MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Fees, Salaries and Administration; County Affairs

By: Senator(s) Hall, Horhn, Harden

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 43-21-119 AND 43-21-123, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION OF YOUTH COURT SUPPORT STAFF; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 43-21-119, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-21-119. The county administrator, in counties governed under the countywide system of road administration as described in Section 19-2-3, or the board of supervisors in counties not so governed, shall appoint as provided in Section 43-21-123 sufficient personnel, responsible to and under the control of the youth court, to carry on the professional, clerical and other work of the youth court. The cost of these persons so appointed * * * shall be paid as provided in Section 43-21-123 out of any available funds budgeted for the youth court by the board of supervisors.

SECTION 2. Section 43-21-123, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-21-123. Except for expenses provided by state funds and/or other monies, the board of supervisors, or the municipal governing board where there is a municipal youth court, shall adequately provide funds for the operation of the youth court division of the chancery court in conjunction with the regular chancery court budget, or the county or family courts where said courts are constituted. In preparation for said funding, on an annual basis at the time requested, the youth court judge or administrator shall prepare and submit to the board of supervisors, or the municipal governing board of the youth court wherever the youth court is a municipal court, an annual budget which will identify the number, staff position, title and amount of annual or monthly compensation of each position as well as provide for other expenditures necessary to the functioning and operation of the youth court. When the budget of the youth court or youth court judge is approved by the board of supervisors or the governing authority of the municipality, then the youth court administrator or board of supervisors may employ such persons under existing county personnel policies as provided in the budget * * *.

The board of supervisors of any county in which there is located a youth court, and the governing authority of any municipality in which there is located a municipal youth court, are each authorized to reimburse the youth court judges and other youth court employees or personnel for reasonable travel and expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and in attending educational meetings offering professional training to such persons as budgeted.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.