MS HB1351

Creates the Mississippi Juvenile Detention Facilities Licensing Act requiring all juvenile detention facilities to obtain a license from the Juvenile Facilities Monitoring Unit of the Department of Public Safety, effective October 1, 2016.

Establishes a seven-member advisory council including a youth court judge, disability rights representative, public defender representative, sheriffs' association representative, and detention directors representative to assist the licensing agency and hear appeals.

Requires the licensing agency to adopt standards from the 2014 Juvenile Detention and Alternatives Taskforce report and conduct criminal background checks and child abuse registry checks on all facility administrators and staff.

Mandates the Mississippi Department of Education to promulgate education rules for detained children and conduct annual inspections, with findings provided to the licensing agency for licensure determinations.

Authorizes the licensing agency to deny, suspend, revoke, or restrict licenses for fraud, regulatory violations, threats to child safety, or disqualifying criminal history; requires hearings before the director and advisory council before license suspension or revocation.