House Bill 5 Summary

• Authorizes chancery and county courts to establish domestic abuse court programs, with municipal and justice courts permitted to participate in county programs.

• Defines domestic abuse courts as focused on victim safety and offender accountability through coordination of criminal justice professionals, social programs, and intensive judicial monitoring.

• Requires the Administrative Office of Courts to develop uniform standards for domestic abuse court operations covering establishment, funding, procedures, referral protocols, eligibility, services, and court roles.

• Creates the Domestic Abuse Court Special Fund in the State Treasury to provide supplemental funding to all domestic abuse courts, funded by legislative appropriations, federal monies, and assessments under Section 99-19-73.

• Imposes a one dollar ($1.00) increase on state assessments for implied consent law violations and adjusts assessments for other misdemeanors and felonies to fund the domestic abuse court program, effective July 1, 2019.