Illegal Alien Legislation Introduced In
2008 Regular Session Of Mississippi Legislature
Apparently the United States Congress is not capable of passing REAL immigration reform legislation. Congress has made this quite clear by its failure to enforce immigration laws that have been in effect for years. Instead, numerous states have been forced to take action.
The citizens of Mississippi demand that our Legislature take action and crack down on illegal aliens in the 2008 Legislative Session and protect our state and citizens from the scourge of illegal immigration.
Below are bills addressing illegal immigration that have been introduced in the 2008 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature. Currently two bills are shown below. We will add more bills shortly.
We have provided below the name(s) of the Legislator(s) who introduced each bill, the cosponsors, the Committee(s) to which the bill has been assigned, and a summary of the bill. Click on the bill number to be taken to the Mississippi Legislature website to read about each bill. At that page, you may read the full text of the bill by clicking on "[Introduced]" after "Bill Text:" (beneath "Description") near the top left of each page.
TAXPAYER AND EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2008
House Bill 967
By: Representative Warren
Assigned to:
Judiciary B
- Willie Bailey, Chairman
- Bob Evans, Vice-Chairman
AN ACT TO CREATE THE TAXPAYER AND EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2008; TO PROHIBIT TRANSPORTING AND HARBORING OF ILLEGAL ALIENS; TO ESTABLISH MANDATORY EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION OF NEWLY HIRED EMPLOYEES AND TO SET PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, ACTING JOINTLY WITH THE STATE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES, TO ADOPT A POLICY REQUIRING ALL PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES TO VERIFY THE CITIZENSHIP OR LEGAL IMMIGRATION STATUS OF ENROLLED STUDENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-103-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT ALL ALIENS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES ARE CLASSIFIED AS NONRESIDENTS OF THE STATE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS OR PLACE OF DOMICILE IN THE UNITED STATES, FOR TUITION PURPOSES; TO PROVIDE FOR COOPERATIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT BY STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ON IMMIGRATION MATTERS; TO REQUIRE VERIFICATION OF CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS OF PERSONS WHO ARE ARRESTED; TO REQUIRE STATE AGENCIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO VERIFY THE LAWFUL PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES OF ANY PERSON WHO APPLIES FOR STATE, LOCAL OR FEDERAL PUBLIC BENEFITS; TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS TO THIS REQUIREMENT FOR VERIFICATION; TO PROVIDE THAT APPLICANTS FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS MUST EXECUTE AN AFFIDAVIT THAT HE OR SHE IS A UNITED STATES CITIZEN OR IS A QUALIFIED ALIEN UNDER FEDERAL LAW AND IS LAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES; TO PROVIDE FOR A CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR WILLFULLY MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATION IN THE AFFIDAVIT REQUIRED BY THIS ACT; TO REQUIRE EACH STATE AGENCY AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THAT ADMINISTERS ANY PROGRAM OF STATE OR LOCAL PUBLIC BENEFITS TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WITH RESPECT TO ITS COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT; TO PROHIBIT OFFICIAL RESISTANCE OR NONCOOPERATION OF SHARING INFORMATION REGARDING IMMIGRATION STATUS; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 37-103-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
Senate Bill 2037
(text of bill below, as passed by Senate)
By: Senator Kirby
Cosponsors: Albritton, Burton, Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Davis (1st), Fillingane, Hewes, Jackson (15th), McDaniel, Michel, Moffatt, Nunnelee, Ward, Yancey, Browning, Dearing, Flowers, Gordon, Hudson, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (32nd), King, Lee (47th), Montgomery, Watson
Assigned to House of Representatives:
Judiciary B
- Willie Bailey, Chairman
- Bob Evans, Vice-Chairman
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 31-5-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE LABOR USED ON PUBLIC WORKS TO BE PERFORMED BY WORKMEN AND LABORERS WHO ARE LEGAL CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OR LEGAL ALIENS; TO AMEND SECTION 31-5-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE PUBLIC WORK CONTRACTS TO INCLUDE A PROVISION REQUIRING THE CONTRACTOR TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS; TO AMEND SECTION 31-5-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATING SUCH LABOR REQUIREMENTS ON PUBLIC WORKS; TO CREATE A NEW CODE SECTION TO REQUIRE LABOR USED UNDER PUBLIC CONTRACTS OF ANY KIND TO BE PERFORMED BY WORKMEN AND LABORERS WHO ARE LEGAL CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OR LEGAL ALIENS; TO PROVIDE FOR MANDATORY EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION VERIFICATION IN REGARD TO PUBLIC CONTRACTS; TO ENACT DEFINITIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR ENFORCEMENT, EXEMPTIONS AND PENALTIES; TO AMEND SECTIONS 31-7-9, 25-9-120 AND 25-53-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE CERTAIN AGENCIES TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 31-5-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
31-5-17. Every public officer, contractor, superintendent or agent engaged in or in charge of the construction of any state or public building or public work of any kind for the State of Mississippi or for any board, city commission, governmental agency or municipality of the State of Mississippi shall employ only workmen and laborers who are legal citizens of the United States of America or are legal aliens . For purposes of this section, a legal alien is an individual who was lawfully admitted at the time such services were performed, was lawfully present for purposes of performing such services, or was permanently residing in the United States under color of law at the time such services were performed (including an alien who was lawfully present in the United States as a result of the application of Section 207, 208 or 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act). In cases where the work is being lawfully conducted outside the United States of America, the utilization of workmen and laborers shall be in strict compliance with the laws of the country in which the work is conducted.
SECTION 2. Section 31-5-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
31-5-19. All contracts entered into by agencies and institutions of the State of Mississippi, or any of its political subdivisions, shall include a provision requiring the contractor to be in compliance during the term of the contract with all federal and state laws, including, but not limited to, Section 31-5-17. A knowing or willing failure to comply with such provision shall be grounds for cancellation by the agencies and institutions of the State of Mississippi, or any of its political subdivisions, of all contracts held with the contractor. In addition to the cancellation of the contract, the contractor shall be liable for any additional costs incurred by the agencies and institutions of the State of Mississippi, or any of its political subdivisions, because of the cancellation.
SECTION 3. Section 31-5-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
31-5-21. Any contractor, public officer, superintendent, agent, or person in charge of such work , who shall violate any of the provisions of Section 31-5-17, shall be liable upon conviction before a court of competent jurisdiction to a fine of not more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or to imprisonment of not more than sixty (60) days, or both , at the discretion of the court; and every day's employment of each workman or laborer in such violation shall constitute a separate offense.
However, if the contract for such work includes the provision required by Section 31-5-19 and the public officer makes a reasonable effort to ensure compliance with that provision, the public officer shall not be subject to the fine or imprisonment .
SECTION 4. (1) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the content clearly states otherwise:
(a) "Employer" means any person or entity, including an agent or anyone acting directly or indirectly in the interest of the person or entity, who engages the services or labor of any employee to be performed for wages or other remuneration. In the case of an independent contractor or contract labor or services, the term "employer" means the independent contractor or contractor and not the person or entity using the contract labor.
(b) "Employee" means an individual who provides services or labor for an employer for wages or other remuneration, but does not mean independent contractors or those engaged in casual domestic employment.
(c) "Status verification system" means the electronic verification of work authorization program of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996, Public Law 104-208, Division C, Section 403(a); 8 USC, Section 1324a, and operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, known as the E-Verify Program.
(d) "Unauthorized alien" means an alien as defined in Section 1324a(h)(3) of Title 8 of the United States Code.
(e) "Legal alien" means an individual who was lawfully present in the United States at the time of employment and for the duration of employment, or was permanently residing in the United States under color of law at the time of employment and for the duration of employment.
(f) "Public employer" means every department, agency or instrumentality of the state or a political subdivision of the state.
(g) "Subcontractor" means a subcontractor, contract employee, staffing agency or any contractor regardless of its tier.
(2) (a) State of Mississippi agencies, political subdivisions thereof, public contractors and public subcontractors shall only hire employees who are legal citizens of the United States of America or are legal aliens and shall meet the verification requirements of this section as provided in this section.
(b) All employers in the State of Mississippi that are covered under this section shall register with and utilize a status verification system to verify the federal employment authorization status of all newly hired employees and shall meet verification requirements as follows:
(i) A public contractor or public subcontractor with two hundred fifty (250) or more employees, or a State of Mississippi agency or political subdivision, shall meet verification requirements not later than July 1, 2008.
(ii) A public contractor or public subcontractor with at least one hundred (100), but less than two hundred fifty (250), employees shall meet verification requirements not later than July 1, 2009.
(iii) A public contractor or public subcontractor with at least thirty (30), but less than one hundred (100), employees shall meet verification requirements not later than July 1, 2010.
(iv) All public contractors and public subcontractors shall meet verification requirements not later than July 1, 2011.
(c) (i) Every employer covered under this section shall register with and utilize a status verification system to verify the federal employment authorization status of all newly hired employees.
(ii) No contractor or subcontractor covered under this subsection shall hire any employee for the physical performance of services within this state unless the contractor or subcontractor registers and participates in the status verification system to verify the work eligibility status of all newly hired employees.
(iii) No contractor or subcontractor who enters into a contract with a public employer shall enter into such a contract or subcontract in connection with the physical performance of services within the state unless the contractor or subcontractor registers and participates in the status verification system to verify information of all newly hired employees.
(3) (a) It shall be a discriminatory practice for an employer to discharge an employee working in Mississippi who is a United States citizen or permanent resident alien while retaining an employee whom the employer knows, or reasonably should have known, is an unauthorized alien hired after July 1, 2008, and who is working in Mississippi in a job category that requires equal skill, effort and responsibility that is performed under similar working conditions, as defined by 29 USC, Section 206(d)(1), as the job category held by the discharged employee.
(b) An employer that, on the date of the discharge in question, was enrolled in and used a status verification system to verify the employment eligibility of its employees in Mississippi hired after the date on which the employer becomes subject to the requirements of this section shall be exempt from liability, investigation or suit arising from any action under this section.
(c) No cause of action for a violation of this subsection shall lie under any other Mississippi law but shall arise solely from the provisions of this subsection.
(4) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(a) An employer who hires an employee through a state or federal work program that requires verification of the employee's social security number or provides for verification of the employee's lawful presence in the United States in an employment-authorized immigration status;
(b) Any candidate for employment referred by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, if the Mississippi Department of Employment Security has verified the social security number or provides for verification of the candidate's lawful presence in the United States in an employment-authorized immigration status;
(c) Individual home owners who hire workers on their private property for noncommercial purposes, unless required by federal law to do so.
(d) To qualify for exemption under this subsection, the employer must retain written or electronic proof of the employee's lawful presence in an employment-authorized immigration status for the duration of the employee's employment.
(5) (a) Compliance with this section shall not exempt the employer from regulations and requirements related to any federal laws or procedures related to employers.
(b) This section shall not be construed as an attempt to preempt federal law.
(6) (a) Any employer violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to the cancellation of any state or public contract, resulting in ineligibility for any state or public contract for up to three (3) years, the loss of any license, permit, certificate, or other document granted to the employer by any agency, department or government entity in the State of Mississippi for the right to do business in Mississippi for up to one (1) year, or any of these.
(b) The contractor or employer shall be liable for any additional costs incurred by the agencies and institutions of the State of Mississippi or any of its political subdivisions because of the cancellation of the contract or the loss of any license or permit to do business in the state.
(c) Any person or entity penalized under this section shall have the right to appeal to the appropriate entity bringing charges or to the circuit court of competent jurisdiction.
(7) (a) The Department of Employment Security, State Tax Commission, Secretary of State, Department of Human Services and the Attorney General shall have the authority to seek penalties under this section and to bring charges for noncompliance against any employer or employee.
(b) Any employer that complies with the requirements of this section shall be held harmless by state enforcement entities if the employer is not directly involved in the creation of any false documents, and if the employer did not knowingly and willfully accept false documents from the employee.
(8) (a) Any person who accepts or performs employment for compensation, knowing or in reckless disregard that the person is an unauthorized alien with respect to employment during the period which the unauthorized employment occurred, shall be guilty of a felony. Upon conviction, a violator shall be subject to imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years.
(b) For purposes of determining bail for persons who are charged under this subsection, it shall be a rebuttable presumption that a defendant who has entered and remains in the United States unlawfully is deemed at risk of flight for purposes of bail determination.
(9) The provision of this section shall not apply to any contracts entered into on or before July 1, 2008.
SECTION 5. Section 31-7-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
31-7-9. (1) (a) The Office of Purchasing, Travel and Fleet Management shall adopt purchasing regulations governing the purchase by any agency of any commodity or commodities and establishing standards and specifications for a commodity or commodities and the maximum fair prices of a commodity or commodities, subject to the approval of the Public Procurement Review Board. It shall have the power to amend, add to or eliminate purchasing regulations. The adoption of, amendment, addition to or elimination of purchasing regulations shall be based upon a determination by the Office of Purchasing, Travel and Fleet Management with the approval of the Public Procurement Review Board, that such action is reasonable and practicable and advantageous to promote efficiency and economy in the purchase of commodities by the agencies of the state. Upon the adoption of any purchasing regulation, or an amendment, addition or elimination therein, copies of same shall be furnished to the State Auditor and to all agencies affected thereby. Thereafter, and except as otherwise may be provided in subsection (2) of this section, no agency of the state shall purchase any commodities covered by existing purchasing regulations unless such commodities be in conformity with the standards and specifications set forth in the purchasing regulations and unless the price thereof does not exceed the maximum fair price established by such purchasing regulations. The said Office of Purchasing, Travel and Fleet Management shall furnish to any county or municipality or other local public agency of the state requesting same, copies of purchasing regulations adopted by the Office of Purchasing, Travel and Fleet Management and any amendments, changes or eliminations of same that may be made from time to time.
(b) The Office of Purchasing, Travel and Fleet Management may adopt purchasing regulations governing the use of credit cards, procurement cards and purchasing club membership cards to be used by state agencies, governing authorities of counties and municipalities and the Chickasawhay Natural Gas District. Use of the cards shall be in strict compliance with the regulations promulgated by the office. Any amounts due on the cards shall incur interest charges as set forth in Section 31-7-305 and shall not be considered debt.
(2) The Office of Purchasing, Travel and Fleet Management shall adopt, subject to the approval of the Public Procurement Review Board, purchasing regulations governing the purchase of unmarked vehicles to be used by the Bureau of Narcotics and Department of Public Safety in official investigations pursuant to Section 25-1-87. Such regulations shall ensure that purchases of such vehicles shall be at a fair price and shall take into consideration the peculiar needs of the Bureau of Narcotics and Department of Public Safety in undercover operations.
(3) The Office of Purchasing, Travel and Fleet Management shall adopt, subject to the approval of the Public Procurement Review Board, regulations governing the certification process for certified purchasing offices. Such regulations shall require entities desiring to be classified as certified purchasing offices to submit applications and applicable documents on an annual basis, at which time the Office of Purchasing, Travel and Fleet Management may provide the governing entity with a certification valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance.
(4) The Office of Purchasing, Travel and Fleet Management shall adopt rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of Section 4 of Senate Bill No. 2037, 2008 Regular Session.
SECTION 6. Section 25-9-120, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-9-120. (1) Contract personnel, whether classified as contract workers or independent contractors shall not be deemed state service or nonstate service employees of the State of Mississippi, and shall not be eligible to participate in the Public Employees' Retirement System, or the state employee health plan, nor be allowed credit for personal and sick leave and other leave benefits as employees of the State of Mississippi, notwithstanding Sections 25-3-91 through 25-3-101; 25-9-101 through 25-9-151; 25-11-1 through 25-11-126; 25-11-128 through 25-11-131; 25-15-1 through 25-15-23 and for the purpose set forth herein. Contract workers, i.e., contract personnel who do not meet the criteria of independent contractors, shall be subject to the provisions of Section 25-11-127.
(2) There is hereby created the Personal Service Contract Review Board, which shall be composed of the State Personnel Director, the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, or his designee, the Commissioner of Corrections, or his designee, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, or his designee, and the Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality, or his designee. The State Personnel Director shall be chairman and shall preside over the meetings of the board. The board shall annually elect a vice chairman, who shall serve in the absence of the chairman. No business shall be transacted, including adoption of rules of procedure, without the presence of a quorum of the board. Three (3) members shall be a quorum. No action shall be valid unless approved by the chairman and two (2) other of those members present and voting, entered upon the minutes of the board and signed by the chairman. Necessary clerical and administrative support for the board shall be provided by the State Personnel Board. Minutes shall be kept of the proceedings of each meeting, copies of which shall be filed on a monthly basis with the Legislative Budget Office.
(3) The Personal Service Contract Review Board shall have the following powers and responsibilities:
(a) Promulgate rules and regulations governing the solicitation and selection of contractual services personnel including personal and professional services contracts for any form of consulting, policy analysis, public relations, marketing, public affairs, legislative advocacy services or any other contract that the board deems appropriate for oversight, with the exception of any personal service contracts entered into for computer or information technology-related services governed by the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services, any personal service contracts entered into by the Mississippi Department of Transportation, and any contract for attorney, accountant, auditor, physician, dentist, architect, engineer, veterinarian and utility rate expert services. Any such rules and regulations shall provide for maintaining continuous internal audit covering the activities of such agency affecting its revenue and expenditures as required under Section 7-7-3(6)(d), Mississippi Code of 1972 ;
(b) Approve all personal and professional services contracts involving the expenditures of funds in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00);
(c) Develop standards with respect to contractual services personnel which require invitations for public bid, requests for proposals, record keeping and financial responsibility of contractors. The Personal Service Contract Review Board may, in its discretion, require the agency involved to advertise such contract for public bid, and may reserve the right to reject any or all bids;
(d) Prescribe certain circumstances whereby agency heads may enter into contracts for personal and professional services without receiving prior approval from the Personal Service Contract Review Board. The Personal Service Contract Review Board may establish a preapproved list of providers of various personal and professional services for set prices with which state agencies may contract without bidding or prior approval from the board ;
(e) To provide standards for the issuance of requests for proposals, the evaluation of proposals received, consideration of costs and quality of services proposed, contract negotiations, the administrative monitoring of contract performance by the agency and successful steps in terminating a contract;
(f) To present recommendations for governmental privatization and to evaluate privatization proposals submitted by any state agency;
(g) To authorize personal and professional service contracts to be effective for more than one (1) year provided a funding condition is included in any such multiple year contract, except the State Board of Education, which shall have the authority to enter into contractual agreements for student assessment for a period up to ten (10) years. The State Board of Education shall procure these services in accordance with the Personal Service Contract Review Board procurement regulations;
(h) To request the State Auditor to conduct a performance audit on any personal or professional service contract;
(i) Prepare an annual report to the Legislature concerning the issuance of personal service contracts during the previous year, collecting any necessary information from state agencies in making such report.
(4) No member of the Personal Service Contract Review Board shall use his official authority or influence to coerce, by threat of discharge from employment, or otherwise, the purchase of commodities or the contracting for personal or professional services under this section.
(5) The Personal Service Contract Review Board shall adopt rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of Section 4 of Senate Bill No. 2037, 2008 Regular Session.
SECTION 7. Section 25-53-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-53-5. The authority shall have the following powers, duties and responsibilities:
(a) The authority shall provide for the development of plans for the efficient acquisition and utilization of computer equipment and services by all agencies of state government, and provide for their implementation. In so doing, the authority may use the MDITS' staff, at the discretion of the executive director of the authority, or the authority may contract for the services of qualified consulting firms in the field of information technology and utilize the service of such consultants as may be necessary for such purposes.
(b) The authority shall immediately institute procedures for carrying out the purposes of this chapter and supervise the efficient execution of the powers and duties of the office of executive director of the authority. In the execution of its functions under this chapter, the authority shall maintain as a paramount consideration the successful internal organization and operation of the several agencies so that efficiency existing therein shall not be adversely affected or impaired. In executing its functions in relation to the institutions of higher learning and junior colleges in the state, the authority shall take into consideration the special needs of such institutions in relation to the fields of teaching and scientific research.
(c) Title of whatever nature of all computer equipment now vested in any agency of the State of Mississippi is hereby vested in the authority, and no such equipment shall be disposed of in any manner except in accordance with the direction of the authority or under the provisions of such rules and regulations as may hereafter be adopted by the authority in relation thereto.
(d) The authority shall adopt rules, regulations, and procedures governing the acquisition of computer and telecommunications equipment and services which shall, to the fullest extent practicable, insure the maximum of competition between all manufacturers of supplies or equipment or services. In the writing of specifications, in the making of contracts relating to the acquisition of such equipment and services, and in the performance of its other duties the authority shall provide for the maximum compatibility of all information systems hereafter installed or utilized by all state agencies and may require the use of common computer languages where necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. The authority may establish by regulation and charge reasonable fees on a nondiscriminatory basis for the furnishing to bidders of copies of bid specifications and other documents issued by the authority.
(e) The authority shall adopt rules and regulations governing the sharing with, or the sale or lease of information technology services to any nonstate agency or person. Such regulations shall provide that any such sharing, sale or lease shall be restricted in that same shall be accomplished only where such services are not readily available otherwise within the state, and then only at a charge to the user not less than the prevailing rate of charge for similar services by private enterprise within this state.
(f) The authority may, in its discretion, establish a special technical advisory committee or committees to study and make recommendations on technology matters within the competence of the authority as the authority may see fit. Persons serving on the Information Resource Council, its task forces, or any such technical advisory committees shall be entitled to receive their actual and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of such duties, together with mileage as provided by law for state employees, provided the same has been authorized by a resolution duly adopted by the authority and entered on its minutes prior to the performance of such duties.
(g) The authority may provide for the development and require the adoption of standardized computer programs and may provide for the dissemination of information to and the establishment of training programs for the personnel of the various information technology centers of state agencies and personnel of the agencies utilizing the services thereof.
(h) The authority shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations requiring the reporting to the authority through the office of executive director of such information as may be required for carrying out the purposes of this chapter and may also establish such reasonable procedures to be followed in the presentation of bills for payment under the terms of all contracts for the acquisition of computer equipment and services now or hereafter in force as may be required by the authority or by the executive director in the execution of their powers and duties.
(i) The authority shall require such adequate documentation of information technology procedures utilized by the various state agencies and may require the establishment of such organizational structures within state agencies relating to information technology operations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
(j) The authority may adopt such further reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary to fully implement the purposes of this chapter. All rules and regulations adopted by the authority shall be published and disseminated in readily accessible form to all affected state agencies, and to all current suppliers of computer equipment and services to the state, and to all prospective suppliers requesting the same. Such rules and regulations shall be kept current, be periodically revised, and copies thereof shall be available at all times for inspection by the public at reasonable hours in the offices of the authority. Whenever possible no rule, regulation or any proposed amendment to such rules and regulations shall be finally adopted or enforced until copies of said proposed rules and regulations have been furnished to all interested parties for their comment and suggestions.
(k) The authority shall establish rules and regulations which shall provide for the submission of all contracts proposed to be executed by the executive director for computer equipment or services to the authority for approval before final execution, and the authority may provide that such contracts involving the expenditure of less than such specified amount as may be established by the authority may be finally executed by the executive director without first obtaining such approval by the authority.
(l) The authority is authorized to purchase, lease, or rent computer equipment or services and to operate said equipment and utilize said services in providing services to one or more state agencies when in its opinion such operation will provide maximum efficiency and economy in the functions of any such agency or agencies.
(m) Upon the request of the governing body of a political subdivision or instrumentality, the authority shall assist the political subdivision or instrumentality in its development of plans for the efficient acquisition and utilization of computer equipment and services. An appropriate fee shall be charged the political subdivision by the authority for such assistance.
(n) The authority shall adopt rules and regulations governing the protest procedures to be followed by any actual or prospective bidder, offerer or contractor who is aggrieved in connection with the solicitation or award of a contract for the acquisition of computer equipment or services. Such rules and regulations shall prescribe the manner, time and procedure for making protests and may provide that a protest not timely filed shall be summarily denied. The authority may require the protesting party, at the time of filing the protest, to post a bond, payable to the state, in an amount that the authority determines sufficient to cover any expense or loss incurred by the state, the authority or any state agency as a result of the protest if the protest subsequently is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been filed without any substantial basis or reasonable expectation to believe that the protest was meritorious; however, in no event may the amount of the bond required exceed a reasonable estimate of the total project cost. The authority, in its discretion, also may prohibit any prospective bidder, offerer or contractor who is a party to any litigation involving any such contract with the state, the authority or any agency of the state to participate in any other such bid, offer or contract, or to be awarded any such contract, during the pendency of the litigation.
(o) The authority shall make a report in writing to the Legislature each year in the month of January. Such report shall contain a full and detailed account of the work of the authority for the preceding year as specified in Section 25-53-29(3).
All acquisitions of computer equipment and services involving the expenditure of funds in excess of the dollar amount established in Section 31-7-13(c), or rentals or leases in excess of the dollar amount established in Section 31-7-13(c) for the term of the contract, shall be based upon competitive and open specifications, and contracts therefor shall be entered into only after advertisements for bids are published in one or more daily newspapers having a general circulation in the state not less than fourteen (14) days prior to receiving sealed bids therefor. The authority may reserve the right to reject any or all bids, and if all bids are rejected, the authority may negotiate a contract within the limitations of the specifications so long as the terms of any such negotiated contract are equal to or better than the comparable terms submitted by the lowest and best bidder, and so long as the total cost to the State of Mississippi does not exceed the lowest bid. If the authority accepts one (1) of such bids, it shall be that which is the lowest and best.
(p) When applicable, the authority may procure equipment, systems and related services in accordance with the law or regulations, or both, which govern the Bureau of Purchasing of the Office of General Services or which govern the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services procurement of telecommunications equipment, software and services.
(q) The authority is authorized to purchase, lease, or rent information technology and services for the purpose of establishing pilot projects to investigate emerging technologies. These acquisitions shall be limited to new technologies and shall be limited to an amount set by annual appropriation of the Legislature. These acquisitions shall be exempt from the advertising and bidding requirement.
(r) All fees collected by the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services shall be deposited into the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services Revolving Fund unless otherwise specified by the Legislature.
(s) The authority shall work closely with the council to bring about effective coordination of policies, standards and procedures relating to procurement of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) resources. In addition, the authority is responsible for development, operation and maintenance of a delivery system infrastructure for geographic information systems data. The authority shall provide a warehouse for Mississippi's geographic information systems data.
(t) The authority shall adopt rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of Section 4 of Senate Bill No. 2037, 2008 Regular Session.
SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2008.