House Bill 1077

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 39-5-71, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MONUMENT HONORING MISSISSIPPI LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTIES MAY BE FUNDED BY LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION, IN ADDITION TO GIFTS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR; TO NAME THE MONUMENT THE "MISSISSIPPI FALLEN OFFICERS MONUMENT"; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MONUMENT SHALL BE LOCATED ON THE CAPITOL GROUNDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 39-5-71, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

39-5-71. (1) The Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training, in cooperation with the Department of Archives and History and the Department of Finance and Administration, is * * * authorized, subject to funds being made available from legislative appropriation or the private sector, to cause to be constructed and maintained * * * a monument containing the names and paying tribute to all state, county and municipal law enforcement officers, and all federal law enforcement officers employed and residing in Mississippi at the time of death, whohave given their lives in the performance of their official duties. The monument shall be known as the "Mississippi Fallen Officers Monument," and it shall be located on the grounds of the Capitol or on state-owned lands at a suitable and appropriate place in or near the City of Jackson.

It is the intent of the Legislature that adequate space be left on the monument to be available to add names of law enforcement officers in the future who give their lives in the performance of their official duties.

(2) The Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training is * * * authorized to accept gifts, grants and donations from individuals and organizations, to be deposited in the Law Enforcement Officers Monument Fund which is hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury. The State Treasurer shall invest all monies in the fund and any interest earned shall be deposited into the fund. All funds deposited in the fund, including interest earned thereon, shall be used for the purpose of fund-raising, erecting and maintaining the monument as provided in subsection (1) of this section. The funds may be used for any fund-raising activity the board deems necessary for the construction and maintenance of the monument. Any monies remaining unexpended or unencumbered in the fund upon completion of the monument shall revert to the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training for maintenance of the monument.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.