Senate Bill 2050

AN ACT to require the JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND EXPENDITURE REVIEW (PEER) to review, in 2025 and EVERY FOUR YEARS THEREAFTER, ADVERTISING AND MARKETING EFFORTS PAID FOR THROUGH THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (MDA) TOURISM ADVERTISING FUND, INCLUDING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ATTRACTING OUT-OF-STATE VISITORS, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIGITAL ADVERTISING EFFORTS, AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND OVERSIGHT BY MDA REGARDING TOURISM ADVERTISING FUND EXPENDITURES; TO REQUIRE PEER TO PROVIDE A REPORT TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, THE CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE TOURISM COMMITTEES, AND THE GOVERNOR NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1, 2025, AND EVERY FOUR YEARS THEREAFTER; TO ALLOW PEER TO CONTRACT WITH A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR TO CONDUCT THE REVIEW OR ANY PART THEREOF; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE PRIVATE CONTRACTOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) In addition to the expenditure review of the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) Tourism Advertising Fund required by Section 27-65-75(23)(b), the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) shall review advertising and marketing efforts paid for through the MDA Tourism Advertising Fund, including, but not limited to, the effectiveness of attracting out-of-state visitors, the effectiveness of digital advertising efforts, and the administration and oversight by MDA regarding Tourism Advertising Fund expenditures. PEER shall conduct this review in 2025 and every four (4) years thereafter and shall provide a report to the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House, the Chairs of the Senate and House Tourism Committees, and the Governor no later than December 1, 2025, and every four (4) years thereafter.

(2) PEER may contract with a private contractor to conduct the review or any part thereof. If PEER determines that a contractor should be used, it shall seek competitive proposals for services and select the lowest and best proposal. MDA shall be legally and unconditionally obligated to pay, from monies in the MDA Tourism Advertising Fund, the expenses of any work performed by any such contractor used by PEER.

(3) Upon completion of the review, and after the Executive Director of PEER has accepted the work product of the contractor, the contractor shall submit to MDA an invoice for the costs of services rendered in an aggregate amount not to exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00).

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.