reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MS Code § 43-15-121 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 15 - Child Welfare|Article 3 - Licensing of Family Foster Homes, Child-caring Agencies and Child-placing Agencies|§ 43-15-121. Injunctions

 In addition to, and notwithstanding, any other remedy provided by law, the division may, in a manner provided by law and upon the advice of the Attorney General who, except as otherwise authorized in Section 7-5-39, shall represent the division in the proceedings, maintain an action in the name of the state for injunction or other process against any person or entity to restrain or prevent the establishment, management or operation of a program or facility or performance of services in violation of this article or rules of the division.
MS Code § 43-15-123 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 15 - Child Welfare|Article 3 - Licensing of Family Foster Homes, Child-caring Agencies and Child-placing Agencies|§ 43-15-123. Criminal penalties

 Any person, agency, association, corporation, institution, society or other organization violating the provisions of this article 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.
MS Code § 43-15-125 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 15 - Child Welfare|Article 3 - Licensing of Family Foster Homes, Child-caring Agencies and Child-placing Agencies|§ 43-15-125. Immunity for Department of Human Services and its employees

 The Department of Human Services and/or its officers, employees, attorneys and representatives shall not be held civilly liable for any findings, recommendations or actions taken pursuant to this article.
MS Code § 43-15-201 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 15 - Child Welfare|Article 5 - Baby Drop-off Law|§ 43-15-201. Emergency medical services provider to take possession of certain abandoned children; guarantee of anonymity of parent surrendering baby under baby drop-off law

  An emergency medical services provider, without a court order, shall take possession of a child who is seventy-two (72) hours old or younger if the child is voluntarily delivered to the provider by the child's parent and the parent did not express an intent to return for the child.   The parent who surrenders the baby shall not be required to provide any information pertaining to his or her identity, nor shall the emergency medical services provider inquire as to same. If the identity of the parent is known to the emergency medical services provider, the emergency medical services provider shall keep the identity confidential.   A female presenting herself to a hospital through the emergency room or otherwise, who is subsequently admitted for purposes of labor and delivery, does not give up the legal protections or anonymity guaranteed under this section. If the mother clearly expresses a desire to voluntarily surrender custody of the newborn after birth, the emergency medical services provider can take possession of the child, without further action by the mother, as if the child had been presented to the emergency medical services provider in the same manner outlined above in subsection (1) of this section.   If the mother expresses a desire to remain anonymous, identifying information may be obtained for purposes of securing payment of labor and delivery costs only. If the birth mother is a minor, the hospital may use the identifying information to secure payment through Medicaid, but shall not notify the minor's parent or guardian without the minor's consent.   The identity of the birth mother shall not be placed on the birth certificate or disclosed to the Department of Human Services.     There is a presumption that by relinquishing a child in accordance with this section, the parent consents to the termination of his or her parental rights with respect to the child. As such, the parent waives the right to notification required by subsequent court proceedings.   An emergency medical services provider who takes possession of a child under this section shall perform any act necessary to protect the physical health or safety of the child.
MS Code § 43-15-203 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 15 - Child Welfare|Article 5 - Baby Drop-off Law|§ 43-15-203. Notification to Department of Human Services that provider has taken possession of abandoned child; department to assume care, control, and custody of child upon receipt of notification

  No later than the close of the first business day after the date on which an emergency medical services provider takes possession of a child pursuant to Section 43-15-201, the provider shall notify the Department of Human Services that the provider has taken possession of the child.   The department shall assume the care, control and custody of the child immediately on receipt of notice pursuant to subsection (1). The department shall be responsible for all medical and other costs associated with the child and shall reimburse the hospital for any costs incurred prior to the child being placed in the care of the department.
MS Code § 43-15-205 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 15 - Child Welfare|Article 5 - Baby Drop-off Law|§ 43-15-205. Affirmative defense to crime of child abandonment

 It shall be an absolute affirmative defense to prosecution under Sections 97-5-1, 97-5-3 and 97-5-39 if the parent voluntarily delivers the child unharmed to an emergency medical services provider pursuant to Section 43-15-201.
MS Code § 43-15-207 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 15 - Child Welfare|Article 5 - Baby Drop-off Law|§ 43-15-207. Definition of "emergency medical services provider."

 For the purposes of this article, an emergency medical services provider shall mean a licensed hospital, as defined in Section 41-9-3, which operates an emergency department or an adoption agency duly licensed by the Department of Human Services. An emergency medical services provider does not include the offices, clinics, surgeries or treatment facilities of private physicians or dentists. No individual licensed healthcare provider, including physicians, dentists, nurses, physician assistants or other health professionals shall be deemed to be an emergency medical services provider under this article unless such individual voluntarily assumes responsibility for the custody of the child.
MS Code § 43-15-209 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 15 - Child Welfare|Article 5 - Baby Drop-off Law|§ 43-15-209. Immunity from liability

 A person or entity taking possession of a child under the provisions of this article shall be immune from liability for any civil action arising out of any act or omission resulting from taking possession of the child unless the act or omission was the result of the person's or entity's gross negligence or willful misconduct.
MS Code § 43-15-301 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 15 - Child Welfare|Article 7 - Restrictions On Employment By Or Operation Of Child Care Facilities By Registered Sex Offenders|§ 43-15-301. Definitions

 As used in this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:   (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   Any public school.   "Child care service employer" means every person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation offering or conducting a child care service.   "Applicant" means any person who is being considered for employment or as a volunteer by a child care service employer.   "Convicted" means an adjudication of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.   "Sex offense" shall have the meaning ascribed in Section 45-33-23.
MS Code § 43-15-303 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 15 - Child Welfare|Article 7 - Restrictions On Employment By Or Operation Of Child Care Facilities By Registered Sex Offenders|§ 43-15-303. Operators of child care service prohibited from employing registered sex offenders; penalties for violations

  A child care service employer offering or conducting a child care service:   Shall not employ or permit to volunteer an applicant who is listed on the sex offender registry as a sex offender under Section 45-33-25; and   Shall not knowingly employ or permit to volunteer an applicant who has been convicted of a sex offense, who has been adjudicated not guilty of a sex offense by reason of insanity; or who has been adjudicated physically or mentally incompetent.       A child care service employer who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00), imprisoned for a period not to exceed six (6) months, or both.   An employer who obtains an official report from the Mississippi Justice Information Center that the applicant is not registered as a sex offender shall not be guilty of a violation of this section, absent the employer's actual knowledge that the applicant is a sex offender.
MS Code § 43-15-305 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 15 - Child Welfare|Article 7 - Restrictions On Employment By Or Operation Of Child Care Facilities By Registered Sex Offenders|§ 43-15-305. Registered sex offenders prohibited from owning or operating child care services; penalties for violations

 A person required to register as a sex offender under Section 45-33-25 may not own or operate a child care service. Any person who is required to register as a sex offender under Section 45-33-25 who knowingly owns or operates a child care service is guilty of a felony, and upon conviction shall be imprisoned in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a period not to exceed five (5) years.
MS Code § 43-15-307 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 15 - Child Welfare|Article 7 - Restrictions On Employment By Or Operation Of Child Care Facilities By Registered Sex Offenders|§ 43-15-307. Registered sex offenders prohibited from working for or volunteering at child care services; penalties for violations

  A person required to register as a sex offender under Section 45-33-25 may not be employed by or volunteer at a child care service. Any person who is required to register as a sex offender under Section 45-33-25 who knowingly undertakes employment or volunteer service with a child care service is guilty of a felony, and upon conviction shall be imprisoned in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a period not to exceed five (5) years.   Any person who knowingly fails to inform a child care service employer of a prior conviction of a sex offense when applying or volunteering for any child care service, or who applies for employment or as a volunteer for any child care service, knowing that the person is required to register as a sex offender under Section 45-33-25, shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction shall be imprisoned in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a period not to exceed five (5) years.
MS Code § 43-19-37 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 19 - Support of Natural Children|Child Support Unit|§ 43-19-37. Court orders of support to direct payment of support, attorney's fees and court costs to child support unit and not recipient

  Court orders of support in all cases brought under the provisions of Sections 43-19-31 through 43-19-53 shall specify that the payment of court costs shall be directed by the absent parent to the Mississippi Department of Human Services Central Receipting and Disbursement Unit for further disbursement in the manner as prescribed by Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act. The court shall assess attorney's fees to recover the costs associated with preparing and prosecuting the case, which shall be paid directly to the Mississippi Department of Human Services solely for the support of the legal division of the Child Support Unit, in a manner separate and distinct from the payment of child support. The court may allow the defendant to pay the attorney's fee over a period not to exceed four (4) months. The state portion of attorney's fees paid into the department shall be used to match federal funds for the support of the legal division of the Child Support Unit, in conjunction with the Office of Attorney General. Any payments made by the absent parent directly to the recipient or applicant in violation of the court order shall not be deemed to be a support payment or an attorney's fee and shall not be credited to the court-ordered obligation of said absent parent or to the court-ordered obligation for the payment of the attorney's fee. Failure of the absent parent to comply with an order of support or for payment of an attorney's fee for a period of thirty (30) days shall be directed to the court having jurisdiction of the matter for contempt proceedings or execution issued in the manner and form prescribed by statute. Should civil proceedings become ineffective in producing support or attorney's fees in any case involving a legitimate child or a child wherein paternity has been established by law or acknowledged in writing, the case shall promptly be referred to the district attorney for prosecution as a violation of Section 97-5-3.   Each application, petition, order or filing made under this section shall include the social security number(s) of the applicant or father, mother and child(ren), as applicable, in accordance with Section 93-11-64, Mississippi Code of 1972.
MS Code § 43-19-39 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 19 - Support of Natural Children|Child Support Unit|§ 43-19-39. Distribution of child support payments; suits by child support unit; citation of noncooperating recipient parent; withholding payments for reimbursement of erroneous past payments

  All child support payments collected by the child support unit pursuant to Section 43-19-35 shall be distributed in the manner as prescribed by the federal Social Security Act and any amendments adopted thereto. Nothing contained herein shall preclude the child support unit in processing a paternity or support action for and on behalf of a child or children receiving aid to dependent children grants wherein the applicant or recipient has refused cooperation. If a parent of any child receiving public assistance fails or refuses to cooperate with the local county department or child support unit in locating and securing support from the nonsupporting responsible parent, this parent may be cited to appear before the judge of any court having jurisdiction over such matter and compelled to disclose such information under oath. Any parent who, having been cited to appear before a judge of the court having jurisdiction over such matter, fails or refuses to appear or fails or refuses to provide the information requested may be found to be in contempt of said court and may be fined not more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or imprisoned not more than six (6) months or both.   In a manner which is consistent with the federal Social Security Act, any amendments thereto and its implementing regulations, the child support unit is hereby authorized to withhold from distribution any payment or portion thereof which it may receive on behalf of a child or children for whom it is providing services if reimbursement is needed for any payments which may have been mistakenly or erroneously advanced on behalf of that child or children. The child support unit shall adopt policies that minimize any hardship that is caused by withholding from distribution any current support payments to reimburse past mistaken or erroneous advancements.
MS Code § 43-19-41 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 19 - Support of Natural Children|Child Support Unit|§ 43-19-41. Effect of applicant's or recipient's refusal to assist in finding absent parent or in securing support or establishing paternity

 Any applicant or recipient who refuses to provide reasonable assistance to the local county department or to the child support unit established by the state department of public welfare in identifying and locating the absent parent of a dependent child or otherwise refuses to cooperate with the department in securing support or in establishing paternity shall be ineligible for aid to dependent children, shall not be considered a needy relative and shall not be entitled to receive or use any part of the aid in grant nor shall be eligible for medical assistance under the Mississippi Medical Assistance Act; provided, however, that aid for the support of the child of such applicant or recipient shall not be denied or terminated as a result of such refusal to provide assistance or cooperation, but that the department may provide aid to said child in the form of protective vendor payments.
MS Code § 43-19-43 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 19 - Support of Natural Children|Child Support Unit|§ 43-19-43. Husband-wife privilege; self-incriminating testimony

 The mother or father are competent to testify at the trial against the other as provided in Section 13-1-5 subject to the provisions of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence governing the husband-wife privilege. If a parent called for examination declines to answer upon the grounds that his testimony may incriminate him, the court may require him to answer, in which event he shall not thereafter be prosecuted for any criminal acts involved in the conception of the child whose paternity is in issue and/or for whom support is sought, except for perjury committed in his testimony.
MS Code § 43-19-46 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 19 - Support of Natural Children|Child Support Unit|§ 43-19-46. Report by employer to Directory of New Hires

  Each employer paying wages, salary or commission and doing business in Mississippi shall report to the Directory of New Hires within the Mississippi Department of Human Services:   The hiring of any person who resides or works in this state to whom the employer anticipates paying wages, salary or commission; and   The hiring or return to work of any employee who was laid off, furloughed, separated, granted leave without pay or was terminated from employment.     Employers shall report, by mailing or by other means authorized by the Department of Human Services, a copy of the employee's W-4 form or its equivalent that will result in timely reporting. Each employer shall submit reports within fifteen (15) days of the hiring, rehiring or return to work of the employee. The report shall contain:   The employee's name, address, social security number and the date of birth;   The employer's name, address, and federal and state withholding tax identification numbers; and   The date upon which the employee began or resumed employment, or is scheduled to begin or otherwise resume employment.     The department shall retain the information, which shall be forwarded to the federal registry of new hires.   The Department of Human Services may operate the program, may enter into a mutual agreement with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security or the Department of Revenue, or both, for the operation of the Directory of New Hires Program, or the Department of Human Services may contract for that service, in which case the department shall maintain administrative control of the program.   In cases in which an employer fails to report information, as required by this section, an administratively levied civil penalty in an amount not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) shall apply if the failure is the result of a conspiracy between the employer and employee to not supply the required report or to supply a false or incomplete report. The penalty shall otherwise not exceed Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00). Appeal shall be as provided in Section 43-19-58.
MS Code § 43-19-47 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 19 - Support of Natural Children|Child Support Unit|§ 43-19-47. Employment by child support unit of staff attorneys

  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.   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.
MS Code § 43-19-49 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 43 - Public Welfare|Chapter 19 - Support of Natural Children|Child Support Unit|§ 43-19-49. Employment by child support unit of investigative, technical, secretarial and supportive staff

 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.