Bill Text: MS SB2774 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Statewide Law Enforcement Strike Team; create.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [SB2774 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-SB2774-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Judiciary, Division B; Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Tindell
Senate Bill 2774
AN ACT TO CREATE THE "STATEWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT STRIKE TEAM" ACT; TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS FOR SUCH ACT; TO CREATE WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL A STATEWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT STRIKE TEAM DIVISION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PURPOSE OF SUCH DIVISION IS TO ASSIST MUNICIPAL, COUNTY AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS, THE SEIZURE OF EVIDENCE, THE EXECUTION OF WARRANTS AND OTHER ACTIONS, UPON REQUEST BY SUCH LAW ENFORCEMENT; TO REQUIRE THAT STRIKE TEAMS BE DESIGNATED TO AREAS IN NORTH, CENTRAL AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI; TO PROVIDE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE OVERSIGHT OF THE STRIKE TEAMS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL JOINTLY CHOOSE THE COMMANDERS OF EACH STRIKE TEAM; TO REQUIRE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CREATE RULES AND REGULATIONS UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT TO CARRY OUT CERTAIN DUTIES OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and cited as the "Statewide Law Enforcement Strike Team" Act.
SECTION 2. For the purposes of this act, the following words shall have the following meaning, unless the context requires otherwise:
(a) "Attorney General" means the Mississippi Office of the Attorney General.
(b) "Commander" means each of the three (3) people jointly appointed by the Governor and the Attorney General to manage the north, central and south strike teams.
(c) "Division" means the Statewide Law Enforcement Strike Team Division.
(d) "Strike team" means each of the twelve (12) or fifteen (15) members of municipal, county and state law enforcement chosen by the Attorney General to be members of the statewide law enforcement strike teams created under the provisions of this act.
SECTION 3. (1) There is created within the Office of the Attorney General a Statewide Law Enforcement Strike Team Division whose primary purpose is to assist municipal, county and state law enforcement with the apprehension of criminals, the seizure of evidence, the execution of warrants and other actions, upon request by such law enforcement. Except as otherwise provided in this act, the Attorney General shall have exclusive oversight of the division.
(2) There shall be no more than three (3) "strike teams" throughout the state, which shall be located in the northern, central and southern areas of the state. One (1) team shall be located in each of the three (3) areas. These areas shall be referred to as "strike zones." The Attorney General shall designate the geographic boundaries of the "strike zones." Each "strike team" shall be composed of twelve (12) or fifteen (15) members, with the number of members being divided equally, with four (4) or five (5) members representing municipal, county and state law enforcement.
(3) Each of the three (3) "strike teams" shall have a separate commander. Each commander shall be chosen jointly by the Officers of the Governor and the Attorney General, and shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Governor and the Attorney General.
(4) (a) The Attorney General shall establish a budget that will include monies for compensation of all commanders, participants of the strike teams and staff employed to support such teams, equipment, training and reimbursement of members of the strike teams.
(b) The Attorney General shall purchase shirts, equipment and other necessary gear that clearly distinguish the "strike teams" from local law enforcement. The Attorney General shall reimburse any municipality, county or state law enforcement agency or division that provides training to members of its law enforcement for the purpose of participating on a strike team. (c) The overtime compensation for any member of the strike team shall be limited to Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) per state fiscal year.
(5) The Attorney General shall promulgate rules and regulations under the Administrative Procedures Act to:
(i) To receive and assess requests for assistance from municipal, county and state law enforcement;
(ii) To choose the members of the strike team from municipal, county and state law enforcement;
(iii) To determine how area law enforcement academies can be used for the operation of strike teams;
(iv) To determine how the Mississippi Wireless Integrated Network (MSWIN) radio system can be used to effectively communicate between strike teams, participating law enforcement and the division commander;
(v) To create standards, policies and procedures for execution by the strike team, which include goals, strategies, duration of deployment;
(vi) To refer major cases for federal prosecution.
(6) The Office of the Attorney General shall fund the division with monies appropriated by the Legislature to the Attorney General specifically for purposes of carrying out the provisions of this act, which shall include, but not be limited to, salaries, equipment, training and reimbursements.
SECTION 4. Any municipal, county or state law enforcement agency or division that has members of its law enforcement on the "strike team" are hereby authorized to provide motor vehicles, weapons, bullet resistant vests, and other items which may be requested by the Attorney General to fulfill the purposes of this act.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.
