MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives Holland, Compretta, Cummings, Dedeaux, Ellis, Gibbs, Green, Hudson, Ishee, Jennings, Maples, Markham, Masterson, Mitchell, Montgomery (15th), Moore (100th), Morris, Moss, Nettles, Pierce, Robertson, Rushing, Smith (27th), Taylor, West

A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AN AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO INVESTIGATE THE PRACTICES AND OPERATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi House of Representatives has found that the Mississippi Transportation Commission and the Mississippi Department of Transportation, having a budget of almost One Billion Dollars, requires closer oversight by the elected representatives of the taxpayer:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That there is established an ad hoc committee to investigate the practices of the Mississippi Transportation Commission and the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

The committee shall consist of the following eleven (11) members:

(a) The Chairman of the House Transportation Committee;

(b) The Vice Chairman of the House Transportation Committee; and

(c) Nine (9) members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, three (3) from each of the Transportation Commission districts of the state;

All appointments to the committee shall be made within thirty (30) days after the adoption of this resolution. Within fifteen (15) days thereafter, on a day to be designated by the Speaker of the House, the committee shall meet and organize by selecting from its membership a chairman and vice chairman. The vice chairman shall serve as secretary and shall be responsible for keeping all records of the committee. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. In the selection of its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the committee is required. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings, and such notices must be mailed at least five (5) days before the date on which a meeting is to be held.

For attending meetings of the committee, each member of the committee shall be paid from the House contingent expense fund per diem in the amount authorized by Section 25-3-69, Mississippi Code of 1972, and a mileage allowance and an expense allowance in the amount authorized by Section 5-1-47, Mississippi Code of 1972. However, no per diem, mileage allowance or expense allowance may be paid for attending meetings of the committee while the Legislature is in session, and no per diem, mileage allowance or expense allowance may be paid without prior approval of the House Management Committee. No committee member may incur per diem, travel or other expenses unless previously authorized by vote, at a meeting of the committee, which action must be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting.

In carrying out the provisions of this resolution, the committee may utilize the services, facilities and personnel of all departments, agencies, offices and institutions of the state.

The committee shall solicit grievances from the members of the House of Representatives concerning the practices and operation of the Mississippi Transportation Commission and the Mississippi Department of Transportation, and shall file its report, recommendations and findings with the Clerk of the House not later than January 1, 2001. The committee shall be dissolved once the report and recommendations are filed.