MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2004 Regular Session
To: Juvenile Justice; Appropriations
By: Representative Hines
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE PURPOSE OF STUDYING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES AVAILABLE TO AT-RISK YOUTH; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, research indicates that the best hope for preventing child abuse, neglect, juvenile crime, and for reducing the rate of recidivism in juvenile delinquency and later crime, is to employ a comprehensive strategy involving a range of prevention, assessment, early intervention, treatment services, as well as progressive sanctions: NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is established the Juvenile Justice Community Services Advisory Board, the duties of which shall be to study and make recommendations concerning the community based services available to Mississippi's at-risk youth.
(2) The advisory board shall consist of twelve (12) members as follows:
(a) The Director of the Office of Youth Services of the Department of Human Services or his or her designee;
(b) The State Superintendent of Public Education or his or her designee;
(c) The Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health or his designee;
(d) One (1) youth court counselor appointed by the Mississippi Council of Youth Court Judges;
(e) One (1) representative from the Mississippi Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Coalition;
(f) One (1) representative from the Mississippi National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP);
(g) One (1) representative from Citizens for Quality Education;
(h) One (1) representative from Citizens for a Better Greenville;
(i) One (1) representative from Junior Achievement of Mississippi, Inc.;
(j) One (1) youth who has received community based services that are currently available to Mississippi's at-risk youth, appointed by the chairman of the House of Representatives Juvenile Justice Committee; and
(k) Two (2) parents of youth who have received community based services that are currently available to Mississippi's at-risk youth, appointed by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Juvenile Justice Committee.
(3) The advisory board shall study and make recommendations related to the following:
(a) The manner in which youth are refereed to the youth court system;
(b) The availability and quality of delinquency prevention, assessment, early intervention and treatment services for at-risk youth, including adolescent offender programs, drug court programs and alternative schools;
(c) The alternatives to incarceration available to youth courts for delinquent youth who do not pose a threat to the public; and
(d) Other related issues approved by a majority of advisory board members.
(4) At its first meeting, the advisory board shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from its membership and shall adopt rules for transacting its business and keeping its records.
(5) If sufficient funds are available to the advisory board for that purpose, members of the advisory board may receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred while engaged in official business of the advisory board in accordance with Section 25-3-41.
(6) Before December 1, 2004, the advisory board shall make a report of its work and recommendations, and it shall submit a copy of the report to the House of Representatives Juvenile Justice Committee and the Governor.
(7) After the presentation of its report to the Legislature and the Governor, the advisory board shall be dissolved.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.