House Bill 714

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 5-1-41, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY INCREASE IN COMPENSATION OF SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES SHALL NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THE TERM FOLLOWING THE NEXT ELECTION FOR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES; TO AMEND SECTIONS 21-3-15, 21-5-15 AND 21-9-61, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY INCREASE IN COMPENSATION OF THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF CODE CHARTER, COMMISSION, AND COUNCIL-MANAGER FORMS OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT SHALL NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT TERM FOLLOWING THE NEXT ELECTION FOR SUCH MUNICIPAL GOVERNING AUTHORITIES; TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY INCREASE IN SALARY FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS SHALL NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT TERM FOLLOWING THE NEXT ELECTION FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS; TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY INCREASE IN SALARY FOR CERTAIN STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS SHALL NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT TERM FOLLOWING THE NEXT ELECTION FOR SUCH ELECTED OFFICIALS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 5-1-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

5-1-41. Beginning with the 1986 Regular Session of the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, each Senator and Representative of the Legislature shall receive as compensation at each regular session the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) and the mileage allowance provided by Section 25-3-41, for each mile of the distance by the most direct route usually traveled in coming to and returning from the place where the Legislature sits. Beginning on April 16, 1997, each Senator and Representative shall receive for attending each extraordinary session or called session the sum of Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) per day and mileage at the same rate as per regular session. In addition to the above, beginning on April 16, 1997, each Senator and Representative and the Lieutenant Governor shall receive the sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) per month for expenses incidental to his office for every full month of his term, except any month or major fraction thereof when the Legislature is convened in regular or extraordinary session; and payments shall be made to each Senator and Representative and the Lieutenant Governor by the State Treasurer between the first and tenth day of each month following the month for which the payments are due.

Any increase in compensation for Senators and Representatives shall not take effect until the beginning of the term following the next election for Senators and Representatives.

SECTION 2. Section 21-3-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-3-15. (1) The mayor shall preside at all meetings of the board of aldermen, and in case there shall be an equal division,shall give the deciding vote. The mayor's authority is executive, and the mayor shall have the superintending control of all the officers and affairs of the municipality, and shall take care that the laws and ordinances are executed.

(2) (a) The authority of the board of aldermen is legislative and is executed by a vote within a legally called meeting. No member of the board of aldermen shall give orders to any employee or subordinate of a municipality other than the alderman's personal staff.

(b) Ordinances adopted by the board of aldermen shall be submitted to the mayor. The mayor shall, within ten (10) days after receiving any ordinance, either approve the ordinance by affixing his signature thereto, or return it to the board of aldermen by delivering it to the municipal clerk together with a written statement setting forth his objections thereto or to any item or part thereof. No ordinance or any item or part thereof shall take effect without the mayor's approval, unless the mayor fails to return an ordinance to the board of aldermen prior to the next meeting of the board, but no later than fifteen (15) days after it has been presented to him, or unless the board of aldermen, upon reconsideration thereof on or after the third day following its return by the mayor, shall, by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the board, resolve to override the mayor's veto.

(3) Any increase in salary for the mayor or members of the board of aldermen shall not take effect until the beginning of the term following the next election for the mayor and members of the board of aldermen.

(4) The term "ordinance" as used in this section shall be deemed to include ordinances, resolutions and orders.

SECTION 3. Section 21-5-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-5-15. At the first regular meeting of the council that is first elected, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the council shall, by ordinance, fix the salary of the mayor and each of the councilmen (or commissioners), which ordinance shall not become operative until the same shall have been approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting at an election to be held for that purpose, as provided by this section. Said ordinance shall be published in a newspaper published in said city, and having a general circulation therein, for at least ten (10) days before such election, and notice of the date of such election shall be given by the council for ten (10) days by publication in a newspaper published in such city, and having general circulation therein. In case such ordinance shall be rejected by the electors at such election, then a new ordinance, or ordinances, may be passed by the council and submitted to the electors in like manner, until the same shall have been ratified by the electors. When an ordinance so fixing the salaries shall have been finally adopted and approved, the salaries so fixed shall remain in effect until altered or changed in the manner hereinafter provided.

To reduce the salary so fixed it shall be sufficient that the council adopt an ordinance to that effect, which ordinance shall become effective upon adoption without the necessity of publication or of an election. To increase the salary so fixed, an ordinance shall be duly adopted, by the council, which ordinance shall be published for ten (10) days in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in such city, and the ordinance shall not become effective until it is approved by a majority of the qualified electors of such city voting at an election to be held for that purpose after notice of such election shall have been given by the council for ten (10) days by publication in a newspaper published in such city or having a general circulation therein, the last notice to appear not more than one (1) week next prior to the date of the election. Any increase in salary for the mayor or councilmen shall not take effect until the beginning of the term following the next election for the mayor and councilmen.

Every officer or assistant, other than the mayor and councilmen, shall receive such salary or compensation as the council shall by ordinance provide. The salary or compensation of all other employees of such city shall be fixed by the council from time to time, as occasion may demand.

SECTION 4. Section 21-9-61, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-9-61. The compensation of mayor and councilmen in cities operating under the council-manager plan shall be fixed by ordinance of the council. Any increase in salary for the mayor or councilmen shall not take effect until the beginning of the term following the next election for the mayor and councilmen.

SECTION 5. Section 25-3-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-3-13. (1) The salaries of the members of the boards of supervisors of the various counties are fixed as full compensation for their services.

The annual salary of each member of the board of supervisors shall be based upon the total assessed valuation of his respective county for the preceding taxable year in the following categories and for the following amounts:

(a) For counties having a total assessed valuation of less than Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000.00), a salary of Twenty-nine Thousand Dollars ($29,000.00);

(b) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000.00), but less than Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00), a salary of Thirty-two Thousand Three Hundred Dollars ($32,300.00);

(c) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00), but less than Seventy-five Million Dollars ($75,000,000.00), a salary of Thirty-three Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($33,700.00);

(d) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least Seventy-five Million Dollars ($75,000,000.00), but less than One Hundred Twenty-five Million Dollars ($125,000,000.00), a salary of Thirty-four Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($34,700.00);

(e) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least One Hundred Twenty-five Million Dollars ($125,000,000.00), but less than Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000.00), a salary of Forty Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($40,400.00);

(f) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000.00), but less than One Billion Dollars ($1,000,000,000.00), a salary of Forty-four Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($44,700.00);

(g) For counties having a total assessed valuation of One Billion Dollars ($1,000,000,000.00), but less than Two Billion Dollars ($2,000,000,000.00), a salary of Forty-five Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($45,700.00);

(h) For counties having a total assessed valuation of Two Billion Dollars ($2,000,000,000.00) or more, a salary of Forty-six Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($46,700.00).

(2) The annual salary established for the members of the board of supervisors shall not be reduced as a result of a reduction in total assessed valuation.

(3) The salary of the members of the board of supervisors shall not be increased under this section until the board of supervisors shall have passed a resolution stating the amount of the increase and spread it on its minutes. Any increase in salary for the members of the boards of supervisors of the various counties shall not take effect until the beginning of the term following the next election for members of the boards of supervisors.

SECTION 6. 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

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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.

* * *

Any increase in salary for the elected officials in this section shall not take effect until the beginning of the term following the next election for such elected office.

SECTION 7. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.