MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Fees, Salaries and Administration

By: Senator(s) Blackmon

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE CERTIFIED PUBLIC MANAGER PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROVIDING MANAGEMENT TRAINING TO STATE SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL; TO REQUIRE ALL SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CERTIFIED PUBLIC MANAGER PROGRAM WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME; TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE PERSONNEL DIRECTOR TO EXEMPT ANY EMPLOYEE FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF MANAGEMENT TRAINING UPON WRITTEN REQUEST BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD OF AN AGENCY; TO AUTHORIZE EDUCATIONAL BENCHMARK AWARDS UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE CERTIFIED PUBLIC MANAGER PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to enable every manager in state government to receive training in the basic management functions required in order to ensure the fulfillment of the missions of state agencies. Such management functions shall include, but not be limited to, management of human resources, material resources and fiscal resources, organization of state government, decision-making skills, and problem-solving skills.

(2) There is hereby established the Certified Public Manager Program for the purposes of increasing efficiency and economy in government departments by improving the management functions of agencies. The State Personnel Board shall provide an overall plan for the coordination and implementation of the Certified Public Manager Program.

(3) All state and nonstate service employees who are appointed after July 1, 2001, to a supervisory or management position shall participate in the Certified Public Manager Program within eighteen (18) months from the date of initial appointment. All state and nonstate service employees who were appointed before July 1, 2001, to a supervisory or management position shall participate in the Certified Public Manager Program within three (3) years of the effective date of this act. However, the administrative head of an agency may propose to exempt any employee from the requirement of management training by sending a written request for such exemption to the state personnel director. The State Personnel Board is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations which set forth the criteria by which the state personnel director may exempt an employee from the requirement of management training.

(4) Upon completion of Levels I through III and additional program requirements of the Certified Public Manager Program, participants shall be eligible for an educational benchmark award, the benefits of which shall be determined by the State Personnel Board. Upon completion of Levels IV through VI and additional program requirements of the Certified Public Manager Program, participants shall be eligible for an educational benchmark award, the benefits of which shall be determined by the State Personnel Board.

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