House Bill 944

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL FROM ENGAGING IN POLITICAL ACTIVITY WHILE IN PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES; TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF DISTRICT TIME, PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES OR PERSONNEL TO PRODUCE, DISTRIBUTE, DISSEMINATE, CIRCULATE OR COMMUNICATE ANY MATERIAL OR INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY; TO PROHIBIT SOLICITING OR ATTEMPTS TO SOLICIT FUNDS FROM SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL ON BEHALF OF A POLITICAL ACTIVITY; TO PROHIBIT POLITICAL ACTIVITY ON SCHOOL PROPERTY; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY LIMITATION IMPOSED ON DISTRICT PERSONNEL ENGAGING IN POLITICAL ACTIVITY SHALL NOT BE APPLICABLE TO SUCH PERSON ON THEIR PERSONAL TIME; TO REQUIRE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO REMAIN NEUTRAL BY NOT ENGAGING IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ON SCHOOL PROPERTY AND BY NOT PUBLICLY SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING ANY POLITICAL PARTY; TO PRESCRIBE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 23-15-801, 23-15-871 AND 23-15-873, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-211, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE AUDITOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REQUEST INFORMATION FROM GOVERNMENTAL AND NONGOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES; TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION IS NOT RESPONDED TO OR REFUSED, THE STATE AUDITOR MAY ISSUE A SUBPOENA TO RETRIEVE THE REQUESTED INFORMATION; TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT ON A NONPROFIT CORPORATION THAT USES PUBLIC FUNDS; PROVIDE THE OFFICE OF THE STATE AUDITOR WITH THE AUTHORITY TO PETITION THE COURT TO THE IMPANELING OF A STATE GRAND JURY; TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC CORRUPTION UNIT WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE STATE AUDITOR AND INSPECTOR GENERAL AND PRESCRIBE ITS DUTIES; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 7-7-215 AND 21-35-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; TO PROVIDE AUTHORITY TO THE STATE AUDITOR TO EMPLOY OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC CORRUPTION ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF THE TERM STATE AUDITOR TO INCLUDE THE MEANING AS STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 7-7-75, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 13-7-3, 13-7-7, 13-7-11, 13-7-15, 13-7-21, 13-7-25, 13-7-29 AND 13-7-41, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE PROVISIONS OF THE STATE GRAND JURY ACT IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; TO PROHIBIT THE INTRODUCTION INTO EVIDENCE OF ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM A WIRE OR ORAL COMMUNICATION INTERCEPTED IN VIOLATION OF THIS ACT; TO ALLOW JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT AND CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES TO ISSUE ORDERS AUTHORIZING THE INTERCEPTION OF WIRE OR ORAL COMMUNICATIONS IF THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE INTERCEPTION WILL PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF A VIOLATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC CORRUPTION ACT; TO AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION TO OWN, POSSESS, INSTALL, OPERATE OR MONITOR AN ELECTRONIC OR OTHER DEVICE USED IN THE INTERCEPTION OF WIRE OR ORAL COMMUNICATIONS; TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION TO REQUEST THAT A DISTRICT ATTORNEY APPLY FOR AN ORDER AUTHORIZING INTERCEPTION OF A WIRE OR ORAL COMMUNICATION; TO REQUIRE APPLICATIONS FOR AN ORDER AUTHORIZING INTERCEPTION OF A WIRE OR ORAL COMMUNICATION TO CONTAIN CERTAIN INFORMATION; TO ALLOW THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH ORDERS ONLY AFTER THE ISSUING JUDGE MAKES CERTAIN FINDINGS; TO REQUIRE THE ORDER TO CONTAIN CERTAIN INFORMATION; TO PLACE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS UPON SUCH ORDERS; TO REQUIRE THE NOTIFICATION OF PERSONS WHOSE COMMUNICATIONS ARE INTERCEPTED WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER TERMINATION OF THE ORDER; TO PLACE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS UPON THE USE OF INTERCEPTED COMMUNICATIONS AS EVIDENCE; TO REQUIRE CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OR DENIAL OF AN ORDER TO BE REPORTED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COURTS; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN CIVIL PENALTIES IN FAVOR OF ANY PERSON WHOSE COMMUNICATIONS ARE INTERCEPTED IN VIOLATION OF THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 41-29-507 AND 41-29-509, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 41-29-513, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; TO REPEAL SECTION 7-7-73, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH REQUIRES THE STATE AUDITOR TO NOTIFY THE GOVERNOR AND THE PROPER DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF ANY REASONABLE BELIEF THAT A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE HAS EMBEZZLED ANY PUBLIC FUNDS, REQUIRES HIS ATTENDANCE AT TRIAL AS THE STATE'S WITNESS; TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT AND OTHER STATUTORY PROVISIONS UNDER CHAPTER 7, TITLE 7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TOGETHER SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE "MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC CORRUPTION ACT"; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Mark Baker

  Sponsor

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Feb 8 – Mar 1

1. Feb 8Referred to the House committee on Judiciary A
2. Feb 16Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
3. Feb 25Read the third time in the House
4. Mar 1Recommitted to committee in the House
5. Died in committee in the House