MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2006 Regular Session

To: Public Utilities

By: Representative Reeves, Espy, Fleming

House Bill 284

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 19-5-307, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE COMPOSITION OF BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS OF EMERGENCY 911 DISTRICTS THAT MAY BE APPOINTED; TO ADD A REPEALER ON SUCH SECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 19-5-307, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     19-5-307.  (1)  When any district is created, the board of supervisors of the county creating the district may appoint a board of commissioners composed of at least seven (7) members to govern its affairs, and shall fix the domicile of the board at any point within the district.  The members of the board shall be qualified electors of the district, two (2) of whom shall be appointed for terms of two (2) years, three (3) for terms of three (3) years, and two (2) for terms of four (4) years, dating from the date of the adoption of the ordinance creating the district.  Thereafter, all appointments of the members shall be for terms of four (4) years.

     The following municipalities within Hinds County and the Hinds County Board of Supervisors shall have the following appointments to the 911 Emergency Commission:  (a) Jackson shall have seven (7) appointments; (b) Clinton shall have one (1)  appointment; (c) Bolton shall have one (1) appointment; (d) Edwards shall have one (1) appointment; (e) Raymond shall have one (1) appointment; (f) Utica shall have one (1) appointment; and (g) Terry shall have one (1) appointment.  All appointments from the municipalities of Hinds County must be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council or board of aldermen of such county.  In addition, the board of supervisors of any county that intersects Interstate 220 and U.S. Highway 49 shall have one (1) appointment who must be a nonmunicipal resident of such county and who is approved by the board of supervisors of such county.

     (2)  The board of commissioners shall have complete and sole authority to appoint a chairman and any other officers it may deem necessary from among the membership of the board of commissioners.

     (3)  A majority of the board of commissioners membership shall constitute a quorum and all official action of the board of commissioners shall require a quorum.

     (4)  The board of commissioners shall have authority to employ such employees, experts and consultants as it may deem necessary to assist the board of commissioners in the discharge of its responsibilities to the extent that funds are made available.

     (5)  In lieu of appointing a board of commissioners, the board of supervisors of the county may serve as the board of commissioners of the district, in which case it shall assume all the powers and duties of the board of commissioners as provided in Section 19-5-301 et seq.

     (6)  All emergency communications districts shall purchase, lease or lease-purchase equipment used to comply with the FCC Order, as defined in Section 19-5-333, from a products and equipment list maintained by the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services; however, items not available from the list, or items which may be purchased at a lower price, shall be purchased in accordance with the Public Purchasing Law (Section 31-7-13).

     (7)  This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2009. 

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after October 1, 2007.