MS SB2491

Amends Mississippi Code Section 9-23-11 to establish staggered certification schedules for different types of drug courts to distribute workload of the Administrative Office of Courts.

Certified adult felony drug courts must submit recertification petitions by July 1, 2019, and recertify by December 31, 2019, then every two years with recertification completed by December 31st of odd calendar years.

Certified youth, family, misdemeanor, and chancery drug courts must submit recertification petitions by July 31, 2020, and recertify by December 31, 2020, then every two years with recertification completed by December 31st of even calendar years.

Requires all drug courts to maintain certification standards including evidence-based practices, risk assessment tools, frequent testing, judicial oversight, and collection of specified data on participants and outcomes.

Requires certified drug courts to submit monthly data to the Administrative Office of Courts on participant numbers, program completions, arrests, convictions, and violations.