MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Thames, Dearing, Posey

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT COMMITTEE FOR THE PURPOSE OF STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF, AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN, FIRE ANTS, THE POULTRY INDUSTRY AND SWINE INDUSTRY ON THE STATE'S ENVIRONMENT, WILDLIFE AND ECONOMY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.  

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Mississippi's agriculture industry, environment and wildlife habitat are all equally important, and there is a need to closely examine and further study the effects of, and relationship between, fire ants, the poultry industry and swine industry on Mississippi's environment, wildlife and economy:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That there is hereby created a special joint committee to study the effects of, and relationship between, fire ants, the poultry industry and swine industry on the state's environment, wildlife and economy, and to study any other related subject matter the joint committee deems necessary and within its jurisdiction.

The joint committee shall be composed of the following twelve members:

(a) The Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and one member from the Senate Agriculture Committee to be designated by the President of the Senate;

(b) The Chairman of the Senate Environmental Protection, Conservation and Water Resources Committee, and one member from the Senate Environmental Protection, Conservation and Water Resources Committee to be designated by the President of the Senate;

(c) The Chairman of the Senate Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee, and one member from the Senate Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee to be designated by the President of the Senate;

(d) The Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and one member from the House Agriculture Committee to be designated by the Speaker of the House;

(e) The Chairman of the House Conservation and Water Resources Committee, and one member from the House Conservation and Water Resources Committee to be designated by the Speaker of the House; and

(f) The Chairman of the House Game and Fish Committee, and one member from the House Game and Fish Committee to be designated by the Speaker of the House.

The joint committee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman of the committee. The vice-chairman shall also serve as secretary and shall be responsible for keeping all records of the joint committee. A majority of the members of the joint committee shall constitute a quorum. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings at least five days prior to the date on which a meeting is to be held.

For attending meetings of the joint study committee, each legislative member shall be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same amounts as provided for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session. However, no per diem and expenses shall be paid for attending meetings of the joint study committee while the Legislature is in session, and no per diem and expenses shall be paid without prior approval of the proper committee in the member's respective house. The joint study committee shall not hire any staff, but shall utilize the clerical and legal staff already employed by the Senate and the House, and any other staff provided by a state agency pursuant to a request therefor by the joint study committee.

The joint study committee shall be dissolved on January 1, 1998.