Bill Text: MS HB1335 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: State tax system; create task force to study.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2017-01-31 - Died In Committee [HB1335 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2017-HB1335-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency; Revenue and Expenditure General Bills
By: Representative Blackmon
House Bill 1335
AN ACT TO CREATE A LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE TO STUDY PORTIONS OF THE TAX SYSTEM OF THIS STATE RELATING TO TAX EXEMPTIONS, TAX CREDITS, REDUCED TAX RATES AND OTHER TAX INCENTIVES AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THEREON TO THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The Legislature finds there is a need to study portions of the tax system of Mississippi for the purpose of determining whether or not various statutory tax exemptions, tax credits, reduced tax rates and other tax incentives fulfill their intended purposes in a manner beneficial to Mississippi.
(2) There is created a task force to study portions of the tax system of Mississippi. The task force shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature on or before December 1, 2017, including any recommended legislation.
(3) The task force shall be composed of the following ten (10) members:
(a) Five (5) members appointed by the Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives as follows:
(i) The Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee; and
(ii) Four (4) other members of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
(b) Five (5) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Mississippi as follows:
(i) The Chair of the Senate Finance Committee; and
(ii) Four (4) other members of the Senate.
(4) Appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days after the sine die adjournment of the 2017 Regular Session, and, within fifteen (15) days thereafter on a day to be designated jointly by the Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor, the task force shall meet and organize by selecting from its membership a chair and a vice chair. The vice chair shall also serve as secretary and shall be responsible for keeping all records of the task force. A majority of the members of the task force 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 task force shall be required. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings, such notices to be mailed at least fifteen (15) days before the date on which a meeting is to be held.
(5) The task force shall study and make recommendations regarding the tax laws relating to the imposition of state taxes and the granting of tax exemptions, tax credits, reduced tax rates and other incentives in all areas of taxation including, but not limited to, income taxes, corporation franchise taxes, sales taxes and fuel taxes. The task force also shall study and make recommendations evaluating whether such tax exemptions, tax credits, reduced tax rates and other incentives are fulfilling their intended purposes in a cost effective manner and whether any or all of such exemptions, credits, reduced tax rates and other incentives should be retained in their current form or modified.
(6) Members of the task force shall be compensated at the per diem rate authorized by Section 25-3-69 and shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 25-3-41 for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Members of the task force shall be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same manner as provided for task force meetings when the Legislature is not in session. However, no per diem or expense for attending task force meetings will be paid to task force members while the Legislature is in session. No task force member may incur per diem, travel or other expenses unless previously authorized by vote, at a meeting of the task force, which action shall be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting.
(7) To effectuate the work of the task force, any department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or of any political subdivision thereof, at the request of the chair of the task force, shall provide to the task force the facilities, staff assistance and data as will enable it to properly carry out its task.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
