House Bill 1

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-36, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO IMPLEMENT CERTAIN RULES AND REGULATIONS REGARDING THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY PORTALS BY THOSE WHO ARE ON PAROLE OR PROBATION AND PROBATION OFFICERS WHO SUPERVISE THOSE WHO ARE ON PAROLE OR PROBATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 47-7-36, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

47-7-36. (1) Any person who supervises an individual placed on parole by the Parole Board or placed on probation by the court shall set the times and locations for meetings that are required for parole or probation at such times and locations that are reasonably designed to accommodate the work schedule of an individual on parole or probation who is employed by another person or entity. To effectuate the provisions of this section, the parole officer or probation officer may utilize technology portals such as Skype, FaceTime or Google video chat, or any other technology portal that allows communication between the individual on parole or probation and the parole or probation officer, as applicable, to occur simultaneously in real time by voice and video in lieu of requiring a face-to-face in person meeting of such individual and the parole or probation officer, as applicable. For individuals who are self-employed, the provisions of this section shall only apply with the agreement of their supervising parole or probation officer.

(2) The Department of Corrections shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section. The rules and regulations promulgated by the department shall include, but are not limited to, minimum standards and guidelines for the authorized technology and how it may be used as well as standards for determining the eligibility and suitability of an individual on parole or probation to meet his or her reporting requirements through the use of such technology. The eligibility and suitability standards shall include consideration of the severity of the individual's underlying criminal conviction and such individual's criminal history, supervision level, and past supervision history.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.