Senate Bill 2400

(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 25-3-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE REPEALER ON THE PROVISION OF LAW FIXING THE ANNUAL SALARIES OF CERTAIN ELECTED STATE AND DISTRICT OFFICERS; TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE REPEALER ON THE PROVISIONS OF LAW FIXING THE ANNUAL SALARIES OF THE ELECTED JUDICIARY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS; TO AMEND SECTION 25-31-10, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE REPEALER ON THE LAW FIXING THE ANNUAL SALARY OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 25-3-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-3-31. The annual salaries of the following elected state and district officers are fixed as follows:

Governor....................................... $122,160.00

Attorney General............................... 108,960.00

Secretary of State............................. 90,000.00

Commissioner of Insurance...................... 90,000.00

State Treasurer................................ 90,000.00

State Auditor of Public Accounts............... 90,000.00

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce....... 90,000.00

Transportation Commissioners................... 78,000.00

Public Service Commissioners................... 78,000.00

If the person serving as Governor on December 31, 2003, is reelected to the office of Governor for the term beginning in the year 2004, he may choose not to receive the salary increase authorized by this section, but to receive, instead, an annual salary of One Hundred One Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($101,800.00) during his new term of office by filing a written request with the Department of Finance and Administration.

The above fixed salary of the Governor shall be the reference amount utilized in computing average compensation and earned compensation pursuant to Section 25-11-103(f) and Section 25-11-103(k) and to related sections which require such computations.

This section shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2008.

SECTION 2. Section 25-3-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-3-35. (1) The annual salaries of the following judges are fixed as follows, to begin at the commencement of the next term of office immediately succeeding the existing term:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court............. $115,390.00

Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court......... 113,190.00

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, each.. 112,530.00

However, in addition to their present official duties, there are imposed upon the Supreme Court justices the extra duties of making a special study of existing laws and reporting to each regular session of the Legislature such constructive suggestions as they may deem necessary for the improvement of the administration of justice, and of identifying and directing the State Librarian to apply for grants and donations from any public or private source for the purpose of enhancing the holdings of the state law library, and of advising and counseling with the State Librarian in the selection of law books for purchase and use in the State Law Library, advising with the librarian thereof upon the removal from the library of any books which may be the least frequently used, and for the placing of same in a convenient location so as to provide additional space for such books and other current publications which may be more frequently used or called for. For such extra services each justice, from and after January 1, 2004, shall receive a sum sufficient when added to the present salaries of the justices to aggregate One Hundred Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred Ninety Dollars ($115,390.00) for the Chief Justice, One Hundred Thirteen Thousand One Hundred Ninety Dollars ($113,190.00) for the presiding justice, and One Hundred Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Thirty Dollars ($112,530.00) for associate justices, per annum. As each existing term expires and the above-captioned salaries become effective in due course, the extra duties and compensation provided for shall cease.

The fixed salaries as specified in this subsection (1) shall be the exclusive and total compensation which can be reported to the Public Employees' Retirement System for retirement purposes; however, any judge in office on December 31, 2003, may continue to report his expense allowance as part of his compensation for retirement purposes.

(2) The annual salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeals of Mississippi are fixed as follows, to begin at the commencement of the next term of office immediately succeeding the existing term:

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals............ $108,130.00

Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, each. 105,050.00

However, in addition to their present official duties, there are imposed upon the judges of the Court of Appeals the extra duties of making a special study of existing laws and reporting to the Supreme Court of the State of Mississippi such constructive suggestions as they may deem necessary for the improvement of the administration of justice, and assisting in advising and counseling with the State Librarian in the selection of law books for purchase and use in the State Law Library, assisting in advising with the librarian thereof upon the removal from the library of any books which may be the least frequently used, and for the placing of same in a convenient location so as to provide additional space for such books and other current publications which may be more frequently used or called for. For such extra services each judge, from and after January 1, 2004, shall receive a sum sufficient when added to the present salaries of the judges to aggregate One Hundred Eight Thousand One Hundred Thirty Dollars ($108,130.00) for the Chief Judge and One Hundred Five Thousand Fifty Dollars ($105,050.00) for associate judges, per annum. As each existing term expires and the above-captioned salaries become effective in due course, the extra duties and compensation provided for shall cease.

The fixed salaries as specified in this subsection (2) shall be the exclusive and total compensation which can be reported to the Public Employees' Retirement System for retirement purposes; however, any judge in office on December 31, 2003, may continue to report his expense allowance as part of his compensation for retirement purposes.

(3) The annual salaries of the chancery and circuit court judges are fixed as follows, to begin at the commencement of the next term of office immediately succeeding the existing term:

Chancery Judges, each.......................... $104,170.00

Circuit Judges, each........................... 104,170.00

In addition to their present official duties, there are imposed upon the chancery and circuit court judges the extra duties of making a special study of existing laws relating to trial courts and reporting to the Supreme Court of the State of Mississippi such constructive suggestions as they may deem necessary for the improvement of the administration of justice, which shall be recommended to the Legislature by the Supreme Court in the manner provided by law. The judges shall advise and supervise in the purchase of law books for the libraries of each district, and shall study and evaluate the inventory of books and facilities now existing in the libraries of each district to effect the removal and relocation of obsolete publications so as to provide additional space for those books and current publications more frequently used. The judges shall seek and identify any grants and donations from any public or private source for the purpose of enhancing the holdings of the libraries of each district. The judges shall study the existing rules promulgated by the circuit and chancery court judicial associations governing the operation of chancery and circuit courts, and revise the same pursuant to existing laws. For such extra services each judge, from and after January 1, 2004, shall receive a sum sufficient when added to the present salaries of the judges to aggregate One Hundred Four Thousand One Hundred Seventy Dollars ($104,170.00) per annum for each judge. Upon the expiration of the existing term, the above-captioned salaries become effective in due course, and the extra duties and compensation provided for shall cease.

(4) The Supreme Court shall prepare a payroll for chancery judges and circuit judges and submit such payroll to the Department of Finance and Administration.

(5) The annual salary of the full-time district attorneys shall be Ninety-five Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety-six Dollars ($95,796.00).

(6) The annual salary of the full-time legal assistants shall be not less than Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) nor more than eighty percent (80%) of the salary of the district attorney for legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for five (5) years or less; eighty-five percent (85%) of the salary of the district attorney for legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for at least five (5) years but less than fifteen (15) years; and ninety percent (90%) of the salary of the district attorney for legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for at least fifteen (15) years or more.

(7) This section shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2008.

SECTION 3. Section 25-31-10, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-31-10. (1) Any district attorney may appoint a full-time criminal investigator.

(2) The district attorneys of the Third, Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Twentieth Circuit Court Districts may appoint one (1) additional full-time criminal investigator for a total of two (2) full-time criminal investigators.

(3) The district attorneys of the First, Second, Fourth and Seventh and Nineteenth Circuit Court Districts may appoint two (2) additional full-time criminal investigators for a total of three (3) full-time criminal investigators.

(4) No district attorney or assistant district attorney shall accept any private employment, civil or criminal, in any matter investigated by such criminal investigators.

(5) The full and complete compensation for all public duties rendered by said criminal investigators shall be not more than Fifty-four Thousand Dollars ($54,000.00) per annum, to be determined at the discretion of the district attorney based upon the qualifications, education and experience of the criminal investigator, plus necessary travel and other expenses, to be paid in accordance with Section 25-31-8. However, the maximum salary under this subsection for a criminal investigator who has a law degree may be supplemented by the district attorney from other available funds, but not to exceed the maximum salary for a legal assistant to a district attorney.

(6) Any criminal investigator may be designated by the district attorney to attend the Law Enforcement Officers Training Program set forth in Section 45-6-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972. The total expenses associated with attendance by criminal investigators at the Law Enforcement Officers Training Program shall be paid out of the funds of the appropriate district attorney.

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SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.