MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Judiciary A

By: Representative Bowles

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT STATE AGENCIES FROM EMPLOYING ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE THE ACT OR VOTE OF ANY MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE OR TO PROMOTE, ADVOCATE, AMEND OR OPPOSE ANY MATTER BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE OR EITHER HOUSE OR ANY COMMITTEE THEREOF; TO CREATE AN EXCEPTION TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. (1) Except as otherwise permitted under Section 5-7-11 or as otherwise provided in this section, no agency, department, board, commission, bureau or other instrumentality of the state which receives appropriations from the Legislature shall employ any person, firm, corporation or association for the purpose of attempting at any time to: (a) influence in any manner the act or vote of any member of the Legislature of this state upon any legislative measure; or (b) promote, advocate, amend or oppose in any manner, any matter pending or that might come before the Legislature of this state, or either house thereof, or a committee of the Legislature of this state or of either house thereof.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a person, firm, corporation or association shall be considered employed whether paid on a fee basis, a contractual arrangement, a retainer agreement, a regular salary basis or whether any additional or different compensation is paid, or anything of value is paid or given to such person directly or indirectly, for performing any of the functions described in subsection (1) of this section and whether or not any of such functions are performed on a full- or part-time basis.

(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the board of supervisors of a county having a population of less than eight thousand five hundred (8,500) according to the 1980 federal decennial census.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.