MS HB811

Amends Section 9-25-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, to authorize municipal court judges to establish Municipal Veterans Treatment Courts in municipalities that already operate a municipal drug court, in addition to existing circuit court level programs.

Municipal Veterans Treatment Courts may operate as separate programs or as components of existing intervention court programs, and may accept veteran participants referred from any justice court or municipal court within the county.

Establishes eligibility requirements including veteran status verification, state attorney consent, exclusion of defendants charged with crimes of violence or with prior felony convictions for violent crimes, and the defendant's willingness to participate in treatment.

Creates funding mechanisms allowing Veterans Treatment Court programs to receive gifts, donations, grants, and contract money from public and private sources, with unspent funds retained for future program use rather than reverting to the General Fund.

Provides civil immunity to Veterans Treatment Court coordinators and staff members who perform duties in good faith and exercise reasonable discretion in determining participant eligibility; effective July 1, 2023.