MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Judiciary A

By: Representative Bowles

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT STATE AGENCIES FROM EMPLOYING ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION OR UTILIZING ANY EMPLOYEES OF SUCH AGENCIES WH0 ARE PAID WITH PUBLIC FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE THE ACT OR VOTE OF ANY MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE OR TO PROMOTE, ADVOCATE, AMEND OR OPPOSE ANY MATTER BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE OR EITHER HOUSE OR ANY COMMITTEE THEREOF; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) Except as otherwise permitted under Sections 5-8-1 through 5-8-23, no agency, department, board, commission, bureau or other instrumentality of the state which receives appropriations from the Legislature shall expend any public funds to employ any person, firm, corporation or association or utilize any employees of such agency, department, board, commission, bureau or other instrumentality of the state whose salaries are paid by public funds for the purpose of attempting at any time to: (a) influence in any manner the act or vote of any member of the Legislature of this state upon any legislative measure; or (b) promote, advocate, amend or oppose in any manner, any matter pending or that might come before the Legislature of this state, or either house thereof, or a committee of the Legislature of this state or of either house thereof.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a person, firm, corporation or association shall be considered employed whether paid on a fee basis, a contractual arrangement, a retainer agreement, a regular salary basis or whether any additional or different compensation is paid for performing any of the functions described in subsection (1) of this section and whether or not any of such functions are performed on a full- or part-time basis.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.