MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Judiciary; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Carlton

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE REGIONAL RURAL POLICE FORCE PILOT PROGRAM; TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL FUND; TO PROVIDE THAT THE FUND SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created within the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Regional Rural Police Force Fund. The Department of Public Safety shall distribute monies out of such fund to each county and municipality in the pilot program area as shall enter into an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement under Sections 17-13-1, et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, for the provision of a rural law enforcement presence in areas of the pilot program area which do have any law enforcement presence other than the county sheriff. The State of Mississippi and any of its agencies, departments or political subdivisions may also be parties to such interlocal cooperation agreements. Funds received by counties and municipalities pursuant to this section 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.

(2) The pilot program area shall consist of the counties of Bolivar and Washington. A condition of receiving the grant money under this section shall be that the recipients of funds under the pilot program will be required to assist the Department of Public Safety in preparing a report for the 1999 Legislature, to be submitted to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House not later than January 15, 1999, in order to assist the Legislature in evaluating whether the pilot program is beneficial and should be expanded to other areas of the state. Recipients of funds not cooperating with this requirement shall be subject to repayment of all amounts received under the program, with interest.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.