MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2007 Regular Session
To: Judiciary A
By: Representative Blackmon
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-21-14, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE FUNDING OF THE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM PILOT PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 9-21-14, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
9-21-14. (1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Comprehensive Electronic Court Systems Fund. The purpose of the fund shall be to provide funding for the development, implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive case management and electronic filing system, one of the purposes of which will be to provide duplicate dockets and case files at remote sites. The system will be designed to:
(a) Provide a framework for the seamless, transparent exchange of data among courts and with appropriate law enforcement, children's services and public welfare agencies.
(b) Allow judges and prosecutors to determine whether there are holds or warrants from other jurisdictions for defendants prior to release on bail or otherwise.
(c) Assist related agencies in tracking the court activity of individuals in all participating jurisdictions.
(d) Assist child protection and human services agencies to determine the status of children and caregivers in the participating jurisdictions.
(e) Duplicate and preserve court documents at remote sites so that they may be protected against catastrophic loss.
(f) Improve the ability of the Administrative Office of Courts and the state courts to handle efficiently monies flowing through the courts and to collect delinquent fees, fines and costs.
(g) Enable the state courts and clerks to generate management reports and analysis tools, allowing them to constantly track individual cases and the overall caseload.
(h) Provide a uniform system for docketing and tracking cases and to automatically generate status reports.
(i) Enable the Administrative Office of Courts to acquire statistical data promptly and efficiently.
(j) Make trial court and individual case dockets available to the public online through use of the Internet.
(2) Monies from the fund shall be distributed by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Administrative Office of Courts.
(3) The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal-year limitations, and shall consist of:
(a) Monies appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of funding the comprehensive case management and electronic filing system;
(b) The interest accruing to the fund;
(c) Monies received from the federal government;
(d) Donations; and
(e) Monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.
(4) The Supreme Court may utilize and fund as a pilot program any case management and electronic filing system of the Three Rivers Planning and Development District or that of any county or vendor that complies with the data and case management and electronic filing policy standards adopted by the Supreme Court. No statewide comprehensive case management and electronic system shall be implemented by the Mississippi Supreme Court unless such system is approved by the Legislature.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.