House Bill 1593

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES AND PRIVATE PRISONS MUST RECEIVE APPROVAL OF MISSISSIPPI PRISONS INDUSTRIES CORPORATION BEFORE PROCURING GOODS OR SERVICES FROM ANY ENTITY THAT EMPLOYS OR USES INMATES OF A CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM OF ANOTHER STATE; TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-549, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE MISSISSIPPI PRISONS INDUSTRIES CORPORATION TO GIVE APPROVAL FOR SUCH PROCUREMENT OF GOODS OR SERVICES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. No governing authority, as defined in Section 31-7-1, may procure goods or services from any entity that employs or uses inmates of a correctional system of another state unless Mississippi Prison Industries Corporation, created under the Mississippi Prison Industries Act of 1990, approves or gives consent to the procurement of such goods or services.

SECTION 2. No privately operated correctional facility, as described in Section 47-4-1 et seq., may procure goods or services from any entity that employs or uses inmates of a correctional system of another state unless Mississippi Prison Industries Corporation, created under the Mississippi Prison Industries Act of 1990, approves or gives consent to the procurement of such goods or services.

SECTION 3. No private correctional facility established by the State Prison Emergency Construction and Management Board may procure goods or services from any entity that employs or uses inmates of a correctional system of another state unless Mississippi Prison Industries Corporation, created under the Mississippi Prison Industries Act of 1990, approves or gives consent to the procurement of such goods or services.

SECTION 4. Section 47-5-549, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

47-5-549. (1) Any service or item manufactured, processed, grown or produced by the corporation from its prison industries may be furnished or sold to any legislative, executive or judicial branch of the state, any political subdivision or any governing authority of the state, any other state, any school, college or university of the state, any foreign government, any agency of the federal government or to any private entity. The corporation shall make reasonable efforts to purchase raw materials from in-state vendors. The prices for industry-made products shall be established by the board of directors of the corporation or its designee.

(2) The corporation is authorized to provide approval or consent for purchases made pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 of House Bill _No._____, 2004 Regular Session.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.