Bill > HB453

This bill establishes a comprehensive approach to improving school safety and reducing youth involvement in the juvenile justice system in Mississippi. Under the Youth and Community Safety Act, schools will be required to annually report unlawful activities to local school districts, which must then submit quarterly reports to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) for at least two years starting July 1, 2025. The MDE will publish an annual online report through its Mississippi Achievement and Accountability Reporting System (MAARS), which will include the number of students referred to the juvenile justice system and their racial and ethnic classifications. By July 1, 2026, the MDE must develop an evidence-based training curriculum for school districts focusing on creating safer learning environments, with training areas including reducing youth referrals to law enforcement, providing alternatives to arrest, improving cultural competency, implementing positive behavior interventions, and applying restorative justice principles. The bill also requires the development of collaborative strategies between school districts, law enforcement, and community organizations to minimize student arrests, emphasizing education about the negative consequences of youth arrests and promoting de-escalation methods and positive student interactions. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0453.xml