House Bill 1312

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 29-5-77 AND 29-5-79, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT, WITH REGARD TO THE NEW CAPITOL BUILDING, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OR THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY REQUEST THE ASSISTANCE OF OFFICERS APPOINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO ENFORCE THE LAWS AT THE BUILDING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 29-5-77, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

29-5-77. The * * * Department of Finance and Administration shall have jurisdiction relative to the enforcement of all laws of the State of Mississippi on the properties set forth in Section 29-5-2 and the Court of Appeals Building; provided that, with regard to the New Capitol Building, the Lieutenant Governor or the Speaker of the House of Representatives may request the assistance of officers appointed by the department and assigned to enforce the laws at the building. The department is authorized and directed through any person or persons appointed by the Department of Finance and Administration or through the Department of Public Safety when requested by the Department of Finance and Administration, to make arrests for any violation of any law of the State of Mississippi on such grounds of or within such properties. The Department of Finance and Administration is hereby empowered and directed to enforce the provisions of Sections 29-5-57 through 29-5-67, 29-5-71 through 29-5-77, and 29-5-81 through 29-5-95, and to prescribe such rules and regulations as are necessary therefor.

When in the opinion of the Governor or, in his absence, the Lieutenant Governor, it is readily apparent that an emergency exists which the persons appointed by the Department of Finance and Administration are unable to control in the accomplishment of the provisions of Sections 29-5-57 through 29-5-67, 29-5-71 through 29-5-77, and 29-5-81 through 29-5-95 in regard to law enforcement, then the Governor, or in his absence, the Lieutenant Governor, may call upon the Department of Public Safety, members of which shall have power to arrest and detain any persons violating the provisions of the aforesaid sections, until such person can be brought before the proper authorities for trial.

SECTION 2. Section 29-5-79, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

29-5-79. (1) The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Lieutenant Governor may make such regulations as they may deem necessary for preserving the peace and securing the New Capitol Building from defacement and for the protection of the property therein. The Lieutenant Governor or the Speaker of the House of Representatives may request the assistance of the Department of Finance and Administration and the * * * Department of Public Safety in order to preserve the peace at the New Capitol Building and secure the New Capitol Building from defacement and for the protection of the property therein.

(2) All regulations promulgated under authority of this section shall be filed with the Secretary of State and * * * made available for public inspection; the regulations shall likewise be published in one (1) of the daily newspapers of the City of Jackson and shall not become effective until the expiration of ten (10) days after the date of the filing with the Secretary of State and the publication.

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