Mississippi § 49-17-525 - Creation of Lead-Based Paint Program Operations Fund; fees.

§ 49-17-525. Creation of Lead-Based Paint Program Operations Fund; fees.

There is created in the State Treasury a fund to be designated as the Lead-Based Paint Program Operations Fund, referred to in this section as “fund,” to be administered by the executive director and expended by appropriation approved by the Legislature. Monies in the fund shall be utilized to pay reasonable direct and indirect costs associated with the administration, educational outreach and enforcement of the lead-based paint activity accreditation and certification program. Expenditures may be made from the fund upon requisition by the executive director. The fund shall be treated as a special trust fund. Interest earned on the principal therein shall be credited by the Treasurer to the fund. The fund may receive monies from any available public or private source, including, but not limited to, collection of fees, interest, grants, taxes, public and private donations, judicial actions and appropriated funds. Monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall be retained in the fund for use in the next succeeding fiscal year to be expended by appropriation approved by the Legislature. The commission shall set by order a schedule of fees for the accreditation of training programs, issuance and reissuance of certificates and lead-based paint abatement and renovation projects. The commission shall graduate fee levels to reflect the type of certificate and the size of the project, as the case may be. All monies collected under this section shall be deposited into the fund. The commission may delegate to the department responsibility for the collection of fees under this section. Any person required to pay a fee under this section who disagrees with the calculation or applicability of the fee may petition the commission for a hearing in accordance with Section 49-17-35, Mississippi Code of 1972. Any hearing shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 49-17-33, Mississippi Code of 1972. Fees collected under this section shall not supplant or reduce in any way the general fund appropriation to the department.