MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representative Fleming

AN ACT TO CREATE A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY TO BE KNOWN AS THE MISSISSIPPI LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT FUND; TO PRESCRIBE THE USE OF THE FUND; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE FUND; TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT FUND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND PRESCRIBE ITS DUTIES AND POWERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created a special fund in the State Treasury to be known as the Mississippi Law Enforcement Block Grant Fund. The Department of Public Safety shall administer the fund with the assistance of the committee created in subsection (2) of this section. All counties and municipalities are eligible to receive grants from the fund to be used by such counties and municipalities for upgrading equipment and technology used in law enforcement. Counties and municipalities may apply to the Department of Public Safety for grants. No grant monies shall be used for personnel or building expenses. Grants shall not exceed Two Dollars ($2.00) per citizen of the requesting political subdivision according to the most recent federal decennial census or Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) whichever is greater, but no grant shall be more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00).

(2) There is hereby created the Mississippi Law Enforcement Block Grant Fund Oversight Committee. The committee shall be comprised of the following members: The Commissioner of Public Safety, one (1) person appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, one (1) person appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one (1) person appointed by the Attorney General and one (1) person appointed by the State Treasurer. The board shall meet no more than once a month. Members of the committee who are not state employees shall receive per diem as provided in Section 25-3-69 and travel expenses as provided in Section 25-3-41 for the performance of their official duties. The committee shall provide oversight of the fund and shall assist the Department of Public Safety in the administration of the fund.

(3) The fund shall consist of monies appropriated by the Legislature and any grants or gifts from the federal government or any other legal source whether public or private. Any monies remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the General Fund but shall remain in the fund and any interest accruing to the fund shall remain in the fund.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.