MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Representative Currie

House Bill 905

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-37-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE UNIFORM ACCOUNTING SYSTEM PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO INCLUDE A METHOD TO KEEP RECORDS OF ALL LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-61-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO TRANSFER THE AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT FINANCIAL AUDITS ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AUDIT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 37-37-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     37-37-1.  The State Department of Education * * *is hereby authorized and directed to shall prescribe and formulate for use by all school districts of this state * * *, including municipal separate school districts, adequate accounting systems and other essential financial records which shall be uniform for all of the school districts of this state.  * * *Such The uniform system shall include a method of accounting for and keeping records of all local, state and federal funds received, handled and disbursed by * * *such each school district, whether derived from taxation or otherwise, including funds derived from donations, athletic events and other special activities of the school district.  The uniform system of accounts * * *so prescribed and formulated by the State Department of Education shall be distributed and disseminated to all * * *of the school districts * * * of this state, and * * *it shall be mandatory that the * * *boards of trustees school board of * * *all such each school * * *districts district must install, utilize and follow * * *said the uniform system of accounts in keeping the financial records of the school district.  At the request of the * * *Mississippi State Department of Education, the Office of the State Auditor shall provide advice for implementation of this section.

     SECTION 2.  Section 37-61-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     37-61-29.  The State Department of * * *Audit is hereby authorized and empowered to post- Education shall audit and investigate the financial affairs and all transactions involving the * * *school local, state and federal funds of * * *the county each school district in the state, including the * * *minimum adequate education program funds and supplementary school district * * *school funds * * *, and to.  Further, the department may make separate and special audits * * *thereof, as now provided by Sections 7-7-201 through 7-7-215, Mississippi Code of 1972 of the financial affairs and transactions involving school district funds.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.

---