House Bill 996

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SONG STUDY COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP A NEW OFFICIAL SONG FOR THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; TO PRESCRIBE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS ORGANIZATION AND MEETINGS; TO REQUIRE THE COMMITTEE TO SUBMIT A REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS TO THE LEGISLATURE NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 30, 2021; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi is known as the "Birthplace of America's Music," and is credited for producing Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock and Roll," Jimmie Rodgers, the "Father of Country Music," and B.B. King, the "King of the Blues," and these Mississippi trailblazers, alongside hundreds of others, have impacted and influenced the music industry like no others in modern history; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi's musical heritage has positioned the Magnolia State as a true renaissance of musical genres, scaling past, present and even future trends, and from rock and roll, country and the blues, to gospel, opera and everything in between, Mississippi has not only transformed the course of America's music, it has revolutionized it, and because of this, it is important that the official song of the State of Mississippi truly reflects the state's phenomenal musical heritage, while enthusiastically looking forward to its future; and

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is established the Mississippi State Song Study Committee for the purpose of developing and reporting to the Legislature its recommendation for the new official song of the State of Mississippi. The committee is charged with a sensitive and responsible task that it shall conduct in an objective manner. The new official song of the State of Mississippi shall honor the past while embracing the promise of the future.

(2) The committee shall consist of nine (9) members, to be appointed as follows:

(a) Three (3) members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with two (2) of those members being members of the House of Representatives;

(b) Three (3) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, with two (2) of those members being members of the Mississippi State Senate; and

All appointments to the committee shall be made not later than July 15, 2021. The chair of the committee shall be chosen by majority vote of the members of the committee. The committee shall meet as soon as practicable after the appointments have been made upon the joint call of the Speaker and the Lieutenant Governor, and shall organize for business. A majority vote of the members of the committee shall be required for the adoption of any reports and recommendations.

(3) The committee shall have the following functions and duties:

(a) To hold regular public meetings when and where it sees fit;

(b) To receive written public comments in a manner and under the terms and conditions as it sees fit;

(c) To collect, examine and consider all information that it determines may be helpful in making a recommendation for the new official song for the State of Mississippi;

(d) To consult with experts, representatives of organizations and associations, and others, as it sees fit, whose knowledge or expertise may assist the committee in making its recommendation;

(e) To make any inquiries and conduct any business that may assist the committee in developing the new official song for the State of Mississippi;

(f) Keep minutes of its meetings, and make those minutes available to the public; and

(g) To make a written recommendation for the new official song for the State of Mississippi, which shall be presented to the Legislature not later than November 30, 2021.

(4) Members of the committee shall receive no compensation for their service on the committee, but may receive reimbursement for mileage and actual expenses as provided in Section 25-3-41, to the extent that funds are available for that purpose.

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