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H. B. No. 1655 *HR43/R2144PH* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Appropriations E;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representatives Read, Cockerham
HOUSE BILL NO. 1655
(As Passed the House)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 65-9-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
PROVIDE THAT THE SALARY OF THE STATE AID ENGINEER SHALL BE PAID A 2
SALARY IN AN AMOUNT SET BY THE GOVERNOR, SUBJECT TO THE RULES, 3
REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES OF THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD; AND FOR 4
RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 65-9-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
65-9-9. The State Aid Engineer shall be appointed by the 9
Governor for a term of two (2) years, subject to removal pursuant 10
to Section 25-9-101 et seq. by the Governor at any time; provided, 11
however, upon the expiration of the term of the State Aid Engineer 12
serving on July 1, 1985, the State Aid Engineer shall be appointed 13
by the Governor for a term of four (4) years. The State Aid 14
Engineer shall be a registered engineer with at least eight (8) 15
years' experience as a county road or highway engineer and a 16
thorough knowledge of rural road problems. * * * He shall be paid 17
a salary in an amount set by the Governor, subject to the rules, 18
regulations and guidelines of the State Personnel Board. He shall 19
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also be reimbursed for travel expenses actually incurred by him in 20
the discharge of his duties; and he shall, each month, make a 21
detailed report to the Governor of such expenses. He shall be 22
authorized to employ assistant state aid engineers, together with 23
such other engineers, employees, and other assistants as may be 24
necessary to carry out the terms of this chapter, all of whom may 25
be removed at any time by the State Aid Engineer. The 26
compensation of all such engineers, employees, and assistants 27
shall be comparable to the salaries of like employees of the 28
Mississippi Department of Transportation. 29
The State Aid Engineer, before entering upon the discharge of 30
his duties, shall give bond in the sum of Twenty-five Thousand 31
Dollars ($25,000.00) in some surety company authorized to do 32
business in this state, which bond shall be conditioned for the 33
faithful performance of his duties; and likewise each assistant 34
state aid engineer shall give bond in the sum of Ten Thousand 35
Dollars ($10,000.00) conditioned for the faithful performance of 36
his duties. The State Aid Engineer is hereby authorized to 37
require other assistants who are charged with responsible duties 38
to likewise give bond in amounts not to exceed Ten Thousand 39
Dollars ($10,000.00) each, conditioned for the faithful 40
performance of their duties. 41
The salaries of the State Aid Engineer and his assistants and 42
of all other employees of the Office of State Aid Road 43
Construction, and all other expenses incurred by the Office of 44
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ST: Office of State Aid Road Construction;
bring forward provision regarding State Aid
Engineer and other personnel.
State Aid Road Construction in carrying out the provisions of this 45
chapter, including the premiums of bonds of the State Aid 46
Engineer, assistant state aid engineers, and other assistants, 47
shall be paid from the State Aid Road Fund in the State Treasury 48
prior to allocation to the several counties, by requisition drawn 49
by the State Aid Engineer directed to the Department of Finance 50
and Administration, which will issue its warrant to the State 51
Treasurer in the sum and for the purpose stated in the 52
requisition. The State Aid Engineer shall, each month, make a 53
detailed report to the Governor of all expenditures so made. 54
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 55
and after July 1, 2026. 56