Senate Bill 2430 Summary

• Authorizes governing bodies of independent schools (Mississippi Association of Independent Schools members), private colleges, and private universities to establish police departments and appoint qualified law enforcement officers.

• Requires educational entities to enter into a memorandum of understanding with local law enforcement agencies to maintain officer certification, with the memorandum required for the department to retain law enforcement authority.

• Educational entity law enforcement officers must meet state law enforcement certification requirements, may carry firearms and weapons, and have authority to enforce laws on educational premises and adjacent streets if requested by local agencies.

• Requires the Department of Public Safety to provide crisis de-escalation training to educational entity officers within six months of employment at the entity's expense.

• Provides liability protection for educational entity officers unless acts were outside scope of employment, committed with malicious purpose or recklessness, or otherwise expressly subject to liability under state law; provision sunsets July 1, 2028.