Section 31-7-55 - Penalties[For penalties applicable to violations occurring between January 1, 1981, and August 15, 1988, the following provisions govern.]
(1) It is hereby declared to be unlawful and a violation of public policy of the State of Mississippi for any elected or appointed public officer of the state or the executive head of a state board, commission, department, subdivision of the state government or governing authority to make any purchases without the full compliance with the provisions of Chapter 7, Title 31, Mississippi Code of 1972. Any elected or appointed public officer of the state or the executive head of a state board, commission, department, subdivision of the state government or governing authority who violates the provisions of Chapter 7, Title 31, Mississippi Code of 1972 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction therefor, shall be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each separate offense, or sentenced to the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment, and shall be removed from his office or position.(2) Any person diverting the benefits of any article of value tendered or received by any agency or governing authority to his or her personal use, in violation of Section 31-7-23, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or sentenced to the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, and shall be required to return the money value of the article unlawfully diverted to the agency involved.Codes, 1930, § 6065; 1942, §§ 9024-14, 9024.5, 9027-02, 9028; Laws, 1950, ch. 292, § 3; Laws, 1958, ch. 480, §§ 1-4; Laws, 1970, ch. 353, § 1; Laws, 1980, ch. 440, § 14; Laws, 1988 Ex Sess, ch. 14, § 67, eff. 8/16/1988.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.