Senate Bill 2641

(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

AN ACT TO CREATE THE STUDY COMMISSION ON HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING; TO REQUIRE A PLAN BY A DATE CERTAIN; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created a Study Commission on Highway Infrastructure Funding. The commission shall meet once a month. The commission shall consist of the following members:

(a) The Chairs of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee and the House Transportation Committee, who shall serve as co-chairs;

(b) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor from the First Congressional District;

(d) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor from the Third Congressional District;

(e) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor from the Fourth Congressional District;

(f) One (1) member appointed by the Speaker of the House from the First Congressional District;

(g) One (1) member appointed by the Speaker of the House from the Second Congressional District;

(h) One (1) member appointed by the Speaker of the House from the Third Congressional District;

(i) One (1) member appointed by the Speaker of the House from the Fourth Congressional District;

(j) One (1) member appointed by the Governor from the First Congressional District;

(k) One (1) member appointed by the Governor from the Second Congressional District;

(l) One (1) member appointed by the Governor from the Third Congressional District;

(m) One (1) member appointed by the Governor from the Fourth Congressional District;

(n) Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, or designee, who shall serve as secretary of the commission and shall be a nonvoting member.

(2) Legislative members shall receive from their respective houses:

(a) Per diem compensation for each day engaged in the discharge of official duties at the same rate as compensated during a special session of the Legislature and reimbursement for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of official duties, including mileage as authorized by law; or

(b) Per diem compensation for each day engaged in the discharge of official duties in the amount authorized by Section 25-3-69 and a mileage allowance and an expense allowance in the amount authorized by Section 5-1-47.

(3) The commission shall be responsible for:

(a) Studying and recommending appropriate revenue sources to insure the long-term adequate funding for repairs to state highways and bridges, as well as funds to provide assistance to local governments;

(b) Studying and recommending criteria to be used in allocating state revenues to local governments for road and bridge repair;

(c) Considering the feasibility or desirability of using state general obligation bonds for the repair or replacement of long-lived assets such as bridges in the state system or locally maintained bridges. The commission shall also make recommendations on when bond financing should be considered for these purposes; and

(d) Studying and making recommendations on issues relative to the financing of a highway system that will insure the safe transportation of Mississippi's citizens and visitors and will foster the continued economic development of the state.

(4) The commission may call upon the staff of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Mississippi Department of Revenue, or any other agency, department or legislative committee to assist it in its work.

(5) The commission shall prepare a plan to identify the transportation infrastructure needs and develop a unified plan for state, county and municipal needs for highways, railroads, bridges, ports and airports by December 1, 2016, and shall be dissolved on December 2, 2016.

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