House Concurrent Resolution 80

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUSPENDING THE DEADLINES FOR THE PURPOSE OF REQUESTING THE DRAFTING, AND THE INTRODUCTION, CONSIDERATION AND PASSAGE, OF A BILL ENTITLED "AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE THE ADMINISTRATION OF ALL ASSESSMENTS ADMINISTERED UNDER THE STATEWIDE TESTING PROGRAM, WHICH ARE USED TO DETERMINE THE ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS WITHIN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR AS THE RESULT OF THE GOVERNOR'S DECLARATION OF AN EXTREME STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RESPONSE TO A NATIONAL HEALTH CRISIS RESULTING FROM THE RAPID SPREAD OF COVID-19; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO HOLD HARMLESS SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM ASSIGNMENT OF DISTRICT AND SCHOOL LEVEL ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 37-16-1, 37-16-4, 37-16-5, 37-16-7 AND 37-16-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH RELATE TO THE STATEWIDE TESTING PROGRAM, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-16-3, 37-16-17, 37-17-6, 37-3-49, 37-15-38 AND 37-35-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 27-65-111, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXEMPT FROM SALES TAXATION RETAIL SALES OF FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION NOT PURCHASED WITH FOOD STAMPS BUT WHICH WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM SALES TAX IF PURCHASED WITH FOOD STAMPS; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH EXEMPTION OF RETAIL SALES OF FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION FROM SALES TAXATION SHALL ONLY BE APPLICABLE UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT THE GOVERNOR DECLARES THE EXTREME STATE OF EMERGENCY CREATED BY THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 NO LONGER EXISTS IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES."

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That the Joint Rules of the House and the Senate, including all the deadlines and other provisions imposed by Joint Rule No. 40, are suspended for the purpose of requesting the drafting, and the introduction, consideration and passage, of a bill entitled "AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE THE ADMINISTRATION OF ALL ASSESSMENTS ADMINISTERED UNDER THE STATEWIDE TESTING PROGRAM, WHICH ARE USED TO DETERMINE THE ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS WITHIN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR AS THE RESULT OF THE GOVERNOR'S DECLARATION OF AN EXTREME STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RESPONSE TO A NATIONAL HEALTH CRISIS RESULTING FROM THE RAPID SPREAD OF COVID-19; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO HOLD HARMLESS SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM ASSIGNMENT OF DISTRICT AND SCHOOL LEVEL ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 37-16-1, 37-16-4, 37-16-5, 37-16-7 AND 37-16-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH RELATE TO THE STATEWIDE TESTING PROGRAM, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-16-3, 37-16-17, 37-17-6, 37-3-49, 37-15-38 AND 37-35-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 27-65-111, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXEMPT FROM SALES TAXATION RETAIL SALES OF FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION NOT PURCHASED WITH FOOD STAMPS BUT WHICH WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM SALES TAX IF PURCHASED WITH FOOD STAMPS; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH EXEMPTION OF RETAIL SALES OF FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION FROM SALES TAXATION SHALL ONLY BE APPLICABLE UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT THE GOVERNOR DECLARES THE EXTREME STATE OF EMERGENCY CREATED BY THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 NO LONGER EXISTS IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES."