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HB1678 • 2026

Mississippi Youth and Family Systems Coordination Task Force; establish.

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI YOUTH AND FAMILY SYSTEMS COORDINATION TASK FORCE, WHICH IS A STATEWIDE, MULTISYSTEM BODY WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO DEVELOP AND COORDINATE RESEARCH-BASED STRATEGIES CONSISTENT WITH THE YOUTH COURT LAW AND THE STATE'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM; TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE; TO REQUIRE THE TASK FORCE TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Children
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Nelson, McLean, Anthony, Scott
Last action
2026-03-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was not signed into law, so it does not have an effective date.

Mississippi Youth and Family Systems Coordination Task Force

This bill establishes a task force to develop coordinated strategies for youth and family services in Mississippi.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Mississippi Youth and Family Systems Coordination Task Force, which will work on developing coordinated strategies for youth and family services.
  • The task force includes members appointed by the Speaker of the House, Lieutenant Governor, and the Governor, with a focus on including young people who have experienced these systems.
  • Requires the task force to submit an annual report to the governor and legislature starting in December 2027.
  • Ensures that the Department of Mental Health provides support for the task force's operations.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Young people and families who use youth services and behavioral health systems in Mississippi.
  • State agencies involved in juvenile justice and behavioral health.

Terms To Know

Task Force
A group of people brought together to work on a specific project or issue.
Lived-experience members
People who have personal experience with the issues being addressed by the task force, such as young people who have been involved in juvenile justice systems.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
  • It does not specify how many members of each type (youth or adults) will be on the task force beyond requiring at least twelve youth or lived-experience members.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-02-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/19 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division A

  3. 2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/12 (H) Transmitted To Senate

  4. 2026-02-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/11 (H) Passed

  5. 2026-02-02 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/02 (H) Title Suff Do Pass

  6. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (H) Referred To Youth and Family Affairs

Official Summary Text

Mississippi Youth and Family Systems Coordination Task Force; establish.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1678 *HR43/R2307* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R2307
PAGE 1 (OM\KP)

To: Youth and Family Affairs
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Nelson, McLean, Anthony,
Scott

HOUSE BILL NO. 1678

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI YOUTH AND FAMILY SYSTEMS 1
COORDINATION TASK FORCE, WHICH IS A STATEWIDE, MULTISYSTEM BODY 2
WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO DEVELOP AND COORDINATE RESEARCH-BASED 3
STRATEGIES CONSISTENT WITH THE YOUTH COURT LAW AND THE STATE'S 4
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM; TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES OF 5
THE TASK FORCE; TO REQUIRE THE TASK FORCE TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL 6
REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED 7
PURPOSES. 8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 9
SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Mississippi Youth and 10
Family Systems Coordination Task Force. The purpose of this act 11
is to establish a statewide task force to develop coordinated, 12
research-based, multisystem strategies that complement and 13
strengthen existing juvenile justice and behavioral health systems 14
without altering statutory jurisdiction or judicial authority due 15
to increased strain due to service gaps, workforce shortages, and 16
fragmented service delivery. Coordinated, cross-system strategies 17
are necessary to strengthen diversion, prevention, and treatment 18
responses that improve youth outcomes, reduce recidivism, and 19
enhance public safety, while preserving the authority of the Youth 20
Courts. 21
H. B. No. 1678 *HR43/R2307* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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The task force shall serve in an advisory and coordinating 22
capacity and shall not exercise regulatory, enforcement, or 23
judicial authority. 24
(2) (a) The task force shall be composed of the following 25
24 members: 26
(i) Eight (8) individuals, with at least four (4) 27
youth who have lived-experiences, appointed by the Speaker of the 28
House of Representatives as prescribed in this subsection; 29
(ii) Eight (8) individuals, with at least four (4) 30
youth who have lived-experiences, appointed by the Lieutenant 31
Governor as prescribed in this subsection; and 32
(iii) Eight (8) individuals, with at least four 33
(4) youth who have lived-experiences, appointed by the Governor as 34
prescribed under this subsection. 35
(b) No fewer than twelve (12) members of the task force 36
shall be youth or individuals with lived-experience. Adult 37
members shall represent agencies and organizations operating under 38
Titles 41 and 43, Mississippi Code of 1972. No membership 39
category shall exceed fifty percent (50%) of the voting 40
membership. 41
(c) Youth and lived-experience members shall be 42
selected through an open nomination process. A youth selection 43
panel shall review nominations and recommend candidates. 44
Appointing authorities shall give substantial deference to youth 45
selection panel recommendations. 46
H. B. No. 1678 *HR43/R2307* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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(3) Members shall serve staggered two-year terms. 47
(4) (a) Appointments to the task force must be made within 48
thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act. Within 49
fifteen (15) days thereafter, the task force shall meet and 50
organize and shall elect two (2) co-chairs, one (1) of whom shall 51
be a youth or lived-experience member. Task force members shall 52
select from its membership a vice chair. The vice chair shall 53
serve as the secretary and is responsible for keeping all records 54
of the task force. A majority of the members of the task force 55
constitutes a quorum. In the selection of its officers and the 56
adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of 57
a majority of the task force is required. Written notice of task 58
force meetings shall be sent electronically to all members at 59
least fifteen (15) days before the date on which a meeting is to 60
be held. 61
(b) The task force shall meet at least once monthly. 62
(5) Members of the task force may not receive compensation 63
for their service on the task force. 64
(6) To effectuate the purposes of this act, the Department 65
of Mental Health shall provide administrative and logistical 66
support and shall provide the facilities, assistance, information 67
and data needed to enable the task force to carry out its duties. 68
(7) The task force shall submit an annual report beginning 69
December 1, 2027, to the Governor and Legislature. 70
H. B. No. 1678 *HR43/R2307* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R2307
PAGE 4 (OM\KP)
ST: Mississippi Youth and Family Systems
Coordination Task Force; establish.
(8) Nothing in this act shall limit the authority of Youth 71
Courts or state agencies. 72
(9) If any provision of this act is held invalid, such 73
invalidity shall not affect other provisions. 74
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 75
and after July 1, 2027. 76