MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Judiciary A

By: Representative Fondren

House Bill 695

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-7-123, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE BOND REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPUTY CHANCERY CLERKS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 9-7-123, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     9-7-123.  * * *(1)  The clerk of the circuit court shall have power, with the approbation of the court, or of the judge in vacation, to appoint one or more deputies, who shall take the oath of office * * *and may give bond, and who thereupon shall have power to do and perform all the acts and duties which their principal may lawfully do; such approval, when given by the judge in vacation, shall be in writing, and shall be entered on the minutes of the court at the next term.

 * * *(2)  Each deputy clerk of the circuit court, before he enters upon the duties of the appointment, shall take the oath of office, and shall give bond, with sufficient surety, to be payable, conditioned and approved as provided by law, in a penalty equal to three percent (3%) of the sum of all the state and county taxes shown by the assessment rolls and the levies to have been collectible in the county for the year immediately preceding the commencement of the term of office for the circuit clerk.  However, the amount of such bond shall not be less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) nor more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00).  The bond shall cover all monies coming into the hands of the deputy clerk by law or order of the court.  The board of supervisors, in its discretion, may pay the bond on behalf of the deputy clerk.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.

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