HB 1655

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Appropriations E; Appropriations A
By: Representatives Read, Cockerham
House Bill 1655
(As Sent to Governor)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 65-9-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO
PROVIDE THAT THE SALARY OF THE STATE AID ENGINEER SHALL BE PAID A SALARY IN AN
AMOUNT SET BY THE GOVERNOR, SUBJECT TO THE RULES, REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES OF
THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
���� BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
���� SECTION 1.� Section
65-9-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
���� 65-9-9.� The State Aid
Engineer shall be appointed by the Governor for a term of two (2) years,
subject to removal pursuant to Section 25-9-101 et seq. by the Governor at any
time; provided, however, upon the expiration of the term of the State Aid
Engineer serving on July 1, 1985, the State Aid Engineer shall be appointed by
the Governor for a term of four (4) years.� The State Aid Engineer shall be a
registered engineer with at least eight (8) years' experience as a county road
or highway engineer and a thorough knowledge of rural road problems.  * * * He shall be paid a salary equal to that paid assistant
chief engineers of the Mississippi Department of Transportation as established
by the department's personnel and merit system, plus He shall be
paid a salary in an amount set by the Governor, subject to the rules,
regulations and guidelines of the State Personnel Board.� He shall also be
reimbursed for travel expenses actually incurred by him in the discharge of
his duties; and he shall, each month, make a detailed report to the Governor of
such expenses.� He shall be authorized to employ assistant state aid engineers,
together with such other engineers, employees, and other assistants as may be
necessary to carry out the terms of this chapter, all of whom may be removed at
any time by the State Aid Engineer.� The compensation of all such engineers,
employees, and assistants shall be comparable to the salaries of like employees
of the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
���� The State Aid Engineer,
before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall give bond in the sum of
Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) in some surety company authorized to
do business in this state, which bond shall be conditioned for the faithful
performance of his duties; and likewise each assistant state aid engineer shall
give bond in the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) conditioned for the
faithful performance of his duties.� The State Aid Engineer is hereby
authorized to require other assistants who are charged with responsible duties
to likewise give bond in amounts not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00)
each, conditioned for the faithful performance of their duties.
���� The salaries of the State
Aid Engineer and his assistants and of all other employees of the Office of
State Aid Road Construction, and all other expenses incurred by the Office of State
Aid Road Construction in carrying out the provisions of this chapter, including
the premiums of bonds of the State Aid Engineer, assistant state aid engineers,
and other assistants, shall be paid from the State Aid Road Fund in the State
Treasury prior to allocation to the several counties, by requisition drawn by
the State Aid Engineer directed to the Department of Finance and
Administration, which will issue its warrant to the State Treasurer in the sum
and for the purpose stated in the requisition. �The State Aid Engineer shall,
each month, make a detailed report to the Governor of all expenditures so made.
���� SECTION 2.� This act
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.