Senate Bill 2544

AN ACT RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF SEAFOOD AND OYSTERS BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES; TO AMEND SECTIONS 49-15-3, 49-15-5, 49-15-7, 49-15-9, 49-15-16, 49-15-17, 49-15-18, 49-15-23, 49-15-27, 49-15-29, 49-15-30, 49-15-31, 49-15-34, 49-15-35, 49-15-36, 49-15-37, 49-15-38, 49-15-40, 49-15-44, 49-15-45, 49-15-46 AND 49-15-47, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE AUTHORITY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES TO LEASE REEFS AND BOTTOM LAND FOR OYSTER GROWING/HARVESTING AND TO CLARIFY THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT TO REGULATE THE TAKING OF OYSTERS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW OYSTER BEDS; TO REQUIRE ALL LESSEES TO BE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE; TO ESTABLISH THE "OYSTER PRODUCTION PRESERVE ACCOUNT" WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT'S SEAFOOD FUND, WHICH IS EARMARKED FOR OYSTER PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT AND TO REQUIRE ANNUAL REPORTS ON EXPENDITURES; TO CLARIFY THE FIRST RIGHT OF RENEWAL OF EXISTING LESSEES; TO PRESCRIBE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INITIAL APPLICATION FOR LEASE; TO PROVIDE FOR PENALTIES AND PROCEDURES IN THE EVENT OF DEFAULT IN PAYMENT OF RENT; TO PROVIDE FOR CANCELLATION AND FOR FORFEITURES; TO PROVIDE A RIGHT OF APPEAL; TO DELETE CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO DEPURATION TECHNOLOGY; TO DELETE CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO RESTRICTED SEED AREAS; TO PROVIDE RECIPROCITY FOR CERTAIN NONRESIDENT VESSEL OYSTER DREDGING AND TONGING FEES; TO DELETE THE AUTHORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNING AUTHORITIES TO ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT IN PLANTING OYSTER SHELLS; TO DELETE THE PROVISIONS THAT ALL REEFS ARE PUBLIC; TO PRESCRIBE CERTAIN CONDITIONS FOR STATE-OWNED REEFS; TO DELETE THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT TO EXERCISE EMINENT DOMAIN IN CONSTRUCTING CANALS; TO CLARIFY THE AUTHORITY OF MUNICIPALITIES RELATIVE TO THE WATERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI SOUND; TO REPEAL SECTION 49-15-39, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH REGULATES TONGING REEFS AND PRESCRIBES CERTAIN CRIMINAL PENALTIES RELATED TO TONGING REEFS AND TO REPEAL SECTION 49-15-40.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES TO CONDUCT A PILOT PROGRAM FOR BOTTOM LAND LEASING FOR OYSTER PRODUCTION IN WATERS ADJACENT TO HANCOCK COUNTY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the Senate

• Mike Thompson

  Sponsor

• Senate floor amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Feb 9

• House of Representatives floor amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Mar 1

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the Senate Jan 16 – Feb 9

1. Jan 16Referred to the Senate committee on Ports and Marine Resources
2. Jan 31Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass
3. Feb 9Amended in the Senate
4. Passed the Senate as amended

In the House of Representatives Feb 13 – Mar 1

1. Feb 13Sent to the House
2. Feb 14Referred to the House committee on Marine Resources
3. Feb 22Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass as amended
4. Mar 1Amended in the House
5. Passed the House as amended

Back in the Senate Mar 2 – Apr 3

1. Mar 2Returned to the Senate to concur in the House's amendments
2. Mar 14Declined in the Senate to concur, and invited a conference
3. Mar 15Conferees named in the Senate: Moran, Thompson and England
4. Mar 17Conferees named in the House: Ladner, Felsher and Crawford
5. Mar 23Conference report filed in the Senate
6. Conference report filed in the House
7. Mar 25Recommitted in the Senate to the conferees for further conference
8. Recommitted in the House to the conferees for further conference
9. Mar 26Conference report filed in the Senate
10. Conference report filed in the House
11. Mar 27Conference report adopted in the Senate
12. Released in the Senate to be sent on at once
13. Mar 28Conference report adopted in the House
14. Released in the House to be sent on at once
15. Apr 3Enrolled bill signed in the Senate

To the Governor Apr 3 – Apr 17

1. Apr 3Enrolled bill signed in the House
2. Apr 17Approved by the Governor