MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representative Myers

House Bill 488

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF MONIES DERIVED FROM TOBACCO LITIGATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING THE MUNICIPALITIES CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1999. 

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

SECTION 1. Subject to the provisions of Section 2 of this act, the following sum, or so much of it as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the Department of Public Safety for the support of the Municipalities Crime Prevention Program for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1998, and ending July 1,

1999 $10,000,000.00.

SECTION 2. The money appropriated by this act shall be paid out of any money in the State General Fund derived from claims asserted by the Attorney General on behalf of the State of Mississippi and all of its governmental agencies, departments, political subdivisions and any other state-controlled public entities against tobacco manufacturers, distributors, trade firms and such other entities in the tobacco industry which are named defendants in litigation relating to the manufacturing, marketing, packaging, distribution and sale of tobacco products, whether derived under settlement agreement or judgment rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

SECTION 3. The money appropriated by Section 1 of this act shall be distributed by the Department of Public Safety to each municipality on a per capita basis, using the population figures from the most recent federal decennial census, with no municipality receiving less than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) or more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00). Funds distributed to municipalities by the Department of Public Safety may be expended for, but not limited to, the following purposes:

(a) Law enforcement;

(b) Equipment, technology, supplies, contractual services, including training and related travel, and commodities;

(c) State or federal crime prevention grant matching requirements; and

(d) Any crime prevention programs implemented by more than one (1) jurisdiction, which may include the State of Mississippi and any of its agencies, departments or political subdivisions, through the use of interlocal cooperation agreements.

SECTION 4. The money appropriated by this act shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, subject to the provisions of Section 2 of this act, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, officer or officers in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.