MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representatives Read, Foster, McCray

House Bill 265

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT FROM AND AFTER JULY 1, 2021, THE ANNUAL SALARIES OF THE ELECTED STATE OFFICERS OTHER THAN THE GOVERNOR SHALL BE THE AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED FOR EACH OF THOSE OFFICERS BY THE LEGISLATURE, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD SHALL SURVEY THE SALARIES OF THE OFFICERS IN THE STATES ADJACENT TO MISSISSIPPI THAT ARE EQUIVALENT TO THE ELECTED STATE OFFICERS IN MISSISSIPPI, AND SET A MAXIMUM ANNUAL SALARY AMOUNT FOR EACH OF THOSE OFFICERS THAT IS EQUAL TO THE AVERAGE OF THE ANNUAL SALARIES OF THE EQUIVALENT OFFICERS IN THE ADJACENT STATES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE AMOUNT OF THE ANNUAL SALARY FOR ANY OF THOSE OFFICERS APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN THE CURRENT AMOUNT FOR THAT OFFICER OR MORE THAN THREE PERCENT ABOVE THE CURRENT AMOUNT FOR THAT OFFICER; TO PROVIDE THAT FOR EACH OF THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE MAY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THE ANNUAL SALARY FOR ANY OF THOSE OFFICERS BY NOT MORE THAN THREE PERCENT ABOVE THE ANNUAL SALARY AMOUNT APPROPRIATED FOR THE PRECEDING FISCAL YEAR; TO PROVIDE THAT THE ANNUAL SALARY APPROPRIATED FOR ANY OF THOSE OFFICERS SHALL NOT BE MORE THAN THE AMOUNT SET FOR THAT OFFICER BY THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD OR MORE THAN THE AMOUNT OF THE ANNUAL SALARY OF THE GOVERNOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 25-3-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     25-3-31.  (1)  The annual salary of the Governor shall be $122,160.00.

(2)  The annual salaries of the following elected state and district officers are fixed as follows through June 30, 2021:

 * * *Governor $122,160.00

Attorney General..................................... 108,960.00

Secretary of State..............................   90,000.00

Commissioner of Insurance.......................   90,000.00

State Treasurer.................................   90,000.00

State Auditor of Public Accounts................   90,000.00

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce.........   90,000.00

Transportation Commissioners....................   78,000.00

Public Service Commissioners....................   78,000.00

 * * * If the person serving as Governor on December 31, 2003, is reelected to the Office of Governor for the term beginning in the year 2004, he may choose not to receive the salary increase authorized by this section, but to receive, instead, an annual salary of One Hundred One Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($101,800.00) during his new term of office by filing a written request with the Department of Finance and Administration.

(3)  (a)  From and after July 1, 2021, the annual salaries of the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance, State Treasurer, State Auditor of Public Accounts and Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce shall be the amounts appropriated for each of those officers by the Legislature, subject to the limitations in this subsection (3).

(b)  Not later than October 1, 2020, the State Personnel Board shall survey the salaries of the officers in the states adjacent to Mississippi that are equivalent to those officers listed in paragraph (a) of this subsection, and set a maximum annual salary amount for each of those officers that is equal to the average of the annual salaries of the equivalent officers in the adjacent states.

(c)  The amount of the annual salary for any of those officers listed in paragraph (a) of this subsection appropriated by the Legislature for fiscal year 2022 shall not be less than the annual salary amount specified for that officer in subsection (2) or more than three percent (3%) above the annual salary amount specified for that officer in subsection (2).  For each of the next two (2) fiscal years, the Legislature may increase the amount of the annual salary for any of those officers by not more than three percent (3%) above the annual salary amount appropriated for the preceding fiscal year.  However, the annual salary appropriated for any of those officers shall not be more than the amount set for that officer by the State Personnel Board, and shall not be more than the amount of the annual salary of the Governor.

(4)  From and after July 1, 2021, the annual salaries of the Transportation Commissioners and the Public Service Commissioners shall be the amounts appropriated for those officers by the Legislature, subject to the following limitations:

The amount of the annual salary for those officers appropriated by the Legislature for fiscal year 2022 shall not be less than the annual salary amount specified for those officers in subsection (2) or more than three percent (3%) above the annual salary amount specified for those officers in subsection (2).  For each of the next two (2) fiscal years, the Legislature may increase the amount of the annual salary for those officers by not more than three percent (3%) above the annual salary amount appropriated for the preceding fiscal year.  However, the annual salary appropriated for those officers shall not be more than the amount of the annual salary of the Governor.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

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