Jackson, MS—Attorney General Jim Hood is proud to provide Mississippians extra protection through several new laws that go into effect this week.

The Attorney General sponsored laws going into effect July 1 are:

• HB 552 -Online impersonation
Makes online impersonation a misdemeanor offense with a fine of not less than $250 and not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not less than 10 days and no more than one year or both.

“Mississippi is really ahead of the curve with the passage of this bill,” said Attorney General Hood. “This really addresses a problem we see with folks who create facebook pages in someone else’s name and pose as that person, doing a world of harm to the victims of the postings plus the reputation of the “owner” of the page. This law will help deter such cyber-bullying.”

• HB 562 -Vulnerable persons
Makes three misdemeanor vulnerable person offenses committed within a five year period a felony. 

“This law will add some much needed heat to the current misdemeanor statute,"said Attorney General Hood.

• HB 561 -Kidnapping statute
Includes vulnerable persons in the current kidnapping statute.

“We’ve seen cases where the vulnerable person was oblivious to their plight in these situations,” said Attorney General Hood. “This law gives an added layer of protection to those who can’t help themselves.”

• SB 2426 -Emergency assistance
Makes it a misdemeanor for someone to prevent a victim from seeking emergency medical or law enforcement assistance with a maximum fine of $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail.

“Although the law is not specific to domestic violence, this type of interference often occurs when the offender refuses to allow the victim to seek medical attention for treatment of injuries or yanks the phone cord out of the wall or tears up the cell phone to prevent the victim from calling 911 for help,” said Attorney General Hood.  “This also occurs in non-domestic offenses as well, such as a carjacking or a burglary in which the victim is prevented from seeking assistance.”

• SB 2810 -Amends drug statutes
Makes certain addictive pain killers and muscle relaxers scheduled drugs.

“These highly dangerous and addictive prescription pain killers and muscle relaxers will now be recognized as the potential killers they are,” said Attorney General Hood.

• HB 784 -Copyright forfeiture
Allows for the seizure and forfeiture of property, both real and personal, used in forfeiture proceedings, while providing due process to lien holders and parties with security interests.  The law also provides a method for the disposition of seized property and proceeds.

“This law just shores up some technicalities for our law enforcement who are fighting to get dangerous counterfeit goods off the streets,” said Attorney General Hood.

The Attorney General sponsored law going into effect July 2 is:

• HB 708 –Vulnerable Persons and Cyber Crime criminal assessments

Increases the vulnerable person criminal assessment from 50 cents to $1.50 to fund Vulnerable Persons Unit; increases from $1.00 to $2.50 assessment to fund the Cyber Crime Unit

“These fees will come from a fee assessed to criminal citations.  Not one dime of taxpayer money will go to fund these efforts,” said Attorney General Hood.  “These laws are going to help double our efforts to fight child predators and other cyber criminals as well as those who would harm vulnerable persons in this state.”

“I am really proud of our legislative accomplishments this year, knowing that Mississippians are better protected with these laws in place,” said Attorney General Hood.