Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-13 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 35-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-13
Status: in_force

(a) A municipality shall not approve an urban renewal project for an urban renewal area unless the governing body has, by resolution, determined such area to be a slum area or a blighted area or a combination thereof and designated such area as appropriate for an urban renewal project. The local governing body shall not approve an urban renewal plan until a general plan for the municipality has been prepared. For this purpose and other municipal purposes, authority is hereby vested in every municipality to prepare, to adopt and to revise from time to time, a general plan for the physical development of the municipality as a whole (giving due regard to the environs and metropolitan surroundings), to establish and maintain a planning commission for such purpose and related municipal planning activities, and to make available and to appropriate necessary funds therefor. A municipality shall not acquire real property for an urban renewal project unless the local governing body has approved the urban renewal project in accordance with subsection (d) hereof.

(b) The municipality may itself prepare or cause to be prepared an urban renewal plan, or any person or agency, public or private, may submit such a plan to a municipality. Prior to its approval of an urban renewal project, the local governing body shall submit such plan to the planning commission of the municipality, if any, for review and recommendations as to its conformity with the general plan for the development of the municipality as a whole. The planning commission shall submit its written recommendations with respect to the proposed urban renewal plan to the local governing body within thirty (30) days after receipt of the plan for review. Upon receipt of the recommendations of the planning commission, or if no recommendations are received within said thirty (30) days, then without such recommendations, the local governing body may proceed with the hearing on the proposed urban renewal project prescribed by subsection (c) hereof.

(c) The local governing body shall hold a public hearing on an urban renewal project, after public notice thereof by publication in a newspaper having a general circulation in the area of operation of the municipality. The notice shall describe the time, date, place and purpose of the hearing, shall generally identify the urban renewal area covered by the plan, and shall outline the general scope of the urban renewal project under consideration.

(d) Following such hearing, the local governing body may approve an urban renewal project if it finds that (1) a feasible method exists for the location of families who will be displaced from the urban renewal area in decent, safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations within their means and without undue hardship to such families; (2) the urban renewal plan conforms to the general plan of the municipality as a whole; and (3) the urban renewal plan will afford maximum opportunity, consistent with the sound needs of the municipality as a whole, for the rehabilitation or redevelopment of the urban renewal area by private enterprise. If the urban renewal area consists of an area of open land to be acquired by the municipality, such area shall not be so acquired unless (1) if it is to be developed for residential uses, the local governing body shall determine that a shortage of housing of sound standards and design which is decent, safe and sanitary exists in the municipality; that the need for housing accommodations has been or will be increased as a result of the clearance of slums in other areas (including other portions of the urban renewal area); that the conditions of blight in the area and the shortage of decent, safe and sanitary housing cause or contribute to an increase in and spread of disease and crime and constitute a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare; and that the acquisition of the area for residential uses is an integral part of and essential to the program of the municipality, or (2) if it is to be developed for nonresidential uses, the local governing body shall determine that such nonresidential uses are necessary and appropriate to facilitate the proper growth and development of the community in accordance with sound planning standards and local community objectives, which acquisition may require the exercise of governmental action, as provided in this article, because of defective or unusual conditions of title, diversity of ownership, tax delinquency, improper subdivisions, outmoded street patterns, deterioration of site, economic disuse, unsuitable topography or faulty lot layouts, the need for the correlation of the area with other areas of a municipality by streets and modern traffic requirements, or any combination of such factors or other conditions which retard development of the area.

(e) An urban renewal plan may be modified at any time, provided that if modified after the lease or sale by the municipality of real property in the urban renewal project area, such modification may be conditioned upon such approval of the owner, lessee or successor in interest as the municipality may deem advisable and in any event shall be subject to such rights at law or in equity as a lessee or purchaser, or his successor or successors in interest, may be entitled to assert.

(f) Upon the approval by a municipality of an urban renewal plan or of any modification thereof, such plan or modification shall be deemed to be in full force and effect for the respective urban renewal area and the municipality may then cause such plan or modification to be carried out in accordance with its terms.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, where the local governing body certifies that an area is in need of redevelopment or rehabilitation as a result of a flood, fire, hurricane, earthquake, storm, or other catastrophe respecting which the governor of the state has certified the need for disaster assistance under Public Law 875, Eighty-first Congress, or other federal law, the local governing body may approve an urban renewal plan and an urban renewal project with respect to such area without regard to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section and the provisions of this section requiring a general plan for the municipality and a public hearing on the urban renewal project.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-503 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 21-503
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-503
Status: in_force

The form of the summons shall be substantially as follows:

State of Mississippi

County of __________ In the __________ Court of __________ County

Youth Court Division

No. __________

In the Interest of __________.

SUMMONS

TO: __________

You are required to serve the following:

TO: __________

You __________are commanded to appear personally before the __________ Court of __________ County at the Courthouse in __________, Mississippi, at __________ o'clock on __________, the ___ day of __________, 20___, for a __________ hearing for the purpose set forth in the petition.__________ is required to produce __________ at the above-named hearing. You have a right to be represented by an attorney. You are requested to immediately notify the youth court of the name of your attorney. If indigent, the above-named child has a right to have an attorney appointed for h__________ free of charge, and should immediately apply to the youth court for such appointed counsel. You have a right to subpoena witnesses in your behalf.

GIVEN under hand and seal of court, at __________, Mississippi, this the ___ day of __________, 20___.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-301 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 13-301
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-301
Status: in_force

The State Department of Public Welfare shall assist the Division of Medicaid in the Office of the Governor in identifying cases involving third-party liability, including without limitation, third-party insurance benefits, health insurance or other health coverage maintained by the recipient or absent parent through intake, initial determinations, and redeterminations of eligibility, and shall promptly transmit such information to the Division of Medicaid or the fiscal agent of the Division of Medicaid.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-37 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 33-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-37
Status: in_force

The property of an authority is declared to be public property used for essential public and governmental purposes and such property of an authority shall be exempt from all taxes and special assessments levied by the city, the county, the state or any political subdivision thereof. However, in lieu of such taxes an authority may make annual payments in lieu of taxes and special assessments to the city or county or any such political subdivision for improvements, services and facilities furnished by such city, county or political subdivision for the benefit of a housing project. Each such annual payment in lieu of taxes shall be made after the end of the fiscal year established for a housing project, and may be in an amount not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the aggregate shelter rent charged by the local authority in respect to such project during such fiscal year. However, upon failure of the local authority to make any such payment in lieu of taxes, no lien against any project or assets of the local authority shall attach.

No payment for any year shall be in excess of the amount of the real property taxes which would have been paid for such year if the project were not exempt from taxation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-159 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 21-159
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-159
Status: in_force

(1) When a person appears before a court other than the youth court, and it is determined that the person is a child under jurisdiction of the youth court, such court shall, unless the jurisdiction of the offense has been transferred to such court as provided in this chapter, or unless the child has previously been the subject of a transfer from the youth court to the circuit court for trial as an adult and was convicted, immediately dismiss the proceeding without prejudice and forward all documents pertaining to the cause to the youth court; and all entries in permanent records shall be expunged. The youth court shall have the power to order and supervise the expunction or the destruction of such records in accordance with Section 43-21-265 . Upon petition therefor, the youth court shall expunge the record of any case within its jurisdiction in which an arrest was made, the person arrested was released and the case was dismissed or the charges were dropped, there was no disposition of such case, or the person was found not delinquent.

In cases where the child is charged with a hunting or fishing violation or a traffic violation, whether it be any state or federal law, a violation of the Mississippi Implied Consent Law, or municipal ordinance or county resolution, or where the child is charged with a violation of Section 67-3-70 , the appropriate criminal court shall proceed to dispose of the same in the same manner as for other adult offenders and it shall not be necessary to transfer the case to the youth court of the county. However, unless the cause has been transferred, or unless the child has previously been the subject of a transfer from the youth court to the circuit court for trial as an adult and was convicted, the youth court shall have power on its own motion to remove jurisdiction from any criminal court of any offense including a hunting or fishing violation, a traffic violation, a violation of the Mississippi Implied Consent Law, or a violation of Section 67-3-70 , committed by a child in a matter under the jurisdiction of the youth court and proceed therewith in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(2) After conviction and sentence of any child by any other court having original jurisdiction on a misdemeanor charge, and within the time allowed for an appeal of such conviction and sentence, the youth court of the county shall have the full power to stay the execution of the sentence and to release the child on good behavior or on other order as the youth court may see fit to make unless the child has previously been the subject of a transfer from the youth court to the circuit court for trial as an adult and was convicted. When a child is convicted of a misdemeanor and is committed to, incarcerated in or imprisoned in a jail or other place of detention by a criminal court having proper jurisdiction of such charge, such court shall notify the youth court judge or the judge's designee of the conviction and sentence prior to the commencement of such incarceration. The youth court shall have the power to order and supervise the destruction of any records involving children maintained by the criminal court in accordance with Section 43-21-265 . However, the youth court shall have the power to set aside a judgment of any other court rendered in any matter over which the youth court has exclusive original jurisdiction, to expunge or destroy the records thereof in accordance with Section 43-21-265 , and to order a refund of fines and costs.

(3) Nothing in subsection (1) or (2) shall apply to a youth who has a pending charge or a conviction for any crime over which circuit court has original jurisdiction.

(4) In any case wherein the defendant is a child as defined in this chapter and of which the circuit court has original jurisdiction, the circuit judge, upon a finding that it would be in the best interest of such child and in the interest of justice, may at any stage of the proceedings prior to the attachment of jeopardy transfer such proceedings to the youth court for further proceedings unless the child has previously been the subject of a transfer from the youth court to the circuit court for trial as an adult and was convicted or has previously been convicted of a crime which was in original circuit court jurisdiction, and the youth court shall, upon acquiring jurisdiction, proceed as provided in this chapter for the adjudication and disposition of delinquent child proceeding proceedings. If the case is not transferred to the youth court and the youth is convicted of a crime by any circuit court, the trial judge shall sentence the youth as though such youth was an adult. The circuit court shall not have the authority to commit such child to the custody of the Department of Youth Services for placement in a state-supported training school.

(5) In no event shall a court sentence an offender over the age of eighteen (18) to the custody of the Division of Youth Services for placement in a state-supported training school.

(6) When a child's driver's license is suspended by the youth court for any reason, the clerk of the youth court shall report the suspension, without a court order under Section 43-21-261 , to the Commissioner of Public Safety in the same manner as such suspensions are reported in cases involving adults.

(7) No offense involving the use or possession of a firearm by a child who has reached his fifteenth birthday and which, if committed by an adult would be a felony, shall be transferred to the youth court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-5 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 28 / Section 35-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-5
Status: in_force

It is hereby found and declared that there exist in municipalities of the state slum and blighted areas which constitute a serious and growing menace, injurious to the public health, safety, morals and welfare of the residents of the state; that the existence of such areas contributes substantially and increasingly to the spread of disease and crime, constitutes an economic and social liability imposing onerous municipal burdens which decrease the tax base and reduce tax revenues, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of municipalities, retards the provision of housing accommodations, aggravates traffic problems and substantially impairs or arrests the elimination of traffic hazards and the improvement of traffic facilities; and that the prevention and elimination of slums and blight is a matter of state policy and state concern in order that the state and its municipalities shall not continue to be endangered by areas which are focal centers of disease, promote juvenile delinquency, and consume an excessive proportion of its revenues because of the extra services required for police, fire, accident, hospitalization and other forms of public protection, services and facilities.

It is further found and declared that certain slum or blighted areas, or portions thereof, may require acquisition, clearance, and disposition subject to use restrictions, as provided in this article, since the prevailing condition of decay may make impracticable the reclamation of the area by conservation or rehabilitation; that other areas or portions thereof may, through the means provided in this article, be susceptible of conservation or rehabilitation in such a manner that the conditions and evils hereinbefore enumerated may be eliminated, remedied or prevented; and that salvable slum and blighted areas can be conserved and rehabilitated through appropriate public action as authorized in this article, and the cooperation and voluntary action of the owners and tenants of property in such areas.

It is further found and declared that the powers conferred by this article are for public uses and purposes for which public money may be expended and the power of eminent domain and police power exercised. The necessity in the public interest for the provisions enacted as this article is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-25-101 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 20 / Section 25-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-25-101
Status: in_force

The Governor, on behalf of this state, may execute a compact in substantially the following form, and the Legislature signifies in advance its approval and ratification of the compact:

The compacting states to this Interstate Compact recognize that each state is responsible for the proper supervision or return of juveniles, delinquents and status offenders who are on probation or parole and who have absconded, escaped or run away from supervision and control and in so doing have endangered their own safety and the safety of others. The compacting states also recognize that each state is responsible for the safe return of juveniles who have run away from home and in doing so have left their state of residence. The compacting states also recognize that Congress, by enacting the Crime Control Act, 4 USCS Section 112 (1965) , has authorized and encouraged compacts for cooperative efforts and mutual assistance in the prevention of crime.

It is the purpose of this compact, through means of joint and cooperative action among the compacting states to:

(a) Ensure that the adjudicated juveniles and status offenders subject to this compact are provided adequate supervision and services in the receiving state as ordered by the adjudicating judge or parole authority in the sending state;

(b) Ensure that the public safety interests of the citizens, including the victims of juvenile offenders, in both the sending and receiving states are adequately protected.

(c) Return juveniles who have run away, absconded or escaped from supervision or control or have been accused of an offense to the state requesting their return;

(d) Make contracts for the cooperative institutionalization in public facilities in member states for delinquent youth needing special services;

(e) Provide for the effective tracking and supervision of juveniles;

(f) Equitably allocate the costs, benefits and obligations of the compacting states;

(g) Establish procedures to manage the movement between states of juvenile offenders released to the community under the jurisdiction of courts, juvenile departments, or any other criminal or juvenile justice agency that has jurisdiction over juvenile offenders;

(h) Ensure immediate notice to jurisdictions where defined offenders are authorized to travel or to relocate across state lines;

(i) Establish procedures to resolve pending charges (detainers) against juvenile offenders before transfer or release to the community under the terms of this compact.

(j) Establish a system of uniform data collection on information pertaining to juveniles subject to this compact that allows access by authorized juvenile justice and criminal justice officials, and regular reporting of compact activities to heads of state, executive, judicial, and legislative branches and juvenile and criminal justice administrators;

(k) Monitor compliance with rules governing interstate movement of juveniles and initiate interventions to address and correct noncompliance;

(l) Coordinate training and education regarding the regulation of interstate movement of juveniles for officials involved in that activity; and

(m) Coordinate the implementation and operation of the compact with the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children, the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision and other compacts affecting juveniles particularly in those cases where concurrent or overlapping supervision issues arise.

It is the policy of the compacting states that the activities conducted by the Interstate Commission created by this compact are the formation of public policies and therefore are public business. Furthermore, the compacting states shall cooperate and observe their individual and collective duties and responsibilities for the prompt return and acceptance of juveniles subject to the provisions of this compact. The provisions of this compact shall be reasonably and liberally construed to accomplish the purposes and policies of the compact.

As used in this compact, unless the context clearly requires a different construction:

(a) “ Bylaws ” means those bylaws established by the Interstate Commission for its governance, or for directing or controlling its actions or conduct.

(b) “ Compact administrator ” means the individual in each compacting state appointed under the terms of this compact, responsible for the administration and management of the state's supervision and transfer of juveniles subject to the terms of this compact, the rules adopted by the Interstate Commission and policies adopted by the State Council under this compact.

(c) “ Compacting state ” means any state that has enacted the enabling legislation for this compact.

(d) “ Commissioner ” means the voting representative of each compacting state appointed pursuant to Article III of this compact.

(e) “ Court ” means any court having jurisdiction over delinquent, neglected or dependent children.

(f) “ Deputy compact administrator ” means the individual, if any, in each compacting state appointed to act on behalf of a compact administrator under the terms of this compact responsible for the administration and management of the state's supervision and transfer of juveniles subject to the terms of this compact, the rules adopted by the Interstate Commission and policies adopted by the State Council under this compact.

(g) “ Interstate Commission ” means the Interstate Commission for Juveniles created by Article III of this compact.

(h) “ Juvenile ” means any person defined as a juvenile in any member state or by the rules of the Interstate Commission, including:

(i) Accused delinquent, which is a person charged with an offense that, if committed by an adult, would be a criminal offense;

(ii) Adjudicated delinquent, which is a person found to have committed an offense that, if committed by an adult, would be a criminal offense;

(iii) Accused status offender, which is a person charged with an offense that would not be a criminal offense if committed by an adult;

(iv) Adjudicated status offender, which is a person found to have committed an offense that would not be a criminal offense if committed by an adult; and

(v) Nonoffender, which is a person in need of supervision who has not been accused or adjudicated a status offender or delinquent.

(i) “ Noncompacting state ” means any state that has not enacted the enabling legislation for this compact.

(j) “ Probation or parole ” means any kind of supervision or conditional release of juveniles authorized under the laws of the compacting states.

(k) “ Rules ” means a written statement by the Interstate Commission promulgated under Article VI of this compact that is of general applicability, implements, interprets or prescribes a policy or provision of the compact, or an organizational, procedural, or practice requirement of the commission, and has the force and effect of statutory law in a compacting state, and includes the amendment, repeal or suspension of an existing rule.

(l) “ State ” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia (or its designee), the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas Islands.

(1) The compacting states create the “Interstate Commission for Juveniles.” The commission shall be a body corporate and joint agency of the compacting states. The commission shall have all the responsibilities, powers and duties set forth in this compact, and such additional powers as may be conferred upon it by subsequent action of the respective legislatures of the compacting states in accordance with the terms of this compact.

(2) The Interstate Commission shall consist of commissioners appointed by the appropriate appointing authority in each state pursuant to the rules and requirements of each compacting state and in consultation with the State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision created under this compact. The commissioner shall be the compact administrator, deputy compact administrator or designee from that state who shall serve on the Interstate Commission in such capacity under the applicable law of the compacting state.

(3) In addition to the commissioners who are the voting representatives of each state, the Interstate Commission shall include individuals who are not commissioners, but who are members of interested organizations. Those noncommissioner members must include a member of the national organizations of governors, legislators, state chief justices, attorneys general, Interstate Compact for Adult Offender for Adult Offender Supervision, Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children, juvenile justice and juvenile corrections officials and crime victims. All noncommissioner members of the Interstate Commission shall be ex officio nonvoting members. The Interstate Commission may provide in its bylaws for additional ex officio nonvoting members, including members of other national organizations, in such numbers as determined by the commission.

(4) Each compacting state represented at any meeting of the commission is entitled to one (1) vote. A majority of the compacting states shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless a larger quorum is required by the bylaws of the Interstate Commission.

(5) The commission shall meet at least once each calendar year. The chairperson may call additional meetings and, upon the request of a simple majority of the compacting states, shall call additional meetings. Public notice shall be given of all meetings and meetings shall be open to the public.

(6) The Interstate Commission shall establish an executive committee, which shall include commission officers, members and others as determined by the bylaws. The executive committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the Interstate Commission during periods when the Interstate Commission is not in session, with the exception of rule making and/or amendment to the compact. The executive committee shall oversee the day-to-day activities of the administration of the compact managed by an executive director and Interstate Commission staff; administers enforcement and compliance with the provisions of the compact, its bylaws and rules and performs such other duties as directed by the Interstate Commission or set forth in the bylaws.

(7) Each member of the Interstate Commission shall have the right and power to cast a vote to which that compacting state is entitled and to participate in the business and affairs of the Interstate Commission. A member shall vote in person and shall not delegate a vote to another compacting state. However, a commissioner, in consultation with the State Council, shall appoint another authorized representative, in the absence of the commissioner from that state, to cast a vote on behalf of the compacting state at a specified meeting. The bylaws may provide for members' participation in meetings by telephone or other means of telecommunication or electronic communication.

(8) The Interstate Commission's bylaws shall establish conditions and procedures under which the Interstate Commission shall make its information and official records available to the public for inspection or copying. The Interstate Commission may exempt from disclosure any information or official records to the extent they would adversely affect personal privacy rights or proprietary interests.

(9) Public notice shall be given of all meetings and all meetings shall be open to the public, except as set forth in the rules or as otherwise provided in the compact. The Interstate Commission and any of its committees may close a meeting to the public where it determines by two-thirds ( 2 / 3 ) vote that an open meeting would be likely to:

(a) Relate solely to the Interstate Commission's internal personnel practice and procedures;

(b) Disclose matters specifically exempted from disclosure by statute;

(c) Disclose trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential;

(d) Involve accusing any person of a crime, or formally censuring any person;

(e) Disclose information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;

(f) Disclose investigative records compiled for law enforcement purposes;

(g) Disclose information contained in or related to examination, operating or condition reports prepared by, or on behalf of or for the use of, the Interstate Commission with respect to a regulated person or entity for the purpose of regulation or supervision of the person or entity;

(h) Disclose information, the premature disclosure of which would significantly endanger the stability of a regulated person or entity; or

(i) Specifically relate to the Interstate Commission's issuance of a subpoena, or its participation in a civil action or other legal proceeding.

(10) For every meeting closed under this provision, the Interstate Commission's legal counsel shall publicly certify that, in the legal counsel's opinion, the meeting may be closed to the public, and shall reference each relevant exemptive provision. The Interstate Commission shall keep minutes that shall fully and clearly describe all matters discussed in any meeting and shall provide a full and accurate summary of any actions taken, and the reasons therefor, including a description of each of the views expressed on any item and the record of any roll call vote (reflected in the vote of each member on the question). All documents considered in connection with any action shall be identified in the minutes.

(11) The Interstate Commission shall collect standardized data concerning the interstate movement of juveniles as directed through its rules, which shall specify the data to be collected, the means of collection, data exchange and reporting requirements. Those methods of data collection, exchange and reporting shall, insofar as is reasonably possible, conform to up-to-date technology and coordinate its information functions with the appropriate repository of records.

The commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To provide for dispute resolution among compacting states.

(b) To promulgate rules to effect the purposes and obligations as enumerated in this compact, which shall have the force and effect of statutory law and shall be binding in the compacting states to the extent and in the manner provided in this compact.

(c) To oversee, supervise and coordinate the interstate movement of juveniles subject to the terms of this compact and any bylaws adopted and rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission.

(d) To enforce compliance with the compact provisions, the rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission, and the bylaws, using all necessary and proper means, including, but not limited to, the use of judicial process.

(e) To establish and maintain offices, which shall be located within one or more of the compacting states.

(f) To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds.

(g) To borrow, accept, hire or contract for services of personnel.

(h) To establish and appoint committees and hire staff that it deems necessary for the carrying out of its functions including, but not limited to, an executive committee as required by Article III, which shall have the power to act on behalf of the Interstate Commission in carrying out its powers and duties under this compact.

(i) To elect or appoint officers, attorneys, employees, agents or consultants, and to fix their compensation, define their duties and determine their qualifications; and to establish the Interstate Commission's personnel policies and programs relating to, inter alia, conflicts of interest, rates of compensation and qualifications of personnel.

(j) To accept any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, and to receive, utilize and dispose of it.

(k) To lease, purchase, accept contributions or donations of or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use any property, real, personal or mixed.

(l) To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon or otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal or mixed.

(m) To establish a budget and make expenditures and levy dues as provided in Article VIII of this compact.

(n) To sue and be sued.

(o) To adopt a seal and bylaws governing the management and operation of the Interstate Commission.

(p) To perform such functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this compact.

(q) To report annually to the legislatures, governors, judiciary, and State Councils of the compacting states concerning the activities of the Interstate Commission during the preceding year. Those reports also shall include any recommendations that may have been adopted by the Interstate Commission.

(r) To coordinate education, training and public awareness regarding the interstate movement of juveniles for officials involved in that activity.

(s) To establish uniform standards of the reporting, collecting and exchanging of data.

(t) To maintain its corporate books and records in accordance with the bylaws.

(1) Bylaws . The Interstate Commission shall, by a majority of the members present and voting, within twelve (12) months after the first Interstate Commission meeting, adopt bylaws to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the compact, including, but not limited to:

(a) Establishing the fiscal year of the Interstate Commission;

(b) Establishing an executive committee and such other committees as may be necessary;

(c) Providing for the establishment of committees governing any general or specific delegation of any authority or function of the Interstate Commission;

(d) Providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting meetings of the Interstate Commission, and ensuring reasonable notice of each such meeting;

(e) Establishing the titles and responsibilities of the officers of the Interstate Commission;

(f) Providing a mechanism for concluding the operations of the Interstate Commission and the return of any surplus funds that may exist upon the termination of the compact after the payment and/or reserving of all of its debts and obligations;

(g) Providing “start-up” rules for initial administration of the compact; and

(h) Establishing standards and procedures for compliance and technical assistance in carrying out the compact.

(2) Officers and Staff .(a) The Interstate Commission shall, by a majority of the members, elect annually from among its members a chairperson and a vice chairperson each of whom shall have such authority and duties as may be specified in the bylaws. The chairperson or, in the chairperson's absence or disability, the vice chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Interstate Commission. The officers so elected shall serve without compensation or remuneration from the Interstate Commission; however, subject to the availability of budgeted funds, the officers shall be reimbursed for any ordinary and necessary costs and expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties and responsibilities as officers of the Interstate Commission.

(b) The Interstate Commission shall, through its executive committee, appoint or retain an executive director for such period, upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation as the Interstate Commission may deem appropriate. The executive director shall serve as secretary to the Interstate Commission, but shall not be a member and shall hire and supervise such other staff as may be authorized by the Interstate Commission.

(3) Qualified Immunity, Defense and Indemnification .(a) The commission's executive director and employees shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property, personal injury or other civil liability caused or arising out of or relating to any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that the person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties or responsibilities; however, any such person shall not be protected from suit or liability for any damage, loss, injury or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of any such person.

(b) The liability of any commissioner, or the employee of an agent of a commissioner, acting within the scope of the person's employment or duties for acts, errors or omissions occurring within the person's state, may not exceed the limits of liability set forth under the Constitution and laws of that state for state officials, employees and agents. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to protect any such person from suit or liability for any damage, loss, injury or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of any such person.

(c) The Interstate Commission shall defend the executive director or the employees or representatives of the Interstate Commission and, subject to the approval of the attorney general of the state represented by any commissioner of a compacting state, shall defend the commissioner or the commissioner's representatives or employees in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of interstate commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that the defendant has a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of interstate commission employment, duties or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of the person.

(d) The Interstate Commission shall indemnify and hold the commissioner of a compacting state, or the commissioner's representatives or employees or the Interstate Commission's representatives or employees, harmless in the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against those persons arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of interstate commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that those persons had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of interstate commission employment, duties or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part of such persons.

(1) The Interstate Commission shall promulgate and publish rules in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of the compact.

(2) Rule making shall occur using the criteria set forth in this article and the bylaws and rules adopted under this article. That rule making shall substantially conform to the principles of the “Model State Administrative Procedures Act,” 1981 Act, Uniform Laws Annotated, Volume 15, page 1 (2000), or such other administrative procedures act, as the Interstate Commission deems appropriate consistent with due process requirements under the United States Constitution as now or hereafter interpreted by the United States Supreme Court. All rules and amendments shall become binding as of the date specified, as published with the final version of the rule as approved by the commission.

(3) When promulgating a rule, the Interstate Commission shall, at a minimum:

(a) Publish the proposed rule's entire text stating the reason(s) for that proposed rule;

(b) Allow and invite any and all persons to submit written data, facts, opinions, and arguments, which information shall be added to the record, and be made publicly available;

(c) Provide an opportunity for an informal hearing if petitioned by ten (10) or more persons; and

(d) Promulgate a final rule and its effective date, if appropriate, based on input from state or local officials, or interested parties.

(4) Allow not later than sixty (60) days after a rule is promulgated, any interested person to file a petition in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or in the Federal District Court where the Interstate Commission's principal office is located for judicial review of the rule. If the court finds that the Interstate Commission's action is not supported by substantial evidence in the rule-making record, the court shall hold the rule unlawful and set it aside. For purposes of this subsection, evidence is substantial if it would be considered substantial evidence under the Model State Administrative Procedures Act.

(5) If a majority of the legislatures of the compacting states rejects a rule, those states may, by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the compact, cause that the rule shall have no further force and effect in any compacting state.

(6) The existing rules governing the operation of the Interstate Compact on Juveniles superceded by this compact shall be null and void twelve (12) months after the first meeting of the Interstate Commission created under this compact.

(7) Upon determination by the Interstate Commission that a state of emergency exists, it may promulgate an emergency rule that shall become effective immediately upon adoption, provided that the usual rule-making procedures provided under this article retroactively applied to the rule as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of the emergency rule.

(1) Oversight . (a) The Interstate Commission shall oversee the administration and operations of the interstate movement of juveniles subject to this compact in the compacting states and shall monitor those activities being administered in noncompacting states that may significantly affect compacting states.

(b) The courts and executive agencies in each compacting state shall enforce this compact and shall take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact's purposes and intent. The provisions of this compact and the rules promulgated under this compact shall be received by all the judges, public officers, commissions and departments of the state government as evidence of the authorized statute and administrative rules. All courts shall take judicial notice of the compact and the rules. In any judicial or administrative proceeding in a compacting state pertaining to the subject matter of this compact that may affect the powers, responsibilities or actions of the Interstate Commission, it shall be entitled to receive all service of process in any such proceeding, and shall have standing to intervene in the proceeding for all purposes.

(2) Dispute Resolution .(a) The compacting states shall report to the Interstate Commission on all issues and activities necessary for the administration of the compact, as well as issues and activities pertaining to compliance with the provisions of the compact and its bylaws and rules.

(b) The Interstate Commission shall attempt, upon the request of a compacting state, to resolve any disputes or other issues that are subject to the compact and that may arise among compacting states and between compacting and noncompacting states. The commission shall promulgate a rule providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes among the compacting states.

(c) The Interstate Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of this compact using any or all means set forth in Article XI of this compact.

(1) The Interstate Commission shall pay or provide for the payment of the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization and ongoing activities.

(2) The Interstate Commission shall levy on and collect an annual assessment from each compacting state to cover the cost of the internal operations and activities of the Interstate Commission and its staff, which must be in a total amount sufficient to cover the Interstate Commission's annual budget as approved each year. The aggregate annual assessment amount shall be allocated based upon a formula to be determined by the Interstate Commission, taking into consideration the population of each compacting state and the volume of interstate movement of juveniles in each compacting state, and shall promulgate a rule binding upon all compacting states which governs the assessment.

(3) The Interstate Commission shall not incur any obligations of any kind before securing the funds adequate to meet the same; nor shall the Interstate Commission pledge the credit of any of the compacting states, except by and with the authority of the compacting state.

(4) The Interstate Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the Interstate Commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the Interstate Commission shall be audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the Interstate Commission.

Each member state shall create a State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision. While each state may determine the membership of its own State Council, its membership must include at least one (1) representative from the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government, victims groups, and the compact administrator or designee. Each compacting state retains the right to determine the qualifications of the compact administrator or deputy compact administrator. Each State Council will advise and may exercise oversight and advocacy concerning the state's participation in Interstate Commission activities and other duties as may be determined by that state, including, but not limited to, development of policy concerning operations and procedures of the compact within that state.

(1) Any state, the District of Columbia (or its designee), the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas Islands as defined in Article II of this compact is eligible to become a compacting state.

(2) The compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative enactment of the compact into law by no less that thirty-five (35) of the states. The initial effective date shall be the later of July 1, 2004, or upon enactment into law by the thirty-fifth jurisdiction. Thereafter, it shall become effective and binding as to any other compacting state upon enactment of the compact into law by that state. The governors of nonmember states or their designees shall be invited to participate in the activities of the Interstate Commission on a nonvoting basis before adoption of the compact by all states and territories of the United States.

(3) The Interstate Commission may propose amendments to the compact for enactment by the compacting states. No amendment shall become effective and binding upon the Interstate Commission and the compacting states unless and until it is enacted into law by unanimous consent of the compacting states.

(1) Withdrawal .(a) Once effective, the compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each and every compacting state; however, a compacting state may withdraw from the compact by specifically repealing the statute that enacted the compact into law.

(b) The effective date of withdrawal is the effective date of the repeal.

(c) The withdrawing state shall immediately notify the chairperson of the Interstate Commission in writing upon the introduction of legislation repealing this compact in the withdrawing state. The Interstate Commission shall notify the other compacting states of the withdrawing state's intent to withdraw within sixty (60) days of its receipt thereof.

(d) The withdrawing state is responsible for all assessments, obligations and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal, including any obligations, the performance of which extend beyond the effective date of withdrawal.

(e) Reinstatement following withdrawal of any compacting state shall occur upon the withdrawing state reenacting the compact or upon such later date as determined by the Interstate Commission.

(2) Technical Assistance, Fines, Suspension, Termination and Default .(a) If the Interstate Commission determines that any compacting state has at any time defaulted in the performance of any of its obligations or responsibilities under this compact, or the bylaws or duly promulgated rules, the Interstate Commission may impose any or all of the following penalties:

(i) Remedial training and technical assistance as directed by the Interstate Commission;

(ii) Alternative dispute resolution;

(iii) Fines, fees and costs in such amounts as are deemed to be reasonable as fixed by the Interstate Commission; and

(iv) Suspension or termination of membership in the compact, which shall be imposed only after all other reasonable means of securing compliance under the bylaws and rules have been exhausted and the Interstate Commission has therefore determined that the offending state is in default. Immediate notice of suspension shall be given by the Interstate Commission to the governor, the chief justice or the chief judicial officer of the state, the majority and minority leaders of the defaulting state's legislature and the State Council. The grounds for default include, but are not limited to, failure of a compacting state to perform the obligations or responsibilities imposed upon it by this compact, the bylaws or duly promulgated rules and any other grounds designated in commission bylaws and rules. The Interstate Commission shall immediately notify the defaulting state in writing of the penalty imposed by the Interstate Commission and of the default pending a cure of the default. The commission shall stipulate the conditions and the time period within which the defaulting state must cure its default. If the defaulting state fails to cure the default within the time period specified by the commission, the defaulting state shall be terminated from the compact upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the compacting states and all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by this compact shall be terminated from the effective date of termination.

(b) Within sixty (60) days of the effective date of termination of a defaulting state, the commission shall notify the governor, the chief justice or the chief judicial officer, the majority and minority leaders of the defaulting state's legislature, and the State Council of that termination.

(c) The defaulting state is responsible for all assessments, obligations and liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination including any obligations, the performance of which extends beyond the effective date of termination.

(d) The Interstate Commission shall not bear any costs relating to the defaulting state unless otherwise mutually agreed upon in writing between the Interstate Commission and the defaulting state.

(e) Reinstatement following termination of any compacting state requires both a reenactment of the compact by the defaulting state and the approval of the Interstate Commission pursuant to the rules.

(3) Judicial Enforcement . The Interstate Commission may, by majority vote of the members, initiate legal action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or, at the discretion of the Interstate Commission, in the federal district court where the Interstate Commission has its offices, to enforce compliance with the provisions of the compact, its duly promulgated rules and bylaws, against any compacting state in default. If judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of the litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.

(4) Dissolution of Compact .(a) The compact dissolves effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of the compacting state, which reduces membership in the compact to one (1) compacting state.

(b) Upon the dissolution of the compact, the compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the Interstate Commission shall be concluded and any surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws.

(1) The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the compact shall be enforceable.

(2) The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.

(1) Other Laws .(a) Nothing in this compact prevents the enforcement of any other law of a compacting state that is not inconsistent with this compact.

(b) All compacting states' laws other than state constitutions and other interstate compacts conflicting with this compact are superseded to the extent of the conflict.

(2) Binding Effect of the Compact .(a) All lawful actions of the Interstate Commission, including all rules and bylaws promulgated by the Interstate Commission, are binding upon the compacting states.

(b) All agreements between the Interstate Commission and the compacting states are binding in accordance with their terms.

(c) Upon the request of a party to a conflict over meaning or interpretation of Interstate Commission actions, and upon a majority vote of the compacting states, the Interstate Commission may issue advisory opinions regarding that meaning or interpretation.

(d) If any provision of this compact exceeds the constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any compacting state, the obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction sought to be conferred by that provision upon the Interstate Commission shall be ineffective and those obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction shall remain in the compacting state and shall be exercised by the agency thereof to which those obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction are delegated by law in effect at the time this compact becomes effective.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-5-35 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 5-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-5-35
Status: in_force

The director shall publish notification of the conference in the following manner:

(a) Not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the conference the director shall mail notices of this meeting to the executive officer of any agency or institution of the State of Mississippi which, in the opinion of the board, is charged with or can contribute to the education, training or assistance of blind or deaf citizens of the State of Mississippi. It shall be the duty of such executive officer upon receipt of such notification to attend or appoint an officer or employee of his agency to attend and participate in the conference.

The notice required by this subsection shall include time and place of the conference and reference to Sections 43-5-31 through 43-5-39 regarding the required attendance of a representative from a designated agency.

(b) The director shall cause notice to be published in a newspaper or newspapers having general circulation throughout the state. Such notice shall appear at least three (3) times with the first publication appearing not less than twenty-five (25) days prior to the date of the conference and the last publication appearing not more than five (5) days prior to the date of the conference.

(c) The director is directed and authorized to utilize any mass communication media that may be available at no cost to the board to publicize the conference.

(d) The director shall notify private organizations and persons known to have an interest in the education, training and assistance of the deaf and blind of the meeting and to invite their attendance and participation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-715 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 7 / Section 33-715
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-715
Status: in_force

The corporation is not created or organized, and its operations shall not be conducted, for the purpose of making a profit. No part of the revenues or assets of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its directors or officers or other private persons, except as otherwise provided in this article.

Directors of the corporation shall serve without compensation; provided that all members, except ex officio members, shall receive the per diem established in Section 25-3-69, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for their attendance at meetings; and all directors shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for any actual and reasonable expenses incurred as a necessary incident to service on the corporation, including mileage, as provided in Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-29 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 39-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-29
Status: in_force

(1) The displacing agency is authorized, if the program or project is in danger of being delayed, to bring a civil action seeking ejectment as relief in justice court, chancery court, circuit or county court, or special court of eminent domain where the agency is legally entitled to the possession of the property sued for and demanded.

(2) No person previously lawfully occupying real property shall be required to move from a dwelling (assuming a replacement dwelling will be available) or move his business or farm without at least ninety (90) days advance written notice, after initiation of negotiations for the parcel, followed by a final written thirty-day notice to vacate after the displacing agency is legally entitled to possession.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-53 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 19-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-53
Status: in_force

Not later than sixty (60) days after the first day of January of each year, the state department of public welfare shall cause to be published for the preceding calendar year a detailed report showing the total number of cases in the aid to dependent children program reported on the basis of fraud or suspected fraud, the total number investigated, prosecuted and disposed of civilly and/or criminally in each county of the state and the total number of support and paternity cases reported, investigated, continued, prosecuted civilly, and the total amount of support collected.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-913 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 21-913
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-913
Status: in_force

The licensing agency shall make inspections to determine ongoing compliance with the laws and regulations governing the licensure of juvenile detention facilities. Inspections shall be made at least twice a year, but additional inspections may be made as often as deemed necessary by the licensing agency. The licensing agency is not required to provide any notice to the facility before making an inspection.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-211 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 27-211
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-211
Status: in_force

The bonds authorized under Sections 43-27-207 through 43-27-233 shall be signed by the Chairman of the State Bond Commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the State Bond Commission shall be affixed thereto, attested by the Secretary of the State Bond Commission. The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to such bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of such officers. Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials designated to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers before the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until their delivery to the purchaser, or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear. However, notwithstanding anything in Sections 43-27-201 through 43-27-233 to the contrary, such bonds may be issued as provided in the Registered Bond Act of the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-9 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 28-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-9
Status: in_force

In addition to those powers granted to the board by any other provisions of this chapter, the Mississippi ABLE Board shall have the powers necessary to carry out the purposes and provisions of this chapter, the purposes and objectives of ABLE accounts, and the powers delegated by any other law or executive order of this state, including, but not limited to, the following express powers:

(a) To adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement this chapter, subject to applicable federal laws and regulations, including rules regarding transfers of funds between ABLE accounts established under the provisions of this chapter and independent personal bank accounts;

(b) To impose reasonable requirements for beneficiaries or account owners at the time of enrollment in the Mississippi ABLE Program;

(c) To consult with the Executive Director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services and the State Treasurer for the department's employment of a Mississippi ABLE Coordinator, who shall:

(i) Coordinate meetings of the board and keep minutes of its actions;

(ii) Remain informed of developments in federal rules and regulations affecting ABLE accounts and ensure that the Mississippi ABLE Program remains in compliance;

(iii) Be authorized to enter into contracts, on behalf of the Mississippi ABLE Board, with records administrators, program managers, consultants and other qualified persons and entities for administrative and technical assistance in carrying out the responsibilities of the Mississippi ABLE Program; and

(iv) Perform such other duties as the board may prescribe;

(d) To contract for necessary goods and services, to employ necessary personnel, and to engage the services of consultants and other qualified persons and entities for administrative and technical assistance in carrying out the responsibilities of the ABLE account funds under terms and conditions that the board deems reasonable, including contract terms for such consideration, and for such purposes as the board deems advisable;

(e) To solicit and accept gifts, including bequests or other testamentary gifts made by will, trust or other disposition grants, loans and other aids from any personal source or to participate in any other way in any federal, state or local governmental programs in carrying out the purposes of this chapter;

(f) To define the terms and conditions under which payments may be withdrawn for qualifying expenses established under this chapter and to impose reasonable transaction fees;

(g) To serve as an information clearinghouse for the gathering, compilation and dissemination of educational and programmatic materials relating to the design, operation and benefits provided through ABLE accounts and access to entry into the program;

(h) To regulate the receipt of contributions or payments to the ABLE Trust Fund;

(i) To segregate contributions and payments to the ABLE Trust Fund into various accounts and funds;

(j) To require and collect administrative fees and charges in connection with any transaction and to impose reasonable penalties for withdrawal of funds for nonqualified expenses or for entering into a ABLE account agreement on a fraudulent basis;

(k) To procure insurance against any loss in connection with the property, assets and activities of the ABLE Trust Fund or the board;

(l) To require that account owners of ABLE account agreements verify, under sworn attestation, any requests for contract conversions, substitutions, transfers, cancellations, refund requests or contract changes of any nature;

(m) To solicit proposals and to contract for the marketing of the Mississippi ABLE Program, provided that: (i) any materials produced by a marketing contractor for the purpose of marketing the program must be approved by the board before being made available to the public; and (ii) neither the state nor the board shall be liable for misrepresentation of the program by a marketing contractor;

(n) To delegate responsibility for administration of the comprehensive investment plan to a contractor or contractors or a consultant or consultants that the board determines is qualified;

(o) To make all necessary and appropriate arrangements with vendors, health care service providers, rehabilitation specialists or other entities in order to fulfill its obligations under ABLE account agreements;

(p) To establish other policies, procedures and criteria necessary to implement and administer this chapter;

(q) To authorize the Department of Rehabilitation Services with the advice of the State Treasurer, to carry out any or all of the powers and duties enumerated in this section for efficient and effective administration of the Mississippi ABLE Program and ABLE Trust Fund;

(r) To develop a user-friendly website or access link on the Department of Rehabilitation Services' website to serve as a virtual program and access portal to information about the ABLE Program and how an individual might be able to enroll, whether in the State of Mississippi or in a contracting state with whom Mississippi has entered into a contractual relationship either bilaterally or as part of an ABLE consortium;

(s) To provide an ABLE assistance helpline by which those having inquires can be directed to the proper entity for assistance in qualifying and enrolling in an ABLE Program; and

(t) To develop and provide an “Account Holder's Bill of Rights” to each individual, who is a Mississippi resident, and who enrolls in the ABLE Program whether such account is managed inside or outside of the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-12-43 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 12-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-12-43
Status: in_force

(1) The Department of Human Services may establish a pilot program in which a photograph of the recipient is included on any electronic benefits transfer card issued by the department to the recipient, unless the recipient declines to have the photograph included. When a recipient is a minor or otherwise incapacitated individual, a parent or legal guardian of such recipient may have a photograph of such parent or legal guardian placed on the card.

(2) The Department of Human Services shall explore opportunities with other state agencies, departments, or divisions, including the Department of Public Safety, to share photographs when available. The Department of Human Services may sign one or more memorandum of understanding with such agencies, departments, or divisions as necessary to implement this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-507 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 21-507
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-507
Status: in_force

(1) Summons shall be served not less than three (3) days before the date set for the adjudicatory hearing of proceedings concerning the child.

(2) A party other than the child may waive service of summons on himself by written stipulation or by voluntary appearance at the hearing and in the case of written stipulation or voluntary appearance, the youth court may, in its discretion, proceed to a hearing regardless of the date set for the hearing if all other parties are properly before the youth court. At the time of the waiver, a copy of the petition shall be given to the party.

(3) If a child is served with process, the child may waive the three (3) days' time before the hearing, and the youth court may, in its discretion, proceed to a hearing regardless of the date set for the hearing if all other parties are properly before the youth court and the youth court finds all of the following:

(a) the child fully understands his rights and fully understands the potential consequences of the hearing;

(b) the child voluntarily, intelligently, and knowingly waives his rights to three (3) days' time before the hearing;

(c) the child is effectively represented by counsel; and

(d) the child has had in fact sufficient time to prepare.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-7 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 28-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-7
Status: in_force

(1) There is created the Mississippi ABLE Board of Directors which shall consist of nine (9) members as follows:

(a) The State Treasurer, or his or her designee;

(b) The Executive Director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services, or his or her designee;

(c) The Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health, or his or her designee;

(d) Three (3) members of the public who, by reason of his or her education and experience relating to disabilities or financial planning, is qualified to serve, to be appointed by the Governor one (1) of whom shall be appointed from each Supreme Court District;

(e) The Executive Director, or his or her designee, of an advocacy organization for citizens of all ages with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, to be appointed by the Governor;

(f) The Executive Director, or his or her designee, of an advocacy organization for citizens of all ages with cross disabilities and their families, to be appointed by the Governor; and

(g) The Executive Director, or his or her designee, of an advocacy organization for citizens with mental health disabilities, to be appointed by the Governor.

(2)(a) Of the six (6) appointed members by the Governor: One (1) member shall be appointed for an initial term of one (1) year; one (1) member shall be appointed for an initial term of two (2) years; one (1) member shall be appointed for an initial term of three (3) years; one (1) member shall be appointed for an initial term of four (4) years; one (1) member shall be appointed for an initial term of five (5) years; and one (1) member shall be appointed for an initial term of six (6) years. On the expiration of any of the terms of office, successor appointees shall be appointed for terms of five (5) years in each case. Ex officio members of the board may be represented at official meetings by their deputy, or other designee, and such designees shall have full voting privileges and shall be included in the determination of a quorum for conducting board business.

(b) Initial members of the board shall be appointed within thirty (30) days after March 20, 2017, and shall meet at the state office of the Department of Rehabilitation Services, at a date to be fixed by the Executive Director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services, not later than thirty (30) days after all appointments have been made, to organize and select a chairman and vice chairman, and develop an implementation plan for the Mississippi ABLE Program, which shall be completed on or before October 1, 2017. The chairman shall preside over all meetings.

(3) Successors to the appointed members shall serve for the length of the term for each appointing official and shall be eligible for reappointment, and shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy on the board shall be appointed in a like manner and shall serve for only the unexpired term.

(4) Members of the board of directors shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for each day's official duties of the board at the same per diem as established by Section 25-3-69 , and actual travel and lodging expenses as established by Section 25-3-41 .

(5) The board of directors shall annually elect one (1) member to serve as chairman of the board and one (1) member to serve as vice chairman. The vice chairman shall act as chairman in the absence of, or upon the disability of the chairman, or in the event of a vacancy of the office of chairman.

(6) A majority of the currently serving members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of conducting business and exercising its official powers and duties. Any action taken by the board shall be upon the vote of a majority of the members present.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-702 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 33-702
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-702
Status: in_force

The Legislature hereby finds and declares:

(a) That there exists in the State of Mississippi a severe shortage of adequate, safe and sanitary residential and rental housing available at prices or rentals within the financial means of persons of low or moderate income; that this shortage has contributed to and will contribute to the creation and persistence of substandard living conditions and is damaging to the health, welfare and prosperity of the residents of this state.

(b) That private enterprise and investment have been unable, without assistance, to produce the needed construction or rehabilitation of adequate, safe and sanitary housing at prices or rentals which persons of low or moderate income can afford and to provide sufficient long-term mortgage financing for residential or rental housing for occupancy by such persons;

(c) That the shortage of adequate and affordable housing can best be addressed through a strong, unified organization which can develop creative approaches to housing production and assistance through active cooperation of public and private entities, including federal, state and local government, private nonprofit and for profit entities, community and citizens groups, charitable organizations, and private citizens; that this organization should stimulate private development, construction and rehabilitation, develop a wide range of state housing assistance programs, engage in comprehensive planning, study, research and statewide coordination with respect to low and moderate housing, provide technical, educational and consultative services, and promote governmental and community interest in the provision of housing for low and moderate income persons in the state; that this organization should receive appropriations of public funds, should be authorized to obtain funding for its programs by issuing its bonds and notes; and that this organization should be authorized to administer available federal, state or local programs and monies and to retain for its corporate purposes all such fees and income generated thereby;

(d) To aid in remedying these conditions and to accomplish these public purposes, effective September 1, 1989, there is created a public body corporate and politic, separate and apart from the state, constituting a governmental instrumentality, to be known as the Mississippi Home Corporation, for the performance of essential public functions. The corporation shall be constituted and shall have such powers as provided in this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-319 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 16 / Section 21-319
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-319
Status: in_force

In addition to any other provisions of law, it shall be lawful for a correctional facility constructed in Tallahatchie County to house juveniles who have been found delinquent or in need of supervision. The juveniles shall be housed in a correctional facility constructed in Tallahatchie County. The juveniles housed under the provisions of this section and sentenced under the laws of the federal government or its territories or another state shall be under the jurisdiction of the youth or juvenile court or committing jurisdiction in which the juvenile was found to be delinquent or in need of supervision.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-21 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 35-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-21
Status: in_force

(a) A municipality shall have power to issue bonds from time to time, in its discretion, to finance the undertaking of any urban renewal project under this article, including, without limiting the generality thereof, the payment of principal and interest upon any advances for surveys and plans, and shall also have power to issue refunding bonds for the payment or retirement of such bonds previously issued by it. Such bonds shall be made payable, as to both principal and interest, solely from the income, proceeds, revenues, and funds of the municipality derived from or held in connection with its undertaking and carrying out of urban renewal projects under this article. Payment of such bonds, both as to principal and interest, may be further secured by a pledge of any loan, grant or contribution from the federal government or other source, in aid of any urban renewal projects of the municipality under this article, and by a mortgage of any such urban renewal projects, or any part thereof title to which is in the municipality.

(b) Bonds issued under this section shall not constitute an indebtedness within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory debt limitation or restriction, and shall not be subject to the provisions of any other law or charter relating to the authorization, issuance or sale of bonds. Bonds issued under the provisions of this article are declared to be issued for an essential public and governmental purpose and, together with interest thereon and income therefrom, shall be exempted from all taxes.

(c) Bonds issued under this section shall be authorized by resolution or ordinance of the local governing body and may be issued in one or more series and shall bear such date or dates, be payable upon demand or mature at such time or times, not to exceed thirty (30) years from date of issue, bear interest at such rate or rates, not exceeding that allowed in Section 75-17-103 , be in such denomination or denominations, be in such form either coupon or registered, carry such conversion or registration privileges, have such rank or priority, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment, at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption (with or without premium), be secured in such manner, and have such other characteristics, as may be provided by such resolution or trust indenture or mortgage issued pursuant thereto. Any bond issue to be awarded and sold to the United States of America or any agency thereof shall mature at such time or times, not to exceed thirty-five (35) years, as shall be prescribed in the ordinance authorizing their issuance.

(d) Such bonds may be sold at not less than par at public sales held after notice published prior to such sale in a newspaper having a general circulation in the area of operation and in such other medium of publication as the municipality may determine, may be exchanged for other bonds on the basis of par or may be sold at private sale under such terms and conditions as may be determined from time to time by the municipality. Such bonds may be sold to the federal government at private sale at not less than par, and, in the event less than all of the authorized principal amount of such bonds is sold to the federal government, the balance may be sold at private sale at not less than par at an interest cost to the municipality of not to exceed the interest cost to the municipality of the portion of the bonds sold to the federal government.

(e) In case any of the public officials of the municipality whose signatures appear on any bonds or coupons issued under this article shall cease to be such officials before the delivery of such bonds, such signatures shall, nevertheless, be valid and sufficient for all purposes, the same as if such officials had remained in office until such delivery. Any provision of any law to the contrary notwithstanding, any bonds issued pursuant to this article shall be fully negotiable.

(f) In any suit, action or proceeding involving the validity or enforceability of any bond issued under this article, or the security therefor, any such bond reciting in substance that it has been issued by the municipality in connection with an urban renewal project, shall be conclusively deemed to have been issued for such purpose and such project shall be conclusively deemed to have been planned, located and carried out in accordance with the provisions of this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-1-67 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 1-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-1-67
Status: in_force

The Office for Children and Youth of the Department of Human Services shall conduct a needs assessment to determine the need for an incentive program, which would allow participating early care and education programs in the Quality Rating System (QRS) access to funds to provide incentives to teachers/directors that make educational advancements that are listed in the QRS criteria. If determined to be feasible and depending on the availability of funds, guidelines for such an incentive program shall be developed by the Office for Children and Youth.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-9-43 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 9-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-9-43
Status: in_force

The Legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal all or any part of the Mississippi Old Age Security Law at any time, and there shall be no vested private right of any kind against such amendment or repeal. All the rights, benefits, or immunities conferred by said law or by acts done pursuant thereto shall exist subject to the power of the legislature to amend or repeal said law at any time.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-61-7 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 26 / Section 61-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-61-7
Status: in_force

Subject to appropriation for the program, the department may provide assistance to persons determined to be eligible for services authorized by this chapter. The assistance provided by the department may include:

(a) Assisting seniors and qualified indigents in accessing manufacturers' pharmaceutical assistance program applications; and

(b) Assisting seniors and qualified indigents in applying for manufacturers' pharmaceutical assistance programs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-7 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 20-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-7
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created an advisory council which shall be appointed by the State Health Officer, who shall serve at the pleasure of the State Health Officer.

(2) The advisory council shall consist of twelve (12) persons, six (6) of whom shall be licensed child care providers, and six (6) of whom shall represent child care professional organizations, child advocacy groups, child care associations or state agencies which provide child care funding, education or services. No more than four (4) members shall be appointed from any one (1) state Supreme Court district.

(3) It shall be the duty of the advisory council to assist and advise the licensing agency in the development of regulations governing the licensure and regulation of child care facilities and to advise the licensing agency on matters relative to the administration and interpretation of the provisions of this chapter.

(4) Members of the advisory council shall be reimbursed for mileage and expenses as is authorized by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-103 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 29 / Section 33-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-103
Status: in_force

If the board of supervisors of each of two (2) or more contiguous counties by resolution declares that there is a need for one (1) housing authority to be created for all of such counties to exercise in such counties powers and other functions prescribed for a regional housing authority, a public body corporate and politic to be known as a regional housing authority shall thereupon exist for all of such counties and exercise its powers and other functions in such counties; and thereupon each county housing authority created for each of such counties shall cease to exist except for the purpose of winding up its affairs and executing a deed to the regional housing authority as hereinafter provided. The board of supervisors of a county shall not adopt a resolution as aforesaid if there is a county housing authority created for such county which has any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness outstanding unless, first, all holders of such evidences of indebtedness consent in writing to the substitution of such regional housing authority in lieu of such county housing authority on all such evidences of indebtedness, and second, the commissioners of such county housing authority adopt a resolution consenting to the transfer of all the rights, contracts, obligations, and property, real and personal, of such county housing authority to such regional housing authority as hereinafter provided. When the above two (2) conditions are complied with and such regional housing authority is created and authorized to exercise its powers and other functions, all rights, contracts, agreements, obligations, and property of such county housing authority shall be in the name of and vest in such regional housing authority, and all obligations of such county housing authority shall be the obligations of such regional housing authority and all rights and remedies of any person against such county housing authority may be asserted, enforced, and prosecuted against such regional housing authority to the same extent as they might have asserted, enforced, and prosecuted against such county housing authority.

When any real property of a county housing authority vests in a regional housing authority as provided above, the county housing authority shall execute a deed of such property to the regional housing authority which thereupon shall file such deed in the office provided for the filing of deeds; nothing contained in this sentence shall affect the vesting of property in the regional housing authority as provided above.

The board of supervisors of each of two (2) or more contiguous counties shall by resolution declare that there is a need for one (1) regional housing authority to be created for all of such counties to exercise in such counties powers and other functions prescribed for a regional housing authority, if such board of supervisors finds (and only if it finds) (a) that unsanitary or unsafe inhabited dwelling accommodations exist in such county or there is a shortage of safe or sanitary dwelling accommodations in such county available to persons of low income at rentals they can afford and (b) that a regional housing authority would be a more efficient or economical administrative unit than the housing authority of such county to carry out the purposes of this article and the Housing Authorities Law in such county.

In any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of or relating to any contract of the regional housing authority, the regional housing authority shall be conclusively deemed to have become created as a public body corporate and politic and to have become established and authorized to transact business and exercise its powers hereunder upon proof of the adoption of a resolution by the board of supervisors of each of the counties creating the regional housing authority declaring the need for the regional housing authority. Each such resolution shall be deemed sufficient if it declares that there is need for the regional housing authority and finds in substantially the foregoing terms (no further detail being necessary) that the conditions enumerated above in (a) and (b) exist. A copy of such resolution of the board of supervisors of a county, duly certified by the county clerk of such county, shall be admissible in evidence in any suit, action, or proceeding.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-33 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 26 / Section 33-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-33
Status: in_force

All real property of an authority shall be exempt from levy and sale by virtue of an execution, and no execution or other judicial process shall issue against the same nor shall any judgment against an authority be a charge or lien upon its real property. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to or limit the right of obligees to foreclose or otherwise enforce any mortgage of an authority or the right of obligees to pursue any remedies for the enforcement of any pledge or lien given by an authority on its rents, fees or revenues.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-9 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 9 / Section 35-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-9
Status: in_force

A municipality for the purposes of this article may formulate for the municipality a workable program for utilizing appropriate private and public resources to eliminate and prevent the development or spread of slums and urban blight, to encourage needed urban rehabilitation, to provide for the redevelopment of slum and blighted areas, or to undertake such of the aforesaid activities or other feasible municipal activities as may be suitably employed to achieve the objectives of such workable program. Such workable program may include, without limitation, provision for: the prevention of the spread of blight into areas of the municipality which are free from blight through diligent enforcement of housing, zoning and occupancy controls and standards; the rehabilitation or conservation of slum and blighted areas or portions thereof by replanning, removing congestion, providing parks, playgrounds and other public improvements, by encouraging voluntary rehabilitation and by compelling the repair and rehabilitation of deteriorated or deteriorating structures; and the clearance and redevelopment of slum and blighted areas or portions thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-18-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 18-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-18-15
Status: in_force

The provisions of state laws restricting out-of-state placement of children shall not apply to placements made pursuant to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-43-9 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 14 / Section 43-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-43-9
Status: in_force

No state agency shall assess any charges for services provided by such agency under Title XX to any entity or individual, whether the services be administrative in nature or otherwise, unless such charges be specifically authorized both in principle and amount by the Legislature or, when the Legislature is out of session, by the state fiscal management board. All such charges, whether termed administrative charges, license fees, certification fees, user fees or by whatever name denominated, shall be included in the state budget report as prepared by the legislative budget office and shall be identified by source, purpose, amount and authorization. It is the intent of the Legislature that all such charges by an agency shall be reviewed annually by the Legislature to determine the necessity or continuing necessity for such charges and, if such charges are deemed appropriate and necessary, to include such charges in the agency's appropriation bill.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-16-7 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 16-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-16-7
Status: in_force

The operator of any child residential home shall provide notification in accordance with this chapter within sixty (60) days of beginning operation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-13 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 18 / Section 20-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-13
Status: in_force

A license issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be renewed upon payment of a renewal fee not to exceed Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) per year, and upon filing by the licensee of a report upon such uniform dates and upon forms provided by the licensing agency, accompanied by a current certificate of inspection and approval by the fire department and the county health department specified in Section 43-20-11 .

Any increase in the fee charged by the licensing agency under this section shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 41-3-65 .

No governmental entity or agency shall be required to pay the fee or fees set forth in this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-267 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 21-267
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-267
Status: in_force

(1) Any person who shall disclose or encourage the disclosure of any records involving children or the contents thereof without the proper authorization under this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished, upon conviction, by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail of not more than one (1) year or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(2) Nothing herein shall prevent the youth court from finding in civil contempt, as provided in Section 43-21-153 , any person who shall disclose any records involving children or the contents thereof without the proper authorization under this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-704 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 33-704
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-704
Status: in_force

(1) There is created by this article the Mississippi Home Corporation, which shall be a continuation of the corporate existence of the Mississippi Housing Finance Corporation and (a) all property, rights and powers of the Mississippi Housing Finance Corporation are vested in, and shall be exercised by, the corporation, subject, however, to all pledges, covenants, agreements, undertakings and trusts made or created by the Mississippi Housing Finance Corporation; (b) all references to the Mississippi Housing Finance Corporation in any other law or regulation shall be deemed to refer to and apply to the corporation; and (c) all regulations of the Mississippi Housing Finance Corporation shall continue to be in effect as the regulations of the corporation until amended, supplemented or rescinded by the corporation in accordance with law.

(2) The corporation is created with power to: raise funds from private investors in order to make such private funds available to finance the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation and improvement of residential and rental housing for persons of low or moderate income within the state; provide financing to qualified sponsors or individuals for a wide range of loans including, but not limited to, housing development, mortgage, rehabilitation or energy conservation loans; make loans to private lenders to finance any of these loans; purchase any of these loans from private lenders; refinance, insure or guarantee any of these loans; provide for temporary or partial financing for any of these purposes; develop, operate and administer housing programs which further its stated goals of improving the availability, affordability and quality of low and moderate income housing in the state; and make grants or loans to private nonprofit developers, local governments or private persons in furtherance of these goals;

(3)(a) The corporation shall be composed of thirteen (13) members. The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint the members of the corporation, who shall be residents of the state and shall not hold other public office. There shall be at least one (1) member and not more than three (3) members appointed from each of the five (5) congressional districts in existence on January 1, 1989, and, in addition, from and after September 1, 1980, (i) at least one (1) member shall have at least three (3) years' experience and background in the savings and loan association business, the commercial banking business or the mortgage banking business, (ii) at least one (1) member shall have at least three (3) years' experience and background in the residential housing construction industry, (iii) at least one (1) member shall have at least three (3) years' experience and background in the licensed residential housing brokerage business, and (iv) at least one (1) member shall be a member of the general public not engaged in any business, industry or activity described in clauses (i) through (iii) of this subparagraph; from and after September 1, 1989, (i) at least one (1) member shall have at least three (3) years' experience and background in the manufactured housing business; (ii) at least one (1) member shall have at least three (3) years' experience and background in nonprofit housing development in a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA); (iii) at least one (1) member shall have at least three (3) years' experience and background in nonprofit housing development outside a MSA; and (iv) at least (1) member shall be a low or moderate income person qualified for assistance under this article.

(b) The term of office of the members of the corporation who are serving pursuant to this subsection (3) shall terminate on May 23, 2000.

(4) From and after May 23, 2000, the corporation shall be composed of nine (9) members. The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint six (6) members of the corporation, who shall be residents of the state. The Governor shall appoint two (2) members from each Supreme Court District. The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint three (3) members of the corporation, who shall be residents of the state. The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint one (1) member from each Supreme Court District. Two (2) members shall be appointed by the Governor for an initial term of two (2) years, two (2) members shall be appointed by the Governor for an initial term of four (4) years, and two (2) members shall be appointed by the Governor for an initial term of six (6) years. One (1) member shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor for an initial term of two (2) years, one (1) member shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor for an initial term of four (4) years, and one (1) member shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor for an initial term of six (6) years. Thereafter, the terms of members appointed by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be as provided in subsection (5) of this section. In the appointment process, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor will attempt to see that all portions of society and its diversity are represented in the membership of the corporation. In the appointment process, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor will attempt to see that persons with substantial housing and financial experience are represented in the membership of the corporation.

(5) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3)(b) and subsection (4) of this section, appointments shall be for terms of six (6) years. Each member shall hold office until his successor has been appointed and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the appropriate appointing authority, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, for the length of the unexpired term only. Any member of the corporation shall be eligible for reappointment. Any member of the corporation may be removed by the appointing authority for misfeasance, malfeasance or willful neglect of duty after reasonable notice and a public hearing, unless the same are expressly waived in writing. Each member of the corporation shall before entering upon his duty take an oath of office to administer the duties of his office faithfully and impartially, and a record of such oath shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. The corporation shall annually elect from its membership a chairman who shall be eligible for reelection. The corporation shall annually elect from its membership a vice chairman who shall be eligible for reelection. The corporation shall also elect or appoint, and prescribe the duties of, such other officers (who need not be members) as the corporation deems necessary or advisable, and the corporation shall fix the compensation of such officers. The corporation may delegate to one or more of its members, officers, employees or agents such powers and duties as it may deem proper, not inconsistent with this article or other provisions of law.

(6) In accomplishing its purposes, the corporation is acting in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state and the performance of essential public functions and is serving a vital public purpose in approving and otherwise promoting their health, welfare and prosperity, and the enactment of the provisions hereinafter set forth is for a valid public purpose and is hereby so declared to be such as a matter of express legislative determination.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-851 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 18 / Section 21-851
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-851
Status: in_force

As used in Sections 43-21-851 through 43-21-871 , the following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “ Association ” means the state Court-Appointed Special Advocate Association established under Section 43-21-865 .

(b) “ Court ” means youth court or, if there is no youth court in the county where the CASA program is located, then chancery court.

(c) “ Court-appointed special advocate case ” or “ CASA case ” means a child or group of siblings who are within the jurisdiction of the court as a result of abuse, neglect or dependency proceedings and for whom the court has appointed and the program director has assigned a CASA volunteer.

(d) “ Court-appointed special advocate program ” or “ CASA program ” means a program by which trained community volunteers are provided to the court for appointment to represent the best interests of children who have come into the court system as a result of dependency, abuse or neglect.

(e) “ Court-appointed special advocate volunteer ” or “ CASA volunteer ” means a person who completes training through, and is supervised by, a CASA program and appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of dependent, abused or neglected children in court.

(f) “ Local board ” means the local board of directors appointed or selected pursuant to Section 43-21-853 to govern a local CASA program.

(g) “ Program director ” means the director of each local CASA program selected under Section 43-21-853 .

(h) “ State board ” means the state board of directors elected under Section 43-21-865 .

(i) “ State director ” means the director of the state association provided for in Section 43-21-869 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-29-29 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 27 / Section 29-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-29-29
Status: in_force

The State Department shall issue all checks for administrative expenses, and for assistance to persons qualifying for aid under the provisions of this chapter. All such checks shall be drawn upon funds made available to the state department of public welfare by the state auditor, upon requisition of the commissioner, approved by the state board. It is the purpose of this section to provide that the state auditor shall transfer, in lump sums, amounts to the state department of public welfare for disbursement under the regulations which shall be made by the state department.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-17-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 17-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-17-11
Status: in_force

Application for TANF assistance under this chapter shall be made to the county department of the county in which the dependent child resides. The application shall be in writing or reduced to writing in the manner and upon the form prescribed by the state department. Such application shall be made by the person with whom the child is living and shall contain information as to the age and residence of the child and such other information as may be required by the rules and regulations of the state department. One (1) application may be made for several children of the same family if they reside with the same person.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-21 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 47-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-21
Status: in_force

At the time the department makes an evaluation of the case reported, in accordance with the provisions of Section 43-47-9 , it shall be determined, according to the regulations set by the department, whether the vulnerable person is financially capable of paying for the essential services. If he is, he shall make reimbursement for the costs of providing the needed essential services. If it is determined that he is not financially capable of paying for such services, they shall be provided at no cost to the recipient of the services. The court may order the department or any public agency to provide for the custody, care and maintenance of such vulnerable person. Provided, however, that the care, custody and maintenance of any vulnerable person shall be within statutory authorization and budgetary means of such institution, facility, agency or department. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, it is not the intent of the Legislature through the adoption of this chapter to authorize any court exercising jurisdiction over a vulnerable person to enlarge or bring about the addition of new groups or categories of recipients or to increase the types of care and services for such persons under the Mississippi Medicaid Law, and any court exercising jurisdiction over a vulnerable person shall not, in any way, enter an order against the Division of Medicaid to provide for the custody, care, or maintenance of a vulnerable person who is not otherwise eligible for medical assistance under Section 43-13-115 or services under Section 43-13-117 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-795 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 33-795
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-795
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Home Corporation shall file a report on July 1, 1995, with the Department of Finance and Administration that describes in detail the progress that has been made in implementing the projects authorized by the Mississippi Home Corporation Act. A report for each fiscal year shall be filed annually on July 1 until all funds required for the projects described in the Mississippi Home Corporation Act have been expended.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-29-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 29-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-29-11
Status: in_force

Upon the completion of the investigation, the county department shall determine in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Department, whether the applicant is eligible for assistance under the provisions of this chapter, the amount of assistance he shall receive, and the date upon which such assistance shall begin.

It shall be the duty of the State Department insofar as is practicable to provide assistance to eligible persons, who, due to limitation of available funds have not been placed upon the assistance rolls, as soon as practicable after additional funds become available to the department and prior to making a general increase in assistance grants to persons already on said assistance rolls. Nothing in this section shall be construed to bar or limit any county department of public welfare from granting individual increases in the amount of assistance to recipients based upon their individual needs. The State Department shall, as soon as made possible by the availability of additional funds, take steps to eliminate all waiting lists.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-315 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 27 / Section 35-315
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-315
Status: in_force

This article shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the expenditure of money and the issuance of bonds as are hereby authorized and shall be construed as an additional and alternate method therefor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-25 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 33 / Section 55-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-25
Status: in_force

All new programs authorized in this chapter are subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor by the Legislature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-353 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 21-353
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-353
Status: in_force

(1) Any attorney, physician, dentist, intern, resident, nurse, psychologist, social worker, family protection worker, family protection specialist, child caregiver, minister, law enforcement officer, public or private school employee or any other person having reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a neglected child, an abused child, or a victim of commercial sexual exploitation or human trafficking shall cause an oral report to be made immediately by telephone or otherwise and followed as soon thereafter as possible by a report in writing to the Department of Child Protection Services, and immediately a referral shall be made by the Department of Child Protection Services to the youth court intake unit, which unit shall promptly comply with Section 43-21-357 . In the course of an investigation, at the initial time of contact with the individual(s) about whom a report has been made under this Youth Court Act or with the individual(s) responsible for the health or welfare of a child about whom a report has been made under this chapter, the Department of Child Protection Services shall inform the individual of the specific complaints or allegations made against the individual. Consistent with subsection (4), the identity of the person who reported his or her suspicion shall not be disclosed at that point. Where appropriate, the Department of Child Protection Services shall additionally make a referral to the youth court prosecutor.

Upon receiving a report that a child has been sexually abused, is a victim of commercial sexual exploitation or human trafficking or has been burned, tortured, mutilated or otherwise physically abused in such a manner as to cause serious bodily harm, or upon receiving any report of abuse that would be a felony under state or federal law, the Department of Child Protection Services shall immediately notify the law enforcement agency in whose jurisdiction the abuse occurred. Within forty-eight (48) hours, the department must notify the appropriate prosecutor and the Statewide Human Trafficking Coordinator. The department shall have the duty to provide the law enforcement agency all the names and facts known at the time of the report; this duty shall be of a continuing nature. The law enforcement agency and the department shall investigate the reported abuse immediately and shall file a preliminary report with the appropriate prosecutor's office within twenty-four (24) hours and shall make additional reports as new or additional information or evidence becomes available. The department shall advise the clerk of the youth court and the youth court prosecutor of all cases of abuse reported to the department within seventy-two (72) hours and shall update such report as information becomes available. In addition, if the Department of Child Protection Services determines that a parent or other person responsible for the care or welfare of an abused or neglected child maintains active duty status within the military, the department shall notify the applicable military installation family advocacy program that there is an allegation of abuse or neglect that relates to that child.

(2) Any report shall contain the names and addresses of the child and his parents or other persons responsible for his care, if known, the child's age, the nature and extent of the child's injuries, including any evidence of previous injuries, any other information that might be helpful in establishing the cause of the injury, and the identity of the perpetrator.

(3) The Department of Child Protection Services shall maintain a statewide incoming wide-area telephone service or similar service for the purpose of receiving reports of suspected cases of child abuse, commercial sexual exploitation or human trafficking; provided that any attorney, physician, dentist, intern, resident, nurse, psychologist, social worker, family protection worker, family protection specialist, child caregiver, minister, law enforcement officer or public or private school employee who is required to report under subsection (1) of this section shall report in the manner required in subsection (1).

(4) Reports of abuse, neglect and commercial sexual exploitation or human trafficking made under this chapter and the identity of the reporter are confidential except when the court in which the investigation report is filed, in its discretion, determines the testimony of the person reporting to be material to a judicial proceeding or when the identity of the reporter is released to law enforcement agencies and the appropriate prosecutor pursuant to subsection (1). Reports made under this section to any law enforcement agency or prosecutorial officer are for the purpose of criminal investigation and prosecution only and no information from these reports may be released to the public except as provided by Section 43-21-261 . Disclosure of any information by the prosecutor shall be according to the Mississippi Uniform Rules of Circuit and County Court Procedure. The identity of the reporting party shall not be disclosed to anyone other than law enforcement officers or prosecutors without an order from the appropriate youth court. Any person disclosing any reports made under this section in a manner not expressly provided for in this section or Section 43-21-261 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to the penalties prescribed by Section 43-21-267 . Notwithstanding the confidentiality of the reporter's identity under this section, the Department of Child Protection Services may disclose a reporter's identity to the appropriate law enforcement agency or prosecutor if the department has reason to suspect the reporter has made a fraudulent report, and the Department of Child Protection Services must provide to the subject of the alleged fraudulent report written notification of the disclosure.

(5) All final dispositions of law enforcement investigations described in subsection (1) of this section shall be determined only by the appropriate prosecutor or court. All final dispositions of investigations by the Department of Child Protection Services as described in subsection (1) of this section shall be determined only by the youth court. Reports made under subsection (1) of this section by the Department of Child Protection Services to the law enforcement agency and to the district attorney's office shall include the following, if known to the department:

(a) The name and address of the child;

(b) The names and addresses of the parents;

(c) The name and address of the suspected perpetrator;

(d) The names and addresses of all witnesses, including the reporting party if a material witness to the abuse;

(e) A brief statement of the facts indicating that the child has been abused, including whether the child experienced commercial sexual exploitation or human trafficking, and any other information from the agency files or known to the family protection worker or family protection specialist making the investigation, including medical records or other records, which may assist law enforcement or the district attorney in investigating and/or prosecuting the case; and

(f) What, if any, action is being taken by the Department of Child Protection Services.

(6) In any investigation of a report made under this chapter of the abuse or neglect of a child as defined in Section 43-21-105(l) or (m) , the Department of Child Protection Services may request the appropriate law enforcement officer with jurisdiction to accompany the department in its investigation, and in such cases the law enforcement officer shall comply with such request.

(7) Anyone who willfully violates any provision of this section shall be, upon being found guilty, punished by a fine not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment in jail not to exceed one (1) year, or both.

(8) If a report is made directly to the Department of Child Protection Services that a child has been abused or neglected or experienced commercial sexual exploitation or human trafficking in an out-of-home setting, a referral shall be made immediately to the law enforcement agency in whose jurisdiction the abuse occurred and the department shall notify the district attorney's office and the Statewide Human Trafficking Coordinator within forty-eight (48) hours of such report. The Department of Child Protection Services shall investigate the out-of-home setting report of abuse or neglect to determine whether the child who is the subject of the report, or other children in the same environment, comes within the jurisdiction of the youth court and shall report to the youth court the department's findings and recommendation as to whether the child who is the subject of the report or other children in the same environment require the protection of the youth court. The law enforcement agency shall investigate the reported abuse immediately and shall file a preliminary report with the district attorney's office within forty-eight (48) hours and shall make additional reports as new information or evidence becomes available. If the out-of-home setting is a licensed facility, an additional referral shall be made by the Department of Child Protection Services to the licensing agency. The licensing agency shall investigate the report and shall provide the Department of Child Protection Services, the law enforcement agency and the district attorney's office with their written findings from such investigation as well as that licensing agency's recommendations and actions taken.

(9) If a child protective investigation does not result in an out-of-home placement, a child protective investigator must provide information to the parent or guardians about community service programs that provide respite care, counseling and support for children who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation or human trafficking, voluntary guardianship or other support services for families in crisis.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-113 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 13-113
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-113
Status: repealed

(1) The State Treasurer shall receive on behalf of the state, and execute all instruments incidental thereto, federal and other funds to be used for financing the medical assistance plan or program adopted pursuant to this article, and place all such funds in a special account to the credit of the Governor's Office-Division of Medicaid, which funds shall be expended by the division for the purposes and under the provisions of this article, and shall be paid out by the State Treasurer as funds appropriated to carry out the provisions of this article are paid out by him.

The division shall issue all checks or electronic transfers for administrative expenses, and for medical assistance under the provisions of this article. All such checks or electronic transfers shall be drawn upon funds made available to the division by the State Auditor, upon requisition of the director. It is the purpose of this section to provide that the State Auditor shall transfer, in lump sums, amounts to the division for disbursement under the regulations which shall be made by the director with the approval of the Governor; however, the division, or its fiscal agent in behalf of the division, shall be authorized in maintaining separate accounts with a Mississippi bank to handle claim payments, refund recoveries and related Medicaid program financial transactions, to aggressively manage the float in these accounts while awaiting clearance of checks or electronic transfers and/or other disposition so as to accrue maximum interest advantage of the funds in the account, and to retain all earned interest on these funds to be applied to match federal funds for Medicaid program operations.

(2) The division is authorized to obtain a line of credit through the State Treasurer from the Working Cash-Stabilization Fund or any other special source funds maintained in the State Treasury in an amount not exceeding One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00) to fund shortfalls which, from time to time, may occur due to decreases in state matching fund cash flow. The length of indebtedness under this provision shall not carry past the end of the quarter following the loan origination. Loan proceeds shall be received by the State Treasurer and shall be placed in a Medicaid designated special fund account. Loan proceeds shall be expended only for health care services provided under the Medicaid program. The division may pledge as security for such interim financing future funds that will be received by the division. Any such loans shall be repaid from the first available funds received by the division in the manner of and subject to the same terms provided in this section.

In the event the State Treasurer makes a determination that special source funds are not sufficient to cover a line of credit for the Division of Medicaid, the division is authorized to obtain a line of credit, in an amount not exceeding One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000.00), from a commercial lender or a consortium of lenders. The length of indebtedness under this provision shall not carry past the end of the quarter following the loan origination. The division shall obtain a minimum of two (2) written quotes that shall be presented to the State Fiscal Officer and State Treasurer, who shall jointly select a lender. Loan proceeds shall be received by the State Treasurer and shall be placed in a Medicaid designated special fund account. Loan proceeds shall be expended only for health care services provided under the Medicaid program. The division may pledge as security for such interim financing future funds that will be received by the division. Any such loans shall be repaid from the first available funds received by the division in the manner of and subject to the same terms provided in this section.

(3) Disbursement of funds to providers shall be made as follows:

(a) All providers must submit all claims to the Division of Medicaid's fiscal agent no later than twelve (12) months from the date of service.

(b) The Division of Medicaid's fiscal agent must pay ninety percent (90%) of all clean claims within thirty (30) days of the date of receipt.

(c) The Division of Medicaid's fiscal agent must pay ninety-nine percent (99%) of all clean claims within ninety (90) days of the date of receipt.

(d) The Division of Medicaid's fiscal agent must pay all other claims within twelve (12) months of the date of receipt.

(e) If a claim is neither paid nor denied for valid and proper reasons by the end of the time periods as specified above, the Division of Medicaid's fiscal agent must pay the provider interest on the claim at the rate of one and one-half percent (1- 1 / 2 %) per month on the amount of such claim until it is finally settled or adjudicated.

(4) The date of receipt is the date the fiscal agent receives the claim as indicated by its date stamp on the claim or, for those claims filed electronically, the date of receipt is the date of transmission.

(5) The date of payment is the date of the check or, for those claims paid by electronic funds transfer, the date of the transfer.

(6) The above specified time limitations do not apply in the following circumstances:

(a) Retroactive adjustments paid to providers reimbursed under a retrospective payment system;

(b) If a claim for payment under Medicare has been filed in a timely manner, the fiscal agent may pay a Medicaid claim relating to the same services within six (6) months after it, or the provider, receives notice of the disposition of the Medicare claim;

(c) Claims from providers under investigation for fraud or abuse; and

(d) The Division of Medicaid and/or its fiscal agent may make payments at any time in accordance with a court order, to carry out hearing decisions or corrective actions taken to resolve a dispute, or to extend the benefits of a hearing decision, corrective action, or court order to others in the same situation as those directly affected by it.

(7) Repealed.

(8) If sufficient funds are appropriated therefor by the Legislature, the Division of Medicaid may contract with the Mississippi Dental Association, or an approved designee, to develop and operate a Donated Dental Services (DDS) program through which volunteer dentists will treat needy disabled, aged and medically-compromised individuals who are non-Medicaid eligible recipients.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-101 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 16 / Section 33-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-101
Status: in_force

Sections 43-33-103 through 43-33-133 , inclusive, of this article may be referred to as the “Supplemental Housing Authorities Law.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-401 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 21-401
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-401
Status: in_force

(1) Informal adjustment pursuant to the informal adjustment agreement provided in Section 43-21-405 shall include:

(a) the giving of counsel and advice to the child and his parent, guardian or custodian;

(b) referrals to public and private agencies which may provide benefits, guidance or services to the child and his parent, guardian or custodian;

(c) temporary placement of the child or supervision by the youth court counselor with the consent of the child and his parent, guardian or custodian, subject to youth court review.

(2) If authorized by the youth court, informal adjustment may be commenced after the filing of a petition.

(3) If the child and his parent, guardian or custodian agree to participate in an informal adjustment process, the defense of a failure to provide a speedy trial is waived and a petition may be filed if the informal adjustment process is unsuccessfully terminated under Section 43-21-407 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-53-1 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 16 / Section 53-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-53-1
Status: in_force

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that there are many efforts currently under way that seek to forge partnerships to coordinate criminal justice and social services approaches to victimization of senior citizens. The TRIAD program, sponsored by the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), is one such effort. This effort recognizes that senior citizens have the same fundamental desire as other members of our society to live freely, without fear or restriction due to the criminal element, and that the state should seek to expand efforts to reduce crime against this growing and uniquely vulnerable segment of our population.

It is the intent of the Legislature, therefore, to promote a coordinated effort among law enforcement and social services agencies to stem the tide of violence against senior citizens and to support media and non-media strategies aimed at increasing both public understanding of the problem and the senior citizens' skills in preventing crime against themselves and their property, and to address the problem of crime against senior citizens in a systematic and effective manner by promoting and expanding collaborative crime prevention programs, such as the TRIAD model, that assist law enforcement agencies and senior citizens in implementing specific strategies for crime prevention, victim assistance, citizen involvement and public education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-17-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 17-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-17-15
Status: in_force

Upon the completion of such investigation the county department shall decide whether the child is eligible for TANF assistance under the provisions of this chapter, and determine in accordance with the rules and regulations of the state department the amount of such assistance and the date on which such assistance shall begin. The county department shall notify the applicant of its decision.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-203 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 35-203
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-203
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of any municipality which has elected, or hereafter may elect, to exercise or delegate the power and authority to establish and construct municipal parking facilities for motor vehicles belonging to the general public, as provided in Section 43-35-201 , and the governing authorities of any urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority to which such power and authority shall have been delegated are hereby authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to issue bonds for the purpose of acquiring land and property for a municipal parking facility and related structures and also for owning, erecting, building, establishing, operating and maintaining such facilities and related structures and to remodel or repair the same, and to refund outstanding bonds and to pay costs relating to the issuance of such bonds and interest on such bonds and to establish any reserves determined to be appropriate. Such bonds may be issued without an election thereon upon the adoption of a resolution by the governing authorities of such issuing authority. Such bonds shall not be subject to any limitation as to amount, and shall not be included in computing the statutory limitation of indebtedness of such issuing authority under any present or future law. Such bonds shall bear date or dates, shall be of such denomination or denominations, shall bear interest at such rates not to exceed the maximum rate specified in Section 75-17-103 , shall be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature at such time or times and upon such terms and may be made redeemable prior to maturity with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges and shall be in substantially such form as shall be determined by resolution of the governing authorities of such issuing authority.

Such bonds shall be executed by the manual or facsimile signature of the mayor or chairman and clerk or secretary of such issuing authority, with the seal of the issuing authority affixed thereto or reproduced thereon. Whenever such bonds shall have been signed by the officials designated to sign the same who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers prior to the date of the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until the delivery of the same to the purchaser or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-351 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 21-351
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-351
Status: repealed

(1) Any person or agency having knowledge that a child residing or being within the county is within the jurisdiction of the youth court may make a written report to the intake unit alleging facts sufficient to establish the jurisdiction of the youth court. The report shall bear a permanent number that will be assigned by the court in accordance with the standards established by the Administrative Office of Courts pursuant to Section 9-21-9(d) , and shall be preserved until destroyed on order of the court.

(2) There shall be in each youth court of the state an intake officer who shall be responsible for the accurate and timely entering of all intake and case information into the Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System (MYCIDS) for the Department of Human Services--Division of Youth Services, truancy matters, and the Department of Child Protection Services. It shall be the responsibility of the youth court judge or referee of each county to ensure that the intake officer is carrying out the responsibility of this section.

(3) Each intake officer shall receive, at a minimum, six (6) hours of annual training on MYCIDS provided by the Mississippi Judicial College. The required training under this subsection shall be in addition to technical training provided by the Mississippi Supreme Court MYCIDS Information Technology Department.

(4) The Mississippi Judicial College, in conjunction with the Administrative Office of Courts, shall develop training materials on MYCIDS:

(a) To ensure the accurate and timely entrance of all intake and case information throughout the state by intake officers;

(b) To ensure that youth court judges are equipped to oversee the functions of each intake officer.

(5) The provisions of this section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2026,
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-63-5 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 35 / Section 63-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-63-5
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall be defined as provided in this section:

(a) “ Alzheimer's disease ” or “ related dementia ” means the diseases and conditions characterized by a decline in memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking skills that affect a person's ability to perform everyday activities.

(b) “ Mississippi Dementia Care Program ” means the Alzheimer's or related dementia pilot program created in this chapter.

(c) “ Informal caregiver ” means any spouse, adult child, relative or friend who provides unpaid assistance to an individual living in the community who suffers from Alzheimer's or other related dementia.

(d) “ Respite care ” means temporary, substitute support or living arrangements to provide a brief period of relief or rest for informal caregivers. Respite care may include in-home care by appropriately trained individuals, or care in an adult day care or assisted living or nursing home setting, for an intermittent, occasional or emergency basis.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-46 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 16 / Section 19-46
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-46
Status: in_force

(1) Each employer paying wages, salary or commission and doing business in Mississippi shall report to the Directory of New Hires within the Mississippi Department of Human Services:

(a) The hiring of any person who resides or works in this state to whom the employer anticipates paying wages, salary or commission; and

(b) The hiring or return to work of any employee who was laid off, furloughed, separated, granted leave without pay or was terminated from employment.

(2) Employers shall report, by mailing or by other means authorized by the Department of Human Services, a copy of the employee's W-4 form or its equivalent that will result in timely reporting. Each employer shall submit reports within fifteen (15) days of the hiring, rehiring or return to work of the employee. The report shall contain:

(a) The employee's name, address, social security number and the date of birth;

(b) The employer's name, address, and federal and state withholding tax identification numbers; and

(c) The date upon which the employee began or resumed employment, or is scheduled to begin or otherwise resume employment.

(3) The department shall retain the information, which shall be forwarded to the federal registry of new hires.

(4) The Department of Human Services may operate the program, may enter into a mutual agreement with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security or the Department of Revenue, or both, for the operation of the Directory of New Hires Program, or the Department of Human Services may contract for that service, in which case the department shall maintain administrative control of the program.

(5) In cases in which an employer fails to report information, as required by this section, an administratively levied civil penalty in an amount not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) shall apply if the failure is the result of a conspiracy between the employer and employee to not supply the required report or to supply a false or incomplete report. The penalty shall otherwise not exceed Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00). Appeal shall be as provided in Section 43-19-58 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 33-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-11
Status: in_force

An authority shall constitute a public body corporate and politic, exercising public and essential governmental functions, and having all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this article, including the following powers in addition to others herein granted:

(a) To sue and to be sued; to have a seal and to alter the same at pleasure; to have perpetual succession; to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers of the authority; and to make and from time to time amend and repeal bylaws, rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this article, to carry into effect the powers and purposes of the authority.

(b) Within its area of operation: to prepare, carry out, acquire, lease and operate housing projects; to provide for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, alteration or repair of any housing project or any part thereof.

(c) To arrange or contract for the furnishing by any person or agency, public or private, of services, privileges, works or facilities for, or in connection with, a housing project or the occupants thereof; and (notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this article or in any other provision of law) to include in any contract let in connection with a project, stipulations requiring that the contractor and any subcontractors comply with requirements as to minimum wages and maximum hours of labor, and comply with any conditions which the federal government may have attached to its financial aid of the project.

(d) To lease or rent any dwellings, houses, accommodations, lands, buildings, structures or facilities embraced in any housing project and (subject to the limitations contained in this article) to establish and revise the rents or charges therefor; to own, hold and improve real or personal property; to purchase, lease, obtain options upon, acquire by gift, grant, bequest, devise or otherwise any real or personal property or any interest therein; to acquire by the exercise of the power of eminent domain any real property; to sell, lease, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge or dispose of any real or personal property or any interest therein; to insure or provide for the insurance of any real or personal property or operations of the authority against any risks or hazards; to procure or agree to the procurement of insurance or guarantees from the federal government of the payment of any bonds or parts thereof issued by an authority, including the power to pay premiums on any such insurance.

(e) To invest any funds held in reserves or sinking funds, or any funds not required for immediate disbursement, in property or securities in which savings banks may legally invest funds subject to their control; to purchase its bonds at a price not more than the principal amount thereof and accrued interest, all bonds so purchased to be canceled.

(f) Within its area of operation: to investigate into living, dwelling and housing conditions and into the means and methods of improving such conditions; to determine where slum areas exist or where there is a shortage of decent, safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations for persons of low income; to make studies and recommendations relating to the problem of clearing, replanning and reconstructing of slum areas, and the problem of providing dwelling accommodations for persons of low income, and to cooperate with the city, the county, the state or any political subdivision thereof in action taken in connection with such problems; and to engage in research, studies and experimentation on the subject of housing.

(g) Acting through one or more commissioners or other person or persons designated by the authority: to conduct examinations and investigations and to hear testimony and take proof under oath at public or private hearings on any matter material to its information; to administer oaths, issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses or the production of books and papers and to issue commissions for the examination of witnesses who are outside of the state or unable to attend before the authority, or excused from attendance; to make available to appropriate agencies (including those charged with the duty of abating or requiring the correction of nuisances or like conditions, or of demolishing unsafe or unsanitary structures within its area of operation) its findings and recommendations with regard to any building or property where conditions exist which are dangerous to the public health, morals, safety or welfare.

(h) To make payments to public bodies in the state in such amounts as it finds desirable, notwithstanding any statutory limitation on the amount of such payments.

(i) To establish and operate a nonprofit corporation for housing and community development purposes.

(j) To exercise all or any part or combination of powers herein granted.

No provisions of law with respect to the acquisition, operation or disposition of property by other public bodies shall be applicable to an authority unless the Legislature shall specifically so state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-17-13 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 17-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-17-13
Status: in_force

Whenever a county department receives a notification of the dependency of a child or an application for TANF assistance, an investigation and record shall promptly be made of the circumstances in order to ascertain the dependency of the child and the facts supporting the application and in order to obtain such other information as may be required by the rules of the state department.

The investigation may include a visit to the home of the child and/or the person with whom the child will live during the time TANF assistance is granted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-26-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 26-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-26-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Department of Child Protection Services shall immediately send the on-call caseworker to the scene or location chosen by law enforcement (a) when the department is contacted by a law enforcement officer who encounters a minor whom the officer reasonably suspects of being a victim of human trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation, and (b) the officer requests such assistance using the Mississippi Child Protection Services hotline.

(2) The Department of Child Protection Services, in addition to its duties provided in Section 43-21-353 , within twenty-four (24) hours of receiving a report of child abuse, human trafficking of a child or commercial sexual exploitation of a child, sending an on-call caseworker to a location in response to a minor who is reasonably suspected of being a victim of human trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation at the request of a law enforcement officer, or when a Child Protection Services caseworker encounters a minor who is reasonably suspected of being a victim of human trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation, shall:

(a) Make in-person contact with the child to determine appropriate next steps for the protection of the child, or where in-person contact cannot be made within twenty-four (24) hours of receiving the report, shall immediately notify the Coordinator of Services for Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation within the Department of Child Protection Services and law enforcement, and shall document all steps taken to make contact with the child as well as the steps that will be taken to locate and ascertain the safety of the child;

(b) Attempt to have an on-site interview with the child's caretaker;

(c) Attempt to have law enforcement or an appropriate investigator conduct an on-site interview with the child's suspected offender; and

(d) Document and assess the safety of other children in the care or custody of the caretaker and/or who may be at risk of abuse by the suspected offender.

(2) 1 If the child is suspected to be a victim of human trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation, the Coordinator of Services for Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation within the Department of Child Protection Services shall activate an emergency, separate and specialized human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation assessment team. The team shall include, at a minimum: (a) an investigator certified by the Mississippi Human Trafficking Operational Task Force Board, (b) an investigator from the Department of Child Protection Services, and (c) a person certified by the office of the Attorney General as an advocate for victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Such emergency assessment team shall be created without authorization of the youth court, or designated by the Office of the Attorney General as an advocate for such victims.

(3) Any person under eighteen (18) years of age taken into custody under the provisions of Section 97-29-49 shall be presumed a victim of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-37-9 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 20 / Section 37-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-37-9
Status: in_force

Where an inverse condemnation proceeding is instituted by the owner of any right, title or interest in real property because of use of his property in any program or project in which federal and/or federal-aid funds are used, the court, rendering a judgment for the plaintiff in such proceeding and awarding compensation for the taking of property, or the state's attorney effecting a settlement of any such proceeding, shall determine and award or allow to such plaintiff, as a part of such judgment or settlement, such sum as will, in the opinion of the court or the state's attorney, reimburse such plaintiff for his reasonable costs, disbursements and expenses, including reasonable attorney, appraisal and engineering fees, actually incurred because of such proceeding.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-7 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 33-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-7
Status: in_force

When the governing body of a city adopts a resolution as provided in Section 43-33-5 , such governing body shall forthwith appoint five (5) persons as commissioners of the authority created for said city. When the governing body of a county adopts a resolution as provided in Section 43-33-5 , said governing body shall appoint five (5) commissioners for said board created for said county. The commissioners who are first appointed shall be designated to serve for terms of one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4) and five (5) years, respectively, from the date of their appointment, and thereafter when a vacancy shall occur either by the expiration of term of office or otherwise, the vacancy shall be filled by the governing body of the city or county, as the case may be, either to fill an unexpired term where a commissioner shall die or resign or shall become disqualified during his term, or for a full term of five (5) years where the term of a commissioner expires. No commissioner of an authority may be an officer or employee of the city or county for which the authority is created. However, at least one (1) commissioner must be a person who is directly assisted by the authority if required under applicable federal law. A commissioner shall hold office until his successor has been appointed and has qualified. A certificate of the appointment or reappointment of any commissioner shall be filed with the clerk of the city or county as the case may be and such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the due and proper appointment of such commissioner. A commissioner shall receive compensation for his services in the manner and amount authorized in Section 25-3-69 for up to fifteen (15) days during the fiscal year of the authority, and he shall also be entitled to necessary expenses, including traveling expenses, incurred in the discharge of his duties.

The powers of each authority shall be vested in the commissioners thereof in office from time to time. Three (3) commissioners shall constitute a quorum of the authority for the purpose of conducting its business and exercising its powers and for all other purposes. Action may be taken by the authority upon a vote of a majority of the commissioners present, unless in any case the bylaws of the authority shall require a larger number. The board of commissioners shall elect which member shall be chairman and thereafter fill any vacancy by like election. An authority shall select from among its commissioners a vice chairman, and it may employ a secretary (who shall be executive director), technical experts and such other officers, agents and employees, permanent and temporary, as it may require, and shall determine their qualifications, duties and compensation. For such legal services as it may require, an authority may call upon the chief law officer of the city or the county or may employ its own counsel and legal staff. An authority may delegate to one or more of its agents or employees such powers or duties as it may deem proper.

In the event that a directly assisted commissioner ceases to be directly assisted by the authority for which he/she serves as commissioner, said person shall then become disqualified to serve that authority as a directly assisted commissioner and shall be replaced as commissioner by a person who is directly assisted by the authority if federal law then requires that authority to have a directly assisted commissioner.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-31-31 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 18 / Section 31-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-31-31
Status: in_force

The municipal authorities of every city, town, and village shall bury all strangers found dead within their limits, or found floating in any waters at a point adjoining their limits, and all expenses or charges shall be chargeable to the county; and an accurate account thereof shall be reported to the board of supervisors, who shall allow the same, and order it to be paid out of the county treasury; but the boards of supervisors may fix maximum charges for such burials.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-3
Status: in_force

The Department of Human Services and the Department of Child Protection Services are authorized, empowered and directed to cooperate fully with the United States Children's Bureau and Secretary of Labor in establishing, extending and strengthening “child welfare services” for the protection and care of homeless, dependent and neglected children and children in danger of becoming delinquent. Those departments are further authorized, empowered and directed to cooperate with the United States Children's Bureau and Secretary of Labor in developing plans for those “child welfare services” and extending any other cooperation necessary under Section 521 of Public Law No. 271-74 th Congress of the United States.

In furtherance of the “child welfare services” referred to in the first paragraph hereof the State Treasurer is authorized and directed to receive on behalf of the state, and to execute all instruments incidental thereto, federal or other funds to be used for “child welfare services,” and to place such funds in a special account to the credit of the “child welfare services,” which funds shall be expended by the Department of Human Services and the Department of Child Protection Services for the purposes and under the provisions of this article and Section 521 of Public Law No. 271-74 th Congress of the United States. It shall be paid out by the State Treasurer as funds appropriated to carry out the provisions of those laws.

The Department of Human Services or the Department of Child Protection Services shall issue all checks on the “child welfare services” fund to persons entitled to payment from the fund. All such sums shall be drawn upon the “child welfare services” fund upon requisition of the Director of the Department of Human Services or the Commissioner of Child Protection Services.

The money in the “child welfare services” fund shall be expended in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Children's Bureau and Secretary of Labor and in accordance with the plan developed by the Department of Human Services or Department of Child Protection Services and the United States Children's Bureau under Section 521 of Public Law No. 271-74 th Congress of the United States, and shall not be used for any other purpose.

If a claim for foster care and/or adoption assistance under Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act is not acted upon within a reasonable time after the filing of the claim, or is denied in whole or in part, the claimant may appeal to the Commissioner of Child Protection Services in the manner and form prescribed by the Department of Child Protection Services. The Commissioner of Child Protection Services shall, upon receipt of such an appeal, give the claimant reasonable notice and opportunity for a fair hearing. The Commissioner of Child Protection Services may also, upon his or her own motion, review any decision regarding a claim, and may consider any claim upon which a decision has not been made within a reasonable time. All decisions of the Commissioner of Child Protection Services shall be final and binding.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-61-5 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 61-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-61-5
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature finds that many low income seniors and other indigents are unaware of bona fide assistance programs that are voluntarily offered by pharmaceutical manufacturers to the elderly and underprivileged. It is the intent of the Legislature to take steps necessary to make it more widely known that such assistance is available and to make it easier for people to apply for that assistance.

(2) The Mississippi Seniors and Indigents Rx Program is established in the Department of Human Services to help seniors and qualified indigents in accessing pharmaceutical manufacturers' discount cards and pharmaceutical assistance programs and to provide seniors and qualified indigents with applications for those programs. The department shall coordinate the operation of the program with the Division of Medicaid, the Department of Mental Health, the State Department of Health and the State Department of Rehabilitation Services to insure that the services available under the program are maximized and that paperwork and inconvenience to the seniors and qualified indigents are minimized. The department may develop, maintain and make available an Internet-based application form to the general public and to each of those state agencies so that seniors and qualified indigents may get applications for pharmaceutical assistance programs at the local offices of any of those state agencies. The department may coordinate with pharmaceutical manufacturers to obtain program applications at no cost to the state.

(3) The Office of Aging and Adult Services of the Department of Human Services shall play a primary role in administering the program to seniors in the same way that the office assists in administering programs of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-44 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 14 / Section 19-44
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-44
Status: in_force

For purposes of this section, an “ authorized person ” shall mean:

(a) Any agent or attorney of any state having in effect a plan approved under federal law, who has the duty or authority under such plan to seek to recover any amounts owed as child and spousal support (including, when authorized under the state plan, any official of a political subdivision);

(b) The court which has authority to issue an order or to serve as the initiating court in an action to seek an order against a noncustodial parent of the support and maintenance of a child, or any agent of such court;

(c) The resident parent, legal guardian, attorney or agent of a child (other than a child receiving federal assistance as determined by federal regulation) without regard to the existence of a court order against a noncustodial parent who has a duty to support and maintain any such child;

(d) A state agency that is administering a program operated under a state plan approved under federal law;

(e) Any agent or attorney of any state having an agreement under this section, who has the duty or authority under the law of such state to enforce a child custody or visitation determination;

(f) Any court having jurisdiction to make or enforce such a child custody or visitation determination, or any agent of such court; and

(g) Any agent or attorney of the United States, or of a state having an agreement under this section, who has the duty or authority to investigate, enforce or bring a prosecution with respect to the unlawful taking or restraint of a child.

The department shall safeguard personal data if the department is provided with reasonable evidence of a risk of harm. A state agency, court, department of another state, obligor, obligee and such other persons or entities as the department may specify may provide the department with reasonable evidence of a risk of harm in such manner as the department may require. The department shall not be required to safeguard personal data in intrastate cases for longer than one (1) year unless the department is provided with reasonable evidence of a continued risk of harm in such manner as the department may require. The department shall notify individuals whose personal data is safeguarded under this section that in order for the safeguards to remain in effect, such individuals must provide the department annually with reasonable evidence of a continued risk of harm. For the purposes of this section “ reasonable evidence of a risk of harm ” shall mean reasonable evidence that the release of information may result in physical harm to the parent or child, that the release of information may result in emotional harm to the parent or child which would significantly reduce the parent's capacity to care for the child, or would significantly reduce the parent or child's ability to function adequately, or that a protective order or restraining order has been issued on behalf of the parent or child.

If the department is provided with reasonable evidence of a risk of harm, the department, its employees and its contractors shall not disclose any personal data that could otherwise be disclosed about the location of a parent or child, including residential address, telephone number and name, address and telephone number of employer, and shall not disclose the Social Security number of a parent or child; provided, however, that such personal data may be shared by and between employees of the department and its contractors; provided further, that the department may disclose such personal data to the Federal Parent Locator Service, to the court, or agent of a court that is authorized to receive information from the Federal Parent Locator Service established pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.

Provided further, that the department may disclose the Social Security number of a child receiving IV-D services for the purposes directly connected to obtaining health care coverage for such child to an employer or provider of health care coverage.

If the department is provided with reasonable evidence of a risk of harm pursuant to this section, the department shall notify the Federal Parent Locator Service established pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act that a risk of harm exists. Upon order of the court in an intrastate matter the department shall release personal data, which may include location information and Social Security numbers, to such court or agent, as required by said Title IV-D of the Social Security Act; provided, however, that if the department has been provided with reasonable evidence of a risk of harm, the department shall notify the court or agent that the department has received such information; before making any disclosure of such personal data, the court is required to determine whether such disclosure to any other person could be harmful to the parent or child. A person or agency seeking disclosure of personal data which the department is prohibited from disclosing because of a risk of harm, but which could otherwise be disclosed, may file a petition with the chancery court to request disclosure of such personal data.

Upon an order by the court in interstate cases to override nondisclosure procedures in cases dealing with domestic violence, the court shall order the department to release this information within thirty (30) days of the order. Whereupon, the department shall transmit said court order to the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS), whereby OCSE will notify the department of its decision to remove the nondisclosure code. Upon notification from OCSE, the department shall release said information unto the court.

Any unauthorized disclosure or unauthorized willful inspection made in a good faith effort to comply with this section shall not be considered a violation of this section.

A person or agency, including the department, seeking personal data which the department is prohibited from disclosing because of a risk of harm, but which could otherwise be disclosed or which the Federal Parent Locator Service established pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act is prohibited from disclosing because the Secretary of the Federal Department of Health and Human Services has been notified that there is a reasonable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse, may file a petition with the court where the person resides to request disclosure of such personal data. The petition shall specify the purpose for which such personal data is required. When a petition is filed, or when the court receives notice from the department that the department has been notified of a risk of harm, the court shall determine whether disclosure of personal data could be harmful to the parent or child before releasing such data to any other person or agency. In making such determination, the court shall notify the parent that the court has received a request to release personal data and shall provide a specific date by which the parent must object to release of the information and provide the basis for objection. The parent may provide such information in writing and shall not be required to appear in person to contest the release of information. The court shall also notify the department of any petition filed pursuant to this section and the department shall release to the court any information which it has been provided regarding the risk of harm; however, the department shall not be made a party to the action. Further, the attorney for the Department of Human Services, in any proceeding herein, shall not be deemed to be appearing in a representative capacity for any party. The court may also request information directly from the Federal Parent Locator Service from the department of another state, and from any other source.

In determining whether disclosure of personal data could be harmful to the parent or child, the court shall consider any relevant information provided by the parent or child, any information provided by the department or by the department of another state, and any evidence provided by the person seeking the personal data. Documentary evidence transmitted to the court by facsimile, telecopier or other means that do not provide an original writing may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission. The court may permit a party or witness to be deposed or to testify by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means.

The court may enter an order (1) impounding the personal data and prohibiting any disclosure by the court or its agents, (2) permitting disclosure by the court or its agents to a specific person or persons, or (3) removing any restrictions on disclosure by the court and its agents. An order permitting disclosure of personal data may specify the purposes for which the data may be used and may prohibit a person to whom the data is disclosed from making further disclosures to any other person. The court shall notify the department of any order entered pursuant to this section. Any person or agency who violates an order issued pursuant to this section may be held in contempt of court and subject to the penalties provided herein.

The court may disclose location information about a parent for the limited purpose of notifying the parent of a proceeding under this section or of any other proceeding in court, provided that such information shall not be disclosed to another party unless the court issues an order pursuant to this section permitting such disclosure.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-35 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 35-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-35
Status: in_force

No public official or employee of a municipality, or of any board or commission thereof who exercises any authority with respect to urban renewal projects undertaken pursuant to this article, and no commissioner or employee of a housing authority or urban renewal agency which has been vested by a municipality with urban renewal project powers under Section 43-35-31 shall voluntarily acquire any personal interest, direct or indirect, in any urban renewal project, or in any property included or planned to be included in any urban renewal project of such municipality or in any contract or proposed contract in connection with such urban renewal project. Where such acquisition is not voluntary, the interest acquired shall be immediately disclosed in writing to the local governing body and such disclosure shall be entered upon the minutes of the governing body. If any such official, commissioner or employee presently owns or controls, or owned or controlled within the preceding two (2) years, any interest, direct or indirect, in any property which he knows is included or planned to be included in an urban renewal project, he shall immediately disclose this fact in writing to the local governing body, and such disclosure shall be entered upon the minutes of the governing body, and any such official, commissioner or employee shall not participate in any action by the municipality, or board or commission thereof, housing authority, or urban renewal agency affecting such property. Any disclosure required to be made by this section to the local governing body shall concurrently be made to a housing authority or urban renewal agency which has been vested with urban renewal project powers by the municipality pursuant to the provisions of Section 43-35-31 . No commissioner or other officer of any housing authority, urban renewal agency, board or commission exercising powers pursuant to this article shall hold any other public office under the municipality other than his commissionership or office with respect to such housing authority, urban renewal agency, board or commission. Any violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute misconduct in office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-115 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-115
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-115
Status: in_force

(1) The department may, for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the provisions of this article and its rules and regulations, enter and inspect on a routine basis the facility of a licensee.

(2) Before conducting an inspection under subsection (1), the department shall, after identifying the person in charge:

(a) Give proper identification;

(b) Request to see the applicable license;

(c) Describe the nature and purpose of the inspection; and

(d) If necessary, explain the authority of the department to conduct the inspection and the penalty for refusing to permit the inspection.

(3) In conducting an inspection under subsection (1), the department may, after meeting the requirements of subsection (2):

(a) Inspect the physical facilities;

(b) Inspect records and documents;

(c) Interview directors, employees, clients, family members of clients and others; and

(d) Observe the licensee in operation.

(4) An inspection conducted under subsection (1) shall be during regular business hours and may be announced or unannounced.

(5) The licensee shall make copies of inspection reports available to the public upon request.

(6) The provisions of this section apply to on-site inspections and do not restrict the department from contacting family members, neighbors or other individuals, or from seeking information from other sources to determine compliance with the provisions of this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-53-1 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 9 / Section 53-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-53-1
Status: in_force

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that there are many efforts currently under way that seek to forge partnerships to coordinate criminal justice and social services approaches to victimization of senior citizens. The TRIAD program, sponsored by the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), is one such effort. This effort recognizes that senior citizens have the same fundamental desire as other members of our society to live freely, without fear or restriction due to the criminal element, and that the state should seek to expand efforts to reduce crime against this growing and uniquely vulnerable segment of our population.

It is the intent of the Legislature, therefore, to promote a coordinated effort among law enforcement and social services agencies to stem the tide of violence against senior citizens and to support media and non-media strategies aimed at increasing both public understanding of the problem and the senior citizens' skills in preventing crime against themselves and their property, and to address the problem of crime against senior citizens in a systematic and effective manner by promoting and expanding collaborative crime prevention programs, such as the TRIAD model, that assist law enforcement agencies and senior citizens in implementing specific strategies for crime prevention, victim assistance, citizen involvement and public education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-37-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 37-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-37-11
Status: in_force

(1) Where any interest in real property is acquired, an equal interest in all buildings, structures, or other improvements located upon the real property so acquired and which are required to be removed from such real property or which are determined to be adversely affected by the use to which such real property will be put shall be acquired.

(2) For the purpose of determining the just compensation to be paid for any building, structure or other improvement required to be acquired as above set forth, such building, structure or other improvement shall be deemed to be a part of the real property to be acquired notwithstanding the right or obligation of a tenant, as against the owner of any other interest in the real property, to remove such building or improvement at the expiration of his term. The fair market value which such building, structure or improvement contributes to the fair market value of the real property to be acquired, or the fair market value of such building, structure or improvement for removal from the real property, whichever is the greater, shall be paid to the tenant therefor.

(3) Payment for such buildings, structures or improvements as set forth above shall not result in duplication of any payments otherwise authorized by state law. No such payment shall be made unless the owner of the land involved disclaims all interest in the improvements of the tenant. In consideration for any such payment, the tenant shall assign, transfer and release all his right, title and interest in and to such improvements. Nothing with regard to the above-mentioned acquisition of buildings, structures or other improvements shall be construed to deprive the tenant of any rights to reject payment and to obtain payment for such property interests in accordance with the laws of the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-103 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 21-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-103
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be liberally construed to the end that each child coming within the jurisdiction of the youth court shall become a responsible, accountable and productive citizen, and that each such child shall receive such care, guidance and control, preferably in such child's own home as is conducive toward that end and is in the state's and the child's best interest. It is the public policy of this state that the parents of each child shall be primarily responsible for the care, support, education and welfare of such children; however, when it is necessary that a child be removed from the control of such child's parents, the youth court shall secure proper care for such child.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-12 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 39-12
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-12
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a displaced person shall not be eligible to receive relocation payments or any other assistance under this chapter if the displaced person is an alien not lawfully present in the United States.

(2) If a displacing agency determines by clear and convincing evidence that a determination of the ineligibility of a displaced person under subsection (1) of this section would result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to an individual who is the displaced person's spouse, parent, or child and who is a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, the displacing agency shall provide relocation payments and other assistance to the displaced person under this chapter if the displaced person would be eligible for the assistance but for subsection (1) of this section.

(3) The Mississippi Transportation Commission shall adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section and in order to comply with federal law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-9 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 14 / Section 28-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-9
Status: in_force

In addition to those powers granted to the board by any other provisions of this chapter, the Mississippi ABLE Board shall have the powers necessary to carry out the purposes and provisions of this chapter, the purposes and objectives of ABLE accounts, and the powers delegated by any other law or executive order of this state, including, but not limited to, the following express powers:

(a) To adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement this chapter, subject to applicable federal laws and regulations, including rules regarding transfers of funds between ABLE accounts established under the provisions of this chapter and independent personal bank accounts;

(b) To impose reasonable requirements for beneficiaries or account owners at the time of enrollment in the Mississippi ABLE Program;

(c) To consult with the Executive Director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services and the State Treasurer for the department's employment of a Mississippi ABLE Coordinator, who shall:

(i) Coordinate meetings of the board and keep minutes of its actions;

(ii) Remain informed of developments in federal rules and regulations affecting ABLE accounts and ensure that the Mississippi ABLE Program remains in compliance;

(iii) Be authorized to enter into contracts, on behalf of the Mississippi ABLE Board, with records administrators, program managers, consultants and other qualified persons and entities for administrative and technical assistance in carrying out the responsibilities of the Mississippi ABLE Program; and

(iv) Perform such other duties as the board may prescribe;

(d) To contract for necessary goods and services, to employ necessary personnel, and to engage the services of consultants and other qualified persons and entities for administrative and technical assistance in carrying out the responsibilities of the ABLE account funds under terms and conditions that the board deems reasonable, including contract terms for such consideration, and for such purposes as the board deems advisable;

(e) To solicit and accept gifts, including bequests or other testamentary gifts made by will, trust or other disposition grants, loans and other aids from any personal source or to participate in any other way in any federal, state or local governmental programs in carrying out the purposes of this chapter;

(f) To define the terms and conditions under which payments may be withdrawn for qualifying expenses established under this chapter and to impose reasonable transaction fees;

(g) To serve as an information clearinghouse for the gathering, compilation and dissemination of educational and programmatic materials relating to the design, operation and benefits provided through ABLE accounts and access to entry into the program;

(h) To regulate the receipt of contributions or payments to the ABLE Trust Fund;

(i) To segregate contributions and payments to the ABLE Trust Fund into various accounts and funds;

(j) To require and collect administrative fees and charges in connection with any transaction and to impose reasonable penalties for withdrawal of funds for nonqualified expenses or for entering into a ABLE account agreement on a fraudulent basis;

(k) To procure insurance against any loss in connection with the property, assets and activities of the ABLE Trust Fund or the board;

(l) To require that account owners of ABLE account agreements verify, under sworn attestation, any requests for contract conversions, substitutions, transfers, cancellations, refund requests or contract changes of any nature;

(m) To solicit proposals and to contract for the marketing of the Mississippi ABLE Program, provided that: (i) any materials produced by a marketing contractor for the purpose of marketing the program must be approved by the board before being made available to the public; and (ii) neither the state nor the board shall be liable for misrepresentation of the program by a marketing contractor;

(n) To delegate responsibility for administration of the comprehensive investment plan to a contractor or contractors or a consultant or consultants that the board determines is qualified;

(o) To make all necessary and appropriate arrangements with vendors, health care service providers, rehabilitation specialists or other entities in order to fulfill its obligations under ABLE account agreements;

(p) To establish other policies, procedures and criteria necessary to implement and administer this chapter;

(q) To authorize the Department of Rehabilitation Services with the advice of the State Treasurer, to carry out any or all of the powers and duties enumerated in this section for efficient and effective administration of the Mississippi ABLE Program and ABLE Trust Fund;

(r) To develop a user-friendly website or access link on the Department of Rehabilitation Services' website to serve as a virtual program and access portal to information about the ABLE Program and how an individual might be able to enroll, whether in the State of Mississippi or in a contracting state with whom Mississippi has entered into a contractual relationship either bilaterally or as part of an ABLE consortium;

(s) To provide an ABLE assistance helpline by which those having inquires can be directed to the proper entity for assistance in qualifying and enrolling in an ABLE Program; and

(t) To develop and provide an “Account Holder's Bill of Rights” to each individual, who is a Mississippi resident, and who enrolls in the ABLE Program whether such account is managed inside or outside of the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-44 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 18 / Section 19-44
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-44
Status: in_force

For purposes of this section, an “ authorized person ” shall mean:

(a) Any agent or attorney of any state having in effect a plan approved under federal law, who has the duty or authority under such plan to seek to recover any amounts owed as child and spousal support (including, when authorized under the state plan, any official of a political subdivision);

(b) The court which has authority to issue an order or to serve as the initiating court in an action to seek an order against a noncustodial parent of the support and maintenance of a child, or any agent of such court;

(c) The resident parent, legal guardian, attorney or agent of a child (other than a child receiving federal assistance as determined by federal regulation) without regard to the existence of a court order against a noncustodial parent who has a duty to support and maintain any such child;

(d) A state agency that is administering a program operated under a state plan approved under federal law;

(e) Any agent or attorney of any state having an agreement under this section, who has the duty or authority under the law of such state to enforce a child custody or visitation determination;

(f) Any court having jurisdiction to make or enforce such a child custody or visitation determination, or any agent of such court; and

(g) Any agent or attorney of the United States, or of a state having an agreement under this section, who has the duty or authority to investigate, enforce or bring a prosecution with respect to the unlawful taking or restraint of a child.

The department shall safeguard personal data if the department is provided with reasonable evidence of a risk of harm. A state agency, court, department of another state, obligor, obligee and such other persons or entities as the department may specify may provide the department with reasonable evidence of a risk of harm in such manner as the department may require. The department shall not be required to safeguard personal data in intrastate cases for longer than one (1) year unless the department is provided with reasonable evidence of a continued risk of harm in such manner as the department may require. The department shall notify individuals whose personal data is safeguarded under this section that in order for the safeguards to remain in effect, such individuals must provide the department annually with reasonable evidence of a continued risk of harm. For the purposes of this section “ reasonable evidence of a risk of harm ” shall mean reasonable evidence that the release of information may result in physical harm to the parent or child, that the release of information may result in emotional harm to the parent or child which would significantly reduce the parent's capacity to care for the child, or would significantly reduce the parent or child's ability to function adequately, or that a protective order or restraining order has been issued on behalf of the parent or child.

If the department is provided with reasonable evidence of a risk of harm, the department, its employees and its contractors shall not disclose any personal data that could otherwise be disclosed about the location of a parent or child, including residential address, telephone number and name, address and telephone number of employer, and shall not disclose the Social Security number of a parent or child; provided, however, that such personal data may be shared by and between employees of the department and its contractors; provided further, that the department may disclose such personal data to the Federal Parent Locator Service, to the court, or agent of a court that is authorized to receive information from the Federal Parent Locator Service established pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.

Provided further, that the department may disclose the Social Security number of a child receiving IV-D services for the purposes directly connected to obtaining health care coverage for such child to an employer or provider of health care coverage.

If the department is provided with reasonable evidence of a risk of harm pursuant to this section, the department shall notify the Federal Parent Locator Service established pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act that a risk of harm exists. Upon order of the court in an intrastate matter the department shall release personal data, which may include location information and Social Security numbers, to such court or agent, as required by said Title IV-D of the Social Security Act; provided, however, that if the department has been provided with reasonable evidence of a risk of harm, the department shall notify the court or agent that the department has received such information; before making any disclosure of such personal data, the court is required to determine whether such disclosure to any other person could be harmful to the parent or child. A person or agency seeking disclosure of personal data which the department is prohibited from disclosing because of a risk of harm, but which could otherwise be disclosed, may file a petition with the chancery court to request disclosure of such personal data.

Upon an order by the court in interstate cases to override nondisclosure procedures in cases dealing with domestic violence, the court shall order the department to release this information within thirty (30) days of the order. Whereupon, the department shall transmit said court order to the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS), whereby OCSE will notify the department of its decision to remove the nondisclosure code. Upon notification from OCSE, the department shall release said information unto the court.

Any unauthorized disclosure or unauthorized willful inspection made in a good faith effort to comply with this section shall not be considered a violation of this section.

A person or agency, including the department, seeking personal data which the department is prohibited from disclosing because of a risk of harm, but which could otherwise be disclosed or which the Federal Parent Locator Service established pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act is prohibited from disclosing because the Secretary of the Federal Department of Health and Human Services has been notified that there is a reasonable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse, may file a petition with the court where the person resides to request disclosure of such personal data. The petition shall specify the purpose for which such personal data is required. When a petition is filed, or when the court receives notice from the department that the department has been notified of a risk of harm, the court shall determine whether disclosure of personal data could be harmful to the parent or child before releasing such data to any other person or agency. In making such determination, the court shall notify the parent that the court has received a request to release personal data and shall provide a specific date by which the parent must object to release of the information and provide the basis for objection. The parent may provide such information in writing and shall not be required to appear in person to contest the release of information. The court shall also notify the department of any petition filed pursuant to this section and the department shall release to the court any information which it has been provided regarding the risk of harm; however, the department shall not be made a party to the action. Further, the attorney for the Department of Human Services, in any proceeding herein, shall not be deemed to be appearing in a representative capacity for any party. The court may also request information directly from the Federal Parent Locator Service from the department of another state, and from any other source.

In determining whether disclosure of personal data could be harmful to the parent or child, the court shall consider any relevant information provided by the parent or child, any information provided by the department or by the department of another state, and any evidence provided by the person seeking the personal data. Documentary evidence transmitted to the court by facsimile, telecopier or other means that do not provide an original writing may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission. The court may permit a party or witness to be deposed or to testify by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means.

The court may enter an order (1) impounding the personal data and prohibiting any disclosure by the court or its agents, (2) permitting disclosure by the court or its agents to a specific person or persons, or (3) removing any restrictions on disclosure by the court and its agents. An order permitting disclosure of personal data may specify the purposes for which the data may be used and may prohibit a person to whom the data is disclosed from making further disclosures to any other person. The court shall notify the department of any order entered pursuant to this section. Any person or agency who violates an order issued pursuant to this section may be held in contempt of court and subject to the penalties provided herein.

The court may disclose location information about a parent for the limited purpose of notifying the parent of a proceeding under this section or of any other proceeding in court, provided that such information shall not be disclosed to another party unless the court issues an order pursuant to this section permitting such disclosure.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-5 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 20-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-5
Status: in_force

When used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:

(a) “ Child care facility ” means a place that provides shelter and personal care for six (6) or more children who are not related within the third degree computed according to the civil law to the operator and who are under thirteen (13) years of age, for any part of the twenty-four-hour day, whether that place is organized or operated for profit or not. The term “ child care facility ” includes day nurseries, day care centers and any other facility that falls within the scope of the definitions set forth in this paragraph, regardless of auspices. Exemptions from the provisions of this chapter include:

(i) Child care facilities that operate for no more than two (2) days a week, whose primary purpose is to provide respite for the caregiver or temporary care during other scheduled or related activities and organized programs that operate for three (3) or fewer weeks per year such as, but not limited to, Vacation Bible Schools and scout day camps.

(ii) Any child residential home as defined in, and in compliance with the provisions of, Section 43-16-3(b) et seq.

(iii) 1. Any elementary, including kindergarten, and/or secondary school system, accredited by the Mississippi State Department of Education, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Mississippi Private School Education Association, the American Association of Christian Schools, the Association of Christian Schools International, a school affiliated with Accelerated Christian Education, Inc., and any Head Start program operating in conjunction with an elementary school system, whether it is public, private or parochial, whose primary purpose is a structured school or school readiness program.

2. Accreditation, for the purpose of exemption from the provisions of this chapter, means: a. receipt by any school or school system of full accreditation from an accrediting entity listed in item 1 of this subparagraph (iii), or b. proof of application by the school or school system for accreditation status from the accrediting entity. Proof of application for accreditation status shall include, but not be limited to, a copy of the applicant's completed application for accreditation filed with the licensing agency and a letter or other authenticating documentation from a signatory authority with the accrediting entity that the application for accreditation has been received and that the applicant is currently under consideration or review for full accreditation status by the accrediting entity. An exemption for a nonaccredited applicant under this item 2 shall be for a maximum of one (1) year from the receipt date by the licensing agency of the completed documentation for proof of application for accreditation status. Failure to receive full accreditation by the end of the one-year exemption period for a nonaccredited applicant shall result in the nonaccredited applicant no longer remaining exempt from the provisions of this chapter at the end of the one-year period. However, if full accreditation is not received by the end of the one-year exemption period, the State Board of Health, in its discretion, may extend the exemption period for any nonaccredited applicant for periods of six (6) months, with the total extension not to exceed one (1) year. During any such extension periods, the board shall have the authority to enforce child care facility licensure provisions relating to the health and safety of the children in the school or school system. If a nonaccredited applicant fails to receive full accreditation by the end of all extended exemption periods, the applicant shall no longer remain exempt from the provisions of this chapter at the end of the extended exemption periods.

(iv) Any membership organization affiliated with a national organization that charges only a nominal annual membership fee, does not receive monthly, weekly or daily payments for services, and is certified by its national association as being in compliance with the association's minimum standards and procedures including, but not limited to, the Boys and Girls Club of America, and the YMCA.

(v) Any family child care home as defined in Section 43-20-53(a) et seq.

All other preschool child care programs and/or extended day school programs must meet requirements set forth in this chapter. Any entity exempt from the requirements to be licensed but voluntarily chooses to obtain a license is subject to all provisions of this chapter.

(b) “ Health ” means that condition of being sound in mind and body and encompasses an individual's physical, mental and emotional welfare.

(c) “ Safety ” means that condition of being protected from hurt, injury or loss.

(d) “ Person ” means any person, firm, partnership, corporation or association.

(e) “ Operator ” means any person, acting individually or jointly with another person or persons, who establishes, owns, operates, conducts or maintains a child care facility. The child care facility license shall be issued in the name of the operator, or, if there is more than one (1) operator, in the name of one (1) of the operators. If there is more than one (1) operator, all statutory and regulatory provisions concerning the background checks of operators shall be equally applied to all operators of a facility including, but not limited to, a spouse who jointly owns, operates or maintains the child care facility regardless of which particular person is named on the license.

(f) “ Personal care ” means assistance rendered by personnel of the child care facility in performing one or more of the activities of daily living which includes, but is not limited to, the feeding, personal grooming, supervising and dressing of children placed in the child care facility.

(g) “ Licensing agency ” means the Mississippi State Department of Health.

(h) “ Caregiver ” means any person who provides direct care, supervision or guidance to children in a child care facility, regardless of title or occupation.