HB 1446 Summary

• Requires courts and county boards of supervisors to conduct competitive bidding before entering multiyear contracts for web-based applications used with the Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System (MYCIDS), exempting this requirement from the general information technology products exemption.

• Directs the Department of Information Technology Services to maintain a list of authorized MYCIDS web-based application service providers and establishes a procurement process requiring sealed bid quotes from all listed vendors with at least 28 days notice before bid opening.

• Limits MYCIDS contracts to a maximum of 5 years with mandatory price redetermination every 2 years to comply with federal E-Rate pricing requirements.

• Establishes comprehensive court interpreter program requirements including expanded definitions of limited English proficient individuals to include witnesses and participants, mandatory annual reporting by courts on language access services, and ethical obligations for all interpreters regardless of credentialing status.

• Authorizes interpreter expenses to be paid from any available county or municipal funds rather than solely from the county or municipal treasury, and allows limited English proficient individuals to waive interpreter services with court approval and written consent in their native language.