Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-7 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 43 / Section 47-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-7
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided by Section 43-47-37 for vulnerable persons in care facilities and by Section 43-7-65 for the State Ombudsman Program, any person including, but not limited to, the following, who knows or suspects that a vulnerable person has been or is being abused, neglected or exploited shall immediately report such knowledge or suspicion to the Department of Human Services or to the county department of human services where the vulnerable person is located. If the vulnerable person is a minor, then such report may be made to the Department of Child Protection Services:

(i) Attorney, physician, osteopathic physician, medical examiner, chiropractor or nurse engaged in the admission, examination, care or treatment of vulnerable persons;

(ii) Health professional or mental health professional other than one listed in subparagraph (i);

(iii) Practitioner who relies solely on spiritual means for healing;

(iv) Social worker, family protection worker, family protection specialist or other professional care, residential or institutional staff;

(v) State, county or municipal criminal justice employee or law enforcement officer;

(vi) Human rights advocacy committee or long-term care ombudsman council member; or

(vii) Accountant, stockbroker, financial advisor or consultant, insurance agent or consultant, investment advisor or consultant, financial planner, or any officer or employee of a bank, savings and loan, credit union or any other financial service provider.

(b) To the extent possible, a report made pursuant to paragraph (a) must contain, but need not be limited to, the following information:

(i) Name, age, race, sex, physical description and location of each vulnerable person alleged to have been abused, neglected or exploited.

(ii) Names, addresses and telephone numbers of the vulnerable person's family members.

(iii) Name, address and telephone number of each alleged perpetrator.

(iv) Name, address and telephone number of the caregiver of the vulnerable person, if different from the alleged perpetrator.

(v) Description of the neglect, exploitation, physical or psychological injuries sustained.

(vi) Actions taken by the reporter, if any, such as notification of the criminal justice agency.

(vii) Any other information available to the reporting person which may establish the cause of abuse, neglect or exploitation that occurred or is occurring.

In addition to the above, any person or entity holding or required to hold a license as specified in Title 73, Professions and Vocations, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall be required to give his, her or its name, address and telephone number in the report of the alleged abuse, neglect or exploitation.

(c) The department, or its designees, shall report to an appropriate criminal investigative or prosecutive authority any person required by this section to report or who fails to comply with this section. A person who fails to make a report as required under this subsection or who, because of the circumstances, should have known or suspected beyond a reasonable doubt that a vulnerable person suffers from exploitation, abuse, neglect or self-neglect but who knowingly fails to comply with this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment. However, for purposes of this subsection (1), any recognized legal financial transaction shall not be considered cause to report the knowledge or suspicion of the financial exploitation of a vulnerable person. If a person convicted under this section is a member of a profession or occupation that is licensed, certified or regulated by the state, the court shall notify the appropriate licensing, certifying or regulating entity of the conviction.

(2) Reports received by law enforcement authorities or other agencies shall be forwarded immediately to the Department of Human Services or the county department of human services. The Department of Human Services shall investigate the reported abuse, neglect or exploitation immediately and shall file a preliminary report of its findings with the Office of the Attorney General within forty-eight (48) hours if immediate attention is needed, or seventy-two (72) hours if the vulnerable person is not in immediate danger and shall make additional reports as new information or evidence becomes available. The Department of Human Services, upon request, shall forward a statement to the person making the initial report required by this section as to what action is being taken, if any.

(3) The report may be made orally or in writing, but where made orally, it shall be followed up by a written report. A person who fails to report or to otherwise comply with this section, as provided herein, shall have no civil or criminal liability, other than that expressly provided for in this section, to any person or entity in connection with any failure to report or to otherwise comply with the requirements of this section.

(4) Anyone who makes a report required by this section or who testifies or participates in any judicial proceedings arising from the report or who participates in a required investigation or evaluation shall be presumed to be acting in good faith and in so doing shall be immune from liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed. However, the immunity provided under this subsection shall not apply to any suspect or perpetrator of any abuse, neglect or exploitation.

(5) A person who intentionally makes a false report under the provisions of this section may be found liable in a civil suit for any actual damages suffered by the person or persons so reported and for any punitive damages set by the court or jury.

(6) The Executive Director of the Department of Human Services shall establish a statewide central register of reports made pursuant to this section. The central register shall be capable of receiving reports of vulnerable persons in need of protective services seven (7) days a week, twenty-four (24) hours a day. To effectuate this purpose, the executive director shall establish a single toll-free statewide phone number that all persons may use to report vulnerable persons in need of protective services, and that all persons authorized by subsection (7) of this section may use for determining the existence of prior reports in order to evaluate the condition or circumstances of the vulnerable person before them. Such oral reports and evidence of previous reports shall be transmitted to the appropriate county department of human services. The central register shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: the name and identifying information of the individual reported, the county department of human services responsible for the investigation of each such report, the names, affiliations and purposes of any person requesting or receiving information which the executive director believes might be helpful in the furtherance of the purposes of this chapter, the name, address, birth date, social security number of the perpetrator of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation, and the type of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation of which there was substantial evidence upon investigation of the report. The central register shall inform the person making reports required under this section of his or her right to request statements from the department as to what action is being taken, if any.

Each person, business, organization or other entity, whether public or private, operated for profit, operated for nonprofit or a voluntary unit of government not responsible for law enforcement providing care, supervision or treatment of vulnerable persons shall conduct criminal history records checks on each new employee of the entity who provides, and/or would provide direct patient care or services to adults or vulnerable persons, as provided in Section 43-11-13 .

The department shall not release data that would be harmful or detrimental to the vulnerable person or that would identify or locate a person who, in good faith, made a report or cooperated in a subsequent investigation unless ordered to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(7) Reports made pursuant to this section, reports written or photographs taken concerning such reports in the possession of the Department of Human Services or the county department of human services shall be confidential and shall only be made available to:

(a) A physician who has before him a vulnerable person whom he reasonably suspects may be abused, neglected or exploited, as defined in Section 43-47-5 ;

(b) A duly authorized agency having the responsibility for the care or supervision of a subject of the report;

(c) A grand jury or a court of competent jurisdiction, upon finding that the information in the record is necessary for the determination of charges before the grand jury;

(d) A district attorney or other law enforcement official;

(e) Federal, state or local governmental entities, social service agencies of another state, or any agent of these entities, having a need for the information in order to carry out their responsibilities under law to protect individuals from abuse, neglect, or exploitation under this chapter; and

(f) A guardian ad litem, guardian or conservator authorized by a court to act as a representative for a vulnerable person in need of protective services who is the subject of a report.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (b) of this subsection, the department may not disclose a report of the abandonment, exploitation, abuse, neglect or self-neglect of a vulnerable person to the vulnerable person's guardian, attorney-in-fact, surrogate decision maker, or caregiver who is a perpetrator or alleged perpetrator of the abandonment, exploitation, abuse or neglect of the vulnerable person.

Any person given access to the names or other information identifying the subject of the report, except the subject of the report, shall not divulge or make public such identifying information unless he is a district attorney or other law enforcement official and the purpose is to initiate court action. Any person who willfully permits the release of any data or information obtained pursuant to this section to persons or agencies not permitted to such access by this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(8) Upon reasonable cause to believe that a caretaker or other person has abused, neglected or exploited a vulnerable person, the department shall promptly notify the district attorney of the county in which the vulnerable person is located and the Office of the Attorney General, except as provided in Section 43-47-37(2) .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-707 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 33 / Section 33-707
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-707
Status: in_force

(1) The corporation shall appoint, and prescribe the duties of, such officers (who need not be directors) as the corporation deems necessary or advisable, including an executive director and a secretary (who may be the same person), and the corporation shall fix the compensation of such officers. The executive director shall be appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate and shall serve at the will and pleasure of the board. The executive director shall administer, manage and direct the affairs and business of the corporation, subject to the policies, control and direction of the directors of the corporation. The secretary of the corporation shall keep a record of the proceedings of the corporation and shall be custodian of all books, documents and papers filed with the corporation, the minute book or journal of the corporation, and its official seal. He shall have authority to cause copies to be made of all minutes and other records and documents of the corporation and to give certificates under the official seal of the corporation to the effect that the copies are true copies, and all persons dealing with the corporation may rely upon the certificates. The treasurer shall be the custodian of the assets of the corporation, except for those assets required by contracts with bondholders to be in the custody of the trustee. The directors of the corporation shall set the investment policy for assets, and the executive director shall be responsible for making investments in accordance with such policy. The treasurer may delegate all or a portion of his duties and responsibilities to the executive director.

(2) The corporation shall have the authority, in its discretion, to employ counsel on an annual basis at an annual salary at an amount it deems proper. Such counsel may, in addition to an annual salary, be paid additional compensation when employed by the corporation in the matter of litigation and the issuance of bonds and the drafting of orders and resolutions in connection therewith.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-119 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 18 / Section 21-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-119
Status: in_force

The judge or his designee shall appoint as provided in Section 43-21-123 sufficient personnel, responsible to and under the control of the youth court, to carry on the professional, clerical and other work of the youth court. The cost of these persons appointed by the youth court shall be paid as provided in Section 43-21-123 out of any available funds budgeted for the youth court by the board of supervisors.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-915 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 21-915
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-915
Status: in_force

(1) The licensing agency may deny or refuse to renew a license for any of the reasons set forth in subsection (3) of this section.

(2) Before the licensing agency may deny or refuse to renew a license, the county or contractor operating the juvenile detention facility is entitled to a hearing before the director of the licensing agency in order to show cause why the license should not be denied or should be renewed.

(3) The licensing agency may suspend, revoke, or restrict the license of any juvenile detention center upon one or more of the following grounds:

(a) Fraud, misrepresentation or concealment of material facts;

(b) Violation of any of the provisions of Sections 43-21-901 through 43-21-915 or any of the regulations governing the licensing and regulation of juvenile detention facilities promulgated by the licensing agency;

(c) Any conduct, or failure to act that is found or determined by the licensing agency to threaten the health and safety of children at the facility;

(d) Failure of a juvenile detention facility to conduct background checks as required under Section 43-21-907 .

(e) Information that is received by the licensing agency as a result of the criminal records background check and the child abuse registry check on all facility administrators and facility staff under Section 43-21-907 .

(4) The licensing agency shall develop rules and regulations related to the development and implementation of corrective action plans to address violations at facilities before a revocation, suspension, or restriction of the facility's license.

(5) Before the licensing agency may suspend, revoke or restrict the license of a facility, the county or contractor affected by that decision is entitled to a hearing before the director of the licensing agency in which it may show cause why the license should not be suspended, revoked, or restricted.

(6) A juvenile detention facility that disagrees with or is aggrieved by the licensing agency in regard to the denial, refusal to renew, or the suspension, revocation, or restriction of the license for the juvenile detention facility may appeal to the chancery court of the county in which the facility is located. The appeal shall be filed no later than thirty (30) days after the licensee receives written notice of the final administrative action by the licensing agency.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-53-5 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 29 / Section 53-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-53-5
Status: in_force

(1) The council shall advise the Department of Public Safety, sheriffs and other local law enforcement agencies, senior advocates chosen in consultation with the Area Agencies on Aging, and American Association of Retired Persons representatives in the study and evaluation of “TRIAD Programs” as an effective response to the problems of crime against elderly persons.

(2) The council may consult with experts, service providers, and representative organizations engaged in the protection of the elderly and may recommend the development of “TRIAD Programs” in the State of Mississippi to assist the elderly to avoid criminal victimization through the coordinated efforts of state, county and local law enforcement agencies and organizations which provide services for the elderly.

(3) The council may recommend policies and programs to assist law enforcement agencies to implement “TRIAD Programs,” including training and crime prevention standards and technical assistance. Such recommendations may include the following:

(a) The establishment of a statewide central clearinghouse for information and education materials.

(b) The development of innovative community police programs for the elderly.

(c) The provision of assistance by the council in the development and delivery of training for law enforcement professionals involved in the “TRIAD Programs,” including, but not limited to, the following subjects:

(i) Crimes against the elderly and the protection of elderly persons.

(ii) Police sensitivity to the needs of elderly persons as victims, witnesses or victims of “vicarious victimization,” which impairs the quality of life.

(iii) Availability of social and human services.

(d) The provision of assistance to state and local law enforcement officials and to nonprofit corporations and organizations with respect to effective policies and responses to crime against elderly persons.

(e) The promotion and facilitation of cooperation among state agencies and local government.

(f) The promotion of effective advocacy services to protect and assist elderly persons and elderly victims of crime.

(g) The evaluation of the relationship between crimes against elderly persons and other problems confronting elderly persons and the making of recommendations for effective policy responses.

(h) The collection of statistical data and research.

(i) The establishment of rules and regulations necessary to carry out the above.

For purposes of this chapter, “TRIAD Program” means the triad cooperative model developed by the American Association of Retired Persons, the National Sheriff's Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which calls for the participation of the sheriff, at least one (1) police chief, at least one (1) member of the American Association of Retired Persons and a representative of at least one (1) senior citizens' organization within a county and may include participation by coalitions of law enforcement, victims' services and senior citizen advocate organizations. If there is not both a sheriff and a police chief in a county or if the sheriff or a police chief does not participate, a TRIAD may include in the place of the sheriff or police chief other members of the criminal justice system, such as a district attorney.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-115 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 33-115
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-115
Status: in_force

The board of supervisors of each county included in a regional housing authority shall appoint one (1) person as a commissioner of such authority, and each such commissioner to be first appointed by the board of supervisors of a county may be appointed at or after the time of the adoption of the resolution declaring the need for such regional housing authority or declaring the need for the inclusion of such county in the area of operation of such regional housing authority. When the area of operation of a regional housing authority is increased to include an additional county or counties as provided above, the board of supervisors of each such county shall thereupon appoint one (1) additional person as a commissioner of the regional housing authority. The board of supervisors of each county shall appoint the successor of the commissioner appointed by it. A certificate of the appointment of any such commissioner shall be filed with the clerk of the county, and such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the due and proper appointment of such commissioner. If any county is excluded from the area of operation of a regional housing authority, the office of the commissioner of such regional housing authority appointed by the board of supervisors of such county shall be thereupon abolished.

If the area of operation of a regional housing authority consists at any time of an even number of counties, the commissioners of the regional housing authority appointed by the boards of supervisors of such counties shall appoint one (1) additional commissioner whose term of office shall be as herein provided for a commissioner of a regional housing authority except that such term shall end at any earlier time that the area of operation of the regional housing authority shall be changed to consist of an odd number of counties. The commissioners of such authority appointed by the boards of supervisors of such counties shall likewise appoint each person to succeed such additional commissioner; the term of office of such person begins during the terms of office of the commissioner appointing him. A certificate of the appointment of any such additional commissioner of such regional housing authority shall be filed with the other records of the regional housing authority and shall be conclusive evidence of the due and proper appointment of such additional commissioner.

At least one (1) commissioner of a regional housing authority must be a person who is directly assisted by the authority if required under applicable federal law.

The commissioners of a regional housing authority shall be appointed for terms of five (5) years except that all vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms. Each commissioner shall hold office until his successor has been appointed and has qualified, except as otherwise provided herein.

The commissioners shall constitute the regional housing authority, and the powers of such authority shall be vested in such commissioners in office from time to time.

The commissioners of a regional housing authority shall elect a chairman from among the commissioners and shall have power to select or employ such other officers and employees as the regional housing authority may require. A majority of the commissioners of a regional housing authority shall constitute a quorum of such authority for the purpose of conducting its business and exercising its powers and for all other purposes. 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. § 43-35-25 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 35-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-25
Status: in_force

(a) All property of a municipality including funds, owned or held by it for the purposes of this article 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 judgment against a municipality be a charge or lien upon such property. The provisions of this section shall not apply to or limit the right of obligees to pursue any remedies for the enforcement of any pledge or lien given pursuant to this article by a municipality on its rents, fees, grants or revenues from urban renewal projects.

(b) The property of a municipality, acquired or held for the purposes of this article, is declared to be public property used for essential public and governmental purposes and such property shall be exempt from all taxes of the municipality, the county, the state or any political subdivision thereof. Such tax exemption shall terminate when the municipality sells, leases or otherwise disposes of such property in an urban renewal area to a purchaser or lessee which is not a public body entitled to tax exemption with respect to such property.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-59-13 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 43 / Section 59-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-59-13
Status: in_force

The purpose of the Commission on the Status of Women shall be advisory with respect to legislation and regulation and shall not conflict with or supplement state or federal laws or regulations or provide a cause of action relating to any matter contained in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-59-7 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 43 / Section 59-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-59-7
Status: in_force

(1) The commission shall study issues affecting the status of women in Mississippi, including, but not limited to, the following areas:

(a) Women's educational and employment problems, needs and opportunities;

(b) Women's health issues;

(c) The socioeconomic factors that influence the status of women and the development of women's individual potential;

(d) Current or proposed state laws, practices or conditions in regard to the civil, economic and political rights of women, including, but not limited to, pensions, tax requirements, property rights, marriage and dissolution of marriage provisions, domestic violence and other matters affecting the status of women; and

(e) Any other conditions or practices affecting women which impose special limitations or burdens upon them or which tend to limit opportunities available to women.

(2) The commission shall act as an information center on the status of women and women's educational, employment and other related needs, and on current and proposed legislation affecting women. In this capacity, the commission shall serve as a liaison and clearinghouse between government, private interest groups and the general public concerned with services for women, and in this regard, the commission may publish a periodic newsletter, maintain a website and communicate with and provide information in other ways to these constituencies.

(3) The commission shall educate the business, education, state government and local government communities and the general public about the nature and scope of gender discrimination, violence against women, and other matters affecting the status of women in Mississippi.

(4) The commission shall recommend policies and make recommendations to public and private groups and persons concerned with any issue related to improving the status of women. Toward this end, the commission may develop, prepare and coordinate materials, projects or other activities and give technical and consultative advice. The commission may encourage and help women's organizations, public and private offices and other groups to institute self-help activities designed to meet women's educational, employment and other needs.

(5) The commission shall promote consideration of qualified women for all levels of government positions.

(6) Before November 15 of each year, beginning with November 15, 2002, the commission shall report to the Governor and the Legislature on the commission's activities. The report must include the results of the commission's findings of the preceding year, with recommendations for the removal of such injustices as the commission may find to exist.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-787 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 29 / Section 33-787
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-787
Status: in_force

All bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 43-33-767 through 43-33-797 shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries, and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and political subdivisions for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-17-23 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 16 / Section 17-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-17-23
Status: in_force

Federal and other funds shall be received, disposed of and disbursed in the same manner as is provided for the handling of funds as is provided in Sections 43-9-33 through 43-9-37 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-9 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 16 / 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. § 43-33-775 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 9 / Section 33-775
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-775
Status: in_force

The State Bond Commission shall act as the issuing agent for the bonds authorized under Sections 43-33-767 through 43-33-797 , prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, pay all fees and costs incurred in such issuance and sale, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of such bonds. The commission is authorized and empowered to pay the costs that are incident to the sale, issuance and delivery of the bonds authorized under Sections 43-33-767 through 43-33-797 from the proceeds derived from the sale of such bonds. The commission shall sell such bonds on sealed bids at public sale, and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale shall be made at a price less than par plus accrued interest to the date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser. All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually; however, the first interest payment may be for any period of not more than one (1) year.

Notice of the sale of any such bond shall be published at least one (1) time, not less than ten (10) days before the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers published or having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and in one or more other newspapers or financial journals with a national circulation, to be selected by the commission.

The commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of Sections 43-33-767 through 43-33-797 , may provide that bonds, at the option of the State of Mississippi, may be called in for payment and redemption at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-61-9 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 61-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-61-9
Status: in_force

The department may seek and receive voluntary monies from any sources, including federal funds and gifts, which shall be expended for the purposes specified in this chapter. The department also may accept voluntary funding in the form of grants available to build community, public sector and private sector partnerships. The department shall include within the development of the program the assistance of foundations, independent and chain community pharmacists, volunteers, state agencies, community groups, religious groups, area agencies on aging, corporations, hospitals, physicians, and any other entity that can further the intent of the program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-37-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 37-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-37-3
Status: in_force

(1) Any person, agency or other entity acquiring real property for any project or program in which public funds are used shall comply with the following policies:

(a) Every reasonable effort shall be made to acquire expeditiously real property by negotiation.

(b) Real property shall be appraised before the initiation of negotiations, except that the acquiring person, agency or other entity may adopt a procedure in compliance with federal regulations to waive the appraisal in cases involving the acquisition by sale or donation of property with a low fair market value. For the purposes of this chapter, property with a low fair market value is property with a fair market value of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) or less. The owner or his designated representative shall be given an opportunity to accompany the appraiser during his inspection of the property.

(c)(i) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the price that shall be paid for real property shall be the lesser of the best negotiated price or the approved appraisal of the fair market value or the price at which the property is offered for sale. Any decrease or increase in the fair market value of real property prior to the date of valuation caused by the public improvement for which the property is acquired or by the likelihood that the property would be acquired for such improvement, other than that due to physical deterioration within the reasonable control of the owner, will be disregarded in determining the compensation for the property. The owner of the real property to be acquired shall be provided with a written statement of, and summary of the basis for, the amount established as just compensation. Where appropriate, the just compensation for the real property acquired and for damages to remaining real property shall be separately stated.

(ii) The purchase price for real property may exceed the amount offered as just compensation for the property when reasonable efforts to negotiate an agreement at that amount have failed, and the person, agency or other entity seeking to acquire the property approves an administrative settlement as reasonable, prudent and in the best interests of the public. When state funds pay for all or a portion of the acquisition, the purchasing person, agency or other entity shall prepare a written statement explaining the reasons that justified the purchase price exceeding the amount offered as just compensation, including any anticipated trial risks, and any available information supporting an administrative settlement.

(d) No owner shall be required to surrender possession of real property before the agreed purchase price is paid or there is deposited with the state court, in accordance with applicable law, for the benefit of the owner an amount not less than the approved appraisal of the fair market value of such property, or the amount of the award of compensation in the condemnation proceeding of such property.

(e) The construction or development of a public improvement shall be so scheduled that, to the greatest extent practicable, no person lawfully occupying real property shall be required to move from a dwelling (assuming a replacement dwelling will be available) or to move his business or farm operation without at least ninety (90) days' written notice from the date by which such move is required.

(f) If an owner or tenant is permitted to occupy the real property acquired on a rental basis for a short term or for a period subject to termination by the acquiring authority on short notice, the amount of rent required shall not exceed the fair rental value of the property to a short-term occupier.

(g) In no event shall the time of condemnation be advanced, or negotiations or condemnation and the deposit of funds in court for the use of the owner be deferred, or any other coercive action be taken to compel an agreement on the price to be paid for the property.

(h) If an interest in real property is to be acquired by exercise of power of eminent domain, formal condemnation proceedings shall be instituted. The acquiring authority shall not intentionally make it necessary for an owner to institute legal proceedings to prove the fact of the taking of his real property.

(i) If the acquisition of only part of the property would leave its owner with an uneconomic remnant, an offer to acquire that remnant shall be made. For the purposes of this chapter, an uneconomic remnant is a parcel of real property in which the owner is left with an interest after the partial acquisition of the owner's property and which the person, agency or other entity acquiring the property determines has little or no value or utility to the owner.

(j) A person whose real property is being acquired in accordance with this chapter may, after the person has been fully informed of his right to receive just compensation for such property, donate such property, any part thereof, any interest therein or any compensation paid therefor to the person, agency or other entity acquiring the property in such manner as he so determines.

(2) Any real property acquired by any person, agency or other entity using public funds in accordance with Section 57-75-37(3) , Section 57-75-37(4) , Section 57-75-37(5) , Section 57-75-37(6) , Section 57-75-37(7) or Section 57-31-35 shall be exempt from the provisions of subsection (1)(b) and (c) of this section to the extent permitted by Section 57-75-37(3) , Section 57-75-37(4) , Section 57-75-37(5) , Section 57-75-37(6) , Section 57-75-37(7) or Section 57-31-35 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-455 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 20 / Section 21-455
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-455
Status: in_force

(1) The petition shall set forth plainly and concisely with particularity:

(a) identification of the child, including his full name, birth date, age, sex and residence;

(b) identification of the parent, guardian or custodian including the name and residence of the child's parents, the name and residence of the child's legal guardian, if there be one, any person or agency in whose custody the child may be and the child's nearest relative if no parent or guardian be known;

(c) a statement of the facts, including the facts which bring the child within the jurisdiction of the youth court and which show the child is a delinquent child, a child in need of supervision, a neglected child or an abused child;

(d) in petitions alleging delinquency, a citation of the statute or ordinance which the child is alleged to have violated. Error in or omission of the citation shall not be grounds for dismissing the petition or for a reversal of the adjudication based thereon if the error or omission did not mislead the child to his prejudice.

(e) a prayer for the type of adjudicatory relief sought; and

(f) if any of the facts herein required are not known by the petitioner.

(2) Two (2) or more offenses may, in the discretion of the youth court, be alleged in the same petition in a separate count for each offense.

(3) Two (2) or more children may be the subject of the same petition if:

(a) they are siblings; and

(b) they are alleged to be neglected or abused from a common source of mistreatment or neglect.

(4) Where the child is alleged to be a delinquent child, the petition must recite factual allegations with the same particularity required in a criminal indictment but need not have the technical form of a criminal indictment.

(5) The petition may contain a motion to transfer.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-607 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 21-607
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-607
Status: in_force

(1) In children in need of supervision cases, the disposition order may include any of the following alternatives or combination of the following alternatives, giving precedence in the following sequence:

(a) Release the child without further action;

(b) Place the child in the custody of the parent, a relative or other person subject to any conditions and limitations as the youth court may prescribe;

(c) Place the child under youth court supervision subject to any conditions and limitations the youth court may prescribe;

(d) Order terms of treatment calculated to assist the child and the child's parent, guardian or custodian which are within the ability of the parent, guardian or custodian to perform;

(e) Order terms of supervision which may include participation in a constructive program of service or education or restitution not in excess of actual damages caused by the child to be paid out of his own assets or by performance of services acceptable to the parties and reasonably capable of performance within one (1) year;

(f) Give legal custody of the child to any of the following but in no event to any state training school;

(i) The Department of Human Services for appropriate placement which may include a wilderness training program; or

(ii) Any private or public organization, preferably community-based, able to assume the education, care and maintenance of the child, which has been found suitable by the court. Prior to assigning the custody of any child to any private institution or agency, the youth court through its designee shall first inspect the physical facilities to determine that they provide a reasonable standard of health and safety for the child; or

(g) Order the child to participate in a youth court work program as provided in Section 43-21-627 .

(2) The court may order drug testing as provided in Section 43-21-605(6) .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-115 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 18 / Section 35-115
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-115
Status: in_force

The governing body of any municipality adopting an ordinance under this article shall, as soon as possible thereafter, prepare an estimate of the annual expenses or costs to provide the equipment, personnel and supplies necessary for periodic examinations and investigations of the buildings in such municipality for the purpose of determining the fitness of such buildings for human habitation, use or occupancy, and for the enforcement and administration of its ordinances adopted under this article; and any such municipality is authorized to make such appropriations from its revenues as it may deem necessary for this purpose, and may accept and apply grants or donations to assist it in carrying out the provisions of such ordinances.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-315 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 21-315
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-315
Status: in_force

(1) The youth court shall, by general order or rule of court, designate the available detention or shelter facilities to which children shall be delivered when taken into custody. Copies of the order or rule shall be made available to the Department of Human Services and all law enforcement agencies within the territorial jurisdiction of the youth court.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, unless jurisdiction is transferred, no child shall be placed in any jail or place of detention of adults by any person or court unless the child shall be physically segregated from other persons not subject to the jurisdiction of the youth court and the physical arrangement of such jail or place of detention of adults prevents such child from having substantial contact with and substantial view of such other persons; but in any event, the child shall not be confined anywhere in the same cell with persons not subject to the jurisdiction of the youth court. Any order placing a child into custody shall comply with the detention requirements provided in Section 43-21-301(6) . This subsection shall not be construed to apply to commitments to the training school under Section 43-21-605(1)(g)(iii) .

(3) Any child who is charged with a hunting or fishing violation, a traffic violation, or any other criminal offense for which the youth court shall have power on its own motion to remove jurisdiction from any criminal court, may be detained only in the same facilities designated by the youth court for children within the jurisdiction of the youth court.

(4) After a child is ordered into custody, the youth court may arrange for the custody of the child with any private institution or agency caring for children, may commit the child to the Department of Mental Health pursuant to Section 41-21-61 et seq. , or may order the Department of Human Services or any other public agency to provide for the custody, care and maintenance of such child. Provided, however, that the care, custody and maintenance of such child shall be within the statutory authorization and the budgetary means of such institution or facility.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-41 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 33-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-41
Status: in_force

At least once a year, an authority shall file with the clerk a report of its activities for the preceding year, and shall make recommendations with reference to such additional legislation or other action as it deems necessary in order to carry out the purposes of this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-307 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 33-307
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-307
Status: in_force

This article is to be construed as power additional and not in derogation of existing laws. Therefore, no law of this state requiring security upon which loans or investments may be made, or prescribing the nature, amount or form of such security, or prescribing or limiting interest rates upon loans or investments, or limiting investments of capital or deposits, or prescribing or limiting the period for which loans or investments may be made, shall be deemed to apply to loans or investments made pursuant to Sections 43-33-301 through 43-33-305 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-19 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 35-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-19
Status: in_force

(a) A municipality may sell, lease or otherwise transfer real property or any interest therein acquired by it, and may enter into contracts with respect thereto, in an urban renewal area for residential, recreational, commercial, industrial or other uses or for public use, or may retain such property or interest for public use, in accordance with the urban renewal plan, subject to such covenants, conditions and restrictions, including covenants running with the land, as it may deem to be necessary or desirable to assist in preventing the development or spread of future slums or blighted areas or to otherwise carry out the purposes of this article. Such sale, lease, other transfer, or retention, and any agreement relating thereto, may be made only after the approval of the urban renewal plan by the local governing body. The purchasers or lessees and their successors and assigns shall be obligated to devote such real property only to the uses specified in the urban renewal plan, and may be obligated to comply with such other requirements as the municipality may determine to be in the public interest, including the obligation to begin within a reasonable time any improvements on such real property required by the urban renewal plan. Such real property or interest shall be sold, leased, otherwise transferred, or retained at not less than its fair value for uses in accordance with the urban renewal plan. In determining the fair value of real property for uses in accordance with the urban renewal plan, a municipality shall take into account and give consideration to the uses provided in such plan; the restrictions upon, and the covenants, conditions and obligations assumed by the purchaser or lessee or by the municipality retaining the property; and the objectives of such plan for the prevention of the recurrence of slum or blighted areas. The municipality in any instrument of conveyance to a private purchaser or lessee may provide that such purchaser or lessee shall be without power to sell, lease, or otherwise transfer the real property without the prior written consent of the municipality until he has completed the construction of any or all improvements which he has obligated himself to construct thereon. Real property acquired by a municipality which, in accordance with the provisions of the urban renewal plan, is to be transferred, shall be transferred as rapidly as feasible in the public interest consistent with the carrying out of the provisions of the urban renewal plan. Each contract for such transfer and the urban renewal plan shall be recorded in the land records of the county in such manner as to afford actual or constructive notice thereof.

(b) A municipality may dispose of real property in an urban renewal area to private persons only under such reasonable competitive bidding procedures as it shall prescribe or as hereinafter provided in this subsection. A municipality may, by public notice by publication in a newspaper having a general circulation in the community (thirty (30) days prior to the execution of any contract to sell, lease or otherwise transfer real property and prior to the delivery of any instrument of conveyance with respect thereto under the provisions of this section), invite proposals from and make available all pertinent information to private redevelopers or any persons interested in undertaking to redevelop or rehabilitate an urban renewal area, or any part thereof. Such notice shall identify the area, or portion thereof, and shall state that proposals shall be made by those interested within thirty (30) days after the date of publication of said notice, and that such further information as is available may be obtained at such office as shall be designated in said notice. The municipality shall consider all such redevelopment or rehabilitation proposals and the financial and legal ability of the persons making such proposals to carry them out, and may negotiate with any persons for proposals for the purchase, lease or other transfer of any real property acquired by the municipality in the urban renewal area. The municipality may accept such proposal as it deems to be in the public interest and in furtherance of the purposes of this article. A notification of intention to accept such proposal shall be filed with the governing body not less than thirty (30) days prior to any such acceptance. Thereafter, the municipality may execute such contract in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) and deliver deeds, leases and other instruments and take all steps necessary to effectuate such contract.

(c) A municipality may temporarily operate and maintain real property acquired in an urban renewal area pending the disposition of the property as authorized in this article, without regard to the provisions of subsection (a) above, for such uses and purposes as may be deemed desirable even though not in conformity with the urban renewal plan.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-21 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 26 / Section 55-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-21
Status: in_force

State departments and agencies shall cooperate with the commission in the performance of its functions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-559 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 21-559
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-559
Status: in_force

(1) In arriving at its adjudicatory decision, the youth court shall consider only evidence which has been formally admitted at the adjudicatory hearing. All testimony shall be under oath and may be in narrative form. In proceedings to determine whether a child is a delinquent child or a child in need of supervision, the youth court shall admit any evidence that would be admissible in a criminal proceeding. In proceedings to determine whether a child is a neglected child or an abused child, the youth court shall admit any evidence that would be admissible in a civil proceeding.

(2) An out-of-court admission by the child, even if otherwise admissible, shall be insufficient to support an adjudication that the child is a delinquent child unless the admission is corroborated, in whole or in part, by other competent evidence.

(3) Members of the youth court staff may appear as witnesses except that no member of the youth court staff may testify as to an admission or confession made to him.

(4)(a) No statements, admissions or confessions made by or incriminatory information obtained from a child in the course of a screening or assessment that is undertaken in conjunction with any proceedings under this chapter, including, but not limited to, that which is court-ordered, shall be admitted into evidence against the child on the issue of whether the child committed a delinquent act under this chapter or on the issue of guilt in any criminal proceedings.

(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection are in addition to and do not override any existing statutory and constitutional prohibition on the admission into evidence in delinquency and criminal proceedings of information obtained during screening, assessment or treatment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-29-9 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 29-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-29-9
Status: in_force

Whenever a county welfare agent receives an application for assistance under this chapter, an investigation and record shall promptly be made of the circumstances of the applicant to ascertain the facts supporting the application made under this chapter, and such other information as may be required by the rules of the state board. The county department and the state department shall have the power to conduct examinations, and the county board and such officers and employees as are designated by the state commissioner may also administer oaths and affirmation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-213 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 26 / Section 35-213
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-213
Status: in_force

(a) A resolution issuing bonds in compliance with this article may include any covenants with the bondholders deemed necessary to make such bonds secure and marketable, including, but without limitation, covenants regarding the application of the bond proceeds; the pledging, application and securing of special taxes, parking facility tax increment financing revenues, payments from municipalities and counties, other revenues and the revenues of the parking facilities; the creation and maintenance of reserves; covenants to levy special taxes and other taxes; covenants to enforce agreements; the investment of funds; the issuance of additional bonds; the maintenance of minimum fees, charges and rentals; the operation and maintenance of facilities; insurance and insurance proceeds; accounts and audits; the sale of properties; remedies of bondholders; the vesting in a trustee or trustees such powers and rights as may be necessary to secure the bonds and the revenues and funds from which they are payable; the terms and conditions upon which bondholders may exercise their rights and remedies; the replacement of lost, destroyed or mutilated bonds; the definition, consequences and remedies of an event of default; and the appointment of a receiver in the event of a default.

(b) All taxes and revenues pledged to the payment of such bonds shall be subject to a lien in favor of the holders of such bonds, and all such taxes and revenues received by the issuing authority shall be immediately subject to such lien without any physical delivery thereof or further act by the issuing authority, and such lien shall be effective as against all parties asserting claims against the issuing authority, whether by way of tort, contract or otherwise, whether or not such parties may have had notice of such lien. Such pledge or trust agreement creating the same need not be filed or recorded except in the official minutes of the issuing authority.

(c) The state does hereby covenant with the holders of any such bonds that it will not, while any such bonds shall be outstanding, limit or diminish the right and power of any county, municipality or urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority to establish, maintain and collect rates, fees, rentals and other charges pledged to the payment of such bonds, or to levy the special taxes authorized by this article, to fulfill any covenants with or for the benefit of such bondholders, or to make or receive payments pursuant to a parking facility tax increment financing plan.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-5 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 20 / 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. § 43-35-105 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 35-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-105
Status: in_force

Upon the adoption of an ordinance finding that building conditions of the character described in Section 43-35-103 exist within a municipality, the governing body of such municipality is hereby authorized to adopt ordinances relating to the buildings within such municipality which are unfit for human habitation, use or occupancy. Such ordinances shall include the following provisions:

(a) That a public officer be designated or appointed to exercise the powers prescribed by the ordinances.

(b) That whenever a petition is filed with the public officer by a public authority or by at least five (5) residents of the municipality, charging that any building is unfit for human habitation, use or occupancy, or whenever it appears to the public officer, on his own motion, that any building is unfit for human habitation, use or occupancy, the public officer shall, if his preliminary investigation discloses a basis for such charges, issue and cause to be served upon the owner of and parties in interest in such premises a complaint, stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the public officer, or his designated agent, at a place therein fixed not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days after the serving of said complaint; and that the owner and parties in interest shall be given the right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear in person, or otherwise, and give testimony at the place and time fixed in the complaint.

(c) That if, after such notice and hearing, the public officer determines that the building under consideration is unfit for human habitation, use or occupancy, he shall state in writing his findings of fact in support of such determination and shall issue and cause to be served upon the owner thereof an order requiring him, to the extent and within the time specified in the order, to repair, alter or improve the said building to render it fit for human habitation, use or occupancy or, at the option of the owner, to vacate and close the building as a human habitation, or for human use or occupancy.

(d) That, if the owner fails to comply with such order within the time prescribed, the public officer may cause the building to be vacated and closed; that the public officer may cause to be posted on the main entrance of any building so closed a placard with the following words:

“This building is unfit for human habitation, use or occupancy; the use or occupation of this building by humans is prohibited and unlawful.”

Any person who shall rent, lease or occupy, or who shall permit any person to rent, lease or occupy such building for a human habitation, use or occupancy, shall be liable for such fine as may be prescribed by the ordinances of the municipality.

(e) That if, after notice and hearing, the public officer determines that a building is in such condition, because of dilapidation, disrepair, structural defects, or otherwise, that it is dangerous or injurious to the health or safety of the public or the occupants of buildings or the occupants of neighboring buildings, said public officer shall issue and cause to be served upon the owner an order requiring him to repair, alter or improve the said building to the extent and within the time specified in such order, or, at the option of the owner, to remove or demolish such building; that if the owner fails to comply with such order within the time prescribed, the public officer may cause such building to be repaired, altered or improved in accordance with the order. If such repairs, alterations or improvements cannot be made at a reasonable cost in relation to the value of the building, said public officer may cause such building to be removed or demolished; the ordinance of the municipality may fix a certain percentage of such cost in relation to the value of a building as being reasonable for such purpose; and the cost of such repairs, alterations, improvements or removal, or demolition, in addition to a penalty not to exceed twenty percent (20%) of the actual costs which may be imposed by the municipality, shall be a lien against such real estate, and assessed and collected as a special tax. The governing authorities of any municipality ordering such assessment shall fix a day for the hearing of objections to such assessment and shall cause the municipal clerk to give to the property owner ten (10) days' written notice, by mail, if the post-office address of the owner be known, but if the post-office address of the owner be unknown, notice shall be given by posting notice for at least ten (10) days in five (5) public places in the municipality, of the time and place for the hearing of objections to such assessment; one of such public places for posting notice as aforesaid shall be on the land which is the subject matter of such assessment. If the amount of said special tax is not paid in full within six (6) months from and after the date the assessment becomes final, the tax collector shall proceed to advertise and sell the said real estate, or a sufficient amount thereof to recover said special tax and all costs of the sale, after having given notice of the time and place of such sale as is required by law for the sale of land for delinquent ad valorem taxes. From the proceeds of said sale, the tax collector shall first pay the cost of the sale, after which he shall pay the cost of such repairs, alterations, improvement, removal or demolition and any penalty imposed by the municipality; and any amount remaining over shall be deposited by him with the clerk of the circuit court as hereinafter provided. If the building is removed or demolished by the public officer, he may sell the materials of such building and shall credit the proceeds of such sale against the cost of the removal or demolition; and any balance remaining shall be deposited in the circuit court by the public officer, shall be secured in such manner as may be directed by such court, and shall be disbursed by such court to the persons found to be entitled thereto by the final award or judgment of such court. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to impair or limit in any way the power of the municipality to define and declare nuisances and to cause their removal or abatement by summary proceedings or otherwise.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-719 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 33 / Section 33-719
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-719
Status: in_force

(1) In connection with the making of any of the types of loans authorized by this article to any entity the corporation:

(a) May require that the borrower issue and deliver to the corporation an evidence of its indebtedness to the corporation (which evidence shall constitute a general obligation of the borrower as the corporation shall determine) which shall contain such provisions consistent with this section as the corporation shall determine, including but not limited to, date, time of maturing and prepayment clause;

(b) May require that the interest rate or rates and other terms of such loans or any collection of such loans made from the proceeds of any issue of bonds or notes of the corporation shall, together with any other monies available therefor, including reserve funds, be at least sufficient to assure the payment of such bonds or notes and the interest thereon as the same become due;

(c) May require that loans made pursuant to this section be secured as to payment of both principal and interest by a pledge of collateral security of such type and in such amounts as the corporation shall determine to be useful to assure the payment of such loans and the interest thereon as the same become due, and in the case of loans to institutional lenders, such collateral security shall consist of:

(i) Direct or guaranteed obligations of the United States of America;

(ii) Obligations of any municipality or the state or any state agency;

(iii) Mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration and such other mortgages insured or guaranteed by the federal government or by a private insurer as to payment of principal and interest as shall be approved by the corporation; or

(iv) Conventional mortgage loans approved by the corporation;

(d) May require that any collateral for loans be deposited with a bank or trust company or other financial institution acceptable to the corporation located in the state and designated by the corporation as custodian therefor. The corporation may also require the entity receiving such loan to enter into an agreement with the corporation containing such provisions as the corporation shall deem necessary to: (i) adequately identify and maintain such collateral; (ii) service such collateral, if appropriate; and (iii) require such entity to hold such collateral as an agent for the corporation and be accountable to the corporation as the trustee of an express trust for the application and disposition thereof and the income therefrom. In the case of loans to institutional lenders, the corporation shall require the lender to enter into such an agreement;

(e) May also establish such additional requirements as it shall deem necessary with respect to the pledging, assigning, setting aside or holding of such collateral and the making of substitutions therefor or additions thereto and the disposition of income and receipts therefrom;

(f) Shall require as a condition of each loan that the borrower, within a prescribed period after receipt, shall have disbursed or applied the loan proceeds for the purposes for which the loan was made in an aggregate principal amount equal to the amount of such loan;

(g) May require the submission to it by each borrower of evidence satisfactory to the corporation of compliance with the terms of such loan, and in connection therewith may, through its members, employees or agents, inspect any books and records of any such entity;

(h) May require, as a condition of any loans, representations and warranties deemed necessary to secure the loans and carry out the purpose of this section;

(i) May enforce compliance with the terms of its agreement with any entity by decree of any court of competent jurisdiction. The corporation may require, as a condition of any loan to any national banking association, the consent of such association to the jurisdiction of courts of this state over any proceeding. The corporation may also require, as a condition of any such loan, agreement by such entity to the payment of penalties to the corporation for violation of its undertakings to the corporation, and such penalties shall be recoverable at the suit of the corporation; and

(j) To the extent that any provisions of this section may be inconsistent with any provision of law of the state governing the affairs of mortgage lenders, the provisions hereof shall control.

(2) In connection with the purchase from any lender of any of the types of loans authorized by this article, or any portion thereof or any participation therein, the corporation:

(a) May require as a condition of purchase of such loans either:

(i) That such loans be mortgage loans owned by the mortgage lenders and that such mortgage lenders, within a prescribed period after receipt of the purchase price, shall enter into written commitments to loan and, within a prescribed period thereafter, may loan an amount not to exceed the entire purchase price of such purchased loans on new loans, which new loans shall have such terms and conditions as the corporation may prescribe by regulation; or

(ii) That such purchased loans qualify as new loans and were originated by the lenders for the purpose of selling them to the corporation;

(b) Shall require the submission to it, by each mortgage lender from which the corporation has purchased existing loans, evidence satisfactory to the corporation of the making of new loans as required by the corporation, and in connection therewith may, through its members, employees or agents, inspect the books and records of any such mortgage lender;

(c) May enforce compliance by any mortgage lender with the terms of its agreement with or undertaking to the corporation with respect to the making of any new loans by decree of any court of competent jurisdiction. The corporation may require as a condition of purchase of loans from any national banking association the consent of such association to the jurisdiction of courts of this state over any such proceeding. The corporation may also require, as a condition of the corporation's purchase of loans, agreement by any mortgage lender to the payment of penalties to the corporation for violation by the mortgage lender of its undertakings to the corporation, and such penalties shall be recoverable at the suit of the corporation;

(d) May require as a condition of purchase of any loan from a mortgage lender that the mortgage lender represent and warrant to the corporation that: (i) the unpaid principal balance of such loan and this interest rate thereon have been accurately stated to the corporation; (ii) the amount of the unpaid balance is justly due and owing in accordance with the terms thereof; (iii) the mortgage lender has no notice of the existence of any counterclaim, offset or defense asserted by the maker or his successor in interest; (iv) such loan is evidenced by a bond or promissory note and a mortgage which has been properly recorded with the appropriate public official; (v) the mortgage constitutes a valid lien on the real property described to the corporation subject only to such liens, reservations, exceptions or encumbrances as may be permitted by the rules or regulations of the corporation; (vi) the maker is not now in default in the payment of any installment of principal or interest, escrow funds, taxes or otherwise in the performance of his obligations under the mortgage or loan documents and has not, to the knowledge of the mortgage lender, been in default in the performance of any such obligations for a period of longer than sixty (60) days during the life thereof; (vii) the improvements to mortgaged real property are permanently affixed thereto and the real property together with improvements thereon are covered by a valid and subsisting policy of insurance issued by a company authorized to issue such policies in this state and providing fire and extended coverage in such amounts as the corporation may prescribe by regulation; and (viii), in the case of mortgage loans, the mortgage loan meets the prevailing investment quality standards for mortgage loans of that type in the state;

(e) May require that each mortgage lender be liable to the corporation for any damages suffered by the corporation by reason of any misrepresentation or the breach of any warranty, and in the event that any representation shall prove to be untrue when made or in the event of any breach of warranty, the mortgage lender shall, at the option of the corporation, repurchase the loan for the original purchase price adjusted for amounts subsequently paid thereon, as the corporation may determine;

(f) Shall not be required to inspect or take possession of the loan mortgage or documents if the mortgage lender from which the loan is purchased by the corporation shall enter into a contract to service such loan and account to the corporation therefor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-612 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 16 / Section 21-612
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-612
Status: in_force

(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as “Buddy's Law.”

(2) When a child is adjudicated delinquent of an offense involving the intentional torturing, mutilating, maiming, burning, starving to death, crushing, disfiguring, drowning, suffocating or impaling of a domesticated dog or cat as described in Section 97-41-16 , the youth court shall order that the child adjudicated delinquent receives a psychiatric evaluation and counseling or treatment for a length of time as prescribed by the youth court. The cost of any evaluation, counseling and treatment shall be paid by the offender's parent or guardian, or by the state if the offender is a ward of the state, upon order of the youth court, up to a maximum amount that is no more than the jurisdictional limit of the sentencing court. The youth court shall hold the offender's parent or guardian in contempt under Section 43-21-509 if the parent or guardian willfully does not follow the recommended treatment for the offender.

(3) The Legislature does recognize that animal abuse by a child often leads to further criminal activity by the child as he or she ages. This activity is sometimes homicidal; however, it is the Legislature's intent that a mental health evaluation under this section is only required in extreme situations as prescribed in Section 97-41-16 . Further, it is the intent of the Legislature that a minor offense of abuse of a cat or dog by a child shall not require a mental health evaluation unless the judge, after a hearing, shall determine if the evaluation is necessary.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 29 / Section 35-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-11
Status: in_force

No municipalities shall exercise the authority hereafter conferred upon municipalities by this article until after its local governing body shall have adopted a resolution finding that: (1) one or more slum or blighted areas exist in such municipality; and (2) the rehabilitation, conservation, redevelopment, or a combination thereof, of such area or areas is necessary in the interest of the public health, safety, morals or welfare of the residents of such municipality.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-351 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / 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. § 43-33-41 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 27 / Section 33-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-41
Status: in_force

At least once a year, an authority shall file with the clerk a report of its activities for the preceding year, and shall make recommendations with reference to such additional legislation or other action as it deems necessary in order to carry out the purposes of this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-123 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 27 / Section 33-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-123
Status: in_force

“Farmers of low income” as used in this article shall mean persons or families who (1) derive their principal income from operating or working upon a farm; (2) whose average net income is less than the amount which is necessary (as determined by the authority operating in that area) to enable them, without financial assistance, to obtain or provide themselves with decent, safe and sanitary housing.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-8 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 28 / Section 47-8
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-8
Status: in_force

(1) Any person employed by a care facility or having a professional relationship with a care facility who receives or accepts a gift, money or thing of value in excess of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) from a patient or resident of the care facility shall make a written report of the acceptance or receipt of the gift, money or thing of value to the administrator, director or other named highest ranking management employee at the care facility. The report shall be delivered within twenty-four (24) hours of the receipt or acceptance and shall contain the following information:

(a) Name of the person receiving or accepting the money, gift or thing of value;

(b) Name of the patient or resident who gave the money, gift or thing of value;

(c) A detailed description of the gift or thing of value or the amount of money accepted or received; and

(d) Any other information required by the care facility.

(2) The written report shall be maintained by the care facility as part of the permanent record of the patient or resident, and a copy of the report shall be delivered by the administrator, director or other named highest ranking management employee to the patient's or resident's responsible party, or to the next of kin or other contact person identified in the patient's or resident's file if no responsible party has been designated.

(3) Any person who fails to make or deliver a report as required under subsection (1) of this section; or fails to retain a report as part of the patient's or resident's permanent record as required by subsection (2) of this section; or fails to deliver a copy of the report to the patient's or resident's responsible party or other person as required by subsection (2) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(4) Nothing in this section shall preclude legal proceedings against any person who steals, embezzles or misappropriates the property of a patient or resident or who otherwise exploits such patient or resident.

(5) The care facility shall not be held civilly liable for an employee's failure to make or deliver a report of an incident as required by this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 55-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-15
Status: in_force

The commission shall not directly carry out any national service program that receives assistance under Section 121 of Title I, 42 USCS 12571 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-19 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 14 / Section 55-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-19
Status: in_force

The commission shall comply with all requirements of federal law, including but not limited to requirements of coordination with other state agencies or with volunteer service programs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-101 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 19-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-101
Status: in_force

(1) The following child-support award guidelines shall be a rebuttable presumption in all judicial or administrative proceedings regarding the awarding or modifying of child-support awards in this state:

Number Of Children

Percentage Of Adjusted Gross Income

Due Support

That Should Be Awarded For Support

1

14%

2

20%

3

22%

4

24%

5 or more

26%

(2) The guidelines provided for in subsection (1) of this section apply unless the judicial or administrative body awarding or modifying the child-support award makes a written finding or specific finding on the record that the application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case as determined under the criteria specified in Section 43-19-103 .

(3) The amount of “adjusted gross income” as that term is used in subsection (1) of this section shall be calculated as follows:

(a) Determine gross income from all potential sources that may reasonably be expected to be available to the absent parent including, but not limited to, the following: wages and salary income; income from self-employment; income from commissions; income from investments, including dividends, interest income and income on any trust account or property; absent parent's portion of any joint income of both parents; workers' compensation, disability, unemployment, annuity and retirement benefits, including an Individual Retirement Account (IRA); any other payments made by any person, private entity, federal or state government or any unit of local government; alimony; any income earned from an interest in or from inherited property; any other form of earned income; and gross income shall exclude any monetary benefits derived from a second household, such as income of the absent parent's current spouse;

(b) Subtract the following legally mandated deductions:

(i) Federal, state and local taxes. Contributions to the payment of taxes over and beyond the actual liability for the taxable year shall not be considered a mandatory deduction;

(ii) Social security contributions;

(iii) Retirement and disability contributions except any voluntary retirement and disability contributions;

(c) If the obligated parent is subject to an existing court order for another child or children, subtract the amount of that court-ordered support;

(d) If the absent parent is also the parent of another child or other children residing with him, then the court may subtract an amount that it deems appropriate to account for the needs of said child or children;

(e) Compute the total annual amount of adjusted gross income based on paragraphs (a) through (d) of this subsection, then divide this amount by twelve (12) to obtain the monthly amount of adjusted gross income.

Upon conclusion of the calculation of paragraphs (a) through (e) of this subsection, multiply the monthly amount of adjusted gross income by the appropriate percentage designated in subsection (1) of this section to arrive at the amount of the monthly child-support award.

(4) In cases in which the adjusted gross income as defined in this section is more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) or less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), the court shall make a written finding in the record as to whether or not the application of the guidelines established in this section is reasonable. The court shall take into account the basic subsistence needs of the obligated parent who has a limited ability to pay.

(5) Imputation of income shall not be based upon a standard amount in lieu of fact-gathering. In the absence of specific sufficient evidence of past earnings and employment history to use as the measure of an obligated parent's ability to pay, the recommended child-support obligation amount should be based on available information about the specific circumstances of the obligated parent. This can include, but is not limited to, such factors as assets, residence, job skills, educational attainment, literacy, age, health, criminal record and other employment barriers, and record of seeking work, as well as the local job market, the availability of employers willing to hire the obligated parent, prevailing earnings level in the local community, and other relevant factors in the case.

(6) Unless extended or waived, the Department of Human Services shall review the appropriateness of these guidelines beginning January 1, 1994, and every four (4) years thereafter and report its findings to the Legislature no later than the first day of the regular legislative session of that year. The Legislature shall thereafter amend these guidelines when it finds that amendment is necessary to ensure that equitable support is being awarded in all cases involving the support of minor children.

(7) All orders involving support of minor children, as a matter of law, shall include reasonable medical support. Notice to the obligated parent's employer that medical support has been ordered shall be on a form as prescribed by the Department of Human Services. In any case in which the support of any child is involved, the court shall make the following findings either on the record or in the judgment:

(a) The availability to all parties of health insurance coverage for the child(ren);

(b) The cost of health insurance coverage to all parties.

The court shall then make appropriate provisions in the judgment for the provision of health insurance coverage for the child(ren) in the manner that is in the best interests of the child(ren). If the court requires the custodial parent to obtain the coverage then its cost shall be taken into account in establishing the child-support award. If the court determines that health insurance coverage is not available to any party or that it is not available to either party at a cost that is reasonable as compared to the income of the parties, then the court shall make specific findings as to such either on the record or in the judgment. In that event, the court shall make appropriate provisions in the judgment for the payment of medical expenses of the child(ren) in the absence of health insurance coverage.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-205 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 35-205
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-205
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of such municipality shall sell such bonds on sealed bids at not less than par plus accrued interest to date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser and in the manner provided in Section 31-19-25, Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-6-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 6-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-6-3
Status: in_force

Blind persons, visually handicapped persons, deaf persons and other physically disabled persons shall have the same right as the able-bodied to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities, and other public places.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-202 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 7 / Section 35-202
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-202
Status: in_force

(1) The governing authorities of any municipality having a population of one hundred thousand (100,000) or more, and the governing authorities of any municipality having a population of more than eleven thousand (11,000) but less than eleven thousand two hundred (11,200) according to the 1980 decennial census located in any county adjacent to a county having a municipality of one hundred thousand (100,000) or more, which have 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 members of the general public, as provided in Section 43-35-201 , are hereby authorized and empowered to establish one or more special parking facility taxing districts and to levy, collect and make an annual special tax not to exceed six (6) mills against all property in each such special parking facility taxing district, provided that such special taxes shall not be levied, collected or made unless the governing authorities shall have adopted a resolution (i) designating an area a special parking facility taxing district; (ii) specifying the maximum millage to be levied on property in such area pursuant to this subsection; and (iii) if such area shall not be within one (1) or more urban renewal areas as defined in Article 1, Chapter 35, Title 43, Mississippi Code of 1972 , declaring such area to be a slum area or a blighted area or a combination thereof within the meaning of Article 1, Chapter 35, Title 43, Mississippi Code of 1972 . Such special tax levy shall be excluded from the limitations imposed under Section 27-39-321 . Prior to adopting such resolution, the governing authorities shall hold a public hearing with respect thereto after public notice by publication at least twice, once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks, with the first publication being not less than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the date specified for such hearing, such notice to include the date, time and place of such hearing, the proposed boundaries of such special parking facility taxing district and the maximum special tax to be levied on property in such district pursuant to this subsection. The boundaries of such special parking facility taxing district shall not be modified and special taxes shall not be levied in excess of the maximum set forth in such resolution, unless the governing authorities shall have amended such resolution after a public hearing and notice as described above. The proceeds of any special tax levied on property in a special parking facility taxing district pursuant to this subsection (1) shall be used solely to pay principal of and interest on bonds issued by such municipality under Section 43-35-203 with respect to parking facilities located within such special parking facility taxing district or shall be paid to the urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority to which the power and authority to establish to construct municipal parking facilities shall have been delegated and used by such urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority to pay principal of and interest on bonds issued by such urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority under Section 43-35-203 with respect to parking facilities located within such special parking facility taxing district. The governing authorities of such municipality shall levy such tax at the maximum rate specified in such resolution against all property in such special parking facility taxing district for so long as any bonds issued pursuant to Section 43-35-203 with respect to parking facilities located within such special parking facility taxing district shall be outstanding unless the governing body of the urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority shall certify that a lesser rate will provide revenues sufficient to pay debt service on all bonds payable from such tax and to pay costs of owning, operating and managing parking facilities located in such special parking facility taxing district, in which event such governing authorities shall levy such tax at such lesser rate. The governing authorities of a municipality may also enter into agreements for the benefit of holders of bonds issued by an urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority pursuant to Section 43-35-203 limiting or restricting issuance of bonds by such municipality which would be payable from such special tax to the extent that such governing authorities shall determine that such agreements are necessary or desirable in connection with the issuance of bonds by an urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority pursuant to Section 43-35-203 . Such tax shall cease to be levied after all principal of and interest on bonds issued under Section 43-35-203 with respect to parking facilities located within such special parking facility taxing district shall have been paid in full.

(2) The governing authorities of any municipality having a population of one hundred thousand (100,000) or more, and the governing authorities of any municipality having a population of more than eleven thousand (11,000) but less than eleven thousand two hundred (11,200) according to the 1980 decennial census located in any county adjacent to a county having a municipality of one hundred thousand (100,000) or more, which have 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 members of the general public, as provided in Section 43-35-201 , are hereby authorized to adopt and carry out one or more parking facility tax increment financing plans and to enter into agreements, which may extend over any period of time, any other rule of law to the contrary notwithstanding, with any urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority to which such power and authority shall have been delegated to pay to such urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority an amount equal to the parking facility tax increment financing revenues received by such municipality and allocated to parking facilities pursuant to such parking facility tax increment financing plan. Such agreements may also include such reasonable provisions as the governing body shall determine to be appropriate to provide security for the holders of bonds issued or to be issued by such urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority which are payable in whole or in part from payments pursuant to such agreements.

In the event that a municipality or urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority shall have entered into an agreement with a private person, firm or partnership under which such private person, firm or partnership shall have agreed to construct specific buildings or other facilities or improvements, to pay all real property taxes due on such buildings or other facilities or improvements in a timely manner and to maintain and operate such buildings or other facilities or improvements in such a manner as to preserve property values, such agreement may specify a minimum payment to be made by such municipality based on the governing body's determination of the expected ad valorem taxes to be received from such buildings or other facilities or improvements, in which event such municipality shall be unconditionally obligated to make such payments from its general fund or other available funds, regardless of whether actual ad valorem taxes shall have been less than such amount.

(3) The governing authorities of any county in which a municipality is located which has adopted, or hereafter may adopt, a parking facility tax increment financing plan as provided in this Section 43-35-202 , are hereby authorized to become a party to such parking facility tax increment financing plan and enter into agreements, which may extend over any period of time notwithstanding any rule of law to the contrary, to pay to such municipality, or any urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority to which power and authority to establish and construct municipal parking facilities for motor vehicles belonging to members of the general public shall have been delegated, an amount equal to the parking facility tax increment financing revenues received by such county and allocated to parking facilities pursuant to such tax increment financing plan. Such agreements may also include such reasonable provisions as the governing body shall determine to be appropriate to provide security for the holders of bonds issued or to be issued by such urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority which are payable in whole or in part from payments pursuant to such agreements.

In the event that a county, municipality or urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority shall have entered into an agreement with a private person, firm or partnership under which such private person, firm or partnership shall have agreed to construct specific buildings or other facilities or improvements, to pay all real property taxes due on such buildings or other facilities or improvements in a timely manner and to maintain and operate such buildings or other facilities or improvements in such a manner as to preserve property values, such agreement may specify a minimum payment to be made by such county based on the governing body's determination of the expected ad valorem taxes to be received from such buildings or other facilities or improvements, in which event such county shall be unconditionally obligated to make such payments from its general fund or other available sources regardless of whether actual ad valorem taxes shall have been less than such amount.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-45 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 33-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-45
Status: in_force

In connection with any housing project located wholly or partly within the area in which it is authorized to act, any state public body may agree with a housing authority or the federal government that a certain sum, or that no sum, shall be paid by the authority in lieu of taxes for any year or period of years.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-9-21 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 9-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-9-21
Status: in_force

The county department shall at once report to the state department its decision upon each application. If an application is not acted upon by the county department within thirty (30) days after the filing of the application, or is denied or revoked, the applicant may appeal to the state department in the manner and form prescribed by rules and regulations. The state department shall upon receipt of such an appeal give the applicant an opportunity for a fair hearing. The state department may also, upon its own motion, review any decision of a county department and may consider any application upon which a decision has not been made by the county department within a reasonable time.

The state department may make such additional investigation as it may deem necessary and shall make such decision as to the granting of assistance and the amount of assistance to be granted the applicant as in its opinion is justified and in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. All decisions of the state department shall be binding upon the county department involved and shall be complied with by such county department.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-111 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 13-111
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-111
Status: in_force

Every state health agency, as defined in Section 43-13-105 , shall obtain an appropriation of state funds from the state Legislature for all medical assistance programs rendered by the agency and shall organize its programs and budgets in such a manner as to secure maximum federal funding through the Division of Medicaid under Title XIX or Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act, as amended.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-8 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 27-8
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-8
Status: in_force

The Department of Human Services, shall administer the following duties and responsibilities:

(a) To implement and administer laws and policy relating to youth services and coordinate the efforts of the department with those of the federal government and other state departments and agencies, county governments, municipal governments and private agencies concerned with providing youth services.

(b) To establish standards, provide technical assistance and exercise the requisite supervision as it relates to youth service programs over all state-supported juvenile correctional facilities.

(c) To promulgate and publish such rules, regulations and policies of the department as are needed for the efficient government and maintenance of all facilities and programs in accord, insofar as possible, with currently accepted standards of juvenile care and treatment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-61 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 20-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-61
Status: in_force

The department may deny, revoke or refuse to renew a certificate of registration upon determination that the registrant falsified information on the application or willfully and substantially has violated Sections 43-20-51 through 43-20-65 , inclusive and amendments thereto. The department shall not revoke or refuse to renew any certificate without giving notice and conducting a hearing.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 27 / Section 55-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-15
Status: in_force

The commission shall not directly carry out any national service program that receives assistance under Section 121 of Title I, 42 USCS 12571 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 20 / Section 28-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-15
Status: in_force

(1) The board has authority to establish a comprehensive investment plan for the purposes of this chapter, to invest any funds of the ABLE Trust Fund in any instrument, obligation, security or property that constitutes legal investments for public funds in the state, and to name and use depositories for its investments and holdings. The comprehensive investment plan shall specify the investment policies to be utilized by the board in its administration of the funds. The board may authorize investments in any investment vehicle authorized for the Mississippi Achieving a Better Life Experience Program.

(2) All investments shall be acquired by the board at prices not exceeding the prevailing market values for such securities and shall be marked clearly to indicate ownership by the system and, to the extent possible, shall be registered in the name of the system.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no trustee or employee of the board may have any direct or indirect interest in the income, gains or profits of any investment made by the board, and such person may not receive any pay or emolument for his services in connection with any investment made by the board. No trustee or employee of the board may become an endorser or surety or in any manner an obligor for money loaned by or borrowed from the system.

(4) Under the authority granted in Section 43-28-9 , the board may establish criteria for investment managers, mutual funds or other such entities to act as contractors or consultants to the board. The board may contract, either directly or through such contractors or consultants, to provide such services as may be a part of the comprehensive investment plan or as may be deemed necessary or proper by the board, including, but not limited to, providing consolidated billing, individual and collective record keeping and accounting, and asset purchase, control and safekeeping.

(5) No account owner, contributor or payor may directly or indirectly direct the investment of any account except as may be permitted under Section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , as amended.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-759 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 18 / Section 33-759
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-759
Status: in_force

There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Mississippi Affordable Housing Development Fund to be administered as a revolving fund for the provision of affordable housing to very low income, low income, and moderate income persons. The fund shall be used exclusively to support programs created or administered by the Mississippi Home Corporation under the powers granted to it by law. To this fund shall be deposited all loan repayments, penalties, and other fees and charges accruing to the fund, and any appropriations, donations, gifts, grants or loans which may be made thereto; however, no bond funds shall be deposited into the special fund unless authorized by the Legislature. Monies in the fund which are not currently needed for the programs of the Home Corporation shall be invested by the State Treasurer in such securities as are authorized for the investment of funds of the Home Corporation in Section 43-33-717(5)(e) . The interest received on any such investment shall be credited to the fund. Monies remaining in the special fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the state General Fund.

The State Fiscal Management Board is authorized and directed to draw warrants upon such funds from time to time upon requisition of the Home Corporation executed by its executive director, and the State Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to pay such warrants. The Home Corporation shall have continuing authority to expend funds up to the maximum amount received into the special fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-12-31 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 12-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-12-31
Status: in_force

The Department of Human Services shall communicate the expectation of mandatory cooperation with a fraud investigation and that noncompliance could result in case closure and termination of benefits within thirty (30) business days.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-103 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 7 / Section 27-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-103
Status: in_force

(1) Sections 43-27-101 and 43-27-103 shall enable the development by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Child Protection Services of a system of services for children or youth in the custody of the Department of Human Services or under the supervision of the Department of Child Protection Services, if funds are appropriated to either department for that purpose. The system of services may consist of emergency response services, an early intervention and treatment unit, respite care, crisis nurseries, specialized outpatient or inpatient treatment services, special needs foster care, therapeutic foster care, emergency foster homes, and Medicaid targeted case management for abused and neglected children and youth as well as children adjudicated delinquent or in need of supervision. Any of these services that are provided shall be arranged by and coordinated through the Department of Human Services or the Department of Child Protection Services, and each department may contract with public or private agencies or entities to provide any of the services or may provide any of the services itself. All of the services shall be provided in facilities that meet the standards set by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Child Protection Services for the particular type of facility involved. None of the services provided shall duplicate existing services except where there is a documented need for expansion of the services.

(2) A description of the services that may be provided under Sections 43-27-101 and 43-27-103 are as follows:

(a) “ Emergency response services ” means services to respond to children or youth in severe crisis and include:

(i) Emergency single-point phone lines;

(ii) Crisis care coordinators staffing shifts that enable twenty-four-hour per day response as “frontline” professionals when crisis calls are received, assist with decision-making, family support, initiate plan of action and remain “on call” for the first seventy-two (72) hours for other service professionals to get in place and insure development of a plan of care;

(iii) Acute care/emergency medical response through contracted services with up to five (5) regional hospitals providing emergency room services and hospitalization for up to seventy-two (72) hours with a maximum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per day;

(iv) Case managers;

(v) Respite services; and

(vi) Assessment services contracted with social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and other health professionals.

(b) “ Early intervention and treatment unit ” means a unique, nonhospital crisis service in a residential context that is able to provide the level of support and intervention needed to resolve the crisis and as an alternative to hospitalization. This unit shall provide specialized assessment, including a variety of treatment options and services to best intervene in a child or youth's crisis, and provide an appropriate plan for further services upon returning to the home and community. Staff-to-child or youth ratio shall be high, with multidisciplinary, specialized services for up to six (6) children or youths at one (1) time, and with the maximum assessment and treatment planning and services being ninety (90) days for most children or youths.

(c) “ Respite care ” means planned temporary care for a period of time ranging from a few hours within a twenty-four-hour period to an overnight or weekend stay to a maximum of ten (10) days. Care may be provided in-home or out-of-home with trained respite parents or counselors and is designed to provide a planned break for the parents from the caretaking role with the child.

(d) “ Crisis nurseries ” means a program providing therapeutic nursery treatment services to preschool aged children who as preschoolers demonstrate significant behavioral or emotional disorders. These services shall be to therapeutically address developmental and emotional behavioral difficulties through direct intervention with the child in a nursery school environment and to intervene with parents to provide education, support and therapeutic services.

(e) “ Specialized outpatient or inpatient treatment services ,” such as sex offender treatment, means specialized treatment for perpetrators of sexual offenses with children.

(f) “ Special needs foster care ” means foster care for those children with a variety of handicapping conditions or disabilities, including serious emotional disturbance.

(g) “ Therapeutic foster care ” means residential mental health services provided to children and adolescents in a family setting, utilizing specially trained foster parents. Therapeutic foster care essentially involves the following features:

(i) Placement with foster parents who have been carefully selected by knowledgeable, well-trained mental health and social service professionals to work with children with an emotional disturbance;

(ii) Provision of special training to the foster parents to assist them in working with children with an emotional disturbance;

(iii) Low staff-to-child ratio, allowing the therapeutic staff to work very closely with each child, the foster parents and the biological parents, if available;

(iv) Creation of a support system among these specially trained foster parents; and

(v) Payment of a special foster care payment to the foster parents.

(h) “ Emergency foster homes ” means those homes used on a short-term basis for (i) children who are temporarily removed from the home in response to a crisis situation, or (ii) youth who exhibit special behavioral or emotional problems for whom removal from the existing home situation is necessary. In some cases they may provide an emergency placement for infants and toddlers for whom no regular foster home is available, rather than placement into an emergency shelter where older and larger groups of children are placed. Foster parents are trained to deal with the special needs of children placed in these emergency homes.

(i) “ Medicaid targeted case management ” means activities that are related to assuring the completion of proper client evaluations; arranging and supporting treatment plans, monitoring services, coordinating service delivery and other related actions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-17 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 33-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-17
Status: in_force

Any two (2) or more authorities may join or cooperate with one another in the exercise, either jointly or otherwise, of any or all of their powers for the purpose of financing (including the issuance of bonds, notes or other obligations and giving security therefor), planning, undertaking, owning, constructing, operating or contracting with respect to a housing project or projects located within the area of operation of any one (1) or more of said authorities. For such purpose an authority may by resolution prescribe and authorize any other housing authority or authorities, so joining or cooperating with it, to act on its behalf with respect to any or all of such powers. Any authorities joining or cooperating with one another may by resolutions appoint from among the commissioners of such authorities an executive committee with full power to act on behalf of such authorities with respect to any or all of their powers, as prescribed by resolutions of such authorities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-561 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 21-561
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-561
Status: in_force

(1) If the youth court finds on proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a child is a delinquent child or a child in need of supervision, the youth court shall enter an order adjudicating the child to be a delinquent child or a child in need of supervision.

(2) Where the petition alleges that the child is a delinquent child, the youth court may enter an order that the child is a child in need of supervision on proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the child is a child in need of supervision.

(3) If the court finds from a preponderance of the evidence that the child is a neglected child, an abused child, a dependent child or a child in need of special care the youth court shall enter an order adjudicating the child to be a neglected child, an abused child, dependent child or a child in need of special care.

(4) No decree or order of adjudication concerning any child shall recite that a child has been found guilty; but it shall recite that a child is found to be a delinquent child or a child in need of supervision or a neglected child or an abused child or a sexually abused child or a dependent child or a child in need of special care. Upon a written motion by a party, the youth court shall make written findings of fact and conclusions of law upon which it relies for the adjudication that the child is a delinquent child, a child in need of supervision, a neglected child, an abused child, a dependent child or a child in need of special care.

(5) No adjudication upon the status of any child shall operate to impose any of the civil disabilities ordinarily imposed on an adult because of a criminal conviction, nor shall any child be deemed a criminal by reason of adjudication, nor shall that adjudication be deemed a conviction. A person in whose interest proceedings have been brought in the youth court may deny, without any penalty, the existence of those proceedings and any adjudication made in those proceedings. Except for the right of a defendant or prosecutor in criminal proceedings and a respondent or a youth court prosecutor in youth court proceedings to cross-examine a witness, including a defendant or respondent, to show bias or interest, no adjudication shall be used for impeachment purposes in any court.

(6)(a) No statements, admissions or confessions made by or incriminatory information obtained from a child in the course of a screening or assessment that is undertaken in conjunction with any proceedings under this chapter, including, but not limited to, that which is court-ordered, shall be admitted into evidence against the child on the issue of whether the child committed a delinquent act under this chapter or on the issue of guilt in any criminal proceedings.

(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection are in addition to and do not override any existing statutory and constitutional prohibition on the admission into evidence in delinquency and criminal proceedings of information obtained during screening, assessment or treatment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-307 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 13-307
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-307
Status: in_force

Any applicant or recipient, inclusive of the grantee relative of a dependent child who refuses to cooperate with or to provide reasonable assistance to the Division of Medicaid against a liable third party in accordance with Section 43-13-125, Mississippi Code of 1972, or fails to pay over to the Division of Medicaid third-party payments as provided in this article, or fails or refuses to cooperate with the local county department of public welfare shall not be eligible for Medicaid benefits under the Mississippi Medicaid Law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-26-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 43-39-12 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 33 / 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. § 43-33-711 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 33-711
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-711
Status: in_force

(1) The board of directors may create one or more committees of the board and appoint members of the board to serve on them. Each committee shall have two (2) or more directors who serve at the pleasure of the board.

(2) The creation of a committee and appointment of directors to it must be approved by a majority of all directors in office when the action is taken.

(3) Sections of this article which govern meetings, action without meetings, notice and waiver of notice, and quorum and voting requirements of the board, apply to committees of the board and their members as well.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-59-9 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 30 / Section 59-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-59-9
Status: in_force

There is established an interagency council comprised of representatives of state agencies, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Health, State Department of Mental Health, Department of Human Services, State Department of Education, Department of Public Safety, Mississippi Development Authority, Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, Mississippi Community College Board, Attorney General's Office, Secretary of State's Office and Mississippi Department of Corrections. Each of these agencies shall report to the commission annually through its representative, addressing the current health, employment, educational and overall status of women and the agency's actions to improve women's status. The commission, in its discretion, may call a meeting of the full council; however, full council meetings may not be called more frequently than once during a fiscal year.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 47-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-3
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to provide for protective services for vulnerable persons in Mississippi who are abused, neglected or exploited.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-43-1 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 7 / Section 43-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-43-1
Status: in_force

It is the intent of the Mississippi Legislature to strengthen legislative oversight over the administration of federal funds provided under Title XX of the Social Security Act of 1935, as amended, originally enacted as Public Law 93-647.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-1 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 14 / Section 15-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-1
Status: in_force

This article may be cited as the “Administration of Child Welfare Law.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-6-123 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 6-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-6-123
Status: in_force

The State Board of Health shall be responsible for reviewing plans and specifications of the proposed building or improvements to determine whether the buildings referred to in Section 43-6-101 will be in compliance with this article. The board shall collect a fee from the state, county, municipality or other public agency proposing to contract for the construction, to cover the cost of such review. The fee shall be one-half of one percent ( 1 / 2 of 1%) of the estimated cost, with a maximum fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00), calculated and paid on the basis of the engineering estimate or architect's estimate of the total cost of the particular work or improvement, which estimate is to be furnished to the state board of health along with the plans and specifications.

The State Board of Health shall not require that those state-funded buildings in existence or presently under construction comply with this article, except as to entrance ramps to facilitate ingress and egress; however, all buildings affected by this article on which design contracts are awarded after July 1, 1972, shall comply with such specifications. The state board of health is hereby further authorized to promulgate any rules that, in its discretion, are necessary to perform the duties delegated it by this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-25 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 39-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-25
Status: in_force

Any person or business concern aggrieved by the determination of a displacing agency concerning eligibility for relocation payments authorized by this chapter shall have the right of appeal to the court that would have had jurisdiction if the cause were in eminent domain from such decision at any time within twenty (20) days after actual notice to the aggrieved party. The appeal shall be heard the same as provided by law in eminent domain causes. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit any aggrieved party from exercising any right or remedy available to him under state law with respect to any action of a state agency in carrying out this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-501 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 9 / Section 21-501
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-501
Status: in_force

When a petition has been filed and the date of hearing has been set by the youth court, the judge or his designee shall order the clerk of the youth court to issue a summons to the following to appear personally at such hearing:

(a) The child named in the petition;

(b) The person or persons who have custody or control of the child;

(c) The parent or guardian of the child if such parent or guardian does not have custody of the child;

(d) The Department of Child Protection Services; and

(e) Any other person whom the court deems necessary.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-17-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / 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. § 43-35-23 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 35-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-23
Status: in_force

All banks, trust companies, bankers, savings banks and institutions, building and loan associations, savings and loan associations, investment companies and other persons carrying on a banking or investment business; all insurance companies, insurance associations, and other persons carrying on an insurance business; and all executors, administrators, curators, trustees, and other fiduciaries, may legally invest any sinking funds, moneys, or other funds belonging to them or within their control in any bonds or other obligations issued by a municipality pursuant to this article or by any urban renewal agency or housing authority vested with urban renewal project powers under Section 43-35-31 . Such bonds and other obligations shall be secured by an agreement between the issuer and the federal government in which the issuer agrees to borrow from the federal government and the federal government agrees to lend to the issuer, prior to the maturity of such bonds or other obligations, moneys in an amount which (together with any other moneys irrevocably committed to the payment of interest on such bonds or other obligations) will suffice to pay the principal of such bonds or other obligations with interest to maturity thereon, which moneys, under the terms of said agreement, are required to be used for the purpose of paying the principal of and the interest on such bonds or other obligations at their maturity. Such bonds and other obligations shall be authorized security for all public deposits. It is the purpose of this section to authorize any persons, political subdivisions and officers, public or private, to use any funds owned or controlled by them for the purchase of any such bonds or other obligations. Nothing contained in this section with regard to legal investments shall be construed as relieving any person of any duty of exercising reasonable care in selecting securities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-313 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 21-313
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-313
Status: in_force

(1) A child held in custody under order of the youth court shall be released upon a finding that a change of circumstances makes continued custody unnecessary.

(2) A written request for the release of the child from custody, setting forth the changed circumstances, may be filed by the child; by the child's parent, guardian or custodian; by the child's counsel; or by the child's guardian ad litem, if any.

(3) Based upon the facts stated in the request, the judge may direct that a hearing be held at a date, time and place as fixed by the youth court. Reasonable notice of the hearing shall be given to the child; his parent, guardian or custodian; his counsel; and his guardian ad litem, if any, prior to the hearing. At the hearing, upon receiving evidence, the youth court may grant or deny the request.

(4) A child held in custody in violation of Section 43-21-301(6) shall be immediately transferred to a proper juvenile facility.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-773 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 33-773
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-773
Status: in_force

All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of Sections 43-33-767 through 43-33-797 have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Mississippi Uniform Commercial Code, and in exercising the powers granted by Sections 43-33-767 through 43-33-797 , the State Bond Commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Mississippi Uniform Commercial Code.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-25 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 15-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-25
Status: in_force

An elected official shall not be precluded from serving as a foster parent under Chapter 516, Laws of 1998, and any payments on behalf of or for the benefit of a foster child shall not be considered a contract of interest or compensation or financial income to the elected official in violation of Section 109 of the Mississippi Constitution or any related statutes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-315 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 14 / Section 21-315
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-315
Status: in_force

(1) The youth court shall, by general order or rule of court, designate the available detention or shelter facilities to which children shall be delivered when taken into custody. Copies of the order or rule shall be made available to the Department of Human Services and all law enforcement agencies within the territorial jurisdiction of the youth court.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, unless jurisdiction is transferred, no child shall be placed in any jail or place of detention of adults by any person or court unless the child shall be physically segregated from other persons not subject to the jurisdiction of the youth court and the physical arrangement of such jail or place of detention of adults prevents such child from having substantial contact with and substantial view of such other persons; but in any event, the child shall not be confined anywhere in the same cell with persons not subject to the jurisdiction of the youth court. Any order placing a child into custody shall comply with the detention requirements provided in Section 43-21-301(6) . This subsection shall not be construed to apply to commitments to the training school under Section 43-21-605(1)(g)(iii) .

(3) Any child who is charged with a hunting or fishing violation, a traffic violation, or any other criminal offense for which the youth court shall have power on its own motion to remove jurisdiction from any criminal court, may be detained only in the same facilities designated by the youth court for children within the jurisdiction of the youth court.

(4) After a child is ordered into custody, the youth court may arrange for the custody of the child with any private institution or agency caring for children, may commit the child to the Department of Mental Health pursuant to Section 41-21-61 et seq. , or may order the Department of Human Services or any other public agency to provide for the custody, care and maintenance of such child. Provided, however, that the care, custody and maintenance of such child shall be within the statutory authorization and the budgetary means of such institution or facility.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-769 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 33-769
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-769
Status: in_force

The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized under Sections 43-33-767 through 43-33-797 shall be payable in the manner provided in this section. Such bonds shall bear such date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates (not to exceed the limits set forth in Section 75-17-101 ), be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times not to exceed twenty (20) years from date of issue, be redeemable before maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the State Bond Commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-29 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 27-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-29
Status: in_force

Academic and vocational training at all institutions under the department of youth services shall meet standards prescribed by the state department of education based upon standards required for public schools. The department may prescribe such additional requirements as it may from time to time deem necessary. The state superintendent of education will administer the standards related to the high school and elementary school programs. Reports from the state department of education evaluating the educational program at all juvenile correctional institutions and indicating whether or not the program meets the standards as prescribed shall be made directly to the director of the division of juvenile correctional institutions at regularly scheduled meetings. Such state department of education supervisory personnel as deemed appropriate shall be utilized for evaluating the programs and for reporting to the director of said division.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-219 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 27-219
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-219
Status: in_force

The State Treasurer is authorized to certify to the State Fiscal Officer the necessity for warrants, and the State Fiscal Officer is authorized and directed to issue such warrants, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, or the accredited value of, all bonds issued under Sections 43-27-207 through 43-27-233 ; and the State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest on the bonds, on their due dates.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-41 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 30 / Section 33-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-41
Status: in_force

At least once a year, an authority shall file with the clerk a report of its activities for the preceding year, and shall make recommendations with reference to such additional legislation or other action as it deems necessary in order to carry out the purposes of this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-7-61 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 7 / Section 7-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-7-61
Status: in_force

(1) The Office of the State Long-Term Care Facilities Ombudsman shall establish a training and certification program. The State Ombudsman shall specify by rule the content of the training program. Each long-term care facilities ombudsman program shall bear the cost of training its own employees.

(2) The State Ombudsman shall establish minimum qualifications and recertification requirements for representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Facilities Ombudsman. Such training shall include instruction in at least the following subjects as they relate to long-term care:

(a) The responsibilities and duties of community ombudsmen;

(b) The laws and regulations governing the receipt, investigation and resolution of issues of the well-being of a resident;

(c) The role of local, state and federal agencies that regulate long-term care facilities;

(d) The different kinds of long-term care facilities in Mississippi and the services provided in each kind;

(e) The special needs of the elderly and of persons with physical and mental disabilities;

(f) The role of the family, the sponsor, the legal representative, the physician, the church, and other public and private agencies, and the community;

(g) How to work with long-term care facility staff;

(h) The aging process and characteristics of the long-term care facility resident or institutionalized elderly;

(i) Familiarity with and access to information concerning the laws and regulations governing Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, the Veterans Administration and Workers' Compensation; and

(j) The training program shall include an appropriate internship to be performed in a long-term care facility.

(3) Persons selected by area agencies on aging who have satisfactorily completed the training arranged by the State Ombudsman shall be designated as representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Facilities Ombudsman by the State Ombudsman.

(4) Each area agency on aging may appoint an advisory committee to advise it in the operation of its community ombudsman program. The number and qualifications of members of the advisory committee shall be determined by the area agency on aging.

(5) Ombudsmen who have successfully completed the training and certification program under this section shall be given identification cards which shall be presented to employees of a long-term care facility upon request.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-747 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 33-747
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-747
Status: in_force

(1) All money of the corporation from whatever source derived, except as otherwise authorized or provided in this article, shall be deposited with one or more qualified depositories of the state as approved by the State Depository Commission and designated by the corporation or invested in accordance with Section 43-33-717(5)(e) . The money in such accounts shall be withdrawn on the order of such person or persons as the corporation may authorize. All deposits of such money shall, if required by the corporation, be secured in such manner as the corporation may determine. The State Auditor and his legally authorized representatives are authorized and empowered from time to time to examine the accounts and books of the corporation, including its receipts, disbursements, contracts, leases, sinking funds, investments and any other record and papers relating to its financial standing; at a minimum an audit shall be made annually and a copy thereof shall be filed with the State Treasurer; the corporation shall pay such reasonable fee for such examination as the State Auditor shall determine.

(2) The corporation shall have power to contract with holders of any of its bonds or notes as to the custody, collection, securing, investment and payment of any money of the corporation, of any money held in trust or otherwise for the payment of bonds or notes, and to carry out such contract. Money held in trust or otherwise for the payment of bonds or notes or in any way to secure bonds or notes and deposits of such money may be secured in the same manner as money of the corporation, and all banks and trust companies are authorized to give such security for such deposits.

(3) Subject to the provisions of any contract with bondholders or noteholders and to the approval of the Department of Audit, the corporation shall prescribe a system of accounts in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

(4) The corporation shall submit to the Governor, State Auditor and both houses of the Legislature, an annual report on the activities of the corporation and, within thirty (30) days of the receipt thereof by the corporation, a copy of the report of every external examination of the books and accounts of the corporation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-9 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 55-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-9
Status: in_force

Members of the commission shall serve without compensation. However, members of the commission may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-7 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 47-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-7
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided by Section 43-47-37 for vulnerable persons in care facilities and by Section 43-7-65 for the State Ombudsman Program, any person including, but not limited to, the following, who knows or suspects that a vulnerable person has been or is being abused, neglected or exploited shall immediately report such knowledge or suspicion to the Department of Human Services or to the county department of human services where the vulnerable person is located. If the vulnerable person is a minor, then such report may be made to the Department of Child Protection Services:

(i) Attorney, physician, osteopathic physician, medical examiner, chiropractor or nurse engaged in the admission, examination, care or treatment of vulnerable persons;

(ii) Health professional or mental health professional other than one listed in subparagraph (i);

(iii) Practitioner who relies solely on spiritual means for healing;

(iv) Social worker, family protection worker, family protection specialist or other professional care, residential or institutional staff;

(v) State, county or municipal criminal justice employee or law enforcement officer;

(vi) Human rights advocacy committee or long-term care ombudsman council member; or

(vii) Accountant, stockbroker, financial advisor or consultant, insurance agent or consultant, investment advisor or consultant, financial planner, or any officer or employee of a bank, savings and loan, credit union or any other financial service provider.

(b) To the extent possible, a report made pursuant to paragraph (a) must contain, but need not be limited to, the following information:

(i) Name, age, race, sex, physical description and location of each vulnerable person alleged to have been abused, neglected or exploited.

(ii) Names, addresses and telephone numbers of the vulnerable person's family members.

(iii) Name, address and telephone number of each alleged perpetrator.

(iv) Name, address and telephone number of the caregiver of the vulnerable person, if different from the alleged perpetrator.

(v) Description of the neglect, exploitation, physical or psychological injuries sustained.

(vi) Actions taken by the reporter, if any, such as notification of the criminal justice agency.

(vii) Any other information available to the reporting person which may establish the cause of abuse, neglect or exploitation that occurred or is occurring.

In addition to the above, any person or entity holding or required to hold a license as specified in Title 73, Professions and Vocations, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall be required to give his, her or its name, address and telephone number in the report of the alleged abuse, neglect or exploitation.

(c) The department, or its designees, shall report to an appropriate criminal investigative or prosecutive authority any person required by this section to report or who fails to comply with this section. A person who fails to make a report as required under this subsection or who, because of the circumstances, should have known or suspected beyond a reasonable doubt that a vulnerable person suffers from exploitation, abuse, neglect or self-neglect but who knowingly fails to comply with this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment. However, for purposes of this subsection (1), any recognized legal financial transaction shall not be considered cause to report the knowledge or suspicion of the financial exploitation of a vulnerable person. If a person convicted under this section is a member of a profession or occupation that is licensed, certified or regulated by the state, the court shall notify the appropriate licensing, certifying or regulating entity of the conviction.

(2) Reports received by law enforcement authorities or other agencies shall be forwarded immediately to the Department of Human Services or the county department of human services. The Department of Human Services shall investigate the reported abuse, neglect or exploitation immediately and shall file a preliminary report of its findings with the Office of the Attorney General within forty-eight (48) hours if immediate attention is needed, or seventy-two (72) hours if the vulnerable person is not in immediate danger and shall make additional reports as new information or evidence becomes available. The Department of Human Services, upon request, shall forward a statement to the person making the initial report required by this section as to what action is being taken, if any.

(3) The report may be made orally or in writing, but where made orally, it shall be followed up by a written report. A person who fails to report or to otherwise comply with this section, as provided herein, shall have no civil or criminal liability, other than that expressly provided for in this section, to any person or entity in connection with any failure to report or to otherwise comply with the requirements of this section.

(4) Anyone who makes a report required by this section or who testifies or participates in any judicial proceedings arising from the report or who participates in a required investigation or evaluation shall be presumed to be acting in good faith and in so doing shall be immune from liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed. However, the immunity provided under this subsection shall not apply to any suspect or perpetrator of any abuse, neglect or exploitation.

(5) A person who intentionally makes a false report under the provisions of this section may be found liable in a civil suit for any actual damages suffered by the person or persons so reported and for any punitive damages set by the court or jury.

(6) The Executive Director of the Department of Human Services shall establish a statewide central register of reports made pursuant to this section. The central register shall be capable of receiving reports of vulnerable persons in need of protective services seven (7) days a week, twenty-four (24) hours a day. To effectuate this purpose, the executive director shall establish a single toll-free statewide phone number that all persons may use to report vulnerable persons in need of protective services, and that all persons authorized by subsection (7) of this section may use for determining the existence of prior reports in order to evaluate the condition or circumstances of the vulnerable person before them. Such oral reports and evidence of previous reports shall be transmitted to the appropriate county department of human services. The central register shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: the name and identifying information of the individual reported, the county department of human services responsible for the investigation of each such report, the names, affiliations and purposes of any person requesting or receiving information which the executive director believes might be helpful in the furtherance of the purposes of this chapter, the name, address, birth date, social security number of the perpetrator of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation, and the type of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation of which there was substantial evidence upon investigation of the report. The central register shall inform the person making reports required under this section of his or her right to request statements from the department as to what action is being taken, if any.

Each person, business, organization or other entity, whether public or private, operated for profit, operated for nonprofit or a voluntary unit of government not responsible for law enforcement providing care, supervision or treatment of vulnerable persons shall conduct criminal history records checks on each new employee of the entity who provides, and/or would provide direct patient care or services to adults or vulnerable persons, as provided in Section 43-11-13 .

The department shall not release data that would be harmful or detrimental to the vulnerable person or that would identify or locate a person who, in good faith, made a report or cooperated in a subsequent investigation unless ordered to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(7) Reports made pursuant to this section, reports written or photographs taken concerning such reports in the possession of the Department of Human Services or the county department of human services shall be confidential and shall only be made available to:

(a) A physician who has before him a vulnerable person whom he reasonably suspects may be abused, neglected or exploited, as defined in Section 43-47-5 ;

(b) A duly authorized agency having the responsibility for the care or supervision of a subject of the report;

(c) A grand jury or a court of competent jurisdiction, upon finding that the information in the record is necessary for the determination of charges before the grand jury;

(d) A district attorney or other law enforcement official;

(e) Federal, state or local governmental entities, social service agencies of another state, or any agent of these entities, having a need for the information in order to carry out their responsibilities under law to protect individuals from abuse, neglect, or exploitation under this chapter; and

(f) A guardian ad litem, guardian or conservator authorized by a court to act as a representative for a vulnerable person in need of protective services who is the subject of a report.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (b) of this subsection, the department may not disclose a report of the abandonment, exploitation, abuse, neglect or self-neglect of a vulnerable person to the vulnerable person's guardian, attorney-in-fact, surrogate decision maker, or caregiver who is a perpetrator or alleged perpetrator of the abandonment, exploitation, abuse or neglect of the vulnerable person.

Any person given access to the names or other information identifying the subject of the report, except the subject of the report, shall not divulge or make public such identifying information unless he is a district attorney or other law enforcement official and the purpose is to initiate court action. Any person who willfully permits the release of any data or information obtained pursuant to this section to persons or agencies not permitted to such access by this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(8) Upon reasonable cause to believe that a caretaker or other person has abused, neglected or exploited a vulnerable person, the department shall promptly notify the district attorney of the county in which the vulnerable person is located and the Office of the Attorney General, except as provided in Section 43-47-37(2) .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 35-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-3
Status: in_force

The following terms, wherever used or referred to in this article, shall have the following meanings, unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context:

(a) “Agency” or “urban renewal agency” shall mean a public agency created by Section 43-35-33 .

(b) “Municipality” shall mean any incorporated city or town or county in the state.

(c) “Public body” shall mean the state or any municipality, township, village, board, commission, authority, district, or any other subdivision or public body of the state.

(d) “Local governing body” shall mean the council or other legislative body charged with governing the municipality.

(e) “Mayor” shall mean the mayor of a municipality or other officer or body having the duties customarily imposed upon the executive head of a municipality.

(f) “Clerk” shall mean the clerk or other official of the municipality who is the custodian of the official records of such municipality.

(g) “Federal government” shall include the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the United States of America.

(h) “Slum area” shall mean an area in which there is a predominance of buildings or improvements, whether residential or nonresidential, which by reason of dilapidation, deterioration, age or obsolescence, inadequate provision for ventilation, light, air, sanitation, or open spaces, high density of population and overcrowding, or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes, or any combination of such factors is conducive to ill health, transmission of disease, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency, or crime, and is detrimental to the public health, safety, morals or welfare.

(i) “Blighted area” shall mean an area which by reason of the presence of a substantial number of slum, deteriorated or deteriorating structures, predominance of defective or inadequate street layout, faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility or usefulness, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, deterioration of site or other improvements, diversity of ownership, tax or special assessment delinquency exceeding the fair value of the land, defective or unusual conditions of title, or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes, or any combination of such factors, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of a municipality, retards the provision of housing accommodations or constitutes an economic or social liability and is a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare in its present condition and use. If such blighted area consists of open land the conditions contained in the proviso in subsection (d) of Section 43-35-13 shall apply. Any disaster area referred to in subsection (g) of Section 43-35-13 shall constitute a “blighted area.”

(j) “Urban renewal project” may include undertakings and activities of a municipality in an urban renewal area for the elimination and for the prevention of the development or spread of slums and blight, and may involve slum clearance and redevelopment in an urban renewal area, or rehabilitation or conservation in an urban renewal area, or any combination or part thereof in accordance with an urban renewal plan.

Such undertakings and activities may include:

(1) acquisition of a slum area or a blighted area or portion thereof;

(2) demolition and removal of buildings and improvements;

(3) installation, construction, or reconstruction of streets, utilities, parks, playgrounds, and other improvements necessary for carrying out in the urban renewal area the urban renewal objectives of this article in accordance with the urban renewal plan;

(4) disposition of any property acquired in the urban renewal area (including sale, initial leasing or retention by the municipality itself) at its fair value for uses in accordance with the urban renewal plan;

(5) carrying out plans for a program of voluntary or compulsory repair and rehabilitation of buildings or other improvements in accordance with the urban renewal plan; and

(6) acquisition of any other real property in the urban renewal area where necessary to eliminate unhealthful, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, lessen density, eliminate obsolete or other uses detrimental to the public welfare, or otherwise to remove or prevent the spread of blight or deterioration, or to provide land for needed public facilities.

(k) “Urban renewal area” means a slum area or a blighted area or a combination thereof which the local governing body designates as appropriate for an urban renewal project.

(l) “Urban renewal plan” means a plan, as it exists from time to time, for an urban renewal project, which plan (1) shall conform to the general plan for the municipality as a whole except as provided in subsection (g) of Section 43-35-13 ; and (2) shall be sufficiently complete to indicate such land acquisition, demolition and removal of structures, redevelopment, improvements, and rehabilitation as may be proposed to be carried out in the urban renewal area, zoning and planning changes, if any, land uses, maximum densities, building requirements, and the plan's relationship to definite local objectives respecting appropriate land uses, improved traffic, public transportation, public utilities, recreational and community facilities, and other public improvements.

(m) “Real property” shall include all lands, including improvements and fixtures thereon, and property of any nature appurtenant thereto, or used in connection therewith, and every estate, interest, right and use, legal or equitable, therein, including terms for years and liens by way of judgment, mortgage or otherwise.

(n) “Bonds” shall mean any bonds (including refunding bonds), notes, interim certificates, certificates of indebtedness, debentures or other obligations.

(o) “Obligee” shall include any bondholder, agents or trustees for any bondholders, or lessor demising to the municipality property used in connection with an urban renewal project, or any assignee or assignees of such lessor's interest or any part thereof, and the federal government when it is a party to any contract with the municipality.

(p) “Person” shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association, or body politic; and shall include any trustee, receiver, assignee, or other person acting in a similar representative capacity.

(q) “Area of operation” shall mean the area within the corporate limits of the municipality and the area within five (5) miles of such limits, except that it shall not include any area which lies within the territorial boundaries of another incorporated city or town unless a resolution shall have been adopted by the governing body of such other city or town declaring a need therefor.

(r) “Housing authority” shall mean a housing authority created by and established pursuant to Sections 43-33-1 through 43-33-53, Mississippi Code of 1972 .

(s) “Board” or “commission” shall mean a board, commission, department, division, office, body or other unit of the municipality.

(t) “Public officer” shall mean any officer who is in charge of any department or branch of the government of the municipality relating to health, fire, building regulations, or to other activities concerning dwellings in the municipality.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-12 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 15-12
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-12
Status: in_force

(1) The following words and phrases, for purposes of this section, shall have the meanings ascribed below:

(a) “ Qualified Residential Treatment Program ” (“QRTP”) means a program that:

(i) Has a trauma-informed treatment model that is designed to address the needs, including clinical needs as appropriate, of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances and, with respect to a child, is able to implement the treatment identified for the child by the assessment of the child;

(ii) Has registered or licensed nursing staff and other licensed clinical staff who:

1. Provide care within the scope of their practice as defined by State law;

2. Are on-site according to the trauma informed treatment model implemented; and

3. Are available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week.

(iii) To the extent appropriate, and in accordance with the child's best interests, facilitates participation of family members in the child's treatment program;

(iv) Facilitates outreach to the family members of the child, including siblings, documents how the outreach is made, including contact information, and maintains contact information for any known biological family and fictive kin of the child;

(v) Documents how family members are integrated into the treatment process for the child, including post-discharge, and how sibling connections are maintained;

(vi) Provides discharge planning and family-based aftercare support for at least six (6) months post-discharge; and

(vii) Is licensed and is accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), Council on Accreditation (COA), or any other independent, not-for-profit accrediting organization approved by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

(b) “ Qualified assessor ” means a trained professional or licensed clinician who is not an employee of the Department of Child Protection Services and who is not connected to, or affiliated with, any placement setting in which children are placed by the department.

(2) Within thirty (30) days of the start of a QRTP placement, a qualified assessor must:

(a) Assess the strengths and needs of the child using an age-appropriate, evidence-based, validated, functional assessment tool to determine whether the needs of the child can be met with family members or through placement in a foster family home or, if not, which setting would provide the most effective and appropriate level of care for the child in the least restrictive environment;

(b) Specify in writing if it is determined the child should not be placed in a foster family home:

(i) The reasons why the needs of the child cannot be met by the family of the child or in a foster family home; and

(ii) Why the recommended placement in a QRTP is the setting that will provide the child with the most effective and appropriate level of care in the least restrictive environment and how that placement is consistent with the short- and long-term goals of the child, as specified in the child's permanency plan.

(3)(a) If the child is placed in a qualified residential treatment program as defined in this section, the court shall, within sixty (60) days of placement, establish in writing the following:

(i) Consideration of the assessment required under this section and any related documentation;

(ii) Determination of whether placement in foster care can meet the child's needs or, if not, whether placement in the QRTP provides the most effective and appropriate level of care in the least restrictive environment and whether that placement meets the goals of the permanency plan; and

(iii) Approval or disapproval of the child's placement in the qualified residential treatment program.

(b) If the child remains in a qualified residential treatment program, the court shall establish the following in writing at each review hearing after the initial hearing in (3)(a):

(i) Whether ongoing assessment of the child's strengths and needs continues to support the determination that the child's needs cannot be met through placement in a foster family home;

(ii) Whether the child's placement provides the most effective and appropriate level of care in the least restrictive environment;

(iii) Whether the placement is consistent with the child's permanency plan;

(iv) What specific treatment or service needs will be met in the placement and how long the child is expected to need the treatment or services; and

(v) What efforts the Department of Child Protection Services has made to prepare the child to return home or be placed with a relative, a legal guardian, an adoptive parent, or in a foster family home.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-103 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 31 / Section 35-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-103
Status: in_force

It is hereby found and declared that the existence and occupation of dwellings and other buildings in the municipalities of this state, which are unfit for human habitation, use or occupancy, are inimical to the welfare and dangerous and injurious to the health, safety and morals of the people of this state; and that a public necessity exists for the repair or elimination of such buildings.

Whenever any municipality of this state finds that there exist in such municipality buildings, which are unfit for human habitation, use or occupancy, due to dilapidation, defects increasing the hazards of fires, accidents or other calamities, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities, or due to other conditions rendering such buildings unsafe and unsanitary, and dangerous or detrimental to the health, safety or morals, or which are otherwise inimical to the welfare of the residents of such municipality, power is hereby conferred upon such municipality to exercise its police powers to remedy or eliminate the aforesaid conditions in the manner provided in this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-61-5 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 9 / 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. § 43-55-1 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 28 / Section 55-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-1
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(a) “Commission” means the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service established in Section 43-55-3 .

(b) “Community-based agency” means that term as defined in Section 101 of Title I, 42 USCS 12511.

(c) “Corporation” means the Corporation for National and Community Service established in Section 191 of Title I, 42 USCS 12651 .

(d) “National service laws” means that term as defined in Section 101 of Title I, 42 USCS 12511.

(e) “Out-of-school youth” means that term as defined in Section 101 of Title I, 42 USCS 12511.

(f) “Title I” means Title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, Public Law 101-610.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-31-1 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 31-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-31-1
Status: in_force

The board of supervisors of each county shall have the jurisdiction and power necessary and proper for the relief and support of the poor of its county, and it shall have control of the county home, and may employ a suitable person to take charge of the same. It shall see that the poor are properly treated; and it may provide nurses and physicians in such cases as it may deem proper, and purchase medicines, and payment therefor may be ordered out of the proper fund by warrant on the county treasurer.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-613 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 21-613
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-613
Status: in_force

(1) If the youth court finds, after a hearing which complies with the sections governing adjudicatory hearings, that the terms of a delinquency or child in need of supervision disposition order, probation or parole have been violated, the youth court may, in its discretion, revoke the original disposition and make any disposition which it could have originally ordered. The hearing shall be initiated by the filing of a petition that complies with the sections governing petitions in this chapter and that includes a statement of the youth court's original disposition order, probation or parole, the alleged violation of that order, probation or parole, and the facts which show the violation of that order, probation or parole. Summons shall be served in the same manner as summons for an adjudicatory hearing.

(2) On motion of a child or a child's parent, guardian or custodian, the youth court may, in its discretion, conduct an informal hearing to review the disposition order. If the youth court finds a material change of circumstances relating to the disposition of the child, the youth court may modify the disposition order to any appropriate disposition of equal or greater precedence which the youth court could have originally ordered.

(3)(a) All disposition orders for supervision, probation or placement of a child with an individual or an agency shall be reviewed by the youth court judge or referee at least annually to determine if continued placement, probation or supervision is in the best interest of the child or the public. For children who have been adjudicated abused or neglected, except for those children for which a different timeframe is provided under Section 43-21-603(7) , the youth court shall conduct a permanency hearing within one hundred twenty (120) days or every sixty (60) days for children under three (3) years of age after the earlier of:

(i) An adjudication that the child has been abused or neglected; or

(ii) The date of the child's removal from the allegedly abusive or neglectful custodian/parent. Notice of such hearing shall be given in accordance with the provisions of Section 43-21-505(5) . In conducting the hearing, the judge or referee shall require a written report and may require information or statements from the child's youth court counselor, parent, guardian or custodian, which includes, but is not limited to, an evaluation of the child's progress and recommendations for further supervision or treatment. The judge or referee shall, at the permanency hearing determine the future status of the child, including, but not limited to, whether the child should be returned to the parent(s) or placed with suitable relatives, placed for adoption, placed for the purpose of establishing durable legal custody or should, because of the child's special needs or circumstances, be continued in foster care on a permanent or long-term basis. If the child is in an out-of-state placement, the hearing shall determine whether the out-of-state placement continues to be appropriate and in the best interest of the child. At the permanency hearing the judge or referee shall determine, and the youth court order shall recite that reasonable efforts were made by the Department of Child Protection Services to finalize the child's permanency plan that was in effect on the date of the permanency hearing. The judge or referee may find that reasonable efforts to maintain the child within his home shall not be required in accordance with Section 43-21-603(7)(c) , and that the youth court shall continue to conduct permanency hearings for a child who has been adjudicated abused or neglected, at least annually thereafter, for as long as the child remains in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services.

(b) The court may find that the filing of a termination of parental rights petition is not in the child's best interest if:

(i) The child is being cared for by a relative; and/or

(ii) The Department of Child Protection Services has documented compelling and extraordinary reasons why termination of parental rights would not be in the best interests of the child.

(c) The provisions of this subsection shall also apply to review of cases involving a dependent child; however, such reviews shall take place not less frequently than once each one hundred eighty (180) days, or upon the request of the child's attorney, a parent's attorney, or a parent as deemed appropriate by the youth court in protecting the best interests of the child. A dependent child shall be ordered by the youth court judge or referee to be returned to the custody and home of the child's parent, guardian or custodian unless the judge or referee, upon such review, makes a written finding that the return of the child to the home would be contrary to the child's best interests.

(d) Reviews are not to be conducted unless explicitly ordered by the youth court concerning those cases in which the court has granted durable legal custody. In such cases, the Department of Child Protection Services shall be released from any oversight or monitoring responsibilities, and relieved of physical and legal custody and supervision of the child.

(4) The provisions of this section do not apply to proceedings concerning durable legal relative guardianship.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-121 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 21-121
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-121
Status: in_force

(1) The youth court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the child:

(a) When a child has no parent, guardian or custodian;

(b) When the youth court cannot acquire personal jurisdiction over a parent, a guardian or a custodian;

(c) When the parent is a minor or a person of unsound mind;

(d) When the parent is indifferent to the interest of the child or if the interests of the child and the parent, considered in the context of the cause, appear to conflict;

(e) In every case involving an abused or neglected child which results in a judicial proceeding; or

(f) In any other instance where the youth court finds appointment of a guardian ad litem to be in the best interest of the child.

(2) The guardian ad litem shall be appointed by the court when custody is ordered or at the first judicial hearing regarding the case, whichever occurs first.

(3) In addition to all other duties required by law, a guardian ad litem shall have the duty to protect the interest of a child for whom he has been appointed guardian ad litem. The guardian ad litem shall investigate, make recommendations to the court or enter reports as necessary to hold paramount the child's best interest. The guardian ad litem is not an adversary party and the court shall ensure that guardians ad litem perform their duties properly and in the best interest of their wards. The guardian ad litem shall be a competent person who has no adverse interest to the minor. The court shall ensure that the guardian ad litem is adequately instructed on the proper performance of his duties.

(4) The court, including a county court serving as a youth court, may appoint either a suitable attorney or a suitable layman as guardian ad litem. In cases where the court appoints a layman as guardian ad litem, the court shall also appoint an attorney to represent the child. From and after January 1, 1999, in order to be eligible for an appointment as a guardian ad litem, such attorney or layperson must have received child protection and juvenile justice training provided by or approved by the Mississippi Judicial College within the year immediately preceding such appointment. The Mississippi Judicial College shall determine the amount of child protection and juvenile justice training which shall be satisfactory to fulfill the requirements of this section. The Administrative Office of Courts shall maintain a roll of all attorneys and laymen eligible to be appointed as a guardian ad litem under this section and shall enforce the provisions of this subsection.

(5) Upon appointment of a guardian ad litem, the youth court shall continue any pending proceedings for a reasonable time to allow the guardian ad litem to familiarize himself with the matter, consult with counsel and prepare his participation in the cause. The youth court shall issue an order of assignment that grants the guardian ad litem authority to review all relevant documents concerning the minor child and to interview all parties and witnesses involved in proceedings concerning the minor child for whom the guardian ad litem is appointed.

(6) Upon order of the youth court, the guardian ad litem shall be paid a reasonable fee as determined by the youth court judge or referee out of the county general fund as provided under Section 43-21-123 . To be eligible for such fee, the guardian ad litem shall submit an accounting of the time spent in performance of his duties to the court.

(7)(a) The court, in its sound discretion, may appoint a volunteer trained layperson to assist children subject to the provisions of this section in addition to the appointment of a guardian ad litem. If the court utilizes his or her discretion as prescribed under this subsection, a volunteer Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) shall be appointed from a program that supervises the volunteer and meets all state and national CASA standards to advocate for the best interests of children in abuse and neglect proceedings. To accomplish the assignment of a CASA volunteer, the court shall issue an order of assignment that shall grant the CASA volunteer the authority, equal to that of the guardian ad litem, to review all relevant documents and to interview all parties and witnesses involved in the proceeding in which he or she is appointed. Except as otherwise ordered by the court, the assignment of a CASA volunteer for a child shall include subsequent proceedings through permanent placement of the child.

(b) Before assigning a CASA volunteer as prescribed under this subsection, the youth court judge shall determine if the volunteer has sufficient qualifications, training and ability to serve as a CASA volunteer, including his or her ability to represent and advocate for the best interests of children assigned to him or her. No volunteer shall be assigned until a comprehensive criminal background check has been conducted.

All CASA volunteers shall:

(i) Be sworn in by a judge of the court;

(ii) Swear or affirm to abide by all laws, regulations, and orders of the court;

(iii) Swear or affirm to advocate what he or she perceives to be in the best interests of the child for whom he or she is assigned in all matters pending before the court;

(iv) Provide independent, factual information to the court regarding the children and cases to which they are assigned;

(v) Advocate on behalf of the children involved in the cases to which they are assigned what they perceive to be in the best interests of the children; and

(vi) Monitor proceedings in cases to which they have been assigned and advise and assist the court in its determination of the best interests of the children involved.

(c) Regarding any case to which a CASA volunteer has been assigned, the CASA volunteer:

(i) Shall be notified by the court of all court proceedings and hearings of any kind pertaining to the child;

(ii) Shall be notified by the Department of Child Protection Services of all administrative review hearings;

(iii) Shall be entitled to attend all court proceedings and hearings of any kind pertaining to the child;

(iv) May be called as a witness in the proceedings by any party or by the court and may request of the court the opportunity to appear as a witness; and

(v) Shall be given access to all portions of the court record relating to proceedings pertaining to the child and the child's family.

(d) Upon application to the court and notice to all parties, the court shall grant the CASA volunteer access to other information, including the department records as provided in Section 43-21-261 , relating to the child and the child's family and to other matters involved in the proceeding in which he or she is appointed. All records and information requested or reviewed by the CASA volunteer in the course of his or her assignment shall be deemed confidential and shall not be disclosed by him except pursuant to court order. All records and information shall only be disclosed as directed by court order and shall be disclosed as directed by court order and shall be subject to whatever protective order the court deems appropriate.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 14 / Section 55-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-3
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Commission for National and Community Service, established by Executive Order No. 1994-742, is hereby designated as the State Commission for Volunteer Service within the institutions of higher learning, established to encourage community service and volunteer participation as a means of community and state problem-solving; to promote and support voluntary citizen involvement in government and private programs throughout the state; to provide a means by which the state may develop a coordinated, unified plan in response to the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993; to develop a long-term, comprehensive vision and plan of action for community service initiatives in Mississippi primarily focused in the areas of education, public safety, human needs and the environment; and to serve as the state's liaison to national and state organizations that support its mission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-871 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 21-871
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-871
Status: in_force

Each CASA program shall forward annually to the association data collected pursuant to Sections 43-21-853 and 43-21-865 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-501 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 21-501
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-501
Status: in_force

When a petition has been filed and the date of hearing has been set by the youth court, the judge or his designee shall order the clerk of the youth court to issue a summons to the following to appear personally at such hearing:

(a) The child named in the petition;

(b) The person or persons who have custody or control of the child;

(c) The parent or guardian of the child if such parent or guardian does not have custody of the child;

(d) The Department of Child Protection Services; and

(e) Any other person whom the court deems necessary.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-17-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / 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. § 43-39-7 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 27 / Section 39-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-7
Status: in_force

(1) If a displacing agency acquires real property for public use, it shall make fair and reasonable relocation payments to displaced persons and businesses as required by this chapter for:

(a) Actual reasonable expenses in moving himself, his family, business, farm operation or other personal property;

(b) Actual direct losses of tangible personal property as a result of moving or discontinuing a business or farm operation, but not to exceed an amount equal to the reasonable expenses that would have been required to relocate such property, as determined by the agency;

(c) Actual reasonable expenses in searching for a replacement business or farm; and

(d) Actual reasonable expenses necessary to reestablish a displaced farm, nonprofit organization or small business at its new site in accordance with criteria to be established by the displacing agency, but not to exceed the maximum amount of relocation payments established by applicable federal regulations.

(2) Any displaced person eligible for payments under subsection (1) of this section who is displaced from a dwelling and who elects to accept the payments authorized by this subsection in lieu of the payments authorized by subsection (1) of this section may receive an expense and dislocation allowance which shall be determined according to a schedule established by the displacing agency.

(3) Any displaced person eligible for payments under subsection (1) of this section, who is displaced from his place of business or from his farm operation and who is eligible under criteria established by the displacing agency may also qualify for the payment authorized by this subsection. Such payment shall consist of a fixed payment in an amount to be determined by the agency, except that such payment shall not be less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than the maximum amount of relocation payments established by applicable federal regulations. A person whose sole business at the displacement dwelling is the rental of such property to others shall not qualify for a payment under this subsection.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-31-21 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 27 / Section 31-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-31-21
Status: in_force

Whenever any member of the board of supervisors shall ascertain that there is a pauper in his district probably entitled to relief, it shall be his duty to examine into the pauper's right to support; and if he be satisfied that such pauper has a settlement in his county, and is unable to support himself, or is entitled to be supported, or provided for by the county, he shall report the facts to the board of supervisors for its action; and in case of emergency, he may give his written order to the superintendent of the county home to receive such pauper; and may cause the pauper to be removed to the county home.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-27 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 33-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-27
Status: in_force

In connection with the issuance of bonds or the incurring of obligations under leases and in order to secure the payment of such bonds or obligations, an authority, in addition to its other powers, shall have power:

(a) To pledge all or any part of its gross or net rents, fees or revenues to which its right then exists or may thereafter come into existence.

(b) To mortgage all or any part of its real or personal property, then owned or thereafter acquired.

(c) To covenant against pledging all or any part of its rents, fees and revenues, or against mortgaging all or any part of its real or personal property, to which its right or title then exists or may thereafter come into existence or against permitting or suffering any lien on such revenues or property; to covenant with respect to limitations on its right to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any housing project or any part thereof; and to covenant as to what other, or additional debts or obligations may be incurred by it.

(d) To covenant as to the bonds to be issued and as to the issuance of such bonds in escrow or otherwise, and as to the use and disposition of the proceeds thereof; to provide for the replacement of lost, destroyed or mutilated bonds; to covenant against extending the time for the payment of its bonds or interest thereon; and to redeem the bonds, and to covenant for their redemption and to provide the terms and conditions thereof.

(e) To covenant (subject to the limitations contained in this article) as to the rents and fees to be charged in the operation of a housing project or projects, the amount to be raised each year or other period of time by rents, fees and other revenues, and as to the use and disposition to be made thereof; to create or to authorize the creation of special funds for moneys held for construction or operating costs, debt service, reserves, or other purposes, and to covenant as to the use and disposition of the moneys held in such funds.

(f) To prescribe the procedure, if any, by which the terms of any contract with bondholders may be amended or abrogated, the amount of bonds the holders of which must consent thereto and the manner in which such consent may be given.

(g) To covenant as to the use of any or all of its real or personal property; and to covenant as to the maintenance of its real and personal property, the replacement thereof, the insurance to be carried thereon and the use and disposition of insurance moneys.

(h) To covenant as to the rights, liabilities, powers and duties arising upon the breach by it of any covenant, condition, or obligation; and to covenant and prescribe as to events of default and terms and conditions upon which any or all of its bonds or obligations shall become or may be declared due before maturity, and as to the terms and conditions upon which such declaration and its consequences may be waived.

(i) To vest in a trustee or trustees or the holders of bonds or any proportion of them the right to enforce the payment of the bonds or any covenants securing or relating to the bonds; to vest in a trustee or trustees the right, in the event of a default by said authority, to take possession and use, operate and manage any housing project or part thereof, and to collect the rents and revenues arising therefrom and to dispose of such moneys in accordance with the agreement of the authority with said trustees; to provide for the powers and duties of a trustee or trustees and to limit the liabilities thereof; and to provide the terms and conditions upon which the trustee or trustees or the holders of bonds or any portion of them may enforce any covenant or rights securing or relating to the bonds.

(j) To exercise all or any part or combination of the powers herein granted; to make covenants other than and in addition to the covenants herein expressly authorized, of like or different character; to make such covenants and to do any and all such acts and things as may be necessary or convenient or desirable in order to secure its bonds, or, in the absolute discretion of said authority, as will tend to make the bonds more marketable notwithstanding that such covenants, acts or things may not be enumerated herein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-12-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 12-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-12-15
Status: in_force

(1) Thirty (30) business days before entering into a competitively bid contract for the eligibility verification service required by Section 43-12-5 , the department shall provide a written report to the Governor, the Chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the House Public Health and Human Services Committee and the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, and the House and Senate Medicaid Committees, detailing the data sources proposed to be used by the third-party vendor for eligibility and redeterminations, the relevancy of the information from the data sources, the frequency of how often each data source will be accessed, and an explanation of why other data sources that are readily available are not being used. The report shall include a dynamic cost-benefit analysis that shows the ratio of potential fraud detection to the types and kinds of data sources and information tools proposed to be used by the third-party vendor. The report also shall be provided to the other members of the Legislature upon request.

(2) Six (6) months after the implementation of the eligibility verification service required by Section 43-12-5 , and quarterly thereafter, the department shall provide a written report to the Governor, the chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the House Public Health and Human Services Committee and the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, and the House and Senate Medicaid Committees, detailing the effectiveness and general findings of the eligibility verification service, including the number of cases reviewed, the number of case closures, the number of referrals for criminal prosecution, recovery of improper payments, collection of civil penalties, and the savings that have resulted from the service. The report also shall be provided to the other members of the Legislature upon request.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-19 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 14 / Section 28-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-19
Status: in_force

(1) The board shall furnish, without charge, to each account owner an annual statement of the following:

(a) The amount contributed by the account owner under the participation agreement;

(b) The annual earnings and accumulated earnings on the ABLE account; and

(c) Any other terms and conditions that the board deems by rule is necessary or appropriate, including those necessary to conform the savings trust account with the requirements of Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , as amended, or other applicable federal law or regulations.

(2) The board shall furnish an additional statement complying with subsection (1) to an account owner or beneficiary on written request. The board may charge a reasonable fee for each statement furnished under this subsection.

(3)(a) On or before November 1, 2018, the board shall prepare a report on the status of the establishment of the Mississippi ABLE Program. The report must also include, if warranted, recommendations for statutory changes to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the program. The board shall submit copies of the report to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the State Treasurer and to the Executive Director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services.

(b) The board, in its discretion as to frequency, shall cause to be prepared annual reports setting forth in appropriate detail an accounting of the funds and a description of the financial condition of the program, which shall be submitted no later than ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year. Such report shall be submitted to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the State Treasurer and to the Executive Director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services. The accounts of the fund shall be subject to annual audits by the State Auditor or his designee.