Audits related to state correctional system, certain; require PEER Committee to enter into contract to perform.

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included details about Mississippi Prison Industries which were correctly identified but could be more precisely stated as 'what is formerly known as Mississippi Prison Industries'.

State Correctional System Audits

This bill requires the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) to contract with a certified public accounting firm for audits related to specific funds and contracts within the state's correctional system.

What This Bill Does

• Requires PEER to contract with a certified public accounting firm for audits.
• The audits must cover five previous fiscal years for the Inmate Welfare Fund, prison medical services provided by MagCor, and Mississippi Prison Industries.
• PEER must use funds specifically appropriated by the Legislature to pay for these audits.
• After completing the audit, PEER must give the results to the Legislature.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER)
• Certified public accounting firms
• State correctional system

Terms To Know

Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER)

A committee that reviews how state money is spent.

Inmate Welfare Fund

Money set aside to help inmates with their basic needs.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill did not pass and was stopped in a committee.
• It does not specify what will happen if PEER cannot find a certified public accounting firm or if the firm refuses to do the audit.
• There is no information on how much money would be needed for these audits.

Official Summary Text

Audits related to state correctional system, certain; require PEER Committee to enter into contract to perform.

Current Bill Text

H. B. No. 1745 *HR43/R1537* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1537
PAGE 1 (OM\KP)
ST: Audits related to state correctional
system, certain; require PEER Committee to enter
into contract to perform.
To: Corrections;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Currie

HOUSE BILL NO. 1745

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON 1
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND EXPENDITURE REVIEW (PEER), UNDER 2
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO CONTRACT WITH A CERTIFIED PUBLIC 3
ACCOUNTING FIRM TO PERFORM CERTAIN AUDITS RELATED TO THE 4
CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM OF THE STATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. The Joint Legislative Committee on Performance 7
Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER), with funds specifically 8
appropriated by the Legislature for such purpose, shall contract 9
with a certified public accounting firm to perform an audit that 10
shall cover the five (5) previous fiscal years for the Inmate 11
Welfare Fund, the state's health contract for prison medical 12
services provided for state inmates and MagCor, which operates 13
what is formerly known as Mississippi Prison Industries. 14
The audit shall be delivered to the Legislature at its 15
conclusion. 16
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 17
and after July 1, 2026. 18