(1) Management of the authority shall be vested in the director, with an advisory board to offer technical guidance and recommendations, which shall consist of the following members:(a) The Commissioner of Public Safety, or his or her designee;(b) One (1) member appointed by the Governor selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the GIS Coordinating Council;(c) One (1) member appointed by the Governor selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi 911 Coordinators Association;(d) One (1) member appointed by the Governor selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials;(e) One (1) member appointed by the Governor selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association;(f) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Association of Supervisors, who shall be an elected member of a county board of supervisors;(g) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Association of Supervisors, who is one of either a county manager, county administrator or finance officer from a county that operates or contracts for the operation of a public safety answering point;(h) One (1) member appointed by the Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by Mississippi Emergency Medical Services;(i) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Municipal League, who is an elected member of a municipal governing authority, city manager, city administrator, or finance officer from a municipality that operates or contracts for the operation of a public safety answering point;(j) One (1) member appointed by the Governor who shall be from the telecommunications industry;(k) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association, who is a sheriff responsible for managing a public safety answering point;(l) One (1) police chief appointed by the Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, who is serving a local government; and(m) One (1) fire chief appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Fire Chiefs Association, who is serving a local government.
(a) The Commissioner of Public Safety, or his or her designee;
(b) One (1) member appointed by the Governor selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the GIS Coordinating Council;
(c) One (1) member appointed by the Governor selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi 911 Coordinators Association;
(d) One (1) member appointed by the Governor selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials;
(e) One (1) member appointed by the Governor selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association;
(f) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Association of Supervisors, who shall be an elected member of a county board of supervisors;
(g) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Association of Supervisors, who is one of either a county manager, county administrator or finance officer from a county that operates or contracts for the operation of a public safety answering point;
(h) One (1) member appointed by the Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by Mississippi Emergency Medical Services;
(i) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Municipal League, who is an elected member of a municipal governing authority, city manager, city administrator, or finance officer from a municipality that operates or contracts for the operation of a public safety answering point;
(j) One (1) member appointed by the Governor who shall be from the telecommunications industry;
(k) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association, who is a sheriff responsible for managing a public safety answering point;
(l) One (1) police chief appointed by the Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, who is serving a local government; and
(m) One (1) fire chief appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, selected from two (2) nominees submitted by the Mississippi Fire Chiefs Association, who is serving a local government.
(2) The initial term for appointments made pursuant to paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of subsection (1) of this section shall be from July 1, 2025, until June 30, 2028. These initial appointments shall be made by July 1, 2025. The initial term for appointments made pursuant to paragraphs (h), (i), (j), (k), (l) and (m) of subsection (1) of this section shall be from July 1, 2025, until June 30, 2027. All subsequent terms shall be for three (3) years. Any vacancies that occur prior to the end of a term shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointment and shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term. Any vacancy occurring on the board, whether for an expired or unexpired term, shall be filled by appointment as soon as practicable after the vacancy occurs. Upon expiration of his or her term of office, a board member shall continue to serve until his or her successor has been duly appointed and qualified. Members may be appointed to successive terms. Appointments made at times when the Senate is not in session shall be effective immediately ad interim, and appointees shall serve until the Senate acts on the appointment as provided herein. Any appointments made while the Senate is not in session shall be submitted to the Senate not later than the third legislative day following the reconvening of the Legislature. In the event the Senate fails or refuses to act on the appointment, the person whose name was submitted shall continue to serve until action is taken on the appointment by the Senate.
(3) The board may appoint additional ex officio nonvoting members to serve in an advisory role to the board. Such advisers shall not be counted in ascertaining if a quorum is present. Such members shall include, but shall not be limited to:(a) Two (2) representatives of MEMA:(i) One (1) shall be employed by MEMA in a legal capacity; and(ii) One (1) shall be employed by MEMA in an accounting capacity;(b) The Chairman of the Senate Technology Committee, or his or her designee;(c) The Chairman of the House of Representatives Technology Committee, or his or her designee;(d) The Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, or his or her designee; and(e) The Chairman of a House of Representative Appropriations Committee, or his or her designee, to be chosen by the Speaker of the House.
(a) Two (2) representatives of MEMA:(i) One (1) shall be employed by MEMA in a legal capacity; and(ii) One (1) shall be employed by MEMA in an accounting capacity;
(i) One (1) shall be employed by MEMA in a legal capacity; and
(ii) One (1) shall be employed by MEMA in an accounting capacity;
(b) The Chairman of the Senate Technology Committee, or his or her designee;
(c) The Chairman of the House of Representatives Technology Committee, or his or her designee;
(d) The Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, or his or her designee; and
(e) The Chairman of a House of Representative Appropriations Committee, or his or her designee, to be chosen by the Speaker of the House.
(4) Members of the advisory board shall receive no compensation for their services, but the authority may reimburse members from funds of the authority as provided by state law for travel associated with their service. Such amount shall not exceed the reimbursement authorized for state officers and employees in Section 25-3-41.
(5) Seven (7) members of the advisory board shall constitute a quorum, and the affirmative votes of a majority of a quorum shall be required for any action to be taken by the board.
(6) The director of the authority shall convene the initial meeting of the board no later than August 1, 2025, at which time the board shall elect one (1) of its members as chairperson. In addition, the board shall elect a vice chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer from among its membership.
(7) The advisory board shall promulgate bylaws and may adopt other procedures for governing its affairs and for discharging its duties as permitted or required by law, as well as applicable rules and regulations, provided that the director has ultimate authority for approving, denying or modifying such bylaws and procedures.