MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Judiciary

By: Senator(s) Dawkins, Carmichael, Chamberlin, Williamson

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 5-8-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE A REGISTERED LOBBYIST TO WEAR AN IDENTIFICATION CARD WHILE LOBBYING IN THE STATE CAPITOL; TO AMEND SECTION 5-8-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ISSUE IDENTIFICATION CARDS TO REGISTERED LOBBYISTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 5-8-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

5-8-13. (1) A lobbyist shall not contract to receive or accept compensation dependent upon the success or failure of a legislative or executive action.

(2) A lobbyist or lobbyist's client shall not knowingly or willfully make or cause to be made a false statement or misrepresentation of facts to an executive, legislative or public official or public employee, or to the public in general with the intent to affect the outcome of a legislative or executive action.

(3) A lobbyist or lobbyist's client shall not cause a legislative or executive action for the purpose of obtaining employment to lobby in support of or in opposition to the legislative or executive action.

(4) An executive, legislative or public official or public employee shall not be a lobbyist, except that he may act as a lobbyist when acting in his official capacity.

(5) A lobbyist must disclose anything of value given in whole or in part to any executive, legislative or public official or public employee.

(6) A lobbyist shall wear the identification card provided under Section 5-8-19 while lobbying in the State Capitol. The lobbyist shall display the identification card in a readily visible manner.

SECTION 2. Section 5-8-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

5-8-19. The Secretary of State shall:

(a) Provide forms for registration and for statements required by Sections 5-8-1 through 5-8-19 of this chapter to all persons required to file.

(b) Issue a certificate of registration to a lobbyist registered under the provisions of Sections 5-8-1 through 5-8-19 of this chapter.

(c) Make all statements and reports filed available for public inspection and copying, at a reasonable cost, during regular office hours.

(d) Publish an annual report summarizing the financial activities of lobbyists and lobbyists' clients, and such annual report shall not include amounts reported pursuant to Sections 5-8-9(8) and 5-8-11(7) for single functions in the calculation of the cumulative total amount of money expended for lobbying purposes.

(e) Issue an identification card to each registered lobbyist that shall contain the name of the lobbyist, the word "LOBBYIST" and to the extent practicable, the names of the lobbyist's clients.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.