Senate Bill 2674

(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-26-101, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR COMMUNITY PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM BOARD MEMBERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 41-26-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-26-101. (1) Each member elected or reelected after June 30, 1998, to serve on a governing board of any community public water system, except systems operated by municipalities with a population greater than ten thousand (10,000), shall attend a minimum of eight (8) hours of management training within two (2) years following the election of that board member. Any member failing to complete the management training within two (2) years after his election shall be subject to removal from the board by the remaining members. If a board member has undergone training and is reelected to the board, that board member shall not be required to attend training as provided by this subsection.

(2) The management training shall be organized by the State Department of Health, in cooperation with the Mississippi Rural Water Association and other organizations. The management training shall include information on water system management and financing, rate setting and structures, operations and maintenance, applicable laws and regulations, ethics, the duties and responsibilities of a board member and other information deemed necessary by the department after consultation with the association and other organizations. The department shall develop and provide all training materials. * * * The association and other training organizations may charge a fee in the amount of Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) per member plus the cost of the manual and materials. These costs shall be reimbursed to the board member as an expense of the community public water system. Any system/utility, as outlined in this section, having a board member who fails to, or refuses to, obtain the required training within the first two (2) years of being elected to the board, shall remove such member from the board in accordance with their bylaws and the Mississippi Nonprofit Corporation Act.

(3) Two (2) officers of each board shall also obtain an additional four (4) hours of updated and advanced training within a four-year period. The term "officers" shall include the legally responsible official of the community public water system and the mayor, mayor pro tem, the president, and the vice president of the board. If one (1) of the officers is not able to attend the training, then he may appoint someone from among the existing board to attend in his place; however, the board member attending this training must have first completed the eight (8) hours of management training. This training will be held at a time and place that will accommodate those members who have other responsibilities. The training shall consist of, but not be limited to, updated regulatory rules and regulations, in depth look at the Mississippi Nonprofit Corporation Act as well as any updated information that would aid them in making decisions for their utility system. The association and other training organizations may charge a fee in the amount of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) per member plus the cost of the material needed for the training. These costs shall also be reimbursed to the board member as an expense of the community water system.

(3) To avoid board members having to interfere with their jobs or employment, management training sessions may be divided into segments and, to the greatest extent possible, shall be scheduled for evening sessions. The department shall conduct management training on a regional basis and shall use community college or other public facilities for the convenience of board members.

(4) The department may make exceptions to and grant exemptions and variances to the requirements of this section for good cause shown.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.