House Bill 407

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY AN ACCREDITED LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT SHALL RECEIVE SUPPLEMENTARY PAY ANNUALLY; TO STIPULATE THE QUALIFYING FACTORS THAT MAKE SWORN AND CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE SUPPLEMENTAL PAY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PAY PRESCRIBED IN THIS ACT SHALL BE SUPPLEMENTAL TO ANY OTHER PAY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER HAS OR WOULD RECEIVE, AND MAY NOT BE USED TO REDUCE OR DIMINISH THE PAY FOR THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FROM ANY OTHER FUNDING SOURCES; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO ADOPT ANY RULES OR REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE AND THE MISSISSIPPI SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION; TO ESTABLISH THE "LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ACCREDITATION SUPPLEMENTAL PAY FUND"; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) In addition to any other compensation, sworn and certified law enforcement officers, who are employed on full-time basis by an accredited state, municipality or county law enforcement agency, and who have completed or who hereafter complete five (5) years of service, shall receive supplementary pay of Two Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($2,400.00) annually, provided that the law enforcement agency with whom they are employed maintains its accreditation. Such supplemental pay shall be paid out of the Law Enforcement Officers Accreditation Supplemental Pay Fund created in Section 2 of this act.

(2) The five (5) years of service required under this section shall include any service as a sworn law enforcement officer in the State of Mississippi.

(3) The supplemental pay provided by the state under this section shall be supplemental to any other pay the law enforcement officer has or would receive, and such supplemental pay may not be used to reduce or in any way diminish the pay for that law enforcement officer from any other funding sources.

(4) The Department of Public Safety shall adopt any rules or regulations necessary to administer this section in consultation with the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police and the Mississippi Sheriffs Association.

SECTION 2. There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the Law Enforcement Officers Accreditation Supplemental Pay Fund. The special fund shall consist of monies as may be appropriated by the Legislature and any other monies authorized under by law. Monies in the fund shall be used as supplemental pay for law enforcement officers of accredited departments as provided by law. Unexpended amounts remaining in the special fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned on amounts in the special fund shall be deposited to the credit of the special fund.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.