March 18, 2019

TO THE MISSISSIPPI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

GOVERNOR’S VETO MESSAGE FOR HOUSE BILL 576:

I am returning House Bill 576: “AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-15-303, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE COMPOSITION OF THE STATE AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES HEALTH INSURANCE MANAGEMENT BOARD BY AUTHORIZATION OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO DESIGNATE AN INDIVIDUAL TO SERVE IN HIS OR HER CAPACITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.”

I am vetoing House Bill 576 because it creates an undesirable situation and precedent regarding the composition of the State and School Employees Health Insurance Management Board.  Voting members of this board include:

· The Chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Commission

· The State Personnel Director

· The Commissioner of Insurance or his designee

· The Commissioner of Higher Education

· The State Superintendent of Public Education

· The Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration

· The Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board

· The Executive Director of the Public Employees’ Retirement System

· Two gubernatorial appointees.

The makeup of this board is designed to create high-level discussions at the agency head level.  The non-elected members of the board are required to attend meetings in person.  Allowing the State Superintendent of Public Education to send a designee to board meetings to act in his or her stead would thwart the intent of having counterparts of the highest level of government making vital decisions on public employees’ health insurance.  Furthermore, such a move would create a precedent for allowing designees for other members on this board.

I encourage the State and School Employees Health Insurance Management Board to find methods for participation among voting members that occasionally may have difficulty attending board meetings in person.

Therefore, I am vetoing House Bill 576.

Respectfully submitted,    

PHIL BRYANT

GOVERNOR