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Bill > HB1285

MS HB1285

MS HB1285
Mississippi School Resource Officers School Safety (MS ROSS) Act; create to provide funding to local law enforcement agencies.

summary

Introduced
01/19/2026
In Committee
01/19/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/03/2026

Introduced Session

2026 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, known as the "Mississippi School Resource Officers School Safety (MS ROSS) Act," establishes a program administered by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to help fund the employment of School Resource Officers (SROs), who are sworn law enforcement officers assigned to school campuses to enhance safety and combat violence. The program will provide an "applicable percentage" of the cost for one SRO per school campus, with this percentage increasing over several years, starting at 30% for the 2026-2027 school year and reaching 70% by the 2030-2031 school year. Local law enforcement agencies and school governing bodies, which include public school districts, charter schools, and accredited independent schools, must jointly apply for these funds and cover the remaining percentage of the SRO's salary and benefits, up to a maximum salary cost of $55,000. The bill also creates the "Mississippi School Resource Officers School Safety (MS ROSS) Fund" in the State Treasury to hold these funds and outlines requirements for a Memorandum of Understanding or interlocal agreement between law enforcement and school entities, detailing roles, responsibilities, and financial contributions, and mandates that SROs maintain an active presence on campus during school hours and undergo specific training.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Died In Committee (on 02/03/2026)

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