Bill Text: MS HB834 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; revise composition of membership to include women and African American representation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2015-02-03 - Died In Committee [HB834 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-HB834-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
By: Representative Clarke
House Bill 834
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-4-4, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE COMPOSITION OF THE MISSISSIPPI COMMISSION ON WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS BY INCREASING ITS MEMBERSHIP TO ELEVEN MEMBERS, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE THREE WOMEN AND THREE AFRICAN AMERICANS, AND TO REQUIRE MEMBERS TO BE FIRST NOMINATED BY CERTAIN ASSOCIATIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 49-4-4, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
49-4-4. (1) (a)
There is hereby created the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and
Parks, * * * which
until June 30, 2015, shall be composed of five (5) persons appointed by the
Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of five (5) years.
One (1) person shall be appointed from each congressional district. The
initial terms of the members shall be one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4) and
five (5) years, respectively. Thereafter, all terms shall be for five (5)
years. An appointment to fill a vacancy which arises for reasons other than by
expiration of a term of office shall be made from the respective congressional
district for the unexpired term only.
(b) From and after July 1, 2015, the Mississippi Commission of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall be composed of eleven (11) members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of five (5) years as follows:
(i) The five (5) members serving on the commission on July 1, 2015, shall continue to serve until the expiration of the term appointed, at which time the vacancy created by the expiration of the term shall be filled in the manner provided by this paragraph (b).
(ii) Of the eleven (11) members appointed, at least two (2) persons shall be appointed from each congressional district.
(iii) At least six (6) of the eleven (11) newly appointed members shall consist of three (3) women and three (3) African-American members, one (1) representative of each minority class shall be appointed from each Supreme Court District.
(iv) Any new member appointed under this paragraph (b) shall first be nominated by one (1) of the following organizations:
1. The Mississippi Wild Turkey Federation;
2. The Mississippi Quality Deer Association;
3. The Mississippi Wildlife Federation;
4. The Mississippi Black Sportsman Association;
5. The Mississippi Bass Anglers Association;
6. The Mississippi Hunting Dog Association;
7. The Mississippi Coon Hunters Association;
8. The Mississippi Boys and Girls Association;
9. The Mississippi Squirrel Hunters Association;
10. The Mississippi Trappers Association; and
11. The Mississippi Waterfowl Association.
(2) The commission shall elect from its membership a chairman who shall preside over meetings and a vice chairman who shall preside in the absence of the chairman or when the chairman shall be excused.
(3) The commission shall adopt rules and regulations governing times and places for meetings and governing the manner of conducting its business. Each member of the commission shall take the oath prescribed by Section 268 of the Mississippi Constitution, and shall enter into bond in the amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) to be approved by the Secretary of State, conditioned according to law, and payable to the State of Mississippi before assuming the duties of office. Any member who shall not attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the commission shall be subject to removal by a majority vote of the commission members.
(4) The members of the commission shall receive no annual salary but shall receive per diem compensation as authorized by law for each day devoted to the discharge of official duties and shall be entitled to reimbursement for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties, including mileage as authorized by law.
The commission shall be composed of persons with a demonstrated history of involvement in at least one (1) of the matters of jurisdiction of the commission and whose employment and activities are not in conflict. All of the commissioners shall be an active outdoorsman holding a resident hunting or fishing license in at least five (5) of the ten (10) years preceding appointment. A member shall not have a record of conviction of violation of fish or game laws and regulations within five (5) years preceding appointment or a record of any felony conviction.
(5) The commission shall have the power to adopt, amend and repeal such regulations and rules as may be necessary for the operation of the department.
(6) The commission shall have the power and authority to issue all licenses and permits under the jurisdiction of the department.
(7) In the furtherance of its duties and responsibilities, the commission may conduct hearings, gather testimony and perform other functions required to carry out its powers and duties as prescribed by statute.
(8) The commission shall have all power for conserving, managing and developing wildlife and fishery resources except for saltwater aquatic life and marine resources under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
