Mississippi Code
Miss. Code Ann. § 25-9-127 (2026)
Prerequisites to dismissal or action adversely affecting compensation or employment status; exceptions; exemption of personnel actions of certain state agencies from State Personnel Board procedures for limited time period; operating state vehicle without license good cause grounds for dismissal; male state employees required to register with selective service
✓ current as of July 2026
- (1) No employee of any department, agency or institution who is included under this chapter or hereafter included under its authority, and who is subject to the rules and regulations prescribed by the state personnel system, may be dismissed or otherwise adversely affected as to compensation or employment status except for inefficiency or other good cause, and after written notice and hearing within the department, agency or institution as shall be specified in the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board complying with due process of law; and any employee who has by written notice of dismissal or action adversely affecting his compensation or employment status shall, on hearing and on any appeal of any decision made in such action, be required to furnish evidence that the reasons stated in the notice of dismissal or action adversely affecting his compensation or employment status are not true or are not sufficient grounds for the action taken; however, this provision shall not apply:
- (a) to persons separated from any department, agency or institution due to curtailment of funds or reduction in staff when such separation is in accordance with rules and regulations of the state personnel system;
- (b) during the probationary period of state service of twelve (12) months; and
- (c) to an executive officer of any state agency who serves at the will and pleasure of the Governor, board, commission or other appointing authority.
- (2) The operation of a state-owned motor vehicle without a valid Mississippi driver's license by an employee of any department, agency or institution that is included under this chapter and that is subject to the rules and regulations of the state personnel system shall constitute good cause for dismissal of such person from employment.
- (3) Beginning July 1, 1999, every male between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26) who is required to register under the federal Military Selective Service Act, 50 USCS App. 453, and who is an employee of the state shall not be promoted to any higher position of employment with the state until he submits to the person, commission, board or agency by which he is employed satisfactory documentation of his compliance with the draft registration requirements of the Military Selective Service Act. The documentation shall include a signed affirmation under penalty of perjury that the male employee has complied with the requirements of the Military Selective Service Act.
- (4) For a period of two (2) years beginning July 1, 2014, the provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply to the personnel actions of the State Department of Education that are subject to the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board, and all employees of the department shall be classified as nonstate service during that period. However, any employee hired after July 1, 2014, by the department shall meet the criteria of the State Personnel Board as it presently exists for employment. The State Superintendent of Public Education and the State Board of Education shall consult with the Office of the Attorney General before taking personnel actions authorized by this section to review those actions for compliance with applicable state and federal law.
It is not the intention or effect of this section to include any school attendance officer in any exemption from coverage under the State Personnel Board policy or regulations, including, but not limited to, termination and conditions of employment.
- (5)
- (a) For a period of two (2) years beginning July 1, 2015, the provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply to the personnel actions of the Department of Corrections, and all employees of the department shall be classified as nonstate service during that period. However, any employee hired after July 1, 2015, by the department shall meet the criteria of the State Personnel Board as it presently exists for employment.
- (b) Additionally, for a period of one (1) year beginning July 1, 2016, the personnel actions of the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections shall be exempt from State Personnel Board rules, regulations and procedures in order to give the commissioner flexibility in making an orderly, effective and timely reorganization and realignment of the department.
- (c) The Commissioner of Corrections shall consult with the Office of the Attorney General before personnel actions authorized by this section to review those actions for compliance with applicable state and federal law.
- (6) Through July 1, 2020, the provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to the personnel actions of the Department of Human Services that are subject to the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board, and all employees of the department shall be classified as nonstate service during that period. Any employee hired on or after July 1, 2020, by the department shall meet the criteria of the State Personnel Board as it presently exists for employment. The Executive Director of Human Services shall consult with the Office of the Attorney General before taking personnel actions authorized by this section to review those actions for compliance with applicable state and federal law.
- (7) Through July 1, 2020, the provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to the personnel actions of the Department of Child Protection Services that are subject to the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board, and all employees of the department shall be classified as nonstate service during that period. Any employee hired on or after July 1, 2020, by the division shall meet the criteria of the State Personnel Board as it presently exists for employment. The Commissioner of Child Protection Services shall consult with the Office of the Attorney General before taking personnel actions authorized by this section to review those actions for compliance with applicable state and federal law.
- (8) Any agency requesting an exemption from the State Personnel Board as it presently exists for employment shall submit to the Legislature and State Personnel Board a written plan describing the justification for the requested exemption and the actions the agency plans to implement if granted the exemption. The written plan shall include:
- (a) Justification for the requested exemption, including the identification of issues the agency intends to address;
- (b) Actions to be taken during the exemption period including the reasons for such actions; and
- (c) The number of affected positions, associated costs and the source of funds to pay for each action.
- (9) Any state agency whose personnel actions are exempted in this section from the rules, regulations and procedures of the State Personnel Board shall file with the State Personnel Board, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Legislative Budget Office, Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER), and the members of the Senate and House Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committees an annual report no later than July 1 of each year while under the exemption. Such annual report shall contain the following information:
- (a) The number of current employees who received an increase in salary during the past fiscal year and the amount of the increase;
- (b) The number of employees who were dismissed from the agency or otherwise adversely affected as to compensation or employment status during the past fiscal year, including a description of such adverse effects;
- (c) The number of new employees hired during the past fiscal year and the starting salaries of each new employee;
- (d) Quantifiable measures showing that the actions taken under authority of an exemption granted by this section have improved efficiency or effectiveness, or both, of the agency's operations;
- (e) The number of staff hired or promoted without the minimum qualifications for their positions during the exemption period; and
- (f) Evidence to demonstrate that staff hired without minimum qualifications are competent to perform their job duties.
Laws, 1980, ch. 303, § 9(1); Laws, 1994, ch. 523, § 2; Laws, 1999, ch. 411, § 2, eff. 7/1/1999.
Amended by Laws, 2023, ch. 406, HB 768,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by Laws, 2021, ch. 381, HB 1213,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2021.
Amended by Laws, 2019, ch. 382, HB 714,§ 3, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by Laws, 2016, ch. 494, SB 2179, 5, eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by Laws, 2016, ch. 495, HB 1498, 1, eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by Laws, 2015, ch. 437, SB 2804, 1, eff. 7/1/2015.
Amended by Laws, 2014, ch. 491, HB 454, 1, eff. 4/15/2014.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 47
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1987–2022 · leading case: Lollar v. Baker, 196 F.3d 603 (5th Cir. 1999).
Lollar v. Baker, 196 F.3d 603 (5th Cir. 1999). “” Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127 (1999). Although it is clear that under Mississippi law a property interest may be created in a particular job, that property interest is generally limited to the financial remuneration of that job.”
Hood v. Dept. of Wildlife Conservation, 571 So. 2d 263 (Miss. 1990). “Miss. Code Ann. § 25-9-127 (Supp. 1990). Employees affected by adverse decisions may appeal to the Employee Appeals Board (EAB) for de novo hearing, then to circuit court for judicial review on the record, and finally to this Court.”
Bynum v. Mississippi Dept. of Educ., 906 So. 2d 81 (Miss. Ct. App. 2004). “Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127; S.P.B. Rule 10.”
Richmond v. Ms. Dept. of Human Servs., 745 So. 2d 254 (Miss. 1999). “" Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127(1) (1994). No employee of any state agency may be dismissed unless there is good cause and after written notice and hearing.”
Mississippi Dept. of Corr. v. Smith, 883 So. 2d 124 (Miss. Ct. App. 2004). “" Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127 (Rev.1991). Procedurally, however, the legislature has placed the burden on the appealing employee to show that the charged facts are not true or are not of sufficient gravity to merit the discipline imposed.”
Mississippi Dept. of Transp. v. Rutland, 965 So. 2d 696 (Miss. Ct. App. 2007). “Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127 (Rev.2006). However, non-state service employees, including probationary state service employees during the first twelve months of employment, are not afforded this protection.”
Buford v. Holladay, 791 F. Supp. 635 (S.D. Miss. 1992). “Plaintiffs argue, first of all, that Chapter 518 did not abolish Plaintiffs’ property interest in continued employment, and that Defendants therefore violated Plaintiffs’ procedural due process rights by failing to comply with the statutory procedural due process measures…”
Miss. Dept. of Pub. Saf. v. Carver, 809 So. 2d 713 (Miss. Ct. App. 2001). “" Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127(1) (Rev.1999). ¶ 9.”
McMurtray v. Holladay, 11 F.3d 499 (5th Cir. 1993). “Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127. A state service employee also “may appeal his dismissal or other action adversely affecting his employment status to the employee appeals board” and ultimately to the courts.”
The Mississippi Dep't of Wildlife, Fisheries v. Gaylon Bradshaw, 196 So. 3d 1075 (Miss. Ct. App. 2016). “” Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127(1). This required Bradshaw to rebut the “presumption of correctness” afforded MDWFP’s decision.”
Phillips v. Miss. Vet's Home Purchase Bd., 674 So. 2d 1240 (Miss. 1996). “Specifically, Phillips contends that Miss. Code Ann. §§ 25-9-127 and 25-9-131 (1972) and our holding in Gill v.”
Gill v. Dept. of Wildlife Conservation, 574 So. 2d 586 (Miss. 1990). “Miss. Code Ann. § 25-9-127 (b) (1990); contrast Hood v.”
— Miss. Code Ann. § 25-9-127(1) — 9 cases
Bynum v. Mississippi Dept. of Educ., 906 So. 2d 81 (Miss. Ct. App. 2004). “Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127; S.P.B. Rule 10.”
Miss. Dept. of Pub. Saf. v. Carver, 809 So. 2d 713 (Miss. Ct. App. 2001). “" Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127(1) (Rev.1999). ¶ 9.”
The Mississippi Dep't of Wildlife, Fisheries v. Gaylon Bradshaw, 196 So. 3d 1075 (Miss. Ct. App. 2016). “” Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127(1). This required Bradshaw to rebut the “presumption of correctness” afforded MDWFP’s decision.”
Hemba v. Mississippi Dept. of Corr., 998 So. 2d 1003 (Miss. 2009).
Mississippi Dept. of Corr. v. Smith, 883 So. 2d 124 (Miss. Ct. App. 2004). “" Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127 (Rev.1991). Procedurally, however, the legislature has placed the burden on the appealing employee to show that the charged facts are not true or are not of sufficient gravity to merit the discipline imposed.”
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