House Bill 583

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 45-6-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI BOARD ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS STANDARDS AND TRAINING TO INCLUDE AT LEAST TWO HOURS OF TRAINING RELATED TO CRIMES OF HATE AND THOSE COMMITTED FOR DISCRIMINATORY REASONS IN THE REQUIRED MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING STANDARDS FOR ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; TO AMEND SECTION 45-6-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE INCLUSION OF TRAINING RELATED TO CRIMES OF HATE AND THOSE COMMITTED FOR DISCRIMINATORY REASONS AS A COMPONENT OF THE REQUIRED ANNUAL CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING FOR POLICE OFFICERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 45-6-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

45-6-7. In addition to the powers conferred upon the board elsewhere in this chapter, the board shall have power to:

(a) Promulgate rules and regulations for the administration of this chapter, including the authority to require the submission of reports and information by law enforcement agencies of the state and its political subdivisions.

(b) Establish minimum educational and training standards for admission to employment or appointment as a law enforcement officer or a part-time law enforcement officer: (i) in a permanent position; and (ii) in a probationary status. The minimum educational and training standards for any law enforcement officer assigned to field or investigative duties shall include at least two (2) hours of training related to crimes of hate and those committed for discriminatory reasons and at least two (2) hours of training related to handling complaints of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children as defined in Section 43-21-105, communicating with such victims, and requiring the officer to contact the Department of Child Protection Services when human trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation is suspected.

(c) Certify persons as being qualified under the provisions of this chapter to be law enforcement officers or part-time law enforcement officers.

(d) Revoke certification for cause and in the manner provided in this chapter. The board is authorized to subpoena documents regarding revocations. The board shall maintain a current list of all persons certified under this chapter who have been placed on probation, suspended, subjected to revocation of certification, or any combination of these.

(e) Establish minimum curriculum requirements for basic and advanced courses and programs for schools operated by or for the state or any political subdivision thereof for the specific purpose of training police and other law enforcement officers, both full- and part-time, which shall include a minimum of two (2) hours of training related to crimes of hate and those committed for discriminatory reasons and at least two (2) hours of training in a course or courses related to the identification of and support for victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

(f) Consult and cooperate with counties, municipalities, state agencies, other governmental agencies, and with universities, colleges, community and junior colleges and other institutions concerning the development of training schools, programs or courses of instruction for personnel defined in this chapter.

(g) Make recommendations concerning any matter within its purview pursuant to this chapter.

(h) Make such inspection and evaluation as may be necessary to determine if governmental units are complying with the provisions of this chapter.

(i) Approve law enforcement officer training schools for operation by or for the state or any political subdivision thereof for the specific purpose of training personnel defined in this chapter.

(j) Upon the request of agencies employing personnel defined in this chapter, conduct surveys or aid municipalities and counties to conduct surveys through qualified public or private agencies and assist in the implementation of any recommendations resulting from such surveys.

(k) Upon request of agencies within the purview of this chapter, conduct general and specific management surveys and studies of the operations of the requesting agencies at no cost to those agencies. The role of the board under this subsection shall be that of management consultant.

(l) Adopt and amend regulations consistent with law, for its internal management and control of board programs.

(m) Enter into contracts or do such things as may be necessary and incidental to the administration of this chapter.

(n) Establish jointly with the State Board of Education the minimum level of basic law enforcement training required of persons employed by school districts as school security guards, or school resource officers or in other positions that have the powers of a peace officer.

SECTION 2. Section 45-6-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

45-6-19. (1) The chief of police of any municipality in the State of Mississippi 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, which shall consist of at least two (2) hours of training related to crimes of hate and those committed for discriminatory reasons. Such education courses may be provided by an accredited law enforcement academy or by the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police.

(2) Any * * *~~police~~ law enforcement officer of any state agency, county or municipality in the State of Mississippi 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 police~~ law enforcement officers specified in this subsection 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. Additionally, any police officer who did not receive the required two (2) hours of training related to crimes of hate and those committed for discriminatory reasons during the officer's training period at an accredited police academy prior to graduating therefrom shall be required to have at least two (2) hours of training related to crimes of hate and those committed for discriminatory reasons as part of the officer's first annual continuing education training. Thereafter, the annual continuing education training shall consist of at least one (1) hour of training related to crimes of hate and those committed for discriminatory reasons.

(3) The Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training shall reimburse each state agency, county or municipality for the expense incurred for chiefs of police and state agency, county or municipal * * *~~police~~ law enforcement officers in attendance at approved training programs as required by this section.

(4) Any chief of police or state agency, county or municipal * * *~~police~~ law enforcement officer who fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to having his certification as a chief of police or state agency, county or municipal * * *~~police~~ law enforcement 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 state agency, county or municipal * * *~~police~~ law enforcement 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 state agency, county or municipal * * *~~police~~ law enforcement 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 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.