House Bill 949

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO ESTABLISH A MANDATORY DRUG AND ALCOHOL REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR ALL OFFENDERS SENTENCED TO THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A DRUG OR ALCOHOL RELATED CRIME OR WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME WHICH THE OFFENDER COMMITTED BECAUSE OF DRUG OR ALCOHOL ADDICTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Mississippi Department of Corrections is authorized to establish a mandatory drug and alcohol rehabilitation program for all offenders convicted of drug or alcohol related charges and shall have the power and duty to adopt rules and regulations it may determine necessary with respect to the establishment, administration and operation of the program.

(2) Any offender sentenced to the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections who has been convicted of a drug or alcohol related crime or who has been convicted of a crime which the offender committed because of drug or alcohol addiction shall undergo a mandatory drug and alcohol rehabilitation program as established by the department.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.