Senate Bill 2396

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-9-135, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE A SALARY AND JOB DESCRIPTION REVIEW FOR STATE-EMPLOYED PARALEGALS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 25-9-135, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-9-135. (1) The State Personnel Director shall review the payroll of each department, agency and institution for conformity with state personnel system rules and regulations and determine whether the payroll conforms to the said rules and regulations and is in compliance with legislatively authorized employment positions. The board shall implement a central personnel record system which shall be used as a basis for payment of salaries of state employees.

(2) In order to furnish the Governor, the State Legislature and the general public with statistical information which can be used in planning departmental programs and budgeting, each department, agency and institution whose employees are in the state and nonstate service shall submit such payroll and other essential personnel and organizational data as may be prescribed and approved by the board to the State Personnel Director, who shall compile and consolidate reports pertaining to the number of personnel, salaries, length of service, type of work, distribution of employees by departments, agencies and institutions, and other personnel information as may be deemed necessary by the board.

(3) If the personnel director shall determine that any agency as defined by this chapter shall have violated any provision of this chapter, he shall prepare a written report of findings to be certified by the State Personnel Board and furnish the report to the State Auditor of Public Accounts. The State Auditor of Public Accounts shall withhold issuance of any payroll warrant determined in violation of this chapter as certified by the board and shall take such action as required by law to initiate an immediate audit of any agency found in violation for the purpose of civil recovery of funds misspent.

(4) On or before June 15, 2005, the personnel director shall undertake a review of the salaries and job descriptions of all paralegal positions in state service.

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