MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2014 Regular Session

To: Ports and Marine Resources; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

By: Senator(s) Wiggins, Tindell, Moran, Gollott, Watson

Senate Bill 2579

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO CREATE THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES ACCOUNTABILITY AND REORGANIZATION ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 49-15-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES; TO CREATE CERTAIN OFFICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT; TO PROVIDE QUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTAIN AGENCY PERSONNEL; TO EXEMPT PERSONNEL ACTIONS FOR SIX MONTHS FROM THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD TO PROVIDE FOR AN EFFECTIVE AND TIMELY REORGANIZATION; TO REQUIRE AN ANNUAL AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 49-15-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     49-15-11.  (1)  The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is hereby established and full power is vested in the department to manage, control, supervise, enforce and direct any matters pertaining to saltwater aquatic life and marine resources under the jurisdiction of the commission.

     (2)  The Executive Director of the Department of Marine Resources shall have the authority to internally reorganize the Department of Marine Resources.  For a period of * * * one (1) year six (6) months after * * * July 1, 1994 passage of this act, the personnel actions of the executive director shall be exempt from State Personnel Board rules, regulations and procedures in order to give the executive director flexibility in making an orderly, effective and timely reorganization of the Department of Marine Resources.

     (3)  The department shall be composed of the following offices:

          (a)  Office of Coastal Resources Management;

          (b)  Office of Finance and Administration;

          (c)  Office of Marine Fisheries;

          (d)  Office of Marine Patrol; and

          (e)  Office of Coastal Restoration and Resiliency.

     Each office shall be composed of the administrative units as set forth in the reorganization plan developed by the executive director.

     (4)  The following agency personnel shall be appointed by the executive director:

          (a)  Chief Financial Officer who shall have a minimum of a Master's degree in Business Administration, Accounting or related field and a minimum of five (5) years' experience in business management or accounting practice.

          (b)  Chief of Marine Patrol who shall be a certified law enforcement officer with a minimum of ten (10) years of law enforcement experience.

          (c)  Chief Scientific Officer who shall have a minimum of a Master's degree in Coastal Sciences or related field with a minimum of five (5) years of experience in coastal resource management or equivalent experience.

     (5)  The executive director shall have an annual audit of the department, including the accounts established in Section 49-15-17, performed by an independent certified public accountant and shall file the audit report with the commission, the Chairman of the Senate Ports and Marine Resources Committee, the Chairman of the House Marine Resources Committee, the State Auditor and the Legislative Budget Office.

     ( * * *36)  Whenever the terms "Mississippi Marine Conservation Commission," "Marine Conservation Commission," "Bureau of Marine Resources" and "Mississippi Marine Resources Council" appear in any state law, they shall mean the "Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources."

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