House Concurrent Resolution 33

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER AND MERITORIOUS LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE OF MR. JAMES A. BARBER, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND EXPENDITURE REVIEW (PEER), AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT IN MISSISSIPPI AND THE FIELD OF PROGRAM EVALUATION UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, Mr. James A. Barber served as Executive Director of the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) from July 1, 2015, to September 30, 2021, having established a remarkable career of exemplary leadership and service to the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, born and raised in Columbia, Mississippi, Mr. Barber completed his formal education as a 1973 graduate of Columbia High School before embarking upon his postsecondary matriculation at the University of Southern Mississippi, from which he received both bachelor and master of business administration degrees in 1976 and 1977, respectively; and

WHEREAS, upon completion of his graduate studies, he was hired as a Staff Analyst with the PEER Committee in April 1978, thus pinning the first chapter of what would evolve into a long and distinguished career with the government oversight organization, marked by increasing responsibilities which resulted in his appointment as executive director in July 2015; and

WHEREAS, during his years with the PEER staff, Mr. Barber remained an active participant in the programs and committees of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), serving as a member of the National Legislative Program Evaluation Society's (NLPES) Executive Committee twice, including service as the Chair of the Executive Committee in 2000 and 2009. Additionally, he served as the editor of the NLPES newsletter from 2001 to 2010; and

WHEREAS, additionally Barber also served on the NCSL Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee from 2008 to 2010, and as a member of the NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee from 2015 to 2018; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure as executive director, the PEER Committee issued 70 committee reports on various aspects of state and local government operations, many of which stand out as some of Mr. Barber's most notable achievements in legislative oversight and program evaluation as they have received recognition from the NLPES for having significant impact on Mississippi's public policy, including: "An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Mississippi Film Office" (December 15, 2015); "State Government Purchasing: A Review of Recent Statutory Changes and Case Study" (September 19, 2017); "Management of Mississippi's State-Owned Vehicles, Data Quality, the Control Environment and Recent Statutory Changes" (November 11, 2017); "A Review of the Jackson Convention and Visitors' Bureau" (November 27, 2018); and "A Statutory Review of Mississippi's Education Savings Account Program" (December 11, 2018); and

WHEREAS, during Mr. Barber's directorship, PEER also performed a valuable service to the Legislature in the production of legislative assistance, issuing 531 legislative assistance memorandums, as well as 318 background checks for the Senate and serving as the impetus thinktank behind some of the significant legislative assistance produced by PEER, including the extensive research and drafting assistance on what would become the "Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law," adopted in 2018; and

WHEREAS, a selfless people's servant, Mr. Barber often made himself available to lecture on both public administration and the functions of PEER, in the form of presentations to newly elected legislators, graduate-level academic lectures, and meetings of peers at NCSL; and

WHEREAS, Barber's expertise and wealth of knowledge afforded him the opportunity to serve, for many years, as a faculty member in the Certified Public Manager Program administered in Mississippi through the State Personnel Board, where he conducted trainings for aspiring public managers on working with legislators and legislative committees; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Barber was often engaged by other legislative oversight organizations to conduct in-depth peer reviews of their work product to assist them in implementing evaluation practices that ensure the production of accurate, high-quality reports and reviews; and

WHEREAS, during his years of service with PEER, Mr. James Barber proved to be a highly capable and versatile analyst who was at home dealing with issues in evaluation and auditing of all levels of complexity; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Barber was a valued co-worker, tireless leader and exceptional public servant who served the Mississippi Legislature and the State of Mississippi with dignity and integrity for over 43 years; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend the steadfast devotion to the betterment of Mississippi and honor the zealous vow of impeccable public service that James A. Barber bestowed upon the citizens of Mississippi as the Executive Director of the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the distinguished career and meritorious leadership and service of Mr. James A. Barber upon the occasion of his retirement as the Executive Director of the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review and extend most sincere wishes for continued success and joy in the lighter days ahead.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. James A. Barber and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.