MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Juvenile Justice; Education

By: Representative Warren

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM THAT BRINGS TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION AND JUVENILE JUSTICE TO DEVELOP MEANS TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The State Department of Education shall establish and implement a program that brings together representatives of the State Department of Education, the juvenile justice system, education organizations, legislators and other parties deemed appropriate by the department for the purpose of developing means to decrease the number of juvenile offenders. Participants in the program shall coordinate their efforts to promote educational practices that discourage delinquent or criminal behavior, provide for adequate training of school personnel in current effective discipline procedures and encourage creative solutions to new and continuing problems concerning juvenile behavior.

The State Department of Education shall prepare a report on the activities and accomplishments of the program, which report shall be submitted to the Legislature in January 2000.

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