HB 944 Summary

• Creates the "Mississippi Public Corruption Act of 2016" establishing a Mississippi Public Corruption Unit within the Office of the State Auditor and Inspector General to investigate allegations of criminal activity and abuse of position by government employees and law enforcement officers.

• Authorizes the State Inspector General to petition for state grand jury impanelment for public corruption cases involving breach of public trust by state, county, or municipal officials and their accomplices.

• Grants the State Inspector General authority to apply for court orders to intercept wire, oral, or other communications upon showing probable cause of felony violations under the Mississippi Public Corruption Act, with specific requirements for application content and judicial findings.

• Establishes civil liability providing individuals whose communications are illegally intercepted the right to recover actual damages (minimum $100/day or $1,000), punitive damages, and attorney's fees; makes criminal penalties apply to those knowingly possessing or operating interception devices in violation.

• Allows the State Inspector General to employ outside counsel on fee or contingency basis subject to fee limitations and oversight commission approval; repeals prior requirement for State Auditor to notify Governor and district attorney of suspected embezzlement.