Mississippi Administrative Code

The U.S. Coast Guard (Mobile) keeps the Port Authority informed of the formation, path, and threat of a hurricane or tropical storm. Besides the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port Authority will maintain contact with the Harrison County Emergency Management Agency. A Port Emergency Actio…

Prior to Condition 5 (the duration of hurricane season), the Port Authority will request tenants to review their own hurricane program, will notify tenants to provide a copy of such program to the Port's Operations Department, and notify tenants to be alert for hurricane warnings…

As Hurricane Conditions are set by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port Authority will make efforts to notify tenants and customers so that appropriate action can be taken: A. Hurricane Alert Condition Five (5) (Hurricane Season): 1. The Port's Operations Department will cause tenants …

A. Office Preparation. The Mississippi State Port Authority administrative offices are at One Hancock Plaza, 14th floor, Gulfport, Mississippi. The Deputy Director and/or Director of Finance, will be responsible for securing the Port Authority offices at this location. Similar pr…

Mississippi State Port Authority Commissioners, officers and employees serve in a position of public trust and shall not use their office or employment for improper personal gain. The MSPA requires that each Commissioner, officer and employee avoid any conflict of interest or the…

For purposes of this Chapter, the following definitions apply: Relative. A "relative" includes any Commissioner's, officer's or employee's spouse, mother, father, children, siblings, mothers-in-law and fathers-in-law, or any other "relative" to a Commissioner, officer or employee…

A conflict of interest exists when a Commission's, officer's or employee's duty to give undivided loyalty to MSPA is influenced, or could be influenced, by personal interest. Port Commissioners and employees must ensure that any outside activity or personal interest is kept separ…

Any Commissioner, officer or employee shall not own, directly or indirectly through a relative, a financial interest or have an association that might be viewed as an interest in any business that does or seeks to do business with the Port or is a competitor of the Port without f…

No Commissioner, officer or employee shall use or release to a third party any confidential information on decisions, plans, or competitive bids or any confidential information concerning the Port which would be prejudicial or detrimental to the interests of the Port. Much of the…

Commissioners, officers and employees and their relatives shall not accept or solicit gifts or other special privileges with the understanding that the gifts or other special privileges would influence the action or judgment of the Commissioner, officer or employee in carrying ou…

MSPA funds shall not be used for any direct or indirect political contributions. Any Commissioner, officer or employee who considers running for public office or accepting an appointment to public office must first disclose this to the MSPA. When a Commissioner, officer or employ…

Any person with authority to hire Port personnel shall not appoint or employ a relative or next of kin of a Commissioner, officer or employee unless certain exceptions apply. Certain exceptions may be made to this policy on a case-by-case basis after disclosure and review by the …

The emphasis of the MSPA Conflict of Interest Policy is disclosure and review of potential conflicts of the MSPA in order to prevent conduct which would reflect unfavorably upon the Port, the Board of Commissioners, and/or its officers and/or employees. Notes 28 Miss. Code. R. 30…

The Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport is committed to providing a respectful, supportive and productive workplace for all employees that is free of verbal, physical, and visual forms of unlawful harassment and violence or the threat of violence. One of MSPA's core valu…

This policy applies to all forms of unwelcomed communication or conduct that is personally offensive, which debilitates morale and interferes with work effectiveness. It includes, but is not necessarily limited to, unwelcomed verbal or physical conduct that is derogatory toward a…

All Commissioners, officer, employees and other personnel shall take all reasonable precaution to strive to maintain a work environment free of harassment, and shall immediately report known or suspected harassment to the designated authorities pursuant to the MSPA Whistleblower …

MSPA does not tolerate any type of workplace violence committed by or against its employees or personnel. Employees are prohibited from making threats or engaging in violent activities. In the event of an immediate, potentially dangerous situation, employees should promptly conta…

MSPA will promptly and thoroughly investigate all claims of harassment and/or violence. Complaints will be handled with sensitivity, discretion and confidentially to the extent allowed by the circumstances and the law. In the event prompt remedial action is necessary, MSPA will a…

The Port Authority is committed to conducting its business and affairs honestly and in accordance with federal, state and local laws and regulations and the Port Authority's internal policies. As such, the Port Authority strives to prevent, detect and swiftly correct any violatio…

Any retaliation, harassment or adverse employment consequences, of any kind, against employees for making good faith reports of suspected violations is strictly prohibited. All employees making good faith reports of suspected misconduct should feel safe and protected from retalia…

Employees need not know the details of a law, rule, regulation or policy or be certain about a violation in order to receive the protection of this policy. Rather, an employee need only have reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred. If an employee is unsure as …

The Port Authority will provide all necessary and appropriate support to reporting employees to ensure that they are treated fairly and are protected against retaliation. Further, the Port Authority will promptly respond to concerns of retaliation or unfair treatment linked to an…

Employees may make disclosures on a confidential basis either in person or by telephone through the Port Authority's dedicated reporting line 1-877-452-3671. Any such disclosures will be maintained as confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an ade…

Individuals who are subjects of a report will be treated fairly, respectfully, and consistent with all protections set out in Port Authority policy or applicable law. Notes 28 Miss. Code. R. 301-6.14 Mississippi Code §§ 59-1-1, 59-1-9 and 59-5-21 Amended 12/3/2020

Any Port Authority employee with supervisory authority who receives a report of a concern regarding a potential violation of law or policy should promptly refer the matter to the most appropriate office or individual. Reports will be promptly investigated within five (5) calendar…

This revised whistleblower policy shall not in any way prohibit or interfere with good faith, legitimate employment decisions related to any employee. Notes 28 Miss. Code. R. 301-6.16 Mississippi Code §§ 59-1-1, 59-1-9 and 59-5-21 Amended 12/3/2020

To give effect to its commitment, this policy is designed to protect any Port Authority employee who makes a good faith disclosure of potential misconduct to either a designated Port Authority official or public official as described herein below. More specifically this policy: A…

This policy is intended to supplement Sections 25-9-171 through 25-9-177 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 (dealing with reports of improper governmental action), and Section 1553 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("ARRA") (dealing with whistleblowing regarding …

It is the intention of the Port Authority to take whatever action may be necessary to prevent and correct any activities that violate this policy. Notes 28 Miss. Code. R. 301-6.4 Mississippi Code §§ 59-1-1, 59-1-9 and 59-5-21 Amended 12/3/2020

It is important for employees to report good faith concerns using the proper channels in order to ensure entitlement to the protections available under State and Federal law. Port Authority employees, contractors and agents are expected to report good faith concerns about: A. pos…

Employees can address any such concerns to The Network, Inc. at 1-877-452-3671. Notes 28 Miss. Code. R. 301-6.6 Mississippi Code §§ 59-1-1, 59-1-9 and 59-5-21 Amended 12/3/2020

In addition to the methods outlined above, reports of wrongful conduct under the above paragraph can also be made under State law to the Mississippi Attorney General, State Auditor, Ethics Commission, Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review or…

A. Notwithstanding the above paragraphs, in the event that an employee has a good faith belief that, in relation to TIGER or other ARRA funding, there has been: 1. gross mismanagement of an agency contract or grant relating to TIGER/ARRA funds; 2. a gross waste of TIGER/ARRA fund…

Additional information regarding whistleblower protection related to ARRA funding may be found at http://www.recovery.gov. Notes 28 Miss. Code. R. 301-6.9 Mississippi Code §§ 59-1-1, 59-1-9 and 59-5-21 Amended 12/3/2020

The purpose of this instruction is to establish the procedure to be used when announcing position openings, selection method in seeking the most qualified applicants and after selection how they are processed for employment. Notes 28 Miss. Code. R. 301-7.1 Mississippi Code §§ 59-…

This instruction defines the process, assigns responsibilities and delineates specific guidelines to be followed in the hiring of new employees. The procedures of this Chapter have been amended and are contained within Part 305 - the "MSPA Personnel Guidelines, Policies, and Proc…

The Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport is an equal opportunity employer throughout the job application and hiring process. MSPA embraces and in fact relies on having a diverse workforce. Every employee has the right to work in surroundings that are free from all forms o…

MSPA recognizes that employees and other personnel with physical or mental disabilities may need reasonable accommodations to enable them to perform their essential job functions. The need for such accommodations is made on a case-by-case basis. Generally, the Port and the employ…

It is the intent of the Mississippi State Port Authority to adopt a procedure for public access to public records pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated, Section 25-61-1, et seq. Notes 28 Miss. Code. R. 301-9.1 Miss. Code §§ 59-1-1, 59-1-9, 59-5-21 and 25-61-1, et seq. Amended 12…

The fees or charges shall be the amount reasonably calculated to reimburse the Port for its actual costs of searching, reviewing, duplicating, and mailing, if applicable, the Public Records requested. The cost for searching and reviewing records which may be subject to the Reques…

No Public Records of the Port shall be permitted to leave the custody and control of the Port or its authorized employees or agents. Notes 28 Miss. Code. R. 301-9.11 Miss. Code §§ 59-1-1, 59-1-9, 59-5-21 and 25-61-1, et seq. Amended 12/3/2020

For purposes of this procedure, the following definitions apply: A. Public Records. "Public Records" shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in Mississippi Code Annotated § 25-61-3, as the same may be amended, but the definition shall not include any documents or reco…

The Port shall promptly review each Request. Notes 28 Miss. Code. R. 301-9.3 Miss. Code §§ 59-1-1, 59-1-9, 59-5-21 and 25-61-1, et seq. Amended 12/3/2020

If the Request does not adequately describe the Public Record(s) being sought or is otherwise ambiguous, written notice to that effect shall be given by the Port Authority to the requesting party. If sufficient clarification regarding the Request is not timely received, the Port …

The Port shall produce or deny the requested Public Records no later than seven (7) working days from the date of receipt of Request. If the Port is unable to produce the requested Public Records by the seventh working day after the Request is made, the Port shall provide to the …

If the Request seeks documents which are exempt from disclosure pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 25-61-9, 25-61-11, 25-61-12 or otherwise, the Port shall promptly notify the requesting party in writing that the exempt documents shall not be produced and shall state the s…

If the Request seeks Data Processing Software obtained by the Port under a licensing agreement that prohibits its disclosure and said software is a trade secret or Data Processing Software produced by the Port which is deemed sensitive, as defined under Mississippi Code Annotated…