MS HB1174

Amends Section 99-36-7 of the Mississippi Code to allow the District Attorney of the Fourteenth Circuit Court District to appoint one additional victim assistance coordinator, increasing the total authorized from one to two coordinators in that district.

The District Attorney of the First Circuit Court District also retains the authority to appoint one additional victim assistance coordinator for a total of two.

Victim assistance coordinators must be approved by the senior circuit court judge and work to ensure victims, guardians, and relatives of deceased victims receive rights granted under Section 99-36-5.

Coordinator salaries cannot exceed the amount authorized for criminal investigators under Section 25-31-10 and are paid jointly by counties in the circuit court district on a pro rata basis.

The act takes effect on July 1, 2014.