House Bill 1543 Summary

• Brings forward five sections of Mississippi Code set to expire July 1, 2026, relating to youth courts, the Youth Court Support Program, and the Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System (MYCIDS) for potential amendment before their scheduled repeal.

• Requires courts and county boards of supervisors to complete competitive bidding processes before entering multiyear contracts or service agreements for web-based applications used with MYCIDS, with specific procurement procedures outlined through the Department of Information Technology Services.

• Makes technical revisions to the court interpreter program administered by the Administrative Office of Courts, including expanded definitions of limited English proficient individuals to include participants, revised interpreter qualifications, and provisions allowing LEP individuals to waive interpreter services with court approval.

• Authorizes interpreter expenses to be paid from any available funds for limited English proficient parties, witnesses, and participants in both civil and criminal proceedings, rather than restricting payment sources.

• Requires each court to submit an annual report to the Administrative Office of Courts detailing language access capabilities, bilingual staff availability, interpreter utilization costs, and staff training plans related to language access services.