MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Representative Dixon

House Bill 191

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IF HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO._____, 2017 REGULAR SESSION, IS RATIFIED BY THE ELECTORATE, TO REQUIRE THE GOVERNOR, RATHER THAN THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TO APPOINT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM CANDIDATES RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 37-3-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     37-3-9.  (1)  There shall be a State Superintendent of Public Education, who shall be appointed by the Governor from recommended candidates selected by the State Board of Education * * *, .  The appointment of the State Superintendent of Public Education, who shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Governor, must be made with the advice and consent of the Senate * * *, and serve at the board's will and pleasure.  He.  The state superintendent shall be the Chief Administrative Officer for the State Department of Education and shall administer the department in accordance with the policies established by the State Board of Education.  The * * *State Superintendent of Education, serving on July 1, 2011, shall continue to receive the salary that he was receiving on January 1, 2011.  From and after the completion of the term of the said superintendent serving on July 1, 2011, the salary of the State Superintendent of Public Education shall be established by the State Board of Education.  The State Superintendent of Public Education shall have at least a master's degree in any field and a minimum of five (5) years' experience in administration in the educational field.

     (2)  The State Superintendent shall give bond in the penalty of Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00), with sureties to be approved by the Governor, conditioned according to law.  The bond, when approved, shall be filed and recorded in the Office of the Secretary of State.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date on which ratification by the electorate of House Concurrent Resolution No. _____, 2017 Regular Session, occurs.