Read the full stored bill text
S. B. No. 2775 *SS26/R1075* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R1075
PAGE 1 (aa\kr)
To: County Affairs;
Corrections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Simmons (12th)
SENATE BILL NO. 2775
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 19-25-73, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REMOVE THE PROVISION THAT AUTHORIZES COUNTIES TO CHARGE 2
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS FOR HOUSING, FEEDING, AND CARING FOR 3
PRISONERS HOUSED IN THE COUNTY JAIL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 19-25-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
19-25-73. (1) In respect to the feeding of prisoners by the 8
sheriff's office, the board of supervisors is authorized to choose 9
one (1) of the following methods: 10
(a) It shall only contract with a local caterer or 11
restaurant owner to bring in food for the prisoners, and the 12
contract shall be awarded after taking bids as provided by law for 13
other county contracts. 14
(b) The sheriff shall purchase, in the name of the 15
county, all necessary food and related supplies to be used for 16
feeding prisoners only in the county jail. All purchases of such 17
food and supplies shall be invoiced to the county and placed on 18
the claims docket of the board of supervisors for disposition in 19
S. B. No. 2775 *SS26/R1075* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R1075
PAGE 2 (aa\kr)
the same manner as all other claims against the county. All wages 20
and other compensation for services rendered to the sheriff in 21
connection with the feeding of prisoners shall be submitted to and 22
approved by the board of supervisors as other wages or 23
compensation paid to employees of the sheriff. The total 24
expenditure for such purpose under this method shall not exceed 25
Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) per day per prisoner, except as provided 26
in subsection (3) of this section. All payments and 27
reimbursements from any source for the keeping of prisoners shall 28
be received and paid into the general fund of the county. 29
(c) The board of supervisors may negotiate a contract 30
with the board of trustees of the local public community hospital 31
to bring in food for the prisoners. 32
(2) The board of supervisors may authorize the sheriff to 33
maintain a bank account entitled "jail food allowance account" 34
into which shall be deposited all receipts for feeding and keeping 35
prisoners in the county jail, including payments from the board of 36
supervisors at the rate not to exceed Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) per 37
prisoner per day and all such receipts from municipalities, the 38
United States and any other jurisdictions required to pay the cost 39
of feeding or keeping prisoners contained in the jail. He shall 40
maintain a receipts journal and a disbursements journal, in a form 41
to be prescribed by the State Department of Audit, which will 42
provide the information necessary to determine the actual cost of 43
feeding the prisoners, which shall not exceed Fifteen Dollars 44
S. B. No. 2775 *SS26/R1075* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R1075
PAGE 3 (aa\kr)
ST: Feeding of prisoners; remove provision
authorizing county to charge other entities for
reimbursement.
($15.00) per prisoner per day, except as provided in subsection 45
(3) of this section. All costs and expenses for such feeding 46
shall be paid from the jail food allowance account and supported 47
by properly itemized invoices. Any funds accumulating in the jail 48
food allowance account in excess of the monthly average 49
expenditures, plus ten percent (10%) for contingencies, shall be 50
paid into the county general fund at least once each calendar 51
quarter. 52
* * * 53
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 54
and after July 1, 2026. 55