MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare

By: Representative Holland

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-33-155, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE COMPOSITION OF THE STATE BOARD OF REHABILITATION SERVICES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-33-155, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-33-155. (1) There is created the State Board of Rehabilitation Services, which shall consist of two (2) appointed members and the following five (5) officials: the Executive Officer of the State Department of Health; the Executive Director of the State Department of Mental Health; the State Superintendent of Public Education, or his designee; the Director of the Division of Vocational and Technical Education of the State Department of Education; and the Executive Director of the Department of Human Services. These members and officials shall cease serving on the board on July 1, 1997. From and after July 1, 1997, the board shall consist of seven (7) appointed members. There shall be at least one (1) member appointed from each of the state's congressional districts, and at least four (4) members shall be persons who are disabled and who are or would be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. Of those disabled members, at least one (1) member shall be an individual with a visual impairment, at least one (1) member shall be an individual with a hearing impairment, at least one (1) member shall be an individual with a physical impairment, and at least one (1) member shall be an individual with a mental impairment. Of the remaining members, at least one (1) member shall be the parent of a child or adult who is disabled and is or could be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services.

  The initial board members after June 30, 1997, shall be appointed by the Governor, with one (1) member appointed for a term to expire on July 1, 1998, two (2) members appointed for terms to expire on July 1, 1999, two (2) members appointed for terms to expire on July 1, 2000, and two (2) members appointed for terms to expire on July 1, 2001. Upon the expiration of the initial terms of the board members appointed after June 30, 1997, all subsequent board members shall be appointed by the Governor for terms of five (5) years from the expiration date of the previous term. All initial and subsequent appointments shall be with the advice and consent of the Senate. An appointment to fill a vacancy, other than by expiration of a term of office, shall be made for the balance of the unexpired term. No board appointee shall be an employee or elected official of the State of Mississippi or a political subdivision thereof, or an individual who had been an employee of the Department of Rehabilitation Services within five (5) years before his or her appointment. * * *

(2) The board shall elect a chairperson from its membership at the first meeting of the initial board members after June 30, 1997, and every two (2) years thereafter in the month of July * * *. A majority of the membership of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business, and the board shall meet at least quarterly and hold other meetings as are necessary for the purpose of conducting required business. All meetings of the board shall be called by the chairperson, except the first meeting of the initial board members after June 30, 1997, which shall be called by the Governor.

(3) The * * * members of the board shall be compensated at a per diem rate as authorized by Section 25-3-69, plus actual and necessary expenses as authorized by Section 25-3-41. * * *

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.