Senate Bill 2480

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-351, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT STATE AGENCY EMPLOYEES OTHER THAN EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTIONS SERVICES AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF COURTS FROM BEING YOUTH COURT INTAKE OFFICERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 43-21-351, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-21-351. (1) Any person or agency having knowledge that a child residing or being within the county is within the jurisdiction of the youth court may make a written report to the intake unit alleging facts sufficient to establish the jurisdiction of the youth court. The report shall bear a permanent number that will be assigned by the court in accordance with the standards established by the Administrative Office of Courts pursuant to Section 9-21-9(d), and shall be preserved until destroyed on order of the court.

(2) (a) There shall be in each youth court of the state an intake officer who shall be responsible for the accurate and timely entering of all intake and case information into the Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System (MYCIDS) for the Department of Human Services - Division of Youth Services, truancy matters, and the Department of Child Protection Services. It shall be the responsibility of the youth court judge or referee of each county to ensure that the intake officer is carrying out the responsibility of this section.

(b) No state agency employee other than an employee of the Department of Child Protection Services or the Administrative Office of Courts may be an intake officer or complete the functions required by law of an intake officer.

(3) Each intake officer shall receive, at a minimum, six (6) hours of annual training on MYCIDS provided by the Mississippi Judicial College. The required training under this subsection shall be in addition to technical training provided by the Mississippi Supreme Court MYCIDS Information Technology Department.

(4) The Mississippi Judicial College, in conjunction with the Administrative Office of Courts, shall develop training materials on MYCIDS:

(a) To ensure the accurate and timely entrance of all intake and case information throughout the state by intake officers;

(b) To ensure that youth court judges are equipped to oversee the functions of each intake officer.

(5) The provisions of this section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2026.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.