MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency
By: Senator(s) Fillingane
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-31-10, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE SALARY FOR A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR IN THE OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 25-31-10, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
[Until January 1, 2023, this section shall read as follows:]
25-31-10. (1) Any district attorney may appoint a full-time criminal investigator.
(2) The district attorneys of the Third, Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Twentieth Circuit Court Districts may appoint one (1) additional full-time criminal investigator for a total of two (2) full-time criminal investigators.
(3) The district attorneys of the First, Second, Fourth, Seventh and Nineteenth Circuit Court Districts may appoint two (2) additional full-time criminal investigators for a total of three (3) full-time criminal investigators.
(4) No district attorney or assistant district attorney shall accept any private employment, civil or criminal, in any matter investigated by such criminal investigators.
(5) The full and complete
compensation for all public duties rendered by said criminal investigators
shall be not more than * * * Sixty-seven
Thousand Dollars ($67,000.00) per annum, to be determined at the discretion
of the district attorney based upon the qualifications, education and
experience of the criminal investigator, plus necessary travel and other
expenses, to be paid in accordance with Section 25-31-8. However, the maximum
salary under this subsection for a criminal investigator who has a law degree
may be supplemented by the district attorney from other available funds, but
not to exceed the maximum salary for a legal assistant to a district attorney.
(6) Any criminal investigator may be designated by the district attorney to attend the Law Enforcement Officers Training Program set forth in Section 45-6-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972. The total expenses associated with attendance by criminal investigators at the Law Enforcement Officers Training Program shall be paid out of the funds of the appropriate district attorney.
(7) The district attorney shall be authorized to assign the duties of criminal investigators regardless of the source of funding for such criminal investigators.
[From and after January 1, 2023, this section shall read as follows:]
25-31-10. (1) Any district attorney may appoint a full-time criminal investigator.
(2) The district attorneys of the Third, Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Twentieth and Twenty-third Circuit Court Districts may appoint one (1) additional full-time criminal investigator for a total of two (2) full-time criminal investigators.
(3) The district attorneys of the First, Second, Fourth, Seventh and Nineteenth Circuit Court Districts may appoint two (2) additional full-time criminal investigators for a total of three (3) full-time criminal investigators.
(4) No district attorney or assistant district attorney shall accept any private employment, civil or criminal, in any matter investigated by such criminal investigators.
(5) The full and complete
compensation for all public duties rendered by the criminal investigators shall
be not more than * * * Sixty-seven
Thousand Dollars ($67,000.00) per annum, to be determined at the discretion
of the district attorney based upon the qualifications, education and
experience of the criminal investigator, plus necessary travel and other
expenses, to be paid in accordance with Section 25-31-8. However, the maximum
salary under this subsection for a criminal investigator who has a law degree
may be supplemented by the district attorney from other available funds, but
not to exceed the maximum salary for a legal assistant to a district attorney.
(6) Any criminal investigator may be designated by the district attorney to attend the Law Enforcement Officers Training Program set forth in Section 45-6-1 et seq. The total expenses associated with attendance by criminal investigators at the Law Enforcement Officers Training Program shall be paid out of the funds of the appropriate district attorney.
(7) The district attorney shall be authorized to assign the duties of criminal investigators regardless of the source of funding for such criminal investigators.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.