MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Interstate Cooperation; Universities and Colleges
By: Representative Arnold
AN ACT TO CREATE THE SOUTHEASTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMPACT COMMISSION; TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI TO ENTER INTO THE COMPACT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE GREATER POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND SERVICES AT THE COMMUNITY OR JUNIOR COLLEGE LEVEL IN THE SOUTHEASTERN REGION; TO AUTHORIZE COMPACTING STATES TO WAIVE THE OUT-OF-STATE TUITION FEES FOR STUDENTS WHO RESIDE IN ANOTHER STATE WHICH IS A PARTY TO THIS COMPACT, FOR ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE AT COMMUNITY OR JUNIOR COLLEGES WITHIN THE COMPACTING STATES; TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTHEASTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMPACT COMMISSION, PROVIDES FOR ITS COMPOSITION AND ITS POWERS AND DUTIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. As used in this act, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "commission" means the Southeastern Community College Compact Commission.
SECTION 2. The Southeastern Community College Compact is enacted into law and entered into by the State of Mississippi with any and all states legally joining therein in accordance with its terms. The compact is substantially as follows:
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Southeastern Community College Compact shall be to provide greater postsecondary education opportunities and services at the community or junior college level in the southeastern region, with the aim of furthering regional access to, research in, and choice of postsecondary education for
the citizens residing in the several states which are parties to this compact, with the primary purpose of authorizing compacting states to waive the out-of-state tuition fees for students who reside in another state which is a party to this compact, for enrollment and attendance at community or junior colleges within the compacting states.
ARTICLE II
THE COMMISSION
A. The compacting states create the Southeastern Community College Compact commission. The commission shall be a body corporate of each compacting state. The commission shall have
all the responsibilities, powers, and duties set forth in this act, including the power to sue and be sued, and such additional powers as may be conferred upon it by subsequent action of the respective legislatures of the compacting states in accordance with the terms of this compact.
B. The commission shall consist of seven (7) resident members representing each party state. One (1) of such members shall be the Governor of Mississippi, or the governor's designee, who shall serve during the tenure of office of the governor; one (1) shall be the Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board, or his or her designee, who shall serve during the tenure of his or her office as executive director; one (1) shall be the State Superintendent of Public Education, or his or her designee, who shall serve during the tenure of his or her office as State Superintendent; two (2) shall be presidents of community or junior colleges, who shall be appointed on a rotational basis by the Governor, who shall each serve two-year terms; and two (2) shall be members of the Mississippi State Legislature, which shall consist of the Chairman of the Universities and Colleges Committee of the Senate and the Chairman of the Universities and Colleges Committee of the House of Representative, who shall serve during the tenure of his or her office as chairman of the respective committee. All vacancies shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the appointed states. Any commissioner appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve until the end of the incomplete term, except that any individual serving in an interim capacity as Executive Director or State Superintendent of Public Education, shall only serve until such time as those positions are permanently filled by the respective appointing boards.
C. The commission shall select annually, from among its members, a chairperson, a vice chairperson and a treasurer.
D. The commission shall appoint an executive director who shall serve at its pleasure and who shall act as secretary to the commission. The treasurer, the executive director and such
other personnel as the commission may determine shall be bonded in such amounts as the commission may require.
E. The commission shall meet at least once each calendar year. The chairperson may call additional meetings and, upon the request of a majority of the commission members of four (4) or more compacting states, shall call additional meetings. Public notice shall be given of all meetings and meetings shall be open to the public.
F. Each compacting state represented at any meeting of the commission is entitled to one (1) vote. A majority of the compacting states shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless a larger quorum is required by the bylaws of the commission.
ARTICLE III
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION
A. The commission shall adopt a seal and suitable bylaws governing its management and operations.
B. Irrespective of the civil service, personnel or other merit system laws of any of the compacting states, the commission in its bylaws shall provide for the personnel policies and programs of the compact.
C. The commission shall submit a budget to the Governor and Legislature of each compacting state at such time and for such period as may be required. The budget shall contain specific recommendations of the amount or amounts to be appropriated by each of the compacting states.
D. The commission shall report annually to the Legislatures and Governors of the compacting states, to the Southern Governors' Conference, and to the Southern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments concerning the activities of the commission during the preceding year. Such reports shall also embody any recommendations that may have been adopted by the commission.
E. The commission may borrow, accept or contract for the services of personnel from any state or the United States or any subdivision or agency, from any interstate agency, or from any institution, foundation, person, firm or corporation.
F. The commission may accept for any of its purposes and functions under the compact any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services (conditional or otherwise) from any state or the United States or any subdivision or agency thereof, or interstate agency, or from any institution, foundation, person, firm or corporation, and may receive, utilize, and dispose of the same.
G. The commission may enter into agreements with any other interstate education organizations or agencies and with postsecondary community or junior colleges located in nonmember
states and with any of the various states of these United States to provide adequate programs and services in postsecondary education for the citizens of the respective compacting states. The commission shall, after negotiations with interested institutions and interstate organizations or agencies, determine the cost of providing the programs and services in postsecondary education for use of these agreements.
H. The commission may establish and maintain offices, which shall be located within one (1) or more of the compacting states.
I. The commission may establish committees and hire staff as it deems necessary for the carrying out of its functions.
J. The commission may provide for actual and necessary expenses for attendance of its members at official meetings of the commission or its designated committees.
ARTICLE IV
ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMISSION
A. The commission shall collect data on the long-range effects of the compact on postsecondary education. By the end of the fourth year from the effective date of the compact and every two (2) years thereafter, the commission shall review its accomplishments and make recommendations to the Governors and Legislatures of the compacting states on the continuance of the compact.
B. The commission shall study issues in postsecondary education of particular concern to the Southeastern region. The commission shall also study the needs for postsecondary education
programs and services in the compacting states and the resources for meeting such needs. The commission shall from time to time prepare reports on such research for presentation to the Governors and Legislatures of the compacting states and other interested parties. In conducting such studies, the commission may confer with any national or regional planning body. The commission may redraft and recommend to the Governors and Legislatures of the
various compacting states suggested legislation dealing with problems of postsecondary education, including residency and non-residency fees.
C. The commission shall study the need for provision of adequate programs and services in postsecondary education, such as associate level and technical student exchanges in the region. If a need for exchange in a field is apparent, the commission may enter into such agreements with any postsecondary community or junior college and with any of the compacting states to provide programs and services in postsecondary education for the citizens of the respective compacting states. The commission shall, after negotiations with interested institutions and the compacting states, determine the costs of providing the programs and services in postsecondary education for use in its agreements. The contracting states shall contribute the funds not otherwise provided, as determined by the commission, for carrying out the agreements. The commission may also serve as the administrative and fiscal agent in carrying out agreements for postsecondary education programs and services.
D. The commission shall serve as a clearinghouse on information regarding postsecondary education activities among institutions and agencies.
E. In addition to the activities of the commission previously noted, the commission may provide services and research in other areas of regional concern.
ARTICLE V
FINANCE
A. The moneys necessary to finance the general operations of the commission, not otherwise provided for, in carrying forth its duties, responsibilities, and powers as stated herein shall be appropriated to the commission by the compacting states, when authorized by the respective legislatures, by equal apportionment among the compacting states.
B. The commission shall not incur any obligations of any kind prior to the making of appropriations adequate to meet the same; nor shall the commission pledge the credit of any of the compacting states, except by and with the authority of the compacting state.
C. The commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the commission shall be audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the commission.
D. The accounts of the commission shall be open at any reasonable time for inspection by duly authorized representatives of the compacting states and persons authorized by the commission.
ARTICLE VI
ELIGIBLE PARTIES AND ENTRY INTO FORCE
A. The states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee shall be eligible to become party to this compact. Additional states will be eligible if approved by a majority of the compacting states.
B. As to any eligible party state, this compact shall become effective when its legislature shall have enacted the same into law.
C. Amendments to the compact shall become effective upon their enactment by the legislatures of all compacting states.
ARTICLE VII
WITHDRAWAL, DEFAULT, AND TERMINATION
A. Any compacting state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing the compact, but such withdrawal shall not become effective until two (2) years after the enactment of such statute. A withdrawing state shall be liable for any obligations which it may have incurred on account of its party status up to the effective date of withdrawal, except that if the withdrawing state has specifically undertaken or committed itself to any performance of an obligation extending beyond the effective date of withdrawal, it shall remain liable to the extent of such obligation.
B. If any compacting state shall at any time default in the performance of any of its obligations, assumed or imposed, in accordance with the provisions of this compact, all rights, privileges, and benefits conferred by this compact or agreements hereunder shall be suspended from the effective date of such default as fixed by the commission, and the commission shall stipulate the conditions and maximum time for compliance under which the defaulting state may resume its regular status. Unless such default shall be remedied under the stipulations and within the time period set forth by the commission, this compact may be terminated with respect to such defaulting state by affirmative vote of a majority of the other member states. Any such defaulting state may be reinstated by performing all acts and obligations as stipulated by the commission.
ARTICLE VIII
SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION
A. The provisions of this compact entered into hereunder shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the
Constitution of any compacting state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact entered into hereunder shall be held contrary to the constitution of any compacting state, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters. The provisions of this compact entered into pursuant hereto shall
be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes thereof.
B. This compact is now in full force and effect, having been approved by the Governors and Legislatures of more than five (5) of the eligible states.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.