MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Judiciary

By: Senator(s) Turner

Senate Bill 2610

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-29-515, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT THE INTERCEPTION OF CELLULAR OR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS IS AUTHORIZED; TO AMEND SECTION 41-29-523, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUING JUDGE TO DETERMINE PERSONS TO RECEIVE NOTICE UNDER THE SECTION; TO AMEND SECTION 41-29-536, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE INFORMATION TO BE CONTAINED IN A MOTION FOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. Section 41-29-515, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-29-515. (1) Upon receipt of an application, the judge may enter an ex parte order, as requested or as modified, authorizing interception of wire, oral or other communications if the judge determines from the evidence submitted by the applicant that:

(a) There is probable cause to believe that a person is committing, has committed, or is about to commit a particular offense enumerated in Section 41-29-505;

(b) There is probable cause to believe that particular communications concerning that offense will be obtained through the interception;

(c) Normal investigative procedures have been tried and have failed or reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed or to be too dangerous if tried;

(d) There is probable cause to believe that the facilities from which or the place where the wire, oral or other communications are to be intercepted are being used or are about to be used in connection with the commission of an offense or are leased to, listed in the name of, or commonly used by the person; and

(e) A covert entry is or is not necessary to properly and safely install the electronic, mechanical or other device.

(2) Each order authorizing the interception of a wire or oral communication shall specify:

(a) The identity of the person, if known, whose communications are to be intercepted;

(b) The nature and location of the communications facilities as to which or the place where authority to intercept is granted;

(c) A particular description of the type of communication sought to be intercepted and a statement of the particular offense to which it relates;

(d) A statement setting forth the identity of the prosecutor and stating that the director has requested the prosecutor to apply for the order authorizing the interception;

(e) The time during which the interception is authorized, including a statement of whether or not the interception will automatically terminate when the described communication is first obtained; and

(f) Whether or not a covert entry is necessary to properly and safely install wiretapping, electronic surveillance or eavesdropping equipment.

(3) The order authorizing the interception of a wire, oral or other communication shall, upon request of the applicant, direct that a communication common carrier, landlord, custodian or other person furnish the applicant all information, facilities and technical assistance necessary to accomplish the interception unobtrusively and with a minimum of interference with the services that the carrier, landlord, custodian or other person is providing the person whose communications are to be intercepted. Any communication common carrier, landlord, custodian or other person furnishing facilities or technical assistance is entitled to compensation by the applicant for the facilities or assistance at the prevailing rates.

(4) An order entered pursuant to this section may not authorize the interception of a wire, oral or other communication for longer than is necessary to achieve the objective of the authorization, and in no event may it authorize interception for more than thirty (30) days. The issuing judge may grant extensions of an order, but only upon application for an extension made in accordance with Section 41-29-513 and the court making the findings required by subsection (1) of this section. The period of extension may not be longer than the authorizing judge deems necessary to achieve the purposes for which it is granted, and in no event may the extension be for more than thirty (30) days. To be valid, each order and extension of an order shall provide that the authorization to intercept be executed as soon as practicable, be conducted in a way that minimizes the interception of communications not otherwise subject to interception under this article, and terminate on obtaining the authorized objective or within thirty (30) days, whichever occurs sooner.

(5) An order entered pursuant to this section may not authorize a covert entry into a residence solely for the purpose of intercepting a wire communication.

(6) An order entered pursuant to this section may not authorize a covert entry into or onto a premises for the purpose of intercepting an oral or other communication unless:

(a) The judge, in addition to making the determinations required under subsection (1) of this section, determines that:

(i) (A) The premises into or onto which the covert entry is authorized or the person whose communications are to be obtained has been the subject of a pen register previously authorized in connection with the same investigation; (B) the premises into or onto which the covert entry is authorized or the person whose communications are to be obtained has been the subject of an interception of wire communications previously authorized in connection with the same investigation; (C) that such procedures have failed; and (D) if the order is for the interception of other communications and requires covert entry, a court-ordered attempt to intercept the communications without using covert entry must have been made without success;

(ii) That the procedures enumerated in item (i) reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed or to be too dangerous if tried or are not feasible under the circumstances or exigencies of time; and

(b) The order, in addition to the matters required to be specified under subsection (2) of this section, specifies that the covert entry is for the purpose of intercepting oral communications of two (2) or more persons and that there is probable cause to believe they are committing, have committed, or are about to commit a particular offense enumerated in Section 41-29-505.

(7) The judge of a court of competent jurisdiction may issue an order for the interception of wire, oral or other communications conducted within a vehicle, vessel, other mode of transportation or any location where a reasonable expectation of privacy might exist, provided the requirements of this section, where applicable, are met.

(8) Whenever an order authorizing interception is entered pursuant to this article, the order may require reports to the judge who issued the order showing what progress has been made toward achievement of the authorized objective and the need for continued interception. Reports shall be made at any interval the judge requires.

(9) A judge who issues an order authorizing the interception of a wire, oral or other communication may not hear a criminal prosecution in which evidence derived from the interception may be used or in which the order may be an issue.

(10) An order issued pursuant to this section authorizing the interception of any cellular, portable, transportable or mobile telephone or communication instrument is valid throughout the State of Mississippi unless otherwise specified by the issuing judge.

SECTION 2. Section 41-29-523, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-29-523. (1) Within a reasonable time but not later than ninety (90) days after the date an application for an order is denied or after the date an order or the last extension, if any, expires, the judge who granted or denied the application shall cause to be served upon the persons named in the order or the application and any other parties to intercepted communications deemed appropriate by the issuing judge, if any, an inventory, which shall include notice:

(a) Of the entry of the order or the application;

(b) Of the date of the entry and the period of authorized interception or the date of denial of the application; and

(c) That during the authorized period wire, oral or other communications were or were not intercepted.

(2) The judge, upon motion, may, in his discretion, make available for inspection to any person or persons whose oral communications have been intercepted, or their counsel, any portion of an intercepted communication, application or order that the judge determines is in the interest of justice to disclose to that person.

(3) Upon an ex parte showing of good cause to the judge, the serving of the inventory required by this section may be postponed, but in no event may any evidence derived from an order under this article be disclosed in any trial until after such inventory has been served.

SECTION 3. Section 41-29-536, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-29-536. (1) Attorneys for the Bureau of Narcotics may file a motion with a circuit court judge of the circuit court district in which the subscriber, instrument or other device exists, for communication records which will be material to an ongoing investigation of a felony violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law.

(2) The motion shall be made in writing, under oath, and shall include the name of the subscriber, the number or numbers, and the location of the instrument or other device, if known and applicable. The motion shall be accompanied by an affidavit from an agent of the Bureau of Narcotics which sets forth facts which the court shall consider in determining that probable cause exists to believe that the information sought will be material to an ongoing felony violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law.

(3) Upon consideration of the motion and the determination that probable cause exists, the circuit court judge may order a communications common carrier as defined by 47 USCS 153(h) or a provider of communication services to provide the Bureau of Narcotics with communication billing records, call records, subscriber information, or other communication record information. The communications common carrier or the provider of communication services shall be entitled to compensation at the prevailing rates from the Bureau of Narcotics.

(4) The circuit court judge shall seal each order issued pursuant to this section. The contents of a motion, affidavit and order may not be disclosed except in the course of a judicial proceeding. Any unauthorized disclosure of a sealed order, motion or affidavit shall be punishable as contempt of court.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.