Here's a glance at the status of selected bills in the Mississippi Legislature. Tuesday was the deadline for House and Senate committees to act on general bills that had already passed the opposite chamber. There is a later deadline for budget and revenue bills.

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ALIVE

CHARTER SCHOOLS — Senate Bill 2293 would allow 12 public schools that are failing or at risk of failing to become "innovative" schools with a board independent of the district school board; the "innovative" schools' board would be in charge of hiring and firing teachers and principals. House Bill 1043 would allow the creation of some charter schools.

PUBLIC RECORDS — House Bill 113 would require government entities to respond to public-records requests within seven days rather than the current 14 days; for complex requests, the government could notify the person seeking the records that at least 14 days would be needed.

OPEN MEETINGS — Senate Bill 2373 would impose a stiffer penalty for violations of the state's Open Meetings Act. The House has changed the bill to remove court jurisdiction to nullify the action of the public body. The House also removed language to allow the prevailing party to be awarded attorneys' fees.

NOVELTY LIGHTERS — House Bill 232 would ban the sale of most cigarette lighters that look like toys. Senate Bill 2859 is similar.

OAKLEY TRAINING SCHOOL — Senate Bill 2984 would raise the minimum age of a child being sent to Oakley from 10 to 14 and prohibit teens convicted of misdemeanors from being sent to Oakley. The House changed the bill to eliminate some programs because the facility will receive reduced state funding.

SILVER ALERT — House Bill 664 would establish a statewide alert system when an elderly person or someone with dementia or other cognitive impairment goes missing. The system would be similar to the state's Amber Alert, which notifies law officers and the public when a child is missing.

STALKING — House Bill 1309 would designate aggravated stalking as a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $3,000 fine. Punishment for aggravated stalking for someone with a previous record as a sex offender would be up to six years in prison and a $4,000 fine. Senate Bill 2961 is similar.

SCHOOL BUS ADVERTISING — House Bill 1233 would allow some types of advertising on school buses.

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY — Senate Bill 2505 would increase the penalties against a driver who injures someone while illegally passing a stopped school bus.

TIMBER LARCENY — House Bill 607 would allow a six-year statute of limitations, rather than the current two years, for prosecutors to bring charges against someone suspected of stealing timber.

HIGH SPEED CHASES — House Bill 1122 would prohibit the use of nitrous oxide in the fuel for cars, trucks or motorcycles on public roads. The chemical compound is used to boost the horsepower in gasoline engines.

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DEAD

LEGISLATIVE PAY — Senate Bill 2506 would've reduced legislators' 2011 salaries from $10,000 to $9,000.

ANIMAL CRUELTY — Senate Bill 2623 would've made it a felony to torture a cat or dog.

NO TEXTING — Senate Bill 2595 would've banned people of all ages from sending text messages while driving. The bill also would require minors to use a handsfree device if talking on a cell phone while driving.

EARLY VOTING — House Bill 853 would've allowed people to vote from 20 days before an election until five days before an election, for federal, state and county races.

HUNTING — House Bill 1282 would've revised the dates for deer hunting seasons.

MIDWIFERY — House Bill 695 would've limited midwifery services to certified nurse midwives and those who can prove they've been practicing for five years.