Senate Bill 2485

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-89, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FROM BEING A CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE WHILE EMPLOYED BY THE DEPARTMENT; TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 47-5-89, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

47-5-89. (1) If any officer or employee of the state or county government, or any employee of the state correctional system, or any other person shall solicit or accept from any employee of the state correctional system, or from any offender therein, any contribution of money or other property for political or election purposes he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or imprisoned in the county jail not less than sixty (60) days nor longer than one hundred twenty (120) days, or both, and if an employee of the state correctional system he shall be immediately and permanently removed from further employment with the state correctional system.

(2) No employee or member of the department may be a candidate for public office during his term of employment with the department. A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor and is punishable as provided in subsection (1).

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.