Title V Advisory Council; revise membership and replace inactive or nonexistent member groups of.

H. B. No. 1015 *HR43/R1942* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1942
PAGE 1 (MCL\KP)

To: Accountability,
Efficiency, Transparency
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Ladner

HOUSE BILL NO. 1015

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-17-16, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TITLE V ADVISORY COUNCIL; TO 2
REPLACE INACTIVE OR NONEXISTENT MEMBER GROUPS OF THE COUNCIL; AND 3
FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 49-17-16, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
49-17-16. (1) (a) An Advisory Council, hereinafter 8
referred to as "Advisory Council," is created to conduct an 9
independent study of the costs for the development and 10
administration of the Title V program within the Department of 11
Environmental Quality and to conduct an annual review of the costs 12
of administering such programs. 13
(b) The costs to be included within the study for the 14
Title V program shall be those costs set forth in Section 15
49-17-14. After completing a study of the program needs and 16
costs, the Advisory Council shall recommend an equitable fee 17
system for the Title V program. The annual review of the Title V 18
program shall determine if the fee system is collecting sufficient 19
H. B. No. 1015 *HR43/R1942* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1942
PAGE 2 (MCL\KP)

funds to meet the program needs. The Advisory Council shall 20
recommend an appropriate fee schedule for the upcoming fee year 21
and, if necessary, recommend changes to the existing fee system so 22
that sufficient funds are collected through an equitable fee 23
system. Each annual review report shall be due January 1 of each 24
year to the commission and the Executive Director of the 25
Department of Environmental Quality. 26
(2) The Department of Environmental Quality shall assist the 27
Advisory Council by providing any information the Advisory Council 28
may require to perform its duties under Sections 49-17-1 through 29
49-17-45. 30
(3) The Advisory Council shall be composed of the following 31
seven (7) persons appointed as follows: * * * four (4) 32
representatives of industries that qualify for inclusion under the 33
Title V program, that are required to pay the program fee, 34
with * * * two (2) such representatives to be appointed by the 35
Governor, one (1) by the Lieutenant Governor and one (1) by the 36
Speaker of the House of Representatives; the Executive Director of 37
the Mississippi Development Authority; the President of the 38
Mississippi * * * Business Alliance; and the President of the 39
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation * * *. Nonappointed members of 40
the Advisory Council may designate an alternate member to act in 41
their stead in performing any function of the Advisory Council. 42
The length of term for each member of the Advisory Council shall 43
H. B. No. 1015 *HR43/R1942* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1942
PAGE 3 (MCL\KP)
ST: Title V Advisory Council; revise membership
and replace inactive or nonexistent member
groups of.
be four (4) years. Members of the Advisory Council may serve 44
successive and multiple terms. 45
(4) Vacancies on the Advisory Council shall be filled by 46
appointment in the same manner as the original appointments. 47
(5) The Advisory Council shall select from their membership 48
a chairperson to preside over meetings and a vice chairperson to 49
preside in the absence of the chairperson or when the chairperson 50
shall be excused. The Advisory Council shall adopt procedures 51
governing the manner of conducting its business. A majority of 52
the members shall constitute a quorum to do business. 53
(6) Members of the Advisory Council shall serve without 54
salary. The members of the Advisory Council shall be entitled to 55
receive reimbursement of their actual travel and hotel expenses as 56
provided in Section 25-3-41, incurred while in the performance of 57
their duties as members of the Advisory Council to be paid on an 58
itemized statement approved by the State Fiscal Officer. Expenses 59
shall be paid from fees collected in accordance with Section 60
49-17-30. 61
(7) The Executive Director of the Department of 62
Environmental Quality shall provide technical, clerical and other 63
support services, including services by contract, as the Advisory 64
Council determines that it requires in the performance of its 65
functions. 66
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 67
and after its passage. 68