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Special Session Legislative
Update
Bills Passed and Bills
Pending of
Major Interest to
Greater Jackson
Chamber
Partnership
(As of Friday, June 6, 2008)
The legislature recessed after conducting
business on Friday, May 30 and reconvened for business on
Tuesday June 3 and Wednesday, June 4. Then they recessed again
until June 26. The following are highlights of the 2008 First
Extraordinary Session since it began on Wednesday, May 21,
2008.
·
Toll Road bill passed and signed
by the Governor.
· Mississippi
Major Impact Act amended to provide incentives for NABF
(National Agricultural and Biological Facility) passed and
signed by the governor.
· Mississippi
Department of Employment Security reauthorized to July 1, 2010.
Toll Road Bill: HB 3
was passed by both houses in identical
form on May 21. This bill was necessary to help fund part of the
Airport Parkway construction costs. It
was signed by the Governor on June 2.
Mississippi Major
Impact Act (revisions for NABF project):
HB 12
(same bill as SB 2012) was passed by the House on
May 28.
A decision was made “to go”
with the house bill (HB 12) instead of
SB 2012. The Senate passed
HB 12 on May 29 with no amendments. This bill was necessary to
have bonding authority of $88,000,000 to include in the NABF
incentive proposal to assist with site development. The bill
was signed by the Governor on June 2.
Reauthorization of
Mississippi Department of Employment Security:
SB 2001
was passed by the Senate on May 22 to reauthorize the agency for
an indefinite term. The House passed HB 1 on May 21,
which is the same bill as SB 2001, but with the repealer
extended to only July 1 of 2009. Both
houses adopted the HB 1 compromise conference report on
June 4 that extends the repealer to July 1, 2010.
Important Pending Legislation
Revise Illegal
Immigration: Mandated
E-Verify System: All employers
should be interested in SB 2005. This bill is
intended to modify some of the stringent E-Verify requirements,
clarify the duties placed on employers, and limit employer
liability in certain employment situations. Employers with 250
or more employees will have to begin using the E-Verify Mandate
on July 1, 2008. Other employers will be subject to the E-Verify
Mandate on July 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011.
SB 2005
was passed by the Senate on May 27 and
transmitted to the House on May 28. The bill is in the
House Judiciary B Committee. The House does not have its own
bill on this matter. The original bill, passed during the 2008
regular session, requires employers to use the Federal E-Verify
system as the only source for potential employee work
authorization and creates several uncertainties for employers.
Employers should contact
their Representatives and request their support for SB 2005.
Legislative contact information is at the bottom of this page.
Other Legislative Issues:
SB 2006: Metal theft.
Has passed both houses and sent to the Governor.
SB 2004: Voter ID.
Passed Senate and is in House Apportionments and Elections
Committee.
HR 17:
Medicaid funding. Failed to pass
House floor action on May 30 by three votes. A Motion to
Reconsider was entered and is on the House Calendar for June 26.
For detailed contact information, click
here, then click on the house you want (House or Senate) and
follow the drop-down menu.
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