MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Currie, Campbell, Bennett, Horne, Rogers (14th), Watson, Young
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER AND MERITORIOUS LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE OF DR. MAX K. ARINDER UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND EXPENDITURE REVIEW.
WHEREAS, the Executive Director of the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) and exceptional public servant, Dr. Max K. Arinder, retired on June 30, 2015, after a remarkably distinguished career of exemplary leadership and service to the State of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, a true Mississippian, Dr. Arinder graduated from the Jackson Public School System and continued his education at Millsaps College and then the University of Southern Mississippi, where he endured late nights, tedious lectures and excruciatingly difficult tests to receive his Ph.D. in experimental psychology in 1973; and
WHEREAS, after almost ten years of imparting his cardinal guidance to others in the practice of clinical psychology, Dr. Arinder joined the forces of the PEER Committee in 1981 to play a part in making state government more effective, efficient and accountable, and his analytical mind and keen intellect continuously catapulted his level of responsibility until he was appointed as the Executive Director in 1996; and
WHEREAS, during Dr. Arinder's 19-year tenure as Executive Director, the PEER Committee issued 258 reviews of state and local government programs on several different topics, and the members of the Legislature, who recognized the value of Dr. Arinder's expertise and guidance, often invited him to participate on task forces that were created to study areas of programmatic concern, including mental health, transportation and implementing criminal justice reforms; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Arinder also played a vital role in advising the Legislature on revitalizing Mississippi's program of budgeting efforts, which transitioned the budget process in Mississippi into an evidence-based program to ensure that Mississippians receive the maximum benefits that those programs are intended to produce, and the Pew-MacArthur Foundation's Results First Initiative, which brought a cost and benefit analysis of management to several state government programs; and
WHEREAS, the PEER Committee received recognition 14 different times by the National Legislative Program Evaluation Society of the National Conference of State Legislatures as a result of Dr. Arinder's remarkable leadership capabilities and the impressive impact he helped PEER make in the field of program evaluation; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Arinder was actively involved with several programs of the National Conference of State Legislatures at all levels that brought his tremendous amount of information regarding legislative oversight to the developing countries, and he served as the organization's staff chairperson from 2003 until 2004; and
WHEREAS, the National Conference of State Legislatures' National Legislative Program Evaluation Society honored Dr. Arinder with the 2015 Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of his extraordinary career of meritorious service to Mississippi and the profession of program evaluation; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Arinder was an exceptional public servant to the Magnolia State as the Executive Director of the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review, and his knowledge, skill and strenuous laboriousness will be dearly missed by all of his colleagues and others who were fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him and experience his greatness; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend the steadfast devotion to the betterment of Mississippi and honor the zealous vow of impeccable public service that Dr. Max K. Arinder bestowed upon the citizens of Mississippi as the Executive Director of the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review for 19 years:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the distinguished career and meritorious leadership and service of Dr. Max K. Arinder upon the occasion of his retirement as the Executive Director of the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review and extend most sincere wishes for continued success and joy in the lighter days ahead.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Max K. Arinder and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.