Senate Bill 2840

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-105, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 6 OF HOUSE BILL NO. 571, 2019 REGULAR SESSION, TO REVISE THE STATUS OF FORENSIC INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY A CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-261, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 3 OF SENATE BILL NO. 2576, 2019 REGULAR SESSION, TO AUTHORIZE DISCLOSURE OF YOUTH COURT RECORDS TO A GUARDIAN AD LITEM DULY APPOINTED BY THE COURT, TO EXPAND DISCLOSURE FOR TRIAL PURPOSES, TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES TO SHARE CERTAIN RECORDS, TO PROVIDE FOR WAIVER OF CONFIDENTIALITY IN CERTAIN CHILD DEATHS OR CRITICAL INJURIES OF CHILDREN AND TO CLARIFY AVAILABILITY OF CHILD FORENSIC INTERVIEWS; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-353, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 5 OF HOUSE BILL NO. 571, SECTION 1 OF HOUSE BILL NO. 1117, AND SECTION 4 OF SENATE BILL NO. 2576, 2019 REGULAR SESSION, TO AUTHORIZE REPORTING OF CERTAIN FRAUDULENT ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-121, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIANS AD LITEM BY THE YOUTH COURT; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-301, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE GROUNDS FOR CUSTODY BASED ON PARENTAL USE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AND TO REQUIRE THAT ALL ORAL ORDERS BE REDUCED TO WRITING; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-203, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THAT ALL HEARINGS ON THE RECORD AND ORAL ORDERS BE REDUCED TO WRITING; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-613, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXPAND THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A REVIEW HEARING IS REQUIRED; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-155, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR TRANSFER OF CASES; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-303, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE TAKING OF CUSTODY WITHOUT A WARRANT; TO AMEND SECTION 41-111-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE INVESTIGATORY AND REPORTING DUTIES OF THE CHILD DEATH REVIEW PANEL TO INCLUDE CHILD NEAR FATALITIES; TO CREATE NEW CODE SECTION 41-111-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO MANDATE REPORTING OF CHILD FATALITIES AND NEAR FATALITIES SO THAT TIMELY INVESTIGATIONS MAY BE CONDUCTED IN APPROPRIATE CASES IN ORDER TO DECREASE THE INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CAUSING FATAL OR SERIOUS INJURIES TO CHILDREN, AND TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE CHILDREN OF THIS STATE; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-257, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 2 OF SENATE BILL NO. 2576, 2019 REGULAR SESSION, TO REVISE THE CENTRAL STATE REGISTRY ON NEGLECT AND ABUSE CASES; TO AMEND SECTION 93-17-55, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE DEFINITIONS IN THE ADOPTION SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS LAW; TO AMEND SECTION 93-17-67, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE CONTINUATION OF MEDICAID BENEFITS POST-ADOPTION UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; TO AMEND SECTION 93-17-69, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY STATE SUPPORT FOR NONRECURRING ADOPTION EXPENSES; TO AMEND SECTION 97-35-47, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 1 OF SENATE BILL NO. 2576, 2019 REGULAR SESSION, TO PROVIDE THAT A FALSE REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES SHALL BE PUNISHABLE AS A MISDEMEANOR; TO AMEND SECTION 93-31-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH BOTH PARENTS MUST EXECUTE A TEMPORARY POWER OF ATTORNEY TO BE EFFECTIVE UNDER THE ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 93-31-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THAT A REASON FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE POWER OF ATTORNEY BE STATED; TO REQUIRE AN AFFIDAVIT OF STATUTORY COMPLIANCE BY THE FACILITATING AGENCY; TO CONFORM THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT CLAUSE AND TO CREATE A STATUTORILY SUFFICIENT FORM FOR REVOCATION OF A POWER OF ATTORNEY GRANTED UNDER THE ACT; TO REQUIRE AN AFFIDAVIT FROM A CUSTODIAL PARENT WHO ALLEGES UNAVAILABILITY OF THE NONCUSTODIAL PARENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the Senate

• Brice Wiggins

  Sponsor

• Senate floor amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Feb 12

• House of Representatives committee amendmentPending

• House of Representatives floor amendmentPending

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

In the Senate Jan 21 – Feb 12

1. Jan 21Referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary, Division A
2. Feb 5Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
3. Feb 12Committee substitute adopted in the Senate
4. Amended in the Senate
5. Passed the Senate as amended

In the House of Representatives Feb 12 – Mar 12

1. Feb 12Motion in the Senate to reconsider entered
2. Feb 14Motion in the Senate to reconsider tabled
3. Feb 18Sent to the House
4. Feb 19Referred to the House committee on Judiciary A
5. Feb 26Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass as amended
6. Mar 12Amended in the House
7. Passed the House as amended

Back in the Senate Mar 14 – Apr 4

1. Mar 14Returned to the Senate to concur in the House's amendments
2. Mar 21Declined in the Senate to concur, and invited a conference
3. Mar 27Conferees named in the Senate: Hopson, Wiggins and Turner-Ford
4. Conferees named in the House: Baker, Reynolds and Roberson
5. Conference report filed in the Senate
6. Conference report filed in the House
7. Mar 28Conference report adopted in the House
8. Conference report adopted in the Senate
9. Apr 4Enrolled bill signed in the Senate

To the Governor Apr 4 – Apr 16

1. Apr 4Enrolled bill signed in the House
2. Apr 16Approved by the Governor