Withdrawn

AMENDMENT NO 1 PROPOSED TO

House Bill No. 1269

BY: Senator(s) Horhn

     AMEND by inserting the following after line 151 and renumbering subsequent sections accordingly:

     SECTION *.  (1)  There is created the State Truth Commission, hereinafter referred to as the "commission."  The commission shall consist of the following seven (7) members:  (a) five (5) members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, with at least one (1) member from each of the Mississippi congressional districts; (b) one (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor from the state at large, with the advice and consent of the Senate; and (c) one (1) member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from the state at large, with the advice and consent of the Senate.  The Governor shall designate one (1) of the members as chairman.

     (2)  (a)  The commission shall employ no staff.  However, in conducting the activities of the commission pursuant to this act, the chairman of the commission may request and receive assistance, information and data from any agency of the state, any political subdivision of the state or any public authority of the state.

          (b)  The chairman of the commission may organize the commission as necessary for the efficient operation of the commission.

     (3)  The commission has the following powers and duties:

          (a)  To advise and assist the Governor and the Legislature in developing policies, plans and programs to increase racial diversity and enhance racial harmony in the state.

          (b)  To foster and promote research and study in the area of race relations.

          (c)  To investigate, review or take any other action as it deems necessary to answer complaints or grievances filed with the commission regarding any state or local government agency or program.

          (d)  To make recommendations to administrators of state agencies in keeping with paragraph (a) of this subsection.

          (e)  To visit, inspect and appraise the management of state and local government programs.

          (f)  To establish procedures to assure the effective investigation of grievances brought to the attention of the commission concerning allegations of past or current racial problems.  The procedures shall include receipt of written complaints, interviews of persons and on-site monitoring of conditions.  In addition, the commission shall establish procedures for the speedy and impartial review of grievances.

          (g)  To establish and provide for the operation of a training program for personnel employed by any state or local government agency or program for voluntary training opportunities.

          (h)  To collect and disseminate statistical and other information and to undertake research, studies and analyses in cooperation with any public or private agency.

          (i)  To adopt, amend or rescind the rules and regulations as necessary to perform the powers and duties of the commission.

     (4)  The commission may receive gifts, grants and donations from any public or private sources.  Members of the commission may not be compensated for the performance of their duties except from gifts, grants or donations.

     FURTHER, amend the title by inserting the following after the semicolon on line 3:

TO CREATE THE STATE TRUTH COMMISSION AND TO PRESCRIBE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION;