MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Senator(s) Tollison

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-87, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ENFORCEMENT TO APPOINT AN OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR WHO SHALL ESTABLISH A JUVENILE INTERVENTION PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, TO PRESCRIBE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR, TO PROVIDE FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERVENTION PROGRAM AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE SALARY OF THE ADMINISTRATOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-13-87, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-13-87. (1) The Director of the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement shall employ three (3) school attendance officer supervisors, each to maintain an office within a different Supreme Court district. Each supervisor shall be responsible for the enforcement of the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law within his district and shall exercise direct supervision over the school attendance officers in the district. The supervisors, who shall report to the director of the office, shall assist the school attendance officers in the performance of their duties as established by law or otherwise.

(2) No person having less than eight (8) years combined actual experience as a school attendance officer, school teacher, school administrator, law enforcement officer possessing a college degree with a major in a behavioral science or a related field, and/or social worker in the state shall be employed as a school attendance officer supervisor. Further, a school attendance officer supervisor shall possess a college degree with a major in a behavioral science or a related field or shall have actual experience as a school teacher, school administrator, law enforcement officer possessing such degree or social worker; however, these requirements shall not apply to persons employed as school attendance officers before January 1, 1987. School attendance officers shall meet any additional qualifications established by the State Personnel Board for school attendance officers or school attendance officer supervisors. The school attendance officer supervisors shall receive an annual salary to be set by the State Superintendent of Public Education, subject to the approval of the State Personnel Board.

(3) The Director of the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement may appoint an office administrator to supervise and direct the school attendance officers in his or her district. If an office administrator is appointed, the director shall establish a juvenile intervention program pursuant to the requirements for the adult pretrial intervention program, set forth in Section 99-15-101 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended. The office administrator shall assist school attendance officers in coordinating juvenile prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programs, such as, but not limited to, in- and out-patient drug counseling, conflict resolution meetings, parenting classes for juveniles and their parents, juvenile jail tours, mentor programs, victim impact panels and prisoner panels. Participation in any intervention programs established shall not be limited to juveniles found in violation of this section. The office administrator may accept into the program juveniles pursuant to order of the youth court and juveniles referred to the program by parental consent. The salary of the office administrator shall be the same as that of a school attendance officer set forth in Section 37-13-89. The salary may be supplemented by administrative fees paid by the intervention program participant. However, the maximum salary of the office administrator shall not exceed that of a district attorney's investigator set forth in Section 25-31-10(5), Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended. The duties of the office administrator shall not be limited to those set forth in this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.