MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Public Utilities

By: Representatives Weathersby, Ellis

House Bill 1577

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO CREATE A TASK FORCE ON RURAL WATER COMPANIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created a Task Force on Rural Water Companies to study and make recommendations to the Legislature relating to the management, operations and governance of rural water companies in the State of Mississippi before the 1999 Regular Session of the Legislature.

(2) The task force shall be composed of the following members:

(a) The Chairman of the Public Utilities Committee of the House of Representatives;

(b) The Chairman of the Senate Public Utilities Committee;

(c) Five (5) members of the House Public Utilities Committee to be appointed by the chairman of the committee;

(d) Five (5) members of the Senate Public Utilities Committee to be appointed by the chairman of that committee;

(e) The Chief Executive Officer of the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District or his designee;

(f) The State Health Officer or his designee, to be appointed from the State Department of Health;

(g) The State Auditor or his designee;

(h) The Executive Director of the Public Utilities Staff or his designee;

(i) A member of the Public Service Commission or their designee;

(j) A representative of the Farmers Home Administration;

(k) The executive director of the Mississippi Rural Water Association; and

(l) Five (5) representatives of rural water companies, to be appointed, one (1) from each congressional district, by the executive director of the Mississippi Rural Water Association.

If the chairman of the House or Senate Public Utilities Committee is unable to attend any meeting of the task force, the vice chairman of the respective committee may attend and vote at such meeting. Appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days after passage of this act. Within fifteen (15) days thereafter, on a day to be designated jointly by the Chairmen of the Public Utilities Committees, the task force shall meet and organize by selecting from its membership a chairman and vice chairman. The vice chairman also shall serve as secretary and shall be responsible for keeping all records of the task force. A majority of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum. In the selection of its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the task force will be required. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings, and such notices shall be mailed at least five (5) days before the date on which a meeting is to be held.

(3) The task force may hold no more than two (2) meetings per month for a period not to exceed eight (8) months. Members of the task force who are not legislators shall be compensated at the per diem rate authorized by Section 25-3-69 and shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 25-3-41 for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Any member who also is a state employee shall not be eligible to receive per diem compensation. No task force member may incur per diem, travel or other expenses unless previously authorized by vote at a meeting of the task force, which action shall be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting. Nonlegislative members of the task force shall be paid from any funds made available to the task force for that purpose.

For attending meetings of the task force, each legislative member shall be paid per diem in the amount authorized by Section 25-3-69 and a mileage allowance and an expense allowance in the amount authorized by Section 5-1-47 from the contingent expense fund of his respective house. However, no per diem, mileage allowance or expense allowance shall be paid for attending meetings of the task force while the Legislature is in session, and no per diem, mileage allowance or expense allowance shall be paid without prior approval of the proper committee in the member's respective house.

(4) Funding for the task force may be provided from any funds that may be appropriated for the expenses of the task force. The task force may accept money from any source, public or private, to be expended in implementing its duties under this act.

(5) The task force may employ consultants or staff as well as utilize clerical and legal staff employed by the Legislature and any other staff assistance from agencies represented on the task force.

(6) Upon presentation of its report to the Legislature, the task force shall be dissolved.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.