Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi SB2728: The Mississippi Chancery Youth Court Act of 2026; enact to provide uniform youth court and extend automatic repealer on related sections.
Status: Failed, April 1, 2026
AN ACT TO ENACT THE MISSISSIPPI CHANCERY YOUTH COURT ACT OF 2026; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO RECOGNIZE THE UNIFORM RULES OF YOUTH COURT PRACTICE; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-105, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE TERMS "YOUTH COURT," "JUDGE," AND "CHILD IN NEED OF SUPERVISION,"; TO DEFINE THE TERMS "YOUTH COURT PROSECUTOR," "INTAKE OFFICER," "INTAKE UNIT," "PRE-PETITION GUARDIAN," "DIVERSION" AND "DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM"; TO DELETE THE TERM "DESIGNEE" FROM AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 2028; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-107, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THERE SHALL BE ADDITIONAL CHANCELLORS IN EACH CHANCERY COURT DISTRICT PROVIDED IN CHAPTER 5, TITLE 9, AS NEEDED, TO BE DETERMINED UNDER THIS SECTION; TO DELETE THE AUTHORITY FOR THE CREATION OF A YOUTH COURT DIVISION AS A DIVISION OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT IN ANY CITY IF THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF SUCH CITY ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO THAT EFFECT; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 43-21-108, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DIRECT THE TRANSFER OF THE CAUSES AND DOCKET OF EACH REGULAR OR SPECIAL YOUTH COURT REFEREE NO LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2028; TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURE FOR THE ELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE JUDICIAL OFFICES CREATED BY VIRTUE OF THIS ACT; TO REPEAL SECTION 43-21-111, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES REGULAR OR SPECIAL YOUTH COURT REFEREES ON JANUARY 1, 2028; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-115, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL YOUTH COURT JUDGE TO APPOINT A PERSON TO FUNCTION AS AN INTAKE UNIT; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-117, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE YOUTH COURT PROSECUTOR SHALL REPRESENT THE STATE IN ALL DELINQUENCY PROCEEDINGS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHILD WELFARE AGENCY SHALL REPRESENT THE PETITION IN CHILD WELFARE MATTERS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY IN DELINQUENCY MATTERS SHALL SERVE AS THE YOUTH COURT PROSECUTOR; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-119, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-121, MISSISSIPPI C
What the bill says
An act to enact the mississippi chancery youth court act of 2026; to amend section 43-21-103, mississippi code of 1972, to recognize the uniform rules of youth court practice; to amend section 43-21-105, mississippi code of 1972, to revise the terms "youth court," "judge," and "child in need of supervision,"; to define the terms "youth court prosecutor," "intake officer," "intake unit," "pre-petition guardian," "diversion" and "data management system"; to delete the term "designee" from and after january 1, 2028…