Bill Text: MS HC26 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Constitution; amend to require Governor, not State Board of Education, to appoint State Superintendent of Education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2017-01-31 - Died In Committee [HC26 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2017-HC26-Introduced.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 Regular Session

To: Constitution

By: Representative Dixon

House Concurrent Resolution 26

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 202, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO REQUIRE THE GOVERNOR, RATHER THAN THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TO APPOINT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM CANDIDATES RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is proposed to the qualified electors of the state:

     Amend Section 202, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

     "Section 202.  * * *(1) Until July 1, 1984, there shall be a Superintendent of Public Education elected at the same time and in the same manner as the Governor, who shall have the qualifications required by the Secretary of State, and hold his office for four (4) years, and until his successor shall be elected and qualified, who shall have the general supervision of the common schools and and of the educational interests of the state, and who shall perform such other duties and receive compensation as shall be prescribed by law.  However, an election for the Superintendent of Public Education shall not be held at the general election in 1983, and the term of the Superintendent of Public Education who was elected at the general election in 1979 shall be extended to July 1, 1984, on which date it shall expire.

      * * *(2) From and after July 1, 1984, There shall be a State Superintendent of Public Education, who shall be appointed by the Governor from recommended candidates selected by the State Board of Education * * *, .  The appointment of the State Superintendent of Public Education, who shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Governor, must be made with the advice and consent of the Senate * * *, and serve at the board's will and pleasure.  He.  The State Superintendent of Public Education shall possess such qualifications as may be prescribed by law.  * * *He The state superintendent shall be the chief administrative officer for the State Department of Education and shall administer the department in accordance with the policies established by the State Board of Education.  * * *He The state superintendent shall perform such other duties and receive such compensation as * * *shall be prescribed by law."

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this proposed amendment shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2018, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows:  "This proposed constitutional amendment changes the manner in which the State Superintendent of Public Education is selected.  Under this amendment, the Governor, rather than the State Board of Education, shall appoint a State Superintendent of Public Education from recommended candidates selected by the State Board of Education."