House Bill 732

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 45-6-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A RESIGNING OR TERMINATED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MUST BE EMPLOYED BY THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, FROM WHICH HE IS NO LONGER EMPLOYED, FOR FOUR YEARS RATHER THAN THREE YEARS BEFORE THE SUBSEQUENT HIRING GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY MUST REIMBURSE THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING EXPENSES RECEIVED BY THE OFFICER; TO AMEND SECTION 45-5-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM WITH THE PRECEDING SECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 45-6-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

45-6-13. (1) The board shall establish, provide or maintain law enforcement training programs through such agencies and institutions as the board may deem appropriate.

(2) The board shall authorize, but only from such funds authorized and appropriated by the Legislature, the reimbursement to each political subdivision and to state agencies of at least fifty percent (50%) of the allowable salary and allowable tuition, living and travel expense incurred by law enforcement officers in attendance at approved training programs, provided said political subdivisions and state agencies do in fact adhere to the selection and training standards established by the board. The board shall authorize, but only from such funds authorized and appropriated by the Legislature, the direct funding of a part-time law enforcement officer training program. The board shall require the payment of a reasonable tuition fee to aid in funding the costs of administering the part-time law enforcement officer training program.

(3) The board is authorized to expend funds for the purpose of providing a professional library and training aids that will be available to state agencies and political subdivisions.

(4) If any full- or part-time law enforcement officer in this state who is employed by a municipality, county or other governmental entity shall, within * * *~~three (3)~~ four (4) years after the date of his employment, resign from, or be terminated from, employment by such entity and immediately become employed by another governmental entity in a law enforcement capacity, then the governmental entity by which the resigned or terminated officer is employed shall reimburse the governmental entity from which the officer resigned or was terminated a proportionate share of the officer's law enforcement training expenses which were incurred by such entity, if any.

(5) The Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training shall reimburse each county for the expenses incurred by sheriffs and deputy sheriffs for attendance at approved training programs as provided in Section 25-3-25.

SECTION 2. Section 45-5-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

45-5-11. The Legislature may appropriate funds to carry out the purposes of this chapter in whole or in part. The commissioner shall establish and charge reasonable tuition fees to be paid. Any municipality, county, district or other political subdivision or agency of the state is hereby authorized to pay the expenses, including tuition of any of its officers or officer-designees or officers-elect for attending the academy. All municipalities, counties, districts, other political subdivisions and agencies of the state shall comply with subsection (4) of Section 45-6-13 in the event that an officer leaves one governmental entity and becomes employed by another governmental entity within * * *~~three (3)~~ four (4) years. Grants and donations to the academy may be accepted from individuals, firms, corporations, foundations and other interested organizations and societies.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.