SEC. 47-5-57. [Commissioner of correctons.]

(1) Before timber is cleared by the Department of Corrections on certain state-owned land under its jurisdiction known as the "O'Keefe Division Lands," a public hearing shall be held in relation to the clearing of timber on the land, and parties in interest and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard at the hearing. At least fifteen (15) days' notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be published in an official paper or a paper of general circulation in the county in which the land is located.

(2) This section applies to any action taken by the Department of Corrections to clear timber that is in progress on the effective date of this act. Any such clearing of timber in progress on the effective date of this act shall be stopped immediately and shall not be begun again until after a public hearing has been held in accordance with the provisions of this act.

 (3) After a hearing has been held in accordance with this section, the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, the Mississippi Forestry Commission, and the Department of Corrections must agree to clear the timber before any timber is cleared on the "O'Keefe Division Lands."

SOURCES: 1997 Laws, Chapter 412, Sec. 1, HB908, Effective March 24, 1997.