JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence (MCADV) held a news conference on Tuesday in order to increase awareness and support of House Bill 842.

The bill would create a Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board. The board would review domestic violence-related fatalities and suicides to identify potential obstacles or breakdowns in systemic interventions, barriers to safety, and gaps in community services to consider alternate or more effective systemic responses to prevent future fatalities.

The board would be within the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

House Bill 842 was authored by Rep. Cedric Burnett (D-District 9). If approved by Mississippi lawmakers and signed by Governor Tate Reeves (R-Miss.), the bill would go into effect on July 1, 2024.