REPORT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

S.B. No. 2479: Salary of certain appointed and elected officials; revise.

SECTION 1. Section 25-3-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-3-33. The annual salaries of the following appointive state and district officials and employees are fixed as follows:

Deputy Attorney General, not to exceed $72,800.00

Assistant Attorneys General shall each

receive annual salaries in an amount

to be fixed by the Attorney General

but not to exceed 68,400.00

Military Department--National Guard:

Adjutant General 80,000.00

Department of Banking and Consumer Finance:

Commissioner 85,000.00

Chairman of the State Tax Commission

(Commissioner of Revenue) 91,000.00

Associate Commissioners, each 42,000.00

Director of Emergency Management Agency 65,000.00

Department of Public Safety:

Commissioner of Public Safety 80,000.00

Director, Office of Mississippi

Highway Safety Patrol, or

his successor 70,000.00

Director, Office of Support Services,

or his successor 70,000.00

Department of Human Services:

Director, not to exceed 85,000.00

Workers' Compensation Commission:

Chairman 80,000.00

Members, each 78,000.00

Executive Director 75,000.00

Administrative Judge, each 75,000.00

Archives and History:

Director, not to exceed 70,000.00

State Forester 70,000.00

State Oil and Gas Board:

Secretary-Supervisor 70,000.00

Educational Television Authority:

Executive Director 70,000.00

Director, Mississippi Library Commission,

not to exceed 70,000.00

Executive Secretary, Public Service

Commission 65,000.00

Parole Board:

Chairman 50,000.00

Administrative Assistant for

Parole Matters 42,000.00

Members, each 44,000.00

Governor's State Bond Advisory Division:

Director 55,000.00

Employment Security Commission:

Executive Director, not to exceed 70,000.00

Executive Director, Department of

Mental Health, to be determined by the

State Board of Mental Health, not

to exceed 85,000.00

Director, Division of Medicaid,

not to exceed 85,000.00

Director, State Department of Transportation,

not to exceed 85,000.00

State Entomologist 65,000.00

Clerk of the Supreme Court 60,000.00

State Aid Engineer, Division of State

Aid Road Construction 70,000.00

Executive Director, Judicial Performance

Commission 65,000.00

Executive Director, Department of Finance

and Administration 85,000.00

Superintendent, Mississippi School for the

Blind, to be determined by the State

Board of Education, not to exceed 65,000.00

Superintendent, Mississippi School for the Deaf,

to be determined by the State Board

of Education, not to exceed 65,000.00

Executive Director, State Fair Commission 65,000.00

Executive Director, Department of Wildlife,

Fisheries and Parks 80,000.00

Executive Director, Department of Environmental

Quality 85,000.00

Executive Director, Pat Harrison Waterway

District 65,000.00

Executive Director, Pearl River Basin

Development District 61,000.00

Executive Director, Pearl River Valley Water

Supply District 71,000.00

Executive Director, Tombigbee River Valley

Water Management District 61,000.00

Director, Soil and Water Conservation

Commission 60,000.00

Commissioner, Mississippi Department of

Corrections 85,000.00

Executive Director, Mississippi Department of

Information Technology Services 85,000.00

Executive Director, Mississippi Industries

for the Blind 60,000.00

Director, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics 60,000.00

Executive Secretary, State Veterans Affairs

Board 55,000.00

Executive Officer, Veterans' Home Purchase

Board 65,000.00

Chief Administrative Officer, Motor Vehicle

Commission 55,000.00

Stadium Manager, Mississippi Veterans

Memorial Stadium 55,000.00

Executive Director, Mississippi Arts

Commission 55,000.00

Director, Mississippi Board of Nursing 60,000.00

Director, State Board of Pharmacy 60,000.00

Director, State Board of Public Contractors 50,000.00

Director, Real Estate Commission 55,000.00

Director of Support Services, Department

of Rehabilitation Services 80,000.00

Executive Director, State Fire Academy 55,000.00

Executive Director, Law Enforcement

Officers Training Academy 50,000.00

Executive Director, State Board of

Accountancy 60,000.00

Executive Director, Mississippi

Gaming Commission 90,000.00

Executive Director, Mississippi

Department of Marine Resources 70,000.00

Executive Director, State Board of

Registration for Professional

Engineers and Land Surveyors 55,000.00

Executive Director, Public Utilities

Staff 85,000.00

State Law Librarian 60,000.00

State Personnel Director 75,000.00

Manager, Farmers Central Market,

Department of Agriculture and

Commerce 40,000.00

State Veterinarian 70,000.00

Executive Director, Mississippi Ethics

Commission 70,000.00

SECTION 2. Section 37-3-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-3-9. (1) * * * From and after July 1, 1984, there shall be a State Superintendent of Public Education who shall be appointed by the State Board of Education, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and serve at the board's will and pleasure. He shall be the chief administrative officer for the State Department of Education and shall administer the department in accordance with the policies established by the State Board of Education. He shall receive such compensation in an amount equal to ninety percent (90%) of the salary of the Commissioner of Higher Education. The State Superintendent of Public Education shall have at least a master's degree in any field and a minimum of five (5) years' experience in administration in the educational field.

(2) The state superintendent shall give bond in the penalty of Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00), with sureties to be approved by the Governor, conditioned according to law. Said bond when approved shall be filed and recorded in the office of the Secretary of State.

SECTION 3. Section 25-3-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-3-35. (1) The annual salaries of the following judges are fixed as follows, to begin at the commencement of the next term of office immediately succeeding the existing term:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court $104,900.00

Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court 102,900.00

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, each 102,300.00

However, in addition to their present official duties, there are imposed upon the Supreme Court Justices the extra duties of making a special study of existing laws and reporting to each regular session of the Legislature such constructive suggestions as they may deem necessary for the improvement of the administration of justice, and of advising and counseling with the State Librarian in the selection of law books for purchase and use in the State Law Library, advising with the librarian thereof upon the removal from the library of any books which may be the least frequently used, and for the placing of same in a convenient location so as to provide additional space for such books and other current publications which may be more frequently used or called for. For such extra services each justice, from and after the effective date of Senate Bill 2479, 1999 Regular Session, shall receive a sum sufficient when added to the present salaries of the justices to aggregate One Hundred Four Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars ($104,900.00) for the Chief Justice, One Hundred Two Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars ($102,900.00) for the Presiding Justice, and One Hundred Two Thousand Three Hundred Dollars ($102,300.00) for Associate Justices, per annum. As each existing term expires and the above-captioned salaries become effective in due course, the extra duties and compensation provided for shall cease.

(2) The annual salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeals of Mississippi are fixed as follows:

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals $ 98,300.00

Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, each 95,500.00

(3) The annual salaries of the chancery and circuit court judges are fixed as follows:

Chancery Judges, each $94,700.00

Circuit Judges, each 94,700.00

In addition to their present official duties, there are imposed upon the chancery and circuit court judges the extra duties of making a special study of existing laws relating to trial courts and reporting to the Supreme Court of the State of Mississippi such constructive suggestions as they may deem necessary for the improvement of the administration of justice, which shall be recommended to the Legislature by the Supreme Court in the manner provided by law. The judges shall advise and supervise in the purchase of law books for the libraries of each district, and shall study and evaluate the inventory of books and facilities now existing in the libraries of each district to effect the removal and relocation of obsolete publications so as to provide additional space for those books and current publications more frequently used. The judges shall study the existing rules promulgated by the circuit and chancery court judicial associations governing the operation of chancery and circuit courts, and revise the same pursuant to existing laws. For such extra services each judge, from and after the effective date of Senate Bill No. 2479, 1999 Regular Session, shall receive a sum sufficient when added to the present salaries of the judges to aggregate Ninety-four Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($94,700.00) per annum for each judge. Upon the expiration of the existing term, the above-captioned salaries become effective in due course, and the extra duties and compensation provided for shall cease.

(4) The Supreme Court shall prepare a payroll for chancery judges and circuit judges and submit such payroll to the Department of Finance and Administration.

(5) The annual salary of the full-time district attorneys shall be Seventy-nine Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty Dollars ($79,830.00).

(6) The annual salary of the full-time legal assistants shall be not less than Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) nor more than Sixty-seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($67,500.00), as established by the district attorney.

SECTION 4. Section 25-31-10, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-31-10. (1) Any district attorney may appoint a full-time criminal investigator.

(2) The district attorneys of the Third, Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Twentieth Circuit Court Districts may appoint one (1) additional full-time criminal investigator for a total of two (2) full-time criminal investigators.

(3) The district attorneys of the First, Second, Fourth and Seventh and Nineteenth Circuit Court Districts may appoint two (2) additional full-time criminal investigators for a total of three (3) full-time criminal investigators.

(4) No district attorney or assistant district attorney shall accept any private employment, civil or criminal, in any matter investigated by such criminal investigators.

(5) The full and complete compensation for all public duties rendered by said criminal investigators shall be not * * * more than Forty-five Thousand Dollars ($45,000.00) per annum, to be determined at the discretion of the district attorney based upon the qualifications, education and experience of the criminal investigator, plus necessary travel and other expenses, to be paid in accordance with Section 25-31-8. * * * However, the maximum salary under this subsection for a criminal investigator who has a law degree may be supplemented by the district attorney from other available funds, but not to exceed the maximum salary for a legal assistant to a district attorney.

(6) Any criminal investigator may be designated by the district attorney to attend the Law Enforcement Officers Training Program set forth in Section 45-6-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972. The total expenses associated with attendance by criminal investigators at the Law Enforcement Officers Training Program shall be paid out of the funds of the appropriate district attorney.

SECTION 5. Section 5-1-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

5-1-41. Beginning with the 1986 Regular Session of the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, each Senator and Representative of the Legislature shall receive as compensation at each regular session the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) and the mileage allowance provided by Section 25-3-41, for each mile of the distance by the most direct route usually traveled in coming to and returning from the place where the Legislature sits. Beginning on April 16, 1997, each Senator and Representative shall receive for attending each extraordinary session or called session the sum of Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) per day and mileage at the same rate as per regular session. In addition to the above, beginning on April 16, 1997, each Senator and Representative shall receive the sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) per month for expenses incidental to his office for every full month of his term, except any month or major fraction thereof when the Legislature is convened in regular or extraordinary session; and payments shall be made to each Senator and Representative by the State Treasurer between the first and tenth day of each month following the month for which the payments are due. * * *

5-1-41. Beginning with the 1986 Regular Session of the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, each Senator and Representative of the Legislature shall receive as compensation at each regular session the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) and the mileage allowance provided by Section 25-3-41, for each mile of the distance by the most direct route usually traveled in coming to and returning from the place where the Legislature sits. Beginning on April 16, 1997, each Senator and Representative shall receive for attending each extraordinary session or called session the sum of Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) per day and mileage at the same rate as per regular session. In addition to the above, beginning on April 16, 1997, each Senator and Representative and the Lieutenant Governor shall receive the sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) per month for expenses incidental to his office for every full month of his term, except any month or major fraction thereof when the Legislature is convened in regular or extraordinary session; and payments shall be made to each Senator and Representative and the Lieutenant Governor by the State Treasurer between the first and tenth day of each month following the month for which the payments are due. * * *

SECTION 6. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi is directed to submit Sections 3 and 5 of this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 7. Sections 1, 2 and 4 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999. Sections 3 and 5 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999, if they are effectuated on or before that date under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended. If Sections 3 and 5 are effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended, after July 1, 1999, Section 3 and Section 5 shall take effect and be in force from and after the date they are effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE SALARY OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PEARL RIVER VALLEY WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT; TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE SALARY OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SHALL BE AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO NINETY PERCENT OF THE SALARY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF HIGHER EDUCATION; TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE SALARIES OF THE ELECTED JUDICIARY; TO AMEND SECTION 25-31-10, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE COMPENSATION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS EMPLOYED BY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS; TO AMEND SECTION 5-1-41, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT LEGISLATORS SIGN A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR THE 1997

EXPENSE ALLOWANCE INCREASE BEFORE JULY 1, 1997; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.