Sunset laws were established to provide a system for terminating, continuing, or re-establishing state agencies, boards, or commissions. Sunset laws would automatically terminate a state agency, board, or commission after a certain number of years unless that body was recreated by law. The agency would appear at a public hearing before a joint legislative committee during the terminal year to demonstrate its need for continued existence. The committee either would recommend that the agency be terminated or that it continue to operate for a certain number of years. This resolution would be voted on by both houses and sent to the Governor.
Not only would a sunset law help to curtail the growth of state bureaucracy, it would abolish useless and inefficient agencies, boards, and commissions which cost the taxpayers money. In addition, it would allow greater legislative oversight and private accountability. Overlapping or duplication of programs could be eliminated, thus streamlining state government.
The PEER Committee recommended that the Mississippi Legislature adopt a sunset law. This report outlined specific elements and stipulations of such a law and provided a suggested timetable for sunset review.
For a paper copy of this report, contact PEER by telephone at 601-359-1226 or by e-mail at reports@peer.ms.gov.