House Bill 1380

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AN ADOLESCENT OFFENDER PROGRAMS TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ADOLESCENT OFFENDER PROGRAMS AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS STATEWIDE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is established an Adolescent Offender Programs Task Force, the duties of which shall be to study the implementation of adolescent offender programs and other alternative programs statewide. The study shall address the following areas at a minimum:

(a) Operations of adolescent offender programs and other alternative programs;

(b) Costs associated with implementing adolescent offender programs or other alternative programs statewide; and

(2) The task force shall consist of thirteen (13) members as follows:

(a) Three (3) administrators of adolescent offender programs or other alternative programs, appointed by the Governor;

(b) Four (4) youth court judges, one (1) from each congressional district, appointed by the Governor;

(c) Three (3) members of the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Mississippi House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker Of the House; and

(d) Three (3) members of the Judiciary Committee Division B of the Mississippi Senate, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.

(3) At its first meeting, the task force shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from its membership, and shall adopt rules for transacting its business and keeping records. Members of the task force other than the legislative members may receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred while engaged in official business of the task force in accordance with Section 25-3-41.

(4) Before November 1, 2005, the task force shall make a report of its work and recommendations, and it shall submit a copy of the report to the Legislature and the Governor.

(5) The task force shall be assigned to the Division of Public Safety Planning of the Department of Public Safety for administrative purposes only, and the Division of Public Safety Planning shall designate staff to assist the task force. The task force may solicit grants, donations and other funds, and may accept and expend any funds that are made available to the task force to carry out its purpose. However, no state general funds may be used to pay any expenses of the task force.

(6) All agencies, departments, offices and institutions of the state, including the state universities and the community and junior colleges, shall cooperate with the task force with such assistance as requested by the task force.

(7) After the presentation of its report to the Legislature and the Governor, the task force shall be dissolved.

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