MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Military Affairs

By: Representative Huskey

House Bill 1268

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO DISSOLVE AND RECONSTITUTE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MONUMENT COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTIONS 55-15-53 AND 55-15-57, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MONUMENT COMMISSION TO MEET ONCE A MONTH; TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MONUMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPERVISING AND SELECTING THE SITE FOR FUTURE MONUMENTS; TO PROVIDE THAT A NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MONUMENT COMMISSION SHALL BE ELECTED EACH YEAR; TO PROVIDE THAT THREE OF THE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MONUMENT COMMISSION SHALL BE SELECTED FROM THE THREE STATE SUPREME COURT DISTRICTS AND THE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHALL BE SELECTED AT LARGE; TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MONUMENT COMMISSION TO REPORT TO THE MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEES OF BOTH THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE IN NOVEMBER OF EACH YEAR; TO MAKE THE MEMBER OF THE MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MONUMENT COMMISSION WHO IS APPOINTED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMISSION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

 

SECTION 1. Section 55-15-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

55-15-53. (1) From and after the effective date of this act, the present membership of the Mississippi Veterans Monument Commission shall cease serving on the commission. From and after the effective date of this act, the Mississippi Veterans Monument Commission shall consist of the following seven (7) members:

(a) The Chairman of the Mississippi War Veterans Memorial Commission who shall serve as Secretary of the Mississippi Veterans Monument Commission;

(b) The Executive Secretary of the State Veterans Affairs Board;

(c) The Director of the Division of General Services in the Department of Finance and Administration;

(d) Three (3) members appointed by the Governor from each of the three (3) State Supreme Court Districts as follows:

(i) One (1) veteran of World War II;

(ii) One (1) veteran of the Korean Conflict; and

(iii) One (1) veteran of the Vietnam Conflict;

(e) One (1) veteran appointed from the state at large by the Lieutenant Governor.

(2) The initial meeting of the commission shall be called and chaired by the Chairman of the Mississippi War Veterans Memorial Commission, until the Monument Commission shall choose a  * * * chairman and secretary from among its members. Thereafter, the commission shall elect a chairman each year and the commission may meet at the call of the * * * chairman once each month. Minutes of the meetings of the commission shall be kept in a well-bound book and, along with all other records and papers, shall remain in the custody of the secretary of the commission. A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All actions taken or rules and regulations adopted by the commission shall be by resolution duly spread upon its minutes, showing yea and nay votes of each member present. The signature of the chairman and secretary, pursuant to a duly adopted resolution, shall be binding upon the commission. The commission shall submit a report annually, no later than November of each year to the Military Affairs Committees of both the Mississippi House of Representatives and the Mississippi Senate.

(3) The appointed members of the Mississippi Veterans Monument Commission shall receive per diem compensation in the amount authorized under Section 25-3-69 for each day or portion thereof spent in the performance of the duties of the commission and shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses while on commission business as authorized under Section 25-3-41. Other members of the commission shall not be entitled to compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses as authorized under Section 25-3-41 while on commission business. Commission members shall be limited to reimbursement of travel expenses and per diem compensation authorized herein for no more than twelve (12) meetings per year.

(4) At the time the Mississippi Veterans Monument Commission ceases to exist, all records of the Mississippi Veterans Monument Commission shall become the property of the Mississippi War Veterans Memorial Commission.

(5) The Mississippi War Memorial Commission shall have continuing oversight responsibility of all activities pertaining to all Mississippi Veterans Monuments.

(6) The commission shall continue in existence under the provisions of this chapter after the design, construction and dedication of the Mississippi Veterans Monument for a period of one year for the purpose of providing for the design, construction and dedication of future monuments to be located at a site designated by the Mississippi Veterans Monument Commission.

SECTION 2. Section 55-15-57, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

55-15-57. The Mississippi Veterans Monument Commission shall:

(a) Plan and provide for the design, construction and dedication of the Mississippi veterans monument. The actual design and site of the monument shall be selected with the approval of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

(b) Solicit private monetary donations for deposit into the Veterans Monument Trust Fund.

(c) Report to the Legislature by November 15 of each year on the progress of such monument.

The commission shall submit a report annually, no later than November of each year to the Military Affairs Committees of both the Mississippi House of Representatives and the Mississippi Senate.

SECTION 3. Section 55-15-51 through 55-15-61, Mississippi Code of 1972, which create the Mississippi Veterans Monument Commission, its powers and duties, are repealed from and after July 1, 1998.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.