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AMENDMENT No. 3 PROPOSED TO

                             Senate Bill NO. 2778

                             By Senator(s) Simmons

     AMEND by striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1.  A Special Joint Committee is created to Study and Make Recommendations Concerning the impact of the tort reform legislation passed during the 2002 Third Extraordinary Session on the business, medical and insurance industries and the civil justice system of the state.  The joint committee shall be composed of the Chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, the Chairmen of the Senate and House Insurance Committees, two (2) members to be appointed from the state at large by the Lieutenant Governor and two (2) members to be appointed from the state at large by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

     Within sixty (60) days after sine die adjournment of the 2003 Regular Session of the Legislature, the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker shall appoint the members of the committee, after which the entire joint committee shall meet on a date designated by the State Superintendent of Education in Jackson, Mississippi, to select a chairman, organize the committee and establish rules for transacting its business and keeping records.  An affirmative vote of a majority of the members from each house shall be required in the adoption of rules and reports.  All members of the joint committee shall be notified in writing of all meetings of the committee, which notices shall be mailed at least five (5) days before the dates of the meetings.  The joint committee may establish any subcommittees that it deems desirable to study and report to the committee with respect to any matter that is within the scope of this act.

     The joint committee shall make a written report with proposed legislation relating to its findings and recommendations, and shall mail copies of the report to each member of the Legislature not later than December 1, 2003.  Upon submission of its report, the joint committee shall be dissolved.

     In carrying out the provisions of this act, the joint committee may utilize the services, facilities and personnel of all departments, agencies, offices and institutions of the state, including the state universities and the community and junior colleges, and each requested agency shall cooperate with the joint committee and provide the joint committee with any information and other assistance requested by the chairman.

     Nonlegislative members of the joint committee shall serve without compensation.  For attending meetings of the joint committee, each legislative member shall be paid per diem compensation in the amount authorized by Section 25-3-69 and a mileage allowance and an expense allowance in the amount authorized by Section 5-1-47.  Legislative members shall be paid from the contingent expense fund of the member's respective house.  However, no per diem compensation, mileage allowance or expense allowance shall be paid for attending meetings of the joint committee while the Legislature is in session, and no per diem compensation, mileage allowance or expense allowance shall be paid without prior approval of the proper committee in the member's respective house.

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

     FURTHER amend the title to conform.