MS HB1487

Mississippi Ethics Commission shall intervene on behalf of unrepresented persons when public officials appeal commission decisions to chancery court.

Ethics Commission may employ an attorney to intervene on behalf of unrepresented persons when the Commission is unable to represent them, with contract approval required from the Attorney General.

Investigative reports become subject to the Mississippi Public Records Act once an investigation concludes with no indictment or after a resulting trial concludes.

Civil penalties for denying access to public records increase from $100 to $200 for the first violation, up to $500 for a second violation, and up to $1,000 for each subsequent violation.

Act takes effect July 1, 2019.