Bill Text: MS SB2137 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Background checks for statewide and local candidates; increase qualifying fees to cover.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-03-05 - Died In Committee [SB2137 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2024-SB2137-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Elections
By: Senator(s) Hill
Senate Bill 2137
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-297, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE QUALIFYING FEES FOR STATEWIDE AND LOCAL CANDIDATES TO COVER THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PERFORMING BACKGROUND CHECKS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 23-15-297, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
23-15-297. (1) All candidates, upon entering the race for party nominations for office, shall first pay to the proper officer as provided for in Section 23-15-299 for each primary election the following amounts:
(a) Candidates for Governor, the amount determined by the state executive committee of the party pursuant to subsection (2) of this section but no less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and no more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).
(b) Candidates for Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Auditor of Public Accounts, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, State Highway Commissioner and State Public Service Commissioner, the amount determined by the state executive committee of the party pursuant to subsection (2) of this section but no less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and no more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00).
(c) Candidates for State Senator and State Representative, Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00).
(d) Candidates for district attorney, Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00).
(e) Candidates for sheriff, chancery clerk, circuit clerk, tax assessor, tax collector, county attorney, county superintendent of education and board of supervisors, One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).
(f) Candidates for county surveyor, county coroner, justice court judge and constable, One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).
(g) Candidates for United States Senator, the amount determined by the state executive committee of the party pursuant to subsection (2) of this section but no less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and no more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).
(h) Candidates for United States Representative, the amount determined by the state executive committee of the party pursuant to subsection (2) of this section but no less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and no more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00).
(i) In addition to the fees that party-nominated candidates must pay to enter the race for statewide and local elections, each candidate must also pay the applicable cost and fees incurred in requesting and obtaining state and national criminal history record information on the candidate.
(2) (a) The state executive committee of a political party shall set the entry fee that a candidate is to pay upon entering the race for party nominations for the offices listed in paragraphs (a), (b), (g) and (h) of subsection (1) of this section and Section 23-15-1093(2)(a). The authority granted under this subsection shall not be exercised by any state executive committee of a political party for any individual office more than once every two (2) years, beginning July 1, 2022.
(b) Each state executive committee of a political party shall report the entry fee determined for each office to the Secretary of State by October 1 of the year before the election is held for that office. If a state executive committee does not meet the deadline in this paragraph for any office, the minimum entry fee shall be assessed for the office in that party's primary election during that election cycle.
(3) All independent candidates and special election candidates entering the race for office shall pay to the proper officer as provided for in Section 23-15-299 the following amounts:
(a) Candidates for Governor, One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).
(b) Candidates for Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Auditor of Public Accounts, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, State Highway Commissioner and State Public Service Commissioner, Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
(c) Candidates for district attorney, State Senator and State Representative, Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00).
(d) Candidates for sheriff, chancery clerk, circuit clerk, tax assessor, tax collector, county attorney, county superintendent of education and board of supervisors, One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).
(e) Candidates for county surveyor, county coroner, justice court judge and constable, One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).
(f) Candidates for United States Senator, One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).
(g) Candidates for United States Representative, Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
(h) In addition to the fees that independent candidates must pay to enter the race for statewide and local elections, each candidate must also pay the applicable cost and fees incurred in requesting and obtaining state and national criminal history record information on the candidate.
(4) The Secretary of State shall publish the fees listed in this section and Section 23-15-1093 no later than forty-five (45) days before the qualifying period begins for each office.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.
