Bill Text: MS HB892 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Legislature; revise ethics opinions.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [HB892 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-HB892-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Judiciary A
By: Representative Baker
House Bill 892
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-4-18, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE ETHICS OPINIONS REGARDING INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 25-4-18, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-4-18. (1) The
appropriate committee designated by the Senate or the House of Representatives
of the State of Mississippi to deal with ethical matters of their respective
body may * * *
provide, in writing, an opinion from the * * * committee as to real or
hypothetical situations concerning a member of their respective body, but only
upon request of such member. The * * * committee shall issue * * * its opinion, in writing, in response
to such request.
(2) When a request pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall have stated all the facts to govern such opinion and an opinion shall have been prepared and delivered with reference thereto, there shall be no liability, civil or criminal, accruing to or against the member requesting the opinion who, in good faith, follows the direction of the opinion and acts in accordance therewith unless a court of competent jurisdiction, after a full hearing, shall judicially declare that such opinion is manifestly wrong and without substantial support. No opinion shall be given or considered if such opinion is requested after suit is filed or prosecution begun.
(3) All requests for
opinions and all opinions issued pursuant to the provisions of this section
shall be confidential and * * *neither the Attorney General nor the committee shall not
publicly disclose any opinion issued or the fact that an opinion has been
requested or issued unless the member requesting the opinion gives his permission,
in writing, to the appropriate committee of his respective house.
(4) The provisions of this section shall be supplemental and in addition to any other statute.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.
