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Bill > HB921

MS HB921

MS HB921
Mississippi School Resource Officers School Safety (MS ROSS) Act; create to provide funding to local law enforcement agencies.

summary

Introduced
01/17/2025
In Committee
01/17/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/04/2025

Introduced Session

2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act To Establish The "mississippi School Resource Officers School Safety (ms Ross) Act" For The Purpose Of Authorizing The Department Of Public Safety To Assist Local Law Enforcement Agencies And School Governing Bodies With The Cost Of Employing A School Resource Officer (sro) At Each School Campus Within The Jurisdictions Of Their Law Enforcement And Governing Authorities; To Define Terminology; To Provide That The Assistance Of Employing Sros Shall Be Made Available To Public And Private Elementary And Secondary Schools; To Provide That The Department Shall Allocate A Percentage Of The Cost For The Employment Of One Sro For Each School Campus; To Require The Local Law Enforcement Agency And/or The School Governing Board To Provide The Remaining Percentage Of The Cost For The Employment Of One Sro For Each School Campus Within Their Jurisdiction Of Control; To Require Local Law Enforcement Agencies And School Governing Bodies To Make Joint Application To The Department For The Approval Of Allocation Of Funds; To Specify The Information To Be Included In The Application; To Prescribe The Details Of The Program Including The Requirement Of A Memorandum Of Understanding Or Interlocal Agreement Between A Local Law Enforcement Agency And A School Governing Body; To Amend Section 37-7-321, Mississippi Code Of 1972, In Conformity To The Preceding Provisions; To Create The Mississippi School Resource Officers School Safety (ms Ross) Fund As A Special Fund In The State Treasury; To Provide That Monies In The Special Fund Shall Be Used To Provide Funds To Local Law Enforcement Agencies And School Governing Bodies For The Purposes Described In This Act; And For Related Purposes.

AI Summary

This bill establishes the Mississippi School Resource Officers School Safety (MS ROSS) Act, which creates a program to help fund school resource officers (SROs) in public and private elementary and secondary schools across Mississippi. The bill requires local law enforcement agencies and school governing bodies to jointly apply for funding to employ SROs, with the Department of Public Safety providing a progressively increasing percentage of funding (starting at 30% in 2025-2026 and increasing to 70% by 2029-2030) for each school campus, up to a maximum salary cost of $55,000 per SRO. The program aims to enhance school safety by placing sworn law enforcement officers in schools to provide community policing, combat school violence, and improve student safety. SROs will be required to maintain an active presence on school campuses during school hours, participate in specialized training, and can serve in various roles including law enforcement, safety specialist, educator, and community liaison. The bill also creates a special fund in the state treasury to support the program and requires local law enforcement agencies and school governing bodies to develop comprehensive school safety plans. Additionally, the bill amends existing law to formalize the requirements and responsibilities of SROs in schools, including their work hours, reporting structures, and deployment during school and non-school periods.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (18)

Last Action

Died In Committee (on 02/04/2025)

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