Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 7 - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT (§§ 7-1-1 — 7-17-37) › Chapter 5 - ATTORNEY GENERAL (§§ 7-5-1 — 7-5-311) › INSURANCE INTEGRITY ENFORCEMENT BUREAU (§§ 7-5-301 — 7-5-311) › Section 7-5-305 - Funding of bureau; formula; use of monies in Insurance Integrity Enforcement Fund; funding of agency expenses; deposit of user charges and fees authorized under this section into State General Fund

(1)
To fund the Insurance Integrity Enforcement Bureau, the Workers' Compensation Commission may assess each workers' compensation carrier and self-insurer, in the manner provided in Section
71-3-99
, an amount based upon the proportion that the total gross claims for compensation and medical services and supplies paid by such carrier or self-insurer during the preceding one-year period bore to the total gross claims for compensation and medical services and supplies paid by all carriers and self-insurers during such period. The total amount assessed and collected by the commission from all workers' compensation carriers and self-insurers used to fund the Insurance Integrity Enforcement Bureau during each fiscal year shall be based upon the recommendation of the Insurance Integrity Enforcement Bureau, but shall not exceed One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00). The funds received from the assessment in this subsection (1) shall be used primarily for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting workers' compensation fraud. Within thirty (30) days of receipt, the Workers' Compensation Commission shall transfer such assessment from the Administrative Expense Fund into a special fund of the Office of the Attorney General created in the State Treasury and designated as the "Insurance Integrity Enforcement Fund."
(2)
In addition to the monies collected under the assessment provided in this section to fund the Insurance Integrity Enforcement Bureau, for fiscal year 1999 the sum of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) shall be appropriated by the Legislature to the Insurance Integrity Enforcement Fund from the State General Fund. The funds received from the appropriation in this subsection (2) shall be used primarily for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting insurance fraud other than workers' compensation fraud.
(3)
The Insurance Integrity Enforcement Bureau may accept gifts, grants and appropriations of state and federal funds for deposit in the Insurance Integrity Enforcement Fund. The Insurance Integrity Enforcement Fund shall be used solely to defray the expenses of the Insurance Integrity Enforcement Bureau, and any interest earned on monies in such fund shall be credited to the fund. Expenditures from the Insurance Integrity Enforcement Fund shall be made upon requisition by the Attorney General and subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
(4)
From and after July 1, 2016, the expenses of this agency shall be defrayed by appropriation from the State General Fund and all user charges and fees authorized under this section shall be deposited into the State General Fund as authorized by law and as determined by the State Fiscal Officer.
(5)
From and after July 1, 2016, no state agency shall charge another state agency a fee, assessment, rent or other charge for services or resources received by authority of this section.
Laws, 1998, ch. 561, § 3; reenacted without change, Laws, 2000, ch. 424, § 3; reenacted without change, Laws, 2003, ch. 439, § 3, eff. 7/1/2003.
Amended by Laws, 2017EX1, ch. 7, SB 2001,§ 7, eff. 6/23/2017.