House Bill 156 Summary

• Establishes legislative intent that county utility authorities in the Gulf Coast Region (George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, and Stone counties) provide voluntary coordination and consolidation of water, wastewater, and storm water services to reduce costs and improve service delivery.

• Limits county utility authorities' direct provision of water, wastewater, and storm water services to their certificated service areas as defined by the Mississippi Public Service Commission, while allowing broader planning and coordination roles county-wide.

• Grants county utility authorities power of eminent domain for acquiring property necessary for water, wastewater, and storm water systems, but prohibits exercise of this power in certificated areas existing on the bill's effective date and eliminates this authority after July 1, 2013.

• Allows transfer of certificates of public convenience and necessity from municipalities, public agencies, and utilities to county authorities upon joint petition to the Public Service Commission and a public interest finding.

• Provides that designees appointed by mayors to the Hancock County Utility Authority board shall have the same voting powers as the appointing mayor.