SB2455 - Public Service Commission; restructure to include Public Utilities Staff.

1 Co-Sponsor

An Act To Reconstitute The Mississippi Public Service Commission From An Elected Commission To An Appointed Commission; To Consolidate The Public Service Commission With The Mississippi Public Utilities Staff; To Establish The Executive Director As The Head Of The Reconstituted Commission; To Amend Section 77-1-1, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Reconstitute The Public Service Commission, To Stipulate That Commissioners Be Appointed Rather Than Elected, To Set New Term Limits, To Further Define The Role Of Commissioners, And To Establish The Four Divisions Of The Public Utilities Staff; To Amend Section 77-1-15, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Expand The Role Of The Executive Secretary Of The Commission To Also Serve The Public Utilities Staff And To Provide For Additional Responsibilities Of The Secretary; To Amend Section 77-2-1, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Include The New Divisions Of The Staff; To Amend Section 77-2-7, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Stipulate That The Executive Director Of The Commission Is Removable Only For Cause And Is The Chief Administrative And Policy Officer Of The Public Service Commission Staff; To Create Within The Attorney General's Office The Office Of Consumer Advocate To Represent The Interests Of Consumers Before The Public Service Commission And To Establish The Duties And Responsibilities Of The Office Of Consumer Advocate; To Amend Section 77-3-11, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Allow The Commission To Require A Filing Fee For Certain Renewable Projects; To Amend Section 77-3-87, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Allow The Commission To Retain Funds Collected Via Filing Fee; To Amend Section 77-3-37, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Reflect The Commission's Authority To Require A Filing Fee; To Amend Sections 23-15-193, 23-15-297, 25-3-31, 23-15-333, 23-15-367, 25-3-41, 77-1-25, 77-3-3, 77-3-91, 77-3-111, 77-11-305 And 77-13-3, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform; To Amend Section 77-1-51, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Extend The Date Of Repeal; And For Related Purposes.