HB 83 Summary

• Creates "The Combating Violence, Disorder And Looting And Law Enforcement Protection Act of Mississippi" establishing criminal penalties for participating in violent or disorderly assemblies of 6+ people that create danger, obstruct law enforcement, or deprive others of legal rights, with imprisonment up to 3 years and/or fines up to $5,000.

• Enhances penalties for obstructing traffic, throwing objects at persons, and damaging property during violent assemblies, with felony charges for hitting law enforcement officers (minimum 5 years imprisonment and $5,000 fine).

• Requires municipalities and counties to certify annually by October 15 that law enforcement budget reductions do not exceed revenue decreases by more than 3 percentage points, or lose state funding eligibility.

• Prohibits unemployment benefits and mandates termination of state/local employees convicted under this act; bars lawsuits against government by convicted participants unless government fails to provide adequate law enforcement protection.

• Amends justifiable homicide statute to permit deadly force defense of a business during violent disorderly assemblies and adds violations to racketeering provisions.