The joint committee shall have the following powers and duties:
To select and contract with a reputable and competent publishing company on such terms and conditions and at such prices as it may deem proper for the editing, printing, indexing, annotating, binding and publishing of all the acts of the Legislature passed since adjournment of the 1998 Session of the Mississippi Legislature and annually thereafter, provided that the expenditure of state funds shall be contingent upon the Legislature appropriating the necessary funds therefor. Nothing in Chapter 546, Laws of 1998 or in Chapter 502, Laws of 1996, shall be construed to render invalid or impair the obligations of any contract entered into on behalf of the State of Mississippi on or before September 30, 1988, and any revisions or modifications to such contract other than extending the contract beyond September 30, 1998, for any of the purposes set forth in Chapter 546, Laws of 1998 or in Chapter 502, Laws of 1996.
To undertake such substantive revisions, recodifications and compilations of the Mississippi Code of 1972, and subsequent amendments thereto, as may be necessary or as may be directed by the Legislature.
To formulate with the publishing company all the details associated with the codification of the laws enacted by the Mississippi Legislature.
To review, approve or disapprove the work of the publishing company in preparing, supplementing, indexing or revising the Mississippi Code of 1972, or any volume, pocket part or portion thereof.
To grant exclusive or nonexclusive publication and sales rights to the Mississippi Code of 1972, and subsequent amendments thereto, or portions thereof to the publishing company.
In its discretion, to seek the advice and assistance of members and committees of the Mississippi Bar Association.
To provide for the preparation and introduction of legislation containing its recommendations for the revisions in substance and form or both, or the repeal or amendment of statutes or portions thereof.
To provide for procedures for the implementation or execution of its powers and duties.
To take such other action or exercise such additional powers as may be necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter.