House Bill 630

AN ACT TO CREATE THE JOINT PERMANENT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON CRIME AND CORRECTIONS AND TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Joint Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee on Crime and Corrections.

(2) The committee shall consist of the following twelve (12) members:

(a) The Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall serve ex officio;

(b) Five (5) members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which shall include at least one (1) member of the House Ways and Means Committee or the successor of the committee;

(d) Five (5) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor which shall include at least one (1) member of the Senate Finance Committee or the successor of the committee.

The committee shall select from among its membership a chair and vice chair who shall not be members of the same chamber. Members shall be appointed for three-year terms. Appointments and vacancies on the joint committee shall be filled by the respective selecting and appointing authorities.

(3) The duties of the joint committee shall be as follows:

(a) Make recommendations from time to time to the Legislature to facilitate the efficient and effective operation of the Department of Corrections; and

(b) Diligently inquire and fully examine the state's present and long-term needs in regard to the Department of Corrections and file reports of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than the fifteenth legislative day of each regular session.

(4) The joint committee may regularly examine all aspects of the operations of the Department of Corrections. The committee, upon request, may examine any proposed correctional facility telephone contract at least thirty (30) days prior to the beginning of the initial contract agreement or renewal contract agreement. If the committee requests the Department of Corrections to submit proposed telephone contracts for review, the department shall provide the proposed contracts and related contractual documents at least forty-five (45) days before the beginning of the contractual period.

(5) The joint committee or any of its individual members or any consultant employed by the committee may make announced or unannounced inspections or visits to the Department of Corrections and its operations and facilities at any time.

(6) Upon request of the chair of the joint committee, the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House shall provide necessary clerical and legal staff employed by the Legislature as well as any assistance made available to it by any state agency for the work of the committee.

(7) The joint committee may use two (2) individuals, one (1) from the Department of Public Safety and one (1) from the Office of the State Auditor, to assist the committee in evaluating potential problem areas of the Department of Corrections.

(8) The joint committee may contract with and provide compensation for any consultant or person not presently employed in state service and the amount of compensation and necessary expenses shall be set by the committee.

(9) The members of the joint 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 and shall obtain the approval of their respective management committees for per diem and travel expense expenditures of the committee; however, no per diem and expenses for attending meetings of the committee shall be paid while the Legislature is in session.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2011.