MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Public Utilities

By: Representative Ellington

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 77-3-509, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE FOR THE DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED AND TO AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO DESIGNATE A SUCCESSOR ORGANIZATION TO BE REPRESENTED ON THE COMMITTEE IF A SPECIFIED ORGANIZATION CEASES TO EXIST; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 77-3-509, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

77-3-509. (1) On or before August 1, 1990, the Public Service Commission shall appoint an advisory committee to monitor the statewide telecommunications relay access service and advise and make recommendations to the Public Service Commission in pursuing services which meet the needs of the hearing or speech impaired and others similarly impaired in communicating with other users of telecommunications services.

(2) The advisory committee shall be composed of:

(a) One (1) deaf person recommended by the Mississippi Association of the Deaf;

(b) One (1) speech or hearing impaired person recommended by the Mississippi Association for Retired Persons;

(c) One (1) person recommended by the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities;

(d) One (1) representative of telecommunications utilities chosen from a list of candidates provided by the Mississippi/Alabama Telephone Association;

(e) One (1) representative of the Mississippi Speech and Hearing Association;

(f) One (1) representative of the Veterans Administration;

(g) One (1) representative from Vocational Rehabilitation Deaf Services;

(h) One (1) hearing impaired representative of the Mississippi School for the Deaf;

(i) Two (2) representatives chosen from the Public Service Commission's staff and employees;

(j) One (1) person appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(k) One (1) person appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of the Senate;

(l) One (1) representative from the provider of the DPR service; and

(m) Three (3) "at large" individuals who have particular skills, knowledge, experience or ability but who are not necessarily speech or hearing impaired or otherwise affiliated with an organization serving the speech or hearing impaired.

The commission, in its discretion, may name a successor or similar organization to be represented on the committee if an organization or agency named in this subsection ceases to exist.

(3) The committee shall be appointed based on candidate names submitted by the recommending agency or organization. Each member of the advisory committee shall serve for a term of two (2) years. A member whose term has expired shall continue to serve until a qualified replacement is appointed. The members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel and expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties and per diem, which shall be paid out of the trust fund on the same basis established for state employees * * *.

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