MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Universities and Colleges
By: Representative Buck (5th)
AN ACT TO CREATE THE IHL FUNDING STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY AND REPORT ON THE FUNDING OF THE STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE; TO SPECIFY CERTAIN MATTERS THAT MUST BE STUDIED BY THE COMMITTEE; TO REQUIRE THE STUDY COMMITTEE TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT ON ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMITTEE EVERY THREE YEARS, BEGINNING IN 2010; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is created the IHL Funding Study Committee to review and make recommendations on necessary revisions to the funding of the institutions of higher learning under the management and control of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, as more specifically required under subsection (6) of this section.
(2) The IHL Funding Study Committee shall be composed of the following fourteen (14) members:
(a) The Chairmen of the House and Senate Universities and Colleges Committees;
(b) The Chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees;
(c) The Commissioner of Higher Education or his designee;
(d) Three (3) members of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning appointed by the chairman;
(e) A representative of the Governor's office appointed by the Governor;
(f) A member of the Mississippi University for Women Alumni Association selected by the President of the Mississippi University for Women;
(g) A member of the Jackson State University National Alumni Association selected by the President of Jackson State University;
(h) A member of the Alcorn State University National Alumni Association selected by the President of Alcorn State University;
(i) A member of the Mississippi Valley State University National Alumni Association selected by the President of Mississippi Valley State University; and
(j) The President of the Mississippi Economic Council or his designee selected from the membership of the council.
(3) Appointments to the study committee must be made within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act. Within fifteen (15) days after the expiration of the period for making appointments, on a day to be designated by the Commissioner of Higher Education, the study committee shall meet and organize by selecting from its membership a chairman and a vice chairman. The vice chairman also must serve as secretary and be responsible for keeping all records of the study committee. A majority of the membership of the study committee shall constitute a quorum. In the selection of its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the study committee shall be required. All members must be notified in writing of all meetings at least five (5) days before the date on which a meeting of the study committee is scheduled.
(4) The study committee may contract for any professional services that it deems necessary to complete its work and may tour any universities as it deems necessary.
(5) Members of the study committee who are not legislators, state officials or state employees shall be compensated at the per diem rate authorized by Section 25-3-69 and reimbursed in accordance with Section 25-3-41 for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Legislative members of the study committee shall be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same manner as provided for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session; however, no per diem or expense for attending meetings of the study committee may be paid while the Legislature is in session. Study committee members may not incur per diem, travel or other expenses unless previously authorized by vote at a meeting of the study committee, which action must be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting. Nonlegislative members may be paid from any funds made available to the study committee for that purpose.
(6) The study committee shall compile data, study and report on the funding of the state institutions of higher learning. Specifically, the study must address the following:
(a) For the preceding ten (10) fiscal years, the total general funds appropriated to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for the benefit of each state institution of higher learning;
(b) For the preceding ten (10) fiscal years, the total funding available from all sources, public and private, available for the support of each state institution of higher learning;
(c) For the preceding ten (10) fiscal years, the tuition rates for residents and nonresidents charged at each state institution of higher learning;
(d) For the preceding ten (10) fiscal years, the funding that has been made available for construction and related projects at each state institution of higher learning from the proceeds of bonds issued by the state;
(e) For the preceding ten (10) fiscal years, the amount allocated to each individual state institution entitled to funding from the Ayers Settlement Fund or any other state fund that may be created in relation to the Ayers case (Ayers v. Musgrove (Civil Action No. 4:75CV9-B-D, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi);
(f) For each year that an amount is reported for a state institution under paragraph (e) of this section, the amount appropriated by the Legislature for the general support of that institution for the corresponding year; and
(g) For each state institution receiving monies as a direct result of the Ayers case, a history of the state funding of the institution for the ten (10) years immediately preceding the first year in which that institution received any funding due to the Ayers case.
(7) The Commissioner of Higher Education shall provide appropriate staff to assist the study committee with carrying out its duties.
(8) Before the third Tuesday of September 2010 and every third year thereafter, the study committee shall submit to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee a written report of its findings and recommendations on the funding made available for the support of the state institutions of higher learning.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.