MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Tollison

A RESOLUTION TO CREATE AND EMPOWER A SPECIAL SENATE TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE STATUS OF MISSISSIPPI'S ELECTION PROCESS TO CONSIDER ALL MATTERS RELATING TO ELECTIONS IN MISSISSIPPI INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL FOR ELECTION FRAUD. 

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That:

(1) There is hereby created a special task force to study the status of the Mississippi's election process and to consider all matters relating to elections in Mississippi and the potential for election fraud, including, but not limited to, absentee voting and assisted voting. The task force may conduct public hearings and receive information from any source deemed appropriate. The task force shall be composed of the following members:

(a) The Chairman of the Senate Elections Committee;

(b) The Vice-Chairman of the Senate Elections Committee;

(c) One (1) Senator, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(d) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor from the public at large who shall be a registered voter;

(e) One (1) member of the Governor's staff appointed by the Governor;

(f) One (1) member appointed by the Governor from the public at large who shall be a registered voter;

(g) The Secretary of State, or his designee;

(h) One (1) member appointed by the Secretary of State from the public at large who shall be a registered voter;

(i) The President of the Mississippi Circuit Clerk's Association, or his or her designee;

(j) The President of the Election Commissioners Association of Mississippi, or his or her designee.

Appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days of passage of this resolution.

(2) The Lieutenant Governor shall call the first meeting and shall preside over the meeting, at which time the task force shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman of the task force. The vice-chairman shall also 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. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings at least five (5) days prior to the date on which a meeting is to be held.

(3) Members of the task force who are not legislators, state officials or state employees shall be reimbursed from the Senate Contingent Expense Fund in accordance with Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Legislative members of the task force shall be paid from the Senate Contingent Expense Fund in the same manner as provided for attendance at committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session; however, no per diem or expense for attending meetings of the task force will be paid to legislators while the Legislature is in session. Members of the task force who are state officials or state employees shall be reimbursed by their department or agency for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972. 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.

(4) The task force shall utilize clerical and legal staff of the Senate. To effectuate the purposes of the task force any department, board or agency of the state or local government shall, at the request of the chairman of the task force, provide to the task force such facilities, assistance and data as will enable the task force to properly carry out its powers and duties.

(5) The task force shall present its findings to the Senate on or before October 1, 1998, by filing its report thereon with the Secretary of the Senate. Its report may propose legislation related to the matters within the jurisdiction of the task force. The task force shall be dissolved on January 1, 1999.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to those state agencies and those associations which have members on the Senate task force created pursuant to this resolution.