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H. B. No. 384 *HR26/R1413* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Judiciary A;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Watson
HOUSE BILL NO. 384
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 99-19-73, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT ON CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSES 2
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDING FOR THE CIVIL LEGAL 3
ASSISTANCE FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 99-19-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
99-19-73. (1) Traffic violations. In addition to any 8
monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there 9
shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from 10
each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for 11
any violation in Title 63, Mississippi Code of 1972, except 12
offenses relating to the Mississippi Implied Consent Law (Section 13
63-11-1 et seq.) and offenses relating to vehicular parking or 14
registration: 15
FUND AMOUNT 16
State Court Education Fund............................... [Deleted] 17
State Prosecutor Education Fund.......................... [Deleted] 18
Vulnerable Persons Training, 19
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Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund............ [Deleted] 20
Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund..................... [Deleted] 21
Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund.................. [Deleted] 22
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund................... [Deleted] 23
Spinal Cord and Head Injury Trust Fund 24
(for all moving violations)......................... [Deleted] 25
Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund................ [Deleted] 26
Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging Fund............. [Deleted] 27
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters 28
Death Benefits Trust Fund........................... [Deleted] 29
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters 30
Disability Benefits Trust Fund...................... [Deleted] 31
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose 32
of providing additional compensation for 33
district attorneys and their legal assistants....... [Deleted] 34
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund................... [Deleted] 35
Intervention Court Fund.................................. [Deleted] 36
Judicial Performance Fund................................ [Deleted] 37
Capital Defense Counsel Fund............................. [Deleted] 38
Indigent Appeals Fund.................................... [Deleted] 39
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund..................... [Deleted] 40
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund........................ [Deleted] 41
Public Defenders Education Fund.......................... [Deleted] 42
Domestic Violence Training Fund.......................... [Deleted] 43
Attorney General's Cyber Crime Unit...................... [Deleted] 44
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Children's Safe Center Fund.............................. [Deleted] 45
DuBard School for Language Disorders Fund................ [Deleted] 46
Children's Advocacy Centers Fund......................... [Deleted] 47
Judicial System Operation Fund........................... [Deleted] 48
Civil Legal Assistance Fund .............................$ 1.00 49
State General Fund....................................... $ 90.50 50
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT .............................$ 91.50 51
(2) Implied Consent Law violations. In addition to any 52
monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there 53
shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from 54
each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or any other penalty 55
for any violation of the Mississippi Implied Consent Law (Section 56
63-11-1 et seq.): 57
FUND AMOUNT 58
Crime Victims' Compensation Fund......................... [Deleted] 59
State Court Education Fund............................... [Deleted] 60
State Prosecutor Education Fund.......................... [Deleted] 61
Vulnerable Persons Training, 62
Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund............ [Deleted] 63
Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund..................... [Deleted] 64
Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund.................. [Deleted] 65
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund................... [Deleted] 66
Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund................ [Deleted] 67
Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program Fund........ [Deleted] 68
Federal-State Alcohol Program Fund....................... [Deleted] 69
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Mississippi Forensics Laboratory 70
Implied Consent Law Fund............................ [Deleted] 71
Spinal Cord and Head Injury Trust Fund................... [Deleted] 72
Capital Defense Counsel Fund............................. [Deleted] 73
Indigent Appeals Fund.................................... [Deleted] 74
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund..................... [Deleted] 75
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund........................ [Deleted] 76
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters 77
Death Benefits Trust Fund........................... [Deleted] 78
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters 79
Disability Benefits Trust Fund...................... [Deleted] 80
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose 81
of providing additional compensation for 82
district attorneys and their legal assistants....... [Deleted] 83
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund................... [Deleted] 84
Intervention Court Fund.................................. [Deleted] 85
Statewide Victims' Information and 86
Notification System Fund............................ [Deleted] 87
Public Defenders Education Fund.......................... [Deleted] 88
Domestic Violence Training Fund.......................... [Deleted] 89
Attorney General's Cyber Crime Unit...................... [Deleted] 90
Civil Legal Assistance Fund .............................$ 1.00 91
State General Fund....................................... $ 243.50 92
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT .............................$ 244.50 93
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(3) Game and Fish Law violations. In addition to any 94
monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there 95
shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from 96
each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for 97
any violation of the game and fish statutes or regulations of this 98
state: 99
FUND AMOUNT 100
State Court Education Fund............................... [Deleted] 101
State Prosecutor Education Fund.......................... [Deleted] 102
Vulnerable Persons Training, 103
Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund............ [Deleted] 104
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund................... [Deleted] 105
Hunter Education and Training Program Fund............... [Deleted] 106
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters 107
Death Benefits Trust Fund........................... [Deleted] 108
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters 109
Disability Benefits Trust Fund...................... [Deleted] 110
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose 111
of providing additional compensation for district 112
attorneys and their legal assistants................ [Deleted] 113
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund................... [Deleted] 114
Intervention Court Fund.................................. [Deleted] 115
Capital Defense Counsel Fund............................. [Deleted] 116
Indigent Appeals Fund.................................... [Deleted] 117
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund..................... [Deleted] 118
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Victims of Domestic Violence Fund........................ [Deleted] 119
Public Defenders Education Fund.......................... [Deleted] 120
Domestic Violence Training Fund.......................... [Deleted] 121
Attorney General's Cyber Crime Unit...................... [Deleted] 122
GENERAL FUND........................................ $ 89.00 123
(4) [Deleted] 124
(5) Speeding, reckless and careless driving violations. In 125
addition to any assessment imposed under subsection (1) or (2) of 126
this section, there shall be imposed and collected the following 127
state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine 128
or other penalty for driving a vehicle on a road or highway: 129
(a) At a speed that exceeds the posted speed limit by 130
at least ten (10) miles per hour but not more than twenty (20) 131
miles per hour.............................................. $10.00 132
(b) At a speed that exceeds the posted speed limit by 133
at least twenty (20) miles per hour but not more than thirty (30) 134
miles per hour.............................................. $20.00 135
(c) At a speed that exceeds the posted speed limit by 136
thirty (30) miles per hour or more.......................... $30.00 137
(d) In violation of Section 63-3-1201, which is the 138
offense of reckless driving................................. $10.00 139
(e) In violation of Section 63-3-1213, which is the 140
offense of careless driving................................. $10.00 141
All assessments collected under this subsection shall be 142
deposited into the State General Fund. 143
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(6) Other misdemeanors. In addition to any monetary 144
penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be 145
imposed and collected the following state assessment from each 146
person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any 147
misdemeanor violation not specified in subsection (1), (2) or (3) 148
of this section, except offenses relating to vehicular parking or 149
registration: 150
FUND AMOUNT 151
Crime Victims' Compensation Fund......................... [Deleted] 152
State Court Education Fund............................... [Deleted] 153
State Prosecutor Education Fund.......................... [Deleted] 154
Vulnerable Persons Training, Investigation 155
and Prosecution Trust Fund.......................... [Deleted] 156
Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund..................... [Deleted] 157
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund................... [Deleted] 158
Capital Defense Counsel Fund............................. [Deleted] 159
Indigent Appeals Fund.................................... [Deleted] 160
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund..................... [Deleted] 161
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund........................ [Deleted] 162
State Crime Stoppers Fund................................ [Deleted] 163
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters 164
Death Benefits Trust Fund........................... [Deleted] 165
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters 166
Disability Benefits Trust Fund...................... [Deleted] 167
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose 168
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of providing additional compensation for 169
district attorneys and their legal assistants....... [Deleted] 170
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund................... [Deleted] 171
Intervention Court Fund.................................. [Deleted] 172
Judicial Performance Fund................................ [Deleted] 173
Statewide Victims' Information and 174
Notification System Fund............................ [Deleted] 175
Public Defenders Education Fund.......................... [Deleted] 176
Domestic Violence Training Fund.......................... [Deleted] 177
Attorney General's Cyber Crime Unit...................... [Deleted] 178
Information Exchange Network Fund........................ [Deleted] 179
Motorcycle Officer Training Fund......................... [Deleted] 180
Civil Legal Assistance Fund........................... * * *$ 1.00 181
Justice Court Collections Fund........................... [Deleted] 182
Municipal Court Collections Fund......................... [Deleted] 183
State General Fund........................................$121.75 184
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT ..............................$122.75 185
(7) Other felonies. In addition to any monetary penalties 186
and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and 187
collected the following state assessment from each person upon 188
whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any felony 189
violation not specified in subsection (1), (2) or (3) of this 190
section: 191
FUND AMOUNT 192
Crime Victims' Compensation Fund......................... [Deleted] 193
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State Court Education Fund............................... [Deleted] 194
State Prosecutor Education Fund.......................... [Deleted] 195
Vulnerable Persons Training, Investigation 196
and Prosecution Trust Fund.......................... [Deleted] 197
Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund..................... [Deleted] 198
Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund................... [Deleted] 199
Capital Defense Counsel Fund............................. [Deleted] 200
Indigent Appeals Fund.................................... [Deleted] 201
Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund..................... [Deleted] 202
Victims of Domestic Violence Fund........................ [Deleted] 203
Criminal Justice Fund.................................... [Deleted] 204
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters 205
Death Benefits Trust Fund........................... [Deleted] 206
Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters 207
Disability Benefits Trust Fund...................... [Deleted] 208
State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose 209
of providing additional compensation for 210
district attorneys and their legal assistants....... [Deleted] 211
Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund................... [Deleted] 212
Intervention Court Fund.................................. [Deleted] 213
Statewide Victims' Information and 214
Notification System Fund............................ [Deleted] 215
Public Defenders Education Fund.......................... [Deleted] 216
Domestic Violence Training Fund.......................... [Deleted] 217
Attorney General's Cyber Crime Unit...................... [Deleted] 218
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Forensics Laboratory DNA Identification System Fund...... [Deleted] 219
Civil Legal Assistance Fund .............................$ 1.00 220
State General Fund....................................... $ 280.50 221
TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT .............................$ 281.50 222
(8) Additional assessments on certain violations: 223
(a) Railroad crossing violations. In addition to any 224
monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there 225
shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment in 226
addition to all other state assessments due under this section 227
from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty 228
for any violation involving railroad crossings under Section 229
37-41-55, 63-3-1007, 63-3-1009, 63-3-1011, 63-3-1013 or 77-9-249: 230
Operation Lifesaver Fund............................... $25.00 231
(b) Drug violations. In addition to any monetary 232
penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be 233
imposed and collected the following state assessment in addition 234
to all other state assessments due under this section from each 235
person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any 236
violation of Section 41-29-139: 237
Drug Evidence Disposition Fund......................... $25.00 238
Mississippi Foster Care Fund............................ $2.00 239
(c) Motor vehicle liability insurance violations. In 240
addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed 241
by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state 242
assessment in addition to all other state assessments due under 243
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this section from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or 244
other penalty for any violation of Section 63-15-4(4) or Section 245
63-16-13(1): 246
Uninsured Motorist Identification Fund: 247
First offense................................$200.00 248
Second offense...............................$300.00 249
Third or subsequent offense..................$400.00 250
(9) If a fine or other penalty imposed is suspended, in 251
whole or in part, such suspension shall not affect the state 252
assessment under this section. No state assessment imposed under 253
the provisions of this section may be suspended or reduced by the 254
court. 255
(10) (a) After a determination by the court of the amount 256
due, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the court to promptly 257
collect all state assessments imposed under the provisions of this 258
section. The state assessments imposed under the provisions of 259
this section may not be paid by personal check. 260
(b) It shall be the duty of the chancery clerk of each 261
county to deposit all state assessments collected in the circuit, 262
county and justice courts in the county on a monthly basis with 263
the State Treasurer pursuant to appropriate procedures established 264
by the State Auditor. The chancery clerk shall make a monthly 265
lump-sum deposit of the total state assessments collected in the 266
circuit, county and justice courts in the county under this 267
section, and shall report to the Department of Finance and 268
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Administration the total number of violations under each 269
subsection for which state assessments were collected in the 270
circuit, county and justice courts in the county during that 271
month. 272
(c) It shall be the duty of the municipal clerk of each 273
municipality to deposit all the state assessments collected in the 274
municipal court in the municipality on a monthly basis with the 275
State Treasurer pursuant to appropriate procedures established by 276
the State Auditor. The municipal clerk shall make a monthly 277
lump-sum deposit of the total state assessments collected in the 278
municipal court in the municipality under this section, and shall 279
report to the Department of Finance and Administration the total 280
number of violations under each subsection for which state 281
assessments were collected in the municipal court in the 282
municipality during that month. 283
(11) It shall be the duty of the Department of Finance and 284
Administration to deposit on a monthly basis all state assessments 285
into the State General Fund or proper special fund in the State 286
Treasury. The Department of Finance and Administration shall 287
issue regulations providing for the proper allocation of these 288
funds. 289
(12) The State Auditor shall establish by regulation 290
procedures for refunds of state assessments, including refunds 291
associated with assessments imposed before July 1, 1990, and 292
refunds after appeals in which the defendant's conviction is 293
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ST: Civil Legal Assistance Fund; impose state
assessment for certain criminal offenses to
fund.
reversed. The Auditor shall provide in the regulations for 294
certification of eligibility for refunds and may require the 295
defendant seeking a refund to submit a verified copy of a court 296
order or abstract by which the defendant is entitled to a refund. 297
All refunds of state assessments shall be made in accordance with 298
the procedures established by the Auditor. 299
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 300
and after July 1, 2026. 301