Senate Bill 2487

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 45-1-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ELIMINATE THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO COLLECT FEES FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY THE CRIME LABORATORY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 45-1-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

45-1-29. (1) The Mississippi Crime Laboratory shall be funded separately from the Department of Public Safety. Any appropriated funds shall be maintained in an account separate from any funds of the Department of Public Safety and shall never be commingled with any funds of said department. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the utilization of the combined resources of the Mississippi Crime Laboratory, the Division of Support Services of the Department of Public Safety or the Mississippi Justice Information Center to efficiently carry out the mission of the Department of Public Safety.

(2) Grants and donations to the crime laboratory may be accepted from individuals, the federal government, firms, corporations, foundations and other interested organizations and societies.

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