Senate Bill 2422

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THE NISSAN PLANT AND THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE NISSAN PLANT AND ITS SERVICE AND SUPPLIERS ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS LOCATED IN MADISON COUNTY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is established a committee to study the long-term effects of the Nissan plant and the proposed expansion of the Nissan plant and its service and suppliers on the public school systems of the Madison County School District and the Canton Municipal Separate School District and make recommendations to the Legislature. The committee shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature before December 15, 2003.

(2) The committee shall specifically examine the impact of the new jobs at the Nissan plant and its service and supplier components on the public school instructional staff, administrative staff, school buildings, school bus transportation and infrastructure in Madison County which will be necessary to meet the needs of the additional population created by such new jobs. The committee shall also examine the results of the new Mississippi Adequate Education Funding Formula and its effect on the Madison County public schools as the population of this area increases.

(3) The study committee shall be composed of the following twelve (12) members:

(a) Three (3) members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, two (2) of whom shall represent Madison County;

(b) Three (3) members of the Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, two (2) of whom shall represent Madison County;

(d) The State Superintendent of Public Education, or his designee;

(e) The County Superintendent of Education of Madison County;

(f) The Superintendent of the Canton Municipal Separate School District;

(g) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, or his designee; and

(h) The Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, or his designee.

(4) Appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days after passage of this act. Within fifteen (15) days thereafter, on a day to be designated jointly by the Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor, the study 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 study committee. A majority of the members of the study 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 study committee present and voting is required. The committee shall meet upon the call of the chairman, and 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.

(5) Each legislative member of the committee shall be paid from the contingent expense fund of his respective house 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 proper committee in the member's respective house. No study committee member may incur per diem, travel or other expenses unless previously authorized by vote, at a meeting of the study committee, which action must be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting.

(6) The study committee may employ consultants or staff and may utilize clerical and legal staff employed by any state agency, school district, political subdivision or municipality of the state, and any other staff assistance made available to the committee.

(7) Funding for the study committee may be provided from any funds that may be appropriated by the Legislature for the expenses of the study committee. The study committee may accept money from any source, public or private, to be expended in implementing its duties under this act.

(8) Upon presentation of its report to the Legislature before the 2004 Regular Session, the study committee shall be dissolved.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.