MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Public Property; Appropriations
By: Representative Perkins
AN ACT TO CREATE A MISSISSIPPI CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM COMMISSION; TO PROVIDE THE COMPOSITION FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION; TO LIST THE DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION; TO ASSIGN THE COMMISSION TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The Legislature recognizes a need for a civil rights museum in Mississippi to promote the educational and social development of Mississippians and to honor those persons who have made significant contributions toward the advancement of civil rights in Mississippi and the United States. The Legislature further recognizes that a civil rights museum would be of great economic and cultural importance to Mississippi.
SECTION 2. (1) There is created the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum Commission. The commission shall be composed of twenty-two (22) members, with two (2) representatives from the following agencies, organizations and univeristies:
(a) The Mississippi Department of Archives and History;
(b) The Tourism Department of the Mississippi Development Authority;
(c) The Mississippi House of Representatives;
(d) The Mississippi Senate;
(e) Governor's office;
(f) Jackson State University;
(g) William Winter Institute at the University of Mississippi;
(h) The Civil Rights Education Commission;
(i) Greater Leadership Jackson;
(j) Tougaloo College; and
(k) The Oral History Project at the University of Southern Mississippi.
(2) The duties of the commission shall include the following:
(a) To designate a location site for the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum;
(b) To devise a budget for development of the location site;
(c) To develop a budget for construction of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum; and
(d) To provide an annual report regarding the progress listed in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this subsection, on January 1 of each year to the Mississippi Legislature.
(3) The commission shall call its first meeting by July 15, 2011. At the first meeting, a chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary shall be chosen by a majority vote of all members present, except that each person so elected shall be from a different agency, organization or university. Each person elected shall serve for a twelve-month period, until a successor is elected by the commission.
(4) The commission shall be assigned to the Department of Archives and History for administrative purposes. Upon request of the chair or vice-chairperson of the commission, additional assistance shall be given to the commission by the Department of Archives and History.
(5) The legislative members and agency representatives shall be paid per diem and travel expenses, where applicable, from the contingent expense funds of their respective branches of the Legislature or government.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2011.