SB 2558

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-801, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AMEND DEFINITIONS RELATED TO THE CHAPTER OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-803, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THAT A CANDIDATE OR POLITICAL COMMITTEE MUST FILE A STATEMENT OF ORGANIZATION BEFORE ACCEPTING ANY CONTRIBUTIONS; TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED CONTENT OF THE STATEMENT OF ORGANIZATION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL IMPOSE ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES AGAINST CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL COMMITTEES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS CHAPTER; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THIS CHAPTER; TO PROVIDE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY PURSUE JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-805, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO MODIFY THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING PROCESS; TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO MAINTAIN A CENTRAL SITE ON THE INTERNET TO MAKE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AND EASILY SEARCHABLE; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-807, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AMEND THE INFORMATION AND REPORTING PROCESS AND TIMELINE THAT CANDIDATE COMMITTEES AND POLITICAL COMMITTEES MUST ADHERE TO IN REGARDS TO FILING REPORTS OF CONTRIBUTIONS AND DISBURSEMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-809, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO FAIL TO PROVIDE THE REPORTS REQUIRED IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO PENALTY; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-811 AND 23-15-813, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-815, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITH THE DUTY AND POWER TO OVERSEE THE FORMS AND PROCESSES DESCRIBED HEREIN; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-817, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-819, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT FOREIGN NATIONALS FROM MAKING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH AN ELECTION FOR ANY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, LOCAL BALLOT MEASURE, BALLOT REFERENDUM OR OTHER SIMILAR MEASURES; TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO KNOWINGLY SOLICIT OR AID IN THE SOLICITATION OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FOREIGN NATIONALS; TO PROVIDE THAT THOSE FOUND GUILTY OF VIOLATING THIS SECTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO FINES, IMPRISONMENT, OR BOTH, FOR SAID VIOLATION; TO ALLOW ANY PERSON WHO UNKNOWINGLY RECEIVES A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION FROM A FOREIGN NATIONAL TO HAVE 30 DAYS TO REMIT THE VALUE OF THE UNLAWFUL CONTRIBUTION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ONCE THE VIOLATION HAS BEEN DETERMINED, OR BE SUBJECT TO PENALTIES; TO REQUIRE CANDIDATES AND CANDIDATE COMMITTEES TO PROVIDE GREATER TRANSPARENCY WHEN RECEIVING LOANS AND LINES OF CREDIT; TO REQUIRE THAT A CANDIDATE OR TREASURER OF A CANDIDATE COMMITTEE OR POLITICAL COMMITTEE KEEP DETAILED ACCOUNTS REGARDING CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES; TO REQUIRE THAT ALL ACCOUNT ACTIVITY BE KEPT CURRENT AND SHALL NOT LACK ENTRIES FOR ACTIVITY THAT TOOK PLACE LESS THAN TEN BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR; TO PROVIDE THAT ACCOUNTS MAY BE INSPECTED UNDER REASONABLE CIRCUMSTANCES AT ANY TIME BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE OR HIS OR HER AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE; TO REQUIRE THAT ACCOUNT RECORDS SHALL BE PRESERVED FOR FOUR YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE CONTRIBUTION, EXPENDITURE, GIFT, INVESTMENT OR LOAN; TO LIMIT POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY CORPORATIONS TO $1,000.00 PER CALENDAR YEAR; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF CORPORATE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY BRING FORTH ACTIONS FOR VIOLATIONS OF CORPORATE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-821, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONAL USE OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS BY A POLITICAL COMMITTEE IS PROHIBITED; TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO PAY CIVIL PENALTIES INCURRED BY A POLITICAL COMMITTEE OR MEMBER THEREOF; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 97-13-15 AND 97-13-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROHIBITED POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY CORPORATIONS AND PENALIZED ILLEGAL CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.