Bill Text: MS SB3047 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Public Service Commission; define authority relative to performing audits of utilities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2010-02-02 - Died In Committee [SB3047 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2010-SB3047-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Public Utilities
By: Senator(s) Jackson (15th)
Senate Bill 3047
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 77-3-8, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO SPECIFICALLY RESTRICT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND ITS STAFF FROM ENGAGING IN AUDITS, INSPECTIONS AND EXAMINATIONS OF PUBLIC UTILITIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 77-3-8, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
77-3-8. (1) There is established in the commission a Public Service Commission staff, which staff shall be a unit, remain as a unit therein, and be responsive to the commission. The Public Service Commission staff shall consist of a sufficient number of professional, administrative, technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the staff to perform its duties and responsibilities as hereinafter provided. All such personnel of the Public Service Commission staff shall be recommended by the executive secretary and hired or rejected by the commission. Personnel shall be dismissed only for cause in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board. The personnel of the Public Service Commission staff shall be compensated and reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses, including food, lodging and travel, by the commission from the Public Service Commission Regulation Fund established by Section 77-1-6, and as authorized by Section 25-3-41. The Public Service Commission Staff shall be responsible for gathering and analyzing information relating to all matters within the authority of the commission.
(2) The State Personnel Board shall establish and maintain entry-level salaries sufficiently competitive to attract competent, qualified applicants for the specialized skills and positions required by this section without regard to the salaries paid the commissioners and notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary. The State Personnel Board shall authorize, where necessary, a range of salaries within which salary negotiations may be conducted for those positions for which specific knowledge, skills and abilities are set forth herein.
(3) The Public Service Commission staff shall perform such duties as are assigned to them by the commission.
(4) The inspection, auditing and examination of public utilities shall be the sole responsibility of the Public Utilities Staff created and empowered by Section 77-2-1 et seq. The commission and its staff shall not inspect, audit or examine public utilities. Commission staff shall be restricted to duties assigned by law and to providing direct analytical support to the commission as a whole.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.
