31 Miss. Code. R. 301-6.3 - Procedure

1. The board staff shall review all the information available on each academy class and determine the eligibility and amount of reimbursement to each agency.

A. The staff shall maintain a running balance of available funds. The estimated training demand and funds available shall be utilized to compute the reimbursement percentage.

B. The students enrolled in training shall provide the academy staff either a copy of a payroll voucher or a letter documenting the base salary for the month preceding enrollment. Students who fail to provide this salary or any other requested information will not be processed for certification or reimbursement until the information is received.

C. The academies shall provide the staff an official roster of students within five working days of the day the class begins. The roster shall include the name, social security number and agency of each student. Along with the roster, the academy shall also provide the staff the training packets (medical evaluation) and entry physical fitness test scores for each student enrolled.

D. The academies shall notify the staff of any withdrawals or dismissals from training during the course of the program. The notification shall include whether the officer withdrew or was dismissed and the reason (i.e. - deficiency in academics, firearms, physical fitness or skill areas). If the officer was dismissed for a violation of academy rules and regulations, the academy staff must provide a written report of the investigation into the incident and the disposition of any charges.

E. Once the class graduates, the academy shall prepare a graduation roster and score sheets. The graduation roster shall positively indicate that all students have met the basic course requirements. Any students who have not completed the requirements because they have been medically excused from physical activities due to injury or illness sustained while enrolled in the academy should be listed on a separate sheet. Once the student completes the requirements, the academy shall notify the staff in writing. This notification must be received prior to any further certification processing or reimbursement.

F. The staff will determine the amount of the reimbursement based on the total of: board-approved training costs, the applicant's documented base monthly salary, and round trip mileage from the agency to the academy. This total shall then be multiplied by the reimbursement percentage factor to determine the dollar amount of the reimbursement. Eligibility will be determined by presence of all required forms, information, photographs and compliance with the Act.

G. After determining eligibility and amount of reimbursement, the board staff shall complete a "Claim for Reimbursement" form and submit the form to the agency head for review. The form shall contain the name and other personal data of the trainee, course attended, tuition, salary and travel costs. The agency head shall review the form, sign and return the form within five working days of receipt. Any discrepancies or misinformation on the form should be annotated and corrected, and the form should be returned unsigned. The staff shall correct the form and return it to the agency. It is imperative that this form be processed without delay as it is the basis for any funds the agency receives.

H. The staff will submit the "Claim for Reimbursement" to the Department of Finance and Administration for payment after the board members approve the graduates for certification. The board will maintain a copy of the claims and the warrants of payment in the board files.

I. Agencies should receive payment within forty-five days of receipt of the graduate's Professional Certificate. Normally the certificates are mailed the same date the claims are submitted for payment. If the payment is not received in forty-five days, notify the board staff in writing.

Notes

31 Miss. Code. R. 301-6.3

Miss Code Ann. § 45-6-7, 45-6-13

Adopted 9/16/2019