Senate Bill 2820

(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 5-3-55 AND 5-3-69, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND EXPENDITURE REVIEW (PEER); AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 5-3-55, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

5-3-55. The committee shall be composed of seven (7) members from the Senate and seven (7) members from the House of Representatives, one (1) from each of the congressional districts of the State of Mississippi as they currently exist and three (3) from the state at large, to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for a term concurrent with their term in their respective house. For the remainder of the present term, the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker shall make their respective appointments within fifteen (15) days after sine die adjournment of the 2004 Regular Session; and for each full four-year term thereafter, the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker shall make their appointments within fifteen (15) days after the first calendar day of the regular session in the first year of such four-year term. No member of the committee shall serve as a member of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The term of each member shall be concurrent with his term of office.

The committee shall meet no later than ten (10) days after the final day of the 2004 Regular Session, and annually thereafter, for the purpose of organizing by electing from the membership a chairman, vice chairman and secretary.

SECTION 2. Section 5-3-69, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

5-3-69. There shall be no business transacted, including adoption of rules or procedure, without the presence of a quorum of the committee, which shall be eight (8) members to consist of four (4) members from the Senate and four (4) members from the House of Representatives, and no action shall be valid unless approved by the majority of those members present and voting, and entered upon the minutes of the committee and signed by the chairman and vice chairman. All actions of the committee shall be approved by at least four (4) Senate members and four (4) House members.

The committee shall meet at the time and place as designated by the majority vote of the members, provided that a special meeting may be called by the chairman or by a petition signed by no less than five (5) members. No action taken by the committee at any special meeting shall be valid unless each member shall have been given at least forty-eight hours' notice of the meeting, along with a statement of the business to be considered, and unless such action be entered upon the minutes of the committee and signed by the chairman.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.