MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Jackson (15th), Blackwell, Blount, Branning, Browning, Carmichael, Clarke, Dearing, DeBar, Fillingane, Frazier, Hopson, Kirby, Norwood, Simmons (13th), Stone, Burton
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING DR. MAX K. ARINDER, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND EXPENDITURE REVIEW (PEER), AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FIELD OF PROGRAM EVALUATION AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT.
WHEREAS, Dr. Max K. Arinder served as Executive Director of the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) from May 14, 1996, to June 30, 2015; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Arinder was born and raised in Mississippi and was a graduate of the Jackson Public Schools. Following high school, Dr. Arinder continued his education at Millsaps College and the University of Southern Mississippi, from which he received his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology in 1973; and
WHEREAS, after nearly a decade of clinical psychological practice, Dr. Arinder became employed by the PEER Committee in 1981 and rose to positions of increasing responsibility, culminating with his appointment to the Executive Directorship in 1996; and
WHEREAS, during Dr. Arinder's tenure as Executive Director, the PEER Committee issued 258 reviews of state and local government programs and operations on a broad range of topics. As testimony to the value that the Legislature places on PEER's evaluation work, requirements for PEER oversight and evaluation are increasingly being included in legislation establishing new programs such as prekindergartens and charter schools; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature often invited Dr. Arinder to participate in task forces created to study areas of programmatic concern, including mental health, transportation, and the implementation of criminal justice reforms enacted in 2014; and
WHEREAS, during Dr. Arinder's tenure, the Legislature sought his advice and guidance on revitalizing Mississippi's program budgeting efforts, including the enactment of House Bill No. 677, 2014 Regular Session, which moves the budgeting process toward the use of evidence-based programs, thus ensuring that Mississippians receive from programs the benefits such programs are intended to provide; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Arinder has also been instrumental in involving the state in the Pew-MacArthur Foundation's Results First Initiative, which brings cost/benefit analysis to bear on several programs of state government; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Arinder was often invited to guest lecture at our state's universities in classes devoted to public administration; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Arinder was active in the programs of the National Conference of State Legislatures at many levels and served as the organization's Staff Chair in 2003-2004; and
WHEREAS, during Dr. Arinder's tenure as Executive Director, the PEER Committee was recognized on 14 occasions for its impact on the field of program evaluation by the National Legislative Program Evaluation Society of the National Conference of State Legislatures; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Arinder was also honored as the recipient of the National Conference of State Legislatures' National Legislative Program Evaluation Society's 2015 Outstanding Achievement Award recognizing a career of exemplary service to his state and the profession of program evaluation; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Arinder also participated in several programs hosted by the National Conference of State Legislatures and the United States Department of State that brought expertise in legislative oversight to nations of the developing world; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Arinder was a valued co-worker, leader and inspiration to the many persons who served with him on the PEER Committee staff; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Arinder was an exceptionally qualified leader, mentor and public servant. Max consistently lectured on professional standards of the legislative process, including ethics, integrity, civility, courtesy and adherence to the Golden Rule. Max's tenure honored both the Mississippi Legislature and the Great State that he loved and served:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we commend Dr. Max K. Arinder for his years of dedicated service to the PEER Committee, the Mississippi Legislature, and the State of Mississippi, from 1981 to 2015, and for his many contributions to the improvement of governmental effectiveness and efficiency in Mississippi.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Max K. Arinder, Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review Board (PEER), and forwarded to members of the Capitol Press Corps.