Bill Text: MS HB878 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: MS Teachers' Salaries Task Force; create to recommend how state can pay teachers at southeastern average.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2021-02-02 - Died In Committee [HB878 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2021-HB878-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Education; Appropriations
By: Representative Scott
House Bill 878
AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI TEACHERS' SALARIES TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW THE STATE MAY INCREASE FUNDING FOR TEACHERS' SALARIES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN SALARIES AT THE SOUTHEASTERN AVERAGE; TO PRESCRIBE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TASK FORCE; TO REQUIRE THE TASK FORCE TO MAKE A REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE BY DECEMBER 1, 2021; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Mississippi Teachers' Salaries Task Force to study and make recommendations on funding an increase in teachers' salaries so that the average salary of Mississippi teachers consistently equals the average salary of teachers in the southeastern states, as determined annually by the Southern Regional Education Board. More specifically, the task force shall analyze teacher salary information from Mississippi and the southeastern states, along with fiscal data identifying existing and prospective state revenue streams that can be dedicated to teachers' salaries, to determine:
(a) The amount of funds necessary to initially achieve the southeastern average teacher's salary;
(b) Projected amounts necessary to maintain an average salary of Mississippi teachers equal to the southeastern average; and
(c) Realistic existing and potential new sources of recurring state revenue, and how to generate sufficient funding through those sources, to guarantee the existence of a dedicated stream of funds necessary to reach, and then maintain, an average teacher's salary in Mississippi equal to the southeastern average teacher's salary.
(2) The task force shall be composed of five (5) members, as follows:
(a) The State Economist;
(b) The Chair of the State Board of Education;
(c) The President of the Mississippi Economic Council;
(d) The Commissioner of Revenue or a representative of the Department of Revenue appointed by the commissioner; and
(e) A representative of the Mississippi State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) appointed by the president of the conference.
(3) No later than thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act, the task force shall convene and organize by selecting from its membership a chair and a vice chair. The vice chair also will serve as secretary and be responsible for keeping all records of the task force. A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a quorum. In the selection of its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the task force is required. All members must be notified in writing of all meetings, and those notices must be mailed or provided through electronic communications at least fifteen (15) days before the date on which a meeting is to be held. Meetings of the task force will be held at the Office of the State Economist at the University Research Center; however, if it is not feasible for the task force to hold an in-person meeting, the task force may convene utilizing an online meeting platform that is accessible for viewing by the public.
(4) The task force is assigned to the Office of the State Economist for administrative purposes only. The State Economist shall designate professional and clerical staff to assist the task force.
(5) Subject to the availability of funding, members of the task force who are not state employees may be compensated at the per diem rate authorized by Section 25-3-69 and reimbursed in accordance with Section 25-3-41 for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. However, task force members may not incur per diem, travel or other expenses unless previously authorized by vote, at a meeting of the task force, which action must be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting. Per diem and expense payments made pursuant to this subsection may be paid from any funds made available to the task force for that purpose.
(6) The task force shall make a report of its findings and recommendations, including any recommended legislation, to the Legislature before December 1, 2021, at which time the task force will be dissolved.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after passage.
