Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Mississippi Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. This is the enrolled version. The official bill page.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2026 Regular Session To: Appropriations By: Senator(s) Hopson, DeBar, Wiggins, Hickman, Sparks, Turner-Ford Senate Bill 3067 (As Sent to Governor) AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. The following sum of money, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, to defray the expenses of the Department of Public Safety for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027................................ $ 167,789,465.00. SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred in the operation of the various divisions of the department for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027................................ $ 112,997,879.00. SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, not more than the following amount of funds, with the exception of the provisions in this section, shall be expended only for "Personal Services," which includes "Vacancy Funding," for the following authorized number of employment headcount: FUNDING: General Funds: $ 131,665,460.00 Special Funds: $ 23,931,721.00 Total Funds: $ 155,597,181.00 PERSONAL SERVICES: Employee Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits: $ 149,344,914.00 Progressions: $ 0.00 Vacancy Funding: $ 6,252,267.00 Total Personal Services: $ 155,597,181.00 AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: Permanent: 1,688 Time-Limited: 66 As used in this section, the term "Personal Services" shall mean funds provided under the major object of expenditure category Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits. Funds in this category shall not be transferred to any other category. It is the intention of the Legislature to ensure compliance with the Variable Compensation Plan, as outlined in Section 25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972. Payment from these funds shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. It is the Legislature's intention that no employee's salary falls below the minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. The State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the projected annual cost of "Personal Services" based on monthly and year-to-date payroll expenditures in compliance with the provisions of this act. With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency's responsibility to ensure that no single personnel action or combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for "Personal Services" with the exception of escalated funds. Further, it shall be the agency's responsibility to ensure that funds required to be appropriated for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2027 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the Mississippi Legislature. If, at the time the agency takes any action to change "Personal Services," the State Personnel Board determines that the agency has taken or will take an action that would cause the agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when annualized for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State Personnel Board shall process no salary actions until such time as the requirements of the provisions of this section are met with the exception of new hires determined to be essential for the agency. When used in this section, "Vacancy Funding" shall mean funds included in the Total Personal Services amount listed above and designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027. These funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled headcounts that were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of Fiscal Year 2026. If the agency fills additional headcounts after March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the amount of available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally adjusted to reflect the updated number of filled headcounts. The agency shall be responsible for ensuring that "Vacancy Funding" is used to increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, in-range salary adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing salaries for current employees. Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law or allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State Personnel Board shall not escalate positions or increase the Personal Services total without written approval from the Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to escalate any funds for salaries and/or headcounts without proof of availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated level. Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated headcounts have been accounted for and shall be converted to authorized time-limited headcounts. No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available. None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in violation of the Internal Revenue Service's Publication 15-A relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. If the agency's total authorized headcount decreases from Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it will be the agency's discretion as to what headcounts are removed. The Legislature authorized three (3) new headcounts, which are included in the authorized headcount above for Fiscal Year 2027. New Headcount Titles Authorized: Physician - Physician Supervisor - 1 Forensic Laboratory - Forensic Laboratory Scientist II - 1 Forensic Laboratory - Forensic Laboratory Technician - 1 SECTION 4. The Commissioner of Public Safety may, on a case-by-case basis, within funds available, recommend that corrective salary adjustments be made to the compensation of employees of the Department of Public Safety where an inequity was created between employees of equivalent capacity by previous application of the agency appropriation acts. Any such corrective salary adjustment plan must have prior approval by the State Personnel Board. Such adjustments will not be retroactive. Any funds in the Salary, Wages and Fringe Benefits major object of expenditure may be used to purchase accumulated compensatory time within funds available. SECTION 5. It is the intention of the Legislature, that the Department of Public Safety shall receive Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) from the Mississippi Department of Transportation, for the operations of the Office of Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division that is authorized in Section 77-7-330, Mississippi Code of 1972. SECTION 6. It is the intent of the Legislature that the local governments pay for part of the computer cost of the Mississippi Justice Information Center by maintaining their contribution to the Department of Public Safety. SECTION 7. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Public Safety designate certain employees to aid the Office of Forensics Laboratories in the billing and collecting of all fees charged for services rendered by the Office of Forensics Laboratories. SECTION 8. No part of the funds appropriated herein shall be transferred to, expended by, or used, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of any public relations, publicity or publication activities of any other state agency, department or officer, nor shall any personnel paid with funds appropriated herein be transferred or assigned to any other state agency, department or officer for public relations, publicity, or publication activities of such office. SECTION 9. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Public Safety shall not issue citations for violations of speed limits on a quota basis. No funds expended under this act shall be used for such quota-based citations for violations of speed limits. SECTION 10. In compliance with the "Mississippi Performance Budget and Strategic Planning Act of 1994," it is the intent of the Legislature that the funds provided herein shall be utilized in the most efficient and effective manner possible to achieve the intended mission of this agency. Based on the funding authorized, this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted performance measures provided below: FY2027 Performance Measures Target Enforcement Percent Increased in Enforcement Citations 7.00 Percent Decrease in Fatalities 5.00 Percent Increase in DUI Arrests (Includes Felony DUI) 5.00 Number of Criminal Investigations 68,000 Number of Highway Fatalities per 100 Million Vehicle Miles of Travel 1.00 Number of Alcohol Impaired Driving Fatalities per 100,000 Population 1.50 Number of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Arrests per 100,000 Population 240.00 Percentage Increase in Seatbelt/Child Restraint Citations 8.00 Driver Services Number of Driver's License/ID Cards Issued 674,506 Cost per License Document Produced 24.00 Number of Drivers Suspended 25,700 Number of Accident Reports Processed 1,750 Average Wait Time (Minutes) 20.00 Number of Documented Complaints 24 Percent Change in Wait Time -5.00 Percent Change in Complaints 1.10 Percent Increase in Regular and Commercial Driver Licenses Issued 3.00 Support Services Number of Financial Transactions Processed 45,402 Number of Employees Supported 1,772 Forensic Analysis Number of Reports Issued (Cases) 19,540 Number of Court Testimonies (Cases) 128 Cost per Case Analyzed 920.00 Cost per Testimony 550.00 Percent of Days for Reports Issued 45.00 Dna Analysis Number of Known Felony Offender Samples in Database 164,000 Number of Proficiency Samples 950 Number of Casework Samples Examined 8,500 Cost per Sample 880.00 Maintain the Integrity of the CODIS Database 99.00 Forensic Pathology Number of Deaths Investigated 29,000 Number of Autopsies Performed SME Office 1,200 Cost per Autopsy Performed 2,000.00 Percent Change in the Number of Deaths Investigated 4.85 Percent of Coroners Educated by ME's Office 50.00 Percent Change in the Number of Autopsies Performed at SME Office 10.00 Training Academy Number of Basic Students to Graduate 235 Number of Basic Refresher Students to Graduate 15 Number of In-Service and Advanced Students to Graduate 1,500 Percent of Law Enforcement Officers Trained 100.00 Drug Enforcement Number of Drug Suspects Arrested 1,300 Number of Drug Cases Prosecuted 1,100 Number of Drug Organization Disrupted and/or Dismantled 7 Percent Change in Number of Drug Suspects Arrested 1.00 Percent Change in Number of Drug Cases Prosecuted 1.00 Percent Change in Number of Drug Organization Disrupted and/or Dismantled 1.00 Jail Officer Training Number of Jail and Youth Detention Officers Certified 500 Number of Certification Transactions 1,550 Number of Administrative Review Actions 100 Percent of Appointed Jail and Youth Detention Officers Obtaining Certification 90.00 Percent of Administrative Review Actions Taken Within One Year 30.00 Law Enforcement Training Number of Basic Law Enforcement Officers Certified 354 Number of Certification Transactions 2,534 Number of Training Quality Monitoring 1,100 Percent of Appointed Law Enforcement Officers Obtaining Certification 75.00 Percent of Appointed Part-Time, Reserve, and Auxiliary Officers Obtaining Certification 80.00 Percent of Administrative Disciplinary Actions Taken Within One Year 50.00 Highway Safety Number of Federal Applications Funded and Statewide Pgms Supported 5 Percent Decrease in the Number of Unrestrained Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities by 5% 2.00 Percent Decrease in the Number of Fatalities in Crashes Involving a Driver or Motorcycle Operator with a BAC of .08 and above 1.00 Justice Number of Juvenile Jail/Detention Alternatives 2 Number of Hot Spots Policing Programs Funded 3 Emerg Telecommunications Tng Number of Emergency Telecommunicators Certified 400 Number of Certification Transactions 3,000 Percent of Appointed Emergency Telecommunicators Obtaining Certification 80.00 Percent of Appointed Emergency Telecommunicators Obtaining Recertification 75.00 Percent of Administrative Review Actions Taken Within One Year 1.00 Council On Aging Number of Triad Programs Established 39 Number of Training Programs Conducted 3 Provide On-Site-Training 2 Percent Change in the Number of Operational Triad Programs 3.00 Percent Increase in Funding to Counties to Educate Senior Citizens 0.00 Juvenile Facility Monitoring Unit Number of Facilities Inspected 80 Number of Strategic Plans Implemented 20 Percent of Admin Review Actions Taken Within One Year 85.00 Homeland Security Number of OHS Grants for Jurisdictions 175 Number of First Responder Classes 275 Percent Increase in Emergency Task Force Responder Training and Exercises 6.00 Percent Increase in Citizen and Community Preparedness Training and Exercises 3.00 Percent Increase in Requests for Information 4.00 Percent Increase in National Incident Management Training and Exercises 1.00 Investigations Number of Human Trafficking Cases Initiated 100 Number of Human Trafficking Arrests 50 Number of Human Trafficking Child Recoveries 50 Capitol Police Number of Patrols 70 Number of Emergencies (Medical, Weather, Active Shooter, etc.) 4,000 Average Time to Respond to an Emergency (Minutes) 6.00 Motor Carrier Number of Compliance Reviews 160,000 Number of On-site Examinations at Scales 30,000 Number of Trucks Weighed 6,000,000 A reporting of the degree to which the performance targets set above have been or are being achieved shall be provided in the agency's budget request submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for Fiscal Year 2028. SECTION 11. It is the intention of the Legislature that all divisions within the Mississippi Department of Public Safety shall maintain complete accounting and personnel records related to the expenditure of all funds appropriated under this act and that such records shall be in the same format and level of detail as maintained for Fiscal Year 2026. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 2028 shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee in a format and level of detail comparable to the format and level of detail provided during the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request process. SECTION 12. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2 of this act, funds may be expended to defray the costs of clothing for sworn nonuniform law enforcement officers in an amount not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) annually per officer. SECTION 13. It is the intention of the Legislature that whenever two (2) or more bids are received by this agency for the purchase of commodities or equipment, and whenever all things stated in such received bids are equal with respect to price, quality and service, the Mississippi Industries for the Blind shall be given preference. A similar preference shall be given to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind whenever purchases are made without competitive bids. SECTION 14. The department is authorized to expend available funds on technology or equipment upgrades or replacements when it will generate savings through efficiency or when the savings generated from such upgrades or replacements exceed expenditures thereof. SECTION 15. Of the funds provided herein, and in addition to the One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) authorized in Section 45-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, Department of Public Safety Officers who are licensed commercial pilots shall receive an additional Nine Hundred Dollars ($900.00), for a total of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), additional compensation for such service. SECTION 16. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Public Safety shall provide an annual report to the Mississippi Legislature detailing any elected official or any other person who is not an employee of the Department of Public Safety who was transported in Highway Patrol aircraft during the fiscal year. The report shall be provided to each member of the Mississippi Legislature on or before January 15, 2027. SECTION 17. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall have the authority to transfer any funds from any division within the Department of Public Safety to any other division of the Department of Public Safety Special Funds, including, but not limited to, Funds 3711, 371C, 371E, 3713, 3714, 3715, 3740, 3741, 3742, 3744, 3747 and 3718, not to exceed Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00) collectively during Fiscal Year 2027. However, none of the funds appropriated by this act shall be expended unless the Department of Public Safety provides prior written notification of any transfer of funds provided in this section. SECTION 18. The Bureau of Narcotics is authorized to expend a sum, not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) from account No. 3371800000, for purposes of effectuating the provisions of Section 41-29-179, Mississippi Code of 1972, Section 1 of this act. Expenditures authorized by this section may include, but not be limited to, costs associated with contracting with one or more vendors, contractors or other persons or entities to create, operate and maintain the forfeiture website and to provide continuing support in relation thereto. In the event an amount less than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) is required to effectuate the purposes of this section, the bureau is authorized to expend the remainder of such authorized funds for the purchase of commodities, vehicles and/or other equipment necessary in the furtherance of the needs of the bureau. SECTION 19. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act, it is the intention of the Legislature that Four Million Three Hundred Twelve Thousand Six Hundred Two Dollars ($4,312,602.00) may be allocated for the programs supported from General Fund court assessments as follows: State Crime Stoppers Fund................. $ 99,003.00. Adult Driver Training..................... $ 75,794.00. Information Exchange Network Fund.......... $ 264,007.00. Forensics Laboratory of MS – Implied Consent Law Fund..................... $ 404,795.00. Forensics Laboratory of MS – DNA Identification Fund.................. $ 629,543.00. Law Enforcement and Firefighters Death Benefits Trust Fund.................. $ 191,361.00. Law Enforcement Standards Training – Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund.... $ 2,276,404.00. Drug Abuse/Driver's License Reinstatement.. $ 13,573.00. Federal – State Alcohol Program Fund....... $ 160,431.00. MS Leadership Council on Aging Fund........ $ 197,691.00. SECTION 20. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Mississippi Department of Public Safety, shall have the authority to receive, budget and expend special funds from the Drug Evidence Disposition Funds (3372000000), not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00). SECTION 21. Of the funds appropriated by this act, pursuant to Section 97-3-54.9, Mississippi Code of 1972, Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) is provided for the duties and operations of a Statewide Human Trafficking Coordinator and a data analyst within the Bureau of Investigation in the Department of Public Safety, who shall coordinate all statewide activities and work with the Department of Child Protection Services for all victims recovered. SECTION 22. Of the funds appropriated by this act, pursuant to Section 45-1-2(7), Mississippi Code of 1972, Two Hundred Forty-two Thousand Six Hundred Three Dollars ($242,603.00) is provided for the duties and operations associated with the Mississippi School Safety Act of 2019. SECTION 23. The department may subgrant a portion of the funds appropriated herein to the Jackson Police Department for eligible activities contingent upon the execution of an operational agreement between the Capitol Police and Jackson Police Department on roles and responsibilities within the Capitol Complex Improvement District. SECTION 24. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act, Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($900,000.00) is provided to the Capitol Police for the purpose of defraying expenses related to the housing of detainees arrested within the Capital Complex Improvement District. SECTION 25. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is reappropriated out of any money in the Capital Expense Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of reauthorizing the expenditure of Capital Expense Funds as authorized in Senate Bill No. 2015, 2025 First Extraordinary Session, to the Department of Public Safety for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027................... $ 6,431,377.00. This reappropriation is for the following purposes: (a) Bullet proof vests for local law enforcement officers.................................... $ 45,706.00. (b) Forensics Lab: (i) Forensics Equipment................ $ 9,000.00. (ii) Forensics Case Backlogs........... $ 2,000,000.00. (c) Driver Service Bureau: (i) Driver Service-Canton Building..... $ 161,671.00. (ii) Replace the driver license system. $ 3,115,000.00. (d) Capitol Security Platform for the Capitol Complex..................................... $ 1,100,000.00. Notwithstanding the amount reappropriated under this section, the amount that may be expended under the authority of this section shall not exceed the unexpended balance of the funds remaining as of June 30, 2026, from the amount authorized for the previous fiscal year. In addition, this reappropriation shall not change the purpose for which the funds were originally authorized. SECTION 26. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Public Safety shall obtain written, final pre-approval from both the Department of Finance and Administration and the Department of Archives and History, including a notice of intent and detailed project plans submitted in accordance with all applicable agency requirements, prior to the advertisement, solicitation, receipt, or award of any bids for the Capitol Security Platform funded in Section 25 of this act. The Department of Archives and History shall review the project for compliance with the Mississippi Landmark program and shall issue a permit prior to any further action. Failure to obtain such a permit shall prohibit the project from proceeding. No state funds shall be expended, and no contracts shall be entered into, until all required approvals have been obtained. The project shall not proceed until the House Management Committee and the Senate Rules Committee have approved the plans. Any material change to the approved project scope, design, cost, or footprint shall require resubmission and approval by all entities listed in this section. SECTION 27. With the funds appropriated herein, the Department of Public Safety is authorized to make payments to certain vendors for expenses incurred during Fiscal Years 2023 through 2024 in the following total amount...................................... $ 14,339.90. SECTION 28. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety may escalate up to Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration, in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds, along with the required documentation of the overtime hours worked. If approved by the Department of Finance and Administration, the Mississippi State Personnel Board may update the authorized Personal Services amount to include these escalations on the compliance reports. SECTION 29. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2 of this act, no more than Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) is provided for grants to law enforcement officers for enhanced training or safety equipment as created in 45-2-1, Mississippi Code of 1972. SECTION 30. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2 of this act Two Hundred Seventy-eight Thousand Dollars ($278,000.00), or so much thereof, shall be derived out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Capital Expense Fund, as created in Section 27-103-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, and allocated in a manner as determined by the State Treasurer. These funds are provided to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety for repairs and renovations to the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy campus. SECTION 31. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2 of this act, One Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($180,000.00), or so much thereof, shall be derived out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Capital Expense Fund, as created in Section 27-103-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, and allocated in a manner as determined by the State Treasurer. These funds are provided to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety for the purchase of three (3) FARO 3D Imaging Units. SECTION 32. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2 of this act, Two Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,600,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be derived out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Capital Expense Fund, as created in Section 27-103-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, and allocated in a manner as determined by the State Treasurer. These funds are provided to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety for repair and replacement of the HVAC systems at the Biloxi Forensics Laboratory. SECTION 33. The money herein appropriated shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the proper fund or funds as set forth in this act, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law. SECTION 34. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.
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