As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings ascribed to them:

(1) PROJECT. Any low-rent housing hereafter developed or acquired by the authority with financial assistance of the United States of America acting through the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

(2) TRIBE. The Mowa Band of Choctaw Indians.

(3) RESERVATION. Any land, the title to which is held by the Mowa Band of Choctaw Indians.

There is created and established an Indian housing authority for the jurisdictions of Mobile and Washington Counties, to be styled the Mowa Choctaw Housing Authority, whose purpose shall be the provision of safe and decent dwelling places for low-income persons and families in Indian areas.

The Mowa Choctaw Housing Authority shall consist of seven members, and shall be appointed by the Mowa Choctaw Tribal Council. No person shall be barred from serving as a member of the authority because he or she is a tenant or home buyer in a tribal housing project.

Members of the Mowa Choctaw Housing Authority, hereinafter styled the authority, shall serve a term of five years from their appointment, and may serve an unlimited number of terms. In the event of a vacancy on the authority, the Mowa Choctaw Tribal Council shall appoint a successor to fill the unexpired term.

The authority shall select from among its members a chair, a vice chair, a secretary, and a treasurer. No member shall hold two offices upon the authority. The chair shall preside at meetings of the authority. The vice chair shall preside in the absence of the chair. In the absence of both the chair and vice chair, the secretary shall preside.

The tribal council may remove any member of the authority for neglect of duty, inefficiency, or misconduct in office, but only after a hearing before the council, and only after the member has been given a written notice of the charges against him or her at least 10 days prior to the hearing. At the hearing, the member shall have the opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel and to present witnesses on his or her behalf.

Four members shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business of the authority. A member who is unable to attend a meeting in person may present, in writing, a dated and signed voting proxy to a designated representative, who shall attend the meeting and act in his place and stead.

The normal domicile of the authority is Mobile and Washington Counties. Meetings of the authority may be held at other locations within the state upon notification of the members by certified mail, at least 10 days prior to the meeting date.

The authority is hereby authorized:

(1) To undertake research and studies and analyses of housing needs in Mobile and Washington Counties, and means by which such needs may be met, including data with respect to population and family groups and the distribution thereof according to income groups, the amount and quality of available housing and its distribution according to rental and sales prices, and employment, wages and other factors affecting the local housing needs and the meeting thereof, and make the results and analyses available to the public and the building, housing and supply industries;

(2) To enter into contracts with cities, towns, counties, and other housing authorities in the state for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter;

(3) To establish rentals and select tenants in low income rental housing projects under its jurisdiction;

(4) To issue bonds, notes, and other evidence of indebtedness for the purpose of financing the construction of housing for low-income persons;

(5) To obtain, rent, lease, or otherwise obtain from any county, city, or state, properties of such public bodies as are offered for use to the authority for the purpose of providing housing to low-income persons and families in Indian areas;

(6) To enter into contracts and agreements with agents of the United States government for the purpose of purchasing land, acquiring, constructing, renovating, providing streets, utilities, and landscaping grounds for rental and other housing for low-income persons and families in designated Indian areas; and

(7) All powers, rights, and functions specified for municipal housing authorities created pursuant to Sections 24-1-20 through 24-1-45.

All provisions of law applicable to housing authorities created pursuant to Title 24 for municipalities and the commissioner of such authorities shall be applicable to the Mowa Choctaw Housing Authority, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context.

The tribal chairman and the tribal council of the Mowa Band of Choctaw Indians is hereby authorized to exercise all appointing and other powers with respect to an Indian housing authority that are vested in the chief executive officer and governing body of a municipality pursuant to Title 24 with respect to municipal housing authorities.

The area of operation of the authority shall be within Washington and Mobile Counties in areas outside of the corporate boundaries of cities or towns existing at the time of the passage of this amendatory act, and in areas historically considered to be occupied by the Indians of Mobile and Washington Counties; provided, that the authority shall not undertake any housing project or projects within the area of operation of any city, county or regional housing authority unless a resolution shall have been adopted by such city, county or regional housing authority declaring that there is a need for the Mowa Choctaw Housing Authority to exercise its powers within such city, county or regional housing authority's area of operation.

Consistent with the provisions of any state or federal laws or regulations, the authority shall cooperate with municipalities and regional housing authorities for the purpose of assuring the most economic and efficient use of potential resources available for housing in Mobile and Washington Counties.

(a) The authority shall endeavor to secure a contract with the government for loans and annual contributions covering one or more projects comprising units of low-rent housing and to develop and administer such projects, each of which shall be located within the operating area of the Mowa Choctaw reservation.

(b) During the period commencing with the date of acquisition of any part of the site or sites of any project and continuing so long as either such project is owned by a public body or governmental agency and is used for low-rent housing purposes, or any contract between the authority and the government for loans or annual contributions, or both, in connection with such projects remain unpaid, whichever period is the longest, the state without cost or charge to the authority or the tenants of such project shall:

(1) Furnish or cause to be furnished to the authority and the tenants of such project public services and facilities of the same character and to the same extent as are furnished from time to time without cost or charge by municipalities to their citizens and/or to dwellings located within their jurisdiction;

(2) Accept dedication of all interior streets, roads, alleys, and adjacent sidewalks within the area of such projects, after the authority, at its own expense has completed grading, improving, paving and installation thereof in accordance with specifications acceptable to the state;

(3) Accept necessary dedications of land for, and will grade, improve, pave and provide sidewalks for all streets bounding such project or necessary to provide adequate access thereto;

(4) Without cost or charge to the authority or tenants of such project shall vacate such streets, roads, and alleys within the area of such project as may be necessary in the development thereof, and convey without charge to the authority such interest as the state may have in such vacated areas; and, insofar as it is lawfully able to do so without cost or expense to the authority or to the state, cause to be removed from such vacated areas, insofar as may be necessary, all public or private utility lines and equipment; and

(5) Cooperate with the authority by other lawful action or ways as the state and the authority may find necessary in connection with the development and administration of such project.

(c) The state will, when requested in writing by the authority, assist in the operation and administration of the project by providing or causing to be provided, without cost or expense to the authority, the following additional services:

(1) The services of state employees to assist the authority in developing the necessary site plan for the project; and

(2) The services of state employees in assisting the authority in establishing the necessary administrative capabilities to operate the project.