reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MS Code § 77-2-5 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 2 - Public Utilities Staff|§ 77-2-5. Definitions

 For purposes of this chapter, the terms defined in this section shall have the meaning ascribed as follows:   "Regulatory function" means all duties and procedures concerning the execution and enforcement of the laws, rules, orders, directives, duties and obligations imposed for the control and government of the persons or businesses regulated, together with investigative activities incident thereto and procedures inherently administrative or executive in character.   "Quasi-judicial function" means the promulgation of all orders and directives of particular applicability governing the conduct of the regulated persons or businesses, together with procedures inherently judicial.   "Commission" means the Mississippi Public Service Commission.   "Public utilities staff" means those persons employed by the public utilities staff established in Section 77-2-1.   "Public service commission staff" means those persons employed by the Public Service Commission pursuant to Section 77-3-8, Mississippi Code of 1972.
MS Code § 77-2-7 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 2 - Public Utilities Staff|§ 77-2-7. Executive director of public utilities staff; appointment; qualifications; salary

  An executive director of the public utilities staff shall be appointed, on or before July 1, 1990, by the Governor, from recommended candidates to be selected by the Public Service Commission, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to serve for a term of six (6) years. On or before May 15, 1990, the Public Service Commission shall submit to the Governor a list of not less than three (3) and no more than six (6) qualified candidates for the position of executive director. The Governor shall appoint the executive director from the list of qualified candidates nominated. Within sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the term of the executive director, the Public Service Commission shall submit the names of candidates to the Governor in the manner provided herein. Whenever any vacancy shall occur in the position of executive director the Public Service Commission shall nominate and the Governor shall appoint an executive director, as provided herein, to fill the unexpired term. The executive director shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Governor.   The executive director of the public utilities staff shall hold at least a bachelors degree and shall have extensive managerial experience with a thorough knowledge of public utility economics and the principles of utility service and rate construction. The executive director of the public utilities staff shall possess the ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative data and to develop and adjust regulatory strategies or policies to attain commission objectives. The salary of the executive director shall be set by the Personnel Board and shall be such that it is comparable to salaries of those holding similar positions in other state and federal agencies and commensurate with the duties and responsibilities imposed on this official position which affects the broad interests of the State of Mississippi. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent reappointment of the executive director for consecutive terms.
MS Code § 77-2-11 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 2 - Public Utilities Staff|§ 77-2-11. Former employees of public service commission, public service commission staff or public utilities staff prohibited from accepting certain employment; prohibition against offering such employment; penalties

  A person who serves as (a) Commissioner of the Public Service Commission, (b) Executive Director of the public utilities staff, or (c) Executive Secretary of the commission shall not, while employed with or within one (1) year after leaving the commission or public utilities staff, accept employment with, receive compensation directly or indirectly from, or enter into a contractual relationship with an entity, or an affiliate company of an entity, that was subject to rate regulation by the commission at the time of his departure.   An entity or an affiliate company of an entity that is subject to rate regulation by the commission, or a person acting on behalf of the entity or its affiliate, shall not negotiate or offer to employ or compensate a commissioner of the Public Service Commission, Executive Director of the public utilities staff or the Executive Secretary of the commission, while the person is so employed or within one (1) year after the person leaves that employment.   A person who is employed with the public utilities staff shall not, within one (1) year, after leaving the public utilities staff, accept employment with, or receive compensation, directly or indirectly from the Public Service Commission or the public service commission staff.   A person who is employed with the Public Service Commission or public service commission staff, shall not, within one (1) year, after leaving the commission or public service commission staff, accept employment with, or receive compensation, directly or indirectly, from the public utilities staff.   A person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for each violation. The Attorney General may bring an action in circuit court to collect the penalties provided in this section.
MS Code § 77-2-15 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 2 - Public Utilities Staff|§ 77-2-15. Agreements with agencies permitted

 Nothing in this chapter prevents the public utilities staff, the public service commission staff or the commission from entering into agreements with other agencies to coordinate and share services, to conduct joint projects or investigations on matters within the authority and jurisdiction of the parties thereto, or to temporarily assign staff to such projects. No cooperative effort shall interfere with the independence and integrity of either the commission, the public service commission staff, the public utilities staff or any other agency that is a party.
MS Code § 77-2-17 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 2 - Public Utilities Staff|§ 77-2-17. Continued force and effect of prior rules and orders; public utilities staff to have access to all data filed with commission

  All valid rules, orders and directives heretofore enforced, issued or promulgated by the Public Service Commission shall remain and continue in force and effect until repealed, modified or superseded by duly authorized rules, orders or directives of the Public Service Commission.   The Public Service Commission shall ensure that the public utilities staff, upon request, shall have access to and copies of all data filed with the commission in connection with any proceeding before the commission.
MS Code § 77-2-19 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 2 - Public Utilities Staff|§ 77-2-19. Establishment of Public Utilities Staff Regulation Fund; administration generally; annual audits; disbursements from fund

  There is hereby established in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the "Public Utilities Staff Regulation Fund." Such fund shall be the sole fund of the Public Utilities Staff for all monies collected and deposited to the credit of or appropriated to the Public Utilities Staff. The fund shall be administered as provided in this section and Section 77-3-87 and shall be audited annually by the State Auditor.   The Department of Finance and Administration shall advise the Public Utilities Staff of the amount of money on hand in the "Public Utilities Staff Regulation Fund" from time to time. All expenses of the Public Utilities Staff shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer, and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the Executive Director of the Public Utilities Staff. All disbursements made by the executive director from the fund for any purposes, other than salaries, shall be supported by a detailed and itemized statement approved by the executive director. The salaries of all employees of the Public Utilities Staff shall be paid out of the appropriations made to defray the expenses of the Public Utilities Staff upon requisitions and warrants as provided herein. Of the revenue arising from the increased regulatory tax imposed in Section 77-3-87, an amount not less than Three Hundred Fifty-four Thousand One Hundred Thirty-nine Dollars ($354,139.00) may be expended by the executive director for operating increase and salaries to fund additional accounting and telecommunication positions for the Public Utilities Staff. An itemized account shall be kept of all receipts and expenditures and shall be reported to the Legislature by the Public Utilities Staff.
MS Code § 77-6-1 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 6 - Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law|§ 77-6-1. Short title

 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law."
MS Code § 77-6-3 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 6 - Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law|§ 77-6-3. Legislative intent

 The Legislature hereby finds and declares that certain municipalities of this state now own and operate gas distribution systems to serve their citizens, inhabitants and customers by providing them with gas for all purposes; and if such municipalities are to furnish, and if the members of the public in the areas they serve are to receive adequate service, such municipalities must have adequate, dependable and economical sources of gas supplies. The Legislature declares that there exists in this state a need for an authority to function without profit in developing, obtaining and promoting for the public good in this state adequate, dependable and economical sources and supplies of gas for the purposes expressed in this section, and to assist in the financing of additions and other expenditures for the municipal gas systems of such municipalities.
MS Code § 77-6-9 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 6 - Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law|§ 77-6-9. Membership in authority after its creation; withdrawal

 After the creation of the authority, any other municipality may become a member thereof upon application to such authority after the adoption of a resolution by the utility commission of the municipality setting forth the determination and finding prescribed in Section 77-6-7, and the adoption by the governing authorities of the municipality of a resolution or ordinance ratifying the determination of the utility commission and authorizing said municipality to participate, and with the majority consent of the members of the authority evidenced by the resolutions of their respective utility commissions. Any municipality may withdraw from the authority, provided that all contractual rights acquired and obligations incurred while a municipality was a member shall remain in full force and effect. The withdrawing municipality shall continue to honor its obligations entered into while a member of the authority.
MS Code § 77-6-13 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 6 - Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law|§ 77-6-13. Executive committee of board of commissioners

 The board of commissioners of the authority may create an executive committee of the board of commissioners. The board may provide for the composition of the executive committee so as to afford, in its judgment, fair representation of the member municipalities. The executive committee shall have and exercise such of the powers and authority of the board of commissioners during intervals between the board's meetings as may be prescribed by its rules, motions or resolutions. The terms of office of the members of the executive committee and the method of filling vacancies therein shall be fixed by the rules of the board of commissioners of the authority.
MS Code § 77-6-19 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 6 - Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law|§ 77-6-19. Municipalities that may contract with authority

 The municipalities with which the authority shall be authorized to contract to provide a gas supply pursuant to this chapter shall be those municipalities of this state or any other state who may distribute or be end-users thereof.
MS Code § 77-6-23 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 6 - Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law|§ 77-6-23. Excess capacity or output may be sold or exchanged

 The authority may sell or exchange the excess capacity or output of a project not then required by any of its members or with any party with whom the authority may contract for such consideration and for such period and upon such other terms and conditions as may be determined by the parties to any municipality or with any party with whom the authority may contract in this state or any other state owning gas distribution facilities, to any municipalities, agencies or instrumentalities of any other state, to any gas association, to any end-user, to any public or private utility, or to any other state, federal or municipal agency which owns gas production, transmission or distribution facilities either within or without this state. Provided, however, that sales of excess capacity or output of a project to gas associations, public or private utilities, and other persons the interest on whose securities and other obligations are not exempt from taxation by the federal government shall not be made in such amounts, for such periods of time, and under such terms and conditions as will cause the interest on bonds issued to finance the cost of a project to become taxable by the federal government.
MS Code § 77-6-25 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 6 - Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law|§ 77-6-25. Provisions to be construed as authorizing joint and several ownership of projects

 The definitions and all other terms and provisions of this chapter shall be construed so as to include and authorize the joint or several ownership, operation, and/or maintenance by one or more municipalities or the authority of a project, or any undivided ownership interest therein, with any person, firm, association or corporation, public or private, engaged in the production, transmission or distribution of gas either within or without this state.
MS Code § 77-6-27 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 6 - Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law|§ 77-6-27. Acquisition of property; contract requirements

 A municipality's or the authority's purchase of, contract for the acquisition of, or contract for any property, including any project or interest therein, or the construction of, or the operation and maintenance of, any project, owned or to be owned jointly by such municipality or the authority with any person, firm or corporation engaged in the production, transmission or distribution of gas, either within or without this state, other than with a municipality of this state or the authority created pursuant to this chapter, may be made or entered into without meeting the requirements of any law relating to acquisitions, purchases or contracts by competitive bids where the interest to be acquired by such municipality or the authority in such property or project is twenty-five percent (25%) or less.   If a municipality or the authority which finds and records on its minutes that acquisition of any project or any interest therein or any portion thereof, or any property or any interest therein or any portion thereof, which is authorized by this chapter is available or can be acquired or contracted for from or with a municipality or the authority or only a single source, person, firm or corporation, then such acquisition or contract may be made or entered into without meeting the requirements of any law relating to acquisitions, purchases or contracts by competitive bids. If, after advertising for competitive bids as to other proposed purchases, acquisitions or contracts, only one (1) bid is received, the municipality or the authority, as the case may be, may reject the bid and negotiate privately any purchase, contract or acquisition for a consideration not exceeding that proposed in the bid.
MS Code § 77-6-29 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 6 - Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law|§ 77-6-29. Power to issue revenue bonds

 The authority may issue revenue bonds pledging to the payment thereof as to both principal and interest the revenues or any portion thereof, derived or to be derived from all or any of its projects, and any additions and betterments thereto or extensions thereof, or contributions or advances from its members. Bonds of the authority shall be authorized by a resolution adopted by its governing board and spread upon its minutes.
MS Code § 77-6-33 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 6 - Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law|§ 77-6-33. Security for bonds

 In the discretion of the governing board of the issuer, any bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter may be secured by a resolution, a trust indenture or other security instrument, and in this regard the issuer may enter into an agreement with any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or without the state to act as trustee for such bonds. Such resolution, trust indenture or other security instrument providing for the issuance of such bonds may contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders as may be reasonable and proper and not in violation of law, and may restrict the individual right of action by bondholders.   The resolution, trust indenture or other security instrument providing for the issuance of such bonds may, in the discretion of the governing board of the issuer, contain covenants including, but not limited to, the following:   The pledge of all or any part of the revenues derived or to be derived from the project or projects to be financed by the bonds or from the gas system or facilities of a municipality or the authority.   The rents, rates, fees and charges to be established, maintained and collected, and the use and disposal of revenues, gifts, grants and funds received or to be received by the municipality or the authority.   The setting aside of reserves and the investment, regulation and disposition thereof.   The custody, collection, securing, investment and payment of all moneys held for the payment of bonds.   Limitations or restrictions on the purposes to which the proceeds of sale of bonds then or thereafter to be issued may be applied.   Limitations or restrictions on the issuance of additional bonds, the terms upon which additional bonds may be issued and secured, or the refunding of outstanding or other bonds.   The procedure, if any, by which the terms of any contract with bondholders may be amended, the percentage of bonds the bondholders of which must consent thereto and the manner in which such consent may be given.   Events of default and the rights and liabilities arising thereupon, the terms and conditions upon which bonds issued under this chapter shall become or may be declared due before maturity, and the terms and conditions upon which such declaration and its consequences may be waived.   The preparation and maintenance of a budget.   The retention or employment of consulting engineers, independent auditors and other technical consultants.   Limitations on or the prohibition of free service to any person, firm or corporation, public or private.   The acquisition and disposal of property, provided that no project or part thereof shall be mortgaged by such resolution, trust indenture or other security instrument.   Provisions for insurance and for accounting reports and the inspection and audit thereof.   The continuing operation and maintenance of the project.
MS Code § 77-6-35 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 6 - Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law|§ 77-6-35. Rents, rates, fees and charges by municipality

 A municipality is hereby authorized to fix, charge and collect rents, rates, fees and charges for gas and other services, facilities and commodities sold, furnished or supplied through the facilities of its gas system or its interest in any joint project. For so long as any bonds of a municipality are outstanding and unpaid, the rents, fees and charges shall be so fixed as to provide revenues sufficient to pay all costs of and charges and expenses in connection with the proper operation and maintenance of its gas system, and its interest in any joint project, and all necessary repairs, replacements or renewals thereof, to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all bonds and other evidences of indebtedness payable from said revenues, to create and maintain reserves as may be required by any resolution authorizing and securing bonds, to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all bonds heretofore or hereafter issued to finance additions, improvements and betterments to its gas system, and to pay any and all amounts which the municipality may be obligated to pay from said revenues by law or contract. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit any municipality from expending any revenues in excess of that required herein in any manner otherwise permitted by law.
MS Code § 77-6-37 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 6 - Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law|§ 77-6-37. Rents, rates, fees and charges by authority

 The authority is hereby authorized to fix, charge and collect rents, rates, fees and charges for gas and other services, facilities and commodities sold, furnished or supplied through the facilities of its projects. For so long as any bonds of the authority are outstanding and unpaid, the rents, rates, fees and charges shall be so fixed as to provide revenues sufficient to pay all costs of and charges and expenses in connection with the proper operation and maintenance of its projects and all necessary repairs, replacements or renewals thereof, to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all bonds and other evidences of indebtedness payable from said revenues, to create and maintain reserves as may be required by any resolution authorizing and securing bonds, and to pay any and all amounts which the authority may be obligated to pay from said revenues by law or contract.
MS Code § 77-6-39 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 6 - Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi Law|§ 77-6-39. Pledge of municipality or authority valid and binding when made

 Any pledge made by a municipality or the authority pursuant to this chapter shall be valid and binding from the date the pledge is made. The revenues, securities and other moneys so pledged and then held or thereafter received by the municipality or the authority or any fiduciary shall immediately be subject to the lien of the pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and the lien of the pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the municipality or the authority without regard to whether such parties have notice thereof. The resolution, trust indenture or other security instrument by which a pledge is created need not be filed or recorded in any manner.