Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-1 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 31 / 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. § 43-33-23 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 33-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-23
Status: in_force

An authority shall have power to issue bonds from time to time, in its discretion, for any of its corporate purposes. An authority shall also have power to issue refunding bonds for the purpose of paying or retiring bonds previously issued by it. An authority may issue such types of bonds as it may determine, including (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) bonds on which the principal and interest are payable: (a) exclusively from the income and revenues of the housing project financed with the proceeds of such bonds; (b) exclusively from the income and revenues of certain designated housing projects whether or not they are financed in whole or in part with the proceeds of such bonds; or (c) from its revenues generally. Any such bonds may be additionally secured by a pledge of any grant or contributions from the federal government or other source, or a pledge of any income or revenues of the authority, or a mortgage of any housing project, projects or other property of the authority.

Neither the commissioners of an authority nor any person executing the bonds shall be liable personally on the bonds by reason of the issuance thereof. The bonds and other obligations of an authority (and such bonds and obligations shall so state on their face) shall not be a debt of the city, the county, the state or any political subdivision thereof and neither the city or the county, nor the state or any political subdivision thereof shall be liable thereon, nor in any event shall such bonds or obligations be payable out of any funds or properties other than those of said authority. The bonds shall not constitute an indebtedness within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory debt limitation or restriction. Bonds of an authority are declared to be issued for an essential public and governmental purpose and to be public instrumentalities and, together with interest thereon and income therefrom, shall be exempt from taxes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 16 / Section 33-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-15
Status: in_force

In the operation or management of housing projects an authority shall at all times observe the following duties with respect to rentals and tenant selection:

(a) It may rent or lease the dwelling accommodations therein only to persons of low income and at rentals within the financial reach of such persons of low income;

(b) It may rent or lease to a tenant dwelling accommodations consisting of the number of rooms (but no greater number) which it deems necessary to provide safe and sanitary accommodations to the proposed occupants thereof, without overcrowding;

(c) The dwellings in low-rent housing as defined in this article shall be available solely for families whose net annual income at the time of admission, less an exemption of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each minor member of the family other than the head of the family and his spouse, does not exceed five (5) times the annual rental (including the value or cost to them of water, electricity, gas, other heating and cooking fuels, and other utilities) of the dwellings to be furnished such families. For the purpose of determining eligibility for continued occupancy, a public housing agency shall allow, from the net income of any family, an exemption for each minor member of the family (other than the head of the family and his spouse) of either (a) one hundred dollars ($100.00), or (b) all or any part of the annual income of such minor. For the purpose of this subparagraph, a minor shall mean a person less than twenty-one (21) years of age.

Nothing contained in this section or Section 43-33-13 shall be construed as limiting the power of an authority to vest in an obligee the right, in the event of a default by the authority, to take possession of a housing project or cause the appointment of a receiver thereof, free from all the restrictions imposed by this section or Section 43-33-13 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-16 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 20 / Section 39-16
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-16
Status: in_force

(1) If a program or project undertaken by an agency with public financial assistance cannot proceed on a timely basis because comparable replacement dwellings are not available, and the head of the displacing agency determines that such dwellings cannot otherwise be made available, the head of the displacing agency may take such action as is necessary or appropriate to provide such dwellings by use of funds authorized for such project. The head of the displacing agency may use this section to exceed the maximum amounts which may be paid under Sections 43-39-9 and 43-39-11 , on a case-by-case basis for good cause as determined in accordance with such regulations as the head of the agency issues.

(2) No person shall be required to move from his dwelling on account of any program or project undertaken by a displacing agency with public financial assistance unless the head of the displacing agency is satisfied that comparable replacement housing is available to such person.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-713 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 31 / Section 33-713
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-713
Status: in_force

(1) The corporation shall keep as permanent records minutes of all meetings of its members and board of directors, a record of all actions taken by the directors without a meeting, and a record of all actions taken by committees of the board of directors.

(2) The corporation shall maintain appropriate accounting records.

(3) The corporation shall maintain its records in written form or in another form capable of conversion into written form within a reasonable time.

(4) The corporation shall keep a copy of the following records at its office:

(a) Its bylaws or restated bylaws and all amendments to them currently in effect;

(b) The minutes of all meetings of the board of directors and records of all actions approved by the directors for the past three (3) years;

(c) A list of the names and business or home addresses of its current directors and officers; and

(d) Its most recent status report delivered to the Secretary of State.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-119 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 21-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-119
Status: in_force

The judge or his designee shall appoint as provided in Section 43-21-123 sufficient personnel, responsible to and under the control of the youth court, to carry on the professional, clerical and other work of the youth court. The cost of these persons appointed by the youth court shall be paid as provided in Section 43-21-123 out of any available funds budgeted for the youth court by the board of supervisors.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-117 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 15-117
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-117
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in this article, no person, agency, firm, corporation, association or group children's home may engage in child placing, or solicit money or other assistance for child placing, without a valid license issued by the department. No out-of-state child-placing agency that provides a full range of services, including, but not limited to, adoptions, foster family homes, adoption counseling services or financial aid, may operate in this state without a valid license issued by the department. No child-placing agency shall advertise in the media markets in Mississippi seeking birth mothers or their children for adoption purposes unless the agency holds a valid and current license issued either by the department or the authorized governmental licensing agency of another state that regulates child-placing agencies. Any child-placing agency, physician or attorney who advertises for child placing or adoption services in Mississippi shall be required by the department to show their principal office location on all media advertising for adoption services.

(2) An attorney who provides legal services to a client in connection with proceedings for the adoption of a child by the client, who does not receive, accept or provide custody or care for the child for the purposes specified in Section 43-15-103(c) , shall not be required to have a license under this article to provide those legal services.

(3) An attorney, physician or other person may assist a parent in identifying or locating a person interested in adopting the parent's child, or in identifying or locating a child to be adopted. However, no payment, charge, fee, reimbursement of expense, or exchange of value of any kind, or promise or agreement to make the same, may be made for that assistance.

(4) Nothing in this section precludes payment of reasonable fees for medical, legal or other lawful services rendered in connection with the care of a mother, delivery and care of a child including, but not limited to, the mother's living expenses, or counseling for the parents and/or the child, and for the legal proceedings related to lawful adoption proceedings; and no provision of this section abrogates the right of procedures for independent adoption as provided by law.

(5) The department is specifically authorized to promulgate rules under the Administrative Procedures Law, Title 25, Chapter 43, Mississippi Code of 1972 , to regulate fees charged by licensed child-placing agencies, if it determines that the practices of those licensed child-placing agencies demonstrates that the fees charged are excessive or that any of the agency's practices are deceptive or misleading; however, those rules regarding fees shall take into account the use of any sliding fee by an agency that uses a sliding fee procedure to permit prospective adoptive parents of varying income levels to utilize the services of those agencies or persons.

(6) The department shall promulgate rules under the Administrative Procedures Law, Title 25, Chapter 43, Mississippi Code of 1972 , to require that all licensed child-placing agencies provide written disclosures to all prospective adoptive parents of any fees or other charges for each service performed by the agency or person, and file an annual report with the department that states the fees and charges for those services, and to require them to inform the department in writing thirty (30) days in advance of any proposed changes to the fees or charges for those services.

(7) The department is specifically authorized to disclose to prospective adoptive parents or other interested persons any fees charged by any licensed child-placing agency, attorney or counseling service or counselor for all legal and counseling services provided by that licensed child-placing agency, attorney or counseling service or counselor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-69 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 33-69
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-69
Status: in_force

Insofar as the provisions of this second supplemental Housing Authorities Law are inconsistent with the provisions of any other law, the provisions of this law shall control.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-26-1 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 18 / Section 26-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-26-1
Status: repealed

(1) There is created a Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services.

(2) The Chief Administrative Officer of the Department of Child Protection Services shall be the Commissioner of Child Protection Services who shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The commissioner shall possess the following qualifications:

(a) A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning and ten (10) years' experience in management, public administration, finance or accounting; or

(b) A master's or doctoral degree from an accredited institution of higher learning and five (5) years' experience in management, public administration, finance, law or accounting.

(3) The Department of Child Protection Services shall provide the services authorized by law to every individual determined to be eligible therefor, and in carrying out the purposes of the department, the commissioner is authorized:

(a) To formulate the policy of the department regarding child welfare services within the jurisdiction of the department;

(b) To adopt, modify, repeal and promulgate, after due notice and hearing, and where not otherwise prohibited by federal or state law, to make exceptions to and grant exemptions and variances from, and to enforce rules and regulations implementing or effectuating the powers and duties of the department under any and all statutes within the department's jurisdiction;

(c) To apply for, receive and expend any federal or state funds or contributions, gifts, devises, bequests or funds from any other source;

(d) To enter into and execute contracts, grants and cooperative agreements with any federal or state agency or subdivision thereof, or any public or private institution located inside or outside the State of Mississippi, or any person, corporation or association in connection with carrying out the programs of the department; and

(e) To discharge such other duties, responsibilities, and powers as are necessary to implement the programs of the department.

(4) The commissioner shall establish the organizational structure of the Department of Child Protection Services, which shall include the creation of any units necessary to implement the duties assigned to the department and consistent with specific requirements of law.

(5) The commissioner shall appoint heads of offices, bureaus, and divisions, as defined in Section 7-17-11 , who shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. The salary and compensation of such office, bureau and division heads shall be subject to the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the State Personnel Board. The commissioner shall have the authority to organize offices as deemed appropriate to carry out the responsibilities of the department.

(6) The Department of Child Protection Services shall be responsible for the development, execution, and provision of services in the following areas:

(a) Protective services for children;

(b) Foster care;

(c) Adoption services;

(d) Special services;

(e) Interstate compact;

(f) Licensure;

(g) Prevention services; and

(h) Such other services as may be designated. Services enumerated under Section 43-15-13 et seq. , for the foster care program shall be provided by qualified staff with appropriate case loads.

(7) The Department of Child Protection Services shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To provide basic services and assistance statewide to needy and disadvantaged individuals and families;

(b) To promote integration of the many services and programs within its jurisdiction at the client level thus improving the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery and providing easier access to clients;

(c) To employ personnel and expend funds appropriated to the department to carry out the duties and responsibilities assigned to the department by law;

(d) To fingerprint and conduct a background investigation on every employee, contractor, subcontractor and volunteer:

(i) Who has direct access to clients of the department who are children or vulnerable adults;

(ii) Who is in a position of fiduciary responsibility;

(iii) Who is in a position with access to Federal Tax Information (FTI); or

(iv) Who is otherwise required by federal law or regulations to undergo a background investigation.

Every such employee, contractor, subcontractor and volunteer shall provide a valid current social security number and/or driver's license number, which shall be furnished to conduct the background investigation for determination as to good moral character and to ensure that no person placed in any position referenced in this paragraph (d) has a felony conviction that would prevent employment or access to Federal Tax Information according to department policy. If no disqualifying record is identified at the state level, the fingerprints shall be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a fingerprint-based national criminal history record check. The department shall be the recipient of the results of any background investigation and/or criminal history record check performed in accordance with this paragraph;

(e) To establish and maintain programs not inconsistent with the terms of this chapter and the rules, regulations and policies of the Department of Child Protection Services, and publish the rules and regulations of the department pertaining to such programs;

(f) To provide all other child welfare programs and services previously provided by the Department of Human Services or a division thereof; and

(g) Make such reports in such form and containing such information as the federal government may, from time to time, require, and comply with such provisions as the federal government may, from time to time, find necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports.

(8) The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services shall submit a copy of the federal Annual Progress and Services Report (APSR) to the Chair of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Chair of the House Public Health and Human Services Committee, the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Governor by December 1 of each year.

(9)(a) The Commissioner of Child Protection Services shall hire a Coordinator of Services for Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation within the Department of Child Protection Services whose duties shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(i) To form specialized human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation assessment teams to respond on an as-needed basis to act as an emergency, separate and specialized response and assessment team to rapidly respond to the needs of children who are victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation;

(ii) To identify victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation;

(iii) To monitor, record and distribute federal human trafficking funds received by the Department of Child Protection Services;

(iv) To employ staff to investigate allegations of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation; and

(v) To develop and coordinate services within the Department of Child Protection Services and with outside service providers for victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

(b) The Commissioner of Child Protection Services shall develop standard operating procedures for the investigation, custody and services provided to alleged victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

(c) The Commissioner shall require two (2) hours of training regarding the subject of identifying, assessing, and providing comprehensive services to a child who has experienced or is alleged to have experienced commercial sexual exploitation or human trafficking. The training must be incorporated into the pre-service training requirements of all Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services family specialists, adoption specialists, licensure specialists, direct supervisors of family protection specialists, direct supervisors of adoption specialists, and direct supervisors of licensure specialists.

(10) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2028.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 28-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-11
Status: in_force

(1) There is created a Mississippi Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Trust Fund as an instrumentality of the state to be administered by the Department of Rehabilitation Services in consultation with the Treasury Department. The ABLE Trust Fund shall consist of state appropriations, monies acquired from other governmental or private sources and money remitted in accordance with ABLE participation agreements, and shall receive and hold all payments, contributions and deposits intended for it as well as gifts, bequests, endowments or federal, state or local grants and any other public or private source of funds and all earnings on the fund until disbursed as provided under this section. The amounts on deposit in the trust fund shall not constitute property of the state. Amounts on deposit in the trust fund may not be commingled with state funds, and the state may have no claim to or interest in such funds. ABLE participation agreements or any other contract entered into by or on behalf of the trust do not constitute a debt or obligation of the state, and no account owner is entitled to any amounts except for those amounts on deposit in or accrued to their account.

The ABLE Trust Fund shall continue in existence as long as it holds any funds belonging to an account owner or otherwise has any obligations to any person or entity until its existence is terminated by the Legislature based on the recommendation of the Mississippi ABLE Board, and remaining assets on deposit in the fund are returned to account owners or transferred to the state in accordance with unclaimed property laws.

(2) There are created the following three (3) separate accounts within the ABLE Trust Fund:

(a) The administrative account, which shall accept, deposit and disburse funds for the purpose of administering and marketing the program;

(b) The endowment account, which shall receive and deposit accounts received in connection with the sales of interests in the ABLE Trust Fund other than amounts for the administrative account and other than amounts received pursuant to a participation agreement. Amounts on deposit in the endowment account may be applied as specified by the board for any purpose related to the program; and

(c) The program account, which shall receive, invest and disburse amounts pursuant to participation agreements.

(3) Payments received by the board on behalf of account owners from other payors or any other source, public or private, shall be placed in the ABLE Trust Fund, or in the event ABLE accounts are established in other states pursuant to an agreement entered into with a contracting state or consortium state, and the board shall cause there to be maintained separate records and accounts for individual account owners, as may be required under Section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , as amended, and any other applicable federal law.

(4) Account owners and any other payors or contributors shall be permitted only to contribute cash or any other form of payment or contribution as is permitted under Section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , as amended, and approved by the board.

(5) The account owner retains ownership of all amounts on deposit in his or her account with the Mississippi ABLE Program up to the date of withdrawal of qualified disability expense transactions. Earnings derived from investment of the contributions shall be considered to be held in trust in the same manner as contributions, except as applied for purposes of maintaining and administrating the program as provided in this chapter. Amounts on deposit in an account owner's account shall be available for expenses and penalties imposed by the board for the program as disclosed in the ABLE participation agreement.

(6) The assets of the ABLE Trust Fund shall be preserved, invested and expended solely pursuant to and for the purposes of this chapter and shall not be loaned or otherwise transferred or used by the state for any other purpose.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 33-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-11
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No provisions of law with respect to the acquisition, operation or disposition of property by other public bodies shall be applicable to an authority unless the Legislature shall specifically so state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-23 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 26 / Section 28-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-23
Status: in_force

(1) Upon the death of the designated beneficiary, the appropriate health care administration agency and the Division of Medicaid of another state in which the beneficiary received services may file a claim with the Mississippi ABLE Program for the total amount of medical assistance provided for the designated beneficiary under the Medicaid program since the inception of the Mississippi ABLE account, less any premiums paid by or on behalf of the designated beneficiary to a Medicaid buy-in program. Funds in the ABLE account of the deceased designated beneficiary must first be distributed for qualified disability expenses followed by distributions for the Medicaid claim authorized under this paragraph. Any remaining amount shall be distributed as provided in the participation agreement required under Section 43-28-19 .

(2) The Mississippi ABLE Coordinator shall assist and cooperate with the appropriate health care administration agency and the Division of Medicaid in other states which have provided services to a Mississippi ABLE account beneficiary, by providing the agency and divisions with the information needed to accomplish the purpose and objective of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-59-5 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 31 / Section 59-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-59-5
Status: in_force

The commission shall have the powers and authority necessary to carry out the duties imposed upon it by this chapter, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) To conduct research and to study issues affecting the status of women in Mississippi;

(b) To advise and consult with the executive and legislative branches on policies affecting the status of women in Mississippi;

(c) To publish periodic reports documenting the legal, economic, social and political status, and other concerns of women in Mississippi;

(d) To assess programs and practices in all state agencies as those programs and practices affect women;

(e) To maintain an office and to acquire on a contractual or other basis any legal, technical and research expertise and support services as the commission may require for the discharge of its duties;

(f) To hold hearings, meetings, conferences and workshops, to make and sign any agreements, and to do or perform any acts that may be necessary, desirable or proper to carry out the purposes of this chapter;

(g) To appoint advisers or advisory committees if the commission determines that the experience or expertise of the advisors or advisory committees is needed for projects of the commission;

(h) To apply for and accept funds, grants, gifts and services from the state or federal government or any of their agencies, or any other public or private source, for the purpose of defraying clerical, administrative and other costs as may be necessary in carrying out the commission's duties under this chapter;

(i) To establish nonprofit entities for the purpose of defraying costs incurred in the performance of the commission's duties; and

(j) To utilize voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations as may be offered and needed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-61 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 20-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-61
Status: in_force

The department may deny, revoke or refuse to renew a certificate of registration upon determination that the registrant falsified information on the application or willfully and substantially has violated Sections 43-20-51 through 43-20-65 , inclusive and amendments thereto. The department shall not revoke or refuse to renew any certificate without giving notice and conducting a hearing.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-48 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 16 / Section 19-48
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-48
Status: in_force

(1) The Department of Human Services and financial institutions doing business in the state are required to enter into agreements:

(a) To develop and operate a data match system, using automated data exchanges, in which each such financial institution is required to provide for each calendar quarter the name, record address, social security number or other taxpayer identification number, and other identifying information for each noncustodial parent who maintains an account at such institution and who owes past-due support, as identified by the Department of Human Services by name and social security number or other taxpayer identification number;

(b) To encumber or surrender, as the case may be, assets held by such institution on behalf of any noncustodial parent who is subject to a child support lien; and

(c) To provide for payment of reasonable fees to financial institutions for conducting data matches, and for responding to other requests made pursuant to this section, with such fees not to exceed the actual costs incurred by such financial institutions.

(2) When the operation of such data match system results in the location of an account of a noncustodial parent who owes past-due support, or when such account is located through any means, the department may request and shall receive additional financial or other information including account numbers, names and social security numbers on record for accounts, and account balances, from any financial institution needed to establish, modify or enforce a support order.

(3) The department shall have the authority to encumber and seize assets held by an obligor in a financial institution doing business in Mississippi. Such assets shall be encumbered for either:

(a) A forty-five-day period; or

(b) Until such time as the issue of overdue support is resolved, provided the obligor has filed a petition for hearing with a court of appropriate jurisdiction and the financial institution receives written notice thereof from the department before the end of the said forty-five-day period.

(4) Notice of such encumbrance initiated by the department shall be provided to the financial institution and to the obligor:

(a) The department shall send, by certified mail or other approved types of communication as allowed by the financial institution, notice to the financial institution with which the account is placed, directing that the financial institution shall:

(i) Immediately encumber funds in any account(s) in which the obligor has an interest, and to the extent of the debt indicated in the notice from the department;

(ii) Forward the encumbered funds to the department after either the forty-five-day period stated in subsection (3)(a) of this section, or a determination favorable to the department by a court of appropriate jurisdiction; or

(iii) In the event the obligor prevails before the court, immediately release said funds to the obligor.

(b) Notice shall be delivered to the obligor at the current mailing address as recorded by the department. Such notice shall be sent by regular mail at the commencement of the action described herein.

(c) The financial institution shall not disclose to an account holder or the depositor that the name of such person has been received from or furnished to the department. The financial institution shall disclose to its account holders or its depositors that under the data match system the department has the authority to request certain identifying information on the account holders' or the depositor's accounts.

(5) Challenges to encumbrance of an account:

(a) Challenges to such levy for child support arrearage may be initiated only by the obligor or by an account holder of interest.

(b) Challenges shall be made by the filing of a petition for hearing by the obligor in a court of appropriate jurisdiction under Rule 81(d)(2) of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure . Service upon the department shall be as prescribed by Rule 4(d)(5) of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure .

(c) Grounds for the petition challenging the encumbrance shall be limited to:

(i) Mistakes of identity; or

(ii) Mistakes in amount of overdue support.

(6) Liability of the financial institution and the department:

(a) Neither the department nor the financial institution shall be liable for any applicable early withdrawal penalties on the obligor's account(s).

(b) A financial institution shall be absolutely immune from any civil liability under any law or regulation to any person for the disclosure of or failure to disclose any information pursuant to this chapter or for the escrow, encumbrance, seizure or surrender of any assets held by the financial institution in response to any notice issued by the Department of Human Services, the Child Support Unit or any contractors or agents thereof unless the disclosure or failure to disclose was willful or intentional, or for any other action taken in good faith to comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(7) Any amount encumbered and forwarded by the financial institution under this section shall not exceed the arrearage owed by the obligor.

(8) The provisions herein and any other relevant sections shall be employed equally by authorized contractors of the department to collect delinquent support payments.

(9) A financial institution shall not be liable under federal or state law to any person:

(a) For any disclosure of information to the Department of Human Services;

(b) For encumbering or forwarding any assets held by such financial institution in response to a notice of lien or levy;

(c) For any other action taken in good faith to comply with the requirements of subsection (1)(a) or (b) above.

(10) Definitions. For purposes of this section:

(a) The term “ financial institution ” has the meaning given to such by Section 81-12-3, Mississippi Code of 1972 , and shall include, but not be limited to, credit unions, stock brokerages, public or private entities administering retirement, savings, annuities, life insurance and/or pension funds;

(b) The term “ account ” means any money held in the name of the account owner individually or jointly with another, including, but not limited to, a deposit account, demand account, member account, time certificate of deposit, share account, checking or negotiable withdrawal order account, savings account, time deposit account or money-market mutual fund account.

(11) Failure to comply with the provisions of this section or the willful rendering of false information shall subject the financial institution to a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-803 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 16 / Section 21-803
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-803
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Tony Gobar Individualized Assessment and Comprehensive Community Intervention Initiative (IACCII) Program for the purposes of:

(a)(i) Providing comprehensive strength-based needs assessments, individualized treatment plans and community-based services for certain youth who would otherwise be committed to the training schools. The IACCII ensures that youth and their families can access necessary services available in their home communities; and

(ii) Providing grants to faith-based organizations and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that develop and operate community-based alternatives to the training schools and detention centers. In order to be eligible for a grant under this paragraph, a faith-based or nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in cooperation with a youth court must develop and operate a juvenile justice alternative sanction designed for delinquent youths. The program must be designed to decrease reliance on commitment in juvenile detention facilities and training schools.

(b) Programs established pursuant to this subsection must not duplicate existing programs or services and must incorporate best practices principles and positive behavioral interventions. The Department of Human Services shall have sole authority and power to determine the programs to be funded pursuant to this section.

(2) A faith-based or nonprofit 501(c)(3) must submit an application to the Department of Human Services. The application must include a description of the purpose for which assistance is requested, the amount of assistance requested and any other information required by the Department of Human Services.

(3) The Department of Human Services shall have all powers necessary to implement and administer the program established under this section, and the department shall promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law, necessary for the implementation of this section.

(4)(a) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the “Tony Gobar IACCII Fund,” which shall consist of funds appropriated or otherwise made available by the Legislature in any manner and funds from any other source designated for deposit into such fund. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any investment earnings or interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund. Monies in the fund shall be used by the Division of Youth Services for the purposes described in this section.

(b)(i) During the regular legislative session held in calendar year 2007, the Legislature may appropriate an amount not to exceed Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000.00) to the Tony Gobar IACCII Fund.

(ii) During each regular legislative session subsequent to the 2007 Regular Session, the Legislature shall appropriate Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000.00) to the Tony Gobar IACCII Fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-43-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 43-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-43-3
Status: in_force

No state agency shall make expenditures of any federal Title XX monies, unless such expenditures are made pursuant to specific appropriations by the Legislature. In appropriating expenditures for social services as provided under Title XX, the Legislature shall specify the maximum amounts of funds to be expended by source of funds. To the extent not precluded by the terms and conditions under which financial aid is made available by the federal government, the Legislature may establish priorities for the activity being assisted and shall specify the major categories of services to be provided and the maximum amount to be expended in each category.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-9 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 20-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-9
Status: in_force

From and after August 1, 1972, no person acting individually or jointly with another person or persons shall establish, own, operate, conduct or maintain a child care facility in this state without a license issued under this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-18 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 9 / Section 27-18
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-18
Status: in_force

All positions in the Department of Youth Services shall be included in the state classification system, but the department is encouraged to establish an incentive program to motivate workers who deal directly with the children to obtain master's degrees in the field of sociology, psychology or some other related field.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-155 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 21-155
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-155
Status: in_force

(1) If a child is alleged to be a delinquent child or a child in need of supervision, the proceedings shall be commenced in any county where any of the alleged acts are said to have occurred. After adjudication, the youth court may, in the best interest of the child, transfer the case at any stage of the proceeding for disposition to the county where the child resides or to a county where a youth court has previously acquired jurisdiction.

(2) If a child is alleged to be an abused or neglected child, the proceedings shall be commenced in the county where the child's custodian resides or in the county where the child is present when the report is made to the intake unit. After adjudication the youth court may transfer the case at any stage of the proceeding for disposition to the county where the child resides or to a county where a youth court has previously acquired jurisdiction if that is in the best interest of the child.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-705 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 7 / Section 33-705
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-705
Status: in_force

All directors, officers, employees or agents exercising any voting power or discretionary authority shall be required prior to the issuance of any bonds by the corporation to have issued by a surety company licensed to do business in the State of Mississippi a fiduciary bond in the amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) for the faithful performance of their duties. The corporation shall pay the premiums on such bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-31-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 31-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-31-15
Status: in_force

The board of supervisors shall annually assess and cause to be collected by the tax collector, and paid into the general fund of the county treasury, such tax as may be necessary for the support of the poor of the county.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-103 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 33-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-103
Status: in_force

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

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

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

In any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of or relating to any contract of the regional housing authority, the regional housing authority shall be conclusively deemed to have become created as a public body corporate and politic and to have become established and authorized to transact business and exercise its powers hereunder upon proof of the adoption of a resolution by the board of supervisors of each of the counties creating the regional housing authority declaring the need for the regional housing authority. Each such resolution shall be deemed sufficient if it declares that there is need for the regional housing authority and finds in substantially the foregoing terms (no further detail being necessary) that the conditions enumerated above in (a) and (b) exist. A copy of such resolution of the board of supervisors of a county, duly certified by the county clerk of such county, shall be admissible in evidence in any suit, action, or proceeding.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-12-19 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 9 / Section 12-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-12-19
Status: in_force

The Department of Human Services shall not seek, apply for, accept or renew any waiver of requirements established under 7 USC Section 2015(o) , except during a formal state or federal declaration of a natural disaster.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-307 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 20 / Section 21-307
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-307
Status: in_force

The judge or his designee may authorize the temporary custody of a child taken into custody for a period of not longer than forty-eight (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory state holidays if the judge or his designee finds there are grounds to issue a custody order as defined in Section 43-21-301 and such custody order complies with the detention requirements provided in Section 43-21-301(6) .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-623 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / 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. § 43-33-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 28 / Section 33-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-11
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No provisions of law with respect to the acquisition, operation or disposition of property by other public bodies shall be applicable to an authority unless the Legislature shall specifically so state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-7 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 7 / Section 55-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-7
Status: in_force

(1) The voting members of the commission shall elect one (1) of the voting members to serve as chairperson of the commission. The voting members of the commission may elect other officers from among the members of the commission.

(2) The commission shall meet quarterly. However, the commission shall meet more frequently at the call of the chairperson or if requested by five (5) or more members.

(3) A majority of the members of the commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the commission. A majority of the voting members present and serving are required for official action of the commission.

(4) Except as provided in subsection (5), a voting member of the commission shall not participate in the administration of the grant program described in Section 43-55-13(s) , including any discussion or decision regarding the provision of assistance or approved national service positions, or the continuation, suspension, or termination of assistance or such positions, to any program or entity if both of the following apply:

(a) A grant application relating to the grant program is pending before the commission.

(b) The application was submitted by a program or entity of which a member is, or in the one-year period before the submission of such application was, an officer, director, trustee, full-time volunteer, or employee.

(5) If, as a result of the operation of subsection (4), the number of voting members of the commission is insufficient to establish a quorum for the purpose of administering the grant program described in Section 43-55-13(s) , the voting members excluded from participation by subsection (4) may participate in the administration of the grant program, to the extent permitted by regulations issued by the corporation under Section 193A(b)(11) of Title I, 42 USCS 12651d .

(6) Subsection (4) does not limit the authority of any voting member of the commission to participate in either of the following:

(a) The discussion of, and hearing and forums on the general duties, policies, and operations of, the commission or the general administration of the grant program described in Section 43-55-13(s) .

(b) Similar general matters relating to the commission.

(7) The business which the commission may perform shall be conducted at a public meeting of the commission held in compliance with the open meetings act.

(8) A writing prepared, owned, used, in possession of, or retained by the commission in the performance of an official function is subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 15-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-15
Status: in_force

The Department of Child Protection Services shall maintain a registry of children whose custody lies with them and private or public agencies licensed by the department. The registry shall contain classifications of children as:

(a) Temporary custody for evaluation, not to exceed three (3) months;

(b) Temporary custody not to exceed one (1) year with the plan to return custody to the natural parents;

(c) Temporary custody, not to exceed two (2) years, with a plan to free for adoption;

(d) Children freed for adoption;

(e) Children ages fourteen (14) and above who have voluntarily chosen not to be adopted and cannot be returned to their own homes; and

(f) Children who are institutionalized and for whom placement in an adoptive home is not feasible.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-101 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 35-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-101
Status: in_force

The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this article, shall have the following respective meanings for the purposes of this article, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:

(a) “Municipality” shall mean any city, town or village in this state.

(b) “Governing body” shall mean the board of aldermen, council, board, or commissioners, or other legislative body, charged with governing a municipality.

(c) “Public officer” shall mean the officer or officers in charge of any municipal department who are authorized by ordinance adopted hereunder to exercise the powers prescribed by such ordinance and by this article.

(d) “Public authority” shall mean any housing authority, or any officer who is in charge of any department or branch of the government of the municipality or state relating to health, fire, building regulations, or to other activities concerning buildings in the municipality.

(e) “Owner” shall mean the holder of the title in fee, or a mortgagee or trustee, whose interest is shown of record, or who is in possession of a building, or any person in control of a building, or the agent of any such person.

(f) “Parties in interest” shall mean individuals, associations, or corporations who have an interest of record in or who are in possession of a building.

(g) “Building” means any building or structure or part thereof used and occupied by humans as a dwelling, store, factory, warehouse, requiring the presence of humans therein, or intended to be so used, and includes any yard, garden, parking or storage area, outhouses, and appurtenances belonging thereto or usually enjoyed therewith.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-209 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 35 / Section 35-209
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-209
Status: in_force

The principal proceeds of such bonds shall be paid into a special fund in a bank or banks qualified as depositories for the municipality or for the urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority to which the municipality has delegated its power and authority with respect to such parking facilities. The accrued interest and premium, if any, shall be paid into the fund established for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds. The principal proceeds shall be used solely for the purposes for which such bonds were issued, except as hereinafter provided, and shall be disbursed upon order of the board of commissioners of the urban renewal agency or redevelopment authority having jurisdiction of said parking facilities, or upon order of the governing authorities of such municipality, as the case may be. If the proceeds of such bonds, by error of calculation or otherwise, shall be less than the cost of the project for which such bonds were issued and the redeeming of any outstanding bonds, then and in such event, unless otherwise provided in the resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds, additional bonds may in like manner, be issued to provide the amount of such deficit. Unless otherwise provided in the resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds, such additional bonds shall be deemed to be of the same issue as the original bonds and shall be entitled to payment from the same funds without preference or priority to the bonds first issued for the same purpose. If the proceeds of the bonds of any issue shall exceed the amount required for the project for which the bonds were issued, such surplus shall be paid into the fund established for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-135 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 18 / Section 33-135
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-135
Status: in_force

The powers conferred by this article shall be in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-303 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 35 / Section 35-303
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-303
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of any municipality are hereby authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to construct, repair, improve, renovate or otherwise recondition physical facilities owned or leased by the municipality within the municipalities subject to the provisions hereinafter set out.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-457 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 21-457
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-457
Status: in_force

A petition may be amended at any time on order of the youth court for good cause shown so long as there is no prejudice to the parties.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-27 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 28 / Section 39-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-27
Status: in_force

Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as creating in any condemnation proceedings brought under the power of eminent domain any element of value or damages not in existence immediately prior to July 1, 1972, but such payments shall be considered only as additives to due compensation otherwise provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-747 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 7 / Section 33-747
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-747
Status: in_force

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

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

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

(4) The corporation shall submit to the Governor, State Auditor and both houses of the Legislature, an annual report on the activities of the corporation and, within thirty (30) days of the receipt thereof by the corporation, a copy of the report of every external examination of the books and accounts of the corporation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-117 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 15-117
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-117
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in this article, no person, agency, firm, corporation, association or group children's home may engage in child placing, or solicit money or other assistance for child placing, without a valid license issued by the department. No out-of-state child-placing agency that provides a full range of services, including, but not limited to, adoptions, foster family homes, adoption counseling services or financial aid, may operate in this state without a valid license issued by the department. No child-placing agency shall advertise in the media markets in Mississippi seeking birth mothers or their children for adoption purposes unless the agency holds a valid and current license issued either by the department or the authorized governmental licensing agency of another state that regulates child-placing agencies. Any child-placing agency, physician or attorney who advertises for child placing or adoption services in Mississippi shall be required by the department to show their principal office location on all media advertising for adoption services.

(2) An attorney who provides legal services to a client in connection with proceedings for the adoption of a child by the client, who does not receive, accept or provide custody or care for the child for the purposes specified in Section 43-15-103(c) , shall not be required to have a license under this article to provide those legal services.

(3) An attorney, physician or other person may assist a parent in identifying or locating a person interested in adopting the parent's child, or in identifying or locating a child to be adopted. However, no payment, charge, fee, reimbursement of expense, or exchange of value of any kind, or promise or agreement to make the same, may be made for that assistance.

(4) Nothing in this section precludes payment of reasonable fees for medical, legal or other lawful services rendered in connection with the care of a mother, delivery and care of a child including, but not limited to, the mother's living expenses, or counseling for the parents and/or the child, and for the legal proceedings related to lawful adoption proceedings; and no provision of this section abrogates the right of procedures for independent adoption as provided by law.

(5) The department is specifically authorized to promulgate rules under the Administrative Procedures Law, Title 25, Chapter 43, Mississippi Code of 1972 , to regulate fees charged by licensed child-placing agencies, if it determines that the practices of those licensed child-placing agencies demonstrates that the fees charged are excessive or that any of the agency's practices are deceptive or misleading; however, those rules regarding fees shall take into account the use of any sliding fee by an agency that uses a sliding fee procedure to permit prospective adoptive parents of varying income levels to utilize the services of those agencies or persons.

(6) The department shall promulgate rules under the Administrative Procedures Law, Title 25, Chapter 43, Mississippi Code of 1972 , to require that all licensed child-placing agencies provide written disclosures to all prospective adoptive parents of any fees or other charges for each service performed by the agency or person, and file an annual report with the department that states the fees and charges for those services, and to require them to inform the department in writing thirty (30) days in advance of any proposed changes to the fees or charges for those services.

(7) The department is specifically authorized to disclose to prospective adoptive parents or other interested persons any fees charged by any licensed child-placing agency, attorney or counseling service or counselor for all legal and counseling services provided by that licensed child-placing agency, attorney or counseling service or counselor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-107 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 13-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-107
Status: in_force

(1) The Division of Medicaid is created in the Office of the Governor and established to administer this article and perform such other duties as are prescribed by law.

(2)(a) The Governor shall appoint a full-time executive director, with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall be either (i) a physician with administrative experience in a medical care or health program, or (ii) a person holding a graduate degree in medical care administration, public health, hospital administration, or the equivalent, or (iii) a person holding a bachelor's degree with at least three (3) years' experience in management-level administration of, or policy development for, Medicaid programs. Provided, however, no one who has been a member of the Mississippi Legislature during the previous three (3) years may be Executive Director. The executive director shall be the official secretary and legal custodian of the records of the division; shall be the agent of the division for the purpose of receiving all service of process, summons and notices directed to the division; shall perform such other duties as the Governor may prescribe from time to time; and shall perform all other duties that are now or may be imposed upon him or her by law.

(b) The executive director shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Governor.

(c) The executive director shall, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of the office, take and subscribe to the oath of office prescribed by the Mississippi Constitution and shall file the same in the Office of the Secretary of State, and shall execute a bond in some surety company authorized to do business in the state in the penal sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), conditioned for the faithful and impartial discharge of the duties of the office. The premium on the bond shall be paid as provided by law out of funds appropriated to the Division of Medicaid for contractual services.

(d) The executive director, with the approval of the Governor and subject to the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board, shall employ such professional, administrative, stenographic, secretarial, clerical and technical assistance as may be necessary to perform the duties required in administering this article and fix the compensation for those persons, all in accordance with a state merit system meeting federal requirements. When the salary of the executive director is not set by law, that salary shall be set by the State Personnel Board. No employees of the Division of Medicaid shall be considered to be staff members of the immediate Office of the Governor; however, Section 25-9-107(c)(xv) shall apply to the executive director and other administrative heads of the division.

(3)(a) There is established a Medical Care Advisory Committee, which shall be the committee that is required by federal regulation to advise the Division of Medicaid about health and medical care services.

(b) The advisory committee shall consist of not less than eleven (11) members, as follows:

(i) The Governor shall appoint five (5) members, one (1) from each congressional district and one (1) from the state at large;

(ii) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint three (3) members, one (1) from each Supreme Court district;

(iii) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three (3) members, one (1) from each Supreme Court district.

All members appointed under this paragraph shall either be health care providers or consumers of health care services. One (1) member appointed by each of the appointing authorities shall be a board-certified physician.

(c) The respective Chairmen of the House Medicaid Committee, the House Public Health and Human Services Committee, the House Appropriations Committee, the Senate Medicaid Committee, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee, or their designees, one (1) member of the State Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and one (1) member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members of the advisory committee.

(d) In addition to the committee members required by paragraph (b), the advisory committee shall consist of such other members as are necessary to meet the requirements of the federal regulation applicable to the advisory committee, who shall be appointed as provided in the federal regulation.

(e) The chairmanship of the advisory committee shall be elected by the voting members of the committee annually and shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive years as chairman.

(f) The members of the advisory committee specified in paragraph (b) shall serve for terms that are concurrent with the terms of members of the Legislature, and any member appointed under paragraph (b) may be reappointed to the advisory committee. The members of the advisory committee specified in paragraph (b) shall serve without compensation, but shall receive reimbursement to defray actual expenses incurred in the performance of committee business as authorized by law. Legislators shall receive per diem and expenses, which may be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same amounts as provided for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session.

(g) The advisory committee shall meet not less than quarterly, and advisory committee members shall be furnished written notice of the meetings at least ten (10) days before the date of the meeting.

(h) The executive director shall submit to the advisory committee all amendments, modifications and changes to the state plan for the operation of the Medicaid program, for review by the advisory committee before the amendments, modifications or changes may be implemented by the division.

(i) The advisory committee, among its duties and responsibilities, shall:

(i) Advise the division with respect to amendments, modifications and changes to the state plan for the operation of the Medicaid program;

(ii) Advise the division with respect to issues concerning receipt and disbursement of funds and eligibility for Medicaid;

(iii) Advise the division with respect to determining the quantity, quality and extent of medical care provided under this article;

(iv) Communicate the views of the medical care professions to the division and communicate the views of the division to the medical care professions;

(v) Gather information on reasons that medical care providers do not participate in the Medicaid program and changes that could be made in the program to encourage more providers to participate in the Medicaid program, and advise the division with respect to encouraging physicians and other medical care providers to participate in the Medicaid program;

(vi) Provide a written report on or before November 30 of each year to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4)(a) There is established a Drug Use Review Board, which shall be the board that is required by federal law to:

(i) Review and initiate retrospective drug use, review including ongoing periodic examination of claims data and other records in order to identify patterns of fraud, abuse, gross overuse, or inappropriate or medically unnecessary care, among physicians, pharmacists and individuals receiving Medicaid benefits or associated with specific drugs or groups of drugs.

(ii) Review and initiate ongoing interventions for physicians and pharmacists, targeted toward therapy problems or individuals identified in the course of retrospective drug use reviews.

(iii) On an ongoing basis, assess data on drug use against explicit predetermined standards using the compendia and literature set forth in federal law and regulations.

(b) The board shall consist of not less than twelve (12) members appointed by the Governor, or his designee.

(c) The board shall meet at least quarterly, and board members shall be furnished written notice of the meetings at least ten (10) days before the date of the meeting.

(d) The board meetings shall be open to the public, members of the press, legislators and consumers. Additionally, all documents provided to board members shall be available to members of the Legislature in the same manner, and shall be made available to others for a reasonable fee for copying. However, patient confidentiality and provider confidentiality shall be protected by blinding patient names and provider names with numerical or other anonymous identifiers. The board meetings shall be subject to the Open Meetings Act ( Sections 25-41-1 through 25-41-17 ). Board meetings conducted in violation of this section shall be deemed unlawful.

(5)(a) There is established a Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, which shall be appointed by the Governor, or his designee.

(b) The committee shall meet as often as needed to fulfill its responsibilities and obligations as set forth in this section, and committee members shall be furnished written notice of the meetings at least ten (10) days before the date of the meeting.

(c) The committee meetings shall be open to the public, members of the press, legislators and consumers. Additionally, all documents provided to committee members shall be available to members of the Legislature in the same manner, and shall be made available to others for a reasonable fee for copying. However, patient confidentiality and provider confidentiality shall be protected by blinding patient names and provider names with numerical or other anonymous identifiers. The committee meetings shall be subject to the Open Meetings Act ( Sections 25-41-1 through 25-41-17 ). Committee meetings conducted in violation of this section shall be deemed unlawful.

(d) After a thirty-day public notice, the executive director, or his or her designee, shall present the division's recommendation regarding prior approval for a therapeutic class of drugs to the committee. However, in circumstances where the division deems it necessary for the health and safety of Medicaid beneficiaries, the division may present to the committee its recommendations regarding a particular drug without a thirty-day public notice. In making that presentation, the division shall state to the committee the circumstances that precipitate the need for the committee to review the status of a particular drug without a thirty-day public notice. The committee may determine whether or not to review the particular drug under the circumstances stated by the division without a thirty-day public notice. If the committee determines to review the status of the particular drug, it shall make its recommendations to the division, after which the division shall file those recommendations for a thirty-day public comment under Section 25-43-7(1) .

(e) Upon reviewing the information and recommendations, the committee shall forward a written recommendation approved by a majority of the committee to the executive director, or his or her designee. The decisions of the committee regarding any limitations to be imposed on any drug or its use for a specified indication shall be based on sound clinical evidence found in labeling, drug compendia, and peer reviewed clinical literature pertaining to use of the drug in the relevant population.

(f) Upon reviewing and considering all recommendations including recommendations of the committee, comments, and data, the executive director shall make a final determination whether to require prior approval of a therapeutic class of drugs, or modify existing prior approval requirements for a therapeutic class of drugs.

(g) At least thirty (30) days before the executive director implements new or amended prior authorization decisions, written notice of the executive director's decision shall be provided to all prescribing Medicaid providers, all Medicaid enrolled pharmacies, and any other party who has requested the notification. However, notice given under Section 25-43-7(1) will substitute for and meet the requirement for notice under this subsection.

(h) Members of the committee shall dispose of matters before the committee in an unbiased and professional manner. If a matter being considered by the committee presents a real or apparent conflict of interest for any member of the committee, that member shall disclose the conflict in writing to the committee chair and recuse himself or herself from any discussions and/or actions on the matter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-301 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 27 / Section 33-301
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-301
Status: in_force

(a) Banks, savings banks, trust companies, savings and loan associations and credit unions which are subject to the laws of the State of Mississippi or of the United States of America, and mortgagees approved by the Federal Housing Administration, Veterans Administration, or Farmers Home Administration which are qualified by requirements of the United States or a political subdivision thereof to so act, are hereby authorized to make loans and advances of credit and purchases of obligations representing loans and advances of credit which are insured, guaranteed in whole or in part, or eligible for purchase in whole or in part by the Federal Housing Administration, Veterans Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Federal National Mortgage Association, Government National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and any successors thereof to obtain such insurance or guarantee or to sell and transfer to such agencies such loans, advances of credit, and obligations.

(b) Banks, savings banks, trust companies, insurance companies, savings and loan associations, credit unions, pension funds, and mortgagees approved by the Federal Housing Administration, Veterans Administration, or Farmers Home Administration which are subject to the laws of the State of Mississippi or of the United States of America and have met the requirements thereof, are hereby authorized to make such loans and advances of credit and purchases of obligations representing loans and advances of credit as are enumerated in subsection (a) of this section, which are secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on real estate or a leasehold interest.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-301 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 9 / Section 21-301
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-301
Status: in_force

(1) No court other than the youth court shall issue an arrest warrant or custody order for a child in a matter in which the youth court has exclusive original jurisdiction but shall refer the matter to the youth court.

(2) Except as otherwise provided, no child in a matter in which the youth court has exclusive original jurisdiction shall be taken into custody by a law enforcement officer, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Child Protection Services, or any other person unless the judge or his designee has issued a custody order to take the child into custody.

(3) The judge or his designee may require a law enforcement officer, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Child Protection Services, or any suitable person to take a child into custody for a period not longer than forty-eight (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory state holidays.

(a) Custody orders under this subsection may be issued if it appears that there is probable cause to believe that:

(i) The child is within the jurisdiction of the court;

(ii) Custody is necessary because of any of the following reasons: the child is in danger of a significant risk of harm, any person would be in danger of a significant risk of harm by the child, to ensure the child's attendance in court at such time as required, or a parent, guardian or custodian is not available to provide for the care and supervision of the child; and

(iii) There is no reasonable alternative to custody.

A finding of probable cause under this subsection (3)(a) shall not be based solely upon a positive drug test of a newborn or parent for marijuana or solely upon the status of a parent as a cardholder under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act; however, a finding of probable cause may be based upon an evidence-based finding of harm to the child or a parent's inability to provide for the care and supervision of the child due to the parent's use of marijuana. Probable cause for unlawful use of any controlled substance, except as otherwise provided in this subsection (3)(a) for marijuana, may be based: 1. upon a parent's positive drug test for unlawful use of a controlled substance only if the child is in danger of a significant risk of harm or the parent is unable to provide proper care or supervision of the child because of the unlawful use and there is no reasonable alternative to custody; and 2. upon a newborn's positive drug screen for a controlled substance that was used unlawfully only if the child is in danger of a significant risk of harm or the parent is unable to provide proper care or supervision of the child because of the unlawful use and there is no reasonable alternative to custody.

A child shall not be considered “neglected” solely because the child's parent, guardian or custodian has failed to provide the child with food, clothing, or shelter necessary to sustain the life or health of the child when the failure is caused primarily by financial inability, unless relief services had been offered and refused and the child is in imminent risk of harm.

(b) Custody orders under this subsection shall be written. In emergency cases, a judge or his designee may issue an oral custody order, but the order shall be reduced to writing within forty-eight (48) hours of its issuance.

(c) Each youth court judge shall develop and make available to law enforcement a list of designees who are available after hours, on weekends and on holidays.

(4) The judge or his designee may order, orally or in writing, the immediate release of any child in the custody of any person or agency. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, custody orders as provided by this chapter and authorizations of temporary custody may be written or oral, but, if oral, reduced to writing within forty-eight (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory state holidays. The written order shall:

(a) Specify the name and address of the child, or, if unknown, designate him or her by any name or description by which he or she can be identified with reasonable certainty;

(b) Specify the age of the child, or, if unknown, that he or she is believed to be of an age subject to the jurisdiction of the youth court;

(c) Except in cases where the child is alleged to be a delinquent child or a child in need of supervision, state that the effect of the continuation of the child's residing within his or her own home would be contrary to the welfare of the child, that the placement of the child in foster care is in the best interests of the child, and unless the reasonable efforts requirement is bypassed under Section 43-21-603(7)(c) , also state that (i) reasonable efforts have been made to maintain the child within his or her own home, but that the circumstances warrant his removal and there is no reasonable alternative to custody; or (ii) the circumstances are of such an emergency nature that no reasonable efforts have been made to maintain the child within his own home, and that there is no reasonable alternative to custody. If the court makes a finding in accordance with (ii) of this paragraph, the court shall order that reasonable efforts be made toward the reunification of the child with his or her family;

(d) State that the child shall be brought immediately before the youth court or be taken to a place designated by the order to be held pending review of the order;

(e) State the date issued and the youth court by which the order is issued; and

(f) Be signed by the judge or his designee with the title of his office.

(5) The taking of a child into custody shall not be considered an arrest except for evidentiary purposes.

(6)(a) No child who has been accused or adjudicated of any offense that would not be a crime if committed by an adult shall be placed in an adult jail or lockup. An accused status offender shall not be held in secure detention longer than twenty-four (24) hours prior to and twenty-four (24) hours after an initial court appearance, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory state holidays, except under the following circumstances: a status offender may be held in secure detention for violating a valid court order pursuant to the criteria as established by the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2002, and any subsequent amendments thereto, and out-of-state runaways may be detained pending return to their home state.

(b) No accused or adjudicated juvenile offender, except for an accused or adjudicated juvenile offender in cases where jurisdiction is waived to the adult criminal court, shall be detained or placed into custody of any adult jail or lockup for a period in excess of six (6) hours.

(c) If any county violates the provisions of paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection, the state agency authorized to allocate federal funds received pursuant to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, 88 Stat. 2750 (codified in scattered Sections of 5 , 18, 42 USCS ), shall withhold the county's share of such funds.

(d) Any county that does not have a facility in which to detain its juvenile offenders in compliance with the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection may enter into a contractual agreement to detain or place into custody the juvenile offenders of that county with any county or municipality that does have such a facility, or with the State of Mississippi, or with any private entity that maintains a juvenile correctional facility.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this subsection, all counties shall be allowed a one-year grace period from March 27, 1993, to comply with the provisions of this subsection.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-1 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 16 / Section 47-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Vulnerable Persons Act of 1986.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-727 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 27 / 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. § 43-3-103 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 3-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-3-103
Status: in_force

(1) From and after July 1, 1997, the MIB shall be governed by a board of directors hereby created, to consist of four (4) persons appointed by the Governor, and three (3) by the Lieutenant Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, each of whom shall be a qualified elector of the State of Mississippi. The members of the board of directors appointed by the Governor shall include the following:

(a) One (1) legally blind individual;

(b) One (1) educator with expertise in rehabilitation or the field of blindness;

(c) One (1) individual with at least five (5) years' actual experience in finance or a related field;

(d) One (1) individual with at least five (5) years' actual experience in manufacturing or a related field.

The members of the board of directors appointed by the Lieutenant Governor shall include the following:

(a) One (1) legally blind individual;

(b) One (1) individual with at least five (5) years' actual experience in marketing or a related field; and

(c) One (1) individual who is a licensed practicing attorney.

Initial appointments shall be made April 24, 1997. The Governor shall make initial appointments of two (2) members for two (2) years, one (1) member for three (3) years, and one (1) member for four (4) years to be designated at the time of appointment. The Lieutenant Governor shall make initial appointments of one (1) member for two (2) years, one (1) member for three (3) years, and one (1) member for four (4) years to be designated at the time of appointment. Thereafter, the terms of the members shall be for four (4) years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. In the event of a vacancy during the term of office of an incumbent, the appointing authority shall fill such vacancy, for the unexpired portion of the term, by appointing an individual having the same prerequisite qualifications as required for the vacancy being filled.

(2) The board of directors shall organize by selecting annually from its members a chairman and a vice chairman, and may do all things necessary and convenient for carrying into effect the provisions of this chapter. Each member of the board shall receive a per diem as provided in Section 25-3-69, Mississippi Code of 1972 , plus travel and reasonable and necessary expenses incidental to the attendance at each meeting as provided in Section 25-3-41 , including mileage.

(3) The Lieutenant Governor may designate the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare and another member of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives may designate the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Health and Human Services and another member of the House to attend any meeting of the Board of Directors of the MIB. The appointing authorities may designate alternate members from their respective houses to serve when the regular designees are unable to attend such meetings of the board. Such legislative designees shall have no jurisdiction or vote on any matter within the jurisdiction of the board. For attending meetings of the board, such legislators shall receive per diem and expenses which shall be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same amounts as provided for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session; however, no per diem and expenses for attending meetings of the board will be paid while the Legislature is in session. No per diem and expenses will be paid except for attending meetings of the board without prior approval of the proper committee in their respective houses.

(4) It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors of MIB to:

(a) Appoint and employ an executive director who shall be the executive and administrative head of MIB and who shall serve at the pleasure of the board of directors. The Board of Directors of MIB shall set the compensation of the executive director.

(b) Make and publish policies, rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the terms of this chapter, as may be necessary for the efficient administration and operation of MIB.

(c) Adopt and publish rules and regulations, in its discretion, to establish a policy of sick leave with pay and personal leave with pay for MIB employees and to require that MIB offices be opened and staffed on legal holidays as determined necessary by the board of directors.

(5) There is created a revolving fund in the State Treasury, which shall be used by the Mississippi Industries for the Blind for the purpose of taking advantage of contractual opportunities that would not be available to MIB without those funds and for the purpose of meeting the obligations of those types of contracts. The fund shall consist of monies that are specifically made available by the Legislature for the purpose of the fund. MIB shall not be authorized to expend any monies in the fund until it has received the prior written approval of the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration and the State Treasurer. MIB shall repay to the fund all monies that it expends from the fund, which monies then may be used by MIB for future contractual opportunities and obligations. Monies in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and all interest earned on monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-23 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 47-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-23
Status: in_force

The department and the court are authorized to seek the cooperation of all public agencies, departments, societies, organizations or agencies having for their object the protection or aid of vulnerable persons. These agencies, departments, societies and organizations shall provide any such assistance as is necessary.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-11-16 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 11-16
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-11-16
Status: in_force

Medical records are and shall remain the property of the various institutions for the aged or infirm, subject, however, to reasonable access to the information contained therein upon written request by the resident, his legally appointed representatives, his attending medical personnel and his duly authorized nominees, and upon payment of any reasonable charges for such service. Nothing in this section shall be construed to deny access to medical records by the Attorney General, the licensing agency, or his or its agents and investigators in the discharge of their official duties under this chapter. Except as otherwise provided by law, medical records shall not constitute public records and nothing in this section shall be deemed to impair any privilege of confidence conferred by law or the Mississippi Rules of Evidence on residents, their personal representatives or heirs by Section 13-1-21 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-55 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 19-55
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-55
Status: in_force

The State Department of Human Services shall be authorized in maintaining separate accounts with Mississippi banks to handle funds received as incentives from the federal government earned as a result of collecting support and also any funds maintained on deposit as a result of federal and state income tax offsets and any other relevant account, and to aggressively manage the float in these accounts so as to accrue maximum interest advantage of the funds in the account, and to retain all earned interest on these funds to be applied to defray the expenses of the Child Support Unit.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-37 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 35-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-35-37
Status: in_force

In so far as the provisions of this article are inconsistent with the provisions of any other law, the provisions of this article shall be controlling. The powers conferred by this article shall be in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to amend, repeal or supersede the provisions of the Public Utility Law of 1956, Sections 77-3-1 through 77-3-89, Mississippi Code of 1972 , nor to authorize the construction or operation of utility facilities where reasonably adequate services are being provided by an existing utility. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to authorize the taking of private property for any purpose other than necessary public use.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-9 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 20 / Section 28-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-28-9
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(t) To develop and provide an “Account Holder's Bill of Rights” to each individual, who is a Mississippi resident, and who enrolls in the ABLE Program whether such account is managed inside or outside of the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-47 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 19-47
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-47
Status: in_force

(1) The Child Support Unit of the State Department of Human Services, in cooperation with the Attorney General, may appoint at least one (1) full-time staff attorney in or for each chancery court district for the purpose of initiating proceedings under the provisions of Sections 43-19-31 through 43-19-53 in securing child support and establishing paternity. The annual salary of each of the attorneys appointed by the Child Support Unit, in cooperation with the Attorney General's office under the provisions of Sections 43-19-31 through 43-19-53 , shall be fixed at such sums as may be deemed proper in accordance with the salaries of other full-time employed state attorneys with the Attorney General's Office. Such salaries, inclusive of all reimbursable travel and other expenses, inclusive of financial arrangements perfected with the appropriate courts, the law enforcement officials and the district attorneys, shall be paid monthly from the funds appropriated to the Child Support Unit of the State Department of Human Services and from the special fund for the Division of Child Support in which the interest from its accounts and all attorney's fees and other fees is placed. The Mississippi Personnel Board shall survey the salaries of other Mississippi attorneys with the Attorney General's Office each year and shall raise the start step of the staff and senior attorneys accordingly and the minimum shall never go below Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00) for staff attorneys or Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) for senior attorneys.

(2) To assist in the implementation of the provisions of Sections 43-19-31 through 43-19-53 , the Executive Director of the Department of Human Services is empowered to enter into cooperative agreements with district attorneys, county attorneys and attorneys employed by the county boards of supervisors, in conjunction with the Office of Attorney General. Said cooperative agreements shall be made in compliance with the regulations established by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and may be funded either by funds appropriated to the Child Support Unit of the State Department of Human Services or funds appropriated by any county board of supervisors in this state for their respective county. Attorneys may be hired contractually to be paid in amounts commensurate with the department's staff attorneys.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-17-7 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 17-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-17-7
Status: in_force

(1) The State Department shall:

(a) Supervise the administration of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program under this chapter by the county departments;

(b) Make such rules and regulations and take such action as may be necessary or desirable for carrying out the provisions of this chapter. All rules and regulations made by the state department shall be binding on the counties and shall be complied with by the respective county departments;

(c) Prescribe the form of, and print and supply to the county departments such forms as it may deem necessary and advisable;

(d) Cooperate with the federal government in matters of mutual concern pertaining to the TANF program;

(e) Make such reports in such form and containing such information as the federal government may from time to time require, and comply with such provisions as the federal government may from time to time find necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports;

(f) Publish an annual report and such interim reports as may be necessary;

(g) Establish rules and regulations restricting the use or disclosure of information, records, papers, files and communications concerning applicants and recipients to purposes directly connected with the administration of the TANF program, in compliance with federal law;

(h) When the state agency has reason to believe that the home in which a relative and child receiving TANF assistance reside is unsuitable for the child because of the neglect, abuse or exploitation of such child, the state department shall bring such condition to the attention of the appropriate court or law enforcement agencies, and provide such data with respect to the situation as the department may have;

(i) As required by federal law, to provide for the development and implementation of a program under which the department will undertake, in the case of a child born out of wedlock who is receiving TANF assistance authorized herein, to establish the paternity of such child and secure support for him; and, in the case of any child receiving TANF assistance from the department who has been deserted or abandoned by his parent, to secure support for such child from such parent (or from any other person legally liable for such support), utilizing any reciprocal arrangements adopted with other states to obtain or enforce court orders for support;

(j) Provide for entering into cooperative arrangements with appropriate courts and law enforcement officials to assist the department in administering the program referred to in paragraph (i), including the entering into of financial arrangements with such courts and officials in order to assure optimum results under such program, and with respect to any other matters of common concern to such courts or officials in the department.

(2) The Department of Human Services shall include the following agencies currently providing services to TANF and food stamp recipients in any planning activities with respect thereto, and those agencies shall cooperate with the department and provide information as necessary in order to ensure the full utilization of all economic assistance programs: the State Department of Mental Health, the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, the Mississippi Department of Corrections, the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the State Department of Public Safety, the Division of Medicaid, the State Department of Health and the State Department of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-23 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 15-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-23
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section the term “ placing out ” means to arrange for the free care of a child in a family, other than that of the child's parent, stepparent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt or legal guardian, for the purpose of adoption or for the purpose of providing care.

(2) No person, agency, association, corporation, institution, society or other organization, except a child placement agency licensed by the Department of Child Protection Services under Section 43-15-5 , shall request, receive or accept any compensation or thing of value, directly or indirectly, for placing out of a child.

(3) No person shall pay or give any compensation or thing of value, directly or indirectly, for placing out of a child to any person, agency, association, corporation, institution, society or other organization except a child placement agency licensed by the Department of Child Protection Services.

(4) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to (a) prevent the payment of salaries or other compensation by a child placement agency licensed by the Department of Child Protection Services to the officers or employees thereof; (b) prevent the payment of legal fees, which have been approved by the chancery court, to an attorney for services performed in regard to adoption proceedings; (c) prevent the payment of reasonable and actual medical fees or hospital charges for services rendered in connection with the birth or medical treatment of such child to the physician or hospital which rendered the services; or (d) prevent the receipt of such payments by such attorney, physician or hospital.

(5) Any person, agency, association, corporation, institution, society or other organization violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of illegal placement of children and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment not more than five (5) years, or both such fine and imprisonment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-117 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 15-117
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-117
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in this article, no person, agency, firm, corporation, association or group children's home may engage in child placing, or solicit money or other assistance for child placing, without a valid license issued by the department. No out-of-state child-placing agency that provides a full range of services, including, but not limited to, adoptions, foster family homes, adoption counseling services or financial aid, may operate in this state without a valid license issued by the department. No child-placing agency shall advertise in the media markets in Mississippi seeking birth mothers or their children for adoption purposes unless the agency holds a valid and current license issued either by the department or the authorized governmental licensing agency of another state that regulates child-placing agencies. Any child-placing agency, physician or attorney who advertises for child placing or adoption services in Mississippi shall be required by the department to show their principal office location on all media advertising for adoption services.

(2) An attorney who provides legal services to a client in connection with proceedings for the adoption of a child by the client, who does not receive, accept or provide custody or care for the child for the purposes specified in Section 43-15-103(c) , shall not be required to have a license under this article to provide those legal services.

(3) An attorney, physician or other person may assist a parent in identifying or locating a person interested in adopting the parent's child, or in identifying or locating a child to be adopted. However, no payment, charge, fee, reimbursement of expense, or exchange of value of any kind, or promise or agreement to make the same, may be made for that assistance.

(4) Nothing in this section precludes payment of reasonable fees for medical, legal or other lawful services rendered in connection with the care of a mother, delivery and care of a child including, but not limited to, the mother's living expenses, or counseling for the parents and/or the child, and for the legal proceedings related to lawful adoption proceedings; and no provision of this section abrogates the right of procedures for independent adoption as provided by law.

(5) The department is specifically authorized to promulgate rules under the Administrative Procedures Law, Title 25, Chapter 43, Mississippi Code of 1972 , to regulate fees charged by licensed child-placing agencies, if it determines that the practices of those licensed child-placing agencies demonstrates that the fees charged are excessive or that any of the agency's practices are deceptive or misleading; however, those rules regarding fees shall take into account the use of any sliding fee by an agency that uses a sliding fee procedure to permit prospective adoptive parents of varying income levels to utilize the services of those agencies or persons.

(6) The department shall promulgate rules under the Administrative Procedures Law, Title 25, Chapter 43, Mississippi Code of 1972 , to require that all licensed child-placing agencies provide written disclosures to all prospective adoptive parents of any fees or other charges for each service performed by the agency or person, and file an annual report with the department that states the fees and charges for those services, and to require them to inform the department in writing thirty (30) days in advance of any proposed changes to the fees or charges for those services.

(7) The department is specifically authorized to disclose to prospective adoptive parents or other interested persons any fees charged by any licensed child-placing agency, attorney or counseling service or counselor for all legal and counseling services provided by that licensed child-placing agency, attorney or counseling service or counselor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-301 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 15-301
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-301
Status: in_force

As used in this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a)(i) “ Child care service ” means any school, business or volunteer service that is:

1. Licensed by the state to perform child care; or

2. Involves the care, instruction or guidance of minor children where a fee is charged for the care, instruction, guidance or participation of a child in the program or activity offered by the school, business or service; or

(ii) Any public school.

(b) “ Child care service employer ” means every person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation offering or conducting a child care service.

(c) “ Applicant ” means any person who is being considered for employment or as a volunteer by a child care service employer.

(d) “ Convicted ” means an adjudication of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.

(e) “ Sex offense ” shall have the meaning ascribed in Section 45-33-23 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-115 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 26 / Section 27-115
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-115
Status: in_force

The Department of Human Services and the Department of Child Protection Services are each authorized to employ one (1) program manager for each department region, if funds are appropriated to either department for that purpose, whose duties shall be to develop an ongoing public education program to inform Mississippi citizens about the needs of the state's children, youth and families, the work of the department in addressing these needs and how citizens might become involved. The Department of Human Services and the Department of Child Protection Services shall develop formal agreements of cooperation and protocol between each department and other providers of services to children and families including school districts, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, mental health centers and others.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 33 / Section 47-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-15
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall have the authority to provide immediate medical care, food, clothing, heat, shelter, supervision or other essential services in the absence of consent if it is determined that:

(a) The vulnerable person is in imminent danger of death or irreparable harm;

(b) Provision of emergency and/or protective services will alleviate the endangerment; and

(c) No other statutory or otherwise appropriate remedy is immediately available.

(2) Within forty-eight (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, the department shall petition the court for an order for injunctive relief authorizing the provision of emergency services.

(3) Upon petition of the Commissioner of Public Welfare, the court may order the provision of emergency services to a vulnerable person after finding that there is reasonable cause to believe that:

(a) The vulnerable person lacks the capacity to consent and that he is in need of protective services;

(b) An emergency exists; and

(c) No other person authorized by law or order to give consent is available and willing to arrange for emergency services.

If there is reasonable cause to believe that the conditions listed above exist and no other custodian is available, then upon a written petition for emergency services filed by the department, the court may issue an order for injunctive relief for the department to provide emergency services to a vulnerable person.

(4) The petition for emergency services shall set forth the name, address and authority of the petitioners; the name, age and residence of the vulnerable person; the nature of the emergency; the proposed emergency services; the petitioner's reasonable belief as to the existence of the conditions set forth in subsection (1) of this section; and facts showing petitioner's attempts to obtain the vulnerable person's consent to the services.

(5) If the provision of emergency and/or protective services alleviates the imminent danger of death or irreparable harm and the department has reasonable cause to believe that the vulnerable person remains in need of protective services, the department shall proceed according to Sections 43-47-11 and 43-47-13 .

(6) Where it is necessary to enter a premises without the vulnerable person's consent after obtaining a court order in compliance with subsection (3) of this section, the representative of the petitioner shall do so.

(7) No petitioner shall be held liable in any action brought by the vulnerable person if the petitioner acted in good faith.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 39-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-15
Status: in_force

Whenever the acquisition of real property for a program or project will result in the displacement of any person on or after July 1, 1972, the displacing agency shall assure that within a reasonable period of time prior to displacement, there will be available comparable, decent, safe and sanitary replacement housing which is within the financial means of such displaced persons. Regulations issued pursuant to Section 43-39-17 may prescribe situations when these assurances may be waived.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-39 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 27-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-39
Status: in_force

(1) The purpose of this section is to ensure that Mississippi's juvenile justice system is cost-efficient and effective at reducing juvenile crime and to create a continuum of options for Mississippi's youth court judges so that they are better equipped to protect our communities and to care for our children.

(2) The Columbia Training School shall no longer operate as a secure training school for juvenile delinquents. All youth, both male and female, committed to the custody of the Department of Human Services and adjudicated to training school shall be housed at the Oakley Youth Development Center. The Oakley Youth Development Center shall provide gender-specific treatment for youth who are adjudicated delinquent.

(3) Any portion of Columbia Training School property and facilities described in Section 1 of Chapter 553, Laws of 2012, may be conveyed or transferred to the Board of Supervisors of Marion County, Mississippi.

(4) Any portion of Columbia Training School property and facilities described in Section 2 of Chapter 386, Laws of 2017, may be conveyed or transferred to the Marion County Economic Development District for the purposes prescribed under that section.

(5) Any portion of Columbia Training School property and facilities described in Section 1 of Chapter 412, Laws of 2022 may be conveyed or transferred to the Marion County Economic Development District.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-741 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 31 / 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. § 43-33-201 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 26 / Section 33-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-201
Status: in_force

All trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, committees, receivers and other persons and corporations holding trust funds; and all corporations and private banks organized under or subject to the provisions of the laws of this state respecting banking in any form, and all building and loan associations organized or doing business under the laws of this state, conservator, liquidator, or rehabilitator of any such corporation, building and loan association or private banks organized under and subject to the provisions of the laws of this state respecting banking in any form; and persons, partnerships or corporations organized under or subject to the provision of the laws of this state respecting insurance; and the conservator, liquidator or rehabilitator of any such person, partnership or corporation organized under or subject to the provisions of any laws of this state respecting insurance; and other domestic corporations, and any other corporation that shall have made or shall hold an investment, whether with or without specified ratio, of real property security in a bond or notes or other evidence of indebtedness secured by mortgage or deed of trust on real property, or shares or part thereof, whether guaranteed or not, may, at any time, exchange, prior or subsequent to maturity, such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness and the mortgage or deed of trust, or any share or part thereof, and any rights in respect thereto for the bonds of the Home Owners' Loan Corporation or the bonds of any Federal Home Loan Bank, at par and may hold such bonds as authorized and lawful investments for any and all persons notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law of this state inconsistent with the provisions of this section, subject to the sole limitation that in all cases where any of the foregoing are for any reason acting or being operated or liquidated under the orders of any chancery court of this state, that an order approving such exchange or investment be first obtained from the chancery court having jurisdiction.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-301 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / Section 21-301
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-301
Status: in_force

(1) No court other than the youth court shall issue an arrest warrant or custody order for a child in a matter in which the youth court has exclusive original jurisdiction but shall refer the matter to the youth court.

(2) Except as otherwise provided, no child in a matter in which the youth court has exclusive original jurisdiction shall be taken into custody by a law enforcement officer, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Child Protection Services, or any other person unless the judge or his designee has issued a custody order to take the child into custody.

(3) The judge or his designee may require a law enforcement officer, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Child Protection Services, or any suitable person to take a child into custody for a period not longer than forty-eight (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory state holidays.

(a) Custody orders under this subsection may be issued if it appears that there is probable cause to believe that:

(i) The child is within the jurisdiction of the court;

(ii) Custody is necessary because of any of the following reasons: the child is in danger of a significant risk of harm, any person would be in danger of a significant risk of harm by the child, to ensure the child's attendance in court at such time as required, or a parent, guardian or custodian is not available to provide for the care and supervision of the child; and

(iii) There is no reasonable alternative to custody.

A finding of probable cause under this subsection (3)(a) shall not be based solely upon a positive drug test of a newborn or parent for marijuana or solely upon the status of a parent as a cardholder under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act; however, a finding of probable cause may be based upon an evidence-based finding of harm to the child or a parent's inability to provide for the care and supervision of the child due to the parent's use of marijuana. Probable cause for unlawful use of any controlled substance, except as otherwise provided in this subsection (3)(a) for marijuana, may be based: 1. upon a parent's positive drug test for unlawful use of a controlled substance only if the child is in danger of a significant risk of harm or the parent is unable to provide proper care or supervision of the child because of the unlawful use and there is no reasonable alternative to custody; and 2. upon a newborn's positive drug screen for a controlled substance that was used unlawfully only if the child is in danger of a significant risk of harm or the parent is unable to provide proper care or supervision of the child because of the unlawful use and there is no reasonable alternative to custody.

A child shall not be considered “neglected” solely because the child's parent, guardian or custodian has failed to provide the child with food, clothing, or shelter necessary to sustain the life or health of the child when the failure is caused primarily by financial inability, unless relief services had been offered and refused and the child is in imminent risk of harm.

(b) Custody orders under this subsection shall be written. In emergency cases, a judge or his designee may issue an oral custody order, but the order shall be reduced to writing within forty-eight (48) hours of its issuance.

(c) Each youth court judge shall develop and make available to law enforcement a list of designees who are available after hours, on weekends and on holidays.

(4) The judge or his designee may order, orally or in writing, the immediate release of any child in the custody of any person or agency. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, custody orders as provided by this chapter and authorizations of temporary custody may be written or oral, but, if oral, reduced to writing within forty-eight (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory state holidays. The written order shall:

(a) Specify the name and address of the child, or, if unknown, designate him or her by any name or description by which he or she can be identified with reasonable certainty;

(b) Specify the age of the child, or, if unknown, that he or she is believed to be of an age subject to the jurisdiction of the youth court;

(c) Except in cases where the child is alleged to be a delinquent child or a child in need of supervision, state that the effect of the continuation of the child's residing within his or her own home would be contrary to the welfare of the child, that the placement of the child in foster care is in the best interests of the child, and unless the reasonable efforts requirement is bypassed under Section 43-21-603(7)(c) , also state that (i) reasonable efforts have been made to maintain the child within his or her own home, but that the circumstances warrant his removal and there is no reasonable alternative to custody; or (ii) the circumstances are of such an emergency nature that no reasonable efforts have been made to maintain the child within his own home, and that there is no reasonable alternative to custody. If the court makes a finding in accordance with (ii) of this paragraph, the court shall order that reasonable efforts be made toward the reunification of the child with his or her family;

(d) State that the child shall be brought immediately before the youth court or be taken to a place designated by the order to be held pending review of the order;

(e) State the date issued and the youth court by which the order is issued; and

(f) Be signed by the judge or his designee with the title of his office.

(5) The taking of a child into custody shall not be considered an arrest except for evidentiary purposes.

(6)(a) No child who has been accused or adjudicated of any offense that would not be a crime if committed by an adult shall be placed in an adult jail or lockup. An accused status offender shall not be held in secure detention longer than twenty-four (24) hours prior to and twenty-four (24) hours after an initial court appearance, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory state holidays, except under the following circumstances: a status offender may be held in secure detention for violating a valid court order pursuant to the criteria as established by the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2002, and any subsequent amendments thereto, and out-of-state runaways may be detained pending return to their home state.

(b) No accused or adjudicated juvenile offender, except for an accused or adjudicated juvenile offender in cases where jurisdiction is waived to the adult criminal court, shall be detained or placed into custody of any adult jail or lockup for a period in excess of six (6) hours.

(c) If any county violates the provisions of paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection, the state agency authorized to allocate federal funds received pursuant to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, 88 Stat. 2750 (codified in scattered Sections of 5 , 18, 42 USCS ), shall withhold the county's share of such funds.

(d) Any county that does not have a facility in which to detain its juvenile offenders in compliance with the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection may enter into a contractual agreement to detain or place into custody the juvenile offenders of that county with any county or municipality that does have such a facility, or with the State of Mississippi, or with any private entity that maintains a juvenile correctional facility.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this subsection, all counties shall be allowed a one-year grace period from March 27, 1993, to comply with the provisions of this subsection.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-115 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 15-115
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-115
Status: in_force

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

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

(a) Give proper identification;

(b) Request to see the applicable license;

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

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

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

(a) Inspect the physical facilities;

(b) Inspect records and documents;

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

(d) Observe the licensee in operation.

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

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

(6) The provisions of this section apply to on-site inspections and do not restrict the department from contacting family members, neighbors or other individuals, or from seeking information from other sources to determine compliance with the provisions of this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-1 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 39-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-39-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known as the “Relocation Assistance Law.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-30-1 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 28 / Section 30-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-30-1
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Mississippi Disability Resource Commission. The function of the commission is to:

(a) Assimilate and provide current information to persons who need health, special education or disability information or services;

(b) Refer those persons to the appropriate agencies to receive needed information or services;

(c) Facilitate coordination of services provided by agencies for the maximum benefit of persons who need health, special education or disability services;

(d) Be a comprehensive clearinghouse of information and single point of contact for people with disabilities related to potential service programs;

(e) Otherwise assist persons who need health, special education or disability services in obtaining information and services; and

(f) Monitor and provide oversight of the implementation of Sections 43-6-201 through 43-6-207 by state agencies.

(2) The powers and duties of the Mississippi Disability Resource Commission shall include, but are not limited to, or provided in any priority order, the following:

(a) To collect and analyze health, special education and disability-related data for use by state agencies, universities and colleges, organizations and private citizens;

(b) To advise the Governor, the Legislature, the Mississippi congressional delegation, state agencies, the business community, other public and private groups and the general public on health, special education and disability issues and concerns, and to make recommendations to address those identified matters, with emphasis on increasing opportunities for independence and employment;

(c) To coordinate and conduct public relations activities, including establishment of a permanent, statewide toll-free phone line for people with disabilities seeking access to services and programs, to promote the skills and capabilities of persons needing health, special education or disability services;

(d) To submit an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature with recommendations to address the needs of persons in Mississippi needing health, special education or disability services, and other pertinent data regarding health, special education or disability issues;

(e) Build on the work of the Mississippi Partnerships in Employment Project, identify state agency policies and procedures that create barriers and disincentives for employment of persons with disabilities, and develop recommendations to reduce or eliminate those barriers and disincentives to better meet the needs of persons who desire employment;

(f) Identify best practices, effective partnerships, sources of available state and federal funds, and opportunities for shared services among existing state agencies to increase integrated and competitive employment opportunities for Mississippians with disabilities;

(g) Review and comment on proposed legislation that may affect the employment of persons with disabilities and consider recommendations of federal agencies and other organizations that promote the employment of persons with disabilities;

(h) Request that measurable goals and objectives be submitted to it by each relevant state agency to ensure implementation of Sections 43-6-201 through 43-6-207 . The commission shall establish the time frames for submissions by state agencies and track their measurable progress in implementing Sections 43-6-201 through 43-6-207 . All state agencies shall fully cooperate with and provide data and information to assist the commission in carrying out its duties; and

(i) Prepare an annual report to the Governor and members of the Legislature. The report shall detail progress toward the goals and objectives and full implementation of Sections 43-6-201 through 43-6-207 . All state agencies shall cooperate with the commission on the creation and dissemination of the report. The report also shall identify barriers for achieving the outcomes along with the effective strategies and policies that can help realize the goals of Sections 43-6-201 through 43-6-207 .

(3) The membership of the commission shall consist of fourteen (14) members as follows:

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

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

(c) The Executive Officer of the State Department of Health, or his or her designee;

(d) The State Superintendent of Public Education, or his or her designee;

(e) The Executive Director of the Division of Medicaid, or his or her designee;

(f) The Executive Director of the Department of Employment Security, or his or her designee;

(g) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Industries for the Blind; and

(h) Three (3) appointments by the Governor and two (2) appointments each by the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Each of the appointments referenced in paragraph (h) of this subsection shall be a person with a disability, a representative of a disability advocacy group, or the parent of a person with a disability. Of these appointments, there shall be no more than one (1) appointment from the same consumer organization or advocacy group during the same term of appointment.

(4) Members appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House shall serve for terms that run concurrently with the terms of office of the appointing officials. An appointment to fill a vacancy, other than by expiration of a term of office, shall be made for the balance of the unexpired term. All appointments required by this section shall be made no later than August 1, 2015.

(5) The members of the commission shall elect from their membership the chairperson and vice chairperson of the commission. The chairperson and vice chairperson shall be a member appointed under subsection (3)(h) of this section and a member from a state agency referenced in subsection (3)(a) through (g) of this section. The chairperson and vice chairperson shall serve for terms of one (1) year beginning on July 1 of each year, except that the terms of the first chairperson and vice chairperson shall begin on the date of their election to those positions. Each year at the expiration of the terms of the chairperson and vice chairperson, the vice chairperson during the preceding year shall serve as chairperson for the next year, and a new vice chairperson shall be elected according to the terms set forth in this subsection.

(6) The commission shall meet at least quarterly and hold other meetings as are necessary for the purpose of conducting required business, not exceeding six (6) meetings in any one (1) fiscal year. If funds are available for that purpose, the appointed members of the commission may be paid per diem and travel expenses in accordance with the provisions of Sections 25-3-69 and 25-3-41 . The commission shall convene to begin work no later than September 1, 2015.

(7) The Mississippi Disability Resource Commission may receive and expend any monies appropriated by the Legislature, apply for and utilize grants, and receive gifts or any other appropriate source of funds to carry out the duties of office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-19 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 15-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-19
Status: in_force

(1) The Department of Child Protection Services shall maintain a Mississippi Adoption Resource Exchange registry, which shall contain a total listing of all children freed for adoption as well as a listing of all persons who wish to adopt children and who are approved by a licensed adoption agency in the State of Mississippi. The registry shall be distributed to all county offices of child protection services and licensed adoption agencies within the state and shall be updated at least quarterly. The Department of Child Protection Services shall establish regulations for listing descriptive characteristics while protecting the privacy of the children's names. Listed names shall be removed when adoption placement plans are made for a child or when a person withdraws an application for adoption.

(2) Adoptive parents shall be given the option of having their names placed in the registry. To be placed in the registry, they shall be required to give written authority to the Department of Child Protection Services.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-773 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 6 / 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. § 43-63-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 9 / Section 63-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-63-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Legislature finds that:

(a) Families caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia at home are often burdened with excessive financial or personal costs of providing continuous care;

(b) Medicare does not pay for long-term care or provide support to family caregivers;

(c) Long-term care insurance is costly and may not be affordable to low-and-middle income families and may not cover essential services for the length of time needed for an Alzheimer's patient; and

(d) Providing respite care services to those with Alzheimer's may delay or supplant the need for transfer to a long-term skilled nursing facility, allowing for the individual with Alzheimer's to remain in his or her home environment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-26-15 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 26-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-26-15
Status: in_force

The Department of Finance and Administration shall furnish office space for the Department of Child Protection Services in the City of Jackson and is authorized to rent suitable quarters in the city if there is not sufficient room in one (1) of the state office buildings.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-137 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-137
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-137
Status: in_force

The division is an agency as defined under Section 25-43-3 and, therefore, must comply in all respects with the Administrative Procedures Law, Section 25-43-1 et seq.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-301 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-301
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-301
Status: in_force

The State Department of Public Welfare shall assist the Division of Medicaid in the Office of the Governor in identifying cases involving third-party liability, including without limitation, third-party insurance benefits, health insurance or other health coverage maintained by the recipient or absent parent through intake, initial determinations, and redeterminations of eligibility, and shall promptly transmit such information to the Division of Medicaid or the fiscal agent of the Division of Medicaid.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-49 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 7 / Section 19-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-49
Status: in_force

There is hereby authorized to be employed by the child support unit of the state department of public welfare such other, investigative, technical, secretarial and supportive staff as may be necessary for the proper and necessary implementation of the requirements of Public Law 93-647 , 93rd Congress, and any amendments adopted thereto applicable to said program as provided under Sections 43-19-31 through 43-19-53 ; said positions shall be subject to the merit system's rules and regulations and their salaries shall be fixed in such amounts as the state department of public welfare may deem proper.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-6-153 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 6-153
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-6-153
Status: in_force

The following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Mobility impaired person ” means any person, regardless of age, who is subject to a physiological defect or deficiency regardless of its cause, nature, or extent that renders the person unable to move about without the aid of crutches, a wheelchair or any other form of support, or that limits the person's functional ability to ambulate, climb, descend, sit, rise, or to perform any related function.

(b) “ Blind ” means either of the following:

(i) Vision 20/200 or less in the better eye with proper correction.

(ii) Field defect in the better eye with proper correction which contracts the peripheral field so that the diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than twenty (20) degrees.

(c) “ Traumatic event ” means a life-threatening event such as military combat, natural disaster, terrorist incident, serious accident or violent personal assault of a physical or sexual nature that occurred while an individual was on active duty or deployment as a member of the United States Armed Services.

(d) “ Post traumatic stress disorder ” or PTSD means an anxiety disorder that occurs following the experience of a frightening, distressing or traumatic event or from witnessing a traumatic event. PTSD is also referred to as “post traumatic stress syndrome” or PTSS.

(e) “ Support animal ” means an animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. The work done or task performed must be directly related to the individual's disability and may include, but not be limited to:

(i) Guiding individuals who are visually impaired or blind;

(ii) Alerting individuals who are hearing impaired or deaf to an intruder or sounds;

(iii) Providing minimal protection or rescue work;

(iv) Pulling a wheelchair;

(v) Fetching dropped items;

(vi) Detecting the onset of a seizure, and alerting and protecting individuals having a seizure;

(vii) Retrieving objects;

(viii) Alerting an individual to the presence of allergens;

(ix) Providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to an individual with a mobility disability;

(x) Helping an individual with a psychiatric or neurological disability by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors;

(xi) Reminding an individual with mental illness to take prescribed medication;

(xii) Calming an individual with post traumatic stress disorder during an anxiety attack; or

(xiii) Doing other specific work or performing other special tasks.

The term “ support animal ” includes service animals, guide animals, seeing-eye animals, hearing-ear animals, therapeutic animals, comfort animals and facility animals. However, the term “support animal” does not mean an animal considered a pet, and is limited to a dog or miniature horse.

(f) “ Support animal trainer ” means a person who trains or raises support animals for individuals with disabilities, whether the person is a professional trainer, or serving as a volunteer with a professional trainer.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-755 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 19 / Section 33-755
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-755
Status: in_force

Any action or proceeding to which the corporation or the people of the state may be a part in which any question arises as to the validity of this article shall be preferred over all other civil causes in all courts of the state and shall be heard and determined in preference to all other civil business pending therein irrespective of position on the calendar. The same preference shall be granted upon application of counsel to the corporation in any action or proceeding questioning the validity of the article in which he may be allowed to intervene. The venue of any such action or proceeding shall be in the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-215 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / Section 27-215
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-215
Status: in_force

The State Bond Commission shall act as the issuing agent for the bonds authorized under Sections 43-27-207 through 43-27-233 , prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds so authorized to be sold, pay all fees and costs incurred in such issuance and sale, and do all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of the bonds. The State Bond Commission may pay the costs that are incident to the sale, issuance and delivery of the bonds authorized under Sections 43-27-207 through 43-27-233 from the proceeds derived from the sale of the bonds. The State Bond Commission shall sell such bonds on sealed bids at public sale, and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale may be made at a price less than par plus accrued interest to the date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser. All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually; however, the first interest payment may be for any period of not more than one (1) year.

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

The State Bond Commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of Sections 43-27-207 through 43-27-233 , may provide that the bonds, at the option of the State of Mississippi, may be called in for payment and redemption at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-311 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 13 / Section 21-311
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-311
Status: in_force

(1) When a child is taken into custody, he shall immediately be informed of:

(a) The reason for his custody;

(b) The time within which review of the custody shall be held;

(c) His rights during custody including his right to counsel;

(d) All rules and regulations of the place at which he is held;

(e) The time and place of the detention hearing when the time and place is set; and

(f) The conditions of his custody which shall be in compliance with the detention requirements provided in Section 43-21-301(6) .

These rights shall be posted where the child may read them, and such rights must be read to the child when he or she is taken into custody.

(2) When a child is taken into custody, the child may immediately telephone his parent, guardian or custodian; his counsel; and personnel of the youth court. Thereafter, he shall be allowed to telephone his counsel or any personnel of the youth court at reasonable intervals. Unless the judge or his designee finds that it is against the best interest of the child, he may telephone his parent, guardian or custodian at reasonable intervals.

(3) When a child is taken into custody, the child may be visited by his counsel and authorized personnel of the youth court at any time. Unless the judge or his designee finds it to be against the best interest of the child, he may be visited by his parent, guardian or custodian during visiting hours which shall be regularly scheduled at least three (3) days per week. The youth court may establish rules permitting visits by other persons.

(4) Except for the child's counsel, guardian ad litem and authorized personnel of the youth court, no person shall interview or interrogate a child held in a detention or shelter facility unless approval therefor has first been obtained from the judge or his designee. When a child in a detention or shelter facility is represented by counsel or has a guardian ad litem, no person may interview or interrogate the child concerning the violation of a state or federal law, or municipal or county ordinance by the child unless in the presence of his counsel or guardian ad litem or with their consent.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-353 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 7 / Section 21-353
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-353
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

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

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

(a) The name and address of the child;

(b) The names and addresses of the parents;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(9) If a child protective investigation does not result in an out-of-home placement, a child protective investigator must provide information to the parent or guardians about community service programs that provide respite care, counseling and support for children who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation or human trafficking, voluntary guardianship or other support services for families in crisis.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-7 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 55-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-55-7
Status: in_force

(1) The voting members of the commission shall elect one (1) of the voting members to serve as chairperson of the commission. The voting members of the commission may elect other officers from among the members of the commission.

(2) The commission shall meet quarterly. However, the commission shall meet more frequently at the call of the chairperson or if requested by five (5) or more members.

(3) A majority of the members of the commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the commission. A majority of the voting members present and serving are required for official action of the commission.

(4) Except as provided in subsection (5), a voting member of the commission shall not participate in the administration of the grant program described in Section 43-55-13(s) , including any discussion or decision regarding the provision of assistance or approved national service positions, or the continuation, suspension, or termination of assistance or such positions, to any program or entity if both of the following apply:

(a) A grant application relating to the grant program is pending before the commission.

(b) The application was submitted by a program or entity of which a member is, or in the one-year period before the submission of such application was, an officer, director, trustee, full-time volunteer, or employee.

(5) If, as a result of the operation of subsection (4), the number of voting members of the commission is insufficient to establish a quorum for the purpose of administering the grant program described in Section 43-55-13(s) , the voting members excluded from participation by subsection (4) may participate in the administration of the grant program, to the extent permitted by regulations issued by the corporation under Section 193A(b)(11) of Title I, 42 USCS 12651d .

(6) Subsection (4) does not limit the authority of any voting member of the commission to participate in either of the following:

(a) The discussion of, and hearing and forums on the general duties, policies, and operations of, the commission or the general administration of the grant program described in Section 43-55-13(s) .

(b) Similar general matters relating to the commission.

(7) The business which the commission may perform shall be conducted at a public meeting of the commission held in compliance with the open meetings act.

(8) A writing prepared, owned, used, in possession of, or retained by the commission in the performance of an official function is subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-53-11 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 14 / Section 53-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-53-11
Status: in_force

Assessments collected under Section 99-19-73(1) for the Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging Fund, and any contributions, grants or donations from any other source, shall be deposited in a special fund created in the State Treasury and so designated. Monies deposited in this fund shall be expended by the Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging as authorized and appropriated by the Legislature to defray the cost of coordinating crime prevention for the elderly and carrying out such other duties and responsibilities as provided in this chapter. The fund shall be a non-lapsing, revolving special trust fund, and interest earned on the principal shall be credited to the fund. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon requisition by the Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-229 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 16 / Section 27-229
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-27-229
Status: in_force

All bonds issued under Sections 43-27-207 through 43-27-233 shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries, and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and such bonds shall be legal securities that may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and political subdivisions for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-257 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 21-257
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-257
Status: in_force

(1) Unless otherwise provided in this section, any record involving children, including valid and invalid complaints, and the contents thereof maintained by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Child Protection Services, or any other state agency, shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed except as provided in Section 43-21-261 .

(2) The Office of Youth Services shall maintain a state central registry containing the number and disposition of all cases together with such other useful information regarding those cases as may be requested and is obtainable from the records of the youth court. The Office of Youth Services shall annually publish a statistical record of the number and disposition of all cases, but the names or identity of any children shall not be disclosed in the reports or records. The Office of Youth Services shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to carry out this subsection. The central registry files and the contents thereof shall be confidential and shall not be open to public inspection. Any person who discloses or encourages the disclosure of any record involving children from the central registry shall be subject to the penalty in Section 43-21-267 . The youth court shall furnish, upon forms provided by the Office of Youth Services, the necessary information, and these completed forms shall be forwarded to the Office of Youth Services. The Department of Human Services and its employees are exempt from any civil liability as a result of any action taken pursuant to the compilation or release of information on the central registry under this section and any other applicable section of this code, unless determined that an employee has willfully and maliciously violated the rules and administrative procedures of the department pertaining to the central registry or any section of this code. If an employee is determined to have willfully and maliciously performed such a violation, said employee shall not be exempt from civil liability in this regard.

(3) The Department of Child Protection Services shall maintain a state central registry on neglect and abuse cases containing (a) the name, address and age of each child, (b) the nature of the harm reported, (c) the name and address of the person responsible for the care of the child, and (d) the name and address of the substantiated perpetrator of the harm reported. “Substantiated perpetrator” shall be defined as an individual who has committed an act(s) of sexual abuse or physical abuse that would otherwise be deemed as a felony or any child neglect that would be deemed as a threat to life. A name is to be added to the registry only based upon a criminal conviction or an adjudication by a youth court judge or court of competent jurisdiction, ordering that the name of the perpetrator be listed on the central registry. The central registry shall be confidential and shall not be open to public inspection. Any person who discloses or encourages the disclosure of any record involving children from the central registry without following the rules and administrative procedures of the department shall be subject to the penalty in Section 43-21-267 . The Department of Child Protection Services and its employees are exempt from any civil liability as a result of any action taken pursuant to the compilation or release of information on the central registry under this section and any other applicable section of this code, unless determined that an employee has willfully and maliciously violated the rules and administrative procedures of the department pertaining to the central registry or any section of this code. If an employee is determined to have willfully and maliciously performed such a violation, said employee shall not be exempt from civil liability in this regard.

(4) The Mississippi State Department of Health may release the findings of investigations into allegations of abuse within licensed day care centers made under the provisions of Section 43-21-353(8) to any parent of a child who is enrolled in the day care center at the time of the alleged abuse or at the time the request for information is made. The findings of any such investigation may also be released to parents who are considering placing children in the day care center. No information concerning those investigations may contain the names or identifying information of individual children.

The Department of Health shall not be held civilly liable for the release of information on any findings, recommendations or actions taken pursuant to investigations of abuse that have been conducted under Section 43-21-353(8) .
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-23 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 15 / Section 47-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-47-23
Status: in_force

The department and the court are authorized to seek the cooperation of all public agencies, departments, societies, organizations or agencies having for their object the protection or aid of vulnerable persons. These agencies, departments, societies and organizations shall provide any such assistance as is necessary.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-3 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 1 / Section 15-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-3
Status: in_force

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

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

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

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

If a claim for foster care and/or adoption assistance under Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act is not acted upon within a reasonable time after the filing of the claim, or is denied in whole or in part, the claimant may appeal to the Commissioner of Child Protection Services in the manner and form prescribed by the Department of Child Protection Services. The Commissioner of Child Protection Services shall, upon receipt of such an appeal, give the claimant reasonable notice and opportunity for a fair hearing. The Commissioner of Child Protection Services may also, upon his or her own motion, review any decision regarding a claim, and may consider any claim upon which a decision has not been made within a reasonable time. All decisions of the Commissioner of Child Protection Services shall be final and binding.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-33-725 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 5 / 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. § 43-15-21 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 9 / Section 15-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-15-21
Status: in_force

Anyone violating or releasing information of a confidential nature without the approval of the court with jurisdiction or the Department of Child Protection Services, upon being found guilty, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of no more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment of six (6) months, or both.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-29-23 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 12 / Section 29-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-29-23
Status: in_force

Whoever obtains, or attempts, or aids, or abets any person to obtain by means of a wilfully false statement or representation or by impersonation, or other fraudulent device:

(1) assistance to which he is not entitled; or

(2) assistance greater than that to which he is justly entitled, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or be imprisoned for not more than three (3) months, or be both so fined and imprisoned in the discretion of the court. In assessing the penalty, the court shall take into consideration the amount of money fraudulently received.
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-325 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 11 / Section 21-325
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-325
Status: in_force

(1) The Department of Public Safety's Planning Division is authorized to monitor and carry out the provisions of the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2002 in the four (4) core protection requirements of the act for the state as follows:

(a) Deinstitutionalization of status offenders;

(b) Separation of juveniles from incarcerated adults;

(c) Removal of juveniles from adult jails and lockups; and

(d) Disproportional minority contact.

(2) If any staff or individual of a secure facility prohibits the Department of Public Safety's Planning Division from fully performing its duties, as prescribed in the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2002, then such staff or individual shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-701 — MS Code / Title 43 / Chapter 17 / Section 21-701
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-701
Status: in_force

(1) There is established the Mississippi Commission on a Uniform Youth Court System and Procedures. The commission shall consist of the following twenty-one (21) members:

(a) One (1) circuit court judge appointed by the Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court;

(b) One (1) chancery court judge, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court;

(c) The President of the Mississippi Council of Youth Court Judges, or his designee;

(d) Two (2) who may be either family court judges or county court judges, appointed by the President of the Mississippi Council of Youth Court Judges;

(e) Two (2) youth court referees, appointed by the President of the Mississippi Council of Youth Court Judges;

(f) One (1) member of the Mississippi House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(g) One (1) member of the Mississippi Senate to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(h) The directors of the following state agencies or their designated representatives: the Mississippi Department of Human Services and the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services;

(i) The director or his designated representative of the Governor's Office of Federal-State Programs;

(j) Two (2) employees, other than the commissioner, of the Department of Child Protection Services who are supervisors of social workers primarily assigned to youth cases, appointed by the Governor;

(k) One (1) employee, other than the commissioner, of the Department of Child Protection Services who is experienced with the legal process of youth court cases, appointed by the Governor;

(l) One (1) municipal police chief, appointed by the Governor;

(m) One (1) county sheriff, appointed by the Governor;

(n) Two (2) lawyers experienced in youth court work, appointed by the Governor; and

(o) Two (2) prosecuting attorneys who prosecute cases in youth court, appointed by the Governor.

(2) The members shall be appointed to the commission within fifteen (15) days of the effective date of Sections 43-21-701 and 43-21-703 and shall serve until the end of their respective terms of office, if applicable, or until October 1, 2024, whichever occurs first. Vacancies on the commission shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment. Members shall be eligible for reappointment provided that upon such reappointment they meet the qualifications required of a new appointee.

(3) The commission may elect any officers from among its membership as it deems necessary for the efficient discharge of the commission's duties.

(4) The commission shall adopt rules and regulations governing times and places for meetings and governing the manner of conducting its business. Twelve (12) or more members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting any business of the commission; provided, however, a vote of not less than fourteen (14) members shall be required for any recommendations to the Legislature.

(5) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, except that state and county employees and officers shall receive any per diem as authorized by law from appropriations available to their respective agencies or political subdivisions. All commission members shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for any actual and reasonable expenses incurred as a necessary incident to service on the commission, including mileage as provided by law.

(6) The commission may select and employ a research director who shall perform the duties which the commission directs, which duties shall include the hiring of such other employees for the commission as the commission may approve. The research director and all other employees of the commission shall be in the state service and their salaries shall be established by the commission subject to approval by the State Personnel Board. Employees of the commission shall be reimbursed for the expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their official duties in the same manner as other state employees. The commission may also employ any consultants it deems necessary, including consultants to compile any demographic data needed to accomplish the duties of the commission.

(7) The Governor's Office of Federal-State Programs shall support the Commission on a Uniform Youth Court System and shall act as agent for any funds made available to the commission for its use. In order to expedite the implementation of the Commission on a Uniform Youth Court System, any funds available to the Governor's Office of Federal-State Programs for the 2023-2024 fiscal year may be expended for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the commission created herein.

(8) The commission may contract for suitable office space in accordance with the provisions of Section 29-5-2, Mississippi Code of 1972 . In addition, the commission may utilize, with their consent, the services, equipment, personnel, information and resources of other state agencies; and may accept voluntary and uncompensated services, contract with individuals, public and private agencies, and request information, reports and data from any agency of the state, or any of its political subdivisions, to the extent authorized by law.

(9) In order to conduct and carry out its purposes, duties and related activities as provided for in this section and Section 43-21-703 , the commission is authorized to apply for and accept gifts, grants, subsidies and other funds from persons, corporations, foundations, the United States government or other entities, provided that the receipt of such gifts, grants, subsidies and funds shall be reported and otherwise accounted for in the manner provided by law.