MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Fees and Salaries of Public Officers; Appropriations

By: Representative Ishee

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 45-1-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ESTABLISH THE SALARY OF THE DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI CRIME LABORATORY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 45-1-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

45-1-25. (1) The Director of the Mississippi Crime Laboratory which has been established by the Commissioner of Public Safety under the authority of Section 45-1-17 shall be a person who is experienced in crime laboratory operations, knowledgeable of the criminal justice system, and who shall have the following minimum qualifications:

(a) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in forensic science, chemistry, biology, commercial science or physics.

(b) At least five (5) years' full-time employment in a crime laboratory, with supervisory or administrative responsibility.

(c) Thorough knowledge of the utilization of crime laboratory services and their relation to the investigating law enforcement officers.

(d) Thorough knowledge of techniques employed in processing of physical evidence.

(e) Membership in professional organizations promoting advancement of forensic science.

(f) Proven effectiveness as a manager and administrator.

Unusual strength in one or more of the above qualifications may compensate for failure to exactly satisfy paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(2) The Director of the State Crime Laboratory may only be removed by the Commissioner of Public Safety upon proof of his inability to serve due to illness, administrative or managerial ineffectiveness, incompetence, malfeasance, dereliction of duty or moral turpitude.

(3) The Director of the State Crime Laboratory shall receive an annual salary in the amount of Ninety Thousand Dollars ($90,000.00) and the Assistant Director of the State Crime Laboratory shall receive an annual salary in the amount of Eighty Thousand Dollars ($80,000.00).

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.