MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Representative Moore
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL FROM ENGAGING IN POLITICAL ACTIVITY WHILE IN PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES; TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF DISTRICT TIME, PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES OR PERSONNEL TO PRODUCE, DISTRIBUTE, DISSEMINATE, CIRCULATE OR COMMUNICATE ANY MATERIAL OR INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY; TO PROHIBIT SOLICITING OR ATTEMPTS TO SOLICIT FUNDS FROM SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL ON BEHALF OF A POLITICAL ACTIVITY; TO PROHIBIT POLITICAL ACTIVITY ON SCHOOL PROPERTY; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY LIMITATION IMPOSED ON DISTRICT PERSONNEL ENGAGING IN POLITICAL ACTIVITY SHALL NOT BE APPLICABLE TO SUCH PERSON ON THEIR PERSONAL TIME; TO REQUIRE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO REMAIN NEUTRAL BY NOT ENGAGING IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ON SCHOOL PROPERTY AND BY NOT PUBLICLY SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING ANY POLITICAL PARTY; TO PRESCRIBE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. As used in this act, the following terms shall have their meanings ascribed in this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Political activity" includes any and all efforts of individuals, individually or in concert with others, which are done for the purpose of supporting or opposing any political party, philosophy or issue in an election or done to affect the outcome thereof, campaigning on behalf of a specific candidate or issue or lobbying the Legislature for policy change.
(b) "School facilities" means any buildings and grounds, owned, operated, controlled or maintained by the school board, including, but not limited to, schools, ancillary facilities, athletic facilities, and office complexes.
(c) "Political events" include any and all meetings, fund raisers, gatherings, or other such events organized or conducted for the purpose of supporting or opposing any candidate for public office, any issue which is or may be scheduled to appear on an election ballot, or any political party or organization.
SECTION 2. (1) Each school board member, superintendent, administrator, officer or employee retains all rights and obligations of citizenship provided in the Constitution and Laws of the State of Mississippi and the Constitution of the United States. However, no school board member, superintendent, administrator, officer or employee shall:
(a) Use school district time, property, equipment, supplies or personnel to produce, distribute, disseminate, circulate or communicate any material or information in support or opposition of any political party, philosophy or issue in an election or done to affect the outcome thereof, campaigning on behalf of a specific candidate or issue or lobbying the Legislature for policy change. For purpose of this paragraph, "time" means the regularly scheduled hours of operation designated by the school board for the performance of official duties and responsibilities associated with the position for which an individual is employed;
(b) Use his or her official position in any way to influence or attempt to influence, district personnel to support or oppose any political party, philosophy or issue in an election or done to affect the outcome thereof, campaigning on behalf of a specific candidate or issue or lobbying the Legislature for policy change. Such prohibition shall include, but not be limited to, any form of advocacy or opposition in a classroom or school setting or other school related employment relationship;
(c) Participate in any political activity while in the performance of his or her official duty;
(d) Attempt, either directly or indirectly, to coerce political activity or political support from any other school district personnel; or
(e) Solicit or attempt to solicit funds from school district personnel on behalf of a candidate, party or issue, or any campaign or lobbying effort. Nothing contained in this section shall be interpreted to prohibit an employee from suggesting to another employee, outside of normal work hours in a noncoercive manner, that he or she may voluntarily contribute to a fund which is administered by a party, committee, organization agency, person, labor union or other employee organization for political purposes.
(2) The following forms of political activity shall be prohibited at all times on school property:
(a) Distribution of campaign material, including cards, brochures, and other items defined by law as political advertising, to students or employees;
(b) Political signs, whether placed on or in the building, or elsewhere on school property. "Political signs" as used in this section shall not include advertising on items of clothing, bumper stickers, sunshades or other signs permanently affixed to a vehicle and which are legal for roadway traffic; and
(c) Solicitation, in any manner, of students or employees to become engaged in political activity.
SECTION 3. (1) Each employee of a public school district shall have the right to actively participate in political activities on behalf of any candidate, party, or issue during the time he or she is not scheduled to be on duty. That time shall include authorized personal or vacation leave. However, the employee may not, at any time:
(a) Solicit or attempt to solicit funds as prohibited by Section 2(1)(e);
(b) Attempt to coerce other employees as prohibited by Section 2(1)(d); or
(c) Misuse school district time, property, equipment, supplies or personnel to produce, distribute, disseminate, circulate or communicate any material or information, or misuse his or her official position, as prohibited by Section 2(1)(a) and (b).
(2) The school superintendent and school board members holding office shall remain neutral by not engaging in political activities on school property and by not publicly supporting or opposing any political party, philosophy or issue in an election or done to affect the outcome thereof, campaigning on behalf of a specific candidate or issue, or lobbying the Legislature for policy change, other than his or her own campaign.
SECTION 4. (1) Any person who violates this act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be fined up to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00).
(2) Upon a second or subsequent conviction of any person for a violation of any provision of this act, the offense being committed within a period of two (2) years, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be fined up to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) and revocation of professional license and certification by the State Board of Education.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.