House Bill 547

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-297, 23-15-299 AND 23-15-977, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE FEES REQUIRED TO BE PAID BY A CANDIDATE UPON ENTERING CERTAIN RACES FOR PARTY NOMINATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 23-15-297, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

23-15-297. Any candidate * * * entering the race for party nominations for office shall first pay to the proper officer as provided for in Section 23-15-299 for each primary election the following amounts:

(a) Candidates for Governor, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).

(b) Candidates for Lieutenant Governor, the sum of One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,250.00).

(c) Candidates for Attorney General, State Treasurer, Auditor of Public Accounts, Commissioner of Insurance, Secretary of State and Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).

(d) Candidates for Mississippi Transportation Commissioner and State Public Service Commissioner, the sum of Nine Hundred Dollars ($900.00).

(e) Candidates for State Senator and State Representative, the sum of Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($350.00).

(f) Candidates for district attorney, the sum of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00).

(g) Candidates for sheriff, chancery clerk, circuit clerk, tax assessor, county attorney, tax collector, county superintendent of education, county coroner, county surveyor and ranger, the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).

(h) Candidates for justice court judge, constable, board of supervisors and county board of education, the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50.00).

(i) Candidates for United States Senator, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).

(j) Candidates for United States Representative, the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00).

A person shall not be denied candidacy for any of the offices for which fees are assessed under this section because the person is unable to pay the fees required by this section.

SECTION 2. Section 23-15-299, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

23-15-299. (1) Assessments made pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) of Section 23-15-297 and assessments made pursuant to paragraph (e) of Section 23-15-297 for legislative offices shall be paid by each candidate to the Secretary of the State Executive Committee with which the candidate is affiliated by 5:00 p.m. on March 1 of the year in which the primary election for the office is held or on the date of the qualifying deadline provided by statute for the office, whichever is earlier.

(2) Assessments made pursuant to paragraphs * * * (e), (g) and (h) of Section 23-15-297, other than assessments made for legislative offices, shall be paid by each candidate to the circuit clerk of such candidate's county of residence by 5:00 p.m. on March 1 of the year in which the primary election for the office is held or on the date of the qualifying deadline provided by statute for the office, whichever is earlier; provided, however, that no such assessments may be paid before January 1 of the year in which the election for the office is held. The circuit clerk shall forward the fee and all necessary information to the secretary of the proper county executive committee within two (2) business days.

(3) Assessments made pursuant to paragraphs (i) and (j) of Section 23-15-297 must be paid by each candidate to the Secretary of the State Executive Committee with which the candidate is affiliated by 5:00 p.m. sixty (60) days before the presidential preference primary in years in which a presidential preference primary is held. Assessments made pursuant to paragraphs (i) and (j) of Section 23-15-297, in years when a presidential preference primary is not being held, shall be paid by each candidate to the Secretary of the State Executive Committee with which the candidate is affiliated by 5:00 p.m. on March 1 of the year in which the primary election for the office is held.

(4) (a) The fees paid pursuant to subsections (1), (2) and (3) of this section shall be accompanied by a written statement containing the name and address of the candidate, the party with which he or she is affiliated and the office for which he or she is a candidate.

(b) The State Executive Committee shall transmit to the Secretary of State a copy of the written statements accompanying the fees paid pursuant to subsections (1) and (2) of this section. All copies must be received by the Office of the Secretary of State by not later than 6:00 p.m. on the date of the qualifying deadline; provided, however, the failure of the Office of the Secretary of State to receive such copies by 6:00 p.m. on the date of the qualifying deadline shall not affect the qualification of a person who pays the required fee and files the required statement by 5:00 p.m. on the date of the qualifying deadline. The name of any person who pays the required fee and files the required statement after 5:00 p.m. on the date of the qualifying deadline shall not be placed on the primary election ballot.

(5) The secretary or circuit clerk to whom such payments are made shall promptly receipt for same stating the office for which such candidate making payment is running and the political party with which he or she is affiliated, and he or she shall keep an itemized account in detail showing the exact time and date of the receipt of each payment received by him or her and, where applicable, the date of the postmark on the envelope containing the fee and from whom, and for what office the party paying same is a candidate.

(6) The secretaries of the proper executive committee shall hold said funds to be finally disposed of by order of their respective executive committees. Such funds may be used or disbursed by the executive committee receiving same to pay all necessary traveling or other necessary expenses of the members of the executive committee incurred in discharging their duties as committeemen, and of their secretary and may pay the secretary such salary as may be reasonable.

(7) Upon receipt of the proper fee and all necessary information, the proper executive committee shall then determine whether each candidate is a qualified elector of the state, state district, county or county district which they seek to serve, and whether each candidate meets all other qualifications to hold the office he is seeking or presents absolute proof that he will, subject to no contingencies, meet all qualifications on or before the date of the general or special election at which he could be elected to office. The committee also shall determine whether any candidate has been convicted of any felony in a court of this state, or has been convicted on or after December 8, 1992, of any offense in another state which is a felony under the laws of this state, or has been convicted of any felony in a federal court on or after December 8, 1992. Excepted from the above are convictions of manslaughter and violations of the United States Internal Revenue Code or any violations of the tax laws of this state unless the offense also involved misuse or abuse of his office or money coming into his hands by virtue of his office. If the proper executive committee finds that a candidate either (a) is not a qualified elector, (b) does not meet all qualifications to hold the office he seeks and fails to provide absolute proof, subject to no contingencies, that he will meet the qualifications on or before the date of the general or special election at which he could be elected, or (c) has been convicted of a felony as described in this subsection, and not pardoned, then the name of such candidate shall not be placed upon the ballot.

Where there is but one (1) candidate for each office contested at the primary election, the proper executive committee when the time has expired within which the names of candidates shall be furnished shall declare such candidates the nominees.

(8) No candidate may qualify by filing the information required by this section by using the Internet.

SECTION 3. Section 23-15-977, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

23-15-977. (1) Any candidates for judicial office as defined in Section 23-15-975 of this subarticle shall file their intent to be a candidate with the proper officials not later than 5:00 p.m. on the first Friday after the first Monday in May prior to the general election for judicial office and shall pay to the proper officials the following amounts:

(a) Candidates for Supreme Court judge and Court of Appeals, the sum of Nine Hundred Dollars ($900.00).

(b) Candidates for circuit judge and chancellor, the sum of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00).

(2) Candidates for judicial offices listed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of this section shall file their intent to be a candidate with, and pay the proper assessment made pursuant to subsection (1) of this section to, the State Board of Election Commissioners.

(3) Candidates for judicial offices listed in paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of this section shall file their intent to be a candidate with, and pay the proper assessment made pursuant to subsection (1) of this section to, the circuit clerk of the proper county. The circuit clerk shall notify the county commissioners of election of all persons who have filed their intent to be a candidate filed with, and paid the proper assessment to, such clerk. Such notification shall occur within two (2) business days and shall contain all necessary information.

(4) A person shall not be denied candidacy for any of the offices for which fees are assessed under this section because the person is unable to pay the fees required by this section.

SECTION 4. 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 5. 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.