HB1624: Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program; create state associate and standardize operations of local programs.

Legislative Summary

An Act To Establish State Standards And Operating Procedures For Local Court-appointed Special Advocate (casa) Programs; To Define Certain Terms; To Authorize A Youth Court Judge To Establish A Local Casa Program Governed By A Local Board Of Directors And To Prescribe The Board's Powers; To Require The State Casa Association To Provide Support Services To Local Casa Programs; To Establish Minimum Requirements For Local Casa Volunteers; To Require The Clerk Of Court To Perform Certain Duties In Relation To Casa Volunteers Appointed To A Court Case; To Prescribe The Duties Of A Casa Volunteer Assigned To A Case; To Create A State Court-appointed Special Advocate (casa) Association; To Prescribe The State Association's Duties; To Authorize The Board Of Directors Of The Association To Employ A Director And To Establish Qualifications For The Director; To Authorize The Administrative Office Of Courts To Provide Secretarial And Support Services To The Association; To Require Local Casa Programs To Submit Specified Data To The Association; To Bring Forward Section 43-21-121 And To Amend Section 43-21-261, Mississippi Code Of 1972, In Conformity To The Provisions Of This Act; To Amend Section 37-26-11, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That The Administrative Office Of Courts Shall Administer The Mississippi Foster Care Fund And Prescribe The Purposes For Which Monies In The Fund May Be Expended, For Purposes Of Possible Amendment; And For Related Purposes.