MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Judiciary B By: Representative Butler-Washington House Bill 1283 AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS AND PRACTICES; TO PROVIDE THE COMPOSITION AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created the Mississippi Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Practices, which shall consist of the following seven (7) members: (a) The Attorney General, or a deputy Attorney General as a designee; (b) The Director of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, or his designee; (c) The President of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, or his designee; (d) The Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety or his designee; (e) The President of the Mississippi Constable Association, or his designee who is a member of the association; (f) The President of the Mississippi Campus Law Enforcement Officers Association, or his designee who is a member of the association; and (g) The President of the Mississippi Sheriffs' Association, or his designee who is a member of the association. The Attorney General, the Director of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol and the respective presidents of the foregoing associations, or their designees, shall serve only for their respective terms of office. (2) In order to develop and oversee operational standards for law enforcement agencies, the commission shall: (a) Develop minimum operational standards; (b) Provide technical and constructive support to local agencies; (c) Oversee and approve training programs and policy implementation; and (d) Conduct annual reviews and audits to ensure compliance. (3) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for any actual and reasonable expenses incurred as a necessary incident to such service, including mileage, as provided in Section 25-3-41. (4) There shall be a chairman and a vice chairman of the board, elected by and from the membership of the board. The board shall adopt rules and regulations governing times and places for meetings and governing the manner of conducting its business, but the board shall meet at least every three (3) months. (5) If a person appointed to the board no longer occupies the status qualifying that person's appointment, that position on the board shall be immediately vacated and filled ex officio or by appointment of the Governor. (6) The board shall report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on its activities and may make such other reports as it deems desirable. (7) The training officers of all police academies in the state whose curricula are approved by the commission shall be advisors to the commission, and they shall be entitled to all privileges of the members, including travel expenses and subsistence, but shall not be eligible to vote at commission meetings. SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Judiciary B
By: Representative Butler-Washington
# House Bill 1283
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS AND PRACTICES; TO PROVIDE THE COMPOSITION AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created the Mississippi Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Practices, which shall consist of the following seven (7) members:
(a) The Attorney General, or a deputy Attorney General as a designee;
(b) The Director of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, or his designee;
(c) The President of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, or his designee;
(d) The Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety or his designee;
(e) The President of the Mississippi Constable Association, or his designee who is a member of the association;
(f) The President of the Mississippi Campus Law Enforcement Officers Association, or his designee who is a member of the association; and
(g) The President of the Mississippi Sheriffs' Association, or his designee who is a member of the association.
The Attorney General, the Director of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol and the respective presidents of the foregoing associations, or their designees, shall serve only for their respective terms of office.
(2) In order to develop and oversee operational standards for law enforcement agencies, the commission shall:
(a) Develop minimum operational standards;
(b) Provide technical and constructive support to local agencies;
(c) Oversee and approve training programs and policy implementation; and
(d) Conduct annual reviews and audits to ensure compliance. (3) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for any actual and reasonable expenses incurred as a necessary incident to such service, including mileage, as provided in Section 25-3-41.
(4) There shall be a chairman and a vice chairman of the board, elected by and from the membership of the board. The board shall adopt rules and regulations governing times and places for meetings and governing the manner of conducting its business, but the board shall meet at least every three (3) months.
(5) If a person appointed to the board no longer occupies the status qualifying that person's appointment, that position on the board shall be immediately vacated and filled ex officio or by appointment of the Governor.
(6) The board shall report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on its activities and may make such other reports as it deems desirable.
(7) The training officers of all police academies in the state whose curricula are approved by the commission shall be advisors to the commission, and they shall be entitled to all privileges of the members, including travel expenses and subsistence, but shall not be eligible to vote at commission meetings.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.