House Bill 1537

AN ACT TO CREATE THE ATTORNEYS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS STUDY PANEL; TO PROVIDE MEMBERSHIP FOR THE PANEL; TO REQUIRE THE PANEL TO STUDY VIABLE FUNDING SOURCES TO COMPENSATE ATTORNEYS WHO WORK FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS; TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE PANEL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Attorneys for Nonprofit Organizations Study Panel to study viable funding sources to compensate and provide financial incentives for attorneys.

(2) The panel shall be composed of the following members:

(a) The Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons of the House of Representatives Judiciary A and B Committees and the Senate Judiciary Division A and Division B Committees;

(b) Two (2) members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(d) One (1) Mississippi Supreme Court Justice;

(e) One (1) chancery court judge;

(f) One (1) member appointed by the Attorney General;

(g) One (1) circuit court judge; and

(h) Three (3) members who serve as directors of different branches of Mississippi Legal Services.

(3) The panel shall choose by majority vote a chairman of the committee at its first meeting. The vice chairman shall also be chosen by majority vote of its membership. The vice chairman shall also serve as secretary of the panel and shall be responsible for keeping all records of the panel. A majority of the members of the panel shall constitute a quorum.

(4) The panel shall examine fundraising options to supplement or fully pay the salaries of attorneys who work for nonprofit organizations. The panel shall file a report with the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate and the Governor containing its findings and recommendations regarding Mississippi election laws by not later than January 15, 2011.

(5) Legislative members of the panel shall receive per diem, travel or other expenses, if authorized by the Management Committee of the House of Representatives and Rules Committee of the Senate, from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same amounts as provided for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session; however, no per diem or expense for attending meetings of the panel shall be paid while the Legislature is in session.

(6) Nonlegislative members of the panel shall receive no compensation for their service on the panel but may receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred while engaged in official business of the panel in accordance with Section 25-3-41.

(7) The panel shall be dissolved on January 15, 2011.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.