Senate Bill 2265

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-5-47, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL CHANCELLOR FOR THE FIFTEENTH CHANCERY COURT DISTRICT; TO SPECIFY A QUALIFICATION DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE INITIAL TERM OF OFFICE SHALL BEGIN ON A CERTAIN DATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 9-5-47, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

9-5-47. (1) The Fifteenth Chancery Court District is composed of the following counties:

(a) Copiah County; and

(b) Lincoln County.

(2) There shall be two (2) chancellors for the Fifteenth Chancery Court District. The two (2) chancellorships shall be separate and distinct and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as "Place One" and "Place Two."

SECTION 2. Candidates for the new chancellorship created by this act shall run for the office in the special election to be conducted in November 2024. Candidates shall file the intent to be a candidate not later than 5:00 p.m. on June 1, 2024, and otherwise shall qualify as provided by Section 23-15-977, and shall run for the office and be elected as provided in Sections 23-15-974 through 23-15-985. The term of the chancellorship shall begin January 1, 2025, and shall be a term of three (3) years. After from the first term of two (2) years, the term of the chancellorship shall be as is provided in Section 9-5-1 for chancellors generally.

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