MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Elections

By: Senator(s) Smith

AN ACT TO CREATE A NEW CODE SECTION TO BE CODIFIED AS SECTION 23-15-810, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN STATE ELECTED OFFICIAL FROM ACCEPTING ANY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS DURING ANY LEGISLATIVE SESSION OR DURING THE PERIOD 60 DAYS PRIOR TO OR 30 DAYS AFTER ANY LEGISLATIVE SESSION; TO AUTHORIZE CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE ACCEPTED DURING SUCH PERIOD IF A GENERAL STATE ELECTION IS REQUIRED TO BE HELD IN THE YEAR IN WHICH THE APPLICABLE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS HELD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. The following provision shall be codified as Section 23-15-810, Mississippi Code of 1972:

23-15-810. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no elected state official shall accept any campaign contribution during any regular session of the Legislature or during the period sixty (60) days prior to or thirty (30) days after any regular session of the Legislature.

(2) The prohibition provided for in subsection (1) of this section shall not apply if a general state election is required to be held pursuant to Section 23-15-193, Mississippi Code of 1972, in the year in which the applicable regular session of the Legislature is held.

(3) As used in this section, the term "elected state official" means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, State Treasurer, Attorney General, public service commissioners, highway commissioners, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, and Senators and members of the House of Representatives in the Legislature.

SECTION 2. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi is directed to submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.