Bill Text: MS HB1068 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Law Enforcement Death Benefits Trust Fund and state assessments; bring forward code sections for amendment.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2015-02-03 - Died In Committee [HB1068 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-HB1068-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Appropriations
By: Representative Frierson
House Bill 1068
AN ACT TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 45-2-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH CREATES THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND FIRE FIGHTERS DEATH BENEFITS TRUST FUND, FOR THE PURPOSES OF AMENDMENT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 63-16-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH CREATES THE UNINSURED MOTORISTS IDENTIFICATION FUND, FOR THE PURPOSES OF AMENDMENT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 99-19-73, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR VARIOUS ASSESSMENTS ON CRIMINAL LAW VIOLATIONS, FOR THE PURPOSES OF AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 45-2-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
45-2-1. (1) Whenever used in this section, the term:
(a) "Covered individual" means a law enforcement officer or firefighter, including volunteer firefighters, as defined in this section when employed by an employer as defined in this section; it does not include employees of independent contractors.
(b) "Employer" means a state board, commission, department, division, bureau or agency, or a county, municipality or other political subdivision of the state, which employs, appoints or otherwise engages the services of covered individuals.
(c) "Firefighter" means an individual who is trained for the prevention and control of loss of life and property from fire or other emergencies, who is assigned to fire-fighting activity, and is required to respond to alarms and perform emergency actions at the location of a fire, hazardous materials or other emergency incident.
(d) "Law enforcement officer" means any lawfully sworn officer or employee of the state or any political subdivision of the state whose duties require the officer or employee to investigate, pursue, apprehend, arrest, transport or maintain custody of persons who are charged with, suspected of committing, or convicted of a crime, whether the officer is on regular duty on full-time status, an auxiliary or reserve officer, or is serving on a temporary or part-time status.
(2) (a) The Department of Public Safety shall make a payment, as provided in this section, in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) when a covered individual, while engaged in the performance of the person's official duties, is accidentally or intentionally killed or receives accidental or intentional bodily injury that results in the loss of the covered individual's life, provided that the killing is not the result of suicide and that the bodily injury is not intentionally self-inflicted.
(b) The payment provided for in this subsection shall be made to the beneficiary who was designated in writing by the covered individual, signed by the covered individual and delivered to the employer during the covered individual's lifetime. If no such designation is made, then the payment shall be made to the surviving child or children and spouse in equal portions, and if there is no surviving child or spouse, then to the parent or parents. If a beneficiary is not designated and there is no surviving child, spouse or parent, then the payment shall be made to the covered individual's estate.
(c) The payment made in this subsection is in addition to any workers' compensation or pension benefits and is exempt from the claims and demands of creditors of the covered individual.
(3) (a) There is established in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death Benefits Trust Fund. The trust fund shall be funded by an initial appropriation of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00), and shall be comprised of any additional funds made available by the Legislature or by donation, contribution, gift or any other source.
(b) The State Treasurer shall invest the monies of the trust fund in any of the investments authorized for the funds of the Public Employees' Retirement System under Section 25-11-121, and those investments shall be subject to the limitations prescribed by Section 25-11-121.
(c) Unexpended amounts remaining in the trust fund at the end of the state fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any income earned on amounts in the trust fund shall be deposited to the credit of the trust fund.
(4) The Department of Public Safety shall be responsible for the management of the trust fund and the disbursement of death benefits authorized under this section. The Department of Public Safety shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement and standardize the payment of death benefits under this section, to administer the trust fund created by this section and to carry out the purposes of this section.
SECTION 2. Section 63-16-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
63-16-13. (1) If the owner of a motor vehicle being operated on the public roads, streets or highways of the State of Mississippi or registered in the State of Mississippi fails to have motor vehicle liability insurance in at least the minimum amounts required under Section 63-15-3(j), the Commissioner of Public Safety, the Commissioner of Revenue or a court of proper jurisdiction shall suspend the vehicle registration and/or the owner's or the operator's driving privilege and shall impose a civil penalty in an amount of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) upon a first violation, in an amount of Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) upon a second violation and in an amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) upon a third or subsequent violation. If suspended, the registration or driving privilege shall not be reinstated until the owner has motor vehicle liability insurance in at least the minimum amounts required under Section 63-15-3(j) and has paid the civil penalties imposed. Any person shall have the right to appeal any suspension or civil penalty under this section in a court of proper jurisdiction. If the matter is appealed and a violation is found, then the court shall not reduce, suspend or suspend the execution of any penalty imposed under the provisions of this subsection, in whole or in part. It shall be the duty of the county prosecuting attorney, an attorney employed under the provisions of Section 19-3-49, or in the event there is no such prosecuting attorney for the county, the duty of the district attorney to represent the state in any appeal held under this subsection. Civil penalties collected under this subsection shall be deposited into the special fund created under subsection (2) of this section. However, if the appeal of such civil penalty would be under the proper jurisdiction of a municipal court, One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) of the funds from such civil penalty shall be deposited in the general fund of that municipality. If the appeal of such civil penalty would be under the proper jurisdiction of any of the courts of a county, One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) of the funds from such civil penalty shall be deposited in the general fund of that county. A person convicted of a civil violation under this subsection (1) shall not be convicted of a criminal offense under Section 63-15-4(4) arising from the same incident.
(2) (a) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the "Uninsured Motorist Identification Fund." The fund shall consist of monies deposited therein as provided under subsection (1) of this section and monies from any other source designated for deposit into such fund. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund; however, one-half (1/2) of any monies in excess of the amount needed to defray the expenses and costs of the verification system created under Section 63-16-3 remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall be transferred to the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund created under Section 27-51-105, and one-half (1/2) of any monies in excess of the amount needed to defray the expenses and costs of the verification system created under Section 63-16-3 remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall be transferred to the Mississippi Trauma Care Systems Fund created under Section 41-59-75.
(b) Monies in the special fund may be used by the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Revenue, upon appropriation by the Legislature, only for the purpose of defraying expenses and costs for the motor vehicle insurance verification system created under Section 63-16-3. In addition, at any time during a fiscal year, if the Department of Public Safety determines that funds in the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death Benefits Trust Fund created under Section 45-2-1 are insufficient, the department may request the State Fiscal Officer to transfer funds from the Uninsured Motorist Identification Fund. The State Fiscal Officer may make an appropriate transfer if he determines that the funds in the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death Benefits Trust Fund are insufficient and the funds in the Uninsured Motorist Identification Fund will be sufficient for defraying the expenses and costs for the motor vehicle insurance verification system created under Section 63-16-3. Monies in the fund used for the purposes described in this paragraph (b) shall be in addition to other funds available from any other source for such purposes.
SECTION 3. Section 99-19-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
99-19-73. (1) Traffic violations. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation in Title 63, Mississippi Code of 1972, except offenses relating to the Mississippi Implied Consent Law (Section 63-11-1 et seq.) and offenses relating to vehicular parking or registration:
FUND AMOUNT
State Court Education Fund............................... $ .85
State Prosecutor Education Fund......................... 1.25
Vulnerable Persons Training,
Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund................ 1.50
Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund.................... .30
Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund................. 5.12
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund.................. 5.00
Spinal Cord and Head Injury Trust Fund
(for all moving violations)........................ 5.45
Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund............... 20.00
Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging Fund............ 1.00
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters
Death Benefits Trust Fund.......................... .50
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters
Disability Benefits Trust Fund...................... .15
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose
of providing additional compensation for
district attorneys and their legal assistants....... 10.00
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund.................. 10.00
Drug Court Fund, through June 30, 2015.................. 10.53
Drug Court Fund, from and after July 1, 2015............ 10.00
Capital Defense Counsel Fund............................ 2.89
Indigent Appeals Fund................................... 2.29
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund.................... 2.33
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund....................... .49
Public Defenders Education Fund......................... 1.00
Domestic Violence Training Fund......................... 1.00
Attorney General's Cyber-Crime Unit..................... 2.50
Children's Justice Center Fund.......................... 2.21
DuBard School for Language Disorders Fund............... .88
Children's Advocacy Centers Fund........................ 1.91
Judicial System Operation Fund,
through June 30, 2015.............................. 1.35
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT through June 30, 2015............ $ 90.50
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT
from and after July 1, 2015........................ $ 88.62
(2) Implied Consent Law violations. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or any other penalty for any violation of the Mississippi Implied Consent Law (Section 63-11-1 et seq.):
FUND AMOUNT
Crime Victims' Compensation Fund........................ $ 10.00
State Court Education Fund.............................. 1.50
State Prosecutor Education Fund......................... 2.00
Vulnerable Persons Training,
Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund........... 1.50
Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund.................... .50
Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund................. 22.00
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund.................. 11.00
Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund............... 45.00
Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program Fund....... 5.00
Federal-State Alcohol Program Fund...................... 10.00
Mississippi Crime Laboratory
Implied Consent Law Fund........................... 25.00
Spinal Cord and Head Injury Trust Fund.................. 25.00
Capital Defense Counsel Fund............................ 2.89
Indigent Appeals Fund................................... 2.29
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund.................... 2.33
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund....................... .49
State General Fund...................................... 35.00
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters
Death Benefits Trust Fund.......................... .50
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters
Disability Benefits Trust Fund..................... 1.00
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose
of providing additional compensation for
district attorneys and their legal assistants...... 10.00
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund.................. 10.00
Drug Court Fund......................................... 10.00
Statewide Victims' Information and
Notification System Fund........................... 6.00
Public Defenders Education Fund......................... 1.00
Domestic Violence Training Fund......................... 1.00
Attorney General's Cyber-Crime Unit..................... 2.50
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT.................................. $243.50
(3) Game and Fish Law violations. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation of the game and fish statutes or regulations of this state:
FUND AMOUNT
State Court Education Fund.............................. $ 1.50
State Prosecutor Education Fund......................... 2.00
Vulnerable Persons Training,
Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund........... 1.50
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund.................. 5.00
Hunter Education and Training Program Fund.............. 5.00
State General Fund...................................... 30.00
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters
Death Benefits Trust Fund.......................... .50
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters
Disability Benefits Trust Fund..................... 1.00
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose
of providing additional compensation for district
attorneys and their legal assistants.............. 10.00
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund.................. 10.00
Drug Court Fund......................................... 10.00
Capital Defense Counsel Fund............................ 2.89
Indigent Appeals Fund................................... 2.29
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund.................... 2.33
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund....................... .49
Public Defenders Education Fund......................... 1.00
Domestic Violence Training Fund......................... 1.00
Attorney General's Cyber-Crime Unit..................... 2.50
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT.................................. $ 89.00
(4) [Deleted]
(5) Speeding, reckless and careless driving violations. In addition to any assessment imposed under subsection (1) or (2) of this section, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for driving a vehicle on a road or highway:
(a) At a speed that exceeds the posted speed limit by
at least ten (10) miles per hour but not more than twenty (20) miles per hour.................................................... $ 10.00
(b) At a speed that exceeds the posted speed limit by at least twenty (20) miles per hour but not more than thirty (30) miles per hour $ 20.00
(c) At a speed that exceeds the posted speed limit by thirty (30) miles per hour or more............................. $ 30.00
(d) In violation of Section 63-3-1201, which is the offense of reckless driving........................................ $ 10.00
(e) In violation of Section 63-3-1213, which is the offense of careless driving........................................ $ 10.00
All assessments collected under this subsection shall be deposited into the Mississippi Trauma Care Systems Fund established under Section 41-59-75.
(6) Other misdemeanors. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any misdemeanor violation not specified in subsection (1), (2) or (3) of this section, except offenses relating to vehicular parking or registration:
FUND AMOUNT
Crime Victims' Compensation Fund........................ $ 6.92
State Court Education Fund.............................. 1.50
State Prosecutor Education Fund......................... 2.00
Vulnerable Persons Training, Investigation
and Prosecution Trust Fund......................... 1.50
Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund.................... .50
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund.................. 5.00
Capital Defense Counsel Fund............................ 2.89
Indigent Appeals Fund................................... 2.29
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund.................... 2.33
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund....................... .49
State General Fund...................................... 30.00
State Crime Stoppers Fund............................... 1.50
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters
Death Benefits Trust Fund.......................... .50
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters
Disability Benefits Trust Fund..................... 1.00
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose
of providing additional compensation for
district attorneys and their legal assistants...... 10.00
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund.................. 10.00
Drug Court Fund......................................... 8.00
Judicial Performance Fund............................... 2.00
Statewide Victims' Information and
Notification System Fund........................... 6.00
Public Defenders Education Fund......................... 1.00
Domestic Violence Training Fund......................... 1.00
Attorney General's Cyber-Crime Unit..................... 2.50
Information Exchange Network Fund....................... 4.00
Motorcycle Officer Training Fund........................ 1.06
Civil Legal Assistance Fund............................. 2.77
Justice Court Collections Fund.......................... 7.50
Municipal Court Collections Fund........................ 7.50
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT.................................. $121.75
(7) Other felonies. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any felony violation not specified in subsection (1), (2) or (3) of this section:
FUND AMOUNT
Crime Victims' Compensation Fund........................ $ 10.00
State Court Education Fund.............................. 1.50
State Prosecutor Education Fund......................... 2.00
Vulnerable Persons Training, Investigation
and Prosecution Trust Fund......................... 1.50
Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund.................... .50
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund.................. 5.00
Capital Defense Counsel Fund............................ 2.89
Indigent Appeals Fund................................... 2.29
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund.................... 2.33
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund....................... .49
State General Fund...................................... 60.00
Criminal Justice Fund................................... 50.00
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters
Death Benefits Trust Fund.......................... .50
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters
Disability Benefits Trust Fund..................... 1.00
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose
of providing additional compensation for
district attorneys and their legal assistants...... 10.00
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund.................. 10.00
Drug Court Fund......................................... 10.00
Statewide Victims' Information and
Notification System Fund........................... 6.00
Public Defenders Education Fund......................... 1.00
Domestic Violence Training Fund......................... 1.00
Attorney General's Cyber-Crime Unit..................... 2.50
Crime Laboratory DNA Identification System Fund......... 100.00
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT.................................. $280.50
(8) Additional assessments on certain violations:
(a) Railroad crossing violations. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment in addition to all other state assessments due under this section from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation involving railroad crossings under Section 37-41-55, 63-3-1007, 63-3-1009, 63-3-1011, 63-3-1013 or 77-9-249:
Operation Lifesaver Fund............................ $25.00
(b) Drug violations. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment in addition to all other state assessments due under this section from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation of Section 41-29-139:
Drug Evidence Disposition Fund...................... $25.00
(9) If a fine or other penalty imposed is suspended, in whole or in part, such suspension shall not affect the state assessment under this section. No state assessment imposed under the provisions of this section may be suspended or reduced by the court.
(10) After a determination by the court of the amount due, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the court to promptly collect all state assessments imposed under the provisions of this section. The state assessments imposed under the provisions of this section may not be paid by personal check. It shall be the duty of the chancery clerk of each county to deposit all such state assessments collected in the circuit, county and justice courts in such county on a monthly basis with the State Treasurer pursuant to appropriate procedures established by the State Auditor. The chancery clerk shall make a monthly lump-sum deposit of the total state assessments collected in the circuit, county and justice courts in such county under this section, and shall report to the Department of Finance and Administration the total number of violations under each subsection for which state assessments were collected in the circuit, county and justice courts in such county during such month. It shall be the duty of the municipal clerk of each municipality to deposit all such state assessments collected in the municipal court in such municipality on a monthly basis with the State Treasurer pursuant to appropriate procedures established by the State Auditor. The municipal clerk shall make a monthly lump-sum deposit of the total state assessments collected in the municipal court in such municipality under this section, and shall report to the Department of Finance and Administration the total number of violations under each subsection for which state assessments were collected in the municipal court in such municipality during such month.
(11) It shall be the duty of the Department of Finance and Administration to deposit on a monthly basis all such state assessments into the proper special fund in the State Treasury. The monthly deposit shall be based upon the number of violations reported under each subsection and the pro rata amount of such assessment due to the appropriate special fund. The Department of Finance and Administration shall issue regulations providing for the proper allocation of these special funds.
(12) The State Auditor shall establish by regulation procedures for refunds of state assessments, including refunds associated with assessments imposed before July 1, 1990, and refunds after appeals in which the defendant's conviction is reversed. The Auditor shall provide in such regulations for certification of eligibility for refunds and may require the defendant seeking a refund to submit a verified copy of a court order or abstract by which such defendant is entitled to a refund. All refunds of state assessments shall be made in accordance with the procedures established by the Auditor.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.
