Senate Bill 2649

(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 29-5-77, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO GRANT THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION JURISDICTION RELATIVE TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF ALL LAWS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI ON THE STREETS, BYWAYS AND PARKING AREAS ADJOINING CERTAIN STATE BUILDINGS; 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. (1) The Department of Finance and Administration shall have jurisdiction relative to the enforcement of all laws of the State of Mississippi on the properties, including the adjoining streets, byways and parking areas, set forth in Section 29-5-2, the Court of Appeals Building, the Mississippi Department of Transportation Building and the Public Employees' Retirement System Building. The Department of Finance and Administration shall, 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, make arrests for any violation of any law of the State of Mississippi on those grounds of or within those properties. The Department of Finance and Administration shall 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 prescribe such rules and regulations as are necessary therefor.

(2) When in the opinion of the Governor or, in his absence, the Lieutenant Governor, it is readily apparent that an emergency exists that 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 those sections of law, until the person can be brought before the proper authorities for trial.

(3) Subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the Board of Trustees and the Department of Finance and Administration shall be authorized to enter into a contract for the Department of Finance and Administration to supply the security personnel with jurisdiction to enforce all laws of the State of Mississippi on the property of the Board of Trustees located at the corner of Ridgewood Road and Lakeland Drive in the City of Jackson.

(4) The Department of Finance and Administration and the Department of Agriculture are authorized to enter into a contract for the Department of Finance and Administration to have jurisdiction and enforce all laws of the State of Mississippi on the property of the Department of Agriculture located at 121 North Jefferson Street and the new Farmer's Market Building located at the corner of High and Jefferson Streets in the City of Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Finance and Administration will not post any security personnel at such buildings, but will provide regular vehicle patrols and responses to security system alarms.

(5) The Department of Finance and Administration and the State Tax Commission are authorized to enter into a contract for the Department of Finance and Administration to supply the security personnel with jurisdiction to enforce all laws of the State of Mississippi at the Alcoholic Beverage Control facility and the State Tax Commission main office.

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