Bill Text: MS HB975 | 2012 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Budget and Strategic Planning and Policy Commission; create.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)
Status: (Failed) 2012-04-03 - Died In Committee [HB975 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2012-HB975-Comm_Sub.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Appropriations
By: Representatives Frierson, Snowden
House Bill 975
(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
AN ACT TO CREATE AND EMPOWER THE BUDGET AND STRATEGIC PLANNING POLICY COMMISSION; TO PRESCRIBE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION; TO CHARGE THE COMMISSION WITH CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES RELATIVE TO IMPROVING MISSISSIPPI�S SYSTEM OF BUDGETING AND STRATEGIC PLANNING; TO REQUIRE THAT THE COMMISSION MAKE A FINAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 31, 2012; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known as the Budget and Strategic Planning Policy Act of 2012.
SECTION 2. (1) The Legislature finds that:
(a) The Legislature adopted the Budget and Strategic Planning Act of 1994 to achieve enhanced accountability over the use of appropriated funds;
(b) The results of the 1994 act have been mixed with regard to utility and benefit and have generally not been effectively used to provide the Legislature and the Executive Branch with adequate information on the efficiency and effectiveness of the state�s broad range of programs created to provide services to the citizens and taxpayers of Mississippi;
(c) The Legislature, the Executive Branch, and the taxpayers of Mississippi expect that the process by which the state plans the delivery of programs and appropriates funds for these programs must ensure that the agencies of the state are carrying out their mandates and providing services effectively and efficiently; and
(d) Before amending existing state law for the purpose of perfecting the state�s budgeting system, the Legislature and the Governor should agree on the form and content of an improved system of program accountability that is appropriate for the State of Mississippi and that meets the needs of both the Legislature and the Executive Branch in carrying out their respective responsibilities.
(2) The Legislature further finds that addressing these concerns in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is of paramount concern for the Legislature and the Governor.
SECTION 3. (1) There is created the Budget and Strategic Planning Policy Commission consisting of the following members:
(a) The Governor;
(b) The Lieutenant Governor;
(c) The Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives;
(d) The Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee;
(e) The Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee;
(f) Two (2) members of the House Appropriations Committee appointed by the Speaker; and
(g) Two (2) members of the Senate Appropriations Committee appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
(2) The commission shall be charged with the following responsibilities relative to improving Mississippi�s system of budgeting and strategic planning:
(a) To determine the problems associated with the implementation of provisions of the Budget and Strategic Planning Act of 1994 for the purpose of identifying areas in need of perfection or replacement;
(b) To reassess the current budget and strategic planning policies of the state, clearly articulating a vision for any changes needed;
(c) To study models of budgeting, strategic planning, and program accountability that are used in other jurisdictions;
(d) To study and ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of the models studied and assess their appropriateness for use in Mississippi;
(e) To ascertain the data collection, reporting requirements, and evaluation standards that would be appropriate for an enhanced budgeting and strategic planning model for Mississippi; and
(f) To clearly define the roles and responsibilities of any governmental entity tasked with implementing any needed changes identified.
(3) It is the intention of the Legislature that commission meetings be held in open session, but the commission may conduct proceedings in executive session as if it were a legislative committee as provided in Section 25-41-7.
(4) The final report of the commission shall be a public record, as well as agendas and all materials distributed in an open meeting. Any other records or files produced by the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER), the Legislative Budget Office, a state agency, or other staff not distributed in an open meeting shall be entitled to any protections currently afforded them by the Public Records Act of 1983 or by any other law or rule.
(5) The members of the Legislature and the Lieutenant Governor shall be entitled to expenses as provided for in Section 5-1-47. The Governor shall be entitled to travel expenses as provided for in Section 25-3-41.
SECTION 4. (1) The commission shall use the staff of the PEER Committee as a facilitator for its study requirements. To this end, the PEER staff shall be responsible for working with the commission to plan meeting agendas that will allow the commission to address the duties and responsibilities set out for the commission in this act. In addition, the PEER staff shall assist the commission in preparing its final report.
(2) The commission shall have at its disposal members of the Legislature designated by the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House and state officials designated by the Governor. In addition, the commission shall have at its disposal the staffs of the Department of Finance and Administration, Joint Legislative Budget Committee, PEER Committee, and any other state agency or higher education institution for advice and consultation as the commission determines is necessary to carry out its functions and responsibilities. The specific responsibilities of those staffs are as follows:
(a) The staff of the Department of Finance and Administration shall provide input to the commission on strategic planning policy and the capacity of current and future state information systems, including SAAS, SPAHRS, MERLIN, and MAGIC, to support the implementation of any proposed enhancements to the state�s program budgeting and strategic planning system.
(b) The staff of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee shall provide input to the commission regarding the process by which budget and/or legislative appropriation requests should be developed and implemented in light of any emerging budget and strategic planning policy articulated by the commission.
(c) The staff of the PEER Committee shall provide input to the commission on the development and implementation of performance measure management to be used in strategic plans and appropriation bills.
SECTION 5. No later than December 31, 2012, the commission shall issue a final report to the Legislature that shall address the commission�s findings and conclusions regarding budgeting and strategic planning. The report shall contain recommendations regarding the possible revision of the state�s system of budgeting and strategic planning and whether current law should be revised or repealed and replaced with a comprehensive change in the budgeting and strategic planning process. If the commission believes that no changes should be effected at that time, it shall report such a recommendation in the report. Any proposed changes that will require amendments to law shall be accompanied by the necessary draft legislation to implement those changes.
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage, and shall stand repealed on January 1, 2013.
