Senate Bill 2684

(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE SALARY OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SHALL BE SET BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RATHER THAN FIXED AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE SALARY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF HIGHER EDUCATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-3-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-3-9. (1) * * * There shall be a State Superintendent of Public Education who shall be appointed by the State Board of Education, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and serve at the board's will and pleasure. He shall be the Chief Administrative Officer for the State Department of Education and shall administer the department in accordance with the policies established by the State Board of Education. The State Superintendent of Education, serving on the effective date of this act, shall continue to receive the salary that he was receiving on January 1, 2011. From and after the completion of the term of the said superintendent serving on the effective date of this act, the salary of the State Superintendent of Education shall be established by the State Board of Education. The State Superintendent of Public Education shall have at least a master's degree in any field and a minimum of five (5) years' experience in administration in the educational field.

(2) The State Superintendent shall give bond in the penalty of Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00), with sureties to be approved by the Governor, conditioned according to law. The bond, when approved, shall be filed and recorded in the Office of the Secretary of State.

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