Bill Text: MS SB2519 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: County supervisors; create education and certification program for.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-02-23 - Died In Committee [SB2519 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2016-SB2519-Introduced.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2016 Regular Session

To: Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

By: Senator(s) Butler

Senate Bill 2519

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 19-3-77, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE A SUPERVISORS EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR COUNTY SUPERVISORS; TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL SALARY SUPPLEMENT UPON ATTAINING CERTIFICATION; TO AUTHORIZE REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH ATTENDANCE AT THE EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 19-3-77, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     19-3-77.  (1)  There are hereby established programs of professional education for county purchase clerks, receiving clerks and inventory control clerks.  The programs shall be offered at least every four (4) years at the beginning of terms of office for county elected officials and at other times when the State Auditor has been notified by a board of supervisors that a vacancy in the position of purchase clerk, receiving clerk or inventory control clerk has been filled with an uncertified appointee.  The curriculum for each program shall be designed by the State Auditor.  Program administration, coordination, delivery and attendance verification shall be conducted by the Community Development Department of the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service.  The professional education programs offered at the beginning of terms of office shall be scheduled in each planning and development district; provided, however, the Community Development Department may schedule a program in one (1) geographical area encompassing several planning and development districts rather than scheduling separate programs in each planning and development district within that geographical area.  Participants who successfully complete a program shall be certified by the State Auditor and shall display the certificate awarded in a prominent public place within their offices.

 * * * Any participant who travels outside the county of his employment to attend a professional education program shall receive as reimbursement of the expense of such travel the same mileage and actual and necessary expenses for food, lodging and travel as allowed state officers and employees pursuant to Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972; however mileage shall not be allowed when travel is by motor vehicle owned by the county.

All or any part of the expense of a professional education program may be defrayed by the imposition of fees in a reasonable amount established by the State Auditor.  Any fees imposed to defray expenses of a professional education program shall be paid by the county for participants.

     (2)  There is hereby established a * * * program of professional educatiSupervisors Education and Certification Program for members of county boards of supervisors.  The program shall be * * * offered at the beginning of each term of office for members of the boards of supervisors and may be offered more frequently at the discretion of the Committee on Supervisor Education.  The curriculum of the program shall be designed by the Committee on Supervisor Education, which shall be composed of the following members:  (a)  Two (2) members from the State Department of Audit designated by the State Auditor.

  (b)  Two (2) members from the Mississippi Association of Supervisors designated by the executive director of the association.

  (c)  One (1) member from the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service designated by the director of the service.

  (d)  One (1) member from the Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University designated by the director of the institdirected and implemented by the Center for Government and Community Development at the Mississippi State University Extension Service ("center").  Under the program, county supervisors shall receive education, be tested and attain certification as a county supervisor.  The Education and Certification Program Advisory Board, created under subsection (8) of this section, in cooperation with the Office of the State Auditor, shall act in an advisory capacity and assist the center in its approval of curriculum to be used in education of supervisors and in the approval of supervisors for certification.  The center shall develop and promulgate rules and regulations specific to the exercise of its authority hereunder. offered at the beginning of each term of office for members of the boards of supervisors and may be offered more frequently at the discretion of the Committee on Supervisor Education.  The curriculum of the program shall be designed by the Committee on Supervisor Education, which shall be composed of the following members:

          (a)  Two (2) members from the State Department of Audit designated by the State Auditor.

          (b)  Two (2) members from the Mississippi Association of Supervisors designated by the executive director of the association.

          (c)  One (1) member from the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service designated by the director of the service.

          (d)  One (1) member from the Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University designated by the director of the institute.

          (e)  One (1) member from the Judicial College of the University of Mississippi designated by the director of the judicial college.

          (f)  One (1) member from the Public Policy and Administration Program at Jackson State University designated by the Chairman of the Department of Political Science.

     Program administration, coordination, delivery and attendance verification shall be conducted by the Community Development Department of the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service in cooperation with the Mississippi Association of Supervisors.  All or any part of the expense of the supervisor education program may be defrayed by the imposition of fees established by the Committee on Supervisor Education.

     The primary resources for the supervisor education program shall be the State Department of Audit, the State Attorney General, the Judicial College of the University of Mississippi, the Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University, the Public Policy and Administration Program at Jackson State University, the Mississippi Research and Development Center or its successor, and any other federal, state, local or university entities having expertise in specific topical areas.

     Any fees imposed to defray expenses of the supervisor education program shall be paid by the county for members of the board of supervisors of such county enrolled in the program; and, additionally, when any supervisor travels outside of his county to attend a school, seminar or workshop approved by the Committee on Supervisor Education, he shall receive as reimbursement of expenses of such travel the same mileage and actual and necessary expenses for food, lodging and travel by public carrier or private motor vehicles as is allowed state officers and employees pursuant to the provisions of Section 25-3-41; however, mileage shall not be authorized when such travel is done by a motor vehicle owned by the county.

     (3)  There shall be three (3) levels of supervisor certification:  Supervisor I (S1), Supervisor II (S2) and Supervisor III (S3).

     (4)  In any year in which a county supervisor takes office for the first time, the center shall conduct Mississippi Supervisor Education and Certification Program sessions to be held at sufficiently convenient locations throughout the state and at times that are sufficient to provide each county supervisor with an opportunity to attend the program sessions.

     (5)  When any supervisor travels outside of his county to attend a Supervisor Education and Certification Program session conducted by the center, that person shall receive a reimbursement of expenses for the travel at the same rate for mileage, food and lodging as allowed under Section 25-3-41.  However, mileage shall not be authorized when the travel occurs by use of a motor vehicle owned by the county.  All expenses reimbursed for attending a Supervisor Education and Certification Program session shall be paid out of the county general fund.

     (6)  The center, with advice and assistance of the Supervisor Education and Certification Program Board, shall prescribe forms and promulgate all rules and regulations necessary to exercise the authority given it under the provisions of this section.

     (7)  (a)  When any supervisor attains certification as a Supervisor I (SI) as prescribed hereunder, he shall receive an annual salary supplement in the amount of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollar ($2,500.00) beginning on October 1 of the fiscal year immediately following certification and he shall be eligible for enrollment in the Supervisor II (S2) Supervisor Education and Certification Program.

          (b)  When any supervisor attains certification as a Supervisor II (S2) as prescribed hereunder, he shall receive an additional annual salary supplement in the amount of One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,250.00) beginning on October 1 of the fiscal year immediately following certification, and he shall be eligible for enrollment in the Supervisor III (S3) Supervisor Education and Certification Program.

          (c)  When any supervisor attains certification as a Supervisor III (S3), he shall receive an additional annual salary supplement in the amount of One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,250.00) beginning on October 1 of the fiscal year immediately following certification.

          (d)  No county board of supervisors shall increase a tax levy for the purpose of defraying the costs of the annual salary supplements established in this subsection.

     (8)  (a)  There shall be established a Supervisor Education and Certification Advisory Board which shall provide advice and assistance to the center along with the State Auditor, in the center's development and conduct of the Supervisor Education and Certification Program and provide advice as to the minimum standards adopted by the center for obtaining various levels of certification.  The advisory board shall be composed of the following members:

              (i)  The President of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors, or his designee, who shall serve on the board during his term as president;

              (ii)  The State Auditor, or his designee;

               (iii)  The Lieutenant Governor, or his designee;

              (iv)  The Speaker of the House, or his designee;

              (v)  One (1) member representing the Center for Government and Community Development of the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

     (9)  The center, with the advice of the Supervisor Education and Certification Board, design and develop a curriculum for supervisor certification candidates that shall: 

          (a)  Consist of tested courses offered by recognized experts; and

          (b)  Require superior knowledge of county operations and management concepts.

     (10)  The center, with the advice and assistance of the Supervisor Education and Certification Advisory Board, shall certify all persons who successfully complete a Supervisor Education and Certification Program hereunder and shall furnish each successful certification applicant with a certificate that prominently displays the person's name and the fact that the person is a certified Supervisor I, Supervisor II or Supervisor III.

     (11)  The center, with the advice of the Supervisor Education and Certification Board, and consistent with rules and regulations promulgated by the center, shall revoke the certification of

an individual if the center with the Advisory Board's advice, reasonably determines that the individual committed fraud or misrepresentation with respect to: 

          (a)  The preparation, administration or taking of the examination for Supervisor I or Supervisor II certification; or

          (b)  Completion of the curriculum for Supervisor III certification.

     (12)  The center, with the assistance of the Supervisor Education and Certification Advisory Board, shall give notice and conduct a hearing to consider all of the evidence concerning any allegations of fraud or misrepresentation, with an opportunity for the supervisor to present evidence to the contrary, as desired, before revoking an individual's certification.

     (13)  The center shall establish a fair and reasonable fee for the examinations and certifications of county supervisors hereunder.  Such fee shall be collected by the center and shall be used for: 

          (a)  Testing and training of county supervisors; and

          (b)  Administration of the Mississippi Supervisor Education and Certification Program and the design of its curriculum hereunder in consultation with the Advisory Board.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.

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