MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Smith (35th)

House Bill 621

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 5-1-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT WHENEVER EITHER HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE IS CONVENED IN SESSION, A VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDING OF THE SESSION SHALL BE MADE FOR THE PURPOSE OF KEEPING AN ACCURATE HISTORICAL RECORD OF ALL LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE RECORDINGS AND FOR THEIR TRANSFER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY AFTER A CERTAIN TIME; TO AMEND SECTION 5-1-61, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE RECORDING OF JOINT CONVENTIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE IN THE SAME MANNER AS FOR RECORDINGS OF SESSIONS OF THE HOUSE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. Section 5-1-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

5-1-7. (1) The Legislature shall meet at the seat of government, in regular session, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of January, in the year A. D. 1971, and every year thereafter, unless sooner convened by the Governor; and should a quorum of either house not be present, each house shall be adjourned from day to day, after taking the necessary steps to compel the attendance of absent members until a quorum appears.

(2) Whenever either house of the Legislature is convened in session, the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate, as the case may be, shall provide for the video and audio recording of the session on film, videotape or other appropriate medium, for the purpose of keeping an accurate historical record of all legislative sessions. The Clerk and Secretary shall maintain the video and audio recordings of the sessions for at least three (3) years after the adjournment of the session at which they were recorded. At the end of the three-year period, the original or a copy of the recordings shall be transferred to the Department of Archives and History, which shall maintain and preserve the recordings indefinitely.

SECTION 2. Section 5-1-61, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

5-1-61. (1) When by the Constitution or laws a joint meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives is required, they shall assemble with their secretary and clerk in the hall of the House of Representatives on the day and hour previously agreed on by a concurrent resolution or as fixed by law.

(2) When both houses of the Legislature are assembled in joint convention, the Clerk of the House shall provide for the video and audio recording of the convention in the same manner as provided for a session of the House of Representatives under Section 5-1-7(2). Recordings of joint conventions shall be maintained by the Clerk and transferred to the Department of Archives and History in the same manner as recordings of the House under Section 5-1-7(2).

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.