SB 2203 — Public land in Rankin County; authorize DFA to assign property to state agencies and establish new Veterans Nursing Home.

2203 (As Sent to Governor) AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO SURVEY, PARTITION, TRANSFER AND CONVEY ALL OF THE RIGHTS, TITLE AND INTEREST IN THE 3,207 ACRES OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN RANKIN COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, ACQUIRED BY THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI IN 1894 TO THE STATE AGENCIES CURRENTLY SITUATED AND OPERATING ON SAID PROPERTY;

2203 *SS26/R493.4**SS08/R493SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 23/SS26/R493.423/SS08/R493SG PAGE 1 (rdd\tb) SECTION 1.

2203 *SS26/R493.4**SS08/R493SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/SS26/R493.423/SS08/R493SG PAGE 2(rdd\tb)2 (b) The State Fire Academy;

2203 *SS26/R493.4**SS08/R493SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/SS26/R493.423/SS08/R493SG PAGE 3(rdd\tb)3 operation, maintenance and control of the said Veterans Nursing Home.

(5) Upon completing the field survey, the Department of Finance and Administration is authorized to define the sewer easements and facilitate the installation of flow meters into the sewer lines to be assigned to the Mississippi Department of Mental Health and the said Department of Mental Health is authorized to assess each agency or institution an amount proportionate to its use of sewer costs that the department pays to the West Rankin Utility District, on a continuing basis.basis as determined by the flow meters installed within each agency's assigned sewer line.

The Department of Mental Health shall have the right to execute leases on all remaining unassigned property solelyS. for timber purposes.

S.

2203 *SS26/R493.4**SS08/R493SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/SS26/R493.423/SS08/R493SG PAGE 4(rdd\tb)4 (7)solely Thefor Statetimber ofplanting Mississippiand shallharvesting retainpurposes, alland mineralfor rightswhich inthe department shall receive the parcelsproceeds from the sell of propertyany assignedtimber harvested from the unassigned property, the funds from which shall be deposited to statethe agenciesState andTreasury institutionsspecifically underfor thisthe section.department.

(7) The State of Mississippi shall retain all mineral rights in the parcels of property assigned to state agencies and institutions under this section.

One or more additional veterans homes or domiciliaries are hereby authorized to be established by the State Veterans Affairs Board on sites in northern, central or southern Mississippi, to be determined by the State Veterans Affairs Board, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Administration, when funds are madeS. available for such purpose by any agency of the federal government or other sources.

The Veterans Affairs Board shall give the three (3) regions, northern, southern and central priority as to where the veterans home shall be located, with the northern region having first priority, the southern region having S.

2203 *SS26/R493.4**SS08/R493SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/SS26/R493.423/SS08/R493SG PAGE 5(rdd\tb)5 themade nextavailable levelfor prioritysuch andpurpose theby centralany regionagency beingof thirdthe infederal ordergovernment ofor priority.other sources.

The Veterans Affairs Board shall give the three (3) regions, northern, southern and central priority as to where the veterans home shall be located, with the northern region having first priority, the southern region having the next level priority and the central region being third in order of priority.

(2)S. The State Veterans Affairs Board may contract with nongovernmental entities or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to operate and provide services to state veterans homes.

The board may contract with the vendor whose proposal is most advantageous to the state and veterans, taking into S.

2203 *SS26/R493.4**SS08/R493SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/SS26/R493.423/SS08/R493SG PAGE 6(rdd\tb)6 consideration(2) costThe factors,State programVeterans suitabilityAffairs factors,Board managementmay plan,contract deliverywith ofnongovernmental careentities and service to residents, excellence of program design, key personnel, corporate or companythe resources,United financialStates conditionDepartment of theVeterans vendor,Affairs corporateto experienceoperate and pastprovide performance,services andto anystate otherveterans requirementshomes. deemed necessary by the board and expressed in its solicitation for proposals.

The board may contract with the vendor whose proposal is most advantageous to the state and veterans, taking into consideration cost factors, program suitability factors, management plan, delivery of care and service to residents, excellence of program design, key personnel, corporate or company resources, financial condition of the vendor, corporate experience and past performance, and any other requirements deemed necessary by the board and expressed in its solicitation for proposals.

(3) The State Veterans Affairs Board may, as permitted by federal laws or regulations, purchase from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, from contracts established by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or through other sharing agreements between the board and the United States DepartmentS. of Veterans Affairs, services, commodities, supplies and equipment for use in operation of, and provision of care to residents of, the state veterans homes when such purchases or agreements are advantageous to the veterans and the state.

S.

2203 *SS26/R493.4**SS08/R493SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/SS26/R493.423/SS08/R493SG PAGE 7(rdd\tb)7 (4)Department Theof State Veterans AffairsAffairs, Boardservices, maycommodities, operatesupplies and maintainequipment thefor stateuse veteransin homesoperation withoutof, enteringand intoprovision anyof contractcare forto managementresidents purposesof, withthe anystate nongovernmentalveterans entityhomes orwhen thesuch Unitedpurchases Statesor Departmentagreements ofare Veteransadvantageous Affairs to operatethe veterans and the homes.state.

(4) The State Veterans Affairs Board may operate and maintain the state veterans homes without entering into any contract for management purposes with any nongovernmental entity or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to operate the homes.

SECTIONS. 4.

Section 35-1-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

35-1-23.

The Mississippi State Veterans Home and additional homes authorized by Section 35-1-7 and Sections 35-1-19 to S.

2203 *SS26/R493.4**SS08/R493SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/SS26/R493.423/SS08/R493SG PAGE 8(rdd\tb)8 35-1-29,SECTION including4. the State Veterans Home in Rankin County under the provisions of this act, are authorized to accept funds from any source whatever, including the federal government or any department or agency thereof.

Section 35-1-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

35-1-23.

The Mississippi State Veterans Home and additional homes authorized by Section 35-1-7 and Sections 35-1-19 to 35-1-29, including the State Veterans Home in Rankin County under the provisions of this act, are authorized to accept funds from any source whatever, including the federal government or any department or agency thereof.

The board is authorized, within available funds for such purpose, to purchase such equipmentS. as necessary to facilitate the establishment and operation of the veterans homes.

SECTION 6.

Section 35-1-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

S.

2203 *SS26/R493.4**SS08/R493SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/SS26/R493.423/SS08/R493SG PAGE 9(rdd\tb)9 35-1-27.equipment as necessary to facilitate the establishment and operation of the veterans homes.

SECTION 6.

Section 35-1-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

35-1-27.

2203 *SS26/R493.4**SS08/R493SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/SS26/R493.423/SS08/R493SG ST:

authorize DFA PAGE 10(rdd\tb)10 to assign property to state agencies and establish new Veterans Nursing Home.