MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Fees, Salaries and Administration; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Gordon, Rayborn, Lee, Furniss

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL SALARIES OF STATEWIDE AND DISTRICT ELECTED OFFICIALS; TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL SALARIES OF JUDGES OF THE TRIAL AND APPELLATE COURTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. Section 25-3-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-3-31. The annual salaries of the following elected state and district officers are hereby fixed as follows:

Governor $83,160.00

Attorney General 100,800.00

Secretary of State 75,000.00

Commissioner of Insurance 75,000.00

State Treasurer 75,000.00

State Auditor of Public Accounts 75,000.00

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce 75,000.00

State Highway Commissioners 65,000.00

Public Service Commissioners 65,000.00

The * * * salary of the Governor fixed below for January 1, 2000, shall be the reference amount utilized in computing average compensation and earned compensation pursuant to Section 25-11-103(f) and Section 25-11-103(k), Mississippi Code of 1972, and to related sections which require such computations.

25-3-31. The annual salaries of the following elected state and district officers are hereby fixed as follows:

Governor $105,000.00

Attorney General 100,800.00

Secretary of State 75,000.00

Commissioner of Insurance 75,000.00

State Treasurer 75,000.00

State Auditor of Public Accounts 75,000.00

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce 75,000.00

State Highway Commissioners 65,000.00

Public Service Commissioners 65,000.00

The above fixed salary of the Governor * * * shall be the reference amount utilized in computing average compensation and earned compensation pursuant to Section 25-11-103(f) and Section 25-11-103(k), Mississippi Code of 1972, and to related sections which require such computations.

SECTION 2. Section 25-3-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-3-35. (1) The annual salaries of the following judges are hereby fixed as follows, to begin at the commencement of the next term of office immediately succeeding the existing term:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court $103,400.00

Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court 101,400.00

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court 100,800.00

However, in addition to their present official duties, there are hereby imposed upon the Supreme Court Justices the extra duties of making a special study of existing laws and reporting to each regular session of the Legislature such constructive suggestions as they may deem necessary for the improvement of the administration of justice, and of advising and counseling with the State Librarian in the selection of law books for purchase and use in the State Law Library, advising with the librarian thereof upon the removal from the library of any books which may be the least frequently used, and for the placing of same in a convenient location so as to provide additional space for such books and other current publications which may be more frequently used or called for. For such extra services each justice, from and after July 1, 1989, shall receive a sum sufficient when added to the present salaries of said justices to aggregate Ninety-three Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($93,400.00) for the Chief Justice, Ninety-one Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($91,400.00) for the Presiding Justice, and Ninety Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($90,800.00) for Associate Justices, per annum. As each existing term expires and the above-captioned salaries become effective in due course, the extra duties and compensation provided for shall cease.

(2) The annual salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeals of Mississippi are hereby fixed as follows:

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals $100,400.00

Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals 97,600.00

(3) The annual salaries of the chancery and circuit court judges are hereby fixed as follows:

Chancery Judges, each $91,200.00

Circuit Judges, each 91,200.00

Provided further, in addition to their present official duties, there are hereby imposed upon the chancery and circuit court judges the extra duties of making a special study of existing laws relating to trial courts and reporting to the Supreme Court of the State of Mississippi such constructive suggestions as they may deem necessary for the improvement of the administration of justice, which shall be recommended to the Legislature by the Supreme Court in the manner provided by law. Said judges shall advise and supervise in the purchase of law books for the libraries of each district, and shall study and evaluate the inventory of books and facilities now existing in the libraries of each district to effect the removal and relocation of obsolete publications so as to provide additional space for those books and current publications more frequently used. Said judges shall study the existing rules promulgated by the circuit and chancery court judicial associations governing the operation of chancery and circuit courts, and revise the same pursuant to existing laws. For such extra services each judge, from and after July 1, 1989, shall receive a sum sufficient when added to the present salaries of said judges to aggregate Eighty-one Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($81,200.00) per annum for each judge. Upon the expiration of the existing term, the above-captioned salaries become effective in due course, and the extra duties and compensation provided for shall cease.

(4) The Supreme Court shall prepare a payroll for chancery judges and circuit judges and submit such payroll to the Department of Finance and Administration.

SECTION 3. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi is hereby directed to submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended, or July 1, 1997, whichever date occurs later.