Appropriation; Community College Board for behavioral threat assessment and violence-prevention pilot program.

H. B. No. 1812 *HR26/R2181* ~ OFFICIAL ~ A1/2
26/HR26/R2181
PAGE 1 (RF\KW)

To: Appropriations E;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Scoggin

HOUSE BILL NO. 1812

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY 1
COLLEGE BOARD FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPLEMENTING A BEHAVIORAL THREAT 2
ASSESSMENT AND VIOLENCE-PREVENTION PILOT PROGRAM AT THE 3
STATE-SUPPORTED COMMUNITY COLLEGES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds that state-supported 6
community colleges serve large and diverse student populations and 7
face increasing challenges related to behavioral threats, campus 8
violence and crisis response. The Legislature further finds that 9
early identification and assessment of potential threats, when 10
conducted using both empirically and evidence-based standardized 11
methods, can prevent acts of violence, distinguish between 12
credible and noncredible threats, reduce unnecessary disciplinary 13
actions, and protect the safety and well-being of students, 14
faculty, staff and the public. It is therefore the intent of the 15
Legislature in this act to provide funding to establish a pilot 16
program at the state-supported community colleges to provide those 17
colleges with modern tools and resources necessary to implement 18
H. B. No. 1812 *HR26/R2181* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R2181
PAGE 2 (RF\KW)

consistent, defensible and effective behavioral threat assessment 19
and violence-prevention practices. 20
SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much of it as may be 21
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General 22
Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the Mississippi Community 23
College Board for the purpose of defraying the expenses associated 24
with the implementation of a behavioral threat assessment and 25
violence-prevention pilot program at the state-supported community 26
colleges, in accordance with Sections 3 through 5 of this act, for 27
the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.. 28
.................................................... $ 1,450,000.00 29
SECTION 3. The funds appropriated by this act shall be 30
allocated by the Mississippi Community College Board to the 31
state-supported community colleges. Such funds shall be used by 32
the colleges for the acquisition and implementation of 33
evidence-based behavioral threat screening and assessment 34
platforms, training and onboarding of institutional personnel, 35
integration with existing campus safety and student support 36
systems, and ongoing technical support and compliance 37
documentation necessary to maintain a standardized and defensible 38
threat assessment process. The colleges shall coordinate their 39
implementation efforts with campus police, student affairs 40
offices, counseling and mental health services, and other 41
appropriate personnel to ensure effective use of the program. 42
H. B. No. 1812 *HR26/R2181* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R2181
PAGE 3 (RF\KW)
ST: Appropriation; Community College Board for
behavioral threat assessment and violence-
prevention pilot program.
SECTION 4. The Mississippi Community College Board shall 43
maintain complete accounting and programmatic records related to 44
the expenditure of all funds appropriated by this act and shall 45
administer the pilot program in a manner consistent with existing 46
fiscal control laws of the State of Mississippi. 47
SECTION 5. Not later than December 1, 2027, the Mississippi 48
Community College Board shall submit a report to the Chairmen of 49
the House and Senate Universities and Colleges Committees and the 50
House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Such reports shall 51
summarize the use of funds appropriated by this act, the number of 52
participating community colleges, aggregate information regarding 53
program utilization, observed impacts on campus safety and crisis 54
response, and any recommendations regarding continuation or 55
expansion of the pilot program. 56
SECTION 6. The money appropriated by this act shall be paid 57
by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State General Fund 58
not otherwise appropriated, upon warrants issued by the State 59
Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his or 60
her warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, 61
officer or officers, in the manner provided by law. 62
SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from 63
and after July 1, 2026. 64