MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2013 Regular Session
To: Universities and Colleges; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency
By: Senator(s) Collins, Clarke
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-110-1 THROUGH 37-110-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE A MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM UNDER WHICH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS MAY EARN ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR INTERNSHIPS WITH PUBLIC GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES IN MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-110-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-110-1. There is hereby
established an intern educational program to be designated as the Mississippi
Public Management * * * Internship Program to be administered by the Board of
Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning through a program coordinator
to connect qualified students with opportunities to work in state and local
government, strengthen public support for higher education, help Mississippi
institutions of higher learning attract and retain the best talent and promote
economic and community development. The program shall consist of not more than * * * forty (40) positions in
the general fields of public management, program analysis and public
administration. Said positions shall not be included in the number of
employees allowed by law within a particular state agency. * * * Intern students shall be temporarily
assigned by the program coordinator to specific state or local agencies and
offices, including offices of the Legislature. Each participating agency or
office shall not employ more than four (4) * * * intern students per year. To qualify
for the program, a student must (a) be enrolled as a * * * student in a state university * * * undergraduate program in one (1)
of the following: public administration, public policy and administration, * * * criminal justice administration, or
business administration, accounting, law or the equivalent; * * * (b) have committed himself to a field of
graduate study directly related to a state or local government public
managerial position; and (c) have committed to work a minimum of twenty (20)
hours per week for an eight- to twelve-week period for an agency of state or
local government in Mississippi.
SECTION 2. Section 37-110-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-110-3. (1) There is
hereby created the Mississippi Intern Public Management Education Council to
consist of the following members: The chairmen of the various departments of
Mississippi institutions of higher learning which offer undergraduate and
graduate programs in one (1) of the following: public administration,
public policy and administration, * * * criminal justice administration,
business administration, accounting and law. The council shall elect from
its membership a chairman which shall be a rotating, one-year appointment. The
council shall meet at the place and time designated by the chairman at least
twice but no more than six (6) times per year.
(2) The council shall adopt, amend and repeal such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to establish standards and ensure the orderly execution of the objectives of the intern educational program, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter. Such regulations shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for implementation by the program coordinator. The council shall review and evaluate the program on a yearly basis and submit its findings to the program coordinator.
SECTION 3. Section 37-110-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-110-5. (1) There is
hereby created the position of program coordinator who shall be the Chief
Administrative Officer of the Mississippi Public Management * * * Internship Program. The
program coordinator shall be appointed by and be an employee of the Board of
Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.
(2) The program coordinator shall administer the policies of the council and supervise and direct all technical activities of the program. The coordinator shall select students to participate in the program based upon the nominees of the participating state institutions of higher learning. No participating university shall be allotted less than three (3) intern students per year unless said university nominates less than three (3) students. The coordinator shall place the intern students in state or local agencies which agree in writing to participate in the program.
(3) The program coordinator
shall prepare and deliver to the Legislature and to the Governor an annual
report describing the operation and progress of the Mississippi Public
Management * * * Internship Program, including a detailed statement of
expenditures and any recommendations the board may have.
SECTION 4. Section 37-110-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-110-7. It shall be the
duty and responsibility of universities participating in the intern program to
nominate qualified * * *
students to said program and to keep the program coordinator fully apprised of
the academic development of the intern student, including any change in the
student's educational status.
SECTION 5. Section 37-110-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-110-9. State or local
agencies participating in the intern program shall employ intern students with
the expectation that they shall contribute to agency policy decisions,
participate in managerial activities, and deliver agency services. Intern * * * students shall receive compensation on
the basis of their professional work experience * * *. In addition to the salary, students
shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses and mileage authorized by law for
travel to seminars, workshops and training sessions, as well as other related
professional travel expenses. When the student has received his undergraduate
or graduate degree, the agency may offer him a permanent position with the
state or local agency or office, assuming funding and position openings are
available.
SECTION 6. Section 37-110-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-110-11. Intern students
shall submit to the program coordinator at the end of each work period an
evaluation of the * * * Mississippi Public Management Internship Program and
an assessment of its educational value.
SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2013.