Senate Bill 2537

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 45-13-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REDUCE A VIOLATION OF THE ARTICLE THAT REGULATES THE SALE AND STORAGE OF FIREWORKS FROM A FELONY TO A MISDEMEANOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 45-13-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

45-13-15. Any person, firm, partnership or corporation violating any provision of this article shall be guilty of a * * * ~~felony~~ misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) * * * ~~and/~~ or imprisonment in the county jail * * * ~~or State Penitentiary~~ for a term not to exceed one (1) year, or both a fine and term of imprisonment. In addition to said criminal penalties, any person, firm, partnership or corporation violating any provision of this article shall be responsible for any and all injuries, deaths and property damage caused by or resulting from illegal fireworks sold by such person, firm, partnership or corporation which is prohibited by this article within the State of Mississippi, and any injured person or his legal representatives, shall have a right to bring a civil action against the dealer, distributor or manufacturer or person who sold said fireworks, whether said dealer, distributor or manufacturer or person be located in this state or not. Any dealer, distributor or manufacturer or person located outside of this state who shall sell fireworks in Mississippi shall make, constitute and appoint the Secretary of State as their lawful agent for service of process in any civil proceeding brought under the provisions of this article, to recover all damages caused or resulting from the sale of any fireworks prohibited by this article.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.