Harrison County’s Blue Ribbon Committee reported progress this month on two related priorities: clarifying Mississippi’s child-neglect law so it does not prevent removal in cases involving hard drugs and pushing a new ‘‘Baby DJ’’ alert system to help locate missing infants.

Rebecca Powers, a Harrison County supervisor, told the committee that meetings with legislators and state officials have produced what she described as a ‘‘green light’’ for the Baby DJ idea. Powers said law-enforcement officials initially worried an Amber-style alert would overburden police, but that Sean Kendall — described at the meeting as the state official who oversees the crime lab and public safety functions — told the group he supported the concept and ‘‘there’s absolutely no problem, and it’s a great idea’’ (as reported by Powers to the committee).

Why it matters: Committee members said current court interpretations of Mississippi’s neglect statutes have made it difficult to remove children in some cases where caregivers test positive for fentanyl, methamphetamine or cocaine. Speaker 3 (unnamed in the record) told members the committee is asking legislators to amend Mississippi Code 43-21-301, 43-21-353 and 43-21-609 so the statutory protection that prevents removal ‘‘solely because’’ of a parent’s drug use would apply only to marijuana — not to other controlled substances (as described in the committee discussion).

Committee members said they met with state legislators at the University of Southern Mississippi and later with Kevin Felcher on Oct. 30 to press for those clarifications; Senator Wiggins and Richard Benen (as named in the meeting) took part in the USM session. Powers said legislators and the staff she met with agreed that distinguishing marijuana from other controlled substances ‘‘made sense’’ and that the change would be a narrow amendment meant to better protect children.

What committee members said they want: Members urged language that preserves basic safeguards for parental financial inability (the statutory language clarifies a child ‘‘shall not be considered neglected solely because’’ of lack of food, clothing or shelter caused primarily by financial inability, unless services were offered and refused). At the same time, they said the statute should allow child-protection action when a parent’s use of hard drugs creates an imminent safety risk.

On timing and next steps: Rebecca Powers said legislators told the group they will reconvene in January and the committee expects the statutory changes to be considered when the Legislature returns.

Closing note: The committee also circulated constituent cards for citizens to mail to legislators supporting DJ-related measures and set its next meeting for Jan. 16.