House Bill 1358

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-5-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO POSTPONE THE ADDITION OF AN ADDITIONAL CHANCELLOR IN THE SEVENTH CHANCERY COURT DISTRICT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 9-5-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

[Until January 1, 2015, this section shall read as follows:]

9-5-25. There shall be two (2) chancellors for the Seventh Chancery Court District. One (1) chancellor shall be elected from each subdistrict.

[From and after January 1, 2015, provided Laws of 2005, Chapter 501, is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, this section shall read as follows:]

9-5-25. (1) There shall be three (3) chancellors for the Seventh Chancery Court District. The three (3) chancellorships shall be separate and distinct. One (1) chancellor shall be elected from Subdistrict 7-1 and shall be denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as "Place One," and two (2) chancellors shall be elected from Subdistrict 7-2 and shall be denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as "Place Two" and "Place Three."

(2) Chancellors in the Seventh Chancery Court District shall not have the power to name a special master or family master.

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.