MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972
As Amended

SEC. 25-4-19. Powers of commission.

The commission shall have the authority to do the following:

(a) Make investigations, as provided in Section 25-4-21, with respect to statements of economic interest filed pursuant to this chapter and with respect to alleged failures to file any statement of economic interest as required pursuant to this chapter;

(b) Request the assistance of the Attorney General, the Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review Committee, the Department of Audit and any other governmental agency or political subdivision in the conduct of any investigation in which a particular resource of an agency may be needed;

(c) Administer oaths and issue and serve subpoenas upon any witness or for the production of documents before the commission, and such subpoenas may include a protective order requiring confidentiality of the subpoena, the subject matter, and any documents subpoenaed, and such subpoenas shall be enforced by the courts of this state;

(d) Report, as provided in Section 25-4-21 (e), to the Attorney General and appropriate district attorney;

(e) Upon a complaint signed under oath by any person, including any member of the commission or its staff, investigate, as provided in Section 25-4-21, any alleged violation of law by public officials or public employees;

(f) Seek, in the name of and for the use and benefit of the State of Mississippi, or a political subdivision thereof, restitution or other equitable or legal remedies in civil law to recover public funds or property unlawfully taken, as well as any unjust enrichment, although not public funds, and to recover on bonds where the state or a political subdivision thereof is the beneficiary;

(g) Employ an attorney or attorneys to:

(i) Serve as a special prosecutor to assist the Attorney General or a district attorney; and

(ii) File actions to seek restitution or other remedies to recover funds as provided in item (f) of this section.

SOURCES: Laws, 1979, ch. 508, Sec. 5; reenacted and amended, 1982, ch. 488, Sec. 11; reenacted, 1986, ch. 348, Sec. 11; 1988, ch. 546, Sec. 2; reenacted, 1990, ch. 491, Sec. 11, eff from and after June 18, 1990 (the date the United States Attorney General interposed no objection to the reenactment of this section). Laws, 1995, ch. 360, Sec. 11, eff from and after August 25, 1995 (the date the United States Attorney General interposed no objection to the amendment of this section), and shall stand repealed from and after December 31, 1998.


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