Senate Bill 2712

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 45-9-131, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW THE IMMEDIATE NEXT OF KIN TO ACQUIRE THE SIDEARM OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO IS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER HAD NO SPOUSE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 45-9-131, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

45-9-131. (1) Upon approval of the governing authority of the municipality or county, a member of any municipal or county law enforcement agency who retires under any state retirement system or the spouse or, if there is no spouse, the immediate next of kin of a law enforcement officer who is killed in the line of duty may be allowed to purchase as his or her personal property one (1) sidearm * * *~~which~~ that was issued to the law enforcement officer by the law enforcement agency from which he or she retired or by whom he or she was employed at the time of death. The governing authority of the municipality or county shall determine the amount to be paid for the firearm by the retiring member of the law enforcement agency or the spouse or, if there is no spouse, the immediate next of kin, of the law enforcement officer.

(2) If the immediate next of kin entitled to acquire the sidearm is a minor, the guardian or custodian of the minor may acquire legal title to the sidearm with beneficial title in the immediate next of kin who is a minor. The person holding legal title to the firearm shall immediately transfer title to the firearm to the immediate next of kin upon his attaining the age of majority.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.