Senate Bill 2757

AN ACT TO CREATE A LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON THE COMMISSION OF MARINE RESOURCES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint two (2) members of their respective legislative houses to serve as members of the Commission on Marine Resources and Department of Marine Resources Oversight Committee. The members of the committee shall be entitled (a) to attend meetings of the Commission, (b) to receive all budgets, reports, audits and all financial and other information distributed to the commissioners, (c) to meet and confer with the commissioners and staff of the department, and (d) to perform such other activities as may be necessary or proper in discharging their responsibilities of oversight and liaison with their respective houses of the Legislature. The members of the committee shall have no jurisdiction or vote on any matter within the jurisdiction of the commission or the department. The members of the Oversight Committee shall be bound by the same limitations as to confidentiality of information regarding products, processes or the internal affairs of private businesses, as are imposed upon the commissioners and staff of the department. When the Legislature is not in session, members shall be paid per diem and all actual and necessary expenses, including mileage expenses, from their respective contingent expense funds at the rate authorized for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session; however, no per diem and expenses will be paid when the Legislature is in session. The terms of the members of the oversight committee shall expire at the end of their terms of office.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.