MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2022 Regular Session
To: Judiciary B
By: Representative Boyd
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-61-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PENALTIES FOR A PERSON OR PUBLIC BODY WHO VIOLATES THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC RECORDS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 25-61-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-61-15. Any person or
public body who shall deny to any person access to any public record which
is not exempt from the provisions of this chapter or who charges an
unreasonable fee for providing a public record may be liable civilly in his
personal capacity in a sum not to exceed * * * Five
Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for a first offense, and One Thousand Dollars
($1,000.00) for a second or subsequent offense, plus all reasonable
expenses incurred by such person bringing the proceeding. A court or the
Mississippi Ethics Commission may also order a public body to refund any costs paid
by a person who was wrongfully denied access to public records.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.