House Bill 942

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-53, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT AFTER CERTAIN NOTICE IS GIVEN TO A PERSON WHO FAILS TO TIMELY PAY ANY FINES, FEES AND ASSESSMENTS RELATING TO A TRAFFIC VIOLATION WITHIN 90 DAYS OF RECEIVING THE NOTICE, THEN THE PERSON SHALL BE SUBJECT TO HAVING THE FINES, FEES AND ASSESSMENTS COLLECTED BY A COURT RATHER THAN HAVING HIS OR HER LICENSE SUSPENDED; TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-52, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING SECTION; TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-71, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PERSON'S LICENSE BE SUSPENDED FOR A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE VIOLATION THAT IS UNRELATED TO OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE; TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-51, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE OFFENSE OF CONTEMPT FOR FAILURE TO PAY A FINE OR FEE OR FAILURE TO RESPOND TO A SUMMONS OR CITATION RELATING TO A TRAFFIC VIOLATION AS A GROUNDS FOR REVOKING A PERSON'S LICENSE; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 63-1-46, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH RELATES TO FEES FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF LICENSES SUBSEQUENT TO SUSPENSION; TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI PARENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY COURT ACT AND TO PROVIDE THE GOALS OF THE PARENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY COURTS; TO DEFINE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS UNDER THE ACT; TO PROVIDE THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF COURTS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CERTIFICATION AND MONITORING OF LOCAL PARENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY COURTS; TO ESTABLISH THE STATE PARENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY COURTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH SHALL DEVELOP AND UPDATE PROPOSED STATEWIDE EVALUATION PLANS FOR MONITORING CRITICAL ASPECTS OF PARENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY COURTS; TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING THROUGH A LOCAL PARENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY COURT; TO PROVIDE THE DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF COURTS AS THEY RELATE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ANY PARENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY COURT; TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN FUNDING FOR SUCH COURT; TO CREATE A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY TO BE KNOWN AS THE PARENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY COURT FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AND CIRCUIT AND CHANCERY JUDGES SHALL PROMOTE JUDICIAL EDUCATION REGARDING PARENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY COURTS; TO AMEND SECTION 9-23-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ALL DRUG COURTS TO MAKE AVAILABLE THE OPTION FOR PARTICIPANTS IN A DRUG COURT PROGRAM TO USE MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT WHILE PARTICIPATING IN A DRUG COURT PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 9-23-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A JUDGE MAY AUTHORIZE A PERSON TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING THROUGH A DRUG COURT IF HE OR SHE HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF BURGLARY OF AN UNOCCUPIED DWELLING; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE PROHIBITION AGAINST CIRCUIT AND COUNTY COURT JUDGES FROM SUSPENDING THE EXECUTION OF A SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT AFTER A DEFENDANT HAS BEGUN SERVING HIS OR HER SENTENCE FOR A CRIME, AS LONG AS SUCH CRIME DOES NOT IMPOSE A PENALTY FOR A LIFE SENTENCE OR A DEATH SENTENCE; TO AMEND SECTION 11-44-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON MAY SUBMIT A CLAIM FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND IMPRISONMENT IF A PERSON WAS DETAINED WITHOUT A HEARING AND/OR TRIAL DATE THAT WAS SET IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TIME LIMITS ESTABLISHED BY THE MISSISSIPPI RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-49, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN CRITERIA FOR A DETERMINATION OF INDIGENCE FOR AN OFFENDER WHO IS UNABLE TO PAY HIS OR HER FIELD SUPERVISION FEES AND TO EXTEND THE DATE OF REPEAL ON THIS SECTION; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-40, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT AN OFFENDER SHALL NOT BE DENIED EARNED DISCHARGE CREDITS SOLELY BASED ON NONPAYMENT OF FEES AND/OR FINES IF A DETERMINATION OF INDIGENCE IS MADE; TO PROHIBIT THE BRINGING OF A CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST ANY EMPLOYER, GENERAL CONTRACTOR, PREMISES OWNER OR OTHER THIRD PARTY SOLELY FOR NEGLIGENT HIRING OR FAILING TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE AN EMPLOYEE, BASED ON EVIDENCE THAT THE EMPLOYEE WAS PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Joel Bomgar

  Sponsor

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Jan 11 – Jan 30

1. Jan 11Referred to the House committee on Corrections
2. Jan 30Died in committee in the House