MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Wiggins
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 45-1-49, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE BULLETPROOF VEST MATCHING FUND TO BENEFIT FULL-TIME MISSISSIPPI LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; TO IMPOSE A MANDATORY-WEAR POLICY REQUIREMENT FOR ELIGIBILITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 45-1-49, Mississippi Code of 1972:
45-1-49. (1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Bulletproof Vest Matching Fund. The purpose of the fund shall be to provide a fifty percent (50%) state match to local law enforcement agencies for bulletproof vests for full-time sworn officers. Monies from the fund shall be distributed by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Office of Standards and Training of the Department of Public Safety. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal-year limitations, and shall consist of:
(a) Monies appropriated by the Legislature;
(b) The interest accruing to the fund;
(c) Monies received from the federal government;
(d) Donations; and
(e) Monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.
(2) The Office of Standards and Training of the Department of Public Safety shall promulgate rules in compliance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law to provide for eligibility for, application for, and awarding of the one-time bonus.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "law enforcement officer" has the meaning ascribed in Section 45-6-3.
(4) In order for a local law enforcement agency to be eligible for the match under this section, the law enforcement agency must have in place a mandatory-wear policy.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.