Bill Text: MS SB2392 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Jackson County Utility Authority; reconstitute board of directors and revise provisions relating to the board.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2020-03-03 - Died In Committee [SB2392 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2020-SB2392-Introduced.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Energy; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

By: Senator(s) England

Senate Bill 2392

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-17-733, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO RECONSTITUTE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE JACKSON COUNTY UTILITY AUTHORITY; TO REDUCE THE LENGTH OF THE APPOINTED TERM FROM SIX YEARS TO FOUR YEARS; TO DELETE THE PROHIBITION AGAINST ELECTED OFFICIALS SERVING ON THE BOARD; TO PROVIDE FOR A QUORUM OF THE BOARD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 49-17-733, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     49-17-733.  (1)  Upon creation of the Jackson County Utility Authority, all powers of the Jackson County Utility Authority shall be exercised by the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority.

     (2)  Upon consolidation of the Jackson County Utility Authority and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Wastewater Authority, the county authority shall be governed by a board consisting of seven (7) directors.  The directors serving on the board on the effective date of this act shall continue to serve until July 1, 2020.  From and after July 1, 2020, the board shall be reconstituted to be composed of the following seven (7) directors:

          (a) * * *  The members of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority shall serve as Directors of the Jackson County Utility Authority until the expiration of their existing terms.  Upon expiration of a member's term, the governing body making the appointment shall appoint a person residing within the corporate boundaries of the governing body to serve as a director.  The City of Pascagoula shall appoint one (1) director who resides within the City of Pascagoula for an initial term of two (2) years.

          (b)  The City of Moss Point shall appoint one (1) director who resides within the City of Moss Point for an initial term of two (2) years.

          (c)  The City of Ocean Springs shall appoint one (1) director who resides within the City of Ocean Springs for an initial term of three (3) years.

          ( * * *bd)  The City of Gautier shall appoint one (1) director who resides within the City of Gautier for an initial term of three (3) years.

          ( * * *ce)  The Board of Supervisors of Jackson County shall appoint * * * two (2) additional three (3) directors for an initial term of two (2), three (3) and four (4) years, respectively, who reside within the unincorporated area of Jackson County.

     (3) * * *  (a)  After expiration of the initial terms, all appointed directors shall serve a term of * * * six (6) four (4) years; however, any director may be removed at the will and pleasure of the appointing authority.

 * * *  (b)  No director shall hold an elected public office.

     (4)  A quorum for any meeting of the board of directors shall be the majority of the seven-member board and four (4) affirmative votes of the majority of the board shall be required to pass any initiatives, other than bond issues, capital improvements or rate increases, which shall require the unanimous consent of all members of the board for passage.

     ( * * *45)  In addition to any other powers and rights conferred upon such board of directors, the board is granted and may exercise all powers and rights granted pursuant to Sections 49-17-739 through 49-17-773 to promote the health, welfare and prosperity of the general public.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

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