MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2007 Regular Session
To: Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Albritton
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE EXTRA COMPENSATION FOR COMMISSIONED FULL-TIME LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS EMPLOYED IN ACTUALLY PERFORMING DIRECT LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES; TO SPECIFY THE AMOUNT OF THE EXTRA COMPENSATION; TO SET PARAMETERS FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE EXTRA COMPENSATION; TO AUTHORIZE STATE REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) Every local law enforcement officer who is certified under Title 47, Chapter 6, and employed on a full-time basis shall be eligible for extra compensation pursuant to this section to be paid out of State General Fund monies. Funds shall be remitted monthly to the county or municipality to pay the additional compensation.
(2) Each qualified law enforcement officer shall be entitled to receive supplemental pay at the following rates:
(a) When employed by a local law enforcement agency accredited by the Mississippi Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) per month;
(b) When employed by a local law enforcement agency accredited by the National Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) per month.
(3) Each officer is entitled to receive only one (1) supplement under the provisions of this section.
(4) To qualify under the provisions of this section, a law enforcement officer must:
(a) Be a commissioned law enforcement officer;
(b) Be employed full time as defined in Title 45, Chapter 6;
(c) Be paid a salary of not less than Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($350.00) per week;
(d) Be certified under Title 45, Chapter 6; and
(e) Perform nonclerical, law enforcement duties.
(5) (a) Officers shall not be eligible for additional compensation pursuant to this section if hired primarily to perform purely clerical or nonenforcement duties, including, but not limited to, typists, office machine operators, switchboard operators, filing clerks, steno clerks, stenographers, animal shelter personnel, school crossing guards, secretaries, cooks, mechanics or maintenance personnel, even if duly certified.
(b) Officers must have completed a one-year period of service to be eligible for compensation under this section.
(6) When there exists any question concerning eligibility under this section or under Section 2 of Senate Bill No. 2793, 2007 Regular Session, the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training shall consider each case individually in light of the merits of the case.
SECTION 2. The Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training is authorized to reimburse any local law enforcement agency, whether county or municipal, for the costs of the application and certification process, as follows:
(a) For certification of a local law enforcement agency by the Mississippi Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, actual costs of the application process not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00);
(b) For certification of a local law enforcement agency by the National Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, actual costs of the application process not to exceed Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00).
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.