MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2018 Regular Session

To: Judiciary B; Workforce Development

By: Representatives Anderson, Clarke

House Bill 597

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-33-723, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY BY ANY QUALIFIED SPONSOR, ANY LENDER, OR ANY AGENT OR EMPLOYEE THEREOF IN CONNECTION WITH ANY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OR ELIGIBLE LOAN UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI HOME CORPORATION ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 97-29-59, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING SECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 43-33-723, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     43-33-723.  No person shall be discriminated against because of race, religious principles, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity or handicap by the corporation, any qualified sponsor, any lender, or any agent or employee thereof in connection with any housing development or eligible loan.  No person shall be discriminated against because of age, nor shall any family be discriminated against because of children, in admission to, or continuance of occupancy in, any housing project receiving assistance under this act except for any housing project constructed under a program restricting occupancy to persons sixty-two (62) years of age or older and any directors of their immediate households or their occupant surviving spouses.  This section shall be exempt from the provisions of Sections 11-62-1 through 11-62-19. 

     SECTION 2.  Section 97-29-59, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     97-29-59.  Every person who shall be convicted of the detestable and abominable crime against nature committed * * *with mankind or with a beast, shall be punished by imprisonment in the Penitentiary for a term of not more than ten (10) years.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2018.