MS HB1295

Amends Mississippi Code Section 97-3-19 to include Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks employees designated as law enforcement officers by the commissioner in the definition of "peace officer" for capital murder purposes.

Expands the capital murder statute to apply when a Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks law enforcement officer is killed while acting in official capacity or by reason of an official act, provided the killer had knowledge of the victim's status.

These wildlife officers are added to an existing list of protected law enforcement personnel including state/federal officers, sheriffs, parole officers, judges, district attorneys, and corrections officers.

Effective date is July 1, 2011.