HB 240

AN ACT TO CREATE A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY TO BE KNOWN AS THE "HISTORIC COURTHOUSE FUND"; TO PROVIDE THAT THE FUND SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING GRANTS TO COUNTIES FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND/OR RESTORATION OF HISTORIC COURTHOUSES IN MISSISSIPPI; TO PROVIDE THAT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A GRANT FROM THE FUND, A COUNTY MUST PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE GRANT; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT TO SOLICIT GIFTS AND ACCEPT DONATIONS FOR THE FUND, AND TO SELL DONATED PROPERTY AND DEPOSIT THE PROCEEDS IN THE FUND; TO AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATURE TO APPROPRIATE, TRANSFER OR OTHERWISE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE FUND; TO PROVIDE THAT ALL FUNDS DEPOSITED IN THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE FUND SHALL BE EXPENDED, UPON APPROPRIATION BY THE LEGISLATURE, BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY AS PROVIDED IN THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.