39-31-1 - Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration Commission created; composition; organization; compensation; funding and expenditures; Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration Fund [Repealed effective July
§ 39-31-1. Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration Commission created; composition; organization; compensation; funding and expenditures; Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration Fund [Repealed effective July 1, 2019].
(1) There is hereby created a Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration Commission to plan and designate official events in commemoration of the Bicentennial of the establishment of the State of Mississippi.
(2) The commission shall be composed of the following members:
(a) The Governor, or his designee;
(b) The Lieutenant Governor, or his designee;
(c) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, or his designee;
(d) Three (3) members appointed by the Governor, one (1) from each of the Mississippi Supreme Court districts, to serve terms concurrent with that of the Governor;
(e) Three (3) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, one (1) from each of the Mississippi Supreme Court districts, and one (1) of whom shall represent the industrial community, to serve terms concurrent with that of the Lieutenant Governor;
(f) Three (3) members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one (1) from each of the Mississippi Supreme Court districts, and one (1) of whom shall be a Native American, to serve terms concurrent with that of the Speaker;
(g) Two (2) members appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, to serve terms of two (2) years; and
(h) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, who shall serve as chairman of the commission.
(3) Appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days after the passage of this act by the Legislature, and, within fifteen (15) days thereafter on a day to be designated by the chairman of the commission, the commission shall meet and organize by selecting from its membership a vice chairman who shall also serve as secretary and shall be responsible for keeping all records of the commission. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. In the selection of its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the commission shall be required. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings, such notices to be mailed at least five (5) days prior to the date on which a meeting is to be held.
(4) The commission shall designate and coordinate programs with respect to the formal Bicentennial celebration and commemoration of the establishment of the State of Mississippi in 1817.
(5) Members of the commission who are not legislators, state officials or state employees shall be compensated at the per diem rate authorized by Section 25-3-69, Mississippi Code of 1972, and shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Legislative members of the commission shall be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same manner as provided for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session; however, no per diem or expense for attending meetings of the commission will be paid while the Legislature is in session. No commission member may incur per diem, travel or other expenses unless previously authorized by vote, at a meeting of the commission, which action shall be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting. Nonlegislative members shall be paid from any funds made available to the commission for that purpose.
(6) The commission shall utilize the administrative staff of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and any other staff assistance made available to it. To effectuate the purpose of this section, any department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or of any political subdivision thereof shall, at the request of the chairman of the commission, provide to the commission such facilities, assistance and data as will enable the committee properly to carry out its task.
(7) The commission is authorized and empowered to accept and expend funds from any private, public or other source for the purpose of designating, coordinating and providing programs with respect to the formal Bicentennial celebration of the State of Mississippi. Any expenditures by the commission shall be authorized by a majority vote of the nonlegislative members of the commission.
(8) There is hereby created in the State Treasury the Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration Fund, from which expenditures may be made pursuant to appropriation and upon warrant signed by the proper official. Any funds remaining in this fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse but shall remain in the fund.
Sources: Laws, 2009, ch. 418, § 1, eff from and after July 1, 2009.