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Tunica Teens in Action, Inc. Violates Mississippi Charitable Solicitation Act;
Secretary of State’s Office Enters Final Order
Jackson, Miss.— The Charities Division of the Secretary of State’s Office has entered a Final Order against the charitable organization, Tunica Teens in Action, Inc., after this organization violated numerous provisions of state law.
By virtue of the Order, the Division administratively dissolved Tunica Teens and revoked its charitable registration. Additionally, the Division fined Tunica Teens an administrative penalty in the amount of $5,000.00.
“As the regulator of charities in Mississippi, our Office always strives to ensure that your dollars being donated to a charity are being used appropriately and lawfully,” stated Secretary Hosemann. “Mississippians are the most giving people in the Nation and when organizations like this violate the law, they must be held accountable.”
After the Division performed an examination on Tunica Teens, the Division found numerous violations of the Mississippi Charitable Solicitations Act and Mississippi Charities Act Rules which included the charity allowing funds to be spent outside of the organization’s charitable purpose, not ensuring the organization’s compliance with the Division’s examination requests, not maintaining true and accurate books and records, and allowing an individual convicted of a felony to have access and control of the organization’s funds.
As a result of violations, in June 2019, the Division issued a Cease and Desist Order and Notice of Intent to Revoke Registration, Administratively Dissolve, and Impose Administrative Penalty against Tunica Teens for multiple violations of the Mississippi Charities Act. Thereafter, Tunica Teens requested an administrative hearing which was held in September. The hearing officer issued a Report on November 22, 2019, concluding that there were multiple violations of the Act and that the Secretary of State’s Office was justified in imposing sanctions against Tunica Teens. The Final Order was issued by the Secretary of State’s Office on December 2, 2019.
The Secretary of State is vested with the regulation of charitable organizations that solicit donations in the State of Mississippi pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. Section 79-11-501 et seq. For more information, call the Charities Division at (601) 359-1599 or visit www.sos.ms.gov/charities.
