House Bill 1459

AN ACT TO CREATE THE RACIAL PROFILING STUDY COMMITTEE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMITTEE'S MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES; TO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL AND LODGING; TO REQUIRE A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Racial Profiling Study Committee to be comprised of the following members:

(a) Five (5) members of the Mississippi House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker;

(b) Five (5) members of the Mississippi State Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(d) One (1) member who shall be a representative of the Mississippi public Defenders Association;

(e) One (1) member who shall be a representative of a law enforcement agency appointed by the commissioner of Public Safety;

(f) One (1) member who shall be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court; and

(g) One (1) member who shall be appointed by the Governor;

(2) The committee shall elect a chairman and such other officers as it deems necessary. The committee is authorized to meet monthly until it reports its findings to the Legislature.

(3) The committee shall study the problem of racial profiling by law enforcement and its impact on the constitutional and civil rights of persons affected by racial profiling. The committee shall submit its report and any recommendations to the Legislature on December 1, 2002.

(4) Members of the committee shall be reimbursed for the costs of travel and lodging incurred in exercising their duties as provided by law.

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