Neglect and delinquency; bring forward sections related to.

S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 1 (ens\kr)

To: Judiciary, Division A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Wiggins

SENATE BILL NO. 2697

AN ACT TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 43-21-261, 43-21-351, 1
43-21-801, 43-27-20 AND 45-33-61, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH 2
RELATE TO THE ADJUDICATION OR DIVERSION OF NEGLECT AND DELINQUENCY 3
MATTERS, FOR POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 43-21-261, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
brought forward as follows: 7
43-21-261. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this 8
section, records involving children shall not be disclosed, other 9
than to necessary staff or officials of the youth court, a 10
guardian ad litem appointed to a child by the court, or a 11
Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer who may be 12
assigned in a dependency, abuse or neglect case, except pursuant 13
to an order of the youth court specifying the person or persons to 14
whom the records may be disclosed, the extent of the records which 15
may be disclosed and the purpose of the disclosure. Such court 16
orders for disclosure shall be limited to those instances in which 17
the youth court concludes, in its discretion, that disclosure is 18
required for the best interests of the child, the public safety, 19
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 2 (ens\kr)

the functioning of the youth court, or to identify a person who 20
knowingly made a false allegation of child abuse or neglect, and 21
then only to the following persons: 22
(a) The judge of another youth court or member of 23
another youth court staff; 24
(b) The court of the parties in a child custody or 25
adoption cause in another court; 26
(c) A judge of any other court or members of another 27
court staff, including the chancery court that ordered a forensic 28
interview; 29
(d) Representatives of a public or private agency 30
providing supervision or having custody of the child under order 31
of the youth court; 32
(e) Any person engaged in a bona fide research purpose, 33
provided that no information identifying the subject of the 34
records shall be made available to the researcher unless it is 35
absolutely essential to the research purpose and the judge gives 36
prior written approval, and the child, through his or her 37
representative, gives permission to release the information; 38
(f) The Mississippi Department of Employment Security, 39
or its duly authorized representatives, for the purpose of a 40
child's enrollment into the Job Corps Training Program as 41
authorized by Title IV of the Comprehensive Employment Training 42
Act of 1973 (29 USCS Section 923 et seq.). However, no records, 43
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 3 (ens\kr)

reports, investigations or information derived therefrom 44
pertaining to child abuse or neglect shall be disclosed; 45
(g) Any person pursuant to a finding by a judge of the 46
youth court of compelling circumstances affecting the health, 47
safety or well-being of a child and that such disclosure is in the 48
best interests of the child or an adult who was formerly the 49
subject of a youth court delinquency proceeding; 50
(h) A person who was the subject of a knowingly made 51
false allegation of child abuse or neglect which has resulted in a 52
conviction of a perpetrator in accordance with Section 97-35-47 or 53
which allegation was referred by the Department of Child 54
Protection Services to a prosecutor or law enforcement official in 55
accordance with the provisions of Section 43-21-353(4). 56
Law enforcement agencies may disclose information to the 57
public concerning the taking of a child into custody for the 58
commission of a delinquent act without the necessity of an order 59
from the youth court. The information released shall not identify 60
the child or his address unless the information involves a child 61
convicted as an adult. 62
(2) Any records involving children which are disclosed under 63
an order of the youth court or pursuant to the terms of this 64
section and the contents thereof shall be kept confidential by the 65
person or agency to whom the record is disclosed unless otherwise 66
provided in the order. Any further disclosure of any records 67
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 4 (ens\kr)

involving children shall be made only under an order of the youth 68
court as provided in this section. 69
(3) Upon request, the parent, guardian or custodian of the 70
child who is the subject of a youth court cause or any attorney 71
for such parent, guardian or custodian, shall have the right to 72
inspect any record, report or investigation relevant to a matter 73
to be heard by a youth court, except that the identity of the 74
reporter shall not be released, nor the name of any other person 75
where the person or agency making the information available finds 76
that disclosure of the information would be likely to endanger the 77
life or safety of such person. The attorney for the parent, 78
guardian or custodian of the child, upon request, shall be 79
provided a copy of any record, report or investigation relevant to 80
a matter to be heard by a youth court, but the identity of the 81
reporter must be redacted and the name of any other person must 82
also be redacted if the person or agency making the information 83
available finds that disclosure of the information would be likely 84
to endanger the life, safety or well-being of the person. A 85
record provided to the attorney under this section must remain in 86
the attorney's control and the attorney may not provide copies or 87
access to another person or entity without prior consent of a 88
court with appropriate jurisdiction. 89
(4) Upon request, the child who is the subject of a youth 90
court cause shall have the right to have his counsel inspect and 91
copy any record, report or investigation which is filed with the 92
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 5 (ens\kr)

youth court or which is to be considered by the youth court at a 93
hearing. 94
(5) (a) The youth court prosecutor or prosecutors, the 95
county attorney, the district attorney, the youth court defender 96
or defenders, or any attorney representing a child shall have the 97
right to inspect and copy any law enforcement record involving 98
children. 99
(b) The Department of Child Protection Services shall 100
disclose to a county prosecuting attorney or district attorney any 101
and all records resulting from an investigation into suspected 102
child abuse or neglect when the case has been referred by the 103
Department of Child Protection Services to the county prosecuting 104
attorney or district attorney for criminal prosecution. 105
(c) Agency records made confidential under the 106
provisions of this section may be disclosed to a court of 107
competent jurisdiction. 108
(d) Records involving children shall be disclosed to 109
the Division of Victim Compensation of the Office of the Attorney 110
General upon the division's request without order of the youth 111
court for purposes of determination of eligibility for victim 112
compensation benefits. 113
(6) Information concerning an investigation into a report of 114
child abuse or child neglect may be disclosed by the Department of 115
Child Protection Services without order of the youth court to any 116
attorney, physician, dentist, intern, resident, nurse, 117
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 6 (ens\kr)

psychologist, social worker, family protection worker, family 118
protection specialist, child caregiver, minister, law enforcement 119
officer, or a public or private school employee making that report 120
pursuant to Section 43-21-353(1) if the reporter has a continuing 121
professional relationship with the child and a need for such 122
information in order to protect or treat the child. 123
(7) Information concerning an investigation into a report of 124
child abuse or child neglect may be disclosed without further 125
order of the youth court to any interagency child abuse task force 126
established in any county or municipality by order of the youth 127
court of that county or municipality. 128
(8) Names and addresses of juveniles twice adjudicated as 129
delinquent for an act which would be a felony if committed by an 130
adult or for the unlawful possession of a firearm shall not be 131
held confidential and shall be made available to the public. 132
(9) Names and addresses of juveniles adjudicated as 133
delinquent for murder, manslaughter, burglary, arson, armed 134
robbery, aggravated assault, any sex offense as defined in Section 135
45-33-23, for any violation of Section 41-29-139(a)(1) or for any 136
violation of Section 63-11-30, shall not be held confidential and 137
shall be made available to the public. 138
(10) The judges of the circuit and county courts, and 139
presentence investigators for the circuit courts, as provided in 140
Section 47-7-9, shall have the right to inspect any youth court 141
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 7 (ens\kr)

records of a person convicted of a crime for sentencing purposes 142
only. 143
(11) The victim of an offense committed by a child who is 144
the subject of a youth court cause shall have the right to be 145
informed of the child's disposition by the youth court. 146
(12) A classification hearing officer of the State 147
Department of Corrections, as provided in Section 47-5-103, shall 148
have the right to inspect any youth court records, excluding abuse 149
and neglect records, of any offender in the custody of the 150
department who as a child or minor was a juvenile offender or was 151
the subject of a youth court cause of action, and the State Parole 152
Board, as provided in Section 47-7-17, shall have the right to 153
inspect such records when the offender becomes eligible for 154
parole. 155
(13) The youth court shall notify the Department of Public 156
Safety of the name, and any other identifying information such 157
department may require, of any child who is adjudicated delinquent 158
as a result of a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances 159
Law. 160
(14) The Administrative Office of Courts shall have the 161
right to inspect any youth court records in order that the number 162
of youthful offenders, abused, neglected, truant and dependent 163
children, as well as children in need of special care and children 164
in need of supervision, may be tracked with specificity through 165
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 8 (ens\kr)

the youth court and adult justice system, and to utilize tracking 166
forms for such purpose. 167
(15) Upon a request by a youth court, the Administrative 168
Office of Courts shall disclose all information at its disposal 169
concerning any previous youth court intakes alleging that a child 170
was a delinquent child, child in need of supervision, child in 171
need of special care, truant child, abused child or neglected 172
child, as well as any previous youth court adjudications for the 173
same and all dispositional information concerning a child who at 174
the time of such request comes under the jurisdiction of the youth 175
court making such request. 176
(16) The Administrative Office of Courts may, in its 177
discretion, disclose to the Department of Public Safety any or all 178
of the information involving children contained in the office's 179
youth court data management system known as Mississippi Youth 180
Court Information Delivery System or "MYCIDS." 181
(17) The youth courts of the state shall disclose to the 182
Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and 183
Expenditure Review (PEER) any youth court records in order that 184
the number of youthful offenders, abused, neglected, truant and 185
dependent children, as well as children in need of special care 186
and children in need of supervision, may be tracked with 187
specificity through the youth court and adult justice system, and 188
to utilize tracking forms for such purpose. The disclosure 189
prescribed in this subsection shall not require a court order and 190
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 9 (ens\kr)

shall be made in sortable, electronic format where possible. The 191
PEER Committee may seek the assistance of the Administrative 192
Office of Courts in seeking this information. The PEER Committee 193
shall not disclose the identities of any youth who have been 194
adjudicated in the youth courts of the state and shall only use 195
the disclosed information for the purpose of monitoring the 196
effectiveness and efficiency of programs established to assist 197
adjudicated youth, and to ascertain the incidence of adjudicated 198
youth who become adult offenders. 199
(18) In every case where an abuse or neglect allegation has 200
been made, the confidentiality provisions of this section shall 201
not apply to prohibit access to a child's records by any state 202
regulatory agency, any state or local prosecutorial agency or law 203
enforcement agency; however, no identifying information concerning 204
the child in question may be released to the public by such agency 205
except as otherwise provided herein. 206
(19) In every case of child abuse or neglect, if a child's 207
physical condition is medically labeled as medically "serious" or 208
"critical" or a child dies, the confidentiality provisions of this 209
section shall not apply. In such cases, the following information 210
may be released by the Mississippi Department of Child Protection 211
Services: the cause of the circumstances regarding the fatality 212
or medically serious or critical physical condition; the age and 213
gender of the child; information describing any previous reports 214
of child abuse or neglect investigations that are pertinent to the 215
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 10 (ens\kr)

child abuse or neglect that led to the fatality or medically 216
serious or critical physical condition; the result of any such 217
investigations; and the services provided by and actions of the 218
state on behalf of the child that are pertinent to the child abuse 219
or neglect that led to the fatality or medically serious or 220
critical physical condition. 221
(20) Any member of a foster care review board designated by 222
the Department of Child Protection Services shall have the right 223
to inspect youth court records relating to the abuse, neglect or 224
child in need of supervision cases assigned to such member for 225
review. 226
(21) Information concerning an investigation into a report 227
of child abuse or child neglect may be disclosed without further 228
order of the youth court in any administrative or due process 229
hearing held, pursuant to Section 43-21-257, by the Department of 230
Child Protection Services for individuals whose names will be 231
placed on the central registry as substantiated perpetrators. 232
(22) The Department of Child Protection Services may 233
disclose records involving children to the following: 234
(a) A foster home, residential child-caring agency or 235
child-placing agency to the extent necessary to provide such care 236
and services to a child; 237
(b) An individual, agency or organization that provides 238
services to a child or the child's family in furtherance of the 239
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 11 (ens\kr)

child's permanency plan to the extent necessary in providing those 240
services; 241
(c) Health and mental health care providers of a child 242
to the extent necessary for the provider to properly treat and 243
care for the child; 244
(d) An educational institution or educational services 245
provider where the child is enrolled or where enrollment is 246
anticipated to the extent necessary for the school to provide 247
appropriate services to the child; 248
(e) Any state agency or board that administers student 249
financial assistance programs. However, any records request under 250
this paragraph shall be initiated by the agency or board for the 251
purpose determining the child's eligibility for student financial 252
assistance, and any disclosure shall be limited to the 253
verification of the child's age during the period of time in which 254
the child was in the department's legal custody; and 255
(f) Any other state agency if the disclosure is 256
necessary to the department in fulfilling its statutory 257
responsibilities in protecting the best interests of the child. 258
(23) Nothing in this section or chapter shall require youth 259
court approval for disclosure of records involving children as 260
defined in Section 43-21-105(u), if the disclosure is made in a 261
criminal matter by a municipal or county prosecutor, a district 262
attorney or statewide prosecutor, pursuant to the Mississippi 263
Rules of Criminal Procedure and the records are disclosed under a 264
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 12 (ens\kr)

protective order issued by the Circuit Court presiding over the 265
criminal matter which incorporates the penalties stated in Section 266
43-21-267. 267
(24) The provisions of this section shall stand repealed on 268
July 1, 2026. 269
SECTION 2. Section 43-21-351, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 270
brought forward as follows: 271
43-21-351. (1) Any person or agency having knowledge that a 272
child residing or being within the county is within the 273
jurisdiction of the youth court may make a written report to the 274
intake unit alleging facts sufficient to establish the 275
jurisdiction of the youth court. The report shall bear a 276
permanent number that will be assigned by the court in accordance 277
with the standards established by the Administrative Office of 278
Courts pursuant to Section 9-21-9(d), and shall be preserved until 279
destroyed on order of the court. 280
(2) There shall be in each youth court of the state an 281
intake officer who shall be responsible for the accurate and 282
timely entering of all intake and case information into the 283
Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System (MYCIDS) for 284
the Department of Human Services - Division of Youth Services, 285
truancy matters, and the Department of Child Protection Services. 286
It shall be the responsibility of the youth court judge or referee 287
of each county to ensure that the intake officer is carrying out 288
the responsibility of this section. 289
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 13 (ens\kr)

(3) Each intake officer shall receive, at a minimum, six (6) 290
hours of annual training on MYCIDS provided by the Mississippi 291
Judicial College. The required training under this subsection 292
shall be in addition to technical training provided by the 293
Mississippi Supreme Court MYCIDS Information Technology 294
Department. 295
(4) The Mississippi Judicial College, in conjunction with 296
the Administrative Office of Courts, shall develop training 297
materials on MYCIDS: 298
(a) To ensure the accurate and timely entrance of all 299
intake and case information throughout the state by intake 300
officers; 301
(b) To ensure that youth court judges are equipped to 302
oversee the functions of each intake officer. 303
(5) The provisions of this section shall stand repealed on 304
July 1, 2026. 305
SECTION 3. Section 43-21-801, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 306
brought forward as follows: 307
43-21-801. (1) There is established the Youth Court Support 308
Program. The purpose of the program shall be to ensure that all 309
youth courts have sufficient support funds to carry on the 310
business of the youth court. The Administrative Office of Courts 311
shall establish a formula consistent with this section for 312
providing state support payable from the Youth Court Support Fund 313
for the support of the youth courts. 314
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 14 (ens\kr)

(a) (i) Each regular youth court referee is eligible 315
for youth court support funds so long as the senior chancellor 316
does not elect to employ a youth court administrator as set forth 317
in paragraph (b); a municipal youth court judge is also eligible. 318
The Administrative Office of Courts shall direct any funds to the 319
appropriate county or municipality. The funds shall be utilized 320
to compensate an intake officer who shall be responsible for 321
ensuring that all intake and case information for the Department 322
of Human Services - Division of Youth Services, truancy matters, 323
and the Department of Child Protection Services is entered into 324
the Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System (MYCIDS) 325
in an accurate and timely manner. If the court already has an 326
intake officer responsible for entering all cases of the 327
Department of Human Services - Division of Youth Services, truancy 328
matters, and the Department of Child Protection Services into 329
MYCIDS, the regular youth court referee or municipal court judge 330
may certify to the Administrative Office of Courts that such a 331
person is already on staff. In such a case, each regular youth 332
court referee or municipal youth court judge shall have the sole 333
individual discretion to appropriate those funds as expense monies 334
to assist in hiring secretarial staff and acquiring materials and 335
equipment incidental to carrying on the business of the court 336
within the private practice of law of the referee or judge, or may 337
direct the use of those funds through the county or municipal 338
budget for court support supplies or services. The regular youth 339
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 15 (ens\kr)

court referee and municipal youth court judge shall be accountable 340
for assuring through private, county or municipal employees the 341
proper preparation and filing of all necessary tracking and other 342
documentation attendant to the administration of the youth court. 343
(ii) Title to all tangible property, excepting 344
stamps, stationery and minor expendable office supplies, procured 345
with funds authorized by this section, shall be and forever remain 346
in the county or municipality to be used by the judge or referee 347
during the term of his office and thereafter by his successors. 348
(b) (i) When permitted by the Administrative Office of 349
Courts and as funds are available, the senior chancellor for 350
Chancery Districts One, Two, Three, Four, Six, Seven, Nine, Ten, 351
Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen and Eighteen may appoint a youth court 352
administrator for the district whose responsibility will be to 353
perform all reporting, tracking and other duties of a court 354
administrator for all youth courts in the district that are under 355
the chancery court system. Any chancery district listed in this 356
paragraph in which a chancellor appoints a referee or special 357
master to hear any youth court matter is ineligible for funding 358
under this paragraph (b). The Administrative Office of Courts may 359
allocate to an eligible chancery district a sum not to exceed 360
Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) per year for the salary, 361
fringe benefits and equipment of the youth court administrator, 362
and an additional sum not to exceed One Thousand Nine Hundred 363
Dollars ($1,900.00) for the administrator's travel expenses. 364
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 16 (ens\kr)

(ii) The appointment of a youth court 365
administrator shall be evidenced by the entry of an order on the 366
minutes of the court. The person appointed shall serve at the 367
will and pleasure of the senior chancellor but shall be an 368
employee of the Administrative Office of Courts. 369
(iii) The Administrative Office of Courts must 370
approve the position, job description and salary before the 371
position can be filled. The Administrative Office of Courts shall 372
not approve any plan that does not first require the expenditure 373
of the funds from the Youth Court Support Fund before expenditure 374
of county funds is authorized for that purpose. 375
(iv) Title to any tangible property procured with 376
funds authorized under this paragraph shall be and forever remain 377
in the State of Mississippi. 378
(c) (i) Each county court is eligible for youth court 379
support funds. The funds shall be utilized to provide 380
compensation to an intake officer who shall be responsible for 381
ensuring that all intake and case information for the Department 382
of Human Services - Division of Youth Services, truancy matters, 383
and the Department of Child Protection Services is entered into 384
the Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System (MYCIDS) 385
in an accurate and timely manner. If the county court already has 386
an intake officer or other staff person responsible for entering 387
all cases of the Department of Human Services - Division of Youth 388
Services, truancy matters and the Department of Child Protection 389
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 17 (ens\kr)

Services into MYCIDS, the senior county court judge may certify 390
that such a person is already on staff. In such a case, the 391
senior county court judge shall have discretion to direct the 392
expenditure of those funds in hiring other support staff to carry 393
on the business of the court. 394
(ii) For the purposes of this paragraph, "support 395
staff" means court administrators, law clerks, legal research 396
assistants, secretaries, resource administrators or case managers 397
appointed by a youth court judge, or any combination thereof, but 398
shall not mean school attendance officers. 399
(iii) The appointment of support staff shall be 400
evidenced by the entry of an order on the minutes of the court. 401
The support staff so appointed shall serve at the will and 402
pleasure of the senior county court judge but shall be an employee 403
of the county. 404
(iv) The Administrative Office of Courts must 405
approve the positions, job descriptions and salaries before the 406
positions may be filled. The Administrative Office of Courts 407
shall not approve any plan that does not first require the 408
expenditure of funds from the Youth Court Support Fund before 409
expenditure of county funds is authorized for that purpose. 410
(v) The Administrative Office of Courts may 411
approve expenditure from the fund for additional equipment for 412
support staff appointed pursuant to this paragraph if the 413
additional expenditure falls within the formula. Title to any 414
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 18 (ens\kr)

tangible property procured with funds authorized under this 415
paragraph shall be and forever remain in the county to be used by 416
the youth court and support staff. 417
(2) (a) (i) The formula developed by the Administrative 418
Office of Courts for providing youth court support funds shall be 419
devised so as to distribute appropriated funds proportional to 420
caseload and other appropriate factors as set forth in regulations 421
promulgated by the Administrative Office of Courts. The formula 422
will determine a reasonable maximum amount per judge or referee 423
per annum that will not be exceeded in allocating funds under this 424
section. 425
(ii) The formula shall be reviewed by the 426
Administrative Office of Courts every two (2) years to ensure that 427
the youth court support funds provided herein are proportional to 428
each youth court's caseload and other specified factors. 429
(iii) The Administrative Office of Courts shall 430
have wide latitude in the first two-year cycle to implement a 431
formula designed to maximize caseload data collection. 432
(b) Application to receive funds under this section 433
shall be submitted in accordance with procedures established by 434
the Administrative Office of Courts. 435
(c) Approval of the use of any of the youth court 436
support funds distributed under this section shall be made by the 437
Administrative Office of Courts in accordance with procedures 438
established by the Administrative Office of Courts. 439
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 19 (ens\kr)

(3) (a) There is created in the State Treasury a special 440
fund to be designated as the "Youth Court Support Fund," which 441
shall consist of funds appropriated or otherwise made available by 442
the Legislature in any manner and funds from any other source 443
designated for deposit into such fund. Unexpended amounts 444
remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse 445
into the State General Fund, and any investment earnings or 446
interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the 447
credit of the fund. Monies in the fund shall be distributed to 448
the youth courts by the Administrative Office of Courts for the 449
purposes described in this section. 450
(b) (i) During the regular legislative session held in 451
calendar year 2007, the Legislature may appropriate an amount not 452
to exceed Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars 453
($2,500,000.00) to the Youth Court Support Fund. 454
(ii) During each regular legislative session 455
subsequent to the 2007 Regular Session, the Legislature shall 456
appropriate Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars 457
($2,500,000.00) to the Youth Court Support Fund. 458
(c) No youth court judge or youth court referee shall 459
be eligible to receive funding from the Youth Court Support Fund 460
who has not received annual continuing education in the field of 461
juvenile justice in an amount to conform with the requirements of 462
the Rules and Regulations for Mandatory Continuing Judicial 463
Education promulgated by the Supreme Court or received at least 464
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 20 (ens\kr)

one (1) hour of annual continuing education concerning oversight 465
of youth court intake officers and MYCIDS. The Administrative 466
Office of Courts shall maintain records of all referees and youth 467
court judges regarding such training and shall not disburse funds 468
to any county or municipality for the budget of a youth court 469
judge or referee who is not in compliance with the judicial 470
training requirements. 471
(4) Any recipient of funds from the Youth Court Support Fund 472
shall not be eligible for continuing disbursement of funds if the 473
recipient is not in compliance with the terms, conditions and 474
reporting requirements set forth in the procedures promulgated by 475
the Administrative Office of Courts. 476
(5) The provisions of this section shall stand repealed on 477
July 1, 2026. 478
SECTION 4. Section 43-27-20, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 479
brought forward as follows: 480
43-27-20. (a) Within the Division of Youth Services there 481
shall be an Office of Community Services, which shall be headed by 482
a director appointed by and responsible to the Director of the 483
Division of Youth Services. Each director shall hold a master's 484
degree in social work or a related field and shall have no less 485
than three (3) years' experience in social services, or in lieu of 486
such degree and experience, the director shall have a minimum of 487
eight (8) years' experience in social work or a related field. 488
Each director shall employ and assign the community workers to 489
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 21 (ens\kr)

serve in the various areas in the state and any other supporting 490
personnel necessary to carry out the duties of the Office of 491
Community Services. 492
(b) The Director of the Office of Community Services shall 493
assign probation and aftercare workers to the youth court or 494
family court judges of the various court districts upon the 495
request of the individual judge on the basis of caseload and need, 496
when funds are available. The Director of the Office of Community 497
Services is authorized to assign a youth services counselor to 498
various court districts upon the approval of the appropriate judge 499
and the Director of the Division of Youth Services. 500
(c) Any counties or cities which, on July 1, 1973, have 501
court counselors or similar personnel may continue using this 502
personnel or may choose to come within the statewide framework. 503
(d) A probation and aftercare worker may be transferred by 504
the division from one (1) court to another after consultation with 505
the judge or judges in the court to which the employee is 506
currently assigned. 507
(e) The Office of Community Services shall have such duties 508
as the Division of Youth Services shall assign to it which shall 509
include, but not be limited to, the following: 510
(i) Preparing the social, educational and home-life 511
history and other diagnostic reports on the child for the benefit 512
of the court or the training school; however, this provision shall 513
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 22 (ens\kr)

not abridge the power of the court to require similar services 514
from other agencies, according to law. 515
(ii) Serving in counseling capacities with the youth or 516
family courts. 517
(iii) Serving as probation agents for the youth or 518
family courts. 519
(iv) Serving, advising and counseling of children under 520
the control of the Division of Youth Services as may be necessary 521
to the placement of the children in their proper environment upon 522
release and the placement of children in suitable jobs where 523
necessary and proper. 524
(v) Supervising and guiding of children released or 525
conditionally released from institutions under the control of the 526
Division of Youth Services. 527
(vi) Coordinating the activities of supporting 528
community agencies which aid in the social adjustment of children 529
released from the institution and in an aftercare program. 530
(vii) Providing linkage and/or referral for services 531
leading to the rehabilitation of delinquents, either within the 532
division or through cooperative arrangements with other 533
appropriate agencies. 534
(viii) Providing counseling and supervision for any 535
child under ten (10) years of age who has been brought to the 536
attention of the court when other suitable personnel is not 537
available and upon request of the court concerned. 538
S. B. No. 2697 *SS26/R62.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R62.1
PAGE 23 (ens\kr)
ST: Neglect and delinquency; bring forward
sections related to.
(ix) Supervising the completion of aftercare programs 539
and/or making revocation investigations at the request of the 540
court. 541
(x) Implementing a Standardized Risk Assessment Tool 542
for use in the community. 543
(xi) Developing and implementing a graduated sanctions 544
policy for use within the community. 545
(e) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2026. 546
SECTION 5. Section 45-33-61, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 547
brought forward as follows: 548
45-33-61. (1) A person convicted of a sex offense shall not 549
access the Administrative Office of Courts' youth court data 550
management system known as the Mississippi Youth Court Information 551
Delivery System or "MYCIDS." 552
(2) This section applies to all registered sex offenders 553
without regard to the date of conviction for a registrable 554
offense. 555
(3) The provisions of this section shall stand repealed on 556
July 1, 2026. 557
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from 558
and after July 1, 2026. 559