Senate Bill 2357

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 21-25-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE SERVICE OBLIGATION FOR FIREFIGHTERS WHO OBTAIN CERTIFICATION AT THE EXPENSE OF A MUNICIPALITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 21-25-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-25-3. (1) The governing authorities of municipalities shall have the power to provide for the prevention and extinguishment of fires, to organize, establish, operate, and maintain fire and hook and ladder companies, to provide for and maintain a fire department and system, and to regulate the same. The governing authorities shall have the power to allow the fire department to attend and help to extinguish a fire outside the city limits.

(2) No firefighter whose training expenses have been reimbursed to or paid by the political subdivision employing the firefighter shall leave the employ of the political subdivision for not less than * * *~~two (2)~~ four (4) years after completion of the reimbursed training, unless the reimbursed expenses are paid by the new employer to the political subdivision which reimbursed or paid such expenses. The amount to be paid shall be determined on a pro rata basis based upon when the firefighter leaves the political subdivision within the * * *~~two‑year~~ four-year period. Defined training expenses are related to minimum standards training, as established by the Mississippi Fire Personnel Minimum Standards and Certification Board which were incurred and include salary, tuition, travel expenses of the employee as well as personnel cost related to the training incurred during the employee's absence.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.