MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2019 Regular Session

To: Judiciary, Division B

By: Senator(s) Turner-Ford

Senate Bill 2706

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO RESTORE THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE TO JAMES GREGORY BANANA, OF CLAY COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI.

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

     SECTION 1.  The right of suffrage is hereby fully and completely restored to James Gregory Banana of Clay County, Mississippi, who was disqualified as an elector as a result of his convictions in 1987 and 1989 for forgery in Clay County, Mississippi, and in 2007 for two (2) counts of the crime of perjury in Lowndes County, Mississippi.  He was sentenced on April 9, 1987, by the Circuit Court of Clay County, Mississippi, on the charge of forgery to serve five (5) years suspended in the Regimented Intensive Discipline program and was released to probation on October 12, 1987; his probation was revoked on July 18, 1988, when he was sentenced by the Circuit Court of Clay County, Mississippi, on two (2) counts of forgery to serve five (5) years on each count.  He was sentenced on October 12, 1989, by the Circuit Court of Clay County, Mississippi, to serve a term of fifteen (15) years for forgery, with the sentences to run consecutively.  He was sentenced on September 6, 2007, by the Circuit Court of Lowndes County, Mississippi, to serve eight (8) years for two (2) counts of perjury in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections with sixteen (16) years to serve and two (2) years of post-release supervision.  He was released from custody to parole on January 4, 2011.  He was released from parole to probation on May 29, 2017, and discharged from probation on April 11, 2018.  The Legislature is informed that he has since conducted himself as a law-abiding and honorable citizen in a good and lawful manner.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.