MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2002 Regular Session

To: Fees, Salaries and Administration

By: Senator(s) Furniss

Senate Bill 2082

AN ACT TO REQUIRE ALL STATE AGENCIES TO ANSWER TELEPHONES WITH A LIVE PERSON AND TO NOT USE A VOICE MAIL SYSTEM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  All state agencies shall answer their telephones with a live person and shall not use a voice mail system, including answering machines, to answer the telephones and record messages.  For purposes of this section, the term "state agencies" means any agency defined in Section 25-9-107(d).  Upon finding that an agency has violated the provisions of this section, the State Auditor may impose an administrative fine on the agency's executive director in an amount not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00). 

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.