Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-717 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 14 / Section 33-717
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-717
Status: in_force

(1) The corporation shall have all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this article, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power:

(a) To make and alter bylaws for its organization and internal management;

(b) To sue and be sued, have a seal and alter the same at pleasure, and maintain an office at such place or places in the state as it may determine;

(c) To appoint officers, agents and employees, prescribe their duties and qualifications, and fix their compensation;

(d) To acquire real or personal property, or any interest therein, by purchase, exchange, gift, assignment, transfer, foreclosure, lease, condemnation or otherwise, including rights or easements; to hold, manage, operate or improve real or personal property; to sell, assign, exchange, lease, encumber, mortgage or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property, or any interest therein, or deed of trust or mortgage lien interest owned by it or under its control, custody or in its possession and release or relinquish any right, title, claim, lien, interest, easement or demand however acquired, including any equity or right of redemption in property foreclosed by it and to do any of the foregoing by public sale;

(e) To make and execute agreements, contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers and functions of the corporation under this article;

(f) To employ or contract with architects, engineers, attorneys, accountants, financial experts and other advisors as may be necessary in its judgment and to fix and pay their compensation;

(g) To make and execute contracts for the administration, servicing or collection of any mortgage loan and pay the reasonable value of services rendered to the corporation pursuant to such contracts;

(h) To contract for the employment of a financial advisor, underwriting attorneys, trustees, paying agents, depositories or any consultants retained in connection with the issuance of any bonds or notes including refunding bonds or notes or dealing with the disposition of any proceeds thereof;

(i) To issue negotiable bonds and notes and to provide for the rights of the holders thereof;

(j) Subject to any agreement with bondholders or noteholders, to sell any mortgage loans at public or private sale at the fair market value for such a mortgage; and

(k) Subject to any agreement with bondholders and noteholders, to make, alter or repeal such rules and regulations with respect to the operations, properties and facilities of the corporation as are necessary to carry out its functions and duties in the administration of this article.

(2) The corporation shall also have the power:

(a) To make loans to mortgage lenders for the purpose of:

(i) Making housing development mortgage loans to qualified sponsors for low and moderate income rental or residential housing;

(ii) Making loans to low and moderate income purchasers of residential housing with preference to those who are displaced from adequate housing as a result of a major disaster, whether it be a man-made, technological or natural disaster, upon a declaration by the Governor that a major disaster exists in the state;

(b) To purchase from mortgage lenders any of the loans enumerated in subparagraphs (i) and (ii);

(c) To insure, reinsure or guarantee any of the types of loans enumerated in subparagraphs (i) and (ii);

(d) To make, in such amounts and upon such terms and conditions as the corporation shall approve, temporary loans, preconstruction loans, interim financing loans to any qualified sponsor and permanent financing to any qualified sponsor of multifamily housing.

(3) The corporation shall also have the power to make loans from funds not otherwise encumbered by pledge or indenture to low and moderate income persons for the following purposes:

(a) Purchasing, improving or rehabilitating existing residential housing and occupied by the owners;

(b) Making loans to qualified nonprofit sponsors, to local housing authorities and to owners of residential housing for the development, construction, purchase, rehabilitation, weatherization or maintenance of residential housing.

(4) Using funds not otherwise encumbered by pledge or indenture, the corporation may:

(a) Establish a rental assistance program;

(b) Provide such advisory consultation, training and educational services as will assist in the planning, construction, rehabilitation and operation of housing, including but not limited to, assistance in community development and organization, home management and advisory services for residents, and in promotion of community organizations and local governments to assist in developing housing;

(c) Encourage research and demonstration projects to develop new and better methods for increasing the supply, types and financing of housing and to receive and accept contributions, grants or aid from any source, public or private, including but not limited to the United States and this state, for carrying out this purpose;

(d) Encourage and stimulate cooperatives and other forms of housing with tenant participation;

(e) Promote innovative programs for home ownership, including but not limited to lease-purchase programs, employer-sponsored housing programs, tenant cooperatives and nonprofit associations;

(f) Design and support programs to address special needs groups including, but not limited to, handicapped, disabled, elderly, homeless, HIV/AIDS carriers and families with children;

(g) Develop a comprehensive plan for, and engage in a yearly planning process for, addressing the housing needs of low and moderate income persons in Mississippi.

(5) The corporation also has the power:

(a) To procure, or require the procurement of, insurance against any loss in connection with its operations, including without limitation the repayment of any mortgage loan or loans, in such amounts and from such insurers, including the federal government, as it may deem necessary or desirable, and to pay any premiums therefor;

(b) Subject to any agreement with bondholders or noteholders: (i) to renegotiate any loan in default; (ii) to waive any default or consent to the modification of the terms of any loan or agreement; (iii) to commence, prosecute and enforce a judgment in any action or proceeding, including without limitation a foreclosure proceeding, to protect or enforce any right conferred upon it by law, mortgage loan agreement, contract or other agreement; (iv) and in connection with any such proceeding, to bid for and purchase the property or acquire or take possession thereof and, in such event, complete, administer and pay the principal of and interest on any obligations incurred in connection with such property and dispose of and otherwise deal with such property in such manner as the corporation may deem advisable to protect its interest therein;

(c) To fix, revise, charge and collect fees and other charges in connection with the making of loans, the purchasing of mortgage loans, and any other services rendered by the corporation;

(d) To arrange for guarantees of its bonds, notes or other obligations by the federal government or by any private insurer and to pay any premiums therefor;

(e) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, but subject to any agreement with bondholders or noteholders, to invest money of the corporation not required for immediate use, including proceeds from the sale of any bonds or notes;

(i) In obligations of any municipality or the state or the United States of America;

(ii) In obligations the principal and interest of which are guaranteed by the state or the United States of America;

(iii) In obligations of any corporation wholly owned by the United States of America;

(iv) In obligations of any corporation sponsored by the United States of America which are, or may become, eligible as collateral for advances to member banks as determined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

(v) In obligations of insurance firms or other corporations whose investments are rated “A” or better by recognized rating companies;

(vi) In certificates of deposit or time deposits of qualified depositories of the state as approved by the State Depository Commission, secured in such manner, if any, as the corporation shall determine;

(vii) In contracts for the purchase and sale of obligations of the type specified in items (i) through (v) above;

(viii) In repurchase agreements secured by obligations specified in items (i) through (v) above;

(ix) In money market funds, the assets of which are required to be invested in obligations specified in items (i) through (vi) above;

(f) Subject to any agreement with bondholders or noteholders, to purchase, and to agree to purchase, bonds or notes of the corporation at a price not exceeding: (i) if the bonds or notes are then redeemable, the redemption price then applicable plus accrued interest to the date of purchase; or (ii) if the bonds or notes are not then redeemable, the redemption price applicable on the first date after such purchase upon which the notes or bonds become subject to redemption at the option of the corporation plus accrued interest to the date of purchase;

(g) Subject to the provisions of this article, to contract for and to accept any gifts, grants or loans of funds or property or financial or other aid in any form from federal, state or local governments, private or public entities, or individuals;

(h) To enter into agreements or other transactions with the federal or state government, any agency thereof or any municipality in furtherance of the purposes of this article; to operate and administer loan programs of the federal government, the State of Mississippi, or any governmental agency thereof; and to operate and administer any program of housing assistance for persons and families of low or moderate income, however funded;

(i) To establish a benevolent loan fund, housing development fund, or such additional and further funds as may be necessary and desirable to accomplish any corporate purpose or to comply with the provisions of any agreement made by the corporation or any resolution approved by the corporation. The resolution establishing such a fund shall specify the source of monies from which it shall be funded and the purposes for which monies held in the fund shall be disbursed;

(j) In carrying out the provisions of this article, the corporation shall cooperate with the housing authorities created under Sections 43-33-1 through 43-33-69 and Sections 43-33-101 through 43-33-137, Mississippi Code of 1972;

(k) To accept letters of credit and other credit facilities necessary to make loans authorized herein to repay bonds or notes issued by the corporation;

(l) To do any and all things necessary or convenient to carry out its purposes and exercise the powers given and granted in this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-21 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 47 / Section 47-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-21
Status: in_force

At the time the department makes an evaluation of the case reported, in accordance with the provisions of Section 43-47-9 , it shall be determined, according to the regulations set by the department, whether the vulnerable person is financially capable of paying for the essential services. If he is, he shall make reimbursement for the costs of providing the needed essential services. If it is determined that he is not financially capable of paying for such services, they shall be provided at no cost to the recipient of the services. The court may order the department or any public agency to provide for the custody, care and maintenance of such vulnerable person. Provided, however, that the care, custody and maintenance of any vulnerable person shall be within statutory authorization and budgetary means of such institution, facility, agency or department. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, it is not the intent of the Legislature through the adoption of this chapter to authorize any court exercising jurisdiction over a vulnerable person to enlarge or bring about the addition of new groups or categories of recipients or to increase the types of care and services for such persons under the Mississippi Medicaid Law, and any court exercising jurisdiction over a vulnerable person shall not, in any way, enter an order against the Division of Medicaid to provide for the custody, care, or maintenance of a vulnerable person who is not otherwise eligible for medical assistance under Section 43-13-115 or services under Section 43-13-117 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 15-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-11
Status: in_force

(1) The board of supervisors of any county and/or the mayor and board of commissioners of any city and/or the mayor and board of aldermen of any municipality in this state are authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to expend out of any monies in their respective treasuries, to be drawn by warrant thereon, a sum or sums of money not exceeding a total of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) annually per One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) of the assessed valuation of the real and personal property thereof for the purpose of providing for the care, support and maintenance of homeless or destitute children of any county or municipality of this state who are supported, cared for, maintained and placed for adoption by any children's home society which operates over and serves the entire State of Mississippi, and which is approved and licensed by the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services.

(2) The authority granted in this section is supplemental of and in addition to all existing authority for the expenditure of funds by such boards of supervisors and municipal governing authorities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-18-1 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 18-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-18-1
Status: in_force

The Governor, on behalf of this state, is hereby authorized to execute a compact in substantially the following form with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein; and the legislature hereby signifies in advance its approval and ratification of such compact, which compact is as follows:

INTERSTATE COMPACT ON THE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN

ARTICLE I.

It is the purpose and policy of the party states to cooperate with each other in the interstate placement of children to the end that:

(a) Each child requiring placement shall receive the maximum opportunity to be placed in a suitable environment and with persons or institutions having appropriate qualifications and facilities to provide a necessary and desirable degree and type of care.

(b) The appropriate authorities in a state where a child is to be placed may have full opportunity to ascertain the circumstances of the proposed placement, thereby promoting full compliance with applicable requirements for the protection of the child.

(c) The proper authorities of the state from which the placement is made may obtain the most complete information on the basis on which to evaluate a projected placement before it is made.

(d) Appropriate jurisdictional arrangements for the care of children will be promoted.

ARTICLE II.

As used in this compact:

(a) “Child” means a person who, by reason of minority, is legally subject to parental, guardianship or similar control.

(b) “Sending agency” means a party state, officer or employee thereof; a subdivision of a party state, or officer or employee thereof; a court of a party state; a person, corporation, association, charitable agency or other entity which sends, brings or causes to be sent or brought any child to another party state.

(c) “Receiving state” means the state to which a child is sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought, whether by public authorities or private persons or agencies and whether for placement with state or local public authorities or for placement with private agencies or persons.

(d) “Placement” means the arrangement for the care of a child in a family free or boarding home or in a child-caring agency or institution but does not include any institution caring for the mentally ill or mentally defective or any institution primarily educational in character, and any hospital or other medical facility.

ARTICLE III.

(a) No sending agency shall send, bring or cause to be sent or brought into any other party state any child for placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption unless the sending agency shall comply with each and every requirement set forth in this article and with the applicable laws of the receiving state governing the placement of children therein.

(b) Prior to sending, bringing or causing any child to be sent or brought into a receiving state for placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption, the sending agency shall furnish the appropriate public authorities in the receiving state written notice of the intention to send, bring or place the child in the receiving state. The notice shall contain:

(1) The name, date and place of birth of the child.

(2) The identity and address or addresses of the parents or legal guardian.

(3) The name and address of the person, agency or institution to or with which the sending agency proposes to send, bring or place the child.

(4) A full statement of the reasons for such proposed action and evidence of the authority pursuant to which the placement is proposed to be made.

(c) Any public officer or agency in a receiving state which is in receipt of a notice pursuant to paragraph (b) of this article may request of the sending agency, or any other appropriate officer or agency of or in the sending agency's state, and shall be entitled to receive therefrom, such supporting or additional information as it may deem necessary under the circumstances to carry out the purpose and policy of this compact.

(d) The child shall not be sent, brought or caused to be sent or brought into the receiving state until the appropriate public authorities in the receiving state shall notify the sending agency, in writing, to the effect that the proposed placement does not appear to be contrary to the interests of the child.

ARTICLE IV.

The sending, bringing or causing to be sent or brought into any receiving state of a child in violation of the terms of this compact shall constitute a violation of the laws respecting the placement of children of both in which the sending agency is located or from which it sends or brings the child and of the receiving state. Such violation may be punished or subjected to penalty in either jurisdiction in accordance with its laws. In addition to liability for any such punishment or penalty, any such violation shall constitute full and sufficient grounds for the suspension or revocation of any license, permit or other legal authorization held by the sending agency which empowers or allows it to place or care for children.

ARTICLE V.

(a) The sending agency shall retain jurisdiction over the child sufficient to determine all matters in relation to the custody, supervision, care, treatment and disposition of the child which it would have had if the child had remained in the sending agency's state, until the child is adopted, reaches majority, becomes self-supporting or is discharged with the concurrence of the appropriate authority in the receiving state. Such jurisdiction shall also include the power to effect or cause the return of the child or its transfer to another location and custody pursuant to law. The sending agency shall continue to have financial responsibility for support and maintenance of the child during the period of the placement. Nothing contained herein shall defeat a claim of jurisdiction by a receiving state sufficient to deal with an act of delinquency or crime committed therein.

(b) When the sending agency is a public agency, it may enter into an agreement with an authorized public or private agency in the receiving state providing for the performance of one or more services in respect of such case by the latter as agent for the sending agency.

(c) Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prevent a private charitable agency authorized to place children in the receiving state from performing services or acting as agent in that state for a private charitable agency of the sending state; nor to prevent the agency in the receiving state from discharging financial responsibility for the support and maintenance of a child who has been placed on behalf of the sending agency without relieving the responsibility set forth in paragraph (a) hereof.

ARTICLE VI.

A child adjudicated delinquent may be placed in an institution in another party jurisdiction pursuant to this compact but no such placement shall be made unless the child is given a court hearing on notice to the parent or guardian with opportunity to be heard, prior to his being sent to such other party jurisdiction for institutional care and the court finds that:

(1) Equivalent facilities for the child are not available in the sending agency's jurisdiction; and

(2) Institutional care in the other jurisdiction is in the best interest of the child and will not produce undue hardship.

ARTICLE VII.

The executive head of each jurisdiction party to this compact shall designate an officer who shall be general coordinator of activities under this compact in his jurisdiction and who, acting jointly with like officers of other party jurisdictions, shall have power to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out more effectively the terms and provisions of this compact.

ARTICLE VIII.

This compact shall not apply to:

(a) The sending or bringing of a child into a receiving state by his parent, stepparent, grandparent, adult brother or sister, adult uncle or aunt, or his guardian and leaving the child with any such relative or nonagency guardian in the receiving state.

(b) Any placement, sending or bringing of a child into a receiving state pursuant to any other interstate compact to which both the state from which the child is sent or brought and the receiving state are party, or to any other agreement between said states which has the force of law.

ARTICLE IX.

This compact shall be open to joinder by any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and, with the consent of Congress, the government of Canada or any province thereof. It shall become effective with respect to any such jurisdiction when such jurisdiction has enacted the same into law. Withdrawal from this compact shall be by the enactment of a statute repealing the same, but shall not take effect until written notice of the withdrawal has been given by the withdrawing state to the Governor of each other party jurisdiction. Withdrawal of a party state shall not affect the rights, duties and obligations under this compact of any sending agency therein with respect to a placement made prior to the effective date of withdrawal.

ARTICLE X.

The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state party thereto, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-31-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 18 / Section 31-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-31-3
Status: in_force

The board of supervisors may purchase, in the name of the county, not more than one hundred and sixty (160) acres of land for a county home and farm; and it may erect thereon suitable buildings and make all necessary contracts for these purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-126 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 13-126
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-126
Status: in_force

As a condition of doing business in the state, health insurers, including self-insured plans, group health plans (as defined in Section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), service benefit plans, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, or other parties that are by statute, contract, or agreement, legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service, are required to:

(a) Provide, with respect to individuals who are eligible for, or are provided, medical assistance under the state plan, upon the request of the Division of Medicaid, information to determine during what period the individual or their spouses or their dependents may be (or may have been) covered by a health insurer and the nature of the coverage that is or was provided by the health insurer (including the name, address and identifying number of the plan) in a manner prescribed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services;

(b) Accept the Division of Medicaid's right of recovery and the assignment to the division of any right of an individual or other entity to payment from the party for an item or service for which payment has been made under the state plan;

(c) Respond to any inquiry by the Division of Medicaid regarding a claim for payment for any health care item or service that is submitted not later than three (3) years after the date of the provision of that health care item or service; and

(d) Agree not to deny a claim submitted by the Division of Medicaid solely on the basis of the date of submission of the claim, the type or format of the claim form, or a failure to present proper documentation at the point-of-sale that is the basis of the claim, if:

(i) The claim is submitted by the division within the three-year period beginning on the date on which the item or service was furnished; and

(ii) Any action by the division to enforce its rights with respect to the claim is begun within six (6) years of the division's submission of the claim.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 29 / Section 55-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-11
Status: in_force

The commission shall have staff necessary for the commission to perform its functions. The commission staff shall include an executive director. The executive director shall report directly to the commission for the purpose of giving and making recommendations on programs and laws related to volunteerism and community service.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-9-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 9-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-9-15
Status: in_force

Upon completion of the investigation, the county department shall determine in accordance with the rules and regulations of the state department, whether the applicant is eligible for assistance under the provisions of this chapter, the amount of assistance he shall receive, and the date upon which such assistance shall begin. All checks for such assistance shall be mailed by the state department or county welfare office to the recipients at their postoffice address. The director of the state department shall determine whether such checks shall be mailed by the state department or by the county welfare office.

It shall be the duty of the state department insofar as is practicable to provide assistance to eligible persons, who, due to limitations of available funds have not been placed upon the assistance rolls, as soon as practicable after additional funds become available to the department and prior to making a general increase in assistance grants to persons already on said assistance rolls. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to bar or limit any county department of public welfare from granting individual increases in the amount of assistance to recipients based upon their individual needs. The state department shall, as soon as made possible by the availability of additional funds, take steps to eliminate all waiting lists. The state department or the office of public welfare of the various counties shall notify each applicant concerning the action taken on his or her application for assistance, and if the application for assistance is denied, the applicant shall be notified and given the reasons for such denial, and the lack of money shall not constitute a reason for such denial.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-12-27 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 12-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-12-27
Status: in_force

For purposes of determining the maximum aid payment under the TANF program, the number of persons in a household shall not be increased for any child born into a household that has received aid under TANF continuously for the ten (10) months before the birth of the child.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-1 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 29 / Section 33-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-1
Status: in_force

Sections 43-33-1 through 43-33-53 may be referred to as the “Housing Authorities Law,” and the following terms, whenever used or referred to in said sections, shall have the following respective meanings, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:

(a) “Authority” or “housing authority” shall mean any of the public corporations created by or pursuant to this Housing Authorities Law, or any law amendatory or supplemental thereto, with power to undertake housing projects for the persons of low income.

(b) “City” shall mean any city in this state. “County” shall mean any county in this state. “The city” shall mean the particular city for which a particular housing authority is created. “The county” shall mean the particular county for which a particular housing authority is created.

(c) “State public body” shall mean any city, town, village, county, municipal corporation, commission, district, authority, or other subdivision or other public body of this state.

(d) “Governing body” shall mean, in the case of a city, the board of aldermen, commissioners, or council; in the case of a county, the board of supervisors; and in the case of any other state public body, the board of aldermen, council, commissioners, board or other body having charge of the fiscal affairs of such state public body.

(e) “Mayor” shall mean the mayor of the city or the officer thereof charged with the duties customarily imposed on the mayor or executive head of the city.

(f) “Clerk” shall mean the clerk of the city or the clerk of the county, as the case may be, or the officer charged with the duties customarily imposed on such clerk.

(g) “Area of operation,” in the case of a housing authority of a city, shall include such city and the area within five (5) miles of the territorial boundaries thereof.

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

(i) “Slum” shall mean any area where dwellings predominate which, by reason of dilapidation, overcrowding, faulty arrangement, or design, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities, or any combination of these factors, are detrimental to safety, health or morals.

(j) “Housing project” shall mean any work or undertaking: (1) to demolish, clear or remove buildings from any slum area; such work or undertaking may embrace the adoption of such area to public purposes, including parks or other recreational or community purposes; or (2) to provide decent, safe and sanitary urban or rural dwellings, apartments, or other living accommodations for persons of low income; such work or undertaking may include buildings, land, equipment, facilities, and other real or personal property for necessary, convenient, or desirable appurtenances, streets, sewers, water service, parks, site preparation, gardening, administrative, community, health, recreational, welfare or other purposes; or (3) to accomplish a combination of the aforegoing. The term “housing project” also may be applied to the planning of the buildings and improvements, the acquisition of property, the demolition of existing structures, the construction, reconstruction, alteration and repair of the improvements and all other work in connection therewith.

(k) “Persons of low income” shall mean persons or families who lack the amount of income which is necessary (as determined by the authority undertaking the housing project) to enable them, without financial assistance, to live in decent, safe and sanitary dwellings, without overcrowding.

(l) “Bonds” shall mean any bonds, notes, interim certificates, debentures, or other obligations issued by a housing authority.

(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 and right, legal or equitable, therein including terms for years and liens by way of judgment, mortgage or otherwise and the indebtedness secured by such liens.

(n) “Obligee of the authority” or “obligee” shall include any bondholder, trustee or trustees for any bondholders, or lessor demising to the authority property used in connection with a housing 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 authority.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-25 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 18 / 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. § 43-33-741 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 7 / Section 33-741
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-741
Status: in_force

The state does hereby pledge to and agree with the holders of any bonds or notes issued under this article that the state will not limit or alter the rights hereby vested in the corporation to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with the holders thereof in keeping with the provisions of this article, or in any way impair the rights and remedies of such holders until such bonds or notes together with the interest thereon, with interest on any unpaid installments of interest, and all costs and expenses in connection with any action or proceedings by or on behalf of such holders, are fully met and discharged. The corporation is authorized to include this pledge and agreement of the state in any agreement with the holders of such bonds or notes. The chancery court shall have jurisdiction of any suit, action or proceeding by the trustee on behalf of bondholders or noteholders. The venue of any such suit, action or proceeding shall be in the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-205 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 13-205
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-205
Status: in_force

(1) A person shall not knowingly make or cause to be made a false representation of a material fact in an application for Medicaid benefits.

(2) A person shall not knowingly make or cause to be made a false statement of a material fact for use in determining rights to a Medicaid benefit.

(3) A person, who having knowledge of the occurrence of an event affecting his initial or continued right to receive a Medicaid benefit, shall not conceal or fail to disclose that event with intent to obtain a medicaid benefit to which the person or any other person is not entitled or in an amount greater than that to which the person or any other person is entitled.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-9-41 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 9-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-9-41
Status: in_force

This chapter and Chapter 1 of this title are supplementary to and in aid of any and all welfare laws now in force in Mississippi which are not directly in conflict herewith.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-126 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 13-126
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-126
Status: in_force

As a condition of doing business in the state, health insurers, including self-insured plans, group health plans (as defined in Section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), service benefit plans, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, or other parties that are by statute, contract, or agreement, legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service, are required to:

(a) Provide, with respect to individuals who are eligible for, or are provided, medical assistance under the state plan, upon the request of the Division of Medicaid, information to determine during what period the individual or their spouses or their dependents may be (or may have been) covered by a health insurer and the nature of the coverage that is or was provided by the health insurer (including the name, address and identifying number of the plan) in a manner prescribed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services;

(b) Accept the Division of Medicaid's right of recovery and the assignment to the division of any right of an individual or other entity to payment from the party for an item or service for which payment has been made under the state plan;

(c) Respond to any inquiry by the Division of Medicaid regarding a claim for payment for any health care item or service that is submitted not later than three (3) years after the date of the provision of that health care item or service; and

(d) Agree not to deny a claim submitted by the Division of Medicaid solely on the basis of the date of submission of the claim, the type or format of the claim form, or a failure to present proper documentation at the point-of-sale that is the basis of the claim, if:

(i) The claim is submitted by the division within the three-year period beginning on the date on which the item or service was furnished; and

(ii) Any action by the division to enforce its rights with respect to the claim is begun within six (6) years of the division's submission of the claim.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-701 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 33-701
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-701
Status: in_force

This article shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Home Corporation Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-231 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 27-231
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-231
Status: in_force

Bonds issued under Sections 43-27-207 through 43-27-233 and income from the bonds shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-5 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 31 / Section 55-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-5
Status: in_force

(1) Members of the Commission for Volunteer Service shall be appointed by the Governor. The commission shall consist of no fewer than fifteen (15) and no more than twenty-five (25) members.

(2) The commission members shall include as voting members, except as otherwise indicated, at least one (1) of each of the following:

(a) An individual with expertise in the educational, training, and developmental needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged youth.

(b) An individual with experience in promoting service and volunteerism among older adults.

(c) A representative of a community-based agency.

(d) The superintendent of the State Department of Education, or his or her designee.

(e) A representative of local government.

(f) A representative of local labor organizations.

(g) A representative of business.

(h) An individual between the ages of sixteen (16) and twenty-five (25) who is a participant or supervisor in a program as defined in Section 101 of Title I, 42 USCS 12511.

(i) A representative of a national service program described in Section 122(a) of Title I, 42 USCS 12572 .

(j) The employee of the corporation designated under Section 195 of Title I, 42 USCS 12651f , as the representative of the corporation in this state, as a nonvoting member.

(3) In addition to the members described in subsection (2), the commission may include as voting members any of the following:

(a) Local educators.

(b) Experts in the delivery of human, educational, environmental, or public safety services to communities and persons.

(c) Representative of Native American tribes.

(d) Out-of-school youth or other at-risk youth.

(e) Representatives of entities that receive assistance under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, Public Law 93-113, 87 Stat. 394.

(f) A member of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

(4) Not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting commission members shall be officers or employees of this state. The Governor may appoint additional officers or employees of state agencies operating community service, youth service, education, social service, senior service, and job training programs, as nonvoting, ex officio members of the commission.

(5) The Governor shall ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that the commission membership is diverse with respect to race, ethnicity, age, gender, and disability characteristics.

(6) Except as provided in this subsection, members of the commission shall serve for staggered three-year terms expiring on October 1. The members constituting the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service under Executive Order No. 1994-742 on March 28, 1996 shall serve on the commission for the remainder of the terms for which they were appointed. Of the additional members, the Governor shall appoint one-third ( 1 / 3 ) of the initial members for a term of one (1) year; one-third (1/3) for a term of two (2) years; and one-third ( 1 / 3 ) for a term of three (3) years. Following expiration of these initial terms, all appointments shall be for three-year renewable terms. Members of the commission may not serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.

(7) A vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments, and any member so appointed shall serve during the remainder of the term for which the vacancy occurred. The vacancy shall not affect the power of the remaining commission members to execute the duties of the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-729 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 20 / Section 33-729
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-729
Status: in_force

(1) The corporation may from time to time issue its negotiable bonds and notes in such principal amounts as, in the opinion of the corporation, shall be necessary to provide sufficient funds for achieving the corporate purposes thereof, including operating expenses and reserves, the payment of interest on bonds and notes of the corporation, establishment of reserves to secure such bonds and notes, and all other expenditures of the corporation incident to and necessary or convenient to carry out its corporate purposes and powers. Provided, except as otherwise authorized herein, bonds and notes may be issued annually under this article in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed Three Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($350,000,000.00), excluding bonds and notes issued to refund outstanding bonds and notes, bonds and notes in which the corporation acts as a conduit issuer and bonds and notes issued for purposes related to Hurricane Katrina. Such annual period shall be the same as the fiscal year of the state, commencing with the annual period of July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010.

(2) The provisions of Sections 75-71-1 through 75-71-57, Mississippi Code of 1972 (the “Mississippi Securities Act”), shall not apply to bonds and notes issued under the authority of this article, and no application for a formal exemption from the provisions of such act shall be required with respect to such bonds and notes.

(3) Except as may otherwise be expressly provided by the corporation, all bonds and notes issued by the corporation shall be general obligations of the corporation, secured by the full faith and credit of the corporation and payable out of any monies, assets or revenues of the corporation, subject only to any agreement with the bondholders or noteholders pledging any particular monies, assets or revenues.

The corporation may issue bonds or notes to which the principal and interest are payable:

(a) Exclusively from the revenues of the corporation resulting from the use of the proceeds of such bonds or notes; or

(b) Exclusively from any particular revenues of the corporation, whether or not resulting from the use of the proceeds of such bonds or notes.

(4) Any bonds or notes issued by the corporation may be additionally secured:

(a) By private insurance, by a direct pay or standby letter of credit, or by any other credit enhancement facility procured by the corporation for the payment of any such bonds;

(b) By a pledge of any grant, subsidy or contribution from the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or from the state or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, or from any person, firm or corporation; or

(c) By the pledge of any securities, funds or reserves (or earnings thereon) available to the corporation.

(5) Bonds and notes issued by the corporation shall be authorized by a resolution or resolutions of the corporation adopted as provided for by this article; provided, that any such resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds or notes may delegate to an officer or officers of the corporation the power to issue such bonds or notes from time to time and to fix the details of any such issues of bonds or notes by an appropriate certification of such authorized officer.

(6) Except as specifically provided in this article, no notice, consent or approval by any governmental body or public officer shall be required as a prerequisite to the issuance, sale or delivery of any bonds or notes of the corporation pursuant to the provisions of this article. However, all bonds or notes issued pursuant to this article may be validated, except as otherwise provided in this section, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 31-13-1 through 31-13-11, Mississippi Code of 1972 , in the same manner as provided therein for bonds issued by a municipality. Any such validation proceedings shall be held in the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi. Notice thereof shall be given by publication in any newspaper published in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and of general circulation throughout the state.

(7) It is hereby determined that the corporation is the sole entity in the state authorized to issue bonds or notes for the purposes of financing low and moderate income rental or residential housing as set forth in this article. In addition, the corporation shall have the power to issue mortgage credit certificates, as provided by Section 25 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 , as amended, and to comply with all of the terms and conditions set forth in Section 25 , as the same may be amended from time to time.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-51 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-51
Status: in_force

(1) The district attorneys, the Department of Human Services or the Department of Child Protection Services may initiate formal cooperative agreements with the appropriate agencies to create multidisciplinary child protection teams in order to implement a coordinated multidisciplinary team approach to intervention in reports involving alleged commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking, or severe or potential felony child physical or sexual abuse, exploitation, or maltreatment. The multidisciplinary team also may be known as a child abuse task force. The purpose of the team or task force shall be to assist in the evaluation and investigation of reports and to provide consultation and coordination for agencies involved in child protection cases. The agencies to be included as members of the multidisciplinary team are: the district attorney's office, city and county law enforcement agencies, county attorneys, youth court prosecutors, the Human Trafficking Coordinator or his or her designee and other agencies as appropriate. The Department of Child Protection Services shall be included as a member of the multidisciplinary team if the department does not initiate creation of the team.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in Section 43-26-3 , to implement the multidisciplinary child abuse team, the team or task force must be authorized by court order from the appropriate youth court. The court order will designate which agencies will participate in the cooperative multidisciplinary team.

(3)(a) Teams created under this section may invite other persons to serve on the team who have knowledge of and experience in child abuse and neglect and commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking matters. These persons may include licensed mental and physical health practitioners and physicians, dentists, representatives of the district attorney's office and the Attorney General's office, experts in the assessment and treatment of substance abuse or sexual abuse, the victim assistance coordinator of the district attorney's office, staff members of a child advocacy center, sexual assault nurse examiners and experts in providing services to commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking victims. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “ sexual assault nurse examiner ” means a registered nurse who has received a documented forty (40) hours of training as a sexual assault nurse examiner.

(b)(i) A child advocacy center means an agency that advocates on behalf of children alleged to have been abused and assists in the coordination of the investigation of child abuse by providing a location for forensic interviews and promoting the coordination of services for children alleged to have been abused. A child advocacy center provides services that include, but are not limited to, forensic medical examinations, mental health and related support services, court advocacy, consultation, training for social workers, law enforcement training, and child abuse multidisciplinary teams, and staffing of multidisciplinary teams.

(ii) Child advocacy centers may provide a video-taped forensic interview of the child in a child friendly environment or separate building. The purpose of the video-taped forensic interview is to prevent further trauma to a child in the investigation and prosecution of child physical and sexual abuse cases. Child advocacy centers can also assist child victims by providing therapeutic counseling subsequent to the interview by a qualified therapist. Child advocacy centers can also assist law enforcement and prosecutors by acquainting child victim witnesses and their parents or guardians to the courtroom through child court school programs.

(4) A team or task force created under this section shall review records on cases referred to the team by the Department of Child Protection Services or law enforcement or the district attorney's office. The team shall meet at least monthly.

(5) No person shall disclose information obtained from a meeting of the multidisciplinary team unless necessary to comply with the Department of Child Protection Services regulations or conduct and proceeding in youth court or criminal court proceedings or as authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(6) A child advocacy center or a member of the multidisciplinary team is not liable for civil damages while acting within the scope of official team duties if the center or member, in good faith, refers a report of alleged child abuse for investigation, conducts an investigation, makes an investigative judgment or disposition, or releases or uses information for the purpose of protecting a child. The limitation of civil liability does not apply if a child advocacy center or multidisciplinary team member is not acting in good faith. The limitation of liability provided by this subsection for a child advocacy center or member of the multidisciplinary team, shall only apply when the child advocacy center or the member is acting on behalf of or within the scope of duties for the multidisciplinary team as described in this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-12-13 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 12-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-12-13
Status: in_force

After reviewing changes or discrepancies that may affect program eligibility, the department shall refer, within forty-five (45) business days, suspected cases of fraud, misrepresentation, or inadequate documentation to appropriate agencies, divisions, or departments for review of eligibility discrepancies in other public programs. This shall also include cases where an individual is determined to be no longer eligible for the original program. In cases where fraud affecting program eligibility is substantiated, the department or other appropriate agencies shall garnish wages or state income tax refunds until the state recovers an amount equal to the amount of benefits that were fraudulently received.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-14 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 27-14
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-14
Status: in_force

The Department of Youth Services shall have the authority to accept any allotments of federal funds and commodities and shall manage and dispose of them in whatever manner may be required by federal law, and may take advantage of any federal programs, grants-in-aid, or other public or private assistance which may be offered or available which will accomplish or further the objectives of the department. Except as otherwise authorized in Section 7-5-39 , the Attorney General shall be the legal representative of the department.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-313 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 35-313
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-313
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of such municipality are hereby authorized to issue bonds for the cost hereinabove referred to or to defray any expenditures made by said municipality out of its general fund which are necessary and authorized herein. Such bonds shall be sold on sealed bids at public sale in the manner provided by Section 31-19-25, Mississippi Code of 1972 . Any expenditure disbursed from said general fund shall be repaid from the proceeds of the bond issue. Any bonds issued under the provisions of this article shall have an amortization period of up to ten (10) years, such period to be determined by said governing authorities. The interest on such bonds issued under the provisions of this article shall bear a rate of interest not to exceed the limits set forth in Section 21-33-315, Mississippi Code of 1972 . The principal of and the interest on such bonds shall be payable from the special taxes or assessments levied against the benefitted property in the designated area, as provided in Section 43-35-311 , and may be further secured by a pledge of and payable from any revenue received from any charges for the use of facilities constructed with the proceeds of such bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-59-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 33 / Section 59-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-59-11
Status: in_force

There is created in the State Treasury a fund into which any public or private funds from any source shall be deposited for the support of the activities of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-7 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / 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. § 43-55-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 27 / 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. § 43-28-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 9 / Section 28-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-3
Status: in_force

It is the intent of the Legislature to establish a qualified Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program in this state which will encourage and assist the saving of private funds in tax-exempt accounts in order to pay for the qualified disability expenses of eligible individuals with disabilities. The Legislature intends that the qualified ABLE Program be implemented in a manner that is consistent with federal law authorizing the program and that maximizes program efficiency and effectiveness.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-9-35 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 7 / Section 9-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-9-35
Status: in_force

The state department shall issue all checks for assistance to person qualifying for aid under the provisions of this chapter. All such checks shall be drawn upon funds made available to the state department of public welfare by the state auditor, upon requisition of the commissioner, approved by the state board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-773 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / 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. § 43-11-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 9 / Section 11-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-11-11
Status: in_force

The licensing agency after notice and opportunity for a hearing to the applicant or licensee is authorized to deny, suspend or revoke a license in any case in which it finds that there has been a substantial failure to comply with the requirements established under this chapter.

Such notice shall be effected by registered mail, or by personal service setting forth the particular reasons for the proposed action and fixing a date not less than thirty (30) days from the date of such mailing or such service, at which time the applicant or licensee, shall be given an opportunity for a prompt and fair hearing. On the basis of any such hearing, or upon default of the applicant or licensee, the licensing agency shall make a determination specifying its findings of fact and conclusions of law. A copy of such determination shall be sent by registered mail or served personally upon the applicant or licensee. The decision revoking, suspending or denying the license or application shall become final thirty (30) days after it is so mailed or served, unless the applicant or licensee, within such thirty (30) day period, appeals the decision to the chancery court pursuant to Section 43-11-23 .

The procedure governing hearings authorized by this section shall be in accordance with rules promulgated by the licensing agency. A full and complete record shall be kept of all proceedings, and all testimony shall be recorded but need not be transcribed unless the decision is appealed pursuant to section 43-11-23 . Witnesses may be subpoenaed by either party. Compensation shall be allowed to witnesses as in cases in the chancery court. Each party shall pay the expense of his own witnesses. The cost of the record shall be paid by the licensing agency provided any other party desiring a copy of the transcript shall pay therefor the reasonable cost of preparing the same.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-105 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 19-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-105
Status: in_force

The court may not consider incarceration as intentional or voluntary unemployment or underemployment when establishing or modifying a child-support order.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-19 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 39-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-19
Status: in_force

In order to prevent unnecessary expense and duplication of functions, and to promote uniform and effective administration of relocation assistance programs for displaced persons, the agency may enter into contracts with any individual, firm, association or corporation for services in connection with those programs, or may carry out its functions under this chapter through any federal agency or any department or instrumentality of the state or its political subdivisions having an established organization for conducting relocation assistance programs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-37-5 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 26 / Section 37-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-37-5
Status: in_force

Any person, agency or other entity acquiring real property for such use shall as soon as practicable after the date of payment of the purchase price or the date of deposit into court of funds to satisfy the award of compensation in a condemnation proceeding to acquire real property, whichever is the earlier, reimburse the owner, to the extent that the state deems fair and reasonable, for expenses he necessarily incurred for (a) recording fees, transfer taxes and similar expenses incidental to conveying such real property to the state; (b) penalty costs for prepayment for any preexisting recorded mortgage entered into in good faith encumbering such real property; and (c) the pro rata portion of real property taxes paid which are allocable to a period subsequent to the date of vesting title in the state, or the effective date of possession of such real property by the state, whichever is the earlier.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 39-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-11
Status: in_force

(1) In addition to amounts otherwise authorized by this chapter, the head of a displacing agency shall make a payment to or for any displaced person displaced from any dwelling not eligible to receive a payment under Section 43-39-9 , which dwelling was actually and lawfully occupied by the displaced person for not less than ninety (90) days immediately prior to the initiation of negotiations for acquisition of such dwelling, or in any case in which displacement is not a direct result of acquisition, such other event as the head of the agency shall prescribe. Such payment shall consist of the amount necessary to enable such person to lease or rent for a period not to exceed forty-two (42) months, a comparable replacement dwelling, but not to exceed the maximum amount of relocation payments established by applicable federal regulations. At the discretion of the head of the displacing agency, a payment under this subsection may be made in periodic installments. Computation of a payment under this subsection to a low-income displaced person for a comparable replacement dwelling shall take into account such person's income.

(2) Any person eligible for a payment under subsection (1) of this section may elect to apply such payment to a down payment on, and other incidental expenses pursuant to, the purchase of a decent, safe and sanitary replacement dwelling. Any such person may, at the discretion of the head of the displacing agency, be eligible under this subsection for the maximum payment allowed under subsection (1).
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-9 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 26 / Section 39-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-9
Status: in_force

(1) In addition to payments otherwise authorized by this chapter, such displacing agency shall make an additional payment not in excess of the maximum amount of relocation payments established by applicable federal regulations to any displaced person who is displaced from a dwelling actually owned and occupied by the displaced person for not less than ninety (90) days before the initiation of negotiations for the acquisition of the property. The additional payment shall include the following elements:

(a) The amount, if any, which when added to the acquisition cost of the dwelling acquired, equals the reasonable cost of a comparable replacement dwelling which is a decent, safe and sanitary dwelling adequate to accommodate such displaced person, reasonably accessible to public services and places of employment, and available on the private market. All determinations required to carry out this paragraph shall be determined by regulations issued pursuant to Section 43-39-17 ;

(b) The amount, if any, which will compensate the displaced person for any increased interest costs and other debt service costs which the person is required to pay for financing the acquisition of any such comparable replacement dwelling. The amount shall be paid only if the dwelling acquired by the displacing agency was encumbered by a bona fide mortgage which was a valid lien on the dwelling for not less than ninety (90) days before the initiation of negotiations for the acquisition of the dwelling. Payment determinations shall be in accordance with regulations issued pursuant to Section 43-39-17 ; and

(c) Reasonable expenses incurred by the displaced person for evidence of title, recording fees and other closing costs incident to the purchase of the replacement dwelling, but not including prepaid expenses.

(2) The additional payment authorized by this section shall be made only to a displaced person who purchases and occupies a decent, safe and sanitary replacement dwelling within one (1) year after the date on which he receives final payment from the displacing agency for the acquired dwelling, or the date on which the displacing agency's obligation under Section 43-39-13 , is met, whichever is the later date, except that the displacing agency may extend such period for good cause. If such period is extended, the payment under this section shall be based on the costs of relocating the person to a comparable replacement dwelling within one (1) year of such date.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 27-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-11
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Department of Human Services shall succeed to the exclusive control of all records, books, papers, equipment and supplies, and all lands, buildings and other real and personal property now or hereafter belonging to or assigned to the use and benefit or under the control of the Oakley Youth Development Center, and shall have the exercise and control of the use, distribution and disbursement of all funds, appropriations and taxes now or hereafter in possession, levied, collected or received or appropriated for the use, benefit, support and maintenance of these two (2) institutions, and the department shall have general supervision of all the affairs of the two (2) institutions herein named, and the care and conduct of all buildings and grounds, business methods and arrangements of accounts and records, the organization of the administrative plans of each institution, and all other matters incident to the proper functioning of the institutions. The department shall have full authority over the operation of any and all farms at each of said institutions and over the distribution of agricultural, dairy, livestock and any and all other products therefrom and over all funds received from the sale of hogs and livestock. All sums realized from the sale of products manufactured and fabricated in the shops of the vocational departments of such institutions shall be placed in the revolving fund of the respective institutions in which said products were manufactured, fabricated and sold.

The department shall be authorized to lease the lands for oil, gas and mineral exploration, and for such other purposes as the department deems to be appropriate, on such terms and conditions as the department and lessee agree. The department may contract with the State Forestry Commission for the proper management of forest lands and the sale of timber, and the department is expressly authorized to sell timber and forestry products. The department is further authorized to expend the net proceeds from incomes from all leases and timber sales exclusively for the instructional purposes or operational expenses, or both, at the two (2) institutions under its jurisdiction.

The granting of any leases for oil, gas and mineral exploration shall be on a public bid basis as prescribed by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-202 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / 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. § 43-13-121 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 13-121
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-121
Status: in_force

(1) The division shall administer the Medicaid program under the provisions of this article, and may do the following:

(a) Adopt and promulgate reasonable rules, regulations and standards, with approval of the Governor, and in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Law, Section 25-43-1.101 et seq. :

(i) Establishing methods and procedures as may be necessary for the proper and efficient administration of this article;

(ii) Providing Medicaid to all qualified recipients under the provisions of this article as the division may determine and within the limits of appropriated funds;

(iii) Establishing reasonable fees, charges and rates for medical services and drugs; in doing so, the division shall fix all of those fees, charges and rates at the minimum levels absolutely necessary to provide the medical assistance authorized by this article, and shall not change any of those fees, charges or rates except as may be authorized in Section 43-13-117 ;

(iv) Providing for fair and impartial hearings;

(v) Providing safeguards for preserving the confidentiality of records; and

(vi) For detecting and processing fraudulent practices and abuses of the program;

(b) Receive and expend state, federal and other funds in accordance with court judgments or settlements and agreements between the State of Mississippi and the federal government, the rules and regulations promulgated by the division, with the approval of the Governor, and within the limitations and restrictions of this article and within the limits of funds available for that purpose;

(c) Subject to the limits imposed by this article and subject to the provisions of subsection (8) of this section, to submit a Medicaid plan to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for approval under the provisions of the federal Social Security Act, to act for the state in making negotiations relative to the submission and approval of that plan, to make such arrangements, not inconsistent with the law, as may be required by or under federal law to obtain and retain that approval and to secure for the state the benefits of the provisions of that law.

No agreements, specifically including the general plan for the operation of the Medicaid program in this state, shall be made by and between the division and the United States Department of Health and Human Services unless the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi has reviewed the agreements, specifically including the operational plan, and has certified in writing to the Governor and to the executive director of the division that the agreements, including the plan of operation, have been drawn strictly in accordance with the terms and requirements of this article;

(d) In accordance with the purposes and intent of this article and in compliance with its provisions, provide for aged persons otherwise eligible for the benefits provided under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act by expenditure of funds available for those purposes;

(e) To make reports to the United States Department of Health and Human Services as from time to time may be required by that federal department and to the Mississippi Legislature as provided in this section;

(f) Define and determine the scope, duration and amount of Medicaid that may be provided in accordance with this article and establish priorities therefor in conformity with this article;

(g) Cooperate and contract with other state agencies for the purpose of coordinating Medicaid provided under this article and eliminating duplication and inefficiency in the Medicaid program;

(h) Adopt and use an official seal of the division;

(i) Sue in its own name on behalf of the State of Mississippi and employ legal counsel on a contingency basis with the approval of the Attorney General;

(j) To recover any and all payments incorrectly made by the division to a recipient or provider from the recipient or provider receiving the payments. The division shall be authorized to collect any overpayments to providers sixty (60) days after the conclusion of any administrative appeal unless the matter is appealed to a court of proper jurisdiction and bond is posted. Any appeal filed after July 1, 2015, shall be to the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, within sixty (60) days after the date that the division has notified the provider by certified mail sent to the proper address of the provider on file with the division and the provider has signed for the certified mail notice, or sixty (60) days after the date of the final decision if the provider does not sign for the certified mail notice. To recover those payments, the division may use the following methods, in addition to any other methods available to the division:

(i) The division shall report to the Department of Revenue the name of any current or former Medicaid recipient who has received medical services rendered during a period of established Medicaid ineligibility and who has not reimbursed the division for the related medical service payment(s). The Department of Revenue shall withhold from the state tax refund of the individual, and pay to the division, the amount of the payment(s) for medical services rendered to the ineligible individual that have not been reimbursed to the division for the related medical service payment(s).

(ii) The division shall report to the Department of Revenue the name of any Medicaid provider to whom payments were incorrectly made that the division has not been able to recover by other methods available to the division. The Department of Revenue shall withhold from the state tax refund of the provider, and pay to the division, the amount of the payments that were incorrectly made to the provider that have not been recovered by other available methods;

(k) To recover any and all payments by the division fraudulently obtained by a recipient or provider. Additionally, if recovery of any payments fraudulently obtained by a recipient or provider is made in any court, then, upon motion of the Governor, the judge of the court may award twice the payments recovered as damages;

(l) Have full, complete and plenary power and authority to conduct such investigations as it may deem necessary and requisite of alleged or suspected violations or abuses of the provisions of this article or of the regulations adopted under this article, including, but not limited to, fraudulent or unlawful act or deed by applicants for Medicaid or other benefits, or payments made to any person, firm or corporation under the terms, conditions and authority of this article, to suspend or disqualify any provider of services, applicant or recipient for gross abuse, fraudulent or unlawful acts for such periods, including permanently, and under such conditions as the division deems proper and just, including the imposition of a legal rate of interest on the amount improperly or incorrectly paid. Recipients who are found to have misused or abused Medicaid benefits may be locked into one (1) physician and/or one (1) pharmacy of the recipient's choice for a reasonable amount of time in order to educate and promote appropriate use of medical services, in accordance with federal regulations. If an administrative hearing becomes necessary, the division may, if the provider does not succeed in his or her defense, tax the costs of the administrative hearing, including the costs of the court reporter or stenographer and transcript, to the provider. The convictions of a recipient or a provider in a state or federal court for abuse, fraudulent or unlawful acts under this chapter shall constitute an automatic disqualification of the recipient or automatic disqualification of the provider from participation under the Medicaid program.

A conviction, for the purposes of this chapter, shall include a judgment entered on a plea of nolo contendere or a nonadjudicated guilty plea and shall have the same force as a judgment entered pursuant to a guilty plea or a conviction following trial. A certified copy of the judgment of the court of competent jurisdiction of the conviction shall constitute prima facie evidence of the conviction for disqualification purposes;

(m) Establish and provide such methods of administration as may be necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the Medicaid program, fully utilizing computer equipment as may be necessary to oversee and control all current expenditures for purposes of this article, and to closely monitor and supervise all recipient payments and vendors rendering services under this article. Notwithstanding any other provision of state law, the division is authorized to enter into a ten-year contract(s) with a vendor(s) to provide services described in this paragraph (m). Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the division is authorized to extend its Medicaid Management Information System, including all related components and services, and Decision Support System, including all related components and services, contracts in effect on June 30, 2020, for a period not to exceed two (2) years without complying with state procurement regulations;

(n) To cooperate and contract with the federal government for the purpose of providing Medicaid to Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees, under the provisions of Public Law 94-23 and Public Law 94-24 , including any amendments to those laws, only to the extent that the Medicaid assistance and the administrative cost related thereto are one hundred percent (100%) reimbursable by the federal government. For the purposes of Section 43-13-117 , persons receiving Medicaid under Public Law 94-23 and Public Law 94-24 , including any amendments to those laws, shall not be considered a new group or category of recipient; and

(o) The division shall impose penalties upon Medicaid only, Title XIX participating long-term care facilities found to be in noncompliance with division and certification standards in accordance with federal and state regulations, including interest at the same rate calculated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and/or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under federal regulations.

(2) The division also shall exercise such additional powers and perform such other duties as may be conferred upon the division by act of the Legislature.

(3) The division, and the State Department of Health as the agency for licensure of health care facilities and certification and inspection for the Medicaid and/or Medicare programs, shall contract for or otherwise provide for the consolidation of on-site inspections of health care facilities that are necessitated by the respective programs and functions of the division and the department.

(4) The division and its hearing officers shall have power to preserve and enforce order during hearings; to issue subpoenas for, to administer oaths to and to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses, or the production of books, papers, documents and other evidence, or the taking of depositions before any designated individual competent to administer oaths; to examine witnesses; and to do all things conformable to law that may be necessary to enable them effectively to discharge the duties of their office. In compelling the attendance and testimony of witnesses, or the production of books, papers, documents and other evidence, or the taking of depositions, as authorized by this section, the division or its hearing officers may designate an individual employed by the division or some other suitable person to execute and return that process, whose action in executing and returning that process shall be as lawful as if done by the sheriff or some other proper officer authorized to execute and return process in the county where the witness may reside. In carrying out the investigatory powers under the provisions of this article, the executive director or other designated person or persons may examine, obtain, copy or reproduce the books, papers, documents, medical charts, prescriptions and other records relating to medical care and services furnished by the provider to a recipient or designated recipients of Medicaid services under investigation. In the absence of the voluntary submission of the books, papers, documents, medical charts, prescriptions and other records, the Governor, the executive director, or other designated person may issue and serve subpoenas instantly upon the provider, his or her agent, servant or employee for the production of the books, papers, documents, medical charts, prescriptions or other records during an audit or investigation of the provider. If any provider or his or her agent, servant or employee refuses to produce the records after being duly subpoenaed, the executive director may certify those facts and institute contempt proceedings in the manner, time and place as authorized by law for administrative proceedings. As an additional remedy, the division may recover all amounts paid to the provider covering the period of the audit or investigation, inclusive of a legal rate of interest and a reasonable attorney's fee and costs of court if suit becomes necessary. Division staff shall have immediate access to the provider's physical location, facilities, records, documents, books, and any other records relating to medical care and services rendered to recipients during regular business hours.

(5) If any person in proceedings before the division disobeys or resists any lawful order or process, or misbehaves during a hearing or so near the place thereof as to obstruct the hearing, or neglects to produce, after having been ordered to do so, any pertinent book, paper or document, or refuses to appear after having been subpoenaed, or upon appearing refuses to take the oath as a witness, or after having taken the oath refuses to be examined according to law, the executive director shall certify the facts to any court having jurisdiction in the place in which it is sitting, and the court shall thereupon, in a summary manner, hear the evidence as to the acts complained of, and if the evidence so warrants, punish that person in the same manner and to the same extent as for a contempt committed before the court, or commit that person upon the same condition as if the doing of the forbidden act had occurred with reference to the process of, or in the presence of, the court.

(6) In suspending or terminating any provider from participation in the Medicaid program, the division shall preclude the provider from submitting claims for payment, either personally or through any clinic, group, corporation or other association to the division or its fiscal agents for any services or supplies provided under the Medicaid program except for those services or supplies provided before the suspension or termination. No clinic, group, corporation or other association that is a provider of services shall submit claims for payment to the division or its fiscal agents for any services or supplies provided by a person within that organization who has been suspended or terminated from participation in the Medicaid program except for those services or supplies provided before the suspension or termination. When this provision is violated by a provider of services that is a clinic, group, corporation or other association, the division may suspend or terminate that organization from participation. Suspension may be applied by the division to all known affiliates of a provider, provided that each decision to include an affiliate is made on a case-by-case basis after giving due regard to all relevant facts and circumstances. The violation, failure or inadequacy of performance may be imputed to a person with whom the provider is affiliated where that conduct was accomplished within the course of his or her official duty or was effectuated by him or her with the knowledge or approval of that person.

(7) The division may deny or revoke enrollment in the Medicaid program to a provider if any of the following are found to be applicable to the provider, his or her agent, a managing employee or any person having an ownership interest equal to five percent (5%) or greater in the provider:

(a) Failure to truthfully or fully disclose any and all information required, or the concealment of any and all information required, on a claim, a provider application or a provider agreement, or the making of a false or misleading statement to the division relative to the Medicaid program.

(b) Previous or current exclusion, suspension, termination from or the involuntary withdrawing from participation in the Medicaid program, any other state's Medicaid program, Medicare or any other public or private health or health insurance program. If the division ascertains that a provider has been convicted of a felony under federal or state law for an offense that the division determines is detrimental to the best interest of the program or of Medicaid beneficiaries, the division may refuse to enter into an agreement with that provider, or may terminate or refuse to renew an existing agreement.

(c) Conviction under federal or state law of a criminal offense relating to the delivery of any goods, services or supplies, including the performance of management or administrative services relating to the delivery of the goods, services or supplies, under the Medicaid program, any other state's Medicaid program, Medicare or any other public or private health or health insurance program.

(d) Conviction under federal or state law of a criminal offense relating to the neglect or abuse of a patient in connection with the delivery of any goods, services or supplies.

(e) Conviction under federal or state law of a criminal offense relating to the unlawful manufacture, distribution, prescription or dispensing of a controlled substance.

(f) Conviction under federal or state law of a criminal offense relating to fraud, theft, embezzlement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other financial misconduct.

(g) Conviction under federal or state law of a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment of a year or more that involves moral turpitude, or acts against the elderly, children or infirm.

(h) Conviction under federal or state law of a criminal offense in connection with the interference or obstruction of any investigation into any criminal offense listed in paragraphs (c) through (i) of this subsection.

(i) Sanction for a violation of federal or state laws or rules relative to the Medicaid program, any other state's Medicaid program, Medicare or any other public health care or health insurance program.

(j) Revocation of license or certification.

(k) Failure to pay recovery properly assessed or pursuant to an approved repayment schedule under the Medicaid program.

(l) Failure to meet any condition of enrollment.

(8)(a) As used in this subsection (8), the following terms shall be defined as provided in this paragraph, except as otherwise provided in this subsection:

(i) “ Committees ” means the Medicaid Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and “committee” means either one of those committees.

(ii) “ State Plan ” means the agreement between the State of Mississippi and the federal government regarding the nature and scope of Mississippi's Medicaid Program.

(iii) “ State Plan Amendment ” means a change to the State Plan, which must be approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) before its implementation.

(b) Whenever the Division of Medicaid proposes a State Plan Amendment, the division shall give notice to the chairmen of the committees at least thirty (30) calendar days before the proposed State Plan Amendment is filed with CMS. The division shall furnish the chairmen with a concise summary of each proposed State Plan Amendment along with the notice, and shall furnish the chairmen with a copy of any proposed State Plan Amendment upon request. The division also shall provide a summary and copy of any proposed State Plan Amendment to any other member of the Legislature upon request.

(c) If the chairman of either committee or both chairmen jointly object to the proposed State Plan Amendment or any part thereof, the chairman or chairmen shall notify the division and provide the reasons for their objection in writing not later than seven (7) calendar days after receipt of the notice from the division. The chairman or chairmen may make written recommendations to the division for changes to be made to a proposed State Plan Amendment.

(d)(i) The chairman of either committee or both chairmen jointly may hold a committee meeting to review a proposed State Plan Amendment. If either chairman or both chairmen decide to hold a meeting, they shall notify the division of their intention in writing within seven (7) calendar days after receipt of the notice from the division, and shall set the date and time for the meeting in their notice to the division, which shall not be later than fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt of the notice from the division.

(ii) After the committee meeting, the committee or committees may object to the proposed State Plan Amendment or any part thereof. The committee or committees shall notify the division and the reasons for their objection in writing not later than seven (7) calendar days after the meeting. The committee or committees may make written recommendations to the division for changes to be made to a proposed State Plan Amendment.

(e) If both chairmen notify the division in writing within seven (7) calendar days after receipt of the notice from the division that they do not object to the proposed State Plan Amendment and will not be holding a meeting to review the proposed State Plan Amendment, the division may proceed to file the proposed State Plan Amendment with CMS.

(f)(i) If there are any objections to a proposed rate change or any part thereof from either or both of the chairmen or the committees, the division may withdraw the proposed State Plan Amendment, make any of the recommended changes to the proposed State Plan Amendment, or not make any changes to the proposed State Plan Amendment.

(ii) If the division does not make any changes to the proposed State Plan Amendment, it shall notify the chairmen of that fact in writing, and may proceed to file the State Plan Amendment with CMS.

(iii) If the division makes any changes to the proposed State Plan Amendment, the division shall notify the chairmen of its actions in writing, and may proceed to file the State Plan Amendment with CMS.

(g) Nothing in this subsection (8) shall be construed as giving the chairmen or the committees any authority to veto, nullify or revise any State Plan Amendment proposed by the division. The authority of the chairmen or the committees under this subsection shall be limited to reviewing, making objections to and making recommendations for changes to State Plan Amendments proposed by the division.

(i) If the division does not make any changes to the proposed State Plan Amendment, it shall notify the chairmen of that fact in writing, and may proceed to file the proposed State Plan Amendment with CMS.

(ii) If the division makes any changes to the proposed State Plan Amendment, the division shall notify the chairmen of the changes in writing, and may proceed to file the proposed State Plan Amendment with CMS.

(h) Nothing in this subsection (8) shall be construed as giving the chairmen of the committees any authority to veto, nullify or revise any State Plan Amendment proposed by the division. The authority of the chairmen of the committees under this subsection shall be limited to reviewing, making objections to and making recommendations for suggested changes to State Plan Amendments proposed by the division.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-39 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 20 / Section 47-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-39
Status: in_force

(1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Vulnerable Persons Training, Investigation and Prosecution Fund. The purpose of the fund shall be to provide funding for the Vulnerable Persons Unit in the Office of the Attorney General to assist in the training of law enforcement officers, judges, district attorneys, state agencies and investigators at the Department of Human Services with regard to issues arising under the Vulnerable Persons Act, and to provide funding for the Vulnerable Persons Unit in the Office of the Attorney General to assist in the investigation and prosecution of statewide offenders who abuse, neglect or exploit vulnerable persons. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal-year limitations.

(2) Funding shall be provided by assessments collected from violations set out in Section 99-19-73 .

(3) From and after July 1, 2016, the expenses of the Vulnerable Persons Unit shall be defrayed by appropriation from the State General Fund and all user charges and fees authorized under this section shall be deposited into the State General Fund as authorized by law and as determined by the State Fiscal Officer.

(4) From and after July 1, 2016, no state agency shall charge another state agency a fee, assessment, rent or other charge for services or resources received by authority of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-29-21 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 27 / Section 29-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-29-21
Status: in_force

No person shall make any charge or receive any fee for representing any applicant or recipient of assistance in any proceeding hereunder except as to criminal proceedings brought pursuant to Section 43-29-23 of this chapter; or with respect to any application whether such fee or charge be paid by the applicant or recipient or by any other person or persons. Any violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and be punishable as provided in Section 43-29-23 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-35 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 33 / Section 35-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-35
Status: in_force

No public official or employee of a municipality, or of any board or commission thereof who exercises any authority with respect to urban renewal projects undertaken pursuant to this article, and no commissioner or employee of a housing authority or urban renewal agency which has been vested by a municipality with urban renewal project powers under Section 43-35-31 shall voluntarily acquire any personal interest, direct or indirect, in any urban renewal project, or in any property included or planned to be included in any urban renewal project of such municipality or in any contract or proposed contract in connection with such urban renewal project. Where such acquisition is not voluntary, the interest acquired shall be immediately disclosed in writing to the local governing body and such disclosure shall be entered upon the minutes of the governing body. If any such official, commissioner or employee presently owns or controls, or owned or controlled within the preceding two (2) years, any interest, direct or indirect, in any property which he knows is included or planned to be included in an urban renewal project, he shall immediately disclose this fact in writing to the local governing body, and such disclosure shall be entered upon the minutes of the governing body, and any such official, commissioner or employee shall not participate in any action by the municipality, or board or commission thereof, housing authority, or urban renewal agency affecting such property. Any disclosure required to be made by this section to the local governing body shall concurrently be made to a housing authority or urban renewal agency which has been vested with urban renewal project powers by the municipality pursuant to the provisions of Section 43-35-31 . No commissioner or other officer of any housing authority, urban renewal agency, board or commission exercising powers pursuant to this article shall hold any other public office under the municipality other than his commissionership or office with respect to such housing authority, urban renewal agency, board or commission. Any violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute misconduct in office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-605 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 21-605
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-605
Status: in_force

(1) In delinquency cases, the disposition order may include any of the following alternatives:

(a) Release the child without further action;

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

(c) Place the child on probation subject to any reasonable and appropriate conditions and limitations, including restitution, as the youth court may prescribe;

(d) Order terms of treatment calculated to assist the child and the child's parents or guardian which are within the ability of the parent or guardian to perform and which are not in conflict with a provider's determination of medical necessity;

(e) Order terms of supervision which may include participation in a constructive program of service or education or civil fines not in excess of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), 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 victims and approved by the youth court and reasonably capable of performance within one (1) year;

(f) Suspend the child's driver's license by taking and keeping it in custody of the court for not more than one (1) year;

(g) Give legal custody of the child to any of the following:

(i) The Department of Human Services for appropriate placement; or

(ii) Any public or private organization, preferably community-based, able to assume the education, care and maintenance of the child, which has been found suitable by the court; or

(iii) The Division of Youth Services for placement in the least restrictive environment, except that no child under the age of twelve (12) years shall be committed to the state training school. Only a child who has been adjudicated delinquent for a felony may be committed to the training school. In the event a child is committed to the Oakley Youth Development Center by the court, the child shall be deemed to be committed to the custody of the Department of Human Services which may place the child in the Oakley Youth Development Center or another appropriate facility.

The training school may retain custody of the child until the child's twentieth birthday but for no longer. When the child is committed to the training school, the child shall remain in the legal custody of the training school until the child has made sufficient progress in treatment and rehabilitation and it is in the best interest of the child to release the child. However, the superintendent of the state training school, in consultation with the treatment team, may parole a child at any time he or she may deem it in the best interest and welfare of such child. Ten (10) business days before the parole, the training school shall notify the committing court of the pending release. This notice may be made in less than ten (10) days if Oakley Youth Development Center needs to manage population limitations. The youth court may then arrange subsequent placement after a reconvened disposition hearing, except that the youth court may not recommit the child to the training school or any other secure facility without an adjudication of a new offense or probation or parole violation. The Department of Human Services shall ensure that staffs create transition planning for youth leaving the facilities. Plans shall include providing the youth and his or her parents or guardian with copies of the youth's training school education and health records, information regarding the youth's home community, referrals to mental and counseling services when appropriate, and providing assistance in making initial appointments with community service providers. Before 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. No child shall be placed in the custody of the state training school for a status offense or for contempt of or revocation of a status offense adjudication unless the child is contemporaneously adjudicated for having committed an act of delinquency that is not a status offense. A disposition order rendered under this subparagraph shall meet the following requirements:

1. The disposition is the least restrictive alternative appropriate to the best interest of the child and the community;

2. The disposition allows the child to be in reasonable proximity to the family home community of each child given the dispositional alternatives available and the best interest of the child and the state; and

3. The disposition order provides that the court has considered the medical, educational, vocational, social and psychological guidance, training, social education, counseling, substance abuse treatment and other rehabilitative services required by that child as determined by the court;

(h) Recommend to the child and the child's parents or guardian that the child attend and participate in the Youth Challenge Program under the Mississippi National Guard, as created in Section 43-27-203 , subject to the selection of the child for the program by the National Guard; however, the child must volunteer to participate in the program. The youth court shall not order any child to apply for or attend the program;

(i) Adjudicate the juvenile to the Statewide Juvenile Work Program if the program is established in the court's jurisdiction. The juvenile and his or her parents or guardians must sign a waiver of liability in order to participate in the work program. The judge will coordinate with the youth services counselors as to placing participants in the work program as follows:

(i) The severity of the crime, whether or not the juvenile is a repeat offender or is a felony offender will be taken into consideration by the judge when adjudicating a juvenile to the work program. The juveniles adjudicated to the work program will be supervised by police officers or reserve officers. The term of service will be from twenty-four (24) to one hundred twenty (120) hours of community service. A juvenile will work the hours to which he or she was adjudicated on the weekends during school and weekdays during the summer. Parents are responsible for a juvenile reporting for work. Noncompliance with an order to perform community service will result in a heavier adjudication. A juvenile may be adjudicated to the community service program only two (2) times;

(ii) The judge shall assess an additional fine on the juvenile which will be used to pay the costs of implementation of the program and to pay for supervision by police officers and reserve officers. The amount of the fine will be based on the number of hours to which the juvenile has been adjudicated;

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

(k) Order terms of house arrest under the intensive supervision program as created in Sections 47-5-1001 through 47-5-1015 . The Department of Human Services shall take bids for the placement of juveniles in the intensive supervision program. The Department of Human Services shall promulgate rules regarding the supervision of juveniles placed in the intensive supervision program. For each county there shall be seventy-five (75) slots created in the intensive supervision program for juveniles. Any youth ordered into the intensive home-based supervision program shall receive comprehensive strength-based needs assessments and individualized treatment plans. Based on the assessment, an individualized treatment plan shall be developed that defines the supervision and programming that is needed by a youth. The treatment plan shall be developed by a multidisciplinary team that includes the family of the youth whenever possible. The juvenile shall pay Ten Dollars ($10.00) to offset the cost of administering the alcohol and drug test. The juvenile must attend school, alternative school or be in the process of working toward a High School Equivalency Diploma certificate;

(l)(i) Order the child into a juvenile detention center operated by the county or into a juvenile detention center operated by any county with which the county in which the court is located has entered into a contract for the purpose of housing delinquents, except that a child under the age of twelve (12) years cannot be held in secure detention as a disposition. The time period for detention cannot exceed ninety (90) days, and any detention exceeding forty-five (45) days shall be administratively reviewed by the youth court no later than forty-five (45) days after the entry of the order. At that time the youth court counselor shall review the status of the youth in detention and shall report any concerns to the court. The youth court judge may order that the number of days specified in the detention order be served either throughout the week or on weekends only. No first-time nonviolent youth offender shall be committed to a detention center for a period in excess of ninety (90) days until all other options provided for in this section have been considered and the court makes a specific finding of fact by a preponderance of the evidence by assessing what is in the best rehabilitative interest of the child and the public safety of communities and that there is no reasonable alternative to a nonsecure setting and therefore commitment to a detention center is appropriate.

(ii) If a child is committed to a detention center for ninety (90) days, the disposition order shall meet the following requirements:

1. The disposition order is the least restrictive alternative appropriate to the best interest of the child and the community;

2. The disposition order allows the child to be in reasonable proximity to the family home community of each child given the dispositional alternatives available and the best interest of the child and the state; and

3. The disposition order provides that the court has considered the medical, educational, vocational, social and psychological guidance, training, social education, counseling, substance abuse treatment and other rehabilitative services required by that child as determined by the court;

(m) The judge may consider house arrest in an intensive supervision program as a reasonable prospect of rehabilitation within the juvenile justice system. The Department of Human Services shall promulgate rules regarding the supervision of juveniles placed in the intensive supervision program;

(n) Referral to A-team provided system of care services; or

(o) Place the child on electronic monitoring subject to any conditions and limitations as the youth court may prescribe.

(2) If a disposition order requires that a child miss school due to other placement, the youth court shall notify a child's school while maintaining the confidentiality of the youth court process. If a disposition order requires placement of a child in a juvenile detention facility, the facility shall comply with the educational services and notification requirements of Section 43-21-321 .

(3) In addition to any of the disposition alternatives authorized under subsection (1) of this section, the disposition order in any case in which the child is adjudicated delinquent for an offense under Section 63-11-30 shall include an order denying the driver's license and driving privileges of the child as required under Section 63-11-30(9) .

(4) If the youth court places a child in a state-supported training school, the court may order the parents or guardians of the child and other persons living in the child's household to receive counseling and parenting classes for rehabilitative purposes while the child is in the legal custody of the training school. A youth court entering an order under this subsection (4) shall utilize appropriate services offered either at no cost or for a fee calculated on a sliding scale according to income unless the person ordered to participate elects to receive other counseling and classes acceptable to the court at the person's sole expense.

(5) Fines levied under this chapter shall be paid into the general fund of the county but, in those counties wherein the youth court is a branch of the municipal government, it shall be paid into the municipal treasury.

(6) Any institution or agency to which a child has been committed shall give to the youth court any information concerning the child as the youth court may at any time require.

(7) The youth court shall not place a child in another school district who has been expelled from a school district for the commission of a violent act. For the purpose of this subsection, “ violent act ” means any action which results in death or physical harm to another or an attempt to cause death or physical harm to another.

(8) The youth court may require drug testing as part of a disposition order. If a child tests positive, the court may require treatment, counseling and random testing, as it deems appropriate. The costs of such tests shall be paid by the parent, guardian or custodian of the child unless the court specifically finds that the parent, guardian or custodian is unable to pay.

(9) The Mississippi Department of Human Services, Division of Youth Services, shall operate and maintain services for youth adjudicated delinquent at the Oakley Youth Development Center. The program shall be designed for children committed to the training schools by the youth courts. The purpose of the program is to promote good citizenship, self-reliance, leadership and respect for constituted authority, teamwork, cognitive abilities and appreciation of our national heritage. The program must use evidenced-based practices and gender-specific programming and must develop an individualized and specific treatment plan for each youth. The Division of Youth Services shall issue credit towards academic promotions and high school completion. The Division of Youth Services may award credits to each student who meets the requirements for a general education development certification. The Division of Youth Services must also provide to each special education eligible youth the services required by that youth's individualized education plan.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-105 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 30 / 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. § 43-21-501 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 20 / 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. § 43-35-305 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 35-305
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-305
Status: in_force

The governing authorities, prior to utilizing the authority granted under this article, shall designate the area within which said facility shall be located and shall hold a hearing as provided in Section 21-41-5, Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-261 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 14 / Section 21-261
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-261
Status: repealed

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, records involving children shall not be disclosed, other than to necessary staff or officials of the youth court, a guardian ad litem appointed to a child by the court, or a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer who may be assigned in a dependency, abuse or neglect case, except pursuant to an order of the youth court specifying the person or persons to whom the records may be disclosed, the extent of the records which may be disclosed and the purpose of the disclosure. Such court orders for disclosure shall be limited to those instances in which the youth court concludes, in its discretion, that disclosure is required for the best interests of the child, the public safety, the functioning of the youth court, or to identify a person who knowingly made a false allegation of child abuse or neglect, and then only to the following persons:

(a) The judge of another youth court or member of another youth court staff;

(b) The court of the parties in a child custody or adoption cause in another court;

(c) A judge of any other court or members of another court staff, including the chancery court that ordered a forensic interview;

(d) Representatives of a public or private agency providing supervision or having custody of the child under order of the youth court;

(e) Any person engaged in a bona fide research purpose, provided that no information identifying the subject of the records shall be made available to the researcher unless it is absolutely essential to the research purpose and the judge gives prior written approval, and the child, through his or her representative, gives permission to release the information;

(f) The Mississippi Department of Employment Security, or its duly authorized representatives, for the purpose of a child's enrollment into the Job Corps Training Program as authorized by Title IV of the Comprehensive Employment Training Act of 1973 ( 29 USCS Section 923 et seq. ). However, no records, reports, investigations or information derived therefrom pertaining to child abuse or neglect shall be disclosed;

(g) Any person pursuant to a finding by a judge of the youth court of compelling circumstances affecting the health, safety or well-being of a child and that such disclosure is in the best interests of the child or an adult who was formerly the subject of a youth court delinquency proceeding;

(h) A person who was the subject of a knowingly made false allegation of child abuse or neglect which has resulted in a conviction of a perpetrator in accordance with Section 97-35-47 or which allegation was referred by the Department of Child Protection Services to a prosecutor or law enforcement official in accordance with the provisions of Section 43-21-353(4) .

Law enforcement agencies may disclose information to the public concerning the taking of a child into custody for the commission of a delinquent act without the necessity of an order from the youth court. The information released shall not identify the child or his address unless the information involves a child convicted as an adult.

(2) Any records involving children which are disclosed under an order of the youth court or pursuant to the terms of this section and the contents thereof shall be kept confidential by the person or agency to whom the record is disclosed unless otherwise provided in the order. Any further disclosure of any records involving children shall be made only under an order of the youth court as provided in this section.

(3) Upon request, the parent, guardian or custodian of the child who is the subject of a youth court cause or any attorney for such parent, guardian or custodian, shall have the right to inspect any record, report or investigation relevant to a matter to be heard by a youth court, except that the identity of the reporter shall not be released, nor the name of any other person where the person or agency making the information available finds that disclosure of the information would be likely to endanger the life or safety of such person. The attorney for the parent, guardian or custodian of the child, upon request, shall be provided a copy of any record, report or investigation relevant to a matter to be heard by a youth court, but the identity of the reporter must be redacted and the name of any other person must also be redacted if the person or agency making the information available finds that disclosure of the information would be likely to endanger the life, safety or well-being of the person. A record provided to the attorney under this section must remain in the attorney's control and the attorney may not provide copies or access to another person or entity without prior consent of a court with appropriate jurisdiction.

(4) Upon request, the child who is the subject of a youth court cause shall have the right to have his counsel inspect and copy any record, report or investigation which is filed with the youth court or which is to be considered by the youth court at a hearing.

(5)(a) The youth court prosecutor or prosecutors, the county attorney, the district attorney, the youth court defender or defenders, or any attorney representing a child shall have the right to inspect and copy any law enforcement record involving children.

(b) The Department of Child Protection Services shall disclose to a county prosecuting attorney or district attorney any and all records resulting from an investigation into suspected child abuse or neglect when the case has been referred by the Department of Child Protection Services to the county prosecuting attorney or district attorney for criminal prosecution.

(c) Agency records made confidential under the provisions of this section may be disclosed to a court of competent jurisdiction.

(d) Records involving children shall be disclosed to the Division of Victim Compensation of the Office of the Attorney General upon the division's request without order of the youth court for purposes of determination of eligibility for victim compensation benefits.

(6) Information concerning an investigation into a report of child abuse or child neglect may be disclosed by the Department of Child Protection Services without order of the youth court to any attorney, physician, dentist, intern, resident, nurse, psychologist, social worker, family protection worker, family protection specialist, child caregiver, minister, law enforcement officer, or a public or private school employee making that report pursuant to Section 43-21-353(1) if the reporter has a continuing professional relationship with the child and a need for such information in order to protect or treat the child.

(7) Information concerning an investigation into a report of child abuse or child neglect may be disclosed without further order of the youth court to any interagency child abuse task force established in any county or municipality by order of the youth court of that county or municipality.

(8) Names and addresses of juveniles twice adjudicated as delinquent for an act which would be a felony if committed by an adult or for the unlawful possession of a firearm shall not be held confidential and shall be made available to the public.

(9) Names and addresses of juveniles adjudicated as delinquent for murder, manslaughter, burglary, arson, armed robbery, aggravated assault, any sex offense as defined in Section 45-33-23 , for any violation of Section 41-29-139(a)(1) or for any violation of Section 63-11-30 , shall not be held confidential and shall be made available to the public.

(10) The judges of the circuit and county courts, and presentence investigators for the circuit courts, as provided in Section 47-7-9 , shall have the right to inspect any youth court records of a person convicted of a crime for sentencing purposes only.

(11) The victim of an offense committed by a child who is the subject of a youth court cause shall have the right to be informed of the child's disposition by the youth court.

(12) A classification hearing officer of the State Department of Corrections, as provided in Section 47-5-103 , shall have the right to inspect any youth court records, excluding abuse and neglect records, of any offender in the custody of the department who as a child or minor was a juvenile offender or was the subject of a youth court cause of action, and the State Parole Board, as provided in Section 47-7-17 , shall have the right to inspect such records when the offender becomes eligible for parole.

(13) The youth court shall notify the Department of Public Safety of the name, and any other identifying information such department may require, of any child who is adjudicated delinquent as a result of a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law.

(14) The Administrative Office of Courts shall have the right to inspect any youth court records in order that the number of youthful offenders, abused, neglected, truant and dependent children, as well as children in need of special care and children in need of supervision, may be tracked with specificity through the youth court and adult justice system, and to utilize tracking forms for such purpose.

(15) Upon a request by a youth court, the Administrative Office of Courts shall disclose all information at its disposal concerning any previous youth court intakes alleging that a child was a delinquent child, child in need of supervision, child in need of special care, truant child, abused child or neglected child, as well as any previous youth court adjudications for the same and all dispositional information concerning a child who at the time of such request comes under the jurisdiction of the youth court making such request.

(16) The Administrative Office of Courts may, in its discretion, disclose to the Department of Public Safety any or all of the information involving children contained in the office's youth court data management system known as Mississippi Youth Court Information Delivery System or “MYCIDS.”

(17) The youth courts of the state shall disclose to the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) any youth court records in order that the number of youthful offenders, abused, neglected, truant and dependent children, as well as children in need of special care and children in need of supervision, may be tracked with specificity through the youth court and adult justice system, and to utilize tracking forms for such purpose. The disclosure prescribed in this subsection shall not require a court order and shall be made in sortable, electronic format where possible. The PEER Committee may seek the assistance of the Administrative Office of Courts in seeking this information. The PEER Committee shall not disclose the identities of any youth who have been adjudicated in the youth courts of the state and shall only use the disclosed information for the purpose of monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of programs established to assist adjudicated youth, and to ascertain the incidence of adjudicated youth who become adult offenders.

(18) In every case where an abuse or neglect allegation has been made, the confidentiality provisions of this section shall not apply to prohibit access to a child's records by any state regulatory agency, any state or local prosecutorial agency or law enforcement agency; however, no identifying information concerning the child in question may be released to the public by such agency except as otherwise provided herein.

(19) In every case of child abuse or neglect, if a child's physical condition is medically labeled as medically “serious” or “critical” or a child dies, the confidentiality provisions of this section shall not apply. In such cases, the following information may be released by the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services: the cause of the circumstances regarding the fatality or medically serious or critical physical condition; the age and gender of the child; information describing any previous reports of child abuse or neglect investigations that are pertinent to the child abuse or neglect that led to the fatality or medically serious or critical physical condition; the result of any such investigations; and the services provided by and actions of the state on behalf of the child that are pertinent to the child abuse or neglect that led to the fatality or medically serious or critical physical condition.

(20) Any member of a foster care review board designated by the Department of Child Protection Services shall have the right to inspect youth court records relating to the abuse, neglect or child in need of supervision cases assigned to such member for review.

(21) Information concerning an investigation into a report of child abuse or child neglect may be disclosed without further order of the youth court in any administrative or due process hearing held, pursuant to Section 43-21-257 , by the Department of Child Protection Services for individuals whose names will be placed on the central registry as substantiated perpetrators.

(22) The Department of Child Protection Services may disclose records involving children to the following:

(a) A foster home, residential child-caring agency or child-placing agency to the extent necessary to provide such care and services to a child;

(b) An individual, agency or organization that provides services to a child or the child's family in furtherance of the child's permanency plan to the extent necessary in providing those services;

(c) Health and mental health care providers of a child to the extent necessary for the provider to properly treat and care for the child;

(d) An educational institution or educational services provider where the child is enrolled or where enrollment is anticipated to the extent necessary for the school to provide appropriate services to the child;

(e) Any state agency or board that administers student financial assistance programs. However, any records request under this paragraph shall be initiated by the agency or board for the purpose determining the child's eligibility for student financial assistance, and any disclosure shall be limited to the verification of the child's age during the period of time in which the child was in the department's legal custody; and

(f) Any other state agency if the disclosure is necessary to the department in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities in protecting the best interests of the child.

(23) Nothing in this section or chapter shall require youth court approval for disclosure of records involving children as defined in Section 43-21-105(u) , if the disclosure is made in a criminal matter by a municipal or county prosecutor, a district attorney or statewide prosecutor, pursuant to the Mississippi Rules of Criminal Procedure and the records are disclosed under a protective order issued by the Circuit Court presiding over the criminal matter which incorporates the penalties stated in Section 43-21-267 .

(24) The provisions of this section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2026.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-749 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 20 / Section 33-749
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-749
Status: in_force

Neither the directors of the corporation, the advisory board, nor any person or persons acting in their behalf, while acting within the scope of their authority, shall be subject to any personal liability resulting from carrying out any of the powers granted herein in accordance with his or her good faith belief that he or she is acting in the best interests of the corporation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-109 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 15-109
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-109
Status: in_force

(1) An application for a license under this article shall be made to the department and shall contain information that the department determines is necessary in accordance with established rules.

(2) Information received by the office through reports, complaints, investigations and inspections shall be classified as public in accordance with Title 25, Chapter 61, Mississippi Code of 1972 , Mississippi Public Records Act.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-11-17 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 11-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-11-17
Status: in_force

The licensing agency shall make or cause to be made such inspections and investigations as it deems necessary.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-29 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 31 / Section 47-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-29
Status: in_force

In addition to the powers granted under the provisions of this chapter, the department is authorized to petition the court under the provisions of Section 93-20-401 or 93-20-402 for appointment of a conservator for any vulnerable person.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-623 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 21-623
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-623
Status: in_force

Any juvenile who is adjudicated a delinquent on or after July 1, 1994, as a result of committing a sex offense as defined in Section 45-33-23 or any offense involving the crime of rape and placed in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, Office of Youth Services, shall be tested for HIV and AIDS. Such tests shall be conducted by the State Department of Health in conjunction with the Office of Youth Services, Mississippi Department of Human Services at the request of the victim or the victim's parents or guardian if the victim is a juvenile. The results of any positive HIV or AIDS tests shall be reported to the victim or the victim's parents or guardian if the victim is a juvenile as well as to the adjudicated offender. The State Department of Health shall provide counseling and referral to appropriate treatment for victims of a sex offense when the adjudicated offender tested positive for HIV or AIDS if the victim so requests.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-37-5 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 14 / Section 37-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-37-5
Status: in_force

Any person, agency or other entity acquiring real property for such use shall as soon as practicable after the date of payment of the purchase price or the date of deposit into court of funds to satisfy the award of compensation in a condemnation proceeding to acquire real property, whichever is the earlier, reimburse the owner, to the extent that the state deems fair and reasonable, for expenses he necessarily incurred for (a) recording fees, transfer taxes and similar expenses incidental to conveying such real property to the state; (b) penalty costs for prepayment for any preexisting recorded mortgage entered into in good faith encumbering such real property; and (c) the pro rata portion of real property taxes paid which are allocable to a period subsequent to the date of vesting title in the state, or the effective date of possession of such real property by the state, whichever is the earlier.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / 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. § 43-47-13 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 47-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-13
Status: in_force

(1) Every reasonable effort shall be made to secure the consent and participation of the vulnerable person in an evaluation and resolution of the need for protective services. If those efforts fail and if the department has reasonable cause to believe that a vulnerable person is being abused, neglected or exploited and lacks the capacity to consent to protective services, then the department may petition the court for an order for injunctive relief authorizing the provision of protective services. The petition must allege specific facts sufficient to show that the vulnerable person is in need of protective services and lacks the capacity to consent to them.

(2) The court shall set the case for hearing within fourteen (14) days after the filing of the petition. The vulnerable person must receive at least five (5) days notice of the hearing. Where good cause is shown, the court may direct that a shorter notice be given. The vulnerable person has the right to be present and represented by counsel at the hearing. If the person, in the determination of the court, lacks the capacity to waive the right to counsel, then the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem. If the person is indigent, the cost of representation shall be borne by the department or by the court.

(3) If, at the hearing, the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the vulnerable person is in need of protective services and lacks the capacity to consent to those services, the court may issue an order relative thereto. This order may include the designation of an individual, organization or agency to be responsible for the performing or obtaining of essential services on behalf of the vulnerable person or otherwise consenting to protective services in his behalf. The order may provide for protective services for a period not to exceed eighteen (18) months, at which time the vulnerable person's need for protective services may be reviewed by the department filing a petition requesting such review with the court. Should the court determine that the vulnerable person is in further need of protective services, it may order the provision of such protective services as provided herein.

(4) The court may appoint a guardian or conservator for the vulnerable person, but the court shall not appoint the department as a guardian of the vulnerable person. No vulnerable person may be committed to a mental health facility under this chapter. However, nothing contained herein shall prohibit the filing of petitions under other applicable provisions of the laws of this state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-61-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 61-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-61-11
Status: in_force

The department shall prepare and submit an annual report on the program to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and the Chairman of the House Public Health and Human Services Committee. Those reports shall include the number of clients served, the number of prescriptions filled and refilled, and the value of the drugs provided.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-18 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 27 / Section 47-18
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-18
Status: in_force

(1)(a) A person who engages in sexual penetration with a vulnerable person is guilty of sexual battery if the person is a volunteer at, or an employee of, or contracted to work for, a health care facility in which the vulnerable person is a patient or resident.

(b) A person who engages in sexual penetration with a vulnerable person is guilty of sexual battery if the person is in a position of trust or authority over the vulnerable person, including, without limitation, the vulnerable person's teacher, counselor, physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, nurse, certified nursing assistant, direct care worker, technical assistant, minister, priest, physical therapist, chiropractor, legal guardian, parent, stepparent, other relative, caretaker or conservator.

(c) Every person who is convicted of sexual battery under this subsection (1) shall be imprisoned in the custody of the State Department of Corrections for a period of not more than thirty (30) years, and for a second or subsequent such offense shall be imprisoned in the custody of the State Department of Corrections for a period of not more than forty (40) years.

(2)(a) Any person who, for the purpose of gratifying the person's lust, or indulging the person's depraved licentious sexual desires, shall handle, touch or rub with hands or any part of the person's body or any member thereof, any vulnerable person, with or without the vulnerable person's consent, when the person is a volunteer at, or an employee of, or contracted to work for, a health care facility in which the vulnerable person is a patient or resident, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in a sum not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or be committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections not less than two (2) nor more than fifteen (15) years, or be punished by both fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.

(b) Any person who, for the purpose of gratifying the person's lust, or indulging the person's depraved licentious sexual desires, shall handle, touch or rub with hands or any part of the person's body or any member thereof, any vulnerable person, with or without the vulnerable person's consent, when the person occupies a position of trust or authority over the vulnerable person, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in a sum not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or be committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections not less than two (2) nor more than fifteen (15) years, or be punished by both fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. A person in a position of trust or authority over a vulnerable person includes, without limitation, the vulnerable person's teacher, counselor, physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, nurse, certified nursing assistant, direct care worker, technical assistant, minister, priest, physical therapist, chiropractor, legal guardian, parent, stepparent, other relative, caretaker or conservator.

(3) A person is not guilty of any offense under this section if the alleged victim is that person's legal spouse; however, the legal spouse of the alleged victim may be found guilty of sexual battery if the legal spouse engaged in forcible sexual penetration without the consent of the alleged victim.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-725 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 14 / Section 33-725
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-725
Status: in_force

The corporation may, if it deems necessary, create an advisory board to the corporation to assist in the furtherance of the purposes of this article. The corporation shall determine the size, structure and powers and duties of the advisory board. The members of the advisory board shall be appointed by the Governor for the terms set by the corporation and shall serve without compensation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-27 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / 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. § 43-33-727 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 33-727
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-727
Status: in_force

There is hereby created the Mississippi Home Corporation Oversight Committee. Such oversight committee shall consist of five (5) Senators appointed by the President of the Senate and five (5) Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall serve in an advisory capacity to the corporation. The members thereof shall report the actions of the corporation to the appropriate legislative committees. The oversight committee shall have no jurisdiction or vote on any matter within the jurisdiction of the corporation. When the Legislature is not in session, members shall be paid per diem and all actual and necessary expenses, including mileage expenses, from their respective contingent expense funds at the rate authorized for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session; however, no per diem and expenses will be paid when the Legislature is in session. The terms of the members of the oversight committee shall expire at the end of their terms of office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-209 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-209
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-209
Status: in_force

A person shall not knowingly and wilfully make, induce or seek to induce the making of a false statement or false representation of a material fact with respect to the conditions or operation of an institution or facility in order that the institution or facility may qualify, upon initial certification or upon recertification, to receive Medicaid benefits as a hospital, skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility or home health agency.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-321 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 20 / Section 21-321
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-321
Status: in_force

(1) All juvenile detention centers shall develop and implement policies and procedures that comply with the regulations promulgated by the Juvenile Facilities Monitoring Unit.

(2) If a student's detention will cause the student to miss one or more days of school during the academic school year or special education services when required by state and federal law or when designated on a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), the detention center staff shall notify school district officials where the detainee last attended school by the first school day following the student's placement in the facility. Detention center staff shall not disclose youth court records to the school district, except as provided by Section 43-21-261 .

(3) All juvenile detention centers shall adhere to the following minimum standards:

(a) Each center shall have a manual that states the policies and procedures for operating and maintaining the facility, and the manual shall be reviewed annually and revised as needed;

(b) Each center shall have a policy that specifies support for a drug-free workplace for all employees, and the policy shall, at a minimum, include the following:

(i) The prohibition of the use of illegal drugs;

(ii) The prohibition of the possession of any illegal drugs except in the performance of official duties;

(iii) The procedure used to ensure compliance with a drug-free workplace policy;

(iv) The opportunities available for the treatment and counseling for drug abuse; and

(v) The penalties for violation of the drug-free workplace policy; and

(c) Each center shall have a policy, procedure and practice that ensures that personnel files and records are current, accurate and confidential.

(4) Local school districts shall work collaboratively with juvenile detention center staff to provide special education services as required by state and federal law. Upon the written request of the youth court judge for the county in which the detention center is located, a local school district in the county in which the detention center is located, or a private provider agreed upon by the youth court judge and sponsoring school district, shall provide a certified teacher to provide educational services to detainees. The youth court judge shall designate the school district which shall be defined as the sponsoring school district. The local home school district shall be defined as the school district where the detainee was last enrolled. Detainees who have received a High School Equivalency diploma shall be provided remedial instruction in math and language arts, or other areas as determined by the sponsoring school district, which may be computer-based instruction, as well as career counseling opportunities. Teacher selection shall be in consultation with the youth court judge. The Legislature shall annually appropriate sufficient funds for the provision of educational services, as provided under this section, to detainees in detention centers.

(5) To ensure students in youth detention facilities continue to receive appropriate educational services, local education agencies (LEAs) must have policies and procedures to ensure the relevant records of students who move to, and from, youth detention facilities are sent to and received from the sponsoring school district as soon as practicable to enable the effective delivery of educational services.

(6) The sponsoring school district, or a private provider agreed upon by the youth court judge and sponsoring school district, shall be responsible for providing the instructional program and, when required by state and federal law, special education services, for the detainee while in detention during the sponsoring school district's academic calendar and a six-week summer enrichment program, the dates which are determined by the sponsoring school district. The enrichment program shall be facilitated by certified or classified district staff and shall be focused academically on mathematics and English language arts instruction, and may include other primary core subject areas, including character education. The six-week enrichment program shall not set aside any guidelines set forth by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The summer enrichment program may be computer-based and have an abbreviated school day that shall not be less than four (4) hours per day. After forty-eight (48) hours of detention during the sponsoring school district's academic calendar and six-week enrichment program, the detainee shall receive the following services which may be computer-based:

(a) Diagnostic assessment of grade-level mastery of reading and math skills;

(b) Individualized instruction and practice to address any weaknesses identified in the assessment conducted under paragraph (a) of this subsection if the detainee is in the center for more than forty-eight (48) hours during the sponsoring school district's academic calendar and six-week enrichment program; and

(c) Character education to improve behavior.

(7) No later than the tenth day of detention during the sponsoring school district's academic calendar and six-week enrichment program, the detainee shall begin an extended detention education program. A team consisting of a certified teacher provided by the local sponsoring school district or a private provider agreed upon by the youth court judge and sponsoring school district, the appropriate official from the local home school district, and the youth court counselor or representative will develop an individualized academic program (IAP) for the detainee, where appropriate as determined by the teacher of the sponsoring school district, or a private provider agreed upon by the youth court judge and sponsoring school district. The detainee's parent or guardian shall participate on the team unless excused by the youth court judge. Failure of any party to participate shall not delay implementation of this education program. Any student identified under IDEA will utilize the student's current IEP in lieu of the IAP.

(8) It shall be the responsibility of the student's local home school district school to ensure that all related services identified on a student's IEP are provided in accordance with the student's IEP.

(9) It shall be the responsibility of the student's local home school district to collaborate with the sponsoring school district to ensure that all students, including students with disabilities, are appropriately included in general state and district-wide assessments, including assessments required by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended, and state law.

(10) Teachers in youth detention facilities serving IDEA-eligible students must be licensed with endorsements required by state and federal law, and related services personnel and paraprofessionals must meet state and federal qualifications for those personnel.

(11) The sponsoring school district, or a private provider agreed upon by the youth court judge and sponsoring school district, shall provide the detention center with an appropriate and adequate computer lab to serve detainees. The Legislature shall annually appropriate sufficient funds to equip and maintain the computer labs. The computer lab shall become the property of the detention centers and the sponsoring school districts shall maintain and update the labs.

(12) The Mississippi Department of Education will collaborate with the appropriate state and local agencies, juvenile detention centers and local school districts to ensure the provision of educational services to every student placed in a juvenile detention center. The Mississippi Department of Education has the authority to develop and promulgate policies and procedures regarding financial reimbursements to the sponsoring school district from school districts that have students of record or compulsory-school-age residing in said districts placed in a youth detention center. Such services may include, but not be limited to: assessment and math and reading instruction, character education and behavioral counseling. The Mississippi Department of Education shall work with the appropriate state and local agencies, juvenile detention centers and local school districts to annually determine the proposed costs for educational services to youth placed in juvenile detention centers and annually request sufficient funding for such services as necessary.

(13) Juvenile detention centers shall ensure that staffs create transition planning for youth leaving the facilities. This process shall be led by the student's youth court counselor, and shall include staff from the educational center. Plans shall include providing the youth and his or her parents or guardian with copies of the youth's detention center education and health records, information regarding the youth's home community, referrals to mental and counseling services when appropriate, and providing assistance in making initial appointments with community service providers; the transition team will work together to help the detainee successfully transition back into the home school district once released from detention. The transition team will consist of a certified teacher provided by the local sponsoring school district, or a private provider agreed upon by the youth court judge and sponsoring school district, the appropriate official from the local home school district, the school attendance officer assigned to the local home school district, and the youth court counselor or representative. The detainee's parent or guardian shall participate on the team unless excused by the youth court judge. Failure of any party to participate shall not delay implementation of this education program.

(14) Student's records, including grades and attendance, shall be part of the student's transition and submitted to the receiving school district for review. Grades received from the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) education program shall be incorporated into each student's academic performance grade.

(15) The Mississippi Department of Public Safety Juvenile Detention Facilities Monitoring Unit shall monitor the detention facilities for compliance with these minimum standards, and no child shall be housed in a detention facility the monitoring unit determines is substantially out of compliance with the standards prescribed in this section. In accordance with Section 43-21-907(5), Mississippi Code of 1972 , the Mississippi Department of Education has the authority to promulgate rules and regulations related to the education of all children housed in a juvenile detention facility, to conduct inspections of the facility's educational services at least annually or more often as deemed necessary and shall provide the licensing agency with its determination of the facility's compliance with the education provisions. The licensing agency shall use the information in its determination of the facility's eligibility for licensure. It is the intention of the Legislature that the implementation of the provisions of Section 43-21-321 shall not create accountability or accreditation requirements or standards upon the sponsoring school district or the home district that are greater, more restrictive or more demanding than those requirements imposed upon local school districts in the provision of educational services to the general population of students.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-37 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 7 / Section 33-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-37
Status: in_force

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

No payment for any year shall be in excess of the amount of the real property taxes which would have been paid for such year if the project were not exempt from taxation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-119 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / 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.