House Concurrent Resolution 19

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 170, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO REQUIRE EACH MEMBER OF A COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ELECTED TO A TERM OF OFFICE BEGINNING ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2004, TO BE A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE OR HAVE A GENERAL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA (GED) UNLESS HE OR SHE SERVED AS A MEMBER OF A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2004; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is proposed to the qualified electors of the state:

Amend Section 170, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

"Section 170. Each county shall be divided into five districts, a resident freeholder of each district shall be selected, in the manner prescribed by law, and the five so chosen shall constitute the board of supervisors of the county, a majority of whom may transact business. Each member of the board of supervisors elected to a term of office beginning on or after January 1, 2004, must be a high school graduate or have a general equivalency diploma unless he or she served as a member of a board of supervisors before January 1, 2004. The board of supervisors shall have full jurisdiction over roads, ferries, and bridges, to be exercised in accordance with such regulations as the Legislature may prescribe, and perform such other duties as may be required by law; provided, however, that the Legislature may have the power to designate certain highways as "state highways," and place such highways under the control and supervision of the State Highway Commission, for construction and maintenance. The clerk of the chancery court shall be the clerk of the board of supervisors."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this proposed amendment shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2002, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This proposed constitutional amendment requires that each member of a county board of supervisors elected to a term of office beginning on or after January 1, 2004, must be a high school graduate or have a general equivalency diploma (GED) unless he or she served as a member of a board of supervisors before January 1, 2004."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this resolution, immediately upon adoption by the Legislature 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.