (b) may appropriate funds for the purposes and in the manner prescribed by law, and (c) may accept and utilize grants, donations or contributions from any source, whether public or private, to fund any costs of a megasite project. Any revenues derived from a project financed with indebtedness incurred pursuant to this section may be pledged, in whole or in part, by such county board of supervisors to secure payment of the bonded indebtedness incurred to finance a project.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-114-7 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 71 / Section 114-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-114-7
Status: in_force

(1) The authority shall evaluate an application to determine whether the applicant's proposed project is a qualified economic development project and whether it is therefore eligible for an award by the authority of an mFlex tax incentive, as calculated in accordance with Section 5 of this act.

(2) Upon approval of an applicant's application, the authority shall issue a certification (a) designating the applicant's project as a “qualified economic development project” and eligible for the mFlex tax incentive authorized by Sections 1 through 10 of this act; (b) awarding the initial mFlex tax incentive calculated pursuant to Section 5 of this act; and (c) imposing those mandatory conditions pursuant to subsection (4) of this section and any discretionary conditions otherwise imposed by the authority.

(3) Upon the issuance of the certification and execution of the mFlex agreement by a qualified business or industry and the authority, the qualified business or industry may apply the amount of its mFlex tax incentive as a credit to offset (a) any state taxes (except for withholding tax required to be deducted and withheld from employee wages pursuant to Section 27-7-301 et seq. ), as incurred thereby, up to the full amount of the mFlex tax incentive awarded by the authority for the associated qualified economic development project, and (b) only up to twenty percent (20%) of the mFlex tax incentive amount may be applied as a credit during the course of any reporting year to offset withholding tax deducted and withheld from employee wages pursuant to Section 27-7-301 et seq. ; provided that the amount of the mFlex tax incentive available to be applied as a credit to offset such state taxes shall be subject to any subsequent adjustments made by the authority to such award pursuant to Section 7 of this act, and any performance requirements set out in the mFlex agreement. The amount of the mFlex tax incentive available to be applied as a credit to offset any state taxes described in Section 2(bb)(i) of this act shall be limited to those such taxes payable directly by the qualified business or industry to the Department of Revenue pursuant to a direct pay permit issued by the Department of Revenue under Section 27-65-93 . The amount of the mFlex tax incentive available to be applied as a credit to offset any state taxes may not be applied as a credit to offset any state taxes incurred prior to the issuance of the certification by the authority and execution of the mFlex agreement by the qualified business or industry and the authority.

(4) The following conditions shall apply to each such certification made, and each mFlex tax incentive awarded, by the authority in accordance with Sections 1 through 10 of this act:

(a) Any certification and mFlex tax incentive award issued by the authority under Sections 1 through 10 of this act is nontransferable and cannot be applied, used or assigned to any other person or business or tax account without prior approval by the authority, except for one or more affiliates of the qualified business or industry disclosed thereby on its application or in a subsequent annual report submitted to the authority in accordance with Sections 1 through 10 of this act;

(b) No qualified business or industry may claim or use the mFlex tax incentive awarded thereto under Sections 1 through 10 of this act unless the qualified business or industry is in full compliance with all state and local tax laws, and related ordinances, permits and other applicable governmental approvals; and

(c) Each qualified business or industry must enter into an mFlex agreement with the authority which sets out, at a minimum, (i) the obligation of the business or industry to provide an annual report to the authority pursuant to Section 7 of this act that demonstrates the actual amount of its qualified investment, including actual expenditures on manufacturing machinery, nonmanufacturing equipment and component building materials, the number of new full-time jobs created and maintained as a result of the project, and any other relevant information as may be required by the authority; and (ii) terms for readjustment or recapture of all or a portion of the mFlex tax incentive awarded thereto pursuant to Section 7 of this act if the applicant 1. fails to satisfy the minimum job creation requirement if certification of the project is predicated on satisfaction of the minimum job creation requirement and not the minimum qualified investment, or 2. fails to satisfy the minimum qualified investment if certification of the project is predicated on satisfaction of the minimum job creation requirement and not the minimum qualified investment, and/or 3. fails to otherwise satisfy any other additional performance requirements of the qualified business or industry or its qualified economic development project that are imposed by the authority.

(5) In addition to those mandatory conditions prescribed by Sections 1 through 10 of this act that apply to each certification and award of an mFlex tax incentive made by the authority in accordance herewith, the authority is authorized to impose any other conditions upon any certification and award of an mFlex tax incentive made by the authority as it shall find best promotes economic development in the state.

(6) Upon certifying a qualified business or industry as eligible for, and awarding, an mFlex tax incentive under Sections 1 through 10 of this act, the authority shall forward the certification along with any other necessary information to the Department of Revenue so that the mFlex tax incentive awarded to the qualified business or industry can be recorded by the Department of Revenue and used to verify each state tax credit subsequently applied by the qualified business or industry.

(7) Within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar quarter, the authority shall provide to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a copy of each certification made, together with a copy of each mFlex agreement approved and executed, during the immediately preceding calendar quarter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-21 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 18 / Section 31-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-21
Status: in_force

The resolution providing for the issuance of revenue bonds hereunder shall contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders as may reasonably be proper and not in violation of law, including, but not limited to, covenants setting forth the duties of the authority in relation to the acquisition of property, the construction of a project, the maintenance, operation, repair, and insuring of the project, and the custody, safeguarding, and application of all moneys, and may also provide that any project shall be constructed and paid for under the supervision and approval of the consulting engineers or architects employed or designated by the authority, and may also contain provisions concerning the conditions, if any, upon which additional revenue bonds may be issued.