MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2019 Regular Session
To: Education; Appropriations
By: Representatives Smith, Hughes
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-6-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL SALARY OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS; TO DELETE THE OPTION FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO RECEIVE PER DIEM COMPENSATION FOR ATTENDING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS INSTEAD OF AN ANNUAL SALARY; TO DELETE THE PROHIBITION AGAINST SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS BEING IN THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-6-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-6-13. (1) Each person
serving as a member of the school board of any school district shall receive * * * as compensation for his or her services an annual
salary in the amount of * * *Two Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($2,400.00), which choice shall remain
in force for all successive terms or periods of service of that member
Seven Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($7,200.00). The receipt of
the compensation shall not entitle any member of a school board to receive or
be eligible for any state employee group insurance * * * or * * * fringe benefits other than membership
in the Public Employees' Retirement System. Each member also shall
be reimbursed for the necessary expenses and mileage in attending meetings of
the school board. In addition to the foregoing, all members may be reimbursed
for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the further performance of their
duties, including attendance at any mandatory school board training session or
at regional and national education meetings, when such mileage and other
expenses are authorized by the board prior to the date on which they occur.
Detailed vouchers shall be submitted for reimbursement for all expenses
authorized by this section. Such reimbursement shall be in accordance with
Section 25-3-41.
Such expenses shall be paid on order of the school board by pay certificates issued by the superintendent of the school district involved against the funds available for payment of the administrative expense of the district.
(2) (a) If a member of a school board misses twenty percent (20%) or more of the meetings of the school board during a calendar year, except for absences caused by required military duty, the member must reimburse the school district that portion of the total salary paid to the member that year which is proportionate to the number of meetings missed by the member in relation to the total number of school board meetings held during that year. For purposes of this subsection, consideration may be given only to meetings of which public notice is required.
(b) Before February 1 of each year, the president of each local school board shall submit a report to the State Board of Education containing the names of any members of the school board who missed twenty percent (20%) or more of the school board meetings during the preceding calendar year.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2019.