MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Judiciary A

By: Representatives Wallace, Carpenter, Barnett, Calvert, Ford (54th), Gibbs (36th), Huddleston, Lancaster, Newman, Pigott, Shanks, Smith, Weathersby, White, Evans (45th), Horan, Lamar, Massengill, Steverson, Walker

House Bill 576

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 69-13-111, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM THE LAWS RELATING TO ESTRAYED LIVESTOCK ON HIGHWAYS WITH MISSISSIPPI NEGLIGENCE LAW; TO CREATE A TRANSITION PROVISION TO BE NOTED BY THE EDITOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 69-13-111, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     69-13-111.  The owners of livestock which through their owner's negligence are found on federal or state designated paved highways or highway rights-of-way shall be subject to any damages as a result of wrecks, loss of life or bodily injury as a result of said livestock being on the above designated highways. * * *The burden shall be on the owner of any such livestock to prove lack of negligence. This section shall not be applicable to any such highway or highway right-of-way or any type of highway or road located on any levee maintained by the Board of Mississippi Levee Commissioners or the board of levee commissioners for the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta through maintenance contracts calling for or permitting pasturage of livestock on levee rights-of-way.

     SECTION 2.  The provisions of this act shall not be applicable to any case filed before July 1, 2020.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

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