MS HB385

Extends the repeal date for Mississippi Forestry Commission authority to hire law enforcement officers from June 30, 2014 to June 30, 2018.

Authorizes the commission to appoint up to six law enforcement officers with authority to bear arms, investigate, and make arrests limited specifically to woods arson cases.

Requires Forestry Commission law enforcement officers to comply with applicable minimum educational and training standards for law enforcement officers.

Allows these officers to issue citations for violations involving recklessly or negligently causing fire to burn the lands of another, using uniform citation forms.

Establishes that finding a person with a burning brush or debris pile where reasonable efforts were not taken to prevent fire spread to another's land constitutes evidence of reckless or negligent conduct.