Senate Amendments to House Bill No. 1498
TO THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE:
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THE SENATE HAS ADOPTED THE AMENDMENTS SET OUT BELOW:
AMENDMENT NO. 1
Amend by striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
SECTION 1. Section 25-32-71, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-32-71. (1) There is created the Mississippi Public Defender Task Force which shall be composed of thirteen (13) members as follows:
(a) The President of the Mississippi Public Defender Association, or his designee;
(b) The President of the Mississippi Prosecutors Association, or his designee;
(c) A representative of the Administrative Office of Courts;
(d) A representative of the Mississippi Supreme Court;
(e) A representative of the Conference of Circuit Judges;
(f) A representative of the Mississippi Attorney General's Office;
(g) A representative of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors;
(h) A representative of The Mississippi Bar;
(i) A representative of the Magnolia Bar Association;
(j) The Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Division B, or his designee;
(k) The Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, or his designee;
(l) The Chairman of the House Judiciary En Banc Committee, or his designee;
(m) The Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, or his designee.
(2) 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 shall receive a per diem in the amount provided in Section 25-3-69 for each day engaged in the business of the task force. Members of the task force other than the legislative members shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred while engaged in official business of the task force in accordance with Section 25-3-41 and the legislative members of the task force shall receive the expense allowance provided for in Section 5-1-47.
(3) The duties of the task force shall be to:
(a) Make a comprehensive study of the needs by circuit court districts for state-supported indigent defense counsel to examine existing public defender programs, including indigent defense provided in the youth courts. Reports shall be provided to the Legislature each year at least one (1) month before the convening of the regular session.
(b) Examine and study approaches taken by other states in the implementation and costs of state-supported indigent criminal and delinquency cases.
(c) To study the relationship between presiding circuit and youth court judges and the appointment of criminal and delinquency indigent defense counsel.
(4) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2011.
SECTION 2. Section 99-40-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
99-40-1. (1) There is created the Mississippi Office of Indigent Appeals. This office shall consist of six (6) attorneys, two (2) secretaries/paralegals and one (1) financial assistant. One (1) of the attorneys shall serve as director of the office. The director shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve for a term of four (4) years. The remaining attorneys and other staff shall be appointed by the director and shall serve at the will and pleasure of the director. The director and all other attorneys in the office shall either be active members of The Mississippi Bar, or, if a member in good standing of the bar of another jurisdiction, must apply to and secure admission to The Mississippi Bar within twelve (12) months of the commencement of the person's employment by the office. The attorneys in the office shall practice law exclusively for the office and shall not engage in any other practice. The office shall not engage in any litigation other than that related to the office. The salary for the director shall be equivalent to the salary of district attorneys and the salary of the other attorneys in the office shall be equivalent to the salary of an assistant district attorney.
(2) The office shall provide representation on appeal for indigent persons convicted of felonies but not under sentences of death. Representation shall be provided by staff attorneys, or, in the case of conflict or excessive workload, by attorneys selected, employed and compensated by the office on a contract basis. All fees charged by contract counsel and expenses incurred by attorneys in the office and contract counsel must be approved by the court. At the sole discretion of the director, the office may also represent indigent juveniles adjudicated delinquent on appeals from a county court or chancery court to the Mississippi Supreme Court and/or the Mississippi Court of Appeals. The office shall provide advice, education and support to attorneys representing persons under felony charges in the trial courts.
(3) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Indigent Appeals Fund. The purpose of the fund shall be to provide funding for the Mississippi Office of Indigent Appeals. Monies from the funds derived from assessments under Section 99-19-73 shall be distributed by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Mississippi Office of Indigent Appeals. 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 Office of Indigent Appeals;
(b) The interest accruing to the fund;
(c) Monies received under the provisions of Section 99-19-73;
(d) Monies received from the federal government;
(e) Donations; and
(f) Monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.
(4) There is created in the Office of Indigent Appeals the Division of Public Defender Training. The division shall be staffed by any necessary personnel as determined and hired by the director. The mission of the division shall be to work closely with the Mississippi Public Defenders Association to provide training and services to public defenders practicing in all state, county and municipal courts. These services shall include, but not be limited to, continuing legal education, case updates and legal research. The division shall provide (a) education and training for public defenders practicing in all state, county, municipal and youth courts; (b) technical assistance for public defenders practicing in all state, county, municipal and youth courts; and (c) current and accurate information for the Legislature pertaining to the needs of public defenders practicing in all state, county, municipal and youth courts.
(5) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Public Defenders Education Fund. The purpose of the fund shall be to provide funding for the training of public defenders. Monies from the funds derived from assessments under Section 99-19-73 shall be distributed by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Office of Indigent Appeals. 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 public defender training;
(b) The interest accruing to the fund;
(c) Monies received under the provisions of Section 99-19-73;
(d) Monies received from the federal government;
(e) Donations; and
(f) Monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.
SECTION 3. Section 99-19-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
99-19-73. (1) Traffic violations. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation in Title 63, Mississippi Code of 1972, except offenses relating to the Mississippi Implied Consent Law (Section 63-11-1 et seq.) and offenses relating to vehicular parking or registration:
FUND AMOUNT
State Court Education Fund......................... $ 1.50
State Prosecutor Education Fund.................... 1.00
Vulnerable Adults Training,
Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund...... .50
Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund............... .50
Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund............ 7.00
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund............. 5.00
Spinal Cord and Head Injury Trust Fund
(for all moving violations)................... 6.00
Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund.......... 15.00
Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging Fund....... 1.00
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death
Benefits Trust Fund........................... .50
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters
Disability Benefits Trust Fund............... 1.00
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose
of providing additional compensation for legal
assistants to district attorneys.............. 1.50
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund............. 10.00
Drug Court Fund.................................... 10.00
Capital Defense Counsel Fund....................... 1.89
Indigent Appeals Fund.............................. 2.29
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund............... 2.33
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund.................. .49
Public Defenders Education Fund.................... 1.00
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT............................. $ 68.50
(2) Implied Consent Law violations. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or any other penalty for any violation of the Mississippi Implied Consent Law (Section 63-11-1 et seq.):
FUND AMOUNT
Crime Victims' Compensation Fund................... $ 10.00
State Court Education Fund......................... 1.50
State Prosecutor Education Fund.................... 1.00
Vulnerable Adults Training,
Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund...... .50
Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund............... .50
Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund............ 22.00
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund............. 11.00
Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund.......... 15.00
Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program Fund.. 5.00
Federal-State Alcohol Program Fund................. 10.00
Mississippi Crime Laboratory
Implied Consent Law Fund...................... 25.00
Spinal Cord and Head Injury Trust Fund............. 25.00
Capital Defense Counsel Fund....................... 1.89
Indigent Appeals Fund.............................. 2.29
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund............... 2.33
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund.................. .49
State General Fund................................. 35.00
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death
Benefits Trust Fund........................... .50
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Disability
Benefits Trust Fund.......................... 1.00
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose
of providing additional compensation for legal
assistants to district attorneys.............. 1.50
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund............. 10.00
Drug Court Fund.................................... 10.00
Public Defenders Education Fund.................... 1.00
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT............................. $192.50
(3) Game and Fish Law violations. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation of the game and fish statutes or regulations of this state:
FUND AMOUNT
State Court Education Fund......................... $ 1.50
State Prosecutor Education Fund.................... 1.00
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund............. 5.00
Hunter Education and Training Program Fund......... 5.00
State General Fund................................. 30.00
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death
Benefits Trust Fund........................... .50
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Disability
Benefits Trust Fund.......................... 1.00
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose
of providing additional compensation for legal
assistants to district attorneys.............. 1.00
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund............. 10.00
Drug Court Fund.................................... 10.00
Capital Defense Counsel Fund....................... 1.89
Indigent Appeals Fund.............................. 2.29
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund............... 2.33
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund.................. .49
Public Defenders Education Fund.................... 1.00
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT............................. $ 73.00
(4) Litter Law violations. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation of Section 97-15-29 or 97-15-30:
FUND AMOUNT
Statewide Litter Prevention Fund................... $ 25.00
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT............................. $ 25.00
(5) Other misdemeanors. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any misdemeanor violation not specified in subsection (1), (2) or (3) of this section, except offenses relating to vehicular parking or registration:
FUND AMOUNT
Crime Victims' Compensation Fund................... $ 10.00
State Court Education Fund......................... 1.50
State Prosecutor Education Fund.................... 1.00
Vulnerable Adults Training,
Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund...... .50
Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund............... .50
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund............. 5.00
Capital Defense Counsel Fund....................... 1.89
Indigent Appeals Fund.............................. 2.29
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund............... 2.33
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund.................. .49
State General Fund................................. 30.00
State Crime Stoppers Fund.......................... 1.50
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death
Benefits Trust Fund........................... .50
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Disability
Benefits Trust Fund.......................... 1.00
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose
of providing additional compensation for legal
assistants to district attorneys.............. 1.50
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund............. 10.00
Drug Court Fund.................................... 8.00
Judicial Performance Fund.......................... 2.00
Public Defenders Education Fund.................... 1.00
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT............................. $ 81.00
(6) Other felonies. In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any felony violation not specified in subsection (1), (2) or (3) of this section:
FUND AMOUNT
Crime Victims' Compensation Fund................... $ 10.00
State Court Education Fund......................... 1.50
State Prosecutor Education Fund.................... 1.00
Vulnerable Adults Training,
Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund...... .50
Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund............... .50
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund............. 5.00
Capital Defense Counsel Fund....................... 1.89
Indigent Appeals Fund.............................. 2.29
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund............... 2.33
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund.................. .49
State General Fund................................. 60.00
Criminal Justice Fund.............................. 50.00
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death
Benefits Trust Fund........................... .50
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Disability
Benefits Trust Fund.......................... 1.00
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose
of providing additional compensation for legal
assistants to district attorneys.............. 1.50
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund............. 10.00
Drug Court Fund.................................... 10.00
Public Defenders Education Fund.................... 1.00
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT............................. $159.50
(7) If a fine or other penalty imposed is suspended, in whole or in part, such suspension shall not affect the state assessment under this section. No state assessment imposed under the provisions of this section may be suspended or reduced by the court.
(8) After a determination by the court of the amount due, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the court to promptly collect all state assessments imposed under the provisions of this section. The state assessments imposed under the provisions of this section may not be paid by personal check. It shall be the duty of the chancery clerk of each county to deposit all such state assessments collected in the circuit, county and justice courts in such county on a monthly basis with the State Treasurer pursuant to appropriate procedures established by the State Auditor. The chancery clerk shall make a monthly lump-sum deposit of the total state assessments collected in the circuit, county and justice courts in such county under this section, and shall report to the Department of Finance and Administration the total number of violations under each subsection for which state assessments were collected in the circuit, county and justice courts in such county during such month. It shall be the duty of the municipal clerk of each municipality to deposit all such state assessments collected in the municipal court in such municipality on a monthly basis with the State Treasurer pursuant to appropriate procedures established by the State Auditor. The municipal clerk shall make a monthly lump-sum deposit of the total state assessments collected in the municipal court in such municipality under this section, and shall report to the Department of Finance and Administration the total number of violations under each subsection for which state assessments were collected in the municipal court in such municipality during such month.
(9) It shall be the duty of the Department of Finance and Administration to deposit on a monthly basis all such state assessments into the proper special fund in the State Treasury. The monthly deposit shall be based upon the number of violations reported under each subsection and the pro rata amount of such assessment due to the appropriate special fund. The Department of Finance and Administration shall issue regulations providing for the proper allocation of these special funds.
(10) The State Auditor shall establish by regulation procedures for refunds of state assessments, including refunds associated with assessments imposed before July 1, 1990, and refunds after appeals in which the defendant's conviction is reversed. The Auditor shall provide in such regulations for certification of eligibility for refunds and may require the defendant seeking a refund to submit a verified copy of a court order or abstract by which such defendant is entitled to a refund. All refunds of state assessments shall be made in accordance with the procedures established by the Auditor.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007; and shall stand repealed from and after June 30, 2007.
Further, amend by striking the title in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-32-71, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE REPEALER ON THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS TASK FORCE AND REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP AND MISSION OF THE TASK FORCE; TO AMEND SECTION 99-40-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE DIVISION OF PUBLIC DEFENDER TRAINING IN THE OFFICE OF INDIGENT APPEALS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MISSION AND DUTIES OF THE DIVISION; TO CREATE THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS EDUCATION FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND USE OF THE FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 99-19-73, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR A CRIMINAL ASSESSMENT ON CERTAIN CRIMES TO FUND THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS TRAINING FUND; AND FOR RELATE PURPOSES.
SS26\HB1498A.2J
John O. Gilbert
Secretary of the Senate