MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2021 Regular Session

To: Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency; Appropriations

By: Representative Hines

House Bill 45

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI COMMISSION ON WAGE REVIEW; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO EXAMINE THE WAGES PAID TO MISSISSIPPI EMPLOYEES, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, ESTABLISH MEASURABLE GOALS AND BENCHMARKS FOR THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI RELATING TO WAGES, AND SUBMIT A REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AND THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE EVERY TWO YEARS; TO ESTABLISH THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 7-7-204, 23-15-239, 37-7-307, 57-34-5, 85-3-4, 97-3-54.4, 99-19-20, 17-1-51, 17-1-53, 17-1-55, 25-3-2, 25-3-3, 25-3-7, 25-3-9, 25-3-11, 25-3-13, 25-3-15, 25-3-17, 25-3-19, 25-3-21, 25-3-23, 25-3-25, 25-3-27, 25-3-29, 25-3-31, 25-3-34, 25-3-35, 25-3-36, 25-3-37, 25-3-38, 25-3-39, 25-3-39.1, 25-3-40, 25-3-41, 25-3-43, 25-3-45, 25-3-47, 25-3-49, 25-3-51, 25-3-53, 25-3-55, 25-3-57, 25-3-59, 25-3-61, 25-3-67, 25-3-69, 25-3-71 AND 71-1-45, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created the Mississippi Commission on Wage Review to examine the wages paid to Mississippi employees, both public and private, establish measurable goals and benchmarks for the State of Mississippi relating to wages, and submit a report of its findings to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and the Mississippi Legislature every two (2) years.

(2) The commission shall be composed of the following seven (7) members:

(a) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, or his or her designee;

(b) The President of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, or his or her designee;

(d) The President of the Magnolia Bar Association, or his or her designee;

(e) The State Director of the AARP Mississippi, or his or her designee;

(f) One (1) person appointed by the Governor from a nonprofit organization that works with job training and employment; and

(g) The State Economist, or his or her designee.

(3) The commission shall have the following duties:

(a) Review the wages of all employees within the State of Mississippi at least every two (2) years;

(b) Compare the wages paid to employees within the State of Mississippi to those wages paid to employees within the Southeastern region of the country;

(c) Provide reports and recommendations to the Mississippi Department of Employee Security regarding the wage differentials between those wages paid to employees in Mississippi and those wages paid to employees within the Southeastern region of the country; and

(d) Provide the report required under paragraph (c) of this subsection to the Legislature every two (2) years.

(4) Appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act. The commission shall hold its first meeting before August 1, 2021, and at its first meeting, the commission shall elect a chair and vice chair from among its membership.

(5) A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. In the adoption of the rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the members shall be required. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings, such notices shall be mailed at least five (5) days before the date on which a meeting is to be held.

(6) To effectuate the purposes of this section, any department, division, board, bureau, committee or agency of the state or any political subdivision thereof, shall, at the request of the chair of the commission, provide such facilities, assistance and data as will enable the committee to properly carry out its duties.

SECTION 2. Section 7-7-204, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

7-7-204. (1) Within the limits of the funds available to the Office of the State Auditor for such purpose, the State Auditor may grant a paid internship to students pursuing junior or senior undergraduate-level year coursework toward a bachelor's degree in accounting or graduate-level coursework toward a master's degree in accounting. Those applicants deemed qualified shall receive funds that may be used to pay for tuition, books and related fees to pursue their degree. It is the intent of the Legislature that the paid internship program (hereinafter referred to as the program) shall be used as an incentive for accounting students to develop job-related skills and to encourage accounting careers at the Office of the State Auditor.

(2) In order to be eligible for the program, an applicant must:

(a) Attend any college or school approved and designated by the Office of the State Auditor.

(b) Satisfy the following conditions:

(i) Undergraduate stipulations: Applicants must have successfully obtained a minimum of fifty-eight (58) semester hours toward a bachelor of science degree in accounting from a Mississippi institution of higher learning.

Applicants must have achieved a minimum grade point average (GPA) on the previously obtained semester hours toward a bachelor of science degree in accounting of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

If accepted into the program, participants shall maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all coursework counted toward a bachelor of science degree in accounting.

(ii) Graduate stipulations: Applicants must have met the regular admission standards and have been accepted into the master of science accounting program at a Mississippi institution of higher learning.

If accepted into the program, participants shall maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all coursework counted toward a master of science degree in accounting.

(c) All program participants will be required to work a total of three hundred thirty-six (336) hours each summer at the Office of the State Auditor in Jackson, Mississippi.

(d) Agree to work as an auditor at the Office of the State Auditor upon graduation for a period of time equivalent to the period of time for which the applicant receives compensation, calculated to the nearest whole month, but in no event less than two (2) years.

(3) (a) Before being placed into the program, each applicant shall enter into a contract with the Office of the State Auditor, which shall be deemed a contract with the State of Mississippi, agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the internship shall be granted to him. The contract shall include such terms and provisions necessary to carry out the full purpose and intent of this section. The form of such contract shall be prepared and approved by the Attorney General of this state, and shall be signed by the State Auditor of the Office of the State Auditor and the participant.

(b) Upon entry into the program, participants will become employees of the Office of the State Auditor during their time in the program and shall be eligible for benefits such as medical insurance paid by the agency for the participant; however, in accordance with Section 25-11-105II(b), those participants shall not become members of the Public Employees' Retirement System while participating in the program. Participants shall not accrue personal or major medical leave while they are in the program.

(c) The Office of the State Auditor shall have the authority to cancel any contract made between it and any program participant upon such cause being deemed sufficient by the State Auditor.

(d) The Office of the State Auditor is vested with full and complete authority and power to sue in its own name any participant for any damages due the state on any such uncompleted contract, which suit shall be filed and handled by the Attorney General of the state. The Office of the State Auditor may contract with a collection agency or banking institution, subject to approval by the Attorney General, for collection of any damages due the state from any participant. The State of Mississippi, the Office of the State Auditor and its employees are immune from any suit brought in law or equity for actions taken by the collection agency or banking institution incidental to or arising from their performance under the contract. The Office of the State Auditor, collection agency and banking institution may negotiate for the payment of a sum that is less than full payment in order to satisfy any damages the participant owes the state, subject to approval by the director of the sponsoring facility within the Office of the State Auditor.

(4) (a) Any recipient who is accepted into the program by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor and who fails to complete undergraduate- or graduate-level coursework toward a degree in accounting, or withdraws from school at any time before completing his or her education, shall be liable to repay the Office of the State Auditor for all monies received during the time the recipient was in the program, at the rate of pay received by the employee while in the program, including benefits paid by the agency for the participant, and monies received for tuition, books and related fees used to pursue their degree with interest accruing at ten percent (10%) per annum from the date the recipient failed or withdrew from school. The recipient also will not be liable for repayment for any money earned during the required summer hours. This money shall be considered earned by the recipient at the federal minimum wage rate.

(b) All paid internship compensation received by the recipient while in school shall be considered earned conditioned upon the fulfillment of the terms and obligations of the paid internship contract and this section. However, no recipient of the paid internship shall accrue personal or major medical leave while the recipient is pursuing junior or senior undergraduate-level year coursework toward a bachelor's degree in accounting or graduate-level coursework toward a master's degree in accounting. The recipient shall not be liable for liquidated damages.

(c) If the recipient does not work as an auditor at the Office of the State Auditor for the period required under subsection (2)(d) of this section, the recipient shall be liable for repayment on demand of the remaining portion of the compensation that the recipient was paid while in the program which has not been unconditionally earned, with interest accruing at ten percent (10%) per annum from the recipient's date of graduation or the date that the recipient last worked at the Office of the State Auditor, whichever is the later date. In addition, there shall be included in any contract for paid student internship a provision for liquidated damages equal to Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) which may be reduced on a pro rata basis for each year served under such contract.

SECTION 3. Section 23-15-239, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

[Until January 1, 2020, this section shall read as follows:]

23-15-239. (1) The executive committee of each county, in the case of a primary election, or the election commissioners of each county, in the case of all other elections, in conjunction with the circuit clerk, shall, in the years in which counties conduct an election, sponsor and conduct, not less than five (5) days before each election, not less than four (4) hours and not more than eight (8) hours of poll manager training to instruct poll managers as to their duties in the proper administration of the election and the operation of the polling place. Any poll manager who completes the online training course provided by the Secretary of State shall only be required to complete two (2) hours of in-person poll manager training. No poll manager shall serve in any election unless he or she has received these instructions once during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the date upon which the election is held; however, nothing in this section shall prevent the appointment of an alternate poll manager to fill a vacancy in case of an emergency. The county executive committee or the election commissioners, as appropriate, shall train a sufficient number of alternates to serve in the event a poll manager is unable to serve for any reason.

(2) (a) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the county executive committee may enter into a written agreement with the circuit clerk or the county election commission authorizing the circuit clerk or the county election commission to perform any of the duties required of the county executive committee pursuant to this section. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed by the chair of the county executive committee and the circuit clerk or the chair of the county election commission, as appropriate. The county executive committee shall notify the state executive committee and the Secretary of State of the existence of the agreement.

(b) If it is eligible under Section 23-15-266, the municipal executive committee may enter into a written agreement with the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission authorizing the municipal clerk or the municipal election commission to perform any of the duties required of the municipal executive committee pursuant to this section. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be signed by the chair of the municipal executive committee and the municipal clerk or the chair of the municipal election commission, as appropriate. The municipal executive committee shall notify the state executive committee and the Secretary of State of the existence of the agreement.

(3) The board of supervisors and the municipal governing authority, in their discretion, may compensate poll managers who attend these training sessions. The compensation shall be at a rate of not less than the federal hourly minimum wage nor more than Twelve Dollars ($12.00) per hour. Poll managers shall not be compensated for more than sixteen (16) hours of attendance at the training sessions regardless of the actual amount of time that they attended the training sessions.

(4) The time and location of the training sessions required pursuant to this section shall be announced to the general public by posting a notice thereof at the courthouse and by delivering a copy of the notice to the office of a newspaper having general circulation in the county five (5) days before the date upon which the training session is to be conducted. Persons who will serve as poll watchers for candidates and political parties, as well as members of the general public, shall be allowed to attend the sessions.

(5) Subject to the following annual limitations, the election commissioners shall be entitled to receive a per diem in the amount of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), to be paid from the county general fund, for every day or period of no less than five (5) hours accumulated over two (2) or more days actually employed in the performance of their duties for the necessary time spent in conducting training sessions as required by this section:

(a) In counties having less than fifteen thousand (15,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census, not more than five (5) days per year;

(b) In counties having fifteen thousand (15,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census but less than thirty thousand (30,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census, not more than eight (8) days per year;

(c) In counties having thirty thousand (30,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census but less than seventy thousand (70,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census, not more than ten (10) days per year;

(d) In counties having seventy thousand (70,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census but less than ninety thousand (90,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census, not more than twelve (12) days per year;

(e) In counties having ninety thousand (90,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census but less than one hundred seventy thousand (170,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census, not more than fifteen (15) days per year;

(f) In counties having one hundred seventy thousand (170,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census but less than two hundred thousand (200,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census, not more than eighteen (18) days per year;

(g) In counties having two hundred thousand (200,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census but less than two hundred twenty-five thousand (225,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census, not more than nineteen (19) days per year;

(h) In counties having two hundred twenty-five thousand (225,000) residents or more according to the latest federal decennial census, not more than twenty-two (22) days per year.

(6) Election commissioners shall claim the per diem authorized in subsection (5) of this section in the manner provided for in Section 23-15-153(6).

(7) (a) To provide poll manager training, the Secretary of State has developed a single, comprehensive poll manager training program to ensure uniform, secure elections throughout the state. The program includes online training on all state and federal election laws and procedures and voting machine opening and closing procedures.

(b) County election commissioners shall designate one (1) poll manager per precinct, who shall individually access and complete the online training program, including all skills assessments, at least five (5) days before an election. The poll manager shall be defined as a "certified poll manager," and entitled to a "Certificate of Completion" and compensation for the successful completion of the training and skills assessment in the amount of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) payable from the Secretary of State. Compensation paid to any poll manager under this paragraph (b) shall not exceed Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) per calendar year.

(c) Every election held after January 1, 2018, shall have at least one (1) certified poll manager appointed by the county election officials to work in each polling place in the county during each general election.

[From and after January 1, 2020, this section shall read as follows:]

(a) In counties having less than fifteen thousand (15,000) residents according to the latest federal decennial census, not more than five (5) days per year;

(h) In counties having two hundred twenty-five thousand (225,000) residents or more according to the latest federal decennial census, not more than twenty-two (22) days per year.

(6) Election commissioners shall claim the per diem authorized in subsection (5) of this section in the manner provided for in Section 23-15-153(6).

(b) County poll managers who individually access and complete the online training program, including all skills assessments, at least five (5) days before an election shall be defined as "certified poll managers," and entitled to a "Certificate of Completion."

(c) At least one (1) certified poll manager shall be appointed by the county election officials to work in each polling place in the county during each general election.

SECTION 4. Section 37-7-307, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

37-7-307. (1) For purposes of this section, the term "licensed employee" means any employee of a public school district required to hold a valid license by the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development.

(2) The school board of a school district shall establish by rules and regulations a policy of sick leave with pay for licensed employees and teacher assistants employed in the school district, and such policy shall include the following minimum provisions for sick and emergency leave with pay:

(a) Each licensed employee and teacher assistant, at the beginning of each school year, shall be credited with a minimum sick leave allowance, with pay, of seven (7) days for absences caused by illness or physical disability of the employee during that school year.

(b) Any unused portion of the total sick leave allowance shall be carried over to the next school year and credited to such licensed employee and teacher assistant if the licensed employee or teacher assistant remains employed in the same school district. In the event any public school licensed employee or teacher assistant transfers from one public school district in Mississippi to another, any unused portion of the total sick leave allowance credited to such licensed employee or teacher assistant shall be credited to such licensed employee or teacher assistant in the computation of unused leave for retirement purposes under Section 25-11-109. Accumulation of sick leave allowed under this section shall be unlimited.

(c) No deduction from the pay of such licensed employee or teacher assistant may be made because of absence of such licensed employee or teacher assistant caused by illness or physical disability of the licensed employee or teacher assistant until after all sick leave allowance credited to such licensed employee or teacher assistant has been used.

(d) For the first ten (10) days of absence of a licensed employee because of illness or physical disability, in any school year, in excess of the sick leave allowance credited to such licensed employee, there shall be deducted from the pay of such licensed employee the established substitute amount of licensed employee compensation paid in that local school district, necessitated because of the absence of the licensed employee as a result of illness or physical disability. In lieu of deducting the established substitute amount from the pay of such licensed employee, the policy may allow the licensed employee to receive full pay for the first ten (10) days of absence because of illness or physical disability, in any school year, in excess of the sick leave allowance credited to such licensed employee. Thereafter, the regular pay of such absent licensed employee shall be suspended and withheld in its entirety for any period of absence because of illness or physical disability during that school year.

(3) (a) Beginning with the school year 1983-1984, each licensed employee at the beginning of each school year shall be credited with a minimum personal leave allowance, with pay, of two (2) days for absences caused by personal reasons during that school year. Effective for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years, licensed employees shall be credited with an additional one-half (1/2) day of personal leave for every day the licensed employee is furloughed without pay as provided in Section 37-7-308. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, such personal leave shall not be taken on the first day of the school term, the last day of the school term, on a day previous to a holiday or a day after a holiday. Personal leave may be used for professional purposes, including absences caused by attendance of such licensed employee at a seminar, class, training program, professional association or other functions designed for educators. No deduction from the pay of such licensed employee may be made because of absence of such licensed employee caused by personal reasons until after all personal leave allowance credited to such licensed employee has been used. However, the superintendent of a school district, in his discretion, may allow a licensed employee personal leave in addition to any minimum personal leave allowance, under the condition that there shall be deducted from the salary of such licensed employee the actual amount of any compensation paid to any person as a substitute, necessitated because of the absence of the licensed employee. Any unused portion of the total personal leave allowance up to five (5) days shall be carried over to the next school year and credited to such licensed employee if the licensed employee remains employed in the same school district. Any personal leave allowed for a furlough day shall not be carried over to the next school year.

(b) Notwithstanding the restrictions on the use of personal leave prescribed under paragraph (a) of this subsection, a licensed employee may use personal leave as follows:

(i) Personal leave may be taken on the first day of the school term, the last day of the school term, on a day previous to a holiday or a day after a holiday if, on the applicable day, an immediate family member of the employee is being deployed for military service.

(ii) Personal leave may be taken on a day previous to a holiday or a day after a holiday if an employee of a school district has either a minimum of ten (10) years' experience as an employee of that school district or a minimum of thirty (30) days of unused accumulated leave that has been earned while employed in that school district.

(iii) Personal leave may be taken on the first day of the school term, the last day of the school term, on a day previous to a holiday or a day after a holiday if, on the applicable day, the employee has been summoned to appear for jury duty or as a witness in court.

(iv) Personal leave may be taken on the first day of the school term, the last day of the school term, on a day previous to a holiday or a day after a holiday if, on the applicable day, an immediate family member of the employee dies or funeral services are held. Any day of the three (3) bereavement days may be used at the discretion of the teacher, and are not required to be taken in consecutive succession.

For the purpose of this subsection (3), the term "immediate family member" means spouse, parent, stepparent, child or stepchild, grandparent or sibling, including a stepbrother or stepsister.

(4) Beginning with the school year 1992-1993, each licensed employee shall be credited with a professional leave allowance, with pay, for each day of absence caused by reason of such employee's statutorily required membership and attendance at a regular or special meeting held within the State of Mississippi of the State Board of Education, the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development, the Commission on School Accreditation, the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television, the meetings of the state textbook rating committees or other meetings authorized by local school board policy.

(5) Upon retirement from employment, each licensed and nonlicensed employee shall be paid for not more than thirty (30) days of unused accumulated leave earned while employed by the school district in which the employee is last employed. Such payment for licensed employees shall be made by the school district at a rate equal to the amount paid to substitute teachers and for nonlicensed employees, the payment shall be made by the school district at a rate equal to the federal minimum wage. The payment shall be treated in the same manner for retirement purposes as a lump-sum payment for personal leave as provided in Section 25-11-103(f). Any remaining lawfully credited unused leave, for which payment has not been made, shall be certified to the Public Employees' Retirement System in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as otherwise provided by law for unused leave. No payment for unused accumulated leave may be made to either a licensed or nonlicensed employee at termination or separation from service for any purpose other than for the purpose of retirement.

(6) The school board may adopt rules and regulations which will reasonably aid to implement the policy of sick and personal leave, including, but not limited to, rules and regulations having the following general effect:

(a) Requiring the absent employee to furnish the certificate of a physician or dentist or other medical practitioner as to the illness of the absent licensed employee, where the absence is for four (4) or more consecutive school days, or for two (2) consecutive school days immediately preceding or following a nonschool day;

(b) Providing penalties, by way of full deduction from salary, or entry on the work record of the employee, or other appropriate penalties, for any materially false statement by the employee as to the cause of absence;

(c) Forfeiture of accumulated or future sick leave, if the absence of the employee is caused by optional dental or medical treatment or surgery which could, without medical risk, have been provided, furnished or performed at a time when school was not in session;

(d) Enlarging, increasing or providing greater sick or personal leave allowances than the minimum standards established by this section in the discretion of the school board of each school district.

(7) School boards may include in their budgets provisions for the payment of substitute employees, necessitated because of the absence of regular licensed employees. All such substitute employees shall be paid wholly from district funds, except as otherwise provided for long-term substitute teachers in Section 37-19-20. Such school boards, in their discretion, also may pay, from district funds other than adequate education program funds, the whole or any part of the salaries of all employees granted leaves for the purpose of special studies or training.

(8) The school board may further adopt rules and regulations which will reasonably implement such leave policies for all other nonlicensed and hourly paid school employees as the board deems appropriate. Effective for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years, nonlicensed employees shall be credited with an additional one-half (1/2) day of personal leave for every day the nonlicensed employee is furloughed without pay as provided in Section 37-7-308.

(9) Vacation leave granted to either licensed or nonlicensed employees shall be synonymous with personal leave. Unused vacation or personal leave accumulated by licensed employees in excess of the maximum five (5) days which may be carried over from one year to the next may be converted to sick leave. The annual conversion of unused vacation or personal leave to sick days for licensed or unlicensed employees shall not exceed the allowable number of personal leave days as provided in Section 25-3-93. The annual total number of converted unused vacation and/or personal days added to the annual unused sick days for any employee shall not exceed the combined allowable number of days per year provided in Sections 25-3-93 and 25-3-95. Local school board policies that provide for vacation, personal and sick leave for employees shall not exceed the provisions for leave as provided in Sections 25-3-93 and 25-3-95. Any personal or vacation leave previously converted to sick leave under a lawfully adopted policy before May 1, 2004, or such personal or vacation leave accumulated and available for use prior to May 1, 2004, under a lawfully adopted policy but converted to sick leave after May 1, 2004, shall be recognized as accrued leave by the local school district and available for use by the employee. The leave converted under a lawfully adopted policy prior to May 1, 2004, or such personal and vacation leave accumulated and available for use as of May 1, 2004, which was subsequently converted to sick leave may be certified to the Public Employees' Retirement System upon termination of employment and any such leave previously converted and certified to the Public Employees' Retirement System shall be recognized.

(10) (a) For the purposes of this subsection, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed in this paragraph unless the context requires otherwise:

(i) "Catastrophic injury or illness" means a life-threatening injury or illness of an employee or a member of an employee's immediate family that totally incapacitates the employee from work, as verified by a licensed physician, and forces the employee to exhaust all leave time earned by that employee, resulting in the loss of compensation from the local school district for the employee. Conditions that are short-term in nature, including, but not limited to, common illnesses such as influenza and the measles, and common injuries, are not catastrophic. Chronic illnesses or injuries, such as cancer or major surgery, that result in intermittent absences from work and that are long-term in nature and require long recuperation periods may be considered catastrophic.

(ii) "Immediate family" means spouse, parent, stepparent, sibling, child or stepchild, grandparent, stepbrother or stepsister.

(b) Any school district employee may donate a portion of his or her unused accumulated personal leave or sick leave to another employee of the same school district who is suffering from a catastrophic injury or illness or who has a member of his or her immediate family suffering from a catastrophic injury or illness, in accordance with the following:

(i) The employee donating the leave (the "donor employee") shall designate the employee who is to receive the leave (the "recipient employee") and the amount of unused accumulated personal leave and sick leave that is to be donated, and shall notify the school district superintendent or his designee of his or her designation.

(ii) The maximum amount of unused accumulated personal leave that an employee may donate to any other employee may not exceed a number of days that would leave the donor employee with fewer than seven (7) days of personal leave remaining, and the maximum amount of unused accumulated sick leave that an employee may donate to any other employee may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the unused accumulated sick leave of the donor employee.

(iii) An employee must have exhausted all of his or her available leave before he or she will be eligible to receive any leave donated by another employee. Eligibility for donated leave shall be based upon review and approval by the donor employee's supervisor.

(iv) Before an employee may receive donated leave, he or she must provide the school district superintendent or his designee with a physician's statement that states that the illness meets the catastrophic criteria established under this section, the beginning date of the catastrophic injury or illness, a description of the injury or illness, and a prognosis for recovery and the anticipated date that the recipient employee will be able to return to work.

(v) Before an employee may receive donated leave, the superintendent of education of the school district shall appoint a review committee to approve or disapprove the said donations of leave, including the determination that the illness is catastrophic within the meaning of this section.

(vi) If the total amount of leave that is donated to any employee is not used by the recipient employee, the whole days of donated leave shall be returned to the donor employees on a pro rata basis, based on the ratio of the number of days of leave donated by each donor employee to the total number of days of leave donated by all donor employees.

(vii) Donated leave shall not be used in lieu of disability retirement.

(11) Effective January 1, 2020, the provisions of this section shall be fully applicable to any licensed employee of the Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA).

SECTION 5. Section 57-34-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

57-34-5. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(a) "Act" means the provisions of this chapter.

(b) "Authority" means the Alabama-Mississippi Joint Economic Development Authority created pursuant to this chapter.

(d) "Designated geographic area" means:

(i) Those counties in the State of Alabama that share a common border with any county in the State of Mississippi; and

(ii) Those counties in the State of Mississippi that share a common border with any county in the State of Alabama.

(e) "Herein," "hereby," "hereunder," "hereof" and other equivalent words refer to this chapter as an entirety and not solely to the particular section or portion thereof in which any such word is used.

(f) "Project" means:

(i) Any industrial, commercial, research and development, warehousing, distribution, transportation, processing, mining, United States government or tourism enterprise together with all real property required for construction, maintenance and operation of the enterprise:

1. With an initial capital investment of not less than Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000.00) from private or United States government sources together with all buildings, and other supporting land and facilities, structures or improvements of whatever kind required or useful for construction, maintenance and operation of the enterprise; or

2. With an initial capital investment of not less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00) from private or United States government sources together with all buildings and other supporting land and facilities, structures or improvements of whatever kind required or useful for construction, maintenance and operation of the enterprise and which creates at least one thousand (1,000) net new full-time jobs; or

3. Which creates at least one thousand (1,000) net new full-time jobs which provide an average hourly wage of not less than two hundred percent (200%) of the federal minimum wage in effect on the date the project is placed in service.

(ii) Any addition to, or expansion of, any existing enterprise as described in this paragraph if the addition or expansion:

1. Has an initial capital investment of not less than Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000.00) from private or United States government sources;

2. Has an initial capital investment of not less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00) from private or United States government sources together with all buildings and other supporting land and facilities, structures or improvements of whatever kind required or useful for construction, maintenance and operation of the enterprise and which creates at least one thousand (1,000) net new full-time jobs; or

3. Creates at least one thousand (1,000) net new full-time jobs which provide an average hourly wage of not less than two hundred percent (200%) of the federal minimum wage in effect on the date the project is placed in service.

(iii) Any development with an initial capital investment from private sources of not less than Seven Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($750,000,000.00) which will create at least three thousand (3,000) net new full-time jobs satisfying criteria to be established by the authority.

In addition to meeting the other requirements of this paragraph, in order to fall within the definition of the term "project":

(i) The enterprise or development must be located within the designated geographic area; and

(ii) Each state must provide funds or in-kind contributions equal to at least one-third (1/3) of the total costs of the project to the states.

(g) "Project agreement" means an agreement, approved by the Legislature of the states, setting forth certain obligations, responsibilities, benefits, administrative matters and any other matters with respect to a specific project that are not inconsistent with the terms of this chapter as the legislatures of the states deem appropriate with respect to a specific project.

(h) "Project tax revenues" means:

(i) All of the following state and local taxes paid directly to a state or a local government by the project: income taxes, ad valorem taxes on real and personal property, sales and use taxes, franchise taxes, license taxes, excise taxes and severance taxes; and

(ii) All state and local personal income tax and occupational tax withholdings from employees of the project attributable to employment at the project.

(i) "States" means the State of Alabama and the State of Mississippi collectively.

SECTION 6. Section 85-3-4, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

85-3-4. (1) The wages, salaries or other compensation of laborers or employees, residents of this state, shall be exempt from seizure under attachment, execution or garnishment for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of service of any writ of attachment, execution or garnishment.

(2) After the passage of the period of thirty (30) days described in subsection (1) of this section, the maximum part of the aggregate disposable earnings (as defined by Section 1672(b) of Title 15, USCS) of an individual that may be levied by attachment, execution or garnishment shall be:

(a) In the case of earnings for any workweek, the lesser amount of either,

(i) Twenty-five percent (25%) of his disposable earnings for that week, or

(ii) The amount by which his disposable earnings for that week exceed thirty (30) times the federal minimum hourly wage (prescribed by section 206 (a)(1) of Title 29, USCS) in effect at the time the earnings are payable; or

(b) In the case of earnings for any period other than a week, the amount by which his disposable earnings exceed the following "multiple" of the federal minimum hourly wage which is equivalent in effect to that set forth in subparagraph (a)(ii) of this subsection (2): The number of workweeks, or fractions thereof multiplied by thirty (30) multiplied by the applicable federal minimum wage.

(3) (a) The restrictions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not apply in the case of:

(i) Any order for the support of any person issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or in accordance with an administrative procedure, which is established by state law, which affords substantial due process, and which is subject to judicial review.

(ii) Any debt due for any state or local tax.

(b) Except as provided in subparagraph (b)(iii) of this subsection (3), the maximum part of the aggregate disposable earnings of an individual for any workweek which is subject to garnishment to enforce any order for the support of any person shall not exceed:

(i) Where such individual is supporting his spouse or dependent child (other than a spouse or child with respect to whose support such order is used), fifty percent (50%) of such individual's disposable earnings for that week; and

(ii) Where such individual is not supporting such a spouse or dependent child described in subparagraph (b)(i) of this subsection (3), sixty percent (60%) of such individual's disposable earnings for that week;

(iii) With respect to the disposable earnings of any individual for that workweek, the fifty percent (50%) specified in subparagraph (b)(i) of this subsection (3) shall be deemed to be fifty-five percent (55%) and the sixty percent (60%) specified in subparagraph (b)(ii) of this subsection (3) shall be deemed to be sixty-five percent (65%), if and to the extent that such earnings are subject to garnishment to enforce a support order with respect to a period which is prior to the period of twelve (12) weeks which ends with the beginning of such workweek.

SECTION 7. Section 97-3-54.4, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

97-3-54.4. For the purposes of the Mississippi Human Trafficking Act the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "Act" or "this act" means the Mississippi Human Trafficking Act.

(b) "Actor" means a person who violates any of the provisions of Sections 97-3-54 through 97-3-54.4.

(c) "Blackmail" means obtaining property or things of value of another by threatening to (i) inflict bodily injury on anyone; or (ii) commit any other criminal offense.

(d) "Coerce" or "coercion" means:

(i) Causing or threatening to cause bodily harm to any person, physically restraining or confining any person, or threatening to physically restrain or confine any person;

(ii) Exposing or threatening to expose any fact or information or disseminating or threatening to disseminate any fact or information that would tend to subject a person to criminal or immigration proceedings, hatred, contempt or ridicule;

(iii) Destroying, concealing, removing, confiscating or possessing any actual or purported passport or other immigration document, or any other actual or purported government identification document of any person;

(iv) Providing a controlled substance to a person for the purpose of compelling the person to engage in labor or sexual servitude against the person's will;

(v) Causing or threatening to cause financial harm to any person or using financial control over any person;

(vi) Abusing or threatening to abuse a position of power, the law, or legal process;

(vii) Using blackmail;

(viii) Using an individual's personal services as payment or satisfaction of a real or purported debt when: 1. the reasonable value of the services is not applied toward the liquidation of the debt; 2. the length of the services is not limited and the nature of the services is not defined; 3. the principal amount of the debt does not reasonably reflect the value of the items or services for which the debt is incurred; or 4. the individual is prevented from acquiring accurate and timely information about the disposition of the debt; or

(ix) Using any scheme, plan or pattern of conduct intended to cause any person to believe that, if the person did not perform the labor or services, that the person or another person would suffer serious harm or physical restraint.

(e) "Commercial sexual activity" means any sex act on account of which anything of value is given to, promised to, or received by any person.

(f) "Enterprise" means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, union or other legal entity, or any association or group of individuals associated in fact regardless of whether a legal entity has been formed pursuant to any state, federal or territorial law. It includes illicit as well as licit enterprises and governmental as well as other entities.

(g) "Financial harm" includes, but is not limited to, extortion as defined by Section 97-3-82, Mississippi Code of 1972, or violation of the usury law as defined by Title 75, Chapter 17, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(h) "Forced labor or services" means labor or services that are performed or provided by another person and are obtained or maintained through coercion.

(i) "Labor" means work of economic or financial value.

(j) "Maintain" means, in relation to labor or services, to secure continued performance thereof, regardless of any initial agreement on the part of the trafficked person to perform such labor or service.

(k) "Minor" means a person under the age of eighteen (18) years.

(l) "Obtain" means, in relation to labor or services, to secure performance thereof.

(m) "Pecuniary damages" means any of the following:

(i) The greater of the gross income or value to the defendant of the victim's labor or services, including sexual services, not reduced by the expense the defendant incurred as a result of maintaining the victim, or the value of the victim's labor or services calculated under the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 USCS Section 201 et seq., whichever is higher;

(ii) If it is not possible or in the best interest of the victim to compute a value under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (m), the equivalent of the value of the victim's labor or services if the victim had provided labor or services that were subject to the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 USCS 201 et seq.;

(iii) Costs and expenses incurred by the victim as a result of the offense for:

1. Medical services;

2. Therapy or psychological counseling;

3. Temporary housing;

4. Transportation;

5. Childcare;

6. Physical and occupational therapy or rehabilitation;

7. Funeral, interment, and burial services;

reasonable attorney's fees and other legal costs; and

8. Other expenses incurred by the victim.

(n) "Serious harm" means harm, whether physical or nonphysical, including psychological, economic or reputational, to an individual that would compel a reasonable person in similar circumstances as the individual to perform or continue to perform labor or services to avoid incurring the harm.

(o) "Services" means an ongoing relationship between a person and the actor in which the person performs activities under the supervision of or for the benefit of the actor or a third party and includes, without limitation, commercial sexual activity, sexually explicit performances, or the production of sexually explicit materials.

(p) "Sexually explicit performance" means a live or public act or show intended to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires or appeal to the prurient interests of patrons.

(q) "Trafficked person" means a person subjected to the practices prohibited by this act regardless of whether a perpetrator is identified, apprehended, prosecuted or convicted, and is a term used interchangeably with the terms "victim," "victim of trafficking" and "trafficking victim."

(r) "Venture" means any group of two (2) or more individuals associated in fact, whether or not a legal entity.

(s) "Sexually oriented material" shall have the meaning ascribed in Section 97-5-27, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 8. Section 99-19-20, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

99-19-20. (1) Except as otherwise provided under Section 99-19-20.1, when any court sentences a defendant to pay a fine, the court may order (a) that the fine be paid immediately, or (b) that the fine be paid in installments to the clerk of the court or to the judge, if there be no clerk, or (c) that payment of the fine be a condition of probation, or (d) that the defendant be required to work on public property for public benefit under the direction of the sheriff for a specific number of hours, or (e) any combination of the above.

(2) Except as otherwise provided under Section 99-19-20.1, the defendant may be imprisoned until the fine is paid if the defendant is financially able to pay a fine and the court so finds, subject to the limitations provided under this section. The defendant shall not be imprisoned if the defendant is financially unable to pay a fine and so states to the court in writing, under oath, after sentence is pronounced, and the court so finds, except if the defendant is financially unable to pay a fine and such defendant failed or refused to comply with a prior sentence as specified in subsection (1) of this section, the defendant may be imprisoned.

This subsection shall be limited as follows:

(a) In no event shall such period of imprisonment exceed one (1) day for each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) of the fine.

(b) If a sentence of imprisonment, as well as a fine, were imposed, the aggregate of such term for nonpayment of a fine and the original sentence of imprisonment shall not exceed the maximum authorized term of imprisonment.

(c) It shall be in the discretion of the judge to determine the rate of the credit to be earned for work performed under subsection (1)(d), but the rate shall be no lower than the rate of the highest current federal minimum wage.

(3) Periods of confinement imposed for nonpayment of two (2) or more fines shall run consecutively unless specified by the court to run concurrently.

SECTION 9. Section 17-1-51, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

17-1-51. (1) No county, board of supervisors of a county, municipality or governing authority of a municipality is authorized to establish a mandatory, minimum living wage rate, minimum number of vacation or sick days, whether paid or unpaid, that would regulate how a private employer pays its employees. Each county, board of supervisors of a county, municipality or governing authority of a municipality shall be prohibited from establishing a mandatory, minimum living wage rate, minimum number of vacation or sick days, whether paid or unpaid, that would regulate how a private employer pays its employees.

(2) The Legislature finds that the prohibitions of subsection (1) of this section are necessary to ensure an economic climate conducive to new business development and job growth in the State of Mississippi. We believe that inconsistent application of wage and benefit laws from city to city or county to county must be avoided. While not suggesting a state minimum wage or minimum benefit package, any debate and subsequent action on these matters should be assigned to the Mississippi Legislature as provided in Section 25-3-40, and not local counties or municipalities.

(3) The Legislature further finds that wages and employee benefits comprise the most significant expense of operating a business. It also recognizes that neither potential employees or business patrons are likely to restrict themselves to employment opportunities or goods and services in any particular county or municipality. Consequently, local variations in legally required minimum wage rates or mandatory minimum number of vacation or sick leave days would threaten many businesses with a loss of employees to local governments which require a higher minimum wage rate and many other businesses with the loss of patrons to areas which allow for a lower wage rate and more or less vacation or sick days. The net effect of this situation would be detrimental to the business environment of the state and to the citizens, businesses and governments of the local jurisdictions as well as the local labor markets.

(4) The Legislature concludes from these findings that, in order for a business to remain competitive and yet attract and retain the highest possible caliber of employees, and thereby remain sound, an enterprise must work in a uniform environment with respect to minimum wage rates, and mandatory minimum number of vacation or sick leave days. The net impact of local variations in mandated wages and mandatory minimum number of vacation or sick leave days would be economically unstable and create a decline and decrease in the standard of living for the citizens of the state. Consequently, decisions regarding minimum wage, living wage and other employee benefit policies must be made by the state as provided in Section 25-3-40, so that consistency in the wage market is preserved.

SECTION 10. Section 17-1-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

17-1-53. The provisions of Sections 17-1-51 through

17-1-55 shall not impede or supersede a municipality's authority granted under Sections 17-21-1, 17-21-5 and 17-21-7.

SECTION 11. Section 17-1-55, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

17-1-55. Sections 17-1-51 through 17-1-55 shall not be construed to limit the authority of counties and municipalities to grant tax exemptions authorized by state law.

SECTION 12. Section 25-3-2, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-2. No county elected official's annual salary established under this chapter shall be reduced during his term of office as a result of a reduction in total assessed valuation or a change in population.

SECTION 13. Section 25-3-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-3. (1) The term "total assessed valuation" as used in this section only refers to the ad valorem assessment for the county and, in addition, in counties where oil or gas is produced, the actual value of oil at the point of production, as certified to the counties by the Department of Revenue under the provisions of Sections 27-25-501 through 27-25-525, and the actual value of gas as certified by the Department of Revenue under the provisions of Sections 27-25-701 through 27-25-723.

(2) The salary of assessors and collectors of the various counties is fixed as full compensation for their services as county assessors or tax collectors, or both if the office of assessor has been combined with the office of tax collector. The annual salary of each assessor or tax collector, or both if the offices have been combined, shall be based upon the total assessed valuation of his respective county for the preceding taxable year in the following categories and for the following amounts:

(a) For counties having a total assessed valuation of Three Billion Dollars ($3,000,000,000.00) or more, a salary of Seventy Thousand Five Hundred Sixty Dollars ($70,560.00);

(b) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least Two Billion Dollars ($2,000,000,000.00) but less than Three Billion Dollars ($3,000,000,000.00), a salary of Sixty-seven Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($67,200.00);

(c) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least One Billion Dollars ($1,000,000,000.00) but less than Two Billion Dollars ($2,000,000,000.00), a salary of Sixty-four Thousand Five Hundred Seventy-five Dollars ($64,575.00);

(d) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000.00) but less than One Billion Dollars ($1,000,000,000.00), a salary of Sixty-one Thousand Four Hundred Twenty-five Dollars ($61,425.00);

(e) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least Two Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($250,000,000.00) but less than Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000.00), a salary of Fifty-eight Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($58,800.00);

(f) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00) but less than Two Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($250,000,000.00), a salary of Fifty-six Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($56,700.00);

(g) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least Seventy-five Million Dollars ($75,000,000.00) but less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00), a salary of Fifty-five Thousand One Hundred Twenty-five Dollars ($55,125.00);

(h) For counties having a total assessed valuation of less than Seventy-five Million Dollars ($75,000,000.00), a salary of Fifty Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty-nine Dollars ($50,929.00).

(3) In addition to all other compensation paid pursuant to this section, the board of supervisors shall pay to a person serving as both the tax assessor and tax collector in their county an additional Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) per year.

(4) The annual salary established for assessors and tax collectors shall not be reduced as a result of a reduction in total assessed valuation. The salaries shall be increased as a result of an increase in total assessed valuation.

(5) In addition to all other compensation paid to assessors and tax collectors in counties having two (2) judicial districts, the board of supervisors shall pay such assessors and tax collectors an additional Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500.00) per year. In addition to all other compensation paid to assessors or tax collectors, in counties maintaining two (2) full-time offices, the board of supervisors shall pay the assessor or tax collector an additional Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500.00) per year.

(6) In addition to all other compensation paid to assessors and tax collectors, the board of supervisors of a county shall allow for such assessor or tax collector, or both, to be paid additional compensation when there is a contract between the county and one or more municipalities providing that the assessor or tax collector, or both, shall assess or collect taxes, or both, for the municipality or municipalities; and such assessor or tax collector, or both, shall be authorized to receive such additional compensation from the county and/or the municipality or municipalities in any amount allowed by the county and/or the municipality or municipalities for performing those services.

(7) When any tax assessor holds a valid certificate of educational recognition from the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service or is a licensed appraiser under Section 73-34-1 et seq., he shall receive an additional One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) annually beginning the next fiscal year after completion. When any tax assessor is a licensed state certified Residential Appraiser (RA) or licensed state certified Timberland Appraiser (TA) under Section 73-34-1 et seq., or when any tax assessor holds a valid designation from the International Association of Assessing Officers as a Cadastral Mapping Specialist (CMS) or Personal Property Specialist (PPS) or Residential Evaluation Specialist (RES), he shall receive an additional Six Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($6,500.00) annually beginning the next fiscal year after completion. When any tax assessor holds the valid designation of Certified Assessment Evaluator (CAE) from the International Association of Assessing Officers or is a state certified General Real Estate Appraiser (GA) under Section 73-34-1 et seq., he shall receive an additional Eight Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($8,500.00) annually beginning the next fiscal year after completion.

(8) The salaries provided for in this section shall be the total funds paid to the county assessors and tax collectors and shall be full compensation for their services, with any fees being paid to the county general fund.

(9) The salaries provided for in this section shall be payable monthly on the first day of each calendar month by chancery clerk's warrant drawn on the general fund of the county; however, the board of supervisors, by resolution duly adopted and entered on its minutes, may provide that such salaries shall be paid semimonthly on the first and fifteenth day of each month or every two (2) weeks pursuant to Section 25-3-29. If a pay date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, salary payments shall be made on the workday immediately preceding the weekend or legal holiday.

SECTION 14. Section 25-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-7. From the State Treasury shall be paid up to

one-fourth (1/4) of the salary of each county assessor, but in no instance shall the payment exceed the figure paid for the fiscal year of 1970-1971 to the assessor, whether or not the offices of assessor and tax collector are combined.

SECTION 15. Section 25-3-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-9. (1) Except as provided in subsections (2), (3) and (4) of this section, the county prosecuting attorney may receive for his services an annual salary to be paid by the board of supervisors as follows:

(a) For counties with a total population of more than two hundred thousand (200,000), a salary not to exceed Twenty-eight Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($28,500.00).

(b) For counties with a total population of more than one hundred thousand (100,000) and not more than two hundred thousand (200,000), a salary not to exceed Twenty-six Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($26,500.00).

(c) For counties with a total population of more than fifty thousand (50,000) and not more than one hundred thousand (100,000), a salary not to exceed Twenty-one Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($21,700.00).

(d) For counties with a total population of more than thirty-five thousand (35,000) and not more than fifty thousand (50,000), a salary not to exceed Twenty Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($20,400.00).

(e) For counties with a total population of more than twenty-five thousand (25,000) and not more than thirty-five thousand (35,000), a salary not to exceed Nineteen Thousand Three Hundred Dollars ($19,300.00).

(f) For counties with a total population of more than fifteen thousand (15,000) and not more than twenty-five thousand (25,000), a salary not to exceed Seventeen Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($17,700.00).

(g) For counties with a total population of more than ten thousand (10,000) and not more than fifteen thousand (15,000), a salary not to exceed Sixteen Thousand One Hundred Dollars ($16,100.00).

(h) For counties with a total population of more than six thousand (6,000) and not more than ten thousand (10,000), a salary not to exceed Fourteen Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($14,500.00).

(i) For counties with a total population of six thousand (6,000) or less, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may appoint a county prosecuting attorney, and it may pay such county prosecuting attorney an annual salary not to exceed Twelve Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars ($12,900.00).

In all cases of conviction there shall be taxed against the convicted defendant, as an item of cost, the sum of Three Dollars ($3.00), which shall be turned in to the county treasury as a part of the general county funds; however, the Three Dollars ($3.00) shall not be taxed in any case in which it is not the specific duty of the county attorney to appear and prosecute.

From and after October 1, 1993, in addition to the salaries provided for in this subsection, the board of supervisors of any county, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an additional amount not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the maximum allowable salary prescribed herein.

(2) In the following counties, the county prosecuting attorney shall receive for his services an annual salary to be paid by the board of supervisors, as follows:

(a) In any county bordering upon the Mississippi River and having a population of not less than thirty thousand (30,000) and not more than thirty-five thousand five hundred (35,500) according to the federal census of 1990, and in counties having a population of not more than thirty-seven thousand (37,000) according to the federal census of 1990 in which Interstate Highway 55 and U.S. Highway 98 intersect, the county prosecuting attorney shall receive a salary equal to the justice court judge of such county; and in any county wherein is located the state's oldest state-supported institution of higher learning and wherein Mississippi State Highways 7 and 6 intersect, the county prosecuting attorney shall receive an annual salary equal to that of a member of the board of supervisors of such county.

(b) In counties having a population in excess of fifty thousand (50,000) in the 1960 federal census, wherein is located a state-supported university and in which U.S. Highways 49 and 11 intersect, the salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall be not less than Seventeen Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($17,400.00) per year. The Board of Supervisors of Forrest County, Mississippi, may, in its discretion, and by agreement with the county prosecuting attorney, employ the county prosecuting attorney as a full-time elected official during his/her term of office, designate additional duties and responsibilities of the office and pay additional compensation up to, but not in excess of, ninety percent (90%) of the annual compensation and salary of the county court judge and the youth court judge of Forrest County as authorized by law and provide a reasonable office and reasonable office expenses to the county prosecuting attorney. The salary authorized by this paragraph (b) for the county prosecuting attorney shall be the sole and complete salary for such prosecuting attorney in each county to which this paragraph applies, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary.

(c) In any county wherein is housed the seat of state government, wherein U.S. Highways 80 and 49 intersect, and having two (2) judicial districts, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an annual salary equal to the annual salary of members of the board of supervisors in the county.

(d) In any county which has two (2) judicial districts and wherein Highway 8 and Highway 15 intersect, having a population of greater than seventeen thousand (17,000), according to the 1980 federal decennial census, the board of supervisors shall pay the county prosecuting attorney a salary equal to that of a member of the board of supervisors of such county; provided that if such county prosecuting attorney is paid a sum for the purpose of defraying office or secretarial expenses, then the salary prescribed herein shall be reduced by that amount.

(e) In any county bordering the State of Tennessee and in which Mississippi Highways No. 4 and 15 intersect, and having a population of less than twenty thousand (20,000) in the 1970 federal census, the salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall be no less than Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00).

(f) In any county having a population of more than twenty-five thousand (25,000) and in which U.S. Highways 72 and 45 intersect, the salary of the county attorney shall be not less than Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00).

In addition, such county prosecuting attorney shall receive the sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) per month for the purpose of defraying secretarial expense.

(g) In any county wherein I-20 and State Highway 15 intersect; and in any county wherein I-20 and State Highway 35 intersect, the salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall be not less than Eight Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($8,400.00).

(h) In any Class 1 county bordering on the Mississippi River, lying in whole or in part within a levee district, wherein U.S. Highways 82 and 61 intersect, bounded by the Sunflower River and Stales Bayou, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay an annual salary equal to the annual salary of members of the board of supervisors in the county. In addition, such county prosecuting attorney shall receive the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per month for the purpose of defraying secretarial expenses.

(i) In any county bordering on the Gulf of Mexico having two (2) judicial districts, and wherein U.S. Highways 90 and 49 intersect, the salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall be not less than Nineteen Thousand Dollars ($19,000.00) per year. The Board of Supervisors of Harrison County, Mississippi, may, in its discretion, and by agreement with the county prosecuting attorney, employ the county prosecuting attorney and his/her assistant during his/her term of office, and designate additional duties and responsibilities of the office and pay additional compensation up to, but not in excess of, ninety percent (90%) of the annual compensation and salary of the county court judges of Harrison County as authorized by law and provide adequate office space and reasonable office expenses to the county prosecuting attorney and his/her assistant. The salary authorized by this paragraph (i) for the county prosecuting attorney and his/her assistant shall be the sole and complete salary paid by the county for such prosecuting attorney and his/her assistant in each county to which this paragraph applies, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary.

(j) In any county bordering on the State of Alabama, having a population in excess of seventy-five thousand (75,000) according to the 1980 decennial census in which is located an institution of higher learning and a United States military installation and which is traversed by an interstate highway, the salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall not be less than Twelve Thousand Dollars ($12,000.00) nor more than the amount of the annual salary received by a member of the board of supervisors of that county.

(k) In any county with a land area wherein Mississippi Highways 8 and 9 intersect, the salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall be not less than Eight Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($8,500.00) per year.

(l) In any Class 2 county wherein Mississippi Highways 6 and 3 intersect, the salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall be not less than Twelve Thousand Dollars ($12,000.00) per year nor more than the amount of the annual salary received by a member of the board of supervisors of that county.

(m) In any county wherein Interstate Highway 55 and State Highway 8 intersect, the salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall be not less than Twelve Thousand Dollars ($12,000.00) per year.

(n) In any county wherein U.S. Highway 51 intersects Mississippi Highway 6, and having two (2) judicial districts, the salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall be not less than Three Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($3,600.00) per year.

(o) In any county bordering on the Alabama state line, having a population of greater than fifteen thousand (15,000) according to the 1970 federal decennial census, wherein U.S. Highway 45 and Mississippi Highway 18 intersect, the salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall be not less than Three Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($3,600.00) nor greater than that of a member of the board of supervisors of such county. All prior acts, orders and resolutions of the board of supervisors of such county which authorized the payment of the salary in conformity with the provisions of this paragraph, whether or not heretofore specifically authorized by law are hereby ratified, approved and confirmed.

(p) In any county wherein is located a state-supported institution of higher learning and wherein U.S. Highway 82 and Mississippi Highway 389 intersect, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an annual salary equal to the annual salary of members of the board of supervisors in the county.

(q) In any county having two (2) judicial districts wherein Mississippi Highway 32 intersects U.S. Highway 49E, the salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall be not less than Twelve Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($12,700.00).

(r) In any county traversed by the Natchez Trace Parkway wherein U.S. Highway 45 and Mississippi Highway 4 intersect, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an annual salary equal to the annual salary of justice court judges in the county.

(s) In any county having a population of more than fourteen thousand (14,000) according to the 1970 census and which county is bordered on the north by the State of Tennessee and on the east by the State of Alabama and in which U.S. Highway No. 72 and Highway No. 25 intersect, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an annual salary equal to the annual salary of justice court judges in the county.

(t) (i) The Board of Supervisors of Madison County, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an annual salary in the amount of Twenty-eight Thousand Dollars ($28,000.00), if the county prosecuting attorney is not employed on a full-time basis.

(ii) From and after October 1, 1993, in addition to the salary provided for in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an additional amount not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the maximum allowable salary prescribed herein.

(iii) The Board of Supervisors of Madison County, in its discretion, may employ the elected county prosecuting attorney on a full-time basis during his or her term of office and may pay compensation to the full-time prosecuting attorney in an amount of not more than ninety percent (90%) of the annual compensation and salary of the county court judges of the county as authorized by law, and may provide adequate office space and reasonable office expenses to the county prosecuting attorney. The salary authorized by this subparagraph (iii) for the county prosecuting attorney shall be the sole and complete salary paid by the county for the prosecuting attorney in Madison County, notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary.

(u) In any county having a population in the 1970 census in excess of thirty-five thousand (35,000) and in which U.S. Highways 49W and 82 intersect, and in which is located a state penitentiary, the annual salary of a county prosecuting attorney shall be Thirty Thousand Four Hundred Twenty Dollars ($30,420.00).

(v) In any county wherein Mississippi Highway 50 intersects U.S. Highway 45-Alternate, and having a population greater than twenty thousand (20,000) according to the 1980 federal decennial census, a salary equal to that of a member of the board of supervisors of such county; provided that if such county prosecuting attorney is paid a sum for the purpose of defraying office or secretarial expenses, then the salary prescribed herein shall be reduced by that amount.

(w) In any county in which the 1975 assessed valuation was Forty Million Seven Hundred Thirty-nine Thousand Four Hundred Sixty-six Dollars ($40,739,466.00) and wherein U.S. Highway 45 and Mississippi Highway 8 intersect, the salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall be equal to that of a member of the board of supervisors of such county.

(x) In any county bordering on the Mississippi River having a population greater than fifty thousand (50,000) according to the 1980 federal decennial census and also having a national military park and national cemetery, an annual salary of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) or a salary equal to that of a member of the board of supervisors in such county, whichever is greater. In addition, such county prosecuting attorney shall receive the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per month for the purpose of defraying secretarial expenses.

(y) In any county bordering on the Alabama state line, traversed by the Chickasawhay River, and wherein U.S. Highway 45 and U.S. Highway 84 intersect, a salary that shall be equal to the annual salary of a member of the board of supervisors of such county. All prior acts, orders and resolutions of the board of supervisors of such county which authorize the payment of the salary of the county prosecuting attorney in conformity with the provisions of this section as it existed immediately prior to April 12, 1985, are hereby ratified, approved, confirmed and validated.

(z) In any county having a population greater than sixty-five thousand five hundred eighty (65,580) but less than sixty-five thousand five hundred ninety (65,590) according to the 1990 federal decennial census, wherein U.S. Highway 45 intersects with Mississippi Highway 6, an annual salary equal to Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00).

(aa) In any county where an institution of higher learning is located and wherein U.S. Highway 82 and U.S. Highway 45 intersect, the salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall be not less than that of a member of the board of supervisors in such county, and the board of supervisors may, in its discretion, pay such county prosecuting attorney a salary in an amount not to exceed the amount of the salary of the District Attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial District of Mississippi.

(bb) In any county having a population greater than six thousand (6,000) according to the federal decennial census and wherein U.S. Highway 61 and Highway 24 intersect, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an annual salary equal to the annual salary of members of the board of supervisors in the county.

(cc) In any county having a population greater than thirty-one thousand (31,000) according to the 1990 federal decennial census and wherein U.S. Highway 61 and U.S. Highway 49 intersect, a salary of not less than the annual salary of justice court judges in the county.

(dd) (i) The Rankin County prosecuting attorney, if such person is not employed on a full-time basis, shall receive an annual salary of Twenty-nine Thousand Dollars ($29,000.00).

(ii) The Board of Supervisors of Rankin County, in its discretion, may employ the elected county prosecuting attorney and an assistant on a full-time basis during his or her term of office and may pay compensation to such full-time prosecuting attorney in an amount of not more than ninety percent (90%) of the annual compensation and salary of the county court judges of the county as authorized by law, and may provide adequate office space and reasonable office expenses to the county prosecuting attorney and his/her assistant. The Board of Supervisors of Rankin County, in its discretion, may also employ a full-time assistant county prosecuting attorney and may pay such person an annual salary in such amount as determined by the board of supervisors. The salary authorized by this paragraph (dd)(ii) for the elected county prosecuting attorney and an assistant shall be the sole and complete salary paid by the county for the elected prosecuting attorney and assistant in Rankin County, notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary.

(ee) In any county having a population greater than eight thousand (8,000) but less than eight thousand two hundred (8,200) according to the 1990 federal census, and in which U.S. Highway 61 and Mississippi Highway 4 intersect, the board of supervisors may, in its discretion, pay the county prosecuting attorney an amount not to exceed Fourteen Thousand Dollars ($14,000.00), in addition to the maximum allowable salary for that attorney under subsection (1), beginning on April 1, 1997.

(ff) In any county having a population greater than thirty thousand three hundred (30,300) but less than thirty thousand four hundred (30,400) according to the 1990 federal census, and in which U.S. Highway 78 and Mississippi Highway 7 intersect, a salary of not less than the annual salary of a member of the board of supervisors in such county.

(gg) In any county having a population greater than thirteen thousand three hundred (13,300) but less than thirteen thousand four hundred (13,400) according to the 1990 federal census, and in which Mississippi Highway 24 and Mississippi Highway 48 intersect, the board of supervisors may, in its discretion, pay the county prosecuting attorney an additional amount not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the maximum allowable salary for that attorney under subsection (1).

(hh) In any county having a population greater than eight thousand three hundred (8,300) but less than eight thousand four hundred (8,400) according to the 1990 federal census, and in which U.S. Highway 84 and U.S. Highway 98 intersect, the board of supervisors may, in its discretion, pay the county prosecuting attorney an additional amount not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the maximum allowable salary for that attorney under subsection (1).

(ii) In any county having a population of more than thirty thousand four hundred (30,400) and which is traversed in whole or in part by I-59, U.S. Highways 98 and 11 and State Highway 13, the annual salary of the county prosecuting attorney shall be Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00).

(jj) In any county having a population greater than twenty thousand (20,000) according to the 1990 federal census and wherein U.S. Highway 78 and Mississippi Highway 25 intersect, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an annual salary equal to the annual salary of justice court judges in the county.

(kk) In any county having a population greater than twelve thousand four hundred (12,400) but less than twelve thousand five hundred (12,500) according to the 1990 federal census, and in which U.S. Highway 84 and Mississippi Highway 27 intersect, the board of supervisors may, in its discretion, pay the county prosecuting attorney an additional amount not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the maximum allowable salary for that attorney under subsection (1).

(ll) In any county having a population greater than thirty thousand two hundred (30,200) but less than thirty thousand three hundred (30,300) according to the 1990 federal census, and in which U.S. Interstate 55 and Mississippi Highway 84 intersect, the board of supervisors may, in its discretion, pay the county prosecuting attorney an additional amount not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the maximum allowable salary for that attorney under subsection (1).

(mm) In any county on the Mississippi River levee, having a population greater than forty-one thousand eight hundred (41,800) but less than forty-one thousand nine hundred (41,900) according to the 1990 federal census wherein U.S. Highway 61 and Mississippi Highway 8 intersect, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an annual salary equal to the annual salary of members of the board of supervisors in the county. In addition, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per month for the purpose of defraying secretarial expenses.

(nn) In any county having a population greater than twenty-four thousand seven hundred (24,700) and less than twenty-four thousand nine hundred (24,900) according to the 1990 federal census, wherein Mississippi Highways 15 and 16 intersect, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an annual salary equal to the annual salary of members of the board of supervisors in the county.

(oo) In any county having a population greater than thirty-seven thousand (37,000) but less than thirty-eight thousand (38,000) according to the 1990 federal census, in which is located a state supported institution of higher learning, and in which U.S. Highway 82 and Mississippi Highway 7 intersect, the board of supervisors may, in its discretion, pay the county prosecuting attorney a salary in an amount not to exceed the amount of the salary of the District Attorney for the Fourth Judicial District of Mississippi.

(pp) In any county in which U.S. Highway 78 and Mississippi Highway 15 intersect and which is traversed by the Tallahatchie River, a salary equal to that of members of the board of supervisors of the county, which salary shall be in addition to any sums received for the purpose of defraying office or secretarial expenses and sums received as youth court prosecutor fees.

(qq) In any county bordering on the State of Tennessee and the State of Arkansas, wherein Interstate Highway 55 and Mississippi Highway 302 intersect, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an annual salary equal to the annual salary of justice court judges in the county.

(rr) In any county that is traversed by the Natchez Trace Parkway and in which Mississippi Highway 35 and Mississippi Highway 12 intersect, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an annual salary in the amount of the annual salary of justice court judges in the county.

(ss) In any county in which Mississippi Highway 14 and Mississippi Highway 25 intersect, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an annual salary in the amount of Twenty-two Thousand Dollars ($22,000.00).

(tt) In any county in which Interstate Highway 59 and U.S. Highway 84 intersect, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the county prosecuting attorney an annual salary equal to the annual salary of members of the board of supervisors in the county.

(uu) (i) In any county bordering on the Mississippi River having a population greater than fifty thousand (50,000) according to the 1980 federal decennial census and also having a national military park and national cemetery, the board of supervisors of the county shall pay an annual salary of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) or a salary equal to that of a member of the board of supervisors, whichever is greater, if not employed on a full-time basis. In addition, the county prosecuting attorney shall be paid the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per month for the purpose of defraying secretarial expenses, if not employed on a full-time basis; or

(ii) The board of supervisors of the county described in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, in its discretion, may employ the elected county prosecuting attorney on a full-time basis during his or her term of office and may pay compensation to the full-time prosecuting attorney in an amount of not more than ninety percent (90%) of the annual compensation and salary of the County Court Judge of Warren County as authorized by law, and may provide adequate office space and reasonable office expenses to the county prosecuting attorney. The salary authorized herein by this subparagraph (ii) for the county prosecuting attorney shall be the sole and complete salary paid by the county for the prosecuting attorney in Warren County, notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary.

(3) In any case where a salary, expense allowance or other sum is authorized or paid by the board of supervisors pursuant to this section, that salary, expense allowance or other sum shall not be reduced or terminated during the term for which the county attorney was elected.

(4) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, no county prosecuting attorney shall receive for his services an annual salary less than the salary paid to a justice court judge in his respective county.

SECTION 16. Section 25-3-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-11. In Class 1 counties having two (2) judicial districts and having an area in excess of nine hundred (900) square miles according to the Mississippi Official and Statistical Register issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Mississippi for the year 1952, the board of supervisors is hereby empowered, in its discretion, to provide for and pay the county attorney a sum not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per month as a mileage and automobile expense account, said monies to be paid from the general county fund of such county.

SECTION 17. Section 25-3-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-13. (1) The salaries of the members of the boards of supervisors of the various counties are fixed as full compensation for their services.

The annual salary of each member of the board of supervisors shall be based upon the total assessed valuation of his respective county for the preceding taxable year in the following categories and for the following amounts:

(a) For counties having a total assessed valuation of less than Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000.00), a salary of Twenty-nine Thousand Eight Hundred Seventy Dollars ($29,870.00);

(b) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000.00), but less than Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00), a salary of Thirty-three Thousand Two Hundred Sixty-nine Dollars ($33,269.00);

(c) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00), but less than Seventy-five Million Dollars ($75,000,000.00), a salary of Thirty-four Thousand Seven Hundred Eleven Dollars ($34,711.00);

(d) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least Seventy-five Million Dollars ($75,000,000.00), but less than One Hundred Twenty-five Million Dollars ($125,000,000.00), a salary of Thirty-five Thousand Seven Hundred Forty-one Dollars ($35,741.00);

(e) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least One Hundred Twenty-five Million Dollars ($125,000,000.00), but less than Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000.00), a salary of Forty-one Thousand Six Hundred Twelve Dollars ($41,612.00);

(f) For counties having a total assessed valuation of at least Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000.00), but less than One Billion Dollars ($1,000,000,000.00), a salary of Forty-six Thousand Forty-one Dollars ($46,041.00);

(g) For counties having a total assessed valuation of One Billion Dollars ($1,000,000,000.00), but less than Two Billion Dollars ($2,000,000,000.00), a salary of Forty-seven Thousand Seventy-one Dollars ($47,071.00);

(h) For counties having a total assessed valuation of Two Billion Dollars ($2,000,000,000.00) or more, a salary of Forty-eight Thousand One Hundred One Dollars ($48,101.00).

(2) The annual salary established for the members of the board of supervisors shall not be reduced as a result of a reduction in total assessed valuation.

(3) The salary of the members of the board of supervisors shall not be increased under this section until the board of supervisors shall have passed a resolution stating the amount of the increase and spread it on its minutes.

SECTION 18. Section 25-3-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-15. It is hereby further provided that, in any county of the state having producing oil or gas wells, the total valuation of such oil or gas produced, as reported by the State Tax Commission for the last preceding calendar year, may be combined with the total assessed valuation of said county in computing its category for the purpose of fixing the salary of the members of the board of supervisors of said county; provided that in any county wherein twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the real property of the county is owned by an agency of the federal government, and consequently exempt from ad valorem taxes, the salary of the members of the board of supervisors in each such county shall be that established by the next highest rate from that determined by the total assessed value of the property of the county.

SECTION 19. Section 25-3-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-17. The salaries provided in Sections 25-3-13 and 25-3-15 shall be payable monthly on the first day of each calendar month during the calendar year following that in which the total assessed valuation is determined; however, the board of supervisors, by resolution duly adopted and entered on its minutes, may provide that such salaries shall be paid semimonthly on the first and fifteenth day of each month or every two (2) weeks pursuant to Section 25-3-29. If a pay date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, salary payments shall be made on the workday immediately preceding the weekend or legal holiday. The chancery clerk shall draw his warrant on the general fund of the county, the county road and bridge fund, or any fund of the county available for such purposes.

SECTION 20. Section 25-3-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-19. The chancery clerks, as county auditors, shall receive compensation for their services as such the annual amount of Five Thousand Three Hundred Dollars ($5,300.00), payable in equal monthly installments out of the county treasury; however, the board of supervisors, by resolution duly adopted and entered on its minutes, may provide that such salaries shall be paid semimonthly on the first and fifteenth day of each month or every two (2) weeks pursuant to Section 25-3-29. If a pay date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, salary payments shall be made on the workday immediately preceding the weekend or legal holiday.

SECTION 21. Section 25-3-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-21. The board of supervisors may allow to its clerks reasonable compensation, to be paid out of the county treasury, for making copies of assessment rolls required by law, not to exceed One and One-half Cents (1-1/2�) for each personal assessment or Three Cents (3�) for each separate assessment of lands per copy; but the board of supervisors may allow as much as One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) in any case for copying the personal roll, and each copy thereof shall be considered a roll.

SECTION 22. Section 25-3-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-23. The board of supervisors of any county having two (2) judicial districts and having an assessed valuation of less than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) for the year 1945, and having a population of less than twenty thousand (20,000) based on the federal census of 1940, may, in their discretion, pay a salary not to exceed Twelve Hundred Dollars ($1200.00) per annum to a regular appointed deputy chancery clerk, who shall reside in and serve in the judicial district of the county other than the judicial district of the county in which the chancery clerk resides, provided the chancery clerk's office in both districts be kept open for official business during the hours required by law.

In counties having two (2) judicial districts, a regular appointed deputy chancery clerk in each judicial district, a total assessed valuation in excess of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00) for the year 1973 and in which Mississippi Highways 8 and 15 intersect, the chancery clerk or deputy clerks designated by him, may be allowed, payable monthly out of the county treasury such sum as the board of supervisors may allow, payable out of the general county fund; provided, the chancery clerk's office in both judicial districts be kept open for official business during the hours required by law. Provided, further, such amounts as may be allowed by the board of supervisors shall be in addition to all other compensation provided by law.

In counties having two (2) judicial districts, a regular appointed deputy chancery court clerk, a total assessed valuation in excess of Ninety Million Dollars ($90,000,000.00), a total population of more than one hundred nineteen thousand (119,000) according to the federal census for the year 1960, and two (2) cities located within such county, each of which had a population of more than thirty thousand (30,000) according to the federal census for the year 1960, the chancery clerk may be allowed, payable monthly out of the county treasury, such sum as the board of supervisors may allow, but not less than Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) monthly, payable out of the general county fund of such county; and such amounts shall be in addition to all other allowances now provided by law.

In counties having two (2) judicial districts, a regular appointed deputy chancery court clerk, a total population of more than forty-nine thousand (49,000) but less than fifty thousand (50,000) according to the federal census of 1970, the board of supervisors may, in its discretion, pay a salary not to exceed Two Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($2,400.00) per annum to a regular appointed deputy chancery clerk who shall reside in and serve in the judicial district of the county other than the judicial district of the county in which the chancery clerk resides, provided the chancery clerk's office in both districts be kept open for official business during the hours required by law.

The board of supervisors of any Class 4 county, having two (2) judicial districts, traversed by U.S. Highway 51, wherein Mississippi Highways 7 and 32 intersect, may, in its discretion, pay a salary not to exceed Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($350.00) monthly to a regular appointed deputy chancery clerk who shall reside and serve in the judicial district of the county other than the judicial district in which the chancery clerk resides, provided the chancery clerk's office in both districts be kept open for official business during the hours required by law.

SECTION 23. Section 25-3-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-25. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (2) through (9), the salaries of sheriffs of the various counties are fixed as full compensation for their services.

The annual salary for each sheriff shall be based upon the total population of his county according to the latest federal decennial census in the following categories and for the following amounts; however, no sheriff shall be paid less than the salary authorized under this section to be paid the sheriff based upon the population of the county according to the most recent federal decennial census:

(a) For counties with a total population of more than one hundred thousand (100,000), a salary of Ninety-nine Thousand Dollars ($99,000.00).

(b) For counties with a total population of more than forty-five thousand (45,000) and not more than one hundred thousand (100,000), a salary of Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00).

(c) For counties with a total population of more than thirty-four thousand (34,000) and not more than forty-five thousand (45,000), a salary of Eighty-five Thousand Dollars ($85,000.00).

(d) For counties with a total population of more than fifteen thousand (15,000) and not more than thirty-four thousand (34,000), a salary of Eighty Thousand Dollars ($80,000.00).

(e) For counties with a total population of not more than fifteen thousand (15,000), a salary of Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00).

(2) In addition to the salary provided for in subsection (1) of this section, the Board of Supervisors of Leflore County, in its discretion, may pay an annual supplement to the sheriff of the county in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). The Legislature finds and declares that the annual supplement authorized by this subsection is justified in such county for the following reasons:

(a) The Mississippi Department of Corrections operates and maintains a restitution center within the county;

(b) The Mississippi Department of Corrections operates and maintains a community work center within the county;

(d) There is a resident chancery court judge in the county whose office is located at the Leflore County Courthouse;

(e) The Magistrate for the Fourth Circuit Court District is located in the county and maintains his office at the Leflore County Courthouse;

(f) The Region VI Mental Health-Mental Retardation Center, which serves a multicounty area, calls upon the sheriff to provide security for out-of-town mental patients, as well as patients from within the county;

(g) The increased activity of the Child Support Division of the Department of Human Services in enforcing in the courts parental obligations has imposed additional duties on the sheriff; and

(h) The dispatchers of the enhanced E-911 system in place in Leflore County have been placed under the direction and control of the sheriff.

(3) In addition to the salary provided for in subsection (1) of this section, the Board of Supervisors of Rankin County, in its discretion, may pay an annual supplement to the sheriff of the county in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). The Legislature finds and declares that the annual supplement authorized by this subsection is justified in such county for the following reasons:

(a) The Mississippi Department of Corrections operates and maintains the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility within the county;

(b) The State Hospital is operated and maintained within the county at Whitfield;

(c) Hudspeth Regional Center, a facility maintained for the care and treatment of persons with an intellectual disability, is located within the county;

(d) The Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy is operated and maintained within the county;

(e) The State Fire Academy is operated and maintained within the county;

(f) The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, ordinarily known as the "Reservoir District," is located within the county;

(g) The Jackson International Airport is located within the county;

(h) The patrolling of the state properties located within the county has imposed additional duties on the sheriff; and

(i) The sheriff, in addition to providing security to the nearly one hundred thousand (100,000) residents of the county, has the duty to investigate, solve and assist in the prosecution of any misdemeanor or felony committed upon any state property located in Rankin County.

(4) In addition to the salary provided for in subsection (1) of this section, the Board of Supervisors of Neshoba County shall pay an annual supplement to the sheriff of the county an amount equal to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00).

(5) In addition to the salary provided for in subsection (1) of this section, the Board of Supervisors of Tunica County, in its discretion, may pay an annual supplement to the sheriff of the county an amount equal to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), payable beginning April 1, 1997.

(6) In addition to the salary provided for in subsection (1) of this section, the Board of Supervisors of Hinds County shall pay an annual supplement to the sheriff of the county in an amount equal to Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00). The Legislature finds and declares that the annual supplement authorized by this subsection is justified in such county for the following reasons:

(a) Hinds County has the greatest population of any county, two hundred fifty-four thousand four hundred forty-one (254,441) by the 1990 census, being almost one hundred thousand (100,000) more than the next most populous county;

(b) Hinds County is home to the State Capitol and the seat of all state government offices;

(c) Hinds County is the third largest county in geographic area, containing eight hundred seventy-five (875) square miles;

(d) Hinds County is comprised of two (2) judicial districts, each having a courthouse and county office buildings;

(e) There are four (4) resident circuit judges, four (4) resident chancery judges, and three (3) resident county judges in Hinds County, the most of any county, with the sheriff acting as chief executive officer and provider of bailiff services for all;

(f) The main offices for the clerk and most of the judges and magistrates for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi are located within the county;

(g) The state's only urban university, Jackson State University, is located within the county;

(h) The University of Mississippi Medical Center, combining the medical school, dental school, nursing school and hospital, is located within the county;

(i) Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, the state's largest sports arena, is located within the county;

(j) The Mississippi State Fairgrounds, including the Coliseum and Trade Mart, are located within the county;

(k) Hinds County has the largest criminal population in the state, such that the Hinds County Sheriff's Department operates the largest county jail system in the state, housing almost one thousand (1,000) inmates in three (3) separate detention facilities;

(l) The Hinds County Sheriff's Department handles more mental and drug and alcohol commitment cases than any other sheriff's department in the state;

(m) The Mississippi Department of Corrections maintains a restitution center within the county;

(n) The Mississippi Department of Corrections regularly houses as many as one hundred (100) state convicts within the Hinds County jail system; and

(o) The Hinds County Sheriff's Department is regularly asked to provide security services not only at the Fairgrounds and Memorial Stadium, but also for events at the Mississippi Museum of Art and Jackson City Auditorium.

(7) In addition to the salary provided for in subsection (1) of this section, the Board of Supervisors of Wilkinson County, in its discretion, may pay an annual supplement to the sheriff of the county in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). The Legislature finds and declares that the annual supplement authorized by this subsection is justified in such county because the Mississippi Department of Corrections contracts for the private incarceration of state inmates at a private correctional facility within the county.

(8) In addition to the salary provided for in subsection (1) of this section, the Board of Supervisors of Marshall County, in its discretion, may pay an annual supplement to the sheriff of the county in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). The Legislature finds and declares that the annual supplement authorized by this subsection is justified in such county because the Mississippi Department of Corrections contracts for the private incarceration of state inmates at a private correctional facility within the county.

(9) In addition to the salary provided in subsection (1) of this section, the Board of Supervisors of Greene County, in its discretion, may pay an annual supplement to the sheriff of the county in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). The Legislature finds and declares that the annual supplement authorized by this subsection is justified in such county for the following reasons:

(a) The Mississippi Department of Corrections operates and maintains the South Mississippi Correctional Facility within the county;

(b) In 1996, additional facilities to house another one thousand four hundred sixteen (1,416) male offenders were constructed at the South Mississippi Correctional Facility within the county; and

(c) The patrolling of the state properties located within the county has imposed additional duties on the sheriff justifying additional compensation.

(10) In addition to the salary provided in subsection (1) of this section, the board of supervisors of any county, in its discretion, may pay an annual supplement to the sheriff of the county in an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). The amount of the supplement shall be spread on the minutes of the board. The annual supplement authorized in this subsection shall not be in addition to the annual supplements authorized in subsections (2) through (9).

(11) (a) The salaries provided in this section shall be payable monthly on the first day of each calendar month by chancery clerk's warrant drawn on the general fund of the county; however, the board of supervisors, by resolution duly adopted and entered on its minutes, may provide that such salaries shall be paid semimonthly on the first and fifteenth day of each month. If a pay date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, salary payments shall be made on the workday immediately preceding the weekend or legal holiday.

(b) At least Ten Dollars ($10.00) from each fee collected and deposited into the county's general fund under the provisions of paragraphs (a), (c) and (g) of subsection (1) of Section 25-7-19 shall be used for the sheriffs' salaries authorized in Section 25-3-25; as such Ten Dollar ($10.00) amount was authorized during the 2007 Regular Session in Chapter 331, Laws of 2007, for the purpose of providing additional monies to the counties for sheriffs' salaries.

(12) (a) All sheriffs, each year, shall attend twenty (20) hours of continuing education courses in law enforcement. Such courses shall be approved by the Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training. Such education courses may be provided by an accredited law enforcement academy or by the Mississippi Sheriffs' Association.

(b) The Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training shall reimburse each county for the expenses incurred by sheriffs and deputy sheriffs for attendance at any approved training programs as required by this subsection.

SECTION 24. Section 25-3-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-27. The board of supervisors of any county having two judicial districts may, in the discretion of said board, pay a salary of not less than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) nor more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) to a regularly appointed deputy sheriff, who shall reside in and serve in the judicial district of the county other than the judicial district in which the sheriff of the county resides, provided the sheriff's office in both districts shall be kept open for official business during the hours required by law.

The board of supervisors of any county having two judicial districts with an assessed valuation of less than Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000.00) shall pay a salary of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than Fifteen Hundred Dollars ($1500.00) per annum to a regularly appointed deputy sheriff, who shall reside in and serve in the judicial district of the county other than the judicial district of the county in which the sheriff resides, provided the sheriff's office in both districts be kept open for official business during the hours required by law.

The board of supervisors of any county having two judicial districts, having a population of less than fifteen thousand (15,000) according to the last federal census, and situated partly inside and partly outside the Yazoo-Mississippi Valley Delta may pay a salary of not less than Two Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($2,400.00) nor more than Five Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($5,400.00) per annum to a regularly appointed deputy sheriff, who shall reside in and serve in the judicial district of the county other than the judicial district of the county in which the sheriff resides, provided the sheriff's office in both districts be kept open for official business during the hours required by law.

The board of supervisors of any county having an assessed valuation of not exceeding Six Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($6,250,000.00) and having situated within its boundaries two federal flood control reservoirs, or parts of said reservoirs, shall pay a salary of Fifteen Hundred Dollars ($1500.00) per annum to a regularly appointed deputy sheriff, who shall reside in and serve in the judicial district of the county other than the judicial district of the county in which the sheriff resides, provided the sheriff's office in both districts be kept open for official business during the hours required by law.

SECTION 25. Section 25-3-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-29. Except as otherwise therein provided, the salaries mentioned in the foregoing sections shall be paid monthly out of the general county fund, and the salaries and allowances shall be included in the budget of each county; however, the board of supervisors, by resolution duly adopted and entered on its minutes, may provide that such salaries shall be paid semimonthly on the first and fifteenth day of each month or every two (2) weeks. If a pay date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, salary payments shall be made on the workday immediately preceding the weekend or legal holiday.

SECTION 26. Section 25-3-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-31. The annual salaries of the following elected state and district officers are fixed as follows:

Governor....................................... $122,160.00

Attorney General................................ 108,960.00

Secretary of State.............................. 90,000.00

Commissioner of Insurance....................... 90,000.00

State Treasurer................................. 90,000.00

State Auditor of Public Accounts................ 90,000.00

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce......... 90,000.00

Transportation Commissioners.................... 78,000.00

Public Service Commissioners.................... 78,000.00

If the person serving as Governor on December 31, 2003, is reelected to the Office of Governor for the term beginning in the year 2004, he may choose not to receive the salary increase authorized by this section, but to receive, instead, an annual salary of One Hundred One Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($101,800.00) during his new term of office by filing a written request with the Department of Finance and Administration.

SECTION 27. Section 25-3-34, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-34. (1) In addition to the salary provided in Section 25-3-33, any appointive state and district official and employee provided therein shall receive the award of an education benchmark as defined in State Personnel Board rules for the possession or attainment of any of the following:

(a) The Certified Public Manager designation;

(b) A job-related Ph.D (Doctor of Philosophy) degree which is not required as a minimum qualification of the position;

(c) A job related certification, licensure or registration requiring the passage of an examination, which is not required as a minimum qualification of the position.

(2) No such official or employee may receive more than a total of three (3) eligible benchmarks, only one of which may be for a job related certification, licensure or registration.

(3) The State Personnel Board shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.

SECTION 28. Section 25-3-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-35. (1) The annual salaries of the following judges are fixed as follows:

From and after January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court............... $126,292.50

Presiding Justices of the Supreme Court, each.... 123,600.75

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, each.... 122,460.00

From and after January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court............... $137,195.00

Presiding Justices of the Supreme Court, each.... 134,011.50

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, each.... 132,390.00

From and after January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court............... $148,097.50

Presiding Justices of the Supreme Court, each.... 144,422.25

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, each.... 142,320.00

From and after January 1, 2016:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court............... $159,000.00

Presiding Justices of the Supreme Court, each.... 154,833.00

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, each.... 152,250.00

There are imposed upon the Supreme Court justices the extra duties of taking all necessary action to promote judicial education in schools, intervention courts, electronic filing and case management systems as developed by the Administrative Office of Courts, or such other additional duties as may be assigned by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. For such extra services each justice, from and after January 1, 2013, shall receive a sum sufficient to aggregate, per annum, the salaries set forth in this subsection (1).

The fixed salaries in this subsection (1) shall be paid from the State General Fund and from the Judicial System Operation Fund created under Section 9-21-45. No less than: One Hundred Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred Ninety Dollars ($115,390.00) of the Chief Justice's salary in this subsection (1), One Hundred Thirteen Thousand One Hundred Ninety Dollars ($113,190.00) of the salary of a presiding justice in this subsection (1), and One Hundred Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Thirty Dollars ($112,530.00) of the salary of an associate justice in this subsection (1) shall be paid from general fund monies; in addition, the Legislature shall appropriate annually from the Judicial System Operation Fund a sum sufficient to increase the salary of the Chief Justice, a presiding justice and an associate justice to the levels set forth in this subsection (1).

The fixed salaries as specified in this subsection (1) shall be the exclusive and total compensation which can be reported to the Public Employees' Retirement System for retirement purposes; however, any judge in office on December 31, 2003, may continue to report his expense allowance as part of his compensation for retirement purposes.

(2) The annual salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeals of Mississippi are fixed as follows:

From and after January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013:

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.............. $117,992.00

Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, each... 114,994.25

From and after January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014:

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.............. $127,854.00

Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, each... 124,938.50

From and after January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015:

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.............. $137,716.00

Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, each... 134,882.75

From and after January 1, 2016:

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.............. $147,578.00

Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, each... 144,827.00

From and after January 1, 2013, each judge shall receive a sum sufficient to aggregate, per annum, the salaries set forth in this subsection (2).

The fixed salaries in this subsection (2) shall be paid from the State General Fund and from the Judicial System Operation Fund created under Section 9-21-45. No less than One Hundred Eight Thousand One Hundred Thirty Dollars ($108,130.00) of the Chief Judge's salary in this subsection (2) shall be paid from general fund monies; in addition, the Legislature shall appropriate annually from the Judicial System Operation Fund a sum sufficient to increase the Chief Judge's salary to the level set forth in this subsection (2). No less than One Hundred Five Thousand Fifty Dollars ($105,050.00) of the salary of an associate judge in this subsection (2) shall be paid from general fund monies; in addition, the Legislature shall appropriate annually from the Judicial System Operation Fund a sum sufficient to increase the salary of an associate judge to the level set forth in this subsection (2).

The fixed salaries as specified in this subsection (2) shall be the exclusive and total compensation which can be reported to the Public Employees' Retirement System for retirement purposes; however, any judge in office on December 31, 2003, may continue to report his expense allowance as part of his compensation for retirement purposes.

(3) The annual salaries of the chancery and circuit court judges are fixed as follows:

From and after January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013:

Chancery Judges, each........................... $112,127.50

Circuit Judges, each............................ 112,127.50

From and after January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014:

Chancery Judges, each........................... $120,085.00

Circuit Judges, each............................ 120,085.00

From and after January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015:

Chancery Judges, each........................... $128,042.50

Circuit Judges, each............................ 128,042.50

From and after January 1, 2016:

Chancery Judges, each........................... $136,000.00

Circuit Judges, each............................ 136,000.00

In addition to their present official duties, the circuit and chancery judges shall take necessary action to promote judicial education in schools, intervention courts, electronic filing and case management systems as developed by the Administrative Office of Courts, or such other additional duties as may be assigned by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. For such extra services each judge, from and after January 1, 2013, shall receive a sum sufficient to aggregate, per annum, the salaries set forth in this subsection (3).

The fixed salaries in this subsection (3) shall be paid from the State General Fund and from the Judicial System Operation Fund created under Section 9-21-45. No less than One Hundred Four Thousand One Hundred Seventy Dollars ($104,170.00) of the salary of a chancery or circuit judge in this subsection (3) shall be paid from general fund monies; in addition, the Legislature shall appropriate annually from the Judicial System Operation Fund a sum sufficient to increase the salary of a chancery or circuit judge to the levels set forth in this subsection (3).

(4) From and after January 1, 2019, and every four (4) years thereafter, the annual salaries of the judges in subsections (1), (2) and (3) shall be fixed at the level of compensation recommended by the State Personnel Board according to the board's most recent report on judicial salaries, as required under Section 25-9-115, to the extent that sufficient funds are available. The annual salaries fixed in accordance with this subsection (4) shall not become effective until the commencement of the next immediately succeeding term of office.

(5) The Supreme Court shall prepare a payroll for chancery judges and circuit judges and submit such payroll to the Department of Finance and Administration.

(6) The annual salary of the full-time district attorneys shall be:

From and after January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013:

One Hundred Three Thousand Three Hundred Twenty-two Dollars ($103,322.00).

From and after January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014:

One Hundred Ten Thousand Eight Hundred Forty-eight Dollars ($110,848.00).

From and after January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015:

One Hundred Eighteen Thousand Three Hundred Seventy-four Dollars ($118,374.00).

From and after January 1, 2016:

One Hundred Twenty-five Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars ($125,900.00).

(7) The annual salary of the full-time legal assistants shall be not less than Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) nor more than eighty percent (80%) of the salary of the district attorney for legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for five (5) years or less; eighty-five percent (85%) of the salary of the district attorney for legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for at least five (5) years but less than fifteen (15) years; and ninety percent (90%) of the salary of the district attorney for legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for at least fifteen (15) years or more.

SECTION 29. Section 25-3-36, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-36. (1) Until October 1, 2008, every justice court judge shall receive as full compensation for his or her services, and in lieu of any and all other fees, costs or compensation heretofore authorized for such justice court judge, an annual salary based upon the population of his or her county according to the latest federal decennial census; however, no justice court judge shall be paid less than the salary authorized under this section to be paid the justice court judge based upon the population of the county according to the 1980 federal decennial census. The amount of which salary shall be determined as follows:

(a) In counties with a population of more than two hundred thousand (200,000), a salary of Fifty-five Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-nine Dollars ($55,559.00).

(b) In counties with a population of more than one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) but not more than two hundred thousand (200,000), a salary of Fifty-one Thousand Five Dollars ($51,005.00).

(c) In counties with a population of more than seventy-five thousand (75,000) but not more than one hundred fifty thousand (150,000), a salary of Forty-six Thousand Four Hundred Fifty-one Dollars ($46,451.00).

(d) In counties with a population of more than forty-nine thousand (49,000) but not more than seventy-five thousand (75,000), a salary of Forty Thousand Seventy-five Dollars ($40,075.00).

(e) In counties with a population of more than thirty-four thousand (34,000) but not more than forty-nine thousand (49,000), a salary of Thirty-four Thousand Six Hundred Ten Dollars ($34,610.00).

(f) In counties with a population of more than twenty-four thousand five hundred (24,500) but not more than thirty-four thousand (34,000), a salary of Thirty-two Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty-nine Dollars ($32,789.00).

(g) In counties with a population of more than twenty-one thousand (21,000) but not more than twenty-four thousand five hundred (24,500), a salary of Twenty-nine Thousand One Hundred Forty-six Dollars ($29,146.00).

(h) In counties with a population of more than sixteen thousand five hundred (16,500) but not more than twenty-one thousand (21,000), a salary of Twenty-five Thousand Five Hundred Two Dollars ($25,502.00).

(i) In counties with a population of more than twelve thousand (12,000) but not more than sixteen thousand five hundred (16,500), a salary of Twenty-one Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty-nine Dollars ($21,859.00).

(j) In counties with a population of more than eight thousand (8,000) but not more than twelve thousand (12,000), a salary of Eighteen Thousand Dollars ($18,000.00).

(k) In counties with a population of eight thousand (8,000) or less, a salary of Fourteen Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($14,400.00).

The board of supervisors of any county having two (2) judicial districts and two (2) justice court judges for the county shall pay each justice court judge an amount equal to that provided in this subsection for judges in the next higher population category per year, if the justice court judge maintains regular office hours and is personally present in the office they maintain for at least thirty (30) hours per week.

In any county having a population greater than eight thousand (8,000) but less than eight thousand five hundred (8,500) according to the 1990 federal decennial census and in which U.S. Highway 61 and Mississippi Highway 4 intersect, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay such justice court judges an additional amount not to exceed the sum of Eleven Thousand Five Hundred Fifty Dollars ($11,550.00) per year, payable beginning April 1, 1997.

In any county having a population greater than ten thousand (10,000) but less than ten thousand five hundred (10,500) according to the 1990 federal decennial census and in which Mississippi Highway 3 and Mississippi Highway 6 intersect, the board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay such justice court judges an additional amount not to exceed One Thousand Four Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,450.00) per year, payable beginning April 1, 1997.

In any county having a population greater than twenty-four thousand seven hundred (24,700) and less than twenty-four thousand nine hundred (24,900), according to the 1990 federal census, wherein Mississippi Highways 15 and 16 intersect, the board of supervisors shall pay such justice court judge an additional amount equal to Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) per year.

(2) From and after October 1, 2008, every justice court judge shall receive as full compensation for his or her services, and in lieu of any and all other fees, costs or compensation heretofore authorized for such justice court judge, an annual salary in an amount that is the greater of the following:

(a) The amount paid to a member of the board of supervisors in the same county in which the justice court judge presides; or

(b) One hundred three percent (103%) of the salary authorized under this section as of September 30, 2008, for a justice court judge in that county.

If supervisors of a county receive a salary increase, justice court judges whose salary is determined under this paragraph shall be paid an amount reflecting a commensurate increase.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, in the event that the number of justice court judges authorized pursuant to Section 9-11-2(1) is exceeded pursuant to the provisions of Section 9-11-2(4), the aggregate of the salaries paid to the justice court judges of such a county shall not exceed the amount sufficient to pay the number of justice court judges authorized pursuant to Section 9-11-2(1), and such amount shall be equally divided among those justice court judges continuing to hold office under the provisions of Section 9-11-2(4).

(4) From and after January 1, 1984, all fees, costs, fines and penalties charged and collected in the justice court shall be paid to the clerk of the justice court for deposit, along with monies from cash bonds and other monies which have been forfeited in criminal cases, into the general fund of the county as provided in Section 9-11-19; and the clerk of the board of supervisors shall be authorized and empowered, upon approval by the board of supervisors, to make disbursements and withdrawals from the general fund of the county in order to pay any reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in complying with this section, including payment of the salaries of justice court judges as provided by subsection (1) of this section. The provisions of this subsection shall not, except as to cash bonds and other monies which have been forfeited in criminal cases, apply to monies required to be deposited in the justice court clerk clearing account as provided in Section 9-11-18, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(5) The salaries provided for in this section shall be payable monthly by warrant drawn by the clerk of the board of supervisors on the general fund of the county; however, the board of supervisors, by resolution duly adopted and entered on its minutes, may provide that such salaries shall be paid semimonthly on the first and fifteenth day of each month or every two (2) weeks pursuant to Section 25-3-29. If a pay date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, salary payments shall be made on the workday immediately preceding the weekend or legal holiday.

(6) Provided, that the salary of any justice court judge shall not be reduced during his term of office as a result of a population change following a federal decennial census.

(7) Any justice court judge who is unable to attend and hold court by reason of being under suspension by the Commission on Judicial Performance or the Mississippi Supreme Court shall not receive a salary while under such suspension.

SECTION 30. Section 25-3-37, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-37. (1) It is expressly provided that the salaries fixed in Sections 25-3-31 through 25-3-35 shall be the full and complete compensation for all public duties rendered by all public officers and public employees designated therein whatever the source of funds, whether appropriated from the State General Fund or allotted from federal funds received by the respective state agencies where such officers and employees are employed. All laws, parts of laws, regulations, or other authority which may have heretofore provided supplemental compensation or expenses of which no itemization therefor was made to the State Auditor of Public Accounts are hereby invalidated and held for naught.

(2) In the event the Commissioner of Public Safety and the highway patrol chief are entitled to longevity pay as provided by law, this section shall not be construed to prohibit the payment thereof.

(3) This section shall not be construed to affect employees of the Mississippi State Penitentiary, the Department of Mental Health and the Governor as pertains to housing, medical care, wholesale food purchases, and other financial benefits or emoluments as pertains to their state employment.

SECTION 31. Section 25-3-38, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-38. The salary for appointive and/or employed officials established herein shall be the total and complete salary, and it shall be unlawful for any additional funds to be paid from any source, including federal or private funds, to supplement salaries to a level in excess of that established herein. If any public officer or employee shall knowingly and wilfully violate the provisions of this section, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), and in addition, shall vacate the office or position which he holds.

SECTION 32. Section 25-3-39, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-39. (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no public officer, public employee, administrator, or executive head of any arm or agency of the state, in the executive branch of government, shall be paid a salary or compensation, directly or indirectly, greater than one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the salary fixed in Section 25-3-31 for the Governor, nor shall the salary of any public officer, public employee, administrator, or executive head of any arm or agency of the state, in the executive branch of government, be supplemented with any funds from any source, including federal or private funds. Such salaries shall be completely paid by the state. All academic officials, members of the teaching staffs and employees of the state institutions of higher learning, the Mississippi Community College Board, and community and junior colleges, and licensed physicians who are public employees, shall be exempt from this subsection. All professional employees who hold a bachelor's degree or more advanced degree from an accredited four-year college or university or a certificate or license issued by a state licensing board, commission or agency and who are employed by the Department of Mental Health shall be exempt from this subsection if the State Personnel Board approves the exemption. The Commissioner of Child Protection Services is exempt from this subsection. From and after July 1, 2018, the Executive Director of the Public Employees' Retirement System and the Chief Investment Officer of the Public Employees' Retirement System shall be exempt from this subsection.

(b) The Governor shall fix the annual salary of the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, the annual salary of the Commissioner of Child Protection Services, and the annual salary of the Chief of Staff of the Governor's Office. The salary of the Governor's Chief of Staff shall not be greater than one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the salary of the Governor and shall be completely paid by the state without supplementation from another source. The salary of the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority may be greater than one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the salary of the Governor and may be supplemented with funds from any source, including federal or private funds; however, any state funds used to pay the salary of the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority shall not exceed one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the salary of the Governor. If the executive director's salary is supplemented with private funds, the Mississippi Development Authority shall publish on its website the amount of the supplement and the name of the donor of the private funds.

(2) No public officer, employee or administrator shall be paid a salary or compensation, directly or indirectly, in excess of the salary authorized to be paid the executive head of the state agency or department in which he is employed. The State Personnel Board, based upon its findings of fact, may exempt physicians and actuaries from this subsection when the acquisition of such professional services is precluded based on the prevailing wage in the relevant labor market.

(3) The executive head of any state agency or department appointed by the Governor, in such executive head's discretion, may waive all or any portion of the salary or compensation lawfully established for the position.

SECTION 33. Section 25-3-39.1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-39.1. The compensation of the Deputy Commissioner of Insurance shall be fixed by the Commissioner of Insurance, subject to approval by the State Personnel Board, and shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 25-3-39.

SECTION 34. Section 25-3-40, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-40. On July 1, 1978, and each year thereafter, the Mississippi Compensation Plan shall be amended to provide salary increases in such amounts and percentages as might be recommended by the Legislative Budget Office and as may be authorized by funds appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of granting incentive salary increases as deemed possible dependent upon the availability of general and special funds.

It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Mississippi Legislature to implement the minimum wage as enacted by statutory law of the United States Congress subject to funds being available for that purpose. It is the intent and purpose of this section to maximize annual salary increases consistent with the availability of funds as might be determined by the Mississippi Legislature at its regular annual session and that all salary increases hereafter be made consistent with the provisions of this section.

SECTION 35. Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-41. (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (10) of this section, when any officer or employee of the State of Mississippi, or any department, agency or institution thereof, after first being duly authorized, is required to travel in the performance of his official duties, the officer or employee shall receive as expenses for each mile actually and necessarily traveled, when the travel is done by a privately owned automobile or other privately owned motor vehicle, the mileage reimbursement rate allowable to federal employees for the use of a privately owned vehicle while on official travel.

(2) When any officer or employee of any county or municipality, or of any agency, board or commission thereof, after first being duly authorized, is required to travel in the performance of his official duties, the officer or employee shall receive as expenses Twenty Cents (20�) for each mile actually and necessarily traveled, when the travel is done by a privately owned motor vehicle; provided, however, that the governing authorities of a county or municipality may, in their discretion, authorize an increase in the mileage reimbursement of officers and employees of the county or municipality, or of any agency, board or commission thereof, in an amount not to exceed the mileage reimbursement rate authorized for officers and employees of the State of Mississippi in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) Where two (2) or more officers or employees travel in one (1) privately owned motor vehicle, only one (1) travel expense allowance at the authorized rate per mile shall be allowed for any one (1) trip. When the travel is done by means of a public carrier or other means not involving a privately owned motor vehicle, then the officer or employee shall receive as travel expense the actual fare or other expenses incurred in such travel.

(4) In addition to the foregoing, a public officer or employee shall be reimbursed for other actual expenses such as meals, lodging and other necessary expenses incurred in the course of the travel, subject to limitations placed on meals for intrastate and interstate official travel by the Department of Finance and Administration, provided, that the Legislative Budget Office shall place any limitations for expenditures made on matters under the jurisdiction of the Legislature. The Department of Finance and Administration shall set a maximum daily expenditure annually for such meals and shall notify officers and employees of changes to these allowances immediately upon approval of the changes. Travel by airline shall be at the tourist rate unless that space was unavailable. The officer or employee shall certify that tourist accommodations were not available if travel is performed in first class airline accommodations. Itemized expense accounts shall be submitted by those officers or employees in such number as the department, agency or institution may require; but in any case one (1) copy shall be furnished by state departments, agencies or institutions to the Department of Finance and Administration for preaudit or postaudit. The Department of Finance and Administration shall promulgate and adopt reasonable rules and regulations which it deems necessary and requisite to effectuate economies for all expenses authorized and paid pursuant to this section. Requisitions shall be made on the State Fiscal Officer who shall issue his warrant on the State Treasurer. Provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not include agencies financed entirely by federal funds and audited by federal auditors.

(5) Any officer or employee of a county or municipality, or any department, board or commission thereof, who is required to travel in the performance of his official duties, may receive funds before the travel, in the discretion of the administrative head of the county or municipal department, board or commission involved, for the purpose of paying necessary expenses incurred during the travel. Upon return from the travel, the officer or employee shall provide receipts of transportation, lodging, meals, fees and any other expenses incurred during the travel. Any portion of the funds advanced which is not expended during the travel shall be returned by the officer or employee. The Department of Audit shall adopt rules and regulations regarding advance payment of travel expenses and submission of receipts to ensure proper control and strict accountability for those payments and expenses.

(6) No state or federal funds received from any source by any arm or agency of the state shall be expended in traveling outside of the continental limits of the United States until the governing body or head of the agency makes a finding and determination that the travel would be extremely beneficial to the state agency and obtains a written concurrence thereof from the Governor, or his designee, and the Department of Finance and Administration. However, employees of state institutions of higher learning may expend funds for travel outside of the continental limits of the United States upon a written finding by the president or head of the institution that the travel would be extremely beneficial to the institution.

(7) Where any officer or employee of the State of Mississippi, or any department, agency or institution thereof, or of any county or municipality, or of any agency, board or commission thereof, is authorized to receive travel reimbursement under any other provision of law, the reimbursement may be paid under the provisions of this section or the other section, but not under both.

(8) When the Governor, Lieutenant Governor or Speaker of the House of Representatives appoints a person to a board, commission or other position that requires confirmation by the Senate, the person may receive reimbursement for mileage and other actual expenses incurred in the performance of official duties before the appointment is confirmed by the Senate, as reimbursement for those expenses is authorized under this section.

(9) (a) The Department of Finance and Administration may contract with one or more commercial travel agencies, after receiving competitive bids or proposals therefor, for that travel agency or agencies to provide necessary travel services for state officers and employees. Municipal and county officers and municipal and county employees may also participate in the state travel agency contract and utilize these travel services for official municipal or county travel. However, the administrative head of each state institution of higher learning may, in his discretion, contract with a commercial travel agency to provide necessary travel services for all academic officials and staff of the university in lieu of participation in the state travel agency contract. Any such decision by a university to contract with a separate travel agency shall be approved by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration.

(b) Before executing a contract with one or more travel agencies, the Department of Finance and Administration shall advertise for competitive bids or proposals once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a regular newspaper having a general circulation throughout the State of Mississippi. If the department determines that it should not contract with any of the bidders initially submitting proposals, the department may reject all those bids, advertise as provided in this paragraph and receive new proposals before executing the contract or contracts. The contract or contracts may be for a period not greater than three (3) years, with an option for the travel agency or agencies to renew the contract or contracts on a one-year basis on the same terms as the original contract or contracts, for a maximum of two (2) renewals. After the travel agency or agencies have renewed the contract twice or have declined to renew the contract for the maximum number of times, the Department of Finance and Administration shall advertise for bids in the manner required by this paragraph and execute a new contract or contracts.

(c) Whenever any state officer or employee travels in the performance of his official duties by airline or other public carrier, he may have his travel arrangements handled by that travel agency or agencies. The amount paid for airline transportation for any state officer or employee, whether the travel was arranged by that travel agency or agencies or was arranged otherwise, shall not exceed the amount specified in the state contract established by the Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Purchasing and Travel, unless prior approval is obtained from the office.

(10) (a) For purposes of this subsection, the term "state agency" means any agency that is subject to oversight by the Bureau of Fleet Management of the Department of Finance and Administration under Section 25-1-77.

(b) Each state agency shall use a trip optimizer type system developed and administered by the Department of Finance and Administration in computing the optimum method and cost for travel by state officers and employees using a motor vehicle where the travel will exceed one hundred (100) miles per day and the officer or employee is not driving a state-owned or state-leased vehicle that has been dedicated or assigned to the officer or employee.

(c) The provisions of this subsection shall be used to determine the most cost-effective method of travel by motor vehicles, whether those vehicles are owned by the state agency, leased by the state agency, or owned by the officer or employee, and shall be applicable for purposes of determining the maximum authorized amount of any travel reimbursement for officers and employees of those agencies related to vehicle usage.

(d) The maximum authorized amount of travel reimbursement related to motor vehicle usage shall be the lowest cost option as determined by the trip optimizer type system. All travel claims submitted for reimbursement shall include the results of the trip optimizer type system indicating the lowest cost option for travel by the state officer or employee.

(e) In providing a calculation of rates, the trip optimizer type system shall account for the distance that an officer or employee must travel to pick up a rental or state fleet vehicle, and shall account for the long-term rate discounts offered through the state purchasing contract for vehicle rentals.

(f) This subsection shall not apply to travel by state officials in motor vehicles driven by the official or in vehicles used for the transport of the official. The exemption in this paragraph (f) applies only to the state official and not to the staff or other employees of the state official. As used in this paragraph (f), "state official" means statewide elected officials and the elected members of the Public Service Commission.

SECTION 36. Section 25-3-43, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-43. (1) When any chancery judge, county judge or circuit judge shall be required to travel in the performance of his official duties, such judge shall receive as expenses of such travel the mileage allowance and a reimbursement for other actual and necessary expenses incurred in such travel as provided for public officers and employees in Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972. This shall be the entire travel allowances or travel expenses received by such judges.

(2) Chancery judges and circuit judges shall direct requests for reimbursement for the travel expenses authorized pursuant to this section to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court shall submit such requests to the Department of Finance and Administration.

(3) The Supreme Court shall have the power to adopt rules and regulations regarding the administration of travel expenses authorized pursuant to this section.

(4) In any county in which is located a State Penitentiary, the board of supervisors, in order to compensate the justice court judges who are required to travel to the State Penitentiary, is authorized to reimburse justice court judges' mileage in the amount authorized by Section 25-3-41, but not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per month, such monies to be paid from the general county fund of such county.

(5) In addition to the regular salary provided by Section 25-3-35 and the mileage reimbursement provided by Section 25-3-41, each Supreme Court Justice and each judge of the Court of Appeals shall receive an expense allowance as specified in this subsection. The expense allowance shall be equal to the maximum daily expense rate allowable to employees of the federal government for travel in the high rate geographical area of Jackson, Mississippi, as may be established by federal regulations, per day, for each day while actually attending to judicial duties in Jackson, Mississippi, not to exceed twenty (20) days per month.

SECTION 37. Section 25-3-45, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-45. It shall be unlawful for any person to claim, receive, approve, or allow any item of expense for official travel in excess of that authorized by Section 25-3-41.

If any person shall knowingly and willfully violate any of the provisions of said section, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) and, in addition, shall be removed from the office or position which he holds. Such person shall also be civilly liable for the full amount of the expense account illegally received, allowed, or approved by him, and the person receiving same shall be so liable whether the violation be willful or not.

SECTION 38. Section 25-3-47, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-47. Unless otherwise expressly fixed or provided by law, the heads of the departments hereinabove enumerated shall each select and appoint his or their respective subordinates, and may at any time remove a subordinate and appoint his successor; and the subordinate shall perform such duties as shall be prescribed by the said head or heads of his department. Unless as to a particular subordinate, some other form of oath is prescribed by law, every subordinate shall take and subscribe an oath well and faithfully to perform all the duties incumbent upon him, which oath shall be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State.

SECTION 39. Section 25-3-49, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-49. In case of the death, resignation, or removal from office of any of the officers mentioned in Section 25-3-47, the person elected or appointed, temporarily or permanently, to fill such vacancy shall, from the time he shall enter upon the discharge of his official duties, receive the compensation authorized by this chapter, and at the same rate for any period of time less than one (1) year, and for so long as the person shall serve as such officer.

SECTION 40. Section 25-3-51, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-51. Any officer of this state who receives a salary may, when the duties of his office will best permit, be absent from the state not more than one (1) month in any one (1) year without any deduction from his salary; but the State Treasurer, the Secretary of State, and Auditor of Public Accounts shall, while absent, leave their offices so attended as to produce no injury to persons having business in said offices. If any officer who receives a salary shall be absent from the state without the consent of the Governor for a longer time than one (1) month in any one (1) year, he shall be subject to a pro rata deduction from his salary for the length of time he shall be absent more than one (1) month; and, on his return, before he shall be entitled to any warrant on the Treasury for his salary or any part thereof thereafter accruing, he shall make oath to the number of days he shall have been absent beyond one (1) month and file the same in the Office of the Auditor of Public Accounts; and it shall be the duty of the auditor to deduct twice the number of days so sworn to from the time for which the salary of such officer may be estimated.

SECTION 41. Section 25-3-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-53. When a special commission shall issue for the holding of a term of any circuit, county or chancery court by a special judge, or for the trial or hearing by such officer of any case in any such court because of the disqualification or disability of the judge or chancellor thereof (or where, because of the disqualification of the judge or chancellor, the attorneys involved have agreed upon a member of the bar to preside as special judge), the special judge shall receive compensation as provided in Section 9-1-105, for the time he shall serve as such, and the Fiscal Management Board shall issue its warrant therefor on the certificate of the clerk of the court in which the services were rendered for the time served.

SECTION 42. Section 25-3-55, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-55. When a special judge or special judges shall be commissioned to preside in any cause in the Supreme Court, or during any term thereof or during the disability or disqualification of any of the judges of said court, such special judge or judges shall each be entitled to the compensation provided for in Section 9-1-105. Each judge so serving shall make out an itemized account of the number of days he in good faith served, and make affidavit to same and file it with the Clerk of the Supreme Court. The said clerk shall issue a certificate showing the length of time such special judge or judges served, and the Fiscal Management Board shall issue its warrant therefor.

SECTION 43. Section 25-3-57, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-57. In case any judge of the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals or of a circuit court or chancery court shall fail to attend at any term of court which either of them is required by law to hold, or in case the Attorney General or any district attorney shall fail to attend at any court which he is required to attend officially, it shall be the duty of the clerk of such court to certify the number of days such judge, chancellor, Attorney General, or district attorney was absent at each term of the court to the Auditor of Public Accounts, who shall deduct twice the number of days so certified from the time for which the salary of such officer may be estimated, unless such officer shall make oath, and file the same in the Auditor's office, that his absence was occasioned by sickness of himself or his family, or that his attendance was prevented by high water, the prevalence of an epidemic or contagious disease, or by accident not within his control.

SECTION 44. Section 25-3-59, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-59. In case a public service commissioner shall fail to attend at any meeting or session of the public service commission appointed for the transaction of business, he shall be subject to a pro rata deduction from his salary; and the executive secretary of said commission or, in his absence, the commissioner or commissioners present shall certify to the auditor of public accounts the number of days such commissioner was absent at each meeting or session. The auditor shall deduct twice the number of days so certified from the time for which the salary of such commissioner may be estimated, unless such commissioner shall make and file an affidavit in the auditor's office that his absence was occasioned by sickness of himself or a member of his family, or by the prevalence of an epidemic or a contagious disease, or by means not within his control.

SECTION 45. Section 25-3-61, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-61. The Governor may grant leave of absence for a time not to exceed three (3) months in the year to any officer at a time when the duties of his office will admit of the absence without injury to the public service; but a judge, district attorney, and the Attorney General shall not have a leave of absence which will interfere with his presence at any term of court at which he should be present. Nor shall a public service commissioner have a leave of absence which will interfere with his presence at any session or meeting of the Public Service Commission.

SECTION 46. Section 25-3-67, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-67. The governing authorities of any municipality may, within their discretion, deduct from the salary of any individual municipal employee an amount to be deposited with the municipal credit union, contributions for the United Way, life, health and accident insurance and United States Savings Bonds, if a request for such deductions is made in writing by the employee.

SECTION 47. Section 25-3-69, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-69. Unless otherwise provided by law, all officers and employees of state agencies, boards, commissions, departments and institutions authorized by law to receive per diem compensation for each day or fraction thereof occupied with the discharge of official duties shall be entitled to Forty Dollars ($40.00) per diem compensation. When the Governor, Lieutenant Governor or Speaker of the House of Representatives appoints a person to a board, commission or other position that requires confirmation by the Senate, the person may receive per diem compensation for the performance of official duties before such appointment is confirmed by the Senate, as such per diem compensation is authorized under this section.

SECTION 48. Section 25-3-71, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

25-3-71. The State Personnel Board shall prepare a written legislative report to be submitted to the members of the Mississippi Legislature on December 1, 1988, and on December 1 of every year thereafter, making recommendations on any salary increases and the amounts deemed necessary for all state and county elected officials and state appointed officials whose salaries are established by statute.

SECTION 49. Section 71-1-45, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

71-1-45. No assignment or pledge of wages, in any form, made or executed directly or collaterally in the payment of, or as security for, the purchase of or contract to purchase any goods, wares, or merchandise shall be valid against or binding upon any employer, or the wages of any employee in the hands of, or owing, or to become owing to such employee, unless the assignee or pledgee thereof shall, prior to the delivery of the goods, wares, or merchandise so purchased or prior to consummation of any contract to purchase the same, serve upon the employer of such assignor, or pledgor, a duly executed copy of such assignment, or pledge, or contract to purchase and obtain such employer's acceptance of notice thereof and agreement in writing to be bound by the terms of such assignment or pledge.

SECTION 50. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage