Senate Bill 2829

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-27-39, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PERMIT THE DOWNSIZING OR REORGANIZATION OF THE OAKLEY TRAINING SCHOOL AS A SECURE TRAINING SCHOOL FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS; TO AUTHORIZE ALTERNATIVE USES OF COLUMBIA TRAINING SCHOOL AND OAKLEY TRAINING SCHOOL PROPERTIES AND FACILITIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 43-27-39, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-27-39. (1) The purpose of this section is to ensure that Mississippi's juvenile justice system is cost-efficient and effective at reducing juvenile crime and to create a continuum of options for Mississippi's youth court judges so that they are better equipped to protect our communities and to care for our children.

(2) * * * All youth, both male and female, committed to the custody of the Department of Human Services and adjudicated to training school shall be housed at the Oakley Training School. The Oakley Training School shall provide gender-specific treatment for youth who are adjudicated delinquent.

(3) The Oakley Training School may be downsized or reorganized as a secure training school for juvenile delinquents. In the event of the decision to downsize or reorganize the institution, the department will be exempt for a period of one (1) year from State Personnel Board rules, regulations and restrictions regarding all personnel transactions, including, but not limited to, the hiring, terminating, promoting, reclassifying, reallocating and realigning of employees, pay grades and job positions. The types and classifications of juveniles who are no longer committed to state training institutions shall be treated in regional, community, home-based and other adolescent offender programs and facilities.

(4) All or part of the Columbia Training School and Oakley Training School properties and facilities no longer needed may be retained by the Department of Human Services or sold, transferred or leased to public or private entities for any appropriate purpose, which is determined by the Department of Human Services to serve the best interests of the state and community.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.