HB1615 • 2026

Enhanced penalties for crimes against certain persons; include certain CPS employees.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 99-19-301, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD SOCIAL SERVICES OCCUPATIONAL GROUP EMPLOYEES FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES TO THE ENHANCED PENALTY GROUP; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Children Crime Labor

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Cockerham
Last action: 2026-03-17
Official status: Law
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included terms like 'misdemeanor' and 'felony' which are not directly addressed in the official summary. These were removed as they do not have direct support from the given source material.

Enhanced Penalties for Crimes Against Certain People; Include Child Protection Services Employees

This act adds employees of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services who work in the Social Services Occupational Group to a list of people who receive enhanced penalties if crimes are committed against them.

What This Bill Does

Adds certain employees from the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) working in the Social Services Occupational Group to a group that receives enhanced penalties for crimes committed with specific intent to target these individuals.

Who It Names or Affects

People who work for the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services and are part of the Social Services Occupational Group.
Individuals who commit crimes against MDCPS employees working in the Social Services Occupational Group will face harsher punishments.

Terms To Know

Enhanced penalties: More severe punishment for a crime, such as longer jail time or bigger fines.

Limits and Unknowns

The act only applies to crimes committed after July 1, 2026.
It does not specify what the enhanced penalties are or how they will be applied.

Bill History

2026-03-17 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/17 Approved by Governor
2026-03-10 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/10 (S) Enrolled Bill Signed
2026-03-10 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/10 (H) Enrolled Bill Signed
2026-03-09 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/09 (S) Returned For Enrolling
2026-03-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/05 (S) Passed
2026-03-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/03 (S) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-02-17 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/17 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division B
2026-02-13 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/13 (H) Transmitted To Senate
2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/12 (H) Passed
2026-02-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/11 (H) Read the Third Time
2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/19 (H) Referred To Judiciary B

Official Summary Text

Enhanced penalties for crimes against certain persons; include certain CPS employees.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 1615 *HR43/R1931* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1931
PAGE 1 (GT\KP)

To: Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Cockerham

HOUSE BILL NO. 1615

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 99-19-301, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO ADD SOCIAL SERVICES OCCUPATIONAL GROUP EMPLOYEES FROM THE 2
MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES TO THE 3
ENHANCED PENALTY GROUP; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 99-19-301, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
99-19-301. (1) The penalty for any felony or misdemeanor 8
shall be subject to enhancement as provided in Sections 99-19-301 9
through 99-19-307 if the felony or misdemeanor was committed 10
because of the actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, 11
ethnicity, religion, national origin or gender of the victim. 12
(2) The penalty for any felony or misdemeanor shall be 13
subject to enhancement as provided in Sections 99-19-301 through 14
99-19-307 if the felony or misdemeanor was committed with the 15
specific intent to target an individual or group because of actual 16
or perceived employment as a law enforcement officer, 17
firefighter * * *, emergency medical technician or a Mississippi 18
Department of Child Protection Services employee. 19
H. B. No. 1615 *HR43/R1931* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1931
PAGE 2 (GT\KP)
ST: Enhanced penalties for crimes against
certain persons; include certain CPS employees.
(3) As used in Sections 99-19-301 through 99-19-307: 20
(a) "Law enforcement officer" means any law enforcement 21
officer, part-time law enforcement officer or law enforcement 22
trainee as defined in Section 45-6-3, as well as any reserve or 23
volunteer law enforcement officer and any federal law enforcement 24
officer or employee whose permanent duties include making arrests, 25
performing search and seizures, execution of criminal arrest 26
warrants, execution of civil seizure warrants, or the care, 27
custody, control or supervision of inmates. 28
(b) "Firefighter" means any firefighter regularly 29
employed by a fire department of any municipality, county, or fire 30
protection district of the State of Mississippi and includes a 31
volunteer firefighter. 32
(c) "Emergency medical technician" means a person 33
qualified under Sections 41-59-33 and 41-59-35. 34
(d) "Mississippi Department of Child Protection 35
Services (MDCPS) employee" means any person employed by MDCPS in 36
the Social Services Occupational Group as defined by the Variable 37
Compensation Plan. 38
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 39
and after July 1, 2026. 40