Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 47 - PRISONS AND PRISONERS; PROBATION AND PAROLE (§§ 47-1-1 — 47-7-101) › Chapter 5 - CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM (§§ 47-5-1 — 47-5-1517) › MISSISSIPPI PRISON INDUSTRIES ACT OF 1990 (§§ 47-5-531 — 47-5-579) › Section 47-5-541 - [Repealed effective 7/1/2027] Board of directors of corporation; chief executive officer; industry advisory board; compensation of directors; rules and regulations; duties of chief executive officer

(1)
The corporation shall be governed by a board of directors. The terms of the board of directors in place before July 1, 2022, shall expire June 30, 2022. From and after July 1, 2022, the board of directors of the nonprofit corporation shall be composed of the following five (5) members:
(a)
The Commissioner of the Department of Corrections or his or her designee;
(b)
One (1) representative of the faith-based community who is a resident of the State of Mississippi, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate;
(c)
One (1) representative of the business community who is a resident of the State of Mississippi, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate;
(d)
The Executive Director of the Office of Workforce Development or his or her designee; and
(e)
The Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board or his or her designee.
For the initial appointments, the representative of the faith-based community shall serve for a term of one (1) year; the representative of the business community shall serve for a term of two (2) years; the Executive Director of the Office of Workforce Development or his or her designee shall serve for a term of three (3) years and the Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board shall serve for a term of four (4) years. All succeeding terms shall be for four (4) years from the expiration date of the previous term. The term of the Commissioner of Corrections shall run concurrent with his or her term or terms as commissioner. Initial appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days after July 1, 2022. Any vacancy on the board prior to the expiration of a term for any reason, including resignation, removal, disqualification, death or disability shall be filled in the manner prescribed in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this subsection for the balance of the unexpired term. The officers of the corporation shall consist of a chairman, vice chairman and a secretary-treasurer. The officers shall be selected by the members of the board. However, the Commissioner of Corrections shall not be eligible to serve as an officer of the corporation.
(2)
(a)
The board of directors shall select and employ a chief executive officer of the corporation who shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The board shall set the compensation of the chief executive officer. The chief executive officer shall be responsible for the general business and entire operations of the corporation, and shall be responsible for operating the corporation in compliance with the bylaws of the corporation and in compliance with any provision of law. The board shall be authorized and empowered to do only those acts provided by law and by the bylaws of the corporation. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, such board shall have the authority to establish prison industries, to cease the operation of any industry which it deems unsuitable or unprofitable, to enter into any lease or contract for the corporation and it shall have the full authority to establish prices for any industry good.
(b)
The chief executive officer of the corporation shall work in collaboration with the Executive Director of the Office of Workforce Development to implement workforce development programs within the corrections system which align with the strategic plan for an integrated workforce development system for the state, as described in Section
37-153-7
.
(c)
The chief executive officer of the corporation shall be a person with extensive experience in development of economic, human and physical resources, with an emphasis in the corrections or reentry environments preferred. The chief executive officer of the corporation shall have at least a bachelor's degree from a state-accredited institution and no less than eight (8) years of professional experience related to workforce development.
(d)
With the assistance of the Office of Workforce Development, the chief executive officer of the corporation shall:
(i)
Inventory and measure the effectiveness of current workforce development programs in the state corrections system, with the goal of eliminating any programs which do not result in desired outcomes, including, but not limited to, an increase in employment in reentering offenders, a better environment within correctional facilities in the state, or a reduction in recidivism;
(ii)
Partner with educational institutions to provide additional opportunities in workforce development programs for offenders leading to high-wage, high-skill jobs upon reentry;
(iii)
Provide information, as appropriate, to offenders on workforce development programs available within the corrections system;
(iv)
Work with industry to identify barriers which inhibit offender reentry and employment and evaluate the responsiveness of the corrections system and other support entities to the needs of industry;
(v)
Develop short-term and long-term goals for the state related to workforce development and reentry offender employment within the corrections system; and
(vi)
Perform a comprehensive review of workforce development in the corrections system, including the amount expended on programs supported by state or federal money and their outcomes.
(3)
No member of the board of directors shall vote on any matter that comes before the board that could result in pecuniary benefit for himself or for any entity in which such member has an interest.
(4)
In addition to the board of directors, an advisory board may be set up for the benefit of each industry which is established pursuant to the provisions of Sections
47-5-531
through
47-5-575
. Such boards shall be advisory only, and may be set up in the discretion of the board of directors of the corporation.
(5)
Each member of the board of directors of the corporation shall receive per diem as provided in Section
25-3-69
for each day or fraction thereof spent in actual discharge of his official duties and shall be reimbursed for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the performance of his official duties in accordance with the requirements of Section
25-3-41
, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(6)
The board of directors shall make and publish policies, rules and regulations governing all business functions, including but not limited to accounting, marketing, purchasing and personnel, not inconsistent with the terms of Sections
47-5-531
through
47-5-575
, as may be necessary for the efficient administration and operation of the corporation.
(7)
The chief executive officer of the corporation shall:
(a)
Employ all necessary employees of the corporation and dismiss them as is necessary;
(b)
Administer the daily operations of the corporation, including establishing education, training and workforce development programs in collaboration with the Office of Workforce Development and other relevant state and federal agencies;
(c)
Upon approval of the board of directors, execute any contracts on behalf of the corporation; and
(d)
Take any further actions which are necessary and proper toward the achievement of the corporation purposes.
(8)
A member of the board of directors of the corporation shall not be liable for any civil damages for any personal injury or property damage caused to a person as a result of any acts or omissions committed in good faith in the exercise of their duties as members of the board of directors of the corporation, except where a member of the board engages in acts or omissions which are intentional, willful, wanton, reckless or grossly negligent.
Laws, 1990, ch. 534, § 6; reenacted and amended, Laws, 1996, ch. 547, § 15; Laws, 2007, ch. 415, § 1, eff. 7/1/2007.
Amended by Laws, 2024, ch. 464, SB 2445,§ 9, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by Laws, 2024, ch. 496, SB 2717,§ 2, eff. 5/8/2024.
Amended by Laws, 2022, ch. 489, SB 2723,§ 4, eff. 7/1/2022.
Amended by Laws, 2022, ch. 464, HB 863,§ 3, eff. 7/1/2022.