House Bill 1048

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-7-321, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL BOARD OF EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO EMPLOY ONE OR MORE PERSONS AS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, WHO SHALL BE DESIGNATED AS PEACE OFFICER IN OR ON ALL PROPERTIES OPERATED FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-7-321, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-7-321. (1) The school board of * * *~~any~~ each school district within the State of Mississippi * * *~~, in its discretion,may~~ shall employ one or more persons as * * *~~security personnel~~ school resource officers and * * *~~may~~ shall designate such persons as peace officers in or on * * *~~any property~~ all properties operated for school purposes by such board upon their taking such oath and making such bond as required of a constable of the county in which the school district is situated.

(2) Any person employed by a school board as a security guard or school resource officer or in any other position that has the powers of a peace officer must receive a minimum level of basic law enforcement training, as jointly determined and prescribed by the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training and the State Board of Education, within two (2) years of the person's initial employment in such position. Upon the failure of any person employed in such position to receive the required training within the designated time, the person may not exercise the powers of a peace officer in or on the property of the school district.

(3) The school board is authorized and empowered, in its discretion, and subject to the approval of the Federal Communications Commission, to install and operate a noncommercial radio broadcasting and transmission station for educational and vocational educational purposes.

(4) If a law enforcement officer is duly appointed to be a peace officer by a school district under this section, the local school board may enter into an interlocal agreement with other law enforcement entities for the provision of equipment or traffic control duties, however, the duty to enforce traffic regulations and to enforce the laws of the state or municipality off of school property lies with the local police or sheriff's department which cannot withhold its services solely because of the lack of such an agreement.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.