MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules; Youth and Family Affairs
By: Representatives Hines, Johnson, Faulkner
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 4, CHAPTER 564, LAWS OF 2012, TO EXTEND THE DATE OF REPEAL ON THE JUVENILE DETENTION AND ALTERNATIVES TASK FORCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 4, Chapter 564, Laws of 2012, is amended as follows:
Section 4. (1) There is established the Juvenile Detention and Alternatives Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to support the expansion of juvenile detention alternatives and recommend licensing standards for juvenile detention facilities throughout the state.
(2) The task force shall be
composed of the following members who shall be appointed no later than * * *
July 1, 2014, if
there are to be any changes made by any entity or agency that is a current
member of the task force:
(a) The statewide coordinator of the Annie E. Casey Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, or his designee;
(b) The Director of the Division of Youth Services of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, or his designee;
(c) A representative from the Juvenile Facilities Monitoring Unit appointed by the Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety;
(d) Two (2) youth court judges appointed by the Mississippi Council of Youth Court Judges;
(e) A representative from the Mississippi Sheriffs' Association appointed by the President of the Association;
(f) Four (4) representatives from counties of this state that are engaged in the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, to be appointed by Mississippi's statewide coordinator of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative;
(g) A representative from the Department of Mental Health appointed by the Executive Director of the Department;
(h) Six (6) representatives from the Mississippi Juvenile Detention Directors Association appointed by the President of the Association;
(i) Two (2) county supervisors from counties with juvenile detention centers, appointed by the President of the Mississippi Association of County Detention Supervisors;
(j) Two (2) county administrators from counties with juvenile detention centers, appointed by the President of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors;
(k) The State Superintendent of Education, or his designee; and
(l) Two (2) representatives from state or local government, one (1) to be appointed by the Chairperson of the House Youth and Family Affairs Committee and one (1) to be appointed by the Chairperson of the Senate Judiciary B Committee.
(3) The task force shall
hold at least three (3) meetings before issuing its report and shall hold its
first meeting no later than * * * August 1, 2014, on the
call of the statewide coordinator of the Annie E. Casey Juvenile Detention
Alternatives Initiative, or his designee. At its first meeting, the task force
shall elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson from its membership and shall
adopt rules for transacting business and keeping records. All meetings of the
task force will be open to the public and shall provide opportunities for input
from representatives of any private or public entities that are involved with
the juvenile justice system. Notice of all meetings shall be given as provided
in the Open Meetings Act.
(4) On or before November
1, * * * 2014,
the task force shall file a report with the Secretary of the Senate and the
Clerk of the House of Representatives that includes the following:
(a) A plan for supporting juvenile detention alternatives;
(b) A plan for reducing the financial burden incurred by counties for providing juvenile detention services, increasing cross-county collaboration, reducing duplication of services, and maximizing support from federal, state and private sources;
(c) * * * Plan of implementing juvenile
detention licensing standards, which may consider national standards and the
minimum standards set forth in Section 43-21-321, and in order to develop
the plan described under this paragraph, the task force shall request data from
all counties that operate juvenile detention centers pertaining to, but not
limited to, budgets, staffing ratios and current medical and mental health
services;
(d) A recommendation of which state agency should be authorized to promulgate, adopt and enforce the proposed licensing standards and any other regulations for juvenile detention centers, including the date all facilities should be licensed;
(e) Any recommended
legislation for consideration in the * * * 2015 Legislative Session; and
(f) Any other issues related to juvenile detention centers or alternatives to juvenile detention deemed relevant by the task force.
(5) The task force shall be assigned to the Division of Youth Services of the Department of Human Services for administrative purposes only, and the Division of Youth Services shall designate staff to assist the task force.
(6) There is created an
advisory group established for the purpose of providing advice, input and
information to the Juvenile Detention and Alternatives Task Force. Advisory group
members shall receive notice of task force meetings and shall, at the request
of the Chairperson of the task force, provide assistance with research and
analysis. The advisory group shall be composed of the following members who
shall be appointed no later than * * * July 15, 2014, if there
are to be changes made from the current advisory board:
(a) Two (2) representatives from children's advocacy nonprofit organizations, one (1) to be appointed by the Chairperson of the House Youth and Family Affairs Committee and one (1) to be appointed by the Chairperson of the Senate Judiciary B Committee;
(b) Two (2) representatives of a victim's rights organization appointed by the Attorney General;
(c) Two (2) representatives who are parents or guardians of a youth involved with the juvenile justice system, one (1) to be appointed by the Chairperson of the House Youth and Family Affairs Committee and one (1) to be appointed by the Chairperson of the Senate Judiciary B Committee;
(d) Two (2) youths who have experience with juvenile detention appointed by the Council of Youth Court Judges;
(e) Three (3) members appointed by the Chairperson of the Juvenile Detention and Alternatives Task Force;
(f) Two (2) representatives who are from Mississippi public universities and have substantial experience with juvenile justice or criminal justice administration, to be appointed by the Commissioner of Higher Education;
(g) A representative from the Mississippi Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee appointed by the Chairperson of the Committee;
(h) A representative from the Mississippi Prosecutor's Association;
(i) A representative from the Mississippi Public Defender Association; and
(j) The Chairperson of the House Youth and Family Affairs Committee and the Chairperson of the Senate Judiciary B Committee, or their designees.
(7) This section shall
stand repealed on July 1, * * * 2015.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.