Appropriation; Judicial Performance Commission., the official text

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Hopson, DeBar, Wiggins, Hickman, Sparks,
Turner-Ford

Senate Bill 3066

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING
THE EXPENSES OF THE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE STATE OF
MISSISSIPPI FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027.

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

SECTION 1.  The following sum, or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State
General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of defraying the
expenses of the Commission on Judicial Performance of the State of Mississippi for
the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending
June 30, 2027................................ $     1,018,805.00.

SECTION 2.  The following sum, or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State
Treasury to the credit of the Commission on Judicial Performance, for the
purpose of defraying the expenses of the Commission on Judicial Performance of
the State of Mississippi for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026,
and ending June 30, 2027...........................................

............................................ $
35,082.00.

SECTION 3.  Of the
funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, the following positions
are authorized:

AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT:

Permanent:            6

Time-Limited:         0

Any transfers or escalations
shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions and procedures established
by law.

No general funds authorized
to be expended herein shall be used to replace federal funds and/or other
special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions
of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.

It is the intention of the
Legislature that the salary of:

(a) The current
director of the Judicial Performance Commission shall not increase without
specific authorization by the Legislature; and

(b) Any person newly
appointed as the director of the Judicial Performance Commission shall not
exceed the salary authorized for a chancellor under Section 25-3-35,
Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 4.  It is the
intention of the Legislature that the Judicial Performance Commission shall
maintain complete accounting and personnel records related to the expenditure
of all funds appropriated under this act and that such records shall be in the
same format and level of detail as maintained for Fiscal Year 2026.  It is
further the intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget request for
Fiscal Year 2028 shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee
in a format and level of detail comparable to the format and level of detail
provided during the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request process.

SECTION 5.  It is the
intention of the Legislature that whenever two (2) or more bids are received by
this agency for the purchase of commodities or equipment, and whenever all
things stated in such received bids are equal with respect to price, quality
and service, the Mississippi Industries for the Blind shall be given
preference.  A similar preference shall be given to the Mississippi Industries
for the Blind whenever purchases are made without competitive bids.

SECTION 6.  Of the
funds appropriated in Section 1, One Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars
($140,000.00) or so much thereof as may be necessary is provided for the
purpose of employing a qualified attorney solely to audit, investigate, and
monitor Youth Courts operations.

SECTION
7.  It is the intention of the Legislature that the funds herein
appropriated shall be expended in compliance with Section 27-104-25,
Mississippi Code of 1972, that no state agency shall incur obligations or
indebtedness in excess of their appropriation and that the responsible officers,
either personally or upon their official bonds, shall be held responsible for
actions contrary to this provision.

SECTION 8.  The money
herein appropriated shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in
the State Treasury to the credit of the proper fund or funds as set forth in
this act, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State
Fiscal Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper
person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 9.  This act
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.