§41-9-959. Acquisition of membership; selection and improvement of museum site; considerations; acceptance of gifts, grants, etc.; contracts; admission fee; renovations and maintenance; exclusive jurisdiction; allocation of funds; leases.

(a) The commission shall have the duty and authority to acquire membership and to select and improve a site for the museum, taking into consideration the following factors:

(1) Accessibility.

(2) Location of nearby roads and highways.

(3) Scenic attractions.

(4) Esthetic value.

(5) Cost.

(6) Cooperation with federal, state, county, municipal, and other governmental authorities.

(7) Protection from the hazards of weather, fire, and any other factors which may affect the suitability of a site for the establishment of the museum.

(b) The commission may accept public or private gifts, grants, and donations and may make and enter into contracts with other governmental departments, agencies and boards, whether federal, state, or municipal, and with private persons and corporations, and establish and provide for a proper charge for admission and otherwise renovate, maintain, and operate the museum as a permanent memorial and exhibit.

(c) The commission shall have full, complete, and exclusive jurisdiction over the museum, the sites, and the related exhibits and shall have the power and authority to allocate funds from its treasury for the fulfillment and accomplishment of its duties and responsibilities in a manner as may be necessary and appropriate for the perfection of the purposes of this article, including the power to lease lands of the commission whenever the commission shall find any action to be in furtherance of the purposes for which the commission was organized, and the authority to pledge revenues from its income for long term leases, future revenues from admissions, and any other sources as may be necessary and desirable.

(d) No lease may be entered into for longer than 25 years with an option to renew every five-year period thereafter.

(Acts 1996, No. 96-522, p. 670, §10; Act 98-664, p. 1453, §1.)