MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Judiciary; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Scoper

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 45-39-3 AND 45-39-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE STATEWIDE CRIME STOPPERS ADVISORY COUNCIL TO EMPLOY A PERSON TO SERVE AS ITS DIRECTOR, TO ESTABLISH IN THE STATE TREASURY A STATE CRIME STOPPERS FUND TO RECEIVE MONIES FROM CONTRIBUTIONS AND ASSESSMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE STATE CRIME STOPPERS PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 99-19-73, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO IMPOSE AN ASSESSMENT ON CERTAIN VIOLATIONS TO BE PAID INTO THE STATE CRIME STOPPERS FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 9 OF CHAPTER 530, LAWS OF 1996, TO DELETE THE REPEALER ON THE STATEWIDE CRIME STOPPERS PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. Section 45-39-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

45-39-3. There is hereby created within the Department of Public Safety the Crime Stoppers Advisory Council. The council shall be composed of five (5) persons appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. At least three (3) of the foregoing appointees shall be persons who have participated in a local crime stoppers program. Each member of the council shall serve for a term of two (2) years or until his successor is appointed and qualifies. At the first meeting of the council, which shall be called by the Governor, and at the first meeting after the beginning of each new state fiscal year, the council shall elect from among its members a chairman and such other officers as the council deems necessary. Each member of the council shall receive per diem in the amount established in Section 25-3-69, Mississippi Code of 1972, for each day or portion thereof spent discharging his duties under this chapter and shall receive mileage and expenses as provided in Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972.

Expenses of the council shall be paid by the Department of Public Safety out of the State Crime Stoppers Fund, created in Section 45-39-5(4).

SECTION 2. Section 45-39-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

45-39-5. (1) The council may contract with a person to serve as its director or, with the concurrence of the Commissioner of Public Safety, may employ an individual within the Department of Public Safety to serve as director. The council shall establish the authority and responsibilities of the director.

(2) The council shall:

(a) Advise and assist in the creation of local crime stoppers programs;

(b) Foster the detection of crime and encourage persons to report information about criminal acts;

(c) Encourage news and other media to promote local crime stoppers programs and to inform the public of the functions of the council;

(d) Assist local crime stoppers programs in forwarding information about criminal acts to the appropriate law enforcement agencies; and

(e) Help law enforcement agencies detect and combat crime by increasing the flow of information to and between law enforcement agencies.

(3) The council may adopt rules to carry out its duties under this chapter.

(4) Such assessments as are collected under subsections (1) and (6) of Section 99-19-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, and any other funds as may be made available through contributions from private or public sources, shall be deposited in a special fund that is hereby created in the State Treasury and designated the State Crime Stoppers Fund. Monies deposited in the fund shall be expended, pursuant to appropriation therefor by the Legislature, by the council for the authorized purposes of the State Crime Stoppers Program established under this chapter, specifically for providing reward monies for individuals who legitimately report crime activity. Any such funds paid to such individuals shall be kept confidential by the council, and any audit of the fund and the expenditures of the council shall provide for the confidentiality of any expenditures to such individuals.

SECTION 3. Section 99-19-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, is mended as follows:

99-19-73. (1) Traffic Violations. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation in Title 63, Mississippi Code of 1972, except offenses relating to the Mississippi Implied Consent Law (Section 63-11-1 et seq.) and offenses relating to vehicular parking or registration:

FUND AMOUNT

State Court Education Fund $ 1.50

State Prosecutor Education Fund .50

Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund 7.00

Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund 5.00

Spinal Cord and Head Injury Trust Fund

(for all moving violations) 4.00

Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund 5.00

TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT $ 23.00

(2) Implied Consent Law Violations. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or any other penalty for any violation of the Mississippi Implied Consent Law (Section 63-11-1 et seq.):

FUND AMOUNT

Crime Victims' Compensation Fund $ 10.00

State Court Education Fund 1.50

State Prosecutor Education Fund .50

Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund 22.00

Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund 11.00

Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund 5.00

Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program Fund 5.00

Federal-State Alcohol Program Fund 10.00

Mississippi Crime Laboratory

Implied Consent Law Fund 25.00

Spinal Cord and Head Injury Trust Fund 25.00

State General Fund 35.00

TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT $150.00

(3) Game and Fish Law Violations. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation of the game and fish statutes or regulations of this state:

FUND AMOUNT

State Court Education Fund $ 1.50

State Prosecutor Education Fund .50

Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund 5.00

Hunter Education and Training Program Fund 5.00

State General Fund 30.00

TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT $ 42.00

(4) Litter Law Violations. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation of Section 97-15-29 or 97-15-30:

FUND AMOUNT

Statewide Litter Prevention Fund $ 25.00

TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT $ 25.00

(5) Other Misdemeanors. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any misdemeanor violation not specified in subsection (1), (2) or (3) of this section, except offenses relating to vehicular parking or registration:

FUND AMOUNT

Crime Victims' Compensation Fund $ 10.00

State Court Education Fund 1.50

State Prosecutor Education Fund .50

Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund 5.00

State General Fund 30.00

State Crime Stoppers Fund 1.50

TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT $ 48.50

(6) Other Felonies. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any felony violation not specified in subsection (1), (2) or (3) of this section:

FUND AMOUNT

Crime Victims' Compensation Fund $ 10.00

State Court Education Fund 1.50

State Prosecutor Education Fund .50

Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund 5.00

State General Fund 60.00

Criminal Justice Fund 50.00

State Crime Stoppers Fund 1.50

TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT $128.50

(7) If a fine or other penalty imposed is suspended, in whole or in part, such suspension shall not affect the state assessment under this section. No state assessment imposed under the provisions of this section may be suspended or reduced by the court.

(8) After a determination by the court of the amount due, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the court to promptly collect all state assessments imposed under the provisions of this section. The state assessments imposed under the provisions of this section may not be paid by personal check. It shall be the duty of the chancery clerk of each county to deposit all such state assessments collected in the circuit, county and justice courts in such county on a monthly basis with the State Treasurer pursuant to appropriate procedures established by the State Auditor. The chancery clerk shall make a monthly lump-sum deposit of the total state assessments collected in the circuit, county and justice courts in such county under this section, and shall report to the Department of Finance and Administration the total number of violations under each subsection for which state assessments were collected in the circuit, county and justice courts in such county during such month. It shall be the duty of the municipal clerk of each municipality to deposit all such state assessments collected in the municipal court in such municipality on a monthly basis with the State Treasurer pursuant to appropriate procedures established by the State Auditor. The municipal clerk shall make a monthly lump-sum deposit of the total state assessments collected in the municipal court in such municipality under this section, and shall report to the Department of Finance and Administration the total number of violations under each subsection for which state assessments were collected in the municipal court in such municipality during such month.

(9) It shall be the duty of the Department of Finance and Administration to deposit on a monthly basis all such state assessments into the proper special fund in the State Treasury. The monthly deposit shall be based upon the number of violations reported under each subsection and the pro rata amount of such assessment due to the appropriate special fund. The Department of Finance and Administration shall issue regulations providing for the proper allocation of these special funds.

(10) The State Auditor shall establish by regulation procedures for refunds of state assessments, including refunds associated with assessments imposed before July 1, 1990, and refunds after appeals in which the defendant's conviction is reversed. The auditor shall provide in such regulations for certification of eligibility for refunds and may require the defendant seeking a refund to submit a verified copy of a court order or abstract by which such defendant is entitled to a refund. All refunds of state assessments shall be made in accordance with the procedures established by the auditor.

SECTION 4. Section 9 of Chapter 530, Laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:

Section 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1996 * * *.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.