MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Municipalities
By: Representatives Holland, Turner, Aldridge, Bain, Banks, Baria, Barker, Bell, Bounds, Boyd, Brown (20th), Carpenter, Chism, Clark, Clarke, Cockerham, Anderson, Evans (43rd), Gunn, Hamilton, Harrison, Holloway, Horan, Johnson, Martinson, Massengill, Miles, Faulkner, Morgan, Myers, Nelson, Oberhousen, Read, Reynolds, Rushing, Steverson, Straughter, Sullivan, Watson, Weathersby, White, Williams-Barnes, Wooten, Denton, Arnold, Rogers (61st), Dixon, Haney, Crawford, Huddleston (15th), Rogers (14th), Eaton, Patterson, Willis, Gibbs, Lane
AN ACT TO CREATE THE "GALE STAUFFER, JR. AND JOSEPH MAHER LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2014"; TO AUTHORIZE MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES TO ADOPT POLICIES UNDER WHICH THEY ARE AUTHORIZED TO CONTINUE TO PAY ALL OR A PORTION OF THE REGULAR COMPENSATION AND RELATED BENEFITS OF ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, FIREFIGHTER OR OTHER EMPLOYEE THAT PROTECTS THE PUBLIC INTEREST OF THE MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY WHO IS INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY, DURING THE TIME THAT THE INJURED EMPLOYEE IS PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF HIS OR HER EMPLOYMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and cited as the "Gale Stauffer, Jr. and Joseph Maher Law Enforcement Appreciation Act of 2014."
SECTION 2. The governing authorities of any municipality and the board of supervisors of any county may adopt a policy under which the municipality or county is authorized, in its discretion, to continue to pay all or a portion of the regular compensation and related benefits of any law enforcement officer, firefighter or other employee that protects the public interest of the municipality or county who is injured in the line of duty, during the time that the injured employee is physically unable to perform the duties of his or her employment, in accordance with the following:
(a) The municipality or county may continue to pay all or a portion of the injured employee's regular compensation and related benefits until such time as the employee is physically able to perform the duties of his or her employment, or the employee retires on a disability retirement allowance, whichever occurs first.
(b) The maximum portion of the injured employee's regular compensation that the municipality or county may continue to pay is the difference between the total amount that the injured employee is receiving from workers' compensation benefits and disability benefits from the trust fund created under Section 45-2-21 and the amount of the employee's regular compensation.
(c) At such time as the injured employee is no longer receiving any workers' compensation benefits or disability benefits from the trust fund created under Section 45-2-21, the municipality or county may continue to pay the full amount of the employee's regular compensation for such period of time as allowed under the policy.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.