MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Fees, Salaries and Administration; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Farris

AN ACT TO CREATE A STATEWIDE MOTOR VEHICLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION; TO EMPOWER THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO MANAGE THE SYSTEM; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO CARRY OUT PRE-PLANNING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SYSTEM; TO REPEAL SECTION 25-1-85, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES CERTAIN AGENCIES TO OPERATE PASSENGER VEHICLES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Department of Finance and Administration is directed to establish and maintain a statewide motor vehicle management system. In establishing this system the department shall:

(a) Take possession of all passenger vehicles held by agencies as defined in Section 25-4-107(d);

(b) Establish a needs-based system for allocating these vehicles to state agencies based on agency usage patterns and on the current break-even mileage above which it is more efficient to provide agency personnel with a state-owned vehicle than to pay mileage;

(c) Establish procedures for the acquisition, use and disposal of vehicles;

(d) Establish, where necessary, a series of pools or a single pool where state-owned vehicles provided for in this act shall be maintained for use by agencies.

(e) Purchase, sell or lease vehicles or other property necessary to manage a statewide motor vehicle management system.

(2) In managing the statewide motor vehicle management system, the Department of Finance and Administration shall collect financial information on the economic efficiency of the system as compared with the most recent years of individual agency ownership and report any findings and conclusions regarding motor vehicle management efficiency to the Legislature.

(3) The Department of Finance and Administration shall also consider the use of leased vehicles and rented automobiles where it is more cost efficient to use such vehicles in lieu of purchased vehicles.

(4) In carrying out the purposes of this section, the Department of Finance and Administration shall have all powers necessary and proper to implement a statewide motor vehicle management system, and shall have the authority to audit and inspect any records, files or facilities of any agency to insure compliance with the requirements of this act.

(5) The authority of any agency as defined in Section 25-4-107(d) to purchase passenger vehicles and to maintain such vehicles, except under the authority of the Department of Finance and Administration's statewide motor vehicle management system, is hereby revoked.

(6) For purposes of this section, the term passenger vehicles shall include all such vehicles as defined in Section 25-1-85, Mississippi Code of 1972, as it is in force and effect on June 30, 2002.

SECTION 2. Section 25-1-85, Mississippi Code of 1972, which authorizes certain state agencies to own and operate passenger vehicles, shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2002.

SECTION 3. The Department of Finance and Administration shall have the authority to carry out pre-planning activities necessary to accomplish the requirements of this act and shall report to the Legislature any requirements the department needs to administer this act by December 15, 2001.

SECTION 4. Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002. Section 3 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.