House Bill 514

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-1-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF PERSONS WHO MAY BE APPOINTED AS CONSERVATION OFFICERS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSE.

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

SECTION 1. Section 49-1-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-1-15. (1) All appointments of conservation officers shall be under rules adopted and promulgated by the commission. No person shall be appointed from and after July 1, 2007,unless he meets the following requirements:

(a) Is at least twenty-one (21) years of age;and

(b) (i) Has successfully completed sixty-four (64) semester hours at an accredited community college or university; (ii) has an associate degree from an accredited community college; (iii) has passed the Law Enforcement Academy and has at least five (5) years experience in law enforcement; or (iv) has a minimum of three and one-half (3-1/2) years of military service.

(2) Each applicant, prior to entering into performance of his duties, at the expense of the department, shall attend and complete an appropriate curriculum in the field of law enforcement at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy or other training academy whose curriculum complies with requirements of the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training. Conservation officers shall, on a periodic basis, be required to successfully complete additional advanced courses in law enforcement in order that they will be properly improved and trained in the modern, technical advances of law enforcement.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.