Appropriation; Pearl River Valley Water Supply District., the official text

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Appropriations B; Appropriations A

By: Representatives Bounds, Read, Anderson (122nd), Clark,
Eure, Hale, Jackson (11th), Pigott, Rosebud

House Bill 1899

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT APPROVING THE EXPENDITURE OF SPECIAL FUNDS FOR THE
PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE PEARL RIVER VALLEY WATER SUPPLY
DISTRICT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1.  The following sum, or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is authorized and approved for expenditure out of any
special source funds which are received by or otherwise become available to the
Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, for the purpose of defraying the expenses
of the district for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and
ending June 30, 2027........................................

............................................ $
28,826,107.00.

SECTION 2.  Of the funds appropriated under the
provisions of Section 1, the following positions are authorized:

AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT:

Permanent:
99

Time-Limited:
1

Any transfers or escalations
shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions and procedures
established by law. No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be
used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds which are being used
for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are
withdrawn and no longer available.

SECTION 3.  It is the
intention of the Legislature that the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District
shall maintain complete accounting and personnel records related to the
expenditure of all funds appropriated under this act and that such records
shall be in the same format and level of detail as maintained for Fiscal Year
2026.  It is further the intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget
request for Fiscal Year 2028 shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget
Committee in a format and level of detail comparable to the format and level of
detail provided during the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request process.

SECTION 4.  It is the
intention of the Legislature that whenever two (2) or more bids are received by
this agency for the purchase of commodities or equipment, and whenever all
things stated in such received bids are equal with respect to price, quality
and service, the Mississippi Industries for the Blind shall be given
preference.  A similar preference shall be given to the Mississippi Industries
for the Blind whenever purchases are made without competitive bids.

SECTION 5.  The funds
herein approved for expenditure, except and less an amount approved by the
State Fiscal Officer which shall be sufficient to cover disbursements for
current operations, shall be deposited at interest with any official depository
of the state at a rate of interest numerically not less than one percent (1%)
below the bank discount rate on United States Treasury bills of comparable
maturity as determined by the State Treasurer.

SECTION 6.  None of
the funds appropriated for expenditure under this act may be expended by Pearl
River Valley Water Supply District until the district agrees to comply with the
following condition:  the District shall waive traffic control fees for any
vehicle displaying a “REZ” tag.

SECTION 7.  None of
the funds appropriated for expenditure under this act may be expended by Pearl
River Valley Water Supply District until the district agrees to comply with the
following conditions:  (1)  If any local governmental or nonprofit entity wins
the bid for the ESPN Bass Masters Classic or the FLW Major Open, these events
shall be exempt from the district's lottery system for host events at the
reservoir and given priority of any and all date options available.  (2)  If
any local governmental or nonprofit entity wins the bid for such events, the
district shall waive the daily launch fees or any other special event fees for
the ESPN Bass Masters Classic or the FLW Major Open.  (3)  The Catch A Dream
Foundation Bass Classic shall be held on the first Sunday in May unless any
local governmental or nonprofit entity wins the bid for the ESPN Bass Masters
Classic or the FLW Major Open on that date.  The Catch A Dream Foundation Bass
Classic shall be exempt from the district's lottery system for host events at
the reservoir and given priority for the first Sunday in May.  The district
shall waive the daily launch fees or any other special event fees for the
Classic.

SECTION 8.  Of the
funds appropriated herein, Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) is
provided for the purpose of funding overtime, callback or standby pay.

SECTION 9.  Funds are
provided herein out of the Ross Barnett Reservoir Dredging Fund for dredging
and other related activities to remove sediments and debris from the bottom of
the Ross Barnett Reservoir.

SECTION 10.  Of the
funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act, Four Hundred Thousand Dollars
($400,000.00) is provided to the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District to
conduct a study on the spillway gates. Of this amount, Two Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($200,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be derived
from funds in the State Treasury to the credit of the Capital Expense Fund, as
established in Section 27-103-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, and allocated as
determined by the State Treasurer. The remaining funds shall be derived from
any special fund sources received or otherwise made available to the district.

SECTION 11.  Of the
funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1 of this act, One Million
Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,750,000.00) is provided for the
purpose of dredging and other related activities to remove sediments and debris
from the bottom of the Ross Barnett Reservoir.

SECTION 12.  Of the
funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1 of this act, Four Million
Dollars ($4,000,000.00) is provided for repairs and improvements to parks and
campgrounds.

SECTION 13. Of the funds appropriated under the
provisions of Section 1 of this act, Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000.00) is
provided for repairs and improvements at Northshore Parkway Causeway and the
Eastern side of the Breakers.

SECTION 14.  The
funds herein appropriated shall be expended in compliance with Section 27-104-25,
Mississippi Code of 1972, that no state agency shall incur obligations or
indebtedness in excess of their appropriation and that the responsible
officers, either personally or upon their official bonds, shall be held
responsible for actions contrary to this provision.

SECTION 15.  The
money herein approved for expenditure shall be disbursed upon bank checks
signed by the proper person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law
or in accordance with the provisions of a valid trust indenture.

SECTION 16.  The
money herein appropriated shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money
in the State Treasury to the credit of the proper fund or funds as set forth in
this act, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State
Fiscal Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper
person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 17.  This act
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.