clarionledger.com
Written by Elizabeth Crisp
10:22 PM, Jan. 15, 2012

Proposals to alter the attorney general's authority to contract with outside firms, curb illegal immigration and place more restrictions on abortion providers are among the bills appearing in the Republican-controlled state Senate.

All three issues have seen some momentum in the Senate in the past, but with the House now also under Republican control, leaders say they hope there will be more movement this year.

The Senate is offering the first glimpse of bills that will be considered during the 2012 legislative session because its leadership is set.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, already has filed several pieces of legislation, including two bills that would address the attorney general's hiring of private firms to represent the state.

"I just think it makes sense to allow multiple law firms and attorneys to bid for contracts," he said of Senate bills 2084 and 2102.

Fillingane said he offered two versions of the legislation so committee chairmen would have more options. Neither bill requires that the "lowest and best bid" be accepted - the standard for many state contracts.

"There are no restrictions on whom they have to choose, but I think it's important for us to go beyond just hiring the first name in the phone book," he said.

By Friday, more than 100 Senate bills had been filed, with few surprises.

The deadline to file proposed legislation is Feb. 20, and March 6 is the deadline for committees to act.

No House proposals have been filed because that chamber's members have not been assigned to committees.

House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, said assignments should come this week.

"We have ample time to do everything," he said.

Since this is the first session of the four-year term, it is about a month longer. The session is scheduled to end the first week of May.

Sen. Robert Jackson, D-Marks, has proposed a bill that would create a compensation fund for family members of victims of racially motivated crimes committed during the civil rights struggle. The legislation is dubbed the "Emmitt Louis Till Victims' Compensation Fund" for the black teen who was slain in Mississippi in 1955, Jackson said the fund would be a way for the state to apologize for past actions, particularly ignoring crimes against African Americans.

"The state has seen a lot of suffering in terms of people dying unnecessarily in racially motivated crimes," Jackson said. "We need to compensate the victims."

Jackson also is pushing for the state to add a second state song - My Home Mississippi written by former state Sen. Delma Furniss. The state's official song, Go, Mississippi, was adopted in 1962.

"Some states have more than one official song," Jackson said. "This would be a way for us to have one with a little bit more heart and meaning."

Two lawmakers have filed bills proposing to cut the size of the Legislature. Such bills typically do not make it very far.

Sen. Billy Hudson, R-Hattiesburg, wants to reduce the Senate from 52 members to 40 and reduce salaries for lawmakers.

Sen. Michael Watson, R-Pascagoula, wants to reduce the House from 122 members to 70 and the Senate from 52 to 30.

Watson also has proposed legislation that would prohibit disorderly conduct at funerals and a bill to continue the state sales tax holiday on school supplies during the last weekend in July.

On immigration, Fillingane has again proposed an Arizona-style bill that says police officers should make "reasonable attempt(s)" to determine the legal status of people who they suspect are in the country illegally.

A similar proposal last year drew ire from civil rights groups.

Fillingane also has proposed legislation that would prevent illegal immigrants from receiving financial aid from state colleges or universities. He said he's not sure how widespread that issue is but said he has heard complaints from constituents.

"We have very limited funds, and state dollars are going to people who are not here legally," he said. "I think we need to look at that."

Senate offers glimpse of bills | The Clarion-Ledger | clarionledger.com