Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Advisory Council; expand membership., the official text

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Environment Prot, Cons and Water Res

By: Senator(s) Rhodes

Senate Bill 2414

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-17-16, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972,
TO UPDATE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TITLE V ADVISORY COUNCIL AND REPLACE INACTIVE
OR NONEXISTENT MEMBER GROUPS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1.  Section
49-17-16, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-17-16.  (1)  (a)  An
Advisory Council, hereinafter referred to as "Advisory Council," is
created to conduct an independent study of the costs for the development and
administration of the Title V program within the Department of Environmental
Quality and to conduct an annual review of the costs of administering such
programs.

(b)  The costs to be
included within the study for the Title V program shall be those costs set
forth in Section 49-17-14.  After completing a study of the program needs and
costs, the Advisory Council shall recommend an equitable fee system for the
Title V program.  The annual review of the Title V program shall determine if
the fee system is collecting sufficient funds to meet the program needs.  The
Advisory Council shall recommend an appropriate fee schedule for the upcoming
fee year and, if necessary, recommend changes to the existing fee system so
that sufficient funds are collected through an equitable fee system.  Each
annual review report shall be due January 1 of each year to the commission and
the Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality.

(2)  The Department of
Environmental Quality shall assist the Advisory Council by providing any
information the Advisory Council may require to perform its duties under
Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-45.

(3)  The Advisory Council
shall be composed of the following seven (7) persons appointed as follows: * * *  three (3)  four
(4) representatives of industries that qualify for inclusion under the
Title V program, that are required to pay the program fee, with * * * one (1) two
(2) such representatives to be appointed by the Governor, one (1) by
the Lieutenant Governor and one (1) by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives; the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development
Authority; the President of the Mississippi * * * Manufacturers Association Business Alliance;
and the President of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation * * *; and the Chairman of the Mississippi Small Business
Compliance Advisory Panel.  Nonappointed members of the Advisory
Council may designate an alternate member to act in their stead in performing
any function of the Advisory Council.  The length of term for each member of
the Advisory Council shall be four (4) years.  Members of the Advisory Council
may serve successive and multiple terms.

(4)  Vacancies on the
Advisory Council shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the
original appointments.

(5)  The Advisory Council
shall select from their membership a chairperson to preside over meetings and a
vice chairperson to preside in the absence of the chairperson or when the
chairperson shall be excused.  The Advisory Council shall adopt procedures
governing the manner of conducting its business.  A majority of the members
shall constitute a quorum to do business.

(6)  Members of the Advisory
Council shall serve without salary.  The members of the Advisory Council shall
be entitled to receive reimbursement of their actual travel and hotel expenses
as provided in Section 25-3-41, incurred while in the performance of their
duties as members of the Advisory Council to be paid on an itemized statement
approved by the State Fiscal Officer.  Expenses shall be paid from fees
collected in accordance with Section 49-17-30.

(7)  The Executive Director
of the Department of Environmental Quality shall provide technical, clerical
and other support services, including services by contract, as the Advisory
Council determines that it requires in the performance of its functions.

SECTION 2.  This act
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.