MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Public Utilities
By: Representative Banks
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 45-15-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT A PERSON FROM PLACING CLOTHING, SHOES OR ANY OTHER OBJECT ON A HIGH VOLTAGE OVERHEAD LINE; TO AMEND SECTION 45-15-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT A PERSON FROM ASSISTING ANOTHER PERSON IN VIOLATION OF THIS ACT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 45-15-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES DEFINITIONS FOR HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 45-15-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
45-15-3. Unless the procedures have been followed as provided by Sections 45-15-9 and 45-15-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, to deter contact with high voltage overhead lines:
(a) No person shall, individually or through an agent or employee, perform or require any other person to perform any function or activity upon any land, building, highway or other premises if at any time during the performance of that function or activity the person performing the function or activity could be reasonably expected to move or be placed within ten (10) feet of any high voltage overhead line or if any equipment or part of any tool or material used by the person could be reasonably expected to move or be placed within ten (10) feet of any high voltage overhead line during the performance of any function or activity.
(b) No person shall, individually or through an agent or employee, operate or bring any mechanical equipment or hoisting equipment or any other equipment or part of any tool or material within ten (10) feet of any high voltage overhead line.
(c) No person shall place clothing, shoes or any other object on any high voltage overhead line.
( * * *d) The provisions of this section
shall not apply to persons lawfully occupying the land where the line is
located and engaged in the regular and ordinary functions and activities of
farming, ranching or other agricultural pursuits.
SECTION 2. Section 45-15-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
45-15-5. (1) No person shall permit any employee to do any of the things prohibited in Section 45-15-3.
(2) No person shall assist another person to perform any act prohibited by Section 45-15-3.
SECTION 3. Section 45-15-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
45-15-1. The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall, for the purposes of this chapter, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, except in those instances, if any, where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(a) "High voltage" means a voltage in excess of six hundred (600) volts between conductors or from any conductor to ground.
(b) "Overhead lines" mean all bare or insulated electrical conductors installed above the ground.
(c) "Person" means a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, corporation or governmental entity.
(d) "Authorized person" means:
(i) An employee or agent of an electric utility which generates, transmits or delivers electricity.
(ii) An employee or agent of a utility which provides and whose work relates to communication services or state, county or municipal agencies which have authorized circuit construction on or near the poles or structures of a utility.
(iii) An employee or agent of an industrial plant whose work relates to the electrical system of the industrial plant.
(iv) An employee or agent of a cable television or communication services company or an employee of a contractor of a cable television or communication services company if specifically authorized by the owner of the poles to make cable television or communication services attachments.
(v) An employee or agent of a rail transportation company whose work relates to the electrical systems of the rail transportation company.
(vi) An employee or agent of a state, county or municipal electric utility or agency which has or whose work relates to overhead electrical lines, circuit construction or conductors on poles or structures of any type.
(e) "Electric utility" means any person engaged in the generation, transmission or distribution of electricity.
(f) "Warning sign" means a weather-resistant sign of not less than seven (7) inches by ten (10) inches reading as follows: "DANGER-UNLAWFUL TO OPERATE THIS EQUIPMENT NEARER THAN 10 FEET TO HIGH VOLTAGE OVERHEAD LINES."
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.