House Bill 1499

AN ACT TO CREATE THE COMMISSION ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND REFORM; TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION AND ITS DUTIES; TO REQUIRE A REPORT CONTAINING THE FINDINGS OF THE COMMISSION BE SUBMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BY A CERTAIN TIME; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Reform that shall consist of the following members:

(a) The Chairs of the House and Senate County Affairs Committees;

(b) The Chairs of the House and Senate Municipalities Committees;

(d) Two (2) members of the Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(e) The Director of the Stennis Institute of Government, Mississippi State University;

(f) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors;

(g) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Municipal League;

(h) Two (2) citizen members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

(i) Two (2) citizen members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.

All appointments made by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Lieutenant Governor shall be made by August 1, 2013.

(2) The duties of the commission shall be to study and review the following related to local government:

(a) Local government's use of sales tax revenues, homestead exemption payments from state government, state aid road funds, and any other state funds that are made available to municipalities and boards of supervisors;

(b) Possibilities for the streamlining of local government by combining certain local government services through interlocal agreements or other means;

(d) Possible use of shared services for certain administrative activities; and

(e) Any other matters that could contribute to more efficient and effective delivery of local government services.

(3) The commission shall prepare and deliver a report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Lieutenant Governor no later than December 15, 2014, on the issues prescribed in subsection (2) of this section. The report may contain recommendations on the proper uses of state transfers to local governments as well as any other matter that legislative or constitutional revision is needed to foster more efficient and effective delivery of local government services.

(4) The commission may meet no more than twelve (12) days between the effective date of this act and December 15, 2014. State agencies, legislative staff and staff of the Institutions of Higher Learning shall provide assistance to the commission upon the request of the commission. Legislative members of the commission may receive per diem, subsistence and travel expenses as allowed by law. Citizen members may receive travel expenses for days spent rendering service in amounts that a state employee would receive under Section 25-3-41, which shall be paid from the funds appropriated to the Department of Finance and Administration.

(5) For purposes of this section, the term "local government" includes municipalities, counties, fire protection districts, utility districts, water and sewer districts, economic development districts, and any other district of local government with governing boards whose members are appointed by county or municipal governing authorities except for school districts and community college districts.

(6) This section shall stand repealed from and after December 15, 2014.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2013.