House Bill 1257

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A STUDY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SCHOOL ATHLETICS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING THE FEASIBILITY OF SEPARATING SUCH PROGRAMS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ALLOWING THEM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MUNICIPAL OR COUNTY GOVERNING AUTHORITY UNDER WHOSE JURISDICTION THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FALLS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMPOSITION OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is established the Study Committee on Local Government Control of Public School Athletics, for the purpose of evaluating the feasibility of transferring all public school extracurricular athletic activities to the administration and management of the local municipal or county governing authority under whose jurisdiction the school district falls. In evaluating the issue, the committee shall study and make recommendations to the Legislature regarding:

(a) The potential savings to be realized by the school district in relinquishing authority over student athletic programs;

(b) The use of the realized savings for purposes of funding increased teacher salaries to the Southeastern average and funding the Education Enhancement Fund for the benefit of fully funding the Classroom Supply Fund;

(d) The centralization of focus specifically on academic instruction and student performance; and

(e) The interest of community, local business and corporate stakeholders in sponsoring city and community teams.

(2) Members of the study committee shall be composed of the following twenty-nine (29) members:

(a) The State Superintendent of Public Education;

(b) The Chairmen of the House and Senate Education Committees;

(c) Three (3) Senators, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, one (1) of whom shall be a member of the Senate Education Committee, one (1) of whom shall be a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and one (1) of whom shall be a member of the Senate Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee;

(d) Three (3) Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one (1) of whom shall be a member of the House Education Committee, one (1) of whom shall be a member of the House Appropriations Committee and one (1) of whom shall be a member of the House Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee;

(e) The executive director of the Mississippi High School Activities Association;

(f) Four (4) mayors, one (1) representing each Mississippi Congressional District, as such districts existed on January 1, 2021, and appointed by the Governor;

(g) Four (4) chairmen/presidents of county boards of supervisors, one (1) representing each Mississippi Congressional District, as such districts existed on January 1, 2021, and appointed by the Governor;

(h) Four (4) school athletic directors, one (1) representing each Mississippi Congressional District, as such districts existed on January 1, 2021, and appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education;

(i) Four (4) parent representatives who have at least one (1) child currently in a Mississippi public elementary secondary or post-secondary school, one (1) representing each Mississippi Congressional District, as such districts existed on January 1, 2021, two (2) to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and two (2) to be appointed by the Speaker; and

(j) Three (3) members representing various business interests within the state, one (1) selected from each Supreme Court District, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker each having one (1) appointment.

(3) The study committee shall hold its first meeting not later than August 15, 2021, with the date, time and location of the meeting to be designated by the Governor. The study committee shall be co-chaired by the Chairmen of the House and Senate Education Committees. At that first meeting, the task force also shall elect any other officers determined to be necessary, and shall set the date, time and location of its next meeting.

(4) The State Department of Education shall provide the staff and other support necessary for the Study Committee on Local Government Control of Public School Athletics to perform its duties. The study committee shall submit its recommendation to the Legislature by January 1, 2022.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.