Bill Text: MS HB661 | 2015 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Universities; revise laws regarding enforcement officers of.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2015-03-23 - Approved by Governor [HB661 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-HB661-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Universities and Colleges
By: Representatives Mettetal, Scott, Faulkner
House Bill 661
(As Sent to Governor)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-105-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE A UNIVERSITY'S LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO ENFORCE THE LAWS OF THE STATE ON PROPERTY THAT IS WITHIN 500 FEET OF ANY PROPERTY OWNED BY THE UNIVERSITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-105-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-105-3. (1) The traffic officers duly appointed by the president of any state institution of higher learning, or any peace officer or highway patrolman of this state, are vested with the powers and authority to perform all duties incident to enforcing such rules and regulations as may be enacted under the authority granted in Section 37-105-1, including the arrest of violators.
(2) The peace officers duly * * * appointed by * * * the president of any state institution of higher
learning are also vested with the powers and subjected to the duties of a
constable for the purpose of preventing all violations of law that occur within
five hundred (500) feet of any property owned by the university, if such
universities determine that they want such peace officers to exercise such
powers and if reasonably determined to have a possible impact on the safety of
students, faculty or staff of the university while on said property. If a
university determines that it wants such peace officers to exercise such
powers, the university may enter into an interlocal agreement with other law
enforcement entities specifying the individual and joint duties to be exercised
on property within the peace officers' jurisdiction. Provided, however,
that nothing in this section shall be interpreted to require action by any such
peace officer appointed by such universities to events occurring outside the
boundaries of university property, nor shall any such university or its
employees be liable for any failure to act to any event occurring outside the
boundaries of property owned by the university.
* * * With approval from the Board of Trustees of State
Institutions of Higher Learning, the university 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
university 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, 2015.
