Community and junior colleges; require the administrative consolidation of certain community college districts.

H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 1 (DJ\KW)

To: Universities and
Colleges
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Lamar, Hawkins, Foster

HOUSE BILL NO. 1284

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION OF 1
CERTAIN COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICTS, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2
2027, THEREBY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGE 3
DISTRICTS FROM 15 TO TWELVE 12; TO REQUIRE THE CONSOLIDATION OF 4
THE COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT INTO THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA 5
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, WITH COAHOMA OPERATING AS THE "COAHOMA 6
CAMPUS" OF MISSISSIPPI DELTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND WITH THE 7
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES TO BE LOCATED IN CLARKSDALE, 8
MISSISSIPPI; TO REQUIRE THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE MERIDIAN 9
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT INTO THE EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY 10
COLLEGE DISTRICT, WITH MERIDIAN TO OPERATE AS THE "MERIDIAN 11
CAMPUS" OF EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND WITH THE CENTRAL 12
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES TO BE LOCATED IN SCOOBA, MISSISSIPPI; TO 13
REQUIRE THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY 14
COLLEGE DISTRICT INTO THE COPIAH-LINCOLN COMMUNITY COLLEGE 15
DISTRICT, WITH SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS TO OPERATE AS 16
THE "SUMMIT CAMPUS" OF COPIAH-LINCOLN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND WITH 17
THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES TO BE LOCATED IN WESSON, 18
MISSISSIPPI; TO PROVIDE FOR SUCCESSOR BOARDS OF TRUSTEES FOR EACH 19
CONSOLIDATED DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE COMPOSITION, APPOINTING 20
AUTHORITIES, INITIAL STAGGERED TERMS, SUCCESSOR TERMS, 21
QUALIFICATIONS AND FILLING OF VACANCIES; TO REQUIRE THE 22
MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD TO PROVIDE NOTICE AND 23
INSTRUCTIONS TO AFFECTED DISTRICTS ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2026, 24
AND TO ADMINISTRATIVELY CONSOLIDATE ANY DISTRICT THAT FAILS TO 25
VOLUNTARILY COMPLY BY JULY 1, 2027; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ABOLITION 26
OF FORMER BOARDS OF TRUSTEES AND THE TRANSFER OF ALL REAL AND 27
PERSONAL PROPERTY TO THE SUCCESSOR CONSOLIDATED DISTRICTS; TO 28
AUTHORIZE THE SUCCESSOR BOARDS TO EMPLOY PERSONNEL AND ESTABLISH 29
CONTRACTS FOR THE 2027-2028 SCHOOL YEAR AND THEREAFTER AND TO 30
PREPARE AND APPROVE DISTRICT BUDGETS; TO PROVIDE LIMITED APPEAL 31
RIGHTS FROM CERTAIN SUCCESSOR BOARD ORDERS IN THE SAME MANNER AS 32
APPEALS FROM COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS UNDER SECTION 11-51-75; 33
TO PROVIDE THAT NO COLLEGE OR FACILITY SHALL BE REQUIRED TO CLOSE 34
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 2 (DJ\KW)

EXCEPT UNNEEDED ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES IN ABOLISHED DISTRICTS; TO 35
AUTHORIZE RULES AND REGULATIONS BY THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY 36
COLLEGE BOARD TO IMPLEMENT THE CONSOLIDATION; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37
37-29-31, 37-29-65, 37-29-451, 37-29-453, 37-29-455, 37-29-457, 38
37-29-459, 37-29-461, 37-29-463, 37-29-465, 37-29-467, 37-29-469, 39
37-29-471, 37-29-501, 37-29-503, 37-29-505, 37-29-507, 37-29-509, 40
37-29-511, 37-29-513, 37-29-515, 37-29-551, 37-29-553, 37-29-555, 41
37-29-557, 37-29-559, 37-29-561, 37-29-563, 37-29-565, 37-29-567, 42
37-29-569 AND 37-29-571, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY 43
TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 44
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 45
SECTION 1. (1) In the State of Mississippi, in which are 46
located, as of January 1, 2026, fifteen (15) community and junior 47
college districts, there shall be an administrative consolidation 48
of six (6) of those districts, effectively reducing the number to 49
twelve (12) such districts, which are further identified and 50
enumerated, accordingly in subsection (2) of this section and 51
Section 37-29-31. 52
(2) For purposes of this act the consolidation shall impact 53
the following community college districts, with regard to the 54
composition of boards of trustees, administrative leadership and 55
the transfers of duties, responsibilities and property. Effective 56
on July 1, 2027: 57
(a) The Mississippi Delta Community College District 58
shall be consolidated with the Coahoma Community College District, 59
and shall officially be known as the Mississippi Delta Community 60
College District. The central administrative offices shall be 61
located in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and the college's 62
administrative leadership shall consist of those officers serving 63
in said capacities for Coahoma Community College as that district 64
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 3 (DJ\KW)

existed on July 1, 2026. At that time, Coahoma Community College 65
shall be known as the Coahoma Campus of Mississippi Delta 66
Community College. The board of trustees for the newly 67
consolidated Mississippi Delta Community College District shall 68
consist of seventeen (17) members, with two (2) members appointed 69
by the county board of supervisors of each county comprising the 70
district as prescribed in Section 37-29-31, and one (1) member 71
appointed by the members of the board of trustees. Once 72
appointed, the new board of trustees shall determine the initial 73
terms of office for each member ranging from (1) to five (5) 74
years. Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for a 75
designated term of five (5) years in order to prevent the term 76
expiration of more than one (1) member of any one (1) county in 77
any one (1) year. The members appointed by the county boards of 78
supervisors shall be appointed in accordance with the 79
qualifications established in Section 37-29-65(6). The member 80
appointed by the board of trustees shall alternate terms between 81
Bolivar, Coahoma and Washington Counties, The first 82
board-appointed member shall be appointed from Coahoma County, and 83
succeeded by an appointee from Washington and then Bolivar 84
Counties; 85
(b) The East Mississippi Community College District 86
shall be consolidated with the Meridian Community College 87
District, and shall officially be known as the East Mississippi 88
Community College District. The central administrative offices 89
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 4 (DJ\KW)

shall be located in Scooba, Mississippi, and the college's 90
administrative leadership shall consist of those officers serving 91
in said capacities for East Mississippi Community College as that 92
district existed on July 1, 2026. At that time, Meridian 93
Community College shall be known as the Meridian Campus of East 94
Mississippi Community College. The board of trustees for the 95
newly consolidated East Mississippi Community College District 96
shall consist of fourteen (14) members, comprised of the two (2) 97
members appointed by the county board of supervisors of each 98
county comprising the district as prescribed in Section 37-29-31 99
and serving on June 1, 2026, each of whom shall continue to serve 100
until the natural expiration of their appointment term, and two 101
(2) members appointed by the City Council of the City of Meridian, 102
whose terms of office shall begin on July 1, 2027. Once 103
appointed, the board shall determine the initial terms of office 104
for each member appointed by the City Council of the City of 105
Meridian as two (2) or four (4) years. Thereafter, all members 106
shall be appointed for a designated term of five (5) years in 107
order to prevent the term expiration of more than one (1) member 108
of any one (1) county in any one (1) year. Members appointed by 109
the city council and the county boards of supervisors shall be 110
appointed in accordance with the qualifications established in 111
Section 37-29-65(6); and 112
(c) The Copiah-Lincoln Community College District shall 113
be consolidated with the Southwest Mississippi Community College 114
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 5 (DJ\KW)

District, and shall officially be known as the Copiah-Lincoln 115
Community College District. The central administrative offices 116
shall be located in Wesson, Mississippi, and the college's 117
administrative leadership shall consist of those officers serving 118
in said capacities for Copiah-Lincoln Community College as that 119
district existed on July 1, 2026. At that time, Southwest 120
Community College shall be known as the Summit Campus of 121
Copiah-Lincoln Community College. The board of trustees for the 122
newly consolidated Copiah-Lincoln Community College District shall 123
consist of twenty-seven (27) members, with three (3) members 124
appointed by each of the county board of supervisors for Adams, 125
Copiah, Lincoln, Pike and Simpson Counties, and two (2) members 126
appointed by each of the county board of supervisors for Amite, 127
Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Walthall and Wilkinson, whose terms 128
of office shall begin on July 1, 2027. Once appointed, those 129
counties having three (3) members, the board shall determine the 130
initial terms of office for each member as one (1), three (3) or 131
five (5) years. Once appointed, those counties having two (2) 132
members, the board shall determine the initial terms of office for 133
each member as two (2) or four (4) years. Thereafter, all members 134
shall be appointed for a designated term of five (5) years. 135
Members shall be appointed in accordance with the qualifications 136
established in Section 37-29-65(6). 137
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 6 (DJ\KW)

(d) All vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms 138
by appointment by a majority vote of the original appointing 139
governing authority. 140
(3) (a) On or before December 31, 2026, the Mississippi 141
Community College Board shall serve the boards of trustees of each 142
community college district scheduled for consolidation with notice 143
and instructions regarding the timetable for action to be taken to 144
comply with the administrative consolidation required in this 145
section. The Mississippi Community College Board shall provide 146
for the administrative consolidation of those community college 147
districts identified in subsection (2) of this section on or 148
before July 1, 2027. The Mississippi Community College Board 149
shall declare that the territory embraced by counties forming each 150
consolidated community college district shall be the boundary 151
lines for the territory of those and shall spread a legal 152
description of the new community college districts on the minutes 153
of its January 2027 meeting and shall serve the applicable county 154
boards of supervisors with an adequate legal description of these 155
new boundaries. 156
(b) It shall be the responsibility of the board of 157
supervisors of each county within a specific community college 158
district to provide for the financial support of the community 159
college district to which it is assigned. The board of 160
supervisors of the county shall thereafter publish the same in 161
some newspaper of general circulation in the county for at least 162
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 7 (DJ\KW)

three (3) consecutive weeks and after having given notice of 163
publication. 164
(c) Any community college district affected by the 165
required administrative consolidation in the community college 166
districts identified in subsection (2) of this section that does 167
not voluntarily consolidate as ordered by the Mississippi 168
Community College Board shall be administratively consolidated by 169
the Mississippi Community College Board, to be effective on July 170
1, 2027. The Mississippi Community College Board shall promptly 171
move on its own motion to administratively consolidate a community 172
college district which does not voluntarily consolidate in order 173
to enable the affected community college districts to reasonably 174
accomplish the resulting administrative consolidation by July 1, 175
2027. The affected community college districts shall comply with 176
any consolidation order issued by the Mississippi Community 177
College Board on or before July 1, 2027. 178
(4) (a) On July 1, 2027, following the consolidation of the 179
community college districts identified in subsection (2) of this 180
section, the former boards of trustees of those community college 181
districts shall be abolished. All real and personal property 182
which is owned or titled in the name of the community college 183
district located in such former community college districts shall 184
be transferred to the new community college district to which it 185
has been consolidated. 186
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 8 (DJ\KW)

(b) The new boards of trustees of the consolidated 187
community college districts shall be responsible for establishing 188
the contracts for administrators, instructors, clerical and 189
administrative staff personnel for the 2027-2028 school year and 190
each school year thereafter. 191
(c) The presidents of the colleges with each community 192
college district may recommend for employment, with approval by 193
the boards of trustees, vice presidents of colleges and campuses 194
for the district, and shall employ as many such individuals to 195
administer the daily operations of such colleges and campuses. It 196
shall be the responsibility of the successor board of trustees to 197
prepare and approve the budget of the new consolidated community 198
college district, and the successor board of trustees may use 199
staff from the former community college district with which it has 200
been consolidated to prepare the budget. Any proposed order of 201
the Mississippi Community College Board directing the transfer of 202
the assets, real or personal property of an affected community 203
college district in the county, shall be final and conclusive for 204
the purposes of the transfer of property required by such 205
administrative consolidation. 206
(d) Any person or community college district aggrieved 207
by an order of the successor newly selected board of trustees of 208
the Copiah County Community college district pursuant to the 209
required administrative consolidation may appeal therefrom within 210
ten (10) days from the date of the adjournment of the meeting at 211
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 9 (DJ\KW)

which such order is entered. The appeal shall be taken in the 212
same manner as appeals are taken from judgments or decisions of 213
the board of supervisors as provided in Section 11-51-75, the 214
provisions of which shall be fully applicable to appeals taken 215
hereunder. The board of trustees of the newly community college 216
district against whom the grievance is made shall not pass upon or 217
approve or disapprove any such order until the time for an appeal 218
therefrom has expired, nor shall the board pass upon or approve or 219
disapprove any such order from which an appeal is taken until said 220
appeal has been finally determined. 221
(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require 222
the closing of any college or facility, unless the facility is an 223
unneeded administrative office located within a community college 224
district which has been abolished under the provisions of this 225
section. The Mississippi Community College Board shall promulgate 226
rules and regulations to facilitate the administrative 227
consolidation of the community college districts pursuant to this 228
section. 229
SECTION 2. Section 37-29-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 230
amended as follows: 231
37-29-31. (1) There are hereby created the following 232
community or junior college districts comprising the entire 233
counties therein named and having boundaries coinciding with the 234
external boundaries thereof, each of which shall be separate 235
juristic entities and bodies politic and corporate: 236
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 10 (DJ\KW)

(a) East Central * * * Community College District shall 237
be comprised of the counties of Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott and 238
Winston. 239
(b) East Mississippi * * * Community College District 240
shall be comprised of the counties of Clay, Kemper, Lauderdale, 241
Lowndes, Noxubee and Oktibbeha. 242
(c) Hinds * * * Community College District shall be 243
comprised of the counties of Hinds, Rankin, Warren and Claiborne. 244
(d) Holmes * * * Community College District shall be 245
comprised of the counties of Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Grenada, 246
Holmes, Madison, Montgomery, Webster and Yazoo. 247
(e) Itawamba * * * Community College District shall be 248
comprised of the counties of Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe and 249
Pontotoc. 250
(f) Jones County Junior College District shall be 251
comprised of the counties of Clarke, Covington, Greene, Jasper, 252
Jones, Perry, Smith and Wayne. 253
(g) * * * Coahoma Community College District shall be 254
comprised of the counties of Bolivar, Coahoma, Humphreys, 255
Issaquena, Leflore, Sharkey, Sunflower and Washington. 256
(h) Northeast * * * Community College District shall be 257
comprised of the counties of Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo 258
and Union. 259
(i) Northwest * * * Community College District shall be 260
comprised of the counties of Benton, Calhoun, DeSoto, Lafayette, 261
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 11 (DJ\KW)

Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica and 262
Yalobusha. 263
(j) Pearl River Junior College District shall be 264
comprised of the counties of Forrest, Hancock, Jefferson Davis, 265
Lamar, Marion and Pearl River. 266
(k) * * * Copiah-Lincoln College District shall be 267
comprised of the counties of Adams, Amite, Copiah, Franklin, 268
Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pike, Simpson, Walthall and 269
Wilkinson. 270
(j) Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College shall be 271
comprised of the counties of George, Harrison, Jackson and Stone. 272
(2) The boards of supervisor of each county belonging to a 273
community college district, shall only provide the amount of any 274
millage levied for the support and maintenance of the community 275
college district to which the county is assigned such county under 276
Section 37-29-141. No county shall contribute to more than one 277
(1) community college district. 278
SECTION 3. Section 37-29-65, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 279
amended as follows: 280
37-29-65. (1) Except as provided in this section and in 281
Sections 37-29-409, 37-29-457 and 37-29-505, there shall be five 282
(5) trustees from each county of the community/junior college 283
district which originally entered into and gave financial aid in 284
establishing the community/junior college. On June 30, 1992, the 285
offices of the six (6) trustees from each of the original counties 286
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 12 (DJ\KW)

in the Northwest Community College District shall stand vacated. 287
The board of supervisors of those respective counties shall 288
appoint two (2) members on July 1, 1992, to serve full terms of 289
office as provided in this section. The board of supervisors of 290
those respective counties shall appoint one (1) member who is a 291
qualified elector from each supervisors district to serve as a 292
member, either of which may be the county superintendent of 293
education if he or she resides in a respective supervisors 294
district. Counties which subsequent to the establishment of the 295
community/junior college joined the district shall have only one 296
(1) trustee. However, the board of trustees so constituted, by 297
appropriate resolution, may enlarge its number to six (6) trustees 298
from each county. The board of trustees shall also be authorized 299
within its discretion to reduce its number to two (2) trustees at 300
large from each county. In any case in which there is an equal 301
number of trustees the board of trustees may appoint another 302
person to membership. 303
(2) The county superintendent, if appointed by the county 304
board of supervisors, may, in his discretion, choose not to serve 305
as a member of such board of trustees. Such decision not to serve 306
shall be in writing and entered on the minutes of the board of 307
trustees of the community/junior college district. The county 308
board of supervisors of any county whose county superintendent of 309
education appointed under the authority of this section, declines 310
the appointment or resigns, pursuant to this subsection (2), shall 311
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 13 (DJ\KW)

fill the vacancy caused by such resignation by appointing a member 312
who is a qualified elector of the county at large in accordance 313
with subsection (6) of this section. No county superintendent 314
whose community college district is located within the East 315
Mississippi Community College District shall serve on the board of 316
trustees for that community college district. 317
(3) From and after * * * July 1, 2027, the Board of Trustees 318
of the East Mississippi Community College District shall consist 319
of * * * fourteen (14) members. The appointing authorities shall 320
appoint a new board of trustees as follows: Clay County shall be 321
entitled to two (2) members, Kemper County shall be entitled to 322
two (2) members, Lauderdale County shall be entitled to * * * four 323
(4) members, two of whom shall be residents of the incorporated 324
limits of the City of Meridian appointed by the city council, 325
Lowndes County shall be entitled to two (2) members, Noxubee 326
County shall be entitled to two (2) members and Oktibbeha County 327
shall be entitled to two (2) members. * * * Members of the Board 328
of Trustees of the East Mississippi Community College 329
District * * * on the board on July 1, 2026, shall continue to 330
serve until the natural expiration of their appointment term. The 331
two (2) additional appointees from Lauderdale County, representing 332
the incorporated limits of the City of Meridian shall be appointed 333
for a term of five (5) years. 334
(4) * * * From and after July 1, 2027, the Board of Trustees 335
of the Mississippi Delta Community College District shall consist 336
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 14 (DJ\KW)

of seventeen (17) members. The appointing authorities shall 337
appoint a new board of trustees as follows: Bolivar County shall 338
be entitled to two (2) members, Coahoma County shall be entitled 339
to two (2) members, Humphreys County shall be entitled to two (2) 340
members, Issaquena County shall be entitled to two (2) members, 341
Leflore County shall be entitled to two (2) members, Sharkey 342
County shall be entitled to two (2) members, Sunflower County 343
shall be entitled to two (2) members and Washington County shall 344
be entitled to two (2) members. The newly appointed board of 345
trustees of the Mississippi Delta Community College District 346
shall appoint one (1) member on an alternating basis from Bolivar, 347
Coahoma and Washington Counties for a term of five (5) years. The 348
first alternating appointee shall be from Coahoma County, and 349
succeeded by an appointee from Washington and then Bolivar 350
Counties. 351
(5) Except as otherwise provided in Section 1, the terms of 352
office shall be five (5) years * * *. Where the board chooses or 353
is required by statute to reduce its number, the board shall 354
specify the expiration dates of such terms of office in order to 355
prevent the retirement of more than one (1) member of any one (1) 356
county in any one (1) year. 357
(6) The board of supervisors shall elect the requisite 358
number of discreet persons of good moral character, sufficient 359
education and experience, and of proven interest in public 360
education, who are qualified electors of the county, as trustees 361
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 15 (DJ\KW)

of the community/junior college; and annually thereafter the board 362
of supervisors in like manner shall fill vacancies. All trustees 363
so appointed shall be listed in the minutes of the board of 364
supervisors and their appointment shall be certified by the 365
chancery clerk to the president of the community/junior college. 366
(7) Each community/junior college trustee may be paid, out 367
of community/junior college funds, a per diem as authorized in 368
Section 25-3-69, * * * per meeting of said board and, in addition 369
thereto, the mileage authorized under Section 25-3-41, * * * per 370
mile in coming to and returning from said meeting, calculated upon 371
the customary and normally traveled route from the home of such 372
trustee to the campus of said community/junior college. Such 373
allowance of per diem and mileage shall not, however, be allowed 374
for more than fifteen (15) meetings for any one (1) fiscal year 375
and shall only be paid for meetings actually attended by such 376
trustees. 377
(8) The provisions of this section, other than those 378
provisions pertaining to per diem compensation and travel 379
allowances for community/junior college trustees, shall not apply 380
to any existing publicly operated community/junior college, lying 381
in and operated by a county bordering on the Mississippi River, 382
and the community/junior college trustees of such community/junior 383
college shall be appointed and confirmed as heretofore. 384
(9) No county superintendent of education, by virtue of his 385
or her office, shall be automatically placed on the board of 386
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 16 (DJ\KW)

trustees for any community/junior college district to which this 387
section applies. * * * However, if the county board of 388
supervisors, in making an appointment to the community/junior 389
college district board of trustees, chooses to appoint the county 390
superintendent of education at the expiration of the term of * * * 391
a member, the superintendent may serve, unless otherwise 392
disqualified. 393
SECTION 4. Section 37-29-451, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 394
amended as follows: 395
37-29-451. There is hereby created the Copiah-Lincoln * * * 396
Community College District comprised of the territory lying within 397
Adams, Amite, Copiah, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, 398
Lincoln * * *, Pike, Simpson, Walthall and Wilkinson Counties and 399
having boundaries coinciding with the external boundaries thereof. 400
The said district shall be and is hereby constituted a legal 401
political governmental subdivision and a body corporate. The 402
board of trustees of said district, with the consent of the 403
Mississippi Community College Board, is hereby empowered to change 404
the name of the district. 405
SECTION 5. Section 37-29-453, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 406
amended as follows: 407
37-29-453. The Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College 408
District shall be under the executive direction of a president 409
elected by the board of trustees of said district for a term not 410
to exceed four (4) years. 411
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 17 (DJ\KW)

SECTION 6. Section 37-29-455, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 412
amended as follows: 413
37-29-455. The president of the * * * community college 414
shall have the power to recommend to the trustees all teachers to 415
be employed; and he may remove or suspend any member of the 416
faculty subject to the approval of the trustees. He shall be the 417
general manager of all fiscal and administrative affairs of the 418
district with full authority to select, direct, employ and 419
discharge any and all employees other than teachers; however, the 420
board may make provisions and establish policies for leave for 421
faculty members and other key personnel. 422
The president shall have the authority, subject to the 423
provisions of Sections 37-29-451 through 37-29-471 and the 424
approval of the trustees, to arrange and survey courses of study, 425
fix schedules, and establish and enforce rules and discipline for 426
the governing of teachers and students. He shall be the general 427
custodian of the property of the district. 428
SECTION 7. Section 37-29-457, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 429
amended as follows: 430
37-29-457. (1) From and after July 1, 2027, when the 431
consolidation of the Southwest Community College District into the 432
Copiah-Lincoln Community College District is effectuated as 433
required under Section 1 of this act, the operation and control of 434
the Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District shall be 435
vested in a board of trustees representing the * * * eleven (11) 436
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 18 (DJ\KW)

counties lying within the district. The said board shall consist 437
of * * * twenty-seven (27) members to be chosen as follows: 438
(a) Copiah County shall be entitled to * * * three (3) 439
members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) 440
of this act and the required qualifications of Section 441
37-29-65(6) * * *; 442
(b) Lincoln County shall be entitled to * * * three (3) 443
members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) 444
of this act and the required qualification of Section 445
37-29-65(6) * * *; 446
(c) Lawrence County shall be entitled to * * * two (2) 447
members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) 448
of this act and the required qualifications of Section 449
37-29-65(6) * * *; 450
(d) Franklin County shall be entitled to * * * two (2) 451
members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) 452
of this act and the required qualifications of Section 453
37-29-65(6) * * *; 454
(e) Simpson County shall be entitled to * * * three (3) 455
members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) 456
of this act and the required qualifications of Section 457
37-29-65(6) * * *; 458
(f) Jefferson County shall be entitled to * * * two (2) 459
members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) 460
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 19 (DJ\KW)

of this act and the required qualifications of Section 461
37-29-65(6) * * *; 462
(g) Adams County shall be entitled to * * * three (3) 463
members who shall be elected * * * and serve according to Section 464
1(2) of this act and the required qualifications of Section 465
37-29-65(6); 466
(h) Amite County shall be entitled to two (2) members 467
who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) of this 468
act and the required qualifications of Section 37-29-65(6); 469
(i) Pike County shall be entitled to three (3) members 470
who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) of this 471
act and the required qualifications of Section 37-29-65(6); 472
(j) Walthall County shall be entitled to two (2) 473
members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) 474
of this act and the required qualifications of Section 475
37-29-65(6); and 476
(k) Wilkinson County shall be entitled to two (2) 477
members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 1(2) 478
of this act and the required qualifications of Section 479
37-29-65(6). 480
* * *As prescribed in Section 1 of this act, once appointed 481
from those counties having three (3) members, the board shall 482
determine the initial terms of office for each member as one (1), 483
three (3) or five (5) years. Once appointed, those counties 484
having two (2) members, the board shall determine the initial 485
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 20 (DJ\KW)

terms of office for each member as two (2) or four (4) years. 486
Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for a designated term 487
of five (5) years. Members shall be appointed in accordance with 488
the qualifications established in Section 37-29-65(6). 489
* * * 490
(2) * * * As prescribed in Section 1 of this act, once 491
appointed from those counties having three (3) members, the board 492
shall determine the initial terms of office for each member as one 493
(1), three (3) or five (5) years. Once appointed, those counties 494
having two (2) members, the board shall determine the initial 495
terms of office for each member as two (2) or four (4) years. 496
Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for a designated term 497
of five (5) years. Members shall be appointed in accordance with 498
the qualifications established in Section 37-29-65(6). 499
SECTION 8. Section 37-29-459, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 500
amended as follows: 501
37-29-459. The President and the Board of Trustees of the 502
Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District shall have the 503
powers to do all things necessary for the successful operation of 504
said district and the campuses located therein. 505
The several colleges of the district shall be under the 506
direction of the board of trustees and the president. The board 507
of trustees shall, by resolution or order, provide for the 508
government, maintenance and operation of each campus of the 509
district. 510
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 21 (DJ\KW)

The President and the Board of Trustees of the 511
Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District shall have the 512
same powers as the presidents and trustees of other 513
community/junior colleges in the State of Mississippi. 514
The delineation and enumeration of the powers and purposes 515
set out in Sections 37-29-451 through 37-29-471 shall be deemed to 516
be supplemental and additional and shall not be construed to 517
restrict the powers of the governing authorities of the district 518
or of any college or campus located therein so as to deny any of 519
the rights, privileges and powers enjoyed by other 520
community/junior colleges and community/junior college districts 521
in the State of Mississippi. 522
The said Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District 523
shall remain subject to the jurisdiction and control of the 524
Mississippi Community College Board as now established or as the 525
same may be hereafter changed by law, and shall be subject to all 526
rules and regulations and all statutory limitations which are now 527
in effect or may hereafter be imposed, except as the same may be 528
in direct conflict with the provisions of Sections 37-29-451 529
through 37-29-471. 530
SECTION 9. Section 37-29-461, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 531
amended as follows: 532
37-29-461. There shall be * * * four (4) campuses in the 533
Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District: 534
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 22 (DJ\KW)

(a) One (1) located in or near Natchez to be known as 535
the Natchez Campus * * *; 536
(b) One (1) to located in or near Wesson to be known as 537
the Copiah-Lincoln Campus; 538
(c) One (1) located in or near Mendenhall to be known 539
as the Simpson County Center; and 540
(d) One (1) located in or near Summit to be known as 541
the Summit Campus. 542
SECTION 10. Section 37-29-463, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 543
amended as follows: 544
37-29-463. From and after July 1, 2027, when the 545
consolidation of the Southwest Community College District into the 546
Copiah-Lincoln Community College District is effectuated as 547
required under Section 1 of this act, the board of trustees of the 548
Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District shall each year, 549
on or before June 15, prepare a budget which shall contain a 550
detailed estimate of the revenues and expenses anticipated for the 551
ensuing year for general operation and maintenance, and shall set 552
forth the reasonable requirements for anticipated needs for 553
capital outlays for land, buildings, initial equipment for new 554
buildings and major repairs, a reasonable accumulation for such 555
purposes being hereby expressly authorized. 556
SECTION 11. Section 37-29-465, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 557
amended as follows: 558
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 23 (DJ\KW)

37-29-465. The board of trustees of the Copiah-Lincoln * * * 559
Community College District shall have the authority to purchase 560
property, make capital improvements, and lease or use private or 561
public facilities at either the Copiah-Lincoln, Summit or Natchez 562
Campuses or the Simpson County Center, in the discretion of the 563
board. 564
SECTION 12. Section 37-29-467, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 565
amended as follows: 566
37-29-467. The Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College 567
District is charged with the responsibility for providing 568
preprofessional courses, liberal arts, technical, vocational and 569
adult education courses, and shall undertake to provide the same 570
as conveniently as is possible to the residents of the district, 571
and to this end the board of trustees is authorized and empowered 572
to transport such students as, in its discretion, should be 573
transported in the best interest of the district. 574
SECTION 13. Section 37-29-469, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 575
amended as follows: 576
37-29-469. The board of trustees of the Copiah-Lincoln * * * 577
Community College District shall have the general borrowing and 578
bonding authority provided in Sections 37-29-101 through 579
37-29-127. The said board of trustees shall have the taxation 580
authority provided in Sections 37-29-141 through 37-29-145. 581
SECTION 14. Section 37-29-471, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 582
amended as follows: 583
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 24 (DJ\KW)

37-29-471. All of the property belonging to the board of 584
trustees of Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College and all of the 585
property belonging to any or all of the counties, prior to and as 586
of the effective date hereof, cooperating in the 587
Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College or the agricultural high 588
school * * * community college located at Wesson, Mississippi, or 589
the campus in Adams County, Mississippi, and utilized or held for 590
the present or future use and benefit of said * * * community 591
college and/or agricultural high school * * * community college, 592
shall be and the same is hereby transferred to and vested in the 593
Copiah-Lincoln * * * Community College District as created by 594
Sections 37-29-451 through 37-29-471. 595
SECTION 15. Section 37-29-501, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 596
amended as follows: 597
37-29-501. (1) There is hereby created a community/junior 598
college district comprised of the territory lying within the 599
Meridian Municipal Separate Community college district and having 600
boundaries coinciding with the external boundaries thereof. The 601
name of the said community/junior college district shall be the 602
Meridian * * * Community College District and the said district 603
shall be and the same is hereby constituted a legal political 604
governmental subdivision and a body corporate. 605
(2) From and after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of 606
the Meridian Community College District into the East Mississippi 607
Community College District is effectuated as required under 608
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 25 (DJ\KW)

Section 1 of this act, the Meridian Community College District 609
shall be dissolved, and this section shall stand repealed. 610
SECTION 16. Section 37-29-503, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 611
amended as follows: 612
37-29-503. From and after July 1, 2027, when the 613
consolidation of the Meridian Community College District into the 614
East Mississippi Community College District is effectuated as 615
required under Section 1 of this act, all of the property owned by 616
the Meridian Municipal Separate Community college district 617
utilized by Meridian * * * Community College as of September 1, 618
1979, shall be and the same is hereby transferred to and vested in 619
the board of trustees of the * * * East Central Community College 620
District and their successors in office for the use and benefit of 621
the Meridian Campus of East Mississippi Community College. 622
SECTION 17. Section 37-29-505, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 623
amended as follows: 624
37-29-505. From and after July 1, 2027, when the 625
consolidation of the Meridian Community College District into the 626
East Mississippi Community College District is effectuated as 627
required under Section 1 of this act, the control and operation of 628
the Meridian * * * Community College District shall be vested 629
in * * * the board of trustees * * * of the East Mississippi 630
Community College District. The board of trustees of the 631
Meridian * * * Community College District * * * shall be dissolved 632
on June 30, 2027, and two (2) new members appointed by the City 633
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 26 (DJ\KW)

Council of the City of Meridian shall begin their terms of service 634
on the board of trustees for the East Mississippi Community 635
College District on July 1, 2027, in accordance with the terms 636
prescribed in Section 1(2) of this act, and thereafter all 637
appointments for representation on the East Mississippi Community 638
College District Board of Trustees shall be for a term of five (5) 639
years. Trustees * * * shall be appointed by a majority vote of 640
the full membership of the city council of the City of Meridian at 641
the first meeting of the council held in the month of * * * June 642
of each year, and the term of office of each trustee so appointed 643
shall commence on * * * July 1 immediately following * * *. All 644
vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms by appointment by 645
majority vote of the full membership of the city council. 646
SECTION 18. Section 37-29-507, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 647
amended as follows: 648
37-29-507. (1) The Board of Trustees of the Meridian * * * 649
Community College District shall have the power to do all things 650
necessary for the successful operation of the district; and, the 651
duties of such board shall be the general government of the 652
district and the direction of the administration thereof. 653
(2) The Meridian * * * Community College District shall have 654
all the powers of other * * * community colleges and * * * 655
community college districts in the State of Mississippi; and, the 656
delineation and enumeration of the powers and purposes set out in 657
Sections 37-29-501 through 37-29-515 shall not be construed to 658
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 27 (DJ\KW)

restrict the powers of the governing authorities of the district 659
so as to deny to the district any of the rights, privileges and 660
powers enjoyed by other * * * community colleges and * * * 661
community college districts in the State of Mississippi. 662
(3) The Meridian * * * Community College District shall 663
remain subject to the jurisdiction and control of the Mississippi 664
Community College Board as now established or as the same may be 665
hereafter changed by law and shall be subject to all rules and 666
regulations and all statutory limitations which are now in effect 667
or may hereafter be imposed, except as the same may be in direct 668
conflict with the provisions of Sections 37-29-501 through 669
37-29-515. 670
(4) From and after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of 671
the Meridian Community College District into the East Mississippi 672
Community College District is effectuated as required under 673
Section 1 of this act, the Meridian Community College District 674
shall be dissolved, and this section shall stand repealed. 675
SECTION 19. Section 37-29-509, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 676
amended as follows: 677
37-29-509. (1) The Meridian * * * Community College 678
District shall be under the executive direction of a president 679
elected by the board of trustees of such district. 680
(2) The president of the community college shall be general 681
manager of all fiscal and administrative affairs of the district 682
with full authority to select, employ, direct and discharge any 683
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 28 (DJ\KW)

and all employees other than faculty. He shall have the power to 684
recommend to the board of trustees all faculty to be employed, and 685
he may remove or suspend any member of the faculty subject to the 686
approval of the board of trustees. The president shall have the 687
authority, subject to the approval of the board of trustees, to 688
arrange and survey courses of study, fix schedules and establish 689
and enforce rules and discipline for the governing of faculty and 690
students. He shall be the general custodian of the property of 691
the district. 692
(3) From and after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of 693
the Meridian Community College District into the East Mississippi 694
Community College District is effectuated as required under 695
Section 1 of this act, the Meridian Community College District 696
shall be dissolved, and this section shall stand repealed. 697
SECTION 20. Section 37-29-511, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 698
amended as follows: 699
37-29-511. (1) The board of trustees of the Meridian * * * 700
Community College District shall on or before the twenty-fifth day 701
of June each year prepare and file the annual budget of the 702
district. The budget shall contain a detailed estimate of the 703
revenues and expenses anticipated for the ensuing year for general 704
operation and maintenance and shall set forth reasonable 705
requirements for anticipated needs for capital outlays for land, 706
buildings, equipment and major repairs, a reasonable accumulation 707
for such purposes being hereby expressly authorized. Funds 708
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 29 (DJ\KW)

derived from the levy for capital outlay shall be kept in a 709
separate account and expended for capital outlay purposes only. 710
(2) From and after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of 711
the Meridian Community College District into the East Mississippi 712
Community College District is effectuated as required under 713
Section 1 of this act, the Meridian Community College District 714
shall be dissolved, the authority granted under subsection (1) of 715
this section shall be transferred to the board of trustees of the 716
East Mississippi Community College District. 717
SECTION 21. Section 37-29-513, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 718
amended as follows: 719
37-29-513. (1) After the annual budget has been prepared, 720
the Board of Trustees of the Meridian * * * Community College 721
District shall certify the same in writing to the City Council of 722
the City of Meridian and shall certify to the number of mills of 723
ad valorem taxation required to make provisions for the revenue 724
required in said budget. It shall thereupon become the duty of 725
the City of Meridian to levy taxes upon the Meridian * * * 726
Community College District in the amount specified by the board of 727
trustees. The tax levy for maintenance and operation of the 728
Meridian * * * Community College District shall not exceed three 729
(3) mills nor shall the levy for construction exceed an additional 730
three (3) mills. 731
(2) From and after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of 732
the Meridian Community College District into the East Mississippi 733
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 30 (DJ\KW)

Community College District is effectuated as required under 734
Section 1 of this act, the Meridian Community College District 735
shall be dissolved, the authority granted under subsection (1) of 736
this section shall be transferred to the board of trustees of the 737
East Mississippi Community College District. 738
SECTION 22. Section 37-29-515, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 739
amended as follows: 740
37-29-515. On or before the thirtieth day of each month, the 741
city council of the City of Meridian shall transmit warrants 742
constituting all of the revenues received from taxation for the 743
prior month for purposes of support of the Meridian * * * 744
Community College District to the president of East Mississippi 745
Community College for the use and benefit of the Meridian * * * 746
Campus. Such warrant or warrants shall bear indication of 747
revenues received for general support and maintenance and revenues 748
received for capital outlay purposes. All such warrants 749
evidencing income from the authorized tax levies shall be 750
deposited forthwith in one (1) or more banking institutions and 751
public depositories previously selected by the board of trustees 752
of the Meridian * * * Community College District serving on June 753
30,2026, and spread upon its official minutes. Such funds shall 754
be paid out of the depository by order of the board of trustees 755
for the East Mississippi Community College District for lawful 756
purposes only. 757
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 31 (DJ\KW)

SECTION 23. Section 37-29-551, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 758
amended as follows: 759
37-29-551. There is hereby created the * * * Mississippi 760
Delta Community College District comprised of the territory lying 761
within Bolivar County, Coahoma County, * * * Humphreys County, 762
Issaquena County, Leflore County, Sharkey County, Sunflower County 763
and Washington County, and having boundaries coinciding with the 764
external boundaries thereof. The district shall be, and is hereby 765
constituted, a legal political governmental subdivision and a body 766
corporate. 767
SECTION 24. Section 37-29-553, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 768
amended as follows: 769
37-29-553. (1) The * * * Mississippi Delta Community 770
College District shall be under the executive direction of a 771
president elected by the board of trustees of the district for a 772
term not to exceed four (4) years. 773
SECTION 25. Section 37-29-555, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 774
amended as follows: 775
37-29-555. The president of the Mississippi Delta Community 776
College district shall have the power to recommend to the trustees 777
all teachers to be employed; and he may remove or suspend any 778
member of the faculty subject to the approval of the trustees. He 779
shall be the general manager of all fiscal and administrative 780
affairs of the district with full authority to select, direct, 781
employ and discharge any and all employees other than teachers; 782
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 32 (DJ\KW)

however, the board may make provisions and establish policies for 783
leave for faculty members and other key personnel. 784
(2) The president shall have the authority, subject to the 785
provisions of Sections 37-29-551 through 37-29-569 and the 786
approval of the trustees, to arrange and survey courses of study, 787
fix schedules, and establish and enforce rules and discipline for 788
the governing of teachers and students. He shall be the general 789
custodian of the property of the district. 790
SECTION 26. Section 37-29-557, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 791
amended as follows: 792
37-29-557. From and after July 1, 2027, when the 793
consolidation of the Coahoma Community College District into the 794
Mississippi Delta Community College District is effectuated as 795
required under Section 1 of this act, the operation and control of 796
the * * * Mississippi Delta Community College District shall be 797
vested in a board of trustees representing the counties lying 798
within the district. The board shall consist of * * * seventeen 799
(17) trustees selected in the manner provided in Section 1(2) of 800
this act and Section 37-29-65(4) * * *. 801
SECTION 27. Section 37-29-559, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 802
amended as follows: 803
37-29-559. (1) The President and the Board of Trustees of 804
the * * * Mississippi Delta Community College District shall have 805
the powers to do all things necessary for the successful operation 806
of the district and the campuses located therein. 807
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 33 (DJ\KW)

(2) The college of the district shall be under the direction 808
of the board of trustees and the president. The board of trustees 809
shall, by resolution or order, provide for the government, 810
maintenance and operation of * * * campuses of the district. 811
(3) The President and the Board of Trustees of the * * * 812
Mississippi Delta Community College District shall have the same 813
powers as the presidents and trustees of other community colleges 814
in the State of Mississippi. 815
(4) The delineation and enumeration of the powers and 816
purposes set out in Sections 37-29-551 through 37-29-569 shall be 817
deemed to be supplemental and additional and shall not be 818
construed to restrict the powers of the governing authorities of 819
the district or of any college or campus located therein so as to 820
deny any of the rights, privileges and powers enjoyed by other 821
community/junior colleges and community/junior college districts 822
in the State of Mississippi. 823
(5) The * * * Mississippi Delta Community College District 824
shall remain subject to the jurisdiction of the Mississippi 825
Community College Board as now established or as the same may be 826
hereafter changed by law, and shall be subject to all rules and 827
regulations and all statutory limitations which are now in effect 828
or may hereafter be imposed, except as the same may be in direct 829
conflict with the provisions of Sections 37-29-551 through 830
37-29-569. 831
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 34 (DJ\KW)

SECTION 28. Section 37-29-561, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 832
amended as follows: 833
37-29-561. From and after July 1, 2027, when the 834
consolidation of the Coahoma Community College District into the 835
Mississippi Delta Community College District is effectuated as 836
required under Section 1 of this act, the Board of Trustees of 837
the * * * Mississippi Delta Community College District shall each 838
year, on or before June 15, prepare a budget which shall contain a 839
detailed estimate of the revenues and expenses anticipated for the 840
ensuing year for general operation and maintenance, and shall set 841
forth the reasonable requirements for anticipated needs for 842
capital outlays for land, buildings, initial equipment for new 843
buildings and major repairs, a reasonable accumulation for such 844
purposes being hereby expressly authorized. 845
SECTION 29. Section 37-29-563, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 846
amended as follows: 847
37-29-563. The Board of Trustees of the * * * Mississippi 848
Delta Community College District shall have the authority to 849
purchase property, make capital improvements, and lease or use 850
private or public facilities at the campus, in the discretion of 851
the board. 852
SECTION 30. Section 37-29-565, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 853
amended as follows: 854
37-29-565. The * * * Mississippi Delta Community College 855
District is charged with the responsibility for providing 856
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 35 (DJ\KW)

preprofessional courses, liberal arts, technical, vocational and 857
adult education courses, and shall undertake to provide the same 858
as conveniently as is possible to the residents of the district, 859
and to this end the board of trustees is authorized and empowered 860
to transport such students as, in its discretion, should be 861
transported in the best interest of the district. 862
SECTION 31. Section 37-29-567, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 863
amended as follows: 864
37-29-567. The Board of Trustees of the * * * Mississippi 865
Delta Community College District shall have the general borrowing 866
and bonding authority provided in Sections 37-29-101 through 867
37-29-127. The board of trustees shall have the taxation 868
authority provided in Sections 37-29-141 through 37-29-145. 869
SECTION 32. Section 37-29-569, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 870
amended as follows: 871
37-29-569. All of the property located in Coahoma County and 872
belonging to the Board of Trustees of Mississippi Delta Community 873
College prior to and as of the effective date hereof, cooperating 874
in the Coahoma County Community College, and utilized or held for 875
the present or future use and benefit of such community college, 876
shall be and the same is hereby transferred to and vested in 877
the * * * Mississippi Delta Community College District as created 878
by Sections 37-29-551 through 37-29-569. 879
SECTION 33. Section 37-29-571, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 880
amended as follows: 881
H. B. No. 1284 *HR26/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1164
PAGE 36 (DJ\KW)
ST: Community and junior colleges; require the
administrative consolidation of certain
community college districts.
37-29-571. (1) All counties located within the Coahoma 882
Community College District shall allocate fifty percent (50%) of 883
any millage levied for the support and maintenance of community 884
colleges by such county under Section 37-29-141, Mississippi Code 885
of 1972, to the Coahoma Community College District and the 886
remaining fifty percent (50%) of such millage to the other 887
community college district in which such county is located. 888
Provided, however, that Coahoma County shall allocate one hundred 889
percent (100%) of the millage levied for the support and 890
maintenance of community colleges to the Coahoma Community College 891
District. Provided further, however, for the fiscal year 892
beginning July 1, 1995, Tunica County's allocation of any millage 893
shall be prorated with thirty-five percent (35%) being allocated 894
to the Coahoma Community College District and the remaining 895
sixty-five percent (65%) being allocated to the Northwest 896
Community College District. From and after July 1, 1996, the 897
Tunica County millage shall be divided equally between the Coahoma 898
Community College District and the Northwest Community College 899
District. 900
(2) From and after July 1, 2027, when the consolidation of 901
the Coahoma Community College District into the Mississippi Delta 902
Community College District is effectuated as required under 903
Section 1 of this act, this section shall be repealed. 904
SECTION 34. This act shall take effect and be in force from 905
and after July 1, 2026. 906