Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership

Chamber Confidential

www.metrochamber.com

Volume 3, Number 9 

  Lewis Slater, Vice-President, Governmental Relations

Things To Remember and Follow From the 2006 Legislative Session

Sales taxes on food and cigarettes received a lot of attention during the 2006 session. So did the subject of eminent domain. However, nothing was passed on these issues and it is certain that we will see them again.

Old Capitol Green: Two bills that received little attention have the potential for a great impact on our metro area. They are SB 2655 and SB 3067. SB 2655 authorizes the state to sell 6.4 acres of property in the general area of Hal and Mal’s Restaurant. Now that SB 2655 has been passed by the legislature, the leadership team for the Old Capitol Green project will be able to proceed with sending out Requests For Expressions of Interest to various developers with good tract records in downtown developments.

This 6.4 acre tract is just part of the overall Old Capitol Green proposal, which is an effort to redefine the Jackson’s central business district with multi-use developments such as office, restaurant, recreation, residential and public space.

Tax Credits for Historic Structures: SB 3067 authorizes a taxpayer to apply for income tax credits up to 25% of the cost of renovating a structure if the structure is a certified historic structure or if the structure is located in a certified historic district. The impact of SB 2655 and SB 3067 will be interesting to watch.

A Civil Rights Museum?  A related matter is Senate Concurrent Resolution 627, which created a study commission to study the feasibility of establishing a civil rights museum in the City of Jackson.  The study committee is charged to complete its work by December 31, 2006.

Employers take notice:

Firearms: HB 1141 deals with a person’s right to transport or store a firearm in a locked vehicle. Employers may not restrict a person’s right to store a firearm in the employees locked vehicle unless the employer provides a parking garage, parking lot, or other parking area to which access is limited or restricted through the use of a gate, security station or other means of restricting general public access onto the property. The bill also provides that public or private employers shall not be liable in a civil action for damages resulting from or arising out of an occurrence involving a firearm covered by the provisions of HB 1141.

Self-defense: SB 2426 states that a person is under no duty to retreat and may use deadly force if he/she feels that his/her life is in imminent danger from an aggressor. This applies to situations in dwellings, vehicles, businesses, and other places of employment.

Use of off-duty law enforcement officers: Employers that occasionally use off-duty law enforcement officers for security should be aware that SB 2236 provides that the jurisdiction providing the off duty officer is not responsible for the consequences of any acts of omission or commission by the officer. That liability is born by the person or organizations employing the officer. Questions and details about HB 1141, SB 2426, and SB 2236 should be directed to your legal counsel. 

Job training tax credits: Fifty percent of what you pay in state income taxes is available for job training tax credits.  Interested employers should call the Ridgeland Branch of Holmes Community College at 601-605-3315 or Hinds Community College at 601-857-3427 to discuss your firm’s eligibility.  HB 745 extended the repealer on this legislation to July 1, 2008.   

Actions following emergencies:

SB 2828 was passed to prevent price gouging in an emergency impact area immediately following a disaster.

“The Mississippi Delta Region Revitalization Act of 2006” 

HB 1034:  “The Mississippi Delta Region Revitalization Act of 2006” created The Special Task Force for the Revitalization of the Mississippi Delta Region. The mission and role of the task force is to function as an independent research and analytical group charged with setting measurable, achievable, and significant goals to revitalize the Mississippi Delta Region.

The task force is charged with developing a comprehensive plan by December 1, 2006, that will have five, ten, and twenty-year goals. An organizational meeting is to be held no later than May 12, 2006. The University Research Center Bureau of Comprehensive Long-Range Economic Development Planning is to provide the lead staff support for the task force.

Twenty-seven members will comprise the task force, including state representatives, state senators, citizens-at-large, appointees from the state’s senior and community colleges, the Planning and Development Districts serving the Delta, representatives from the Mississippi Association of Supervisors, Mississippi Municipal League, and the Mississippi Development Authority. Appointments will be made by the Speaker of the House, Lieutenant Governor, Governor, and boards of the organizations designated to have a representative.

If this initiative is successful, it will bring new opportunities to the Delta and spin-off opportunities for other parts of the state.  As a native of the Delta, I am looking forward to following the work of this task force for numerous reasons. I hope you are too.   

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