MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Judiciary B

By: Representatives Smith (39th), Janus

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-17-97, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE PUBLIC HOUSING AREAS IN THE OFFENSE OF TRESPASS; TO INCLUDE PLACES OF WORSHIP IN THE OFFENSE OF TRESPASS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 97-17-97, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

97-17-97. (1) If any person or persons shall without authority of law go into or upon or remain in or upon any building, premises or land of another, including the premises of any public housing authority after having been banned from returning to the premises of the housing authority and the premises of any church, synagogue, temple or other established place of worship, whether an individual, a corporation, partnership, or association, or any part, portion or area thereof, after having been forbidden to do so, either orally or in writing including any sign hereinafter mentioned, by any owner, or lessee, or custodian, or other authorized person, or by the administrators of a public housing authority regardless of whether or not having been invited onto the premises of the housing authority by a tenant, or after having been forbidden to do so by such sign or signs posted on, or in such building, premises or land, or part, or portion, or area thereof, at a place or places where such sign or signs may be reasonably seen, such person or persons shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or by confinement in the county jail not exceeding six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(2) The provisions of this section are supplementary to the provisions of any other statute of this state.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.