MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2004 Regular Session

To: Judiciary B

By: Representative Moore, Wells-Smith, Bentz, Chism, Ellington, Fillingane, Martinson, Mayhall, Reed, Reeves, Staples

House Bill 1298

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT KNOWINGLY EXPOSING ANOTHER PERSON TO A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  (1)  It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly expose another person to a sexually transmitted disease.

     (2)  For a violation of this section where no vaccine is available for a sexually transmitted disease such violation shall be a felony and, upon conviction, a violator shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years and a fine of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00).

     (3)  For a violation of this section where a vaccine is available for a sexually transmitted disease such violation shall be a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, a violator shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year and a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).

     (4)  The provisions of this section shall be in addition to any other provisions of law for which the actions described in this section may be prosecuted.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.