MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Senator(s) Dearing

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-29-457, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE COPIAH-LINCOLN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES FROM ADAMS COUNTY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-29-457, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-29-457. (1) The operation and control of the Copiah-Lincoln Junior College District shall be vested in a board of trustees representing the seven (7) counties lying within the district. The said board shall consist of twenty-nine (29) members to be chosen as follows:

(a) Copiah County shall be entitled to six (6) members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 37-29-65.

(b) Lincoln County shall be entitled to six (6) members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 37-29-65.

(c) Lawrence County shall be entitled to two (2) members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 37-29-65.

(d) Franklin County shall be entitled to two (2) members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 37-29-65.

(e) Simpson County shall be entitled to two (2) members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 37-29-65.

(f) Jefferson County shall be entitled to two (2) members who shall be elected and serve according to Section 37-29-65.

(g) Adams County shall be entitled to six (6) members who shall be elected from the residents of said county by the Board of Supervisors of Adams County within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this section; and one (1) such member shall be the superintendent of the special municipal separate school district which encompasses Adams County. From and after May 1, 1999, there shall be two (2) additional members of the board of trustees from Adams County, to be appointed by the Board of Supervisors of Adams County for a term of five (5) years, and to have the same powers and duties as other board members.

The terms of office for the members shall be five (5) years. However, upon the first selection of trustees in the county, one (1) shall be elected for a term of five (5) years, one (1) for a term of four (4) years, one (1) for a term of three (3) years, one (1) for a term of two (2) years, and one (1) for a term of one (1) year, so as to prevent the retirement of more than one (1) member in any one (1) year. The members elected from Adams County shall have like qualifications and receive the same compensation as the members from other counties as provided by Section 37-29-65.

(h) There shall be one (1) member of the board of trustees who shall be elected by the members of the said board of trustees from among the residents of the Copiah-Lincoln Junior College District. Said member so chosen shall serve a five-year term and have the same powers and duties as the other board members.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, persons who are currently serving as members of the board of trustees of the Copiah-Lincoln Junior College District shall complete their terms without interruption.

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