Secretary of State; authorize certain investigative or regulatory employees to carry a firearm.

SB 2039 would amend Mississippi law to explicitly authorize certain employees of the Secretary of State - those specifically designated by the Secretary to conduct investigations or regulatory enforcement - to carry firearms while performing their duties. These employees would be required to meet the same background checks, fingerprinting, and weapons training standards as other permitted groups (like law enforcement officers or bank guards) under existing law. The bill adds this category to the current list of state personnel allowed to carry firearms, without creating new requirements or altering the permit process. It directly affects the Secretary of State's investigative and regulatory staff who handle compliance or enforcement tasks.