MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2007 Regular Session
To: Judiciary A; Appropriations
By: Representative Chism
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-31-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL LEGAL ASSISTANT FOR THE SIXTEENTH CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 25-31-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-31-5. (1) The following number of full-time legal assistants are authorized in the following circuit court districts:
(a) First Circuit Court District eight (8)
legal assistants.
(b) Second Circuit Court District nine (9)
legal assistants.
(c) Third Circuit Court District five (5)
legal assistants.
(d) Fourth Circuit Court District five (5)
legal assistants.
(e) Fifth Circuit Court District four (4)
legal assistants.
(f) Sixth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(g) Seventh Circuit Court District ten (10)
legal assistants.
(h) Eighth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(i) Ninth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(j) Tenth Circuit Court District four (4)
legal assistants.
(k) Eleventh Circuit Court District five (5)
legal assistants.
(l) Twelfth Circuit Court District three (3)
legal assistants.
(m) Thirteenth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(n) Fourteenth Circuit Court District three (3)
legal assistants.
(o) Fifteenth Circuit Court District five (5)
legal assistants.
(p) Sixteenth Circuit Court District five (5)
legal assistants.
(q) Seventeenth Circuit Court District six (6)
legal assistants.
(r) Eighteenth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(s) Nineteenth Circuit Court District four (4)
legal assistants.
(t) Twentieth Circuit Court District four (4)
legal assistants.
(u) Twenty-first Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(v) Twenty-second Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(2) In addition to any legal assistants authorized pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the following number of full-time legal assistants are authorized (i) in the following circuit court districts if funds are appropriated by the Legislature to adequately fund the salaries, expenses and fringe benefits of such legal assistants, or (ii) in any of the following circuit court districts in which the board of supervisors of one or more of the counties in a circuit court district adopts a resolution to pay all of the salaries, supplemental pay, expenses and fringe benefits of legal assistants authorized in such district pursuant to this subsection:
(a) First Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(b) Second Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(c) Third Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(d) Fourth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(e) Fifth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(f) Sixth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(g) Seventh Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(h) Eighth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(i) Ninth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(j) Tenth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(k) Eleventh Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(l) Twelfth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(m) Thirteenth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(n) Fourteenth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(o) Fifteenth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(p) Sixteenth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(q) Seventeenth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(r) Eighteenth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(s) Nineteenth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(t) Twentieth Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(u) Twenty-first Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(v) Twenty-second Circuit Court District two (2)
legal assistants.
(3) The board of supervisors of any county may pay all or a part of the salary, supplemental pay, expenses and fringe benefits of any district attorney or legal assistant authorized in the circuit court district to which such county belongs pursuant to this section.
(4) The district attorney of any circuit court district may employ additional legal assistants or criminal investigators, or both, without regard to any limitation on the number of legal assistants authorized in this section or criminal investigators authorized by other provisions of law to the extent that the district attorney's office receives federal funds which may be expended for those positions in an amount sufficient to pay all of the salary, supplemental pay, expenses and fringe benefits of the positions. Such funds shall be transferred by the district attorney to the Department of Finance and Administration, which shall disburse the funds to such employees in the same manner as state-funded criminal investigators and full-time legal assistants.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after January 1, 2009.