HB 645 Summary

• Amends Mississippi Code sections 99-19-301, 99-19-305, and 99-19-307 to add law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians as protected classes for enhanced criminal penalties, known as the "Blue, Red and Med Lives Matter Act"

• Allows enhanced penalties (up to twice the standard punishment) when a felony or misdemeanor is committed with specific intent to target individuals based on their actual or perceived employment as law enforcement, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel

• Defines "law enforcement officer" to include full-time, part-time, reserve, volunteer, and federal law enforcement officers; "firefighter" to include regularly employed and volunteer firefighters; and "emergency medical technician" according to state qualification standards

• Requires prosecutors to provide notice of intent to seek enhanced penalties and mandates separate sentencing proceedings where a jury must find beyond reasonable doubt that the crime was committed because of the victim's protected status

• Explicitly protects freedom of speech and freedom to peaceably assemble under the Mississippi Constitution and First Amendment, effective July 1, 2017