Senate Bill 2481

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW CODE SECTION 21-15-2.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ALL ELECTED MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS, WHETHER LEGISLATIVE OR EXECUTIVE, TO COMPLETE A CERTIFIED CITY MANAGEMENT COURSE AND TO COMPLETE ANNUAL CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 21-15-2.1, Mississippi Code of 1972:

21-15-2.1. (1) Every person elected after January 1, 2013, to a position as a member of the governing body of any municipality, whether the position is legislative or executive, shall be required to complete a basic course of city management training and education for members of the municipal governing authority in order for these elected officials to carry out their duties more effectively and be exposed to new ideas involving municipal growth, management and improvement. The basic course of training shall be conducted by the Mississippi Municipal League. Upon completion of the basic course of training by an elected official subject to the requirements of this section, the Mississippi Municipal League shall file a certificate of completion for the elected official with the municipal clerk. If a person required to do so fails to complete the training within six (6) months of the inception of the person's term of office, that official shall no longer be qualified to serve and shall be removed from office.

(2) In addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, after taking office, each member of a municipality's governing authority shall be required to file annually in the office of the municipal clerk a certificate of completion of a course of continuing education conducted by the Mississippi Municipal League.

(3) Upon the failure of any person required to comply with this section to file with the municipal clerk the certificate of completion of the basic or continuing course of training as provided in subsection (2) or (3) of this section, the elected official shall be removed from office by the Attorney General. In the event of a medical or other catastrophic hardship that prevents the person from obtaining the required training or filing such certificate, as may be defined by the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Municipal League by rule and regulation, an additional period of three (3) months may be allowed to satisfy the requirements of subsection (1) or (2) of this section.

SECTION 2. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.