Textbooks

Miss. Code Ann. tit. 37, ch. 43
in effect

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-1 Purpose of chapter; distribution of textbooks to schools and pupils; definition of “board” and “textbook.”

This chapter is intended to furnish a plan for the adoption, purchase, distribution, care and use of free textbooks to be loaned to the pupils in all elementary and high schools, other than charter schools, of Mississippi. The books herein provided by the State Board of Education, which shall be the State Textbook Procurement Commission, shall be distributed and loaned free of cost to the children of the free public school districts of the state and of all other schools located in the state, which maintain educational standards equivalent to the standards established by the State Department of Education for the state schools as outlined in the Approval Requirements of the State Board of Education for Nonpublic Schools. Teachers shall permit all pupils in all grades of any public school in any school district to carry to their homes for home study, the free textbooks loaned to them, and any other regular textbooks whether they be free textbooks or not. For the purposes of this chapter, the term “board” shall mean the State Board of Education. “Textbook” shall be defined as any medium or manual of instruction which contains a systematic presentation of the principles of a subject and which constitutes a major instructional vehicle for that subject. In addition to the authority granted in this chapter, local school boards shall make available to the parents or legal guardians of any children of school age who reside in the school district administered by the school board, upon request, any textbooks on the state surplus inventory list. The parent or legal guardian is responsible for the return of the textbook(s) to the local school district upon completion of the textbook(s) use. Failure to return the textbook(s) to the school district will result in the parents or legal guardians being responsible for compensating the school district for the fair market value of the textbook(s).

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-2 Transfer of functions, powers, duties, etc., of State Textbook Procurement Commission to State Board of Education.

On July 1, 1987, the State Board of Education shall assume all power, authority, duties and functions of the State Textbook Procurement Commission. All records, personnel, property and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations or other funds of the State Textbook Procurement Commission shall be transferred to the State Board of Education on July 1, 1987. All such employee transfers shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board. It is the intent of the Legislature that the number of persons employed by the state as a result of the consolidation required by this section shall be reduced where possible, but that such reduction shall result from attrition of employees and not dismissal. Each officer or agency subject to the provisions of this section is hereby authorized and empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations not conflicting with this section necessary to accomplish an orderly transition. Each officer or agency subject to this section shall assist, with the fullest degree of reasonable cooperation, any other officer or agency in carrying out the intent and purpose of this section. All members serving on the Mississippi State Textbook Procurement Commission as it existed under the provisions of Section 37-43-3 prior to June 30, 1987, shall continue to serve in an advisory capacity to the State Board of Education until December 31, 1987. This advisory board shall be known as the “Mississippi State Textbook Advisory Board,” and shall assist the State Board of Education in assuming its duties under the provisions of this section and shall provide technical assistance as may be requested. The State Department of Education, from any funds appropriated thereto, shall, upon the request of the State Board of Education, timely pay all sums reasonably required for the operation of the Mississippi State Textbook Advisory Board, including per diem and actual expenses of such board, through December 31, 1987.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-3 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws, 1987, ch. 481, §§ 5, 24, eff from and after June 30, 1987. § 37-43-3 . [Codes, 1942, § 6634; Laws, 1940, ch. 202; Laws, 1942, ch. 152; Laws, 1946, ch. 444, § 1; Laws, 1981, ch. 507, § 3; reenacted, Laws, 1983, 1st Ex Sess, ch. 2, § 2; Laws, 1984, ch. 404, § 2; Laws, 1985, ch. 395, § 2; Laws, 1986, ch. 349, § 2] § 37-43-5 . [Codes, 1942, § 6634; Laws, 1940, ch. 202; Laws, 1942, ch. 152; Laws, 1946, ch. 444, § 1; Laws, 1981, ch. 507, § 4; reenacted, Laws, 1983, 1st Ex Sess, ch. 2, § 3; Laws, 1984, ch. 404, § 3; Laws, 1985, ch. 395, § 3; Laws, 1986, ch. 349, § 3] § 37-43-7 . [Codes, 1942, § 6635; Laws, 1940, ch. 202; Laws, 1981, ch. 507, § 5; reenacted, Laws, 1983, 1st Ex Sess, ch. 2, § 4; Laws, 1984, ch. 404, § 4; Laws, 1985, ch. 395, § 4; Laws, 1986, ch. 349, § 4] § 37-43-9 . [Codes, 1942, § 6639; Laws, 1940, ch. 202; Laws, 1948, ch. 304, § 1; Laws, 1950, ch. 373; Laws, 1981, ch. 507, § 6; reenacted, Laws, 1983, 1st Ex Sess, ch. 2, § 5; Laws, 1984, ch. 404, § 5; Laws, 1985, ch. 395, § 5; Laws, 1986, ch. 349, § 5] § 37-43-11 . [Codes, 1942, §§ 6634, 6640; Laws, 1940, ch. 202; Laws, 1942, ch. 152; Laws, 1946, ch. 444, § 1; Laws, 1981, ch. 507, § 7; reenacted, Laws, 1983, 1st Ex Sess, ch. 2, § 6; Laws, 1984, ch. 404, § 6; Laws, 1985, ch. 395, § 6; Laws, 1986, ch. 349, § 6] § 37-43-13 . [Codes, 1942, § 6636; Laws, 1940, ch. 202; Laws, 1981, ch. 507, § 8; reenacted, Laws, 1983, 1st Ex Sess, ch. 2, § 7; Laws, 1984, ch. 404, § 7; Laws, 1985, ch. 395, § 7; Laws, 1986, ch. 349, § 7] § 37-43-15 . [Codes, 1942, § 6637; Laws, 1940, ch. 202; Laws, 1981, ch. 507, § 9; reenacted, Laws, 1983, 1st Ex Sess, ch. 2, § 8; Laws, 1984, ch. 404, § 8; Laws, 1985, ch. 395, § 8; Laws, 1986, ch. 349, § 8] Editor’s Notes — Former § 37-43-3 related to the Mississippi State Textbook Procurement Commission. Former § 37-43-5 related to election of executive secretary of Mississippi State Textbook Procurement Commission. Former § 37-43-7 related to oath of office required of members and executive secretary of Mississippi State Textbook Procurement Commission. Former § 37-43-9 related to compensation and expenses of members and executive secretary of Mississippi State Textbook Procurement Commission. Former § 37-43-11 related to meetings and quorum of Mississippi State Textbook Procurement Commission. Former § 37-43-13 stated certain interests that would bar appointment to Mississippi State Textbook Procurement Commission. Former § 37-43-15 made unlawful offers of employment by those in publishing field to members and employees of Mississippi State Textbook Procurement Commission.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-17 Persons disqualified from participation in rating and adoption of textbooks.

If any person related within the third degree by blood or marriage, as computed by civil law, to any member of the board, or if any person that is associated in any business or partnership with any member of said board, shall be employed in good faith by any school book company, firm, corporation or agent in connection with the adoption of textbooks within this state, the said member of the board so related by blood or marriage, or so associated in business or partnership with such person, shall not vote in the rating and adoption of any school book or books offered by such school book company, firm, corporation or agent for adoption.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-19 General powers and duties of board.

The board shall have the power and is hereby authorized: To promulgate rules and regulations for the purchase, care, use, disposal, distribution and accounting for all books to be furnished under the terms of this chapter, and to promulgate such other rules and regulations as may be necessary for the proper administration of this chapter. To adopt, contract for, and make available for purchase, cash or credit, basal, supplementary or alternative textbooks through twelve (12) grades as provided in the school curriculum, or for any other course that it may add thereto. To determine the period of contract for rated and adopted textbooks which shall not be for less than four (4) years nor more than five (5) years, with the right of the board, in its discretion, to renew or extend such contract from year to year for a period not exceeding two (2) additional years and to determine the conditions of the approval or forfeiture of a contract and such other terms and conditions as may be necessary and not contrary to law. To have complete power and authority over additions and amendments to textbooks, advertising for bids and the contents thereof, including auxiliary materials and workbooks, advertising on the protective covers of textbooks, bids and proposals, prices of textbooks, specimen copies, cash deposits, selection and adoption, distribution, fumigation, emergencies, selling to others, return of deposits, forfeiture of deposits, regulations governing deposits, renovation and repair of books, requisition, transportation or shipment of books, and any other acts or regulations, not contrary to law, that may be deemed necessary for furnishing and loaning free textbooks to the school children, as provided in this chapter.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-21 Textbook rating committees; disposition of sample textbooks; use of textbook allotment for repair of textbooks; prices for new textbook purchases.

For the purpose of assisting the board during an adoption, there shall be rating committees in each of the fields in which textbooks are considered for adoption. Each committee shall be composed of seven (7) members. The State Superintendent of Public Education shall appoint four (4) members of each of the committees, each of whom shall be a competent, experienced teacher who is currently teaching in the field in which the textbooks are considered for adoption. The Governor of the State of Mississippi thereupon shall appoint three (3) members of each of said committees, who shall be persons he deems competent to participate in the appraisal of books offered for adoption, in each field, for use in the public schools of this state. It shall be the duty of said rating committees to appraise the books offered for adoption in each field in which textbooks are offered for adoption and recommend eight (8) books and/or series for each adoption to be made by the board and giving the reasons for or basis of such recommendations. No book shall be recommended which does not receive a majority vote of the members of each committee. Any member dissenting from any majority vote of the committee shall make his appraisal of any book recommended or rejected by the majority of the committee and specify the reasons therefor and make such recommendations as he thinks proper. All appraisals, recommendations, and dissents if any, shall be in writing and filed with the board for its consideration upon the adoption. The travel expenses of such committees shall be reimbursed in the amount as provided in Section 25-3-41 and shall be paid out of the State Textbook Fund. Such rating committees shall be subject to the provisions of Section 37-43-17. The board shall have the power to reject any and all recommendations of the rating committees and to call for further recommendations; in no case shall the board adopt any book not recommended by the rating committees. Any and all sample textbooks that may be furnished by the publisher thereof as provided by Section 37-43-59 to any member of the board, the Superintendent of Public Education, and any member of a rating committee shall within one (1) year after receipt of same by said member be turned in to the State School Book Depository without cost to the State of Mississippi, and the same shall thereafter be used without any cost to the State of Mississippi in supplying free textbooks to the educable children of the State of Mississippi as now provided by law or shall be sold to the highest bidder by the board with the proceeds immediately deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the State Textbook Fund. No state official, state employee, school board member, school superintendent, principal, teacher or any other individual shall sell or donate sample textbooks furnished them by the State School Book Depository as part of the textbook adoption or selection process. Said individuals and public officials shall not receive payment by the state depository, any publisher or any other company for sample textbooks. School districts may annually utilize any portion of the textbook allotment for the repair of textbooks; provided, however, that school districts are authorized and encouraged to utilize the Mississippi Department of Corrections bookbinder for the repair of textbooks. Prices for new textbook purchases shall not be higher than the lowest price at which books are sold anywhere in the United States, after all discounts are allowed.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-23 Procedure for purchase of textbooks from publishers; distribution of books.

The State Board of Education is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to advertise for and receive sealed bids for textbooks. Bidders shall quote their lowest net wholesale prices, f.o.b. Central Depository, Jackson, Mississippi; however, the board may, in its discretion, establish a state depository or depositories or inaugurate any other plan for the distribution of books. Such prices shall not be higher than the lowest price at which books are sold anywhere in the United States, after all discounts are allowed. It is the intent of the Legislature that the price paid for a textbook shall not exceed the lowest price at which the same book, both having the same copyright date, is sold anywhere in the United States after all discounts are allowed. Every contract entered into under the provisions of this section by the board and any publisher or publishing company shall contain a provision that the publisher covenants and agrees that he is not furnishing under contract executed after the first day of January of the year in which the contract becomes effective, to any state, county or school district in the United States, the textbooks embraced in the contract at a price below the price stipulated therein. At any time that the board may find that any book or books, in either regular or special editions, are being furnished in any other state at a lower price under contract than it is being furnished in Mississippi, the contract shall be forfeited to the state. Any contractor who violates this provision shall return all money paid out for such book or books and also forfeit such book or books to the state, and suit may be brought on the bond of the contractor for all losses sustained. Successful bidders or contractors shall be required to maintain a depository at a place within the State of Mississippi, to be named by the board, where a stock of books sufficient to meet all reasonable and immediate demands shall be kept. Upon requisition of the board, the depository shall ship books, transportation charges paid, to the various shipping points in Mississippi to be specified by the board. For such service the depository shall make no charge to the board except the actual cost of transportation from the depository to the shipping point designated. The cost of distribution shall not exceed eight percent (8%) of the total appropriation for any fiscal year. All books furnished the State of Mississippi by contractors under this chapter shall continue to measure up to the same standards as are required in the contract, said standards to include printing, binding, cover boards, mechanical makeup, and any other relevant points as set out in the plans and specifications as fixed by the board. Any contractor of any book or books, who fails to keep said books up to said standards, shall forfeit, not only his contract to the state, but shall return all money paid out for such book or books and also forfeit said books to the state.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-24 Timely acquisition of Braille and large print textbooks.

This section shall be referred to and may be cited as the “Timely Acquisition of Braille and Large Print Textbooks Act of 2002.” The State Department of Education is hereby authorized and directed to place textbook procurement orders for visually impaired and hearing impaired students in the schools of this state prior to the beginning of the fiscal year for which the expenditure for such order has been authorized by the Legislature. After June 1 of any year, the State Department of Education may order additional books, as needed. In addition, the State Department of Education is authorized and directed to place textbook, equipment and school supply procurement orders for students attending the state supported schools administered by the State Board of Education prior to the beginning of the fiscal year for which the expenditure for such order has been authorized by the Legislature, and may order additional books, equipment and supplies at a later date, as needed. The department shall insure that the appropriate procedures for textbook procurement are followed according to state law and board policy as described in the Textbook Administration Handbook.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-25 Retention of specimen copies of textbooks, contracts and bonds, and copies of bids.

Specimen copies of all textbooks, which have been made the basis of contracts under the provisions of this chapter, clearly marked and identified as such, shall be deposited by the publisher of said books with the State Superintendent of Public Education. Said specimen copies shall be preserved and kept open for inspection by the public. A copy of all contracts and bonds executed under the provisions of this chapter shall be provided to the following, one (1) copy for the contractor, one (1) copy to be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State, and one (1) copy to be filed in the office of the State Superintendent of Public Education. An original of each bid, whether accepted or rejected, shall be filed and preserved in the office of the State Superintendent of Public Education for at least five (5) years.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-27 No books to be purchased from trusts.

No book or books shall be purchased from any person, firm or corporation who is a member of, or connected with, any trust. In the event that it is established that this provision has been violated, the contract shall be forfeited and monies paid out under this contract shall be returned to the state, and all books heretofore purchased under said contract shall be kept by the state or the public school district which purchased the textbooks.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-29 Designation of Secretary of State as contractor’s agent.

Any person, firm or corporation with whom a contract has been entered into, under the provisions of this chapter, shall designate the Secretary of State of Mississippi as its agent, upon whom citation and all other writs and processes may be served, in case any suit shall be brought against such person, firm or corporation.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-31 Selection of books by local school districts.

The State Board of Education shall adopt and furnish textbooks only for use in those courses set up in the state course of study as recommended by the State Accreditation Commission and adopted by such board, or courses established by acts of the Legislature. In all subjects the board, in its discretion, may adopt textbooks and/or series from those recommended by the textbook rating committees. The board may adopt a plan which permits the local school districts to choose the book or books to be requisitioned from those adopted, provided: That, when a book is furnished by the state, it shall remain in use during the period of its adoption; That the average per pupil cost of textbooks so furnished any unit shall not exceed that allowed for all other units in the state; That nothing herein provided shall be construed as giving any school the authority to discard or replace usable copies of textbooks now being furnished by the state; That the State Department of Education is authorized to disburse the annual textbook appropriation directly to the public school districts in accordance with Section 37-43-31(1)(b). The textbooks procured through this chapter, as well as textbooks which are on hand on June 30, 1994, which were previously purchased through the provisions of this statute, shall become the property of the public school district which purchased them, unless the State Department of Education authorizes the transfer of unneeded textbooks to another location in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education; That textbooks which are on loan to other than public schools as referenced in Section 37-43-1, shall remain the property of the State of Mississippi. All requisitions for textbooks from these schools shall be submitted to the State Department to be processed and subsequently shipped to the requesting school. No funds shall be disbursed directly from the State Department of Education to the schools in this category for the purpose of procuring textbooks; and That funds made available through this chapter may be used to purchase any state-adopted or non-adopted textbook from any state depository, directly from the publisher, or in accordance with the provisions of Sections 37-43-21(5) and 37-43-31(3). For purchases made directly from the publisher, the public school district, or the State Department of Education when purchasing for other than public schools, shall not pay a higher price for a textbook than that listed on the current state-adopted list. Whenever any book under contract is displaced by a new adoption, the board may continue to require the schools to use the recently purchased books from any previous adoption; however, such period of use shall not exceed four (4) years. If five (5) or more school boards petition the State Board of Education to add a book, or a series of books, to the approved list of state adoptions in a given subject area, then the State Superintendent of Public Education shall have sixty (60) days to show cause to the State Board of Education why the books in question should or should not be purchased with state funds. If the petition is not acted upon within the sixty-day period, the petition shall be deemed to be approved. Once a textbook has been approved through the petition process, any public school district or eligible other school may procure the said textbook utilizing funds appropriated through this chapter. If new and innovative textbooks that would improve a particular course of study become available between adoption cycles, a school board may petition the State Board of Education for permission to purchase these books out of sequence to be paid for with state textbook funds. The State Board of Education shall not allow previously rejected textbooks to be used if such textbooks were rejected for any of the following reasons: Obscene, lewd, sexist or vulgar material; Advocating prejudicial behavior or actions; or Encouraging acts determined to be anti-social or derogatory to any race, sex or religion. All books or series of books adopted under the petition procedures of this chapter shall be purchased under the provisions for bidding, pricing and distribution as prescribed in Section 37-43-23. Petition procedure books or series of books adopted under this section shall be considered only until the date of the next regular adoption series in the applicable subject area. Petition procedure books shall be submitted for formal adoption at the next applicable regular textbook adoption as prescribed under the provisions of Chapter 43, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972; otherwise, such books adopted under the petition procedures which do not receive formal adoption approval as recommended by the textbook rating committee shall be dropped from the state textbook petition adoption list. Provided, however, this provision shall in no way prohibit a school district from using other funds, federal or local, for the purchase of such books.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-33 Purchase of books by parents, school boards, etc.

Any parent, person or school board in any community of the state may purchase books from the depository who is given authority to sell books under the provisions of this chapter. The price of the books so ordered or brought shall be the same as the contract price, plus whatever postage or delivery charges might accrue.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-35 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws, 1981, ch. 507, § 25, eff from and after July 1, 1981. [Codes, 1942, § 6645; Laws, 1940, ch. 202]

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-37 Numbering of books; record of books issued to pupils.

All books shall have a uniform label printed on the inside cover. Each school shall number all books, placing the number on said labels. All teachers shall keep an accurate record of the number and names of all books issued to each pupil.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-39 Persons prohibited from acting as agents or attorneys for textbook publishers.

No teacher in any of the schools of the state, and no county or municipal superintendent of schools, and no person officially connected with the government of or direction of any school shall, during the term of his office as said superintendent or during the time of his or her employment as teacher, act as agent or attorney for any textbook publishing company selling textbooks in this state. If, after election as county or municipal superintendent or employment as teacher, any person filling such position accepts the agency or attorneyship of any textbook publishing company, the acceptance of such agency or attorneyship shall work a forfeiture of the office or position as teacher held at the time of the acceptance of such agency or attorneyship.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-41 State Textbook Fund; Local School District Textbook Carryover Fund.

The State Textbook Fund of Mississippi shall consist of the amounts appropriated by the Legislature for the same, all monies accruing from the sale of disused books from other than public schools, all monies derived from the purchase of books by both public and private schools trustees, and by private individuals, all monies collected in damage suits under the terms of this chapter, and all other monies collected in any way whatsoever under the terms of this chapter. There is hereby created a special fund in the State Treasury to be designated as the “Local School District Textbook Carryover Fund.” Said fund shall be credited with any funds which were appropriated by the Legislature to the State Textbook Fund for any fiscal year in which said funds were allocated to local school districts but unexpended by said districts. Said unexpended funds shall be deposited by the board into the Local School District Textbook Carryover Fund to the credit of the local school districts which were originally allocated such funds. All carryover funds which exist on June 30, 1994 which belong to public school districts shall be disbursed to the respective school districts. Carryover funds for other than public schools shall be handled in the same manner as previously described in this section.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-43 Deposit of funds to credit of State Textbook Fund.

The State Superintendent of Public Education shall deposit all funds sent to him from non-public schools for lost books or damaged books as well as all other funds accruing under this chapter in the State Treasury to the credit of the State Textbook Fund.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-45 Suits for recovery of losses.

Any loss occasioned by the neglect, carelessness or failure of duty by the county superintendent or any principal or teacher in charge of any school, shall entitle the state to bring suit for the recovery of the amount of the loss or losses occasioned thereby. Any writ or suit of any nature instituted under the provisions of this chapter shall be brought in the name of the State of Mississippi by the Attorney General. Any money or moneys recovered by such suit shall be placed to the credit of the State Textbook Fund.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-47 Payment of bills for textbooks.

Bills for textbooks purchased by the state on requisitions as provided in this chapter, and bills for all other expenses incurred under the terms of this chapter, shall be paid by warrants on the State Treasury made by the Auditor on receipt of bills from the State Superintendent of Public Education, and approved by the State Board of Education. Bills for textbooks purchased by public school districts, shall be submitted to the respective school district submitting the requisition. Each public school district will make payment to the appropriate entity which is responsible for providing the requested textbooks.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-49 Storage of school books by counties.

It shall be the duty of the board of supervisors of each county in the state to provide adequate storage space in the county courthouse, or in some other building at the county site, for the storage of school books distributed under the provisions of this chapter. In the event sufficient space for the storage of such books cannot be provided in the courthouse, the board of supervisors shall be authorized to rent a room or rooms in some other building at the county site for the storage of such books, and to pay such reasonable rental therefor as may be necessary out of the general fund of the county. The county superintendent of education, with the approval of the county board of education, may expend out of the county school fund an amount not to exceed One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) in any school year for part-time janitor’s services or other help in the handling, storage and distribution of school books.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-51 Reports by schools receiving textbooks.

The management of all public, private, parochial or denominational schools wherein the board is furnishing to the students thereof free school textbooks and said free school textbooks are used by the students in said school, shall file annually with the State Board of Education any and all reports as may be required by the board. Any person who shall refuse, neglect or fail to file any report required by the board shall be denied a new allocation of funds until such reports have been completed and filed with the board.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-53 Advertising on covers of textbooks.

The board is hereby authorized, empowered and directed, in its discretion, to offer for advertising purposes, the protective covers of the several free textbooks, to accept bids, and to let contracts for said space. The contracts for said advertising purposes shall be let for definite periods not to exceed two (2) years. It shall be the duty of the board, if it is desired that advertising shall be used, to approve all proposed advertising submitted for use on the covers of such free textbooks, and to accept only that advertising which will be in keeping with the spirit of the schools in promoting the children physically, mentally and morally. The board is hereby authorized, empowered and directed, in its discretion, to reject any and all bids submitted. No sectarian, un-American or immoral advertisements shall be accepted. All moneys derived from sale of such advertising shall be deposited in the State Treasury for the benefit of the General Fund.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-55 Purchase and distribution of Mississippi Blue Book.

The board is hereby authorized and empowered to purchase copies of the Mississippi Blue Book for supplementary use in the schools of Mississippi. The board shall prescribe the number of copies to be furnished each school and shall make any other regulations governing its distribution and use. The cost of the Mississippi Blue Books purchased and distributed shall be paid for out of the regular appropriation to the State Textbook Fund.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-57 Penalties for violations of chapter.

Except as may otherwise be provided in this chapter, any person wilfully violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment not to exceed twelve (12) months in the county jail, or by both, in the discretion of the court.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-59 Furnishing and disposition of samples.

Not more than one (1) pupil copy, one (1) teacher’s edition, and one (1) copy of any limited auxiliary materials shall be furnished as samples or specimen copies to any single person involved in the state rating, adoption process of free textbooks. Any and all sample or specimen textbooks or other materials furnished to any person serving in an official capacity or as an officer or employee in a school receiving free textbooks shall be furnished only by the State Board of Education after receipt from the publishers. No samples shall be furnished by publishers directly to any such person. The board shall keep detailed records of all samples furnished to all persons and establish such procedures for return of all samples. The intent of this provision is that no person serving in an official capacity shall receive personal benefit or profit from sale of sample or specimen textbooks. Not more than one (1) pupil copy, one (1) teacher’s edition, and one (1) copy of any limited auxiliary materials shall be furnished for review and inspection to any single person involved in the selection committee process of free textbooks. Any and all textbooks or other materials furnished to any such person serving in a selection committee capacity for inspection and review shall be furnished subject to the rules and regulations adopted by the board which such rules and regulations shall not prohibit direct delivery by the publishers to such persons. The board shall keep detailed records of all textbooks and auxiliary materials furnished to all such persons and establish such procedures for the return thereof. Any and all textbooks furnished to persons serving on selection committees shall be turned in to the State School Book Depository without any cost to the State of Mississippi and shall be credited to the account of the publisher. Any and all textbooks so furnished to persons serving on selection committees which have not been returned within one (1) year of the receipt of same the value thereof shall be charged against the allocation of state funds to said school district to the same extent as if said books had been purchased by said school district. The intent of this provision is that no person serving as a selection committee member shall receive personal benefit or proceeds from the sale of said textbooks. The State School Book Depository shall pay into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Textbook Fund the net wholesale price less an eight percent (8%) distribution cost and freight charges of those adopted textbooks which are returned by the rating committees as required herein. The board shall also provide for the sale of damaged books and those textbooks not adopted into the secondary textbook market on an annual basis. The State School Book Depository shall pay into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Textbook Fund the amount received for which said textbooks are sold less an eight percent (8%) distribution cost and freight charges of said textbooks which are damaged or not adopted. Any person converting to personal use or selling any sample or specimen textbook or other materials contrary to provisions of this section shall be guilty of the crime of embezzlement as provided by Section 97-11-25 and in addition shall upon conviction pay a fine of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per book sold or converted to personal use and shall be removed from any public office or public employment position held.

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