MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Apportionment and Elections

By: Representative Horne

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE MAKING AND ACCEPTING OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS BETWEEN HIGHWAY CONTRACTORS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONERS; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified in Chapter 15, Title 23, Mississippi Code of 1972:

(1) It shall be unlawful for any Transportation Commissioner or any candidate for Transportation Commissioner to accept any campaign contribution from any person who is interested as owner, agent or representative in a contract with or on behalf of the Mississippi Transportation Commission for the construction, reconstruction or other public work authorized to be done under the provisions of Chapter 1, Title 65, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(2) It shall be unlawful for any person, who is interested as owner, agent or representative in a contract with or on behalf of the Mississippi Transportation Commission for the construction, reconstruction or other public work authorized to be done under the provisions of Chapter 1, Title 65, Mississippi Code of 1972, to make a campaign contribution to any Transportation Commissioner or any candidate for Transportation Commissioner.

(3) For purposes of this section, a contract as described in this section shall include a contract for the purchase of materials, equipment and supplies associated with any construction contract.

(4) Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or imprisoned in the State Penitentiary for not less than one (1) year, or both.

SECTION 2. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.