MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Judiciary

By: Senator(s) Burton

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 19-19-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE CONSTABLES TO ATTEND AND PASS A TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDED OR APPROVED BY THE MISSISSIPPI LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TRAINING ACADEMY, TO PRESCRIBE THE COMPONENTS OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM AND TO PROVIDE CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS FROM THE PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 25-4-105, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW A COUNTY EMPLOYEE TO SERVE AS A CONSTABLE OF THE COUNTY EMPLOYING HIM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 19-19-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

19-19-5. (1) It shall be the duty of every constable to keep and preserve the peace within his county, by faithfully aiding and assisting in executing the criminal laws of the state; to give information, without delay, to some justice court judge or other proper officer, of all riots, routs and unlawful assemblies, and of every violation of the penal laws which may come to his knowledge in any manner whatsoever; to execute and return all process, civil and criminal, lawfully directed to him, according to the command thereof; and to pay over all monies, when collected by him to the person lawfully authorized to receive the same. No constable shall receive any fee provided by law for making an arrest, or attending any trial, wherein the defendant has been arrested, or is being tried for any violation of the motor vehicle laws committed on any designated United States highway located within the district or county of the constable.

(2) (a) During a constable's term of office, each constable shall attend * * * in its entirety a curriculum having a duration of two (2) weeks * * * which addresses the nature and scope of specific duties and responsibilities of a constable and which includes firearm use and safety training, to be established by the Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training in the field of law enforcement at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy or such other training programs that are approved by the Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training pursuant to Section 45-6-9. No physical fitness test shall be required to be successfully completed in order to complete the training program. The board of supervisors of the county shall be responsible for paying, only one (1) time, the tuition, living and travel expenses incurred by any constable of that county in attendance at such training program or curriculum. If such constable does not attend and, to the extent to which he is physically able, participate in the entirety of the required program or curriculum, any further training which may be required by this section shall be completed at the expense of such constable. No constable shall be entitled to the receipt of any fees, costs or compensation authorized by law after the first twenty-four (24) months in office if he fails to attend the required training and, to the extent to which he is physically able, participate in the entirety of the appropriate program or curriculum. Any constable who does not complete the required training when required may execute and return civil process but thereafter shall not be paid any fees, costs or compensation for executing such process and shall not be allowed to exercise any law enforcement functions or to carry a firearm in the performance of his duties until he has completed such training. * * *

(b) (i) The Board of Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training shall develop a program of continuing education training for constables to attend consisting of eight (8) hours annually. The program shall be divided equally between firearms training and safety and instruction in both substantive and procedural law. The training program shall be conducted by the Mississippi Constables Association, and appropriate parts of the program may be conducted by members who have been certified by the board to conduct the training program. The cost of travel and living expenses in attending the continuing training shall be paid out of the Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund created in Section 45-6-15.

(ii) No constable serving on January 1, 2000, shall be required to comply with the continuing education requirements of this paragraph (b); however, any constable may elect to attend the annual training and shall be reimbursed therefor as provided in this paragraph (b).

(c) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a constable who has received a certificate from the Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training evidencing satisfaction of subsections (2) and (3) of Section 45-6-11, or who is exempt from the requirements of subsections (2) and (3) of Section 45-6-11 by the provisions of subsection (1) of Section 45-6-11.

SECTION 2. Section 25-4-105, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-4-105. (1) No public servant shall use his official position to obtain pecuniary benefit for himself other than that compensation provided for by law, or to obtain pecuniary benefit for any relative or any business with which he is associated.

(2) No public servant shall be interested, directly or indirectly, during the term for which he shall have been chosen, or within one (1) year after the expiration of such term, in any contract with the state, or any district, county, city or town thereof, authorized by any law passed or order made by any board of which he may be or may have been a member.

(3) No public servant shall:

(a) Be a contractor, subcontractor or vendor with the governmental entity of which he is a member, officer, employee or agent, other than in his contract of employment, or have a material financial interest in any business which is a contractor, subcontractor or vendor with the governmental entity of which he is a member, officer, employee or agent.

(b) Be a purchaser, direct or indirect, at any sale made by him in his official capacity or by the governmental entity of which he is an officer or employee, except in respect of the sale of goods or services when provided as public utilities or offered to the general public on a uniform price schedule.

(c) Be a purchaser, direct or indirect, of any claim, certificate, warrant or other security issued by or to be paid out of the treasury of the governmental entity of which he is an officer or employee.

(d) Perform any service for any compensation during his term of office or employment by which he attempts to influence a decision of the authority of the governmental entity of which he is a member.

(e) Perform any service for any compensation for any person or business after termination of his office or employment in relation to any case, decision, proceeding or application with respect to which he was directly concerned or in which he personally participated during the period of his service or employment.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, a public servant or his relative:

(a) May be an officer or stockholder of banks or savings and loan associations or other such financial institutions bidding for bonds, notes or other evidences of debt or for the privilege of keeping as depositories the public funds of a governmental entity thereof or the editor or employee of any newspaper in which legal notices are required to be published in respect to the publication of said legal notices.

(b) May be a contractor or vendor with any authority of the governmental entity other than the authority of the governmental entity of which he is a member, officer, employee or agent or have a material financial interest in a business which is a contractor or vendor with any authority of the governmental entity other than the authority of the governmental entity of which he is a member, officer, employee or agent where such contract is let to the lowest and best bidder after competitive bidding and three (3) or more legitimate bids are received or where the goods, services or property involved are reasonably available from two (2) or fewer commercial sources, provided such transactions comply with the public purchases laws.

(c) May be a subcontractor with any authority of the governmental entity other than the authority of the governmental entity of which he is a member, officer, employee or agent or have a material financial interest in a business which is a subcontractor with any authority of the governmental entity other than the authority of the governmental entity of which he is a member, officer, employee or agent where the primary contract is let to the lowest and best bidder after competitive bidding or where such goods or services involved are reasonably available from two (2) or fewer commercial sources, provided such transactions comply with the public purchases laws.

(d) May be a contractor, subcontractor or vendor with any authority of the governmental entity of which he is a member, officer, employee or agent or have a material financial interest in a business which is a contractor, subcontractor or vendor with any authority of the governmental entity of which he is a member, officer, employee or agent: (i) where such goods or services involved are reasonably available from two (2) or fewer commercial sources, provided such transactions comply with the public purchases laws; or (ii) where the contractual relationship involves the further research, development, testing, promotion or merchandising of an intellectual property created by the public servant.

(e) May purchase securities issued by the governmental entity of which he is an officer or employee if such securities are offered to the general public and are purchased at the same price as such securities are offered to the general public.

(f) May have an interest less than a material financial interest in a business which is a contractor, subcontractor or vendor with any governmental entity.

(g) May contract with the Mississippi Veteran's Home Purchase Board, Mississippi Housing Finance Corporation, or any other state loan program, for the purpose of securing a loan; however, public servants shall not receive favored treatment.

(h) May be employed by or receive compensation from an authority of the governmental entity other than the authority of the governmental entity of which the public servant is an officer or employee.

(i) If a member of the Legislature or other public servant employed on less than a full-time basis, may represent a person or organization for compensation before an authority of the governmental entity other than an authority of the governmental entity of which he is an officer or employee.

(j) If a constable, may be employed and receive compensation as a deputy sheriff or other employee of the county for which he serves as constable.

(5) No person may intentionally use or disclose information gained in the course of or by reason of his official position or employment as a public servant in any way that could result in pecuniary benefit for himself, any relative, or any other person, if the information has not been communicated to the public or is not public information.

(6) Any contract made in violation of this section may be declared void by the governing body of the contracting or selling authority of the governmental subdivision or a court of competent jurisdiction and the contractor or subcontractor shall retain or receive only the reasonable value, with no increment for profit or commission, of the property or the services furnished prior to the date of receiving notice that the contract has been voided.

(7) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be punished as provided for in Sections 25-4-109 and 25-4-111.

SECTION 3. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended, or on July 1, 2000, whichever occurs later.