MS HB1248

Limits Secretary of State administrative expenses from the Public Trust Tidelands Assessments Fund to no more than 1% of total funds collected annually, excluding attorney fees, consulting fees, and professional service fees.

Caps aggregate administrative costs for the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources and Department of Marine Resources at 10% of annual public trust tidelands assessments collected, excluding attorney fees, consulting fees, and professional service fees.

Expands allowable uses of the fund to include conservation, reclamation, preservation, acquisition, education, recreation, navigation, fishing, enhancement of public access, and public improvement projects related to public trust tidelands purposes.

Requires remaining funds after administrative costs be disbursed for new and extra tidelands management programs such as conservation, education, and public access enhancement.

Prohibits transfer, diversion, or expenditure of fund monies for any purposes other than those specified in the section.