House Bill 418

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 45-6-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND POLICE OFFICERS EMPLOYED BY ANY PUBLIC TWO-YEAR OR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY AND ANY EXTENSION THEREOF IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, AND THE PEARL RIVER VALLEY WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT TO COMPLETE ANNUAL CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES PROVIDED BY AN ACCREDITED LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY OR THE MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF POLICE CHIEFS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS TO ATTEND APPROVED TRAINING TO THE EMPLOYING ENTITY FOR THE REQUIRED TRAINING BY THE MISSISSIPPI BOARD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS STANDARDS AND TRAINING; TO PROVIDE FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS FOR THOSE FAILING TO COMPLETE THE REQUIRED TRAINING; TO PROVIDE FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS PROCESS FOR ANY OFFICER AGGRIEVED BY DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 45-6-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

45-6-19. (1) The chief of police of any municipality, public two-year or four-year college or university and any extension thereof in the State of Mississippi, and the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District is required to annually complete twenty (20) hours of executive level continuing education courses which are approved by the Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training. Any new chief of police having never previously served in that capacity, is required to complete forty (40) hours of executive level continuing education courses for his first year of service. Such education courses may be provided by an accredited law enforcement academy or by the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police.

(2) Any police officer of any municipality, public two-year or four-year college or university and any extension thereof in the State of Mississippi, and the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District is required to annually complete a specified number of hours, as stated in this subsection, of continuing education courses which are approved by the Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training. The following number of hours of continuing education courses is required for municipal, public two-year or four-year college or university and any extension thereof and Pearl River Valley Water Supply District police officers based upon the number of years following July 1, 2004:

0-2 years after July 1, 2004 ........8 hours of annual training

3-4 years after July 1, 2004 .......16 hours of annual training

5 or more years after July 1, 2004..24 hours of annual training

Such education courses may be provided by an accredited law enforcement academy or by the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police.

(3) The Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training shall reimburse each municipality, public two-year or four-year college or university and any extension thereof and the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District for the expense incurred for chiefs of police and municipal, public two-year or four-year college or university and any extension thereof and Pearl River Valley Water Supply District police officers in attendance at approved training programs as required by this section.

(4) Any chief of police or municipal, public two-year or four-year college or university and any extension thereof and Pearl River Valley Water Supply District police officer who fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to having his certification as a chief of police or municipal police officer revoked by the Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training, in accordance with Section 45-6-11.

(5) The Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training is authorized to institute and promulgate all rules necessary for considering the revocation of any municipal chief of police or municipal, public two-year or four-year college or university and any extension thereof and Pearl River Valley Water Supply District police officer who does not comply with the provisions of this section, and may grant, for sufficient cause shown, an extension of time in which compliance with the provisions of this section may be made.

(6) Any chief of police or municipal, public two-year or four-year college or university and any extension thereof and Pearl River Valley Water Supply District police officer who is aggrieved by any order or ruling made under the provisions of this section has the same rights and procedure of appeal as from any other order or ruling of the Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.