[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6674610,"mediaKeyId","2619850-6700345c3297564c23af44b6ad5bb5de","parentId",2619850,"title","Blue Ribbon Commission presses legislators on newborn drug reporting, seeks AG legal opinion","audioSeconds",3493,"startMs",658000,"endMs",4151000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2619850-6700345c3297564c23af44b6ad5bb5de&start=658&end=4151","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2619850-6700345c3297564c23af44b6ad5bb5de/thumbnail_658000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6674610/Harrison-County/Mississippi/Blue-Ribbon-Commission-presses-legislators-on-newborn-drug-reporting-seeks-AG-legal-opinion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6674610-3a80a7197ab820fc29bbf49a720817ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158652&Signature=O-5EV-QteGATWtlZ0GF7iOoiuNuCcjLSVjPElYHhUv93vVdDC6c83hTFMh3e9p1Ov17qGKjkw537j0Kzdcm8O7x68cT1ZalU4~KlmvVUYqaGQC3hiOiRv5P3QR0m5yKBt3y8FWwZ-H16f6dbDOL5juassaHYThLx3UXiJTtj76cPWDDti2i916PxeERB4V3xnn4E3uM3kVrL~O90HOCjp0mEAoCm4N2g04a5kVEY02olS1DlLswB2XfWz5NJ1ra0KmDDqxyGsCBVYtCsnt~OOGx1bC9t~aAOkRaHDMqytpy6vzPcxv2MLC0fCq~ypwaN-gbcxs0gS1DOA05bryNyFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Harrison County","date","2025-02-12T08:15:30.947Z","article","Harrison County Blue Ribbon Commission members discussed draft legislative requests and outreach on newborn drug exposure and child-safety protocols and agreed to request a legal opinion from the Mississippi Attorney General’s office about whether a newborn’s positive drug test alone authorizes child-protection action.

The commission reviewed a draft letter — using a proposal prepared by Judge Alfonso as a framework — that would be sent to state representatives and senators asking for (1) mandatory simultaneous notification of child protective services and law enforcement by mandatory reporters, (2) consideration of a “Baby DJ” alert system proposal, (3) improved hospital discharge procedures for infants exposed to illicit drugs, and (4) greater transparency in reporting. Jeanne Herron said Representative Zach Grady, who attended a prior meeting, was already pursuing the mandatory-notification language and \"felt comfortable advocating for notification to law enforcement,\" according to Herron.

The group discussed how existing Mississippi law is interpreted in practice. Commission members quoted a state statute (Miss. Code Ann. 43-21-301) read aloud at the meeting that says a finding of probable cause \"shall not be based solely upon a positive drug test of a newborn or parent\" and that a positive test for a controlled substance supports action only \"if the child is in danger of significant risk of harm or the parent is unable to provide proper care.\" Commissioners expressed concern that hospitals sometimes discharge drug‑positive newborns without safety plans and that CPS must sometimes show additional harms or risk factors beyond a positive test to intervene.

Commission members identified several state legislators to receive the letter, including Representative Zach Grady and others from Pearl River, Hancock and Harrison counties, and said they would route the draft by email and ask local contacts to follow up. The commission agreed it would ask staff to note which legislator had already taken action so efforts would not duplicate work.

Action by the commission: members voted to send a formal request from the commission to the Mississippi Attorney General’s office for a written legal opinion on whether a newborn’s positive test for unlawful controlled substances (methamphetamine, fentanyl, etc.) — absent other documented safety factors — legally prevents CPS from acting. The commission recorded consensus approval for that request.

Members emphasized that the commission’s legislative approach is intended to strengthen safety planning and treatment resources (for parents) rather than immediately criminalize parents. Participants repeatedly raised treatment and discharge-planning concerns as the primary policy priority for protecting infants.

At the close of the meeting the commission also carried a separate housekeeping motion to postpone acceptance of the December meeting minutes until the February meeting; that motion was seconded by Debbie and approved by voice vote.

What’s next: staff will circulate a revised draft letter this week, attempt to coordinate sponsorship with Representative Grady for the simultaneous-notification language, and send the commission’s formal request for an AG opinion as voted.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 17th, 2025 - Harrison County Blue Ribbon Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Harrison County Blue Ribbon Commission members discussed draft legislative requests and outreach on newborn drug exposure and child‑safety protocols and agreed to request a legal opinion from the Mississippi Attorney General’s office about whether a newborn’s positive drug test alone authorizes child‑protection action.","taxTitle","Harrison County, Mississippi","taxId",24960,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6674601,"Commission hears update on guardianship clinic to help relatives obtain custody orders",593,2428000,3021000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2619850-6700345c3297564c23af44b6ad5bb5de&start=2428&end=3021","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2619850-6700345c3297564c23af44b6ad5bb5de/thumbnail_2428000.jpg","/articles/6674601/Harrison-County/Mississippi/Commission-hears-update-on-guardianship-clinic-to-help-relatives-obtain-custody-orders","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6674601-5b35ba64e44f615b4ceac3037e2e7b5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158652&Signature=fFKOzE~pZ2oUlJXMJbxqrNGjN0worI7clTQReWonobdl4py-n-HoCu-mtxYmmyoOM66m2mXm6AedL0TD53kgUECQh6~g8gzYziUzPTV5u73MGLtBr63EfTzGpHcoUvQrRkPHZVUzAkFKSAMKd11TRm6kGDqREwEOVHlMLULu5Xd4xfp4N-N0Pl2FfSKiHfMXybFVssrZ~YtvV9Bwss8vqt8jz9dQFEwy5mA57LoPdqoOuSWuJi7egxv7m9997PkfRh9-3F88ajrRKNzHnJV42p30zaAxkYYS0RtPisL4v0UPrQP2DaqEZohlNSKPPuzDQQ2A0CbTuCGO4JF3OZZANw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A court representative told the Harrison County Blue Ribbon Commission about a guardianship clinic meant to help relatives obtain custody orders so children can enroll in school and access medical services.

The presenter said the clinic, run in partnership with Catholic Charities, screens families for indigency and schedules them for a Chancery court date where relatives are interviewed and, when appropriate, issued custody orders. The presenter said the next clinic is scheduled for Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. upstairs in Chancery and that staff will circulate the applications and relevant records in advance for staffing. The clinic’s organizers said most cases handled in the clinic have a CPS history — the presenter estimated roughly 85% — and that the process is designed for relatives who cannot otherwise afford private counsel.

Commission members said the program addresses a recurring local problem: relatives raising children who lack custody paperwork and therefore cannot obtain school enrollment or medical benefits. Members noted guardians often have very limited household income; the presenter gave a sample application showing a household income of roughly $31,000 and multiple children in the home. Commissioners invited members to observe the Feb. 20 clinic and asked staff to circulate clinic applications and scheduling information via email.

What’s next: staff will send clinic applications to commissioners and publicize the Feb. 20 Chancery clinic; commission members were invited to attend the staffing and court sessions.","Commission members heard about a guardianship clinic that helps indigent relatives obtain custody orders so children can access school enrollment and medical services; the next clinic is set for Feb. 20 in Chancery and is run in partnership with Catholic Charities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6674606,"Commission schedules school outreach and plans public March 21 meeting at Harrison County Advocacy Center",1810,121000,1931000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2619850-6700345c3297564c23af44b6ad5bb5de&start=121&end=1931","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2619850-6700345c3297564c23af44b6ad5bb5de/thumbnail_121000.jpg","/articles/6674606/Harrison-County/Mississippi/Commission-schedules-school-outreach-and-plans-public-March-21-meeting-at-Harrison-County-Advocacy-Center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6674606-208d829d6df22d8a9434df030c042fe5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158652&Signature=MW6LCZILJi~C2GVHg1SpCRtTXa~utlhFxqPaXTAlP2-VJ3DVkIdClla2ZYnBYqcrO~4VlcUS0kn1opKn55BccB58fakA~iTObamZNPxidm80fx-PpiAXxV1sRLeXSaavmlZPUQ2TobECjk67ivzYI40vMSFXUNPnF6cJrLZsLtt0h6EViLFqwOAwb1gqAG9Yu2n0B4ttTMyjxePStBo1-wrvS23titBI9k1YiBPz6IFuOCLQd-3us1f30ospRu45yFIh38kqaaLkFVdsnKyfowwFoDp39aU-9xiafTCtKQLDz0DMkuQug95JDhSjuoApBIAZ9oIxg1YkqBLEl4FOvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Harrison County Blue Ribbon Commission members confirmed a March 21 public meeting with local school representatives to discuss child-safety and discharge procedures and said the school-side meeting will be hosted at the Harrison County Advocacy Center from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Commission members reported outreach to multiple school districts, including Gulfport (Lee Bellum and Dr. Rhonda Clark), Bayou View Elementary, Long Beach and Biloxi (Dr. Boudreau), and said representatives from several elementary and middle schools were expected at the March 21 meeting. The commission said the session will be open to the public and that participants from the schools could also remain for the commission’s regular Blue Ribbon meeting afterward.

Separately, the commission discussed scheduling a workshop with Andrea Sanders. Members said they preferred a Friday so the workshop could coincide with a regular meeting; after canvassing availability the commission agreed to give Sanders May dates (May 16 preferred as the likely third‑Friday option) with July 18 and August 15 listed as backups. The commission also agreed to move its April meeting from April 18 to April 11 to avoid observance of Good Friday and to update the website to reflect the change.

What’s next: staff will update the commission website with the new April date, send invitations and follow-up emails to invited schools and to Andrea Sanders with the preferred May date and backup dates, and publicize the March 21 session at Harrison County Advocacy Center.","The Blue Ribbon Commission confirmed school outreach for March 21, invited local school representatives and set the session at the Harrison County Advocacy Center from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; the commission also discussed scheduling a workshop with Andrea Sanders and moved an April meeting date to April 11.","actionData","errors"]

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Blue Ribbon Commission presses legislators on newborn drug reporting, seeks AG legal opinion

Commission hears update on guardianship clinic to help relatives obtain custody orders

Commission schedules school outreach and plans public March 21 meeting at Harrison County Advocacy Center