Senate Bill 2673

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 83-39-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT ANY LICENSED BAIL AGENTS FROM MAKING GIFTS TO ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR JUDICIAL OFFICIAL, OR ANY EMPLOYEE OF ANY FACILITY WHERE BAILABLE DEFENDANTS ARE DETAINED, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENTICING THAT PERSON TO REFER BUSINESS TO THE BAIL AGENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 83-39-31, Mississippi Code of 1972:

83-39-31. (1) Any person licensed under this chapter who pays or gives anything of value, either directly or indirectly, to any law enforcement or judicial official, or any employee of any facility where bailable defendants are detained or may post bail, for the purpose of enticing that official or employee to refer business in any manner to them shall be guilty of a felony subject to fine not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) or imprisonment not to exceed five (5) years, or both such fine and imprisonment.

(2) Any person licensed under this chapter who pays or gives anything of value, either directly or indirectly, or who solicits another person to pay or give anything of value to any convicted inmate or trustee, regardless of whether they are held pretrial or post-conviction in any facility where bailable defendants are detained or may post bail, for the purpose of enticing that convicted inmate or trustee to refer business in any manner to them shall be guilty of a felony subject to fine not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) or imprisonment not to exceed five (5) years, or both such fine and imprisonment.

(3) Nothing in this act shall prohibit a bail agent from making political contributions to candidates for elected office.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.