House Bill 1485

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF TASERS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE SALE OR DISPOSAL OF SUCH TASERS; TO REQUIRE TRAINING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The use of tasers by any law enforcement officer is hereby prohibited. All law enforcement agencies in possession of tasers are authorized to sell such tasers to recoup any expenditures made to purchase the tasers. Any tasers shall be sold or otherwise disposed of by the law enforcement agency owning such tasers within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this act. Any tasers not sold or otherwise disposed of by such law enforcement agencies shall be forfeited to the Attorney General who shall sell or otherwise dispose of such tasers upon receipt.

SECTION 2. All law enforcement officers shall be trained by certified taser trainers selected by the Commissioner of Public Safety regarding the proper use of tasers. Upon successful completion of such training a law enforcement officer shall be presented with a certificate which shall be on file with the employing law enforcement agency. Such training shall be an annual requirement for all law enforcement officers. If a death or serious injury occurs as the result of the use of a taser by a law enforcement officer, the Mississippi Bureau shall investigate such incident and make any necessary recommendations to the appropriate prosecutor.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.