SNAP recipients; Department of Agriculture establish grant program for deer processors to become SNAP retailers and process deer meat for sale to.

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To: Agriculture;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Lamar

HOUSE BILL NO. 1680

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND 1
COMMERCE TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM UNDER WHICH DEER PROCESSORS MAY 2
RECEIVE INCENTIVE GRANTS TO BECOME AUTHORIZED SNAP RETAILERS AND 3
PROCESS DONATED DEER MEAT FOR SALE TO SNAP RECIPIENTS; TO PROVIDE 4
THAT TO RECEIVE AN INCENTIVE GRANT UNDER THE PROGRAM, A DEER 5
PROCESSOR MUST PRESENT A PLAN FOR HOW THE PROCESSOR PLANS TO USE 6
THE GRANT TO UPGRADE THE DEER PROCESSING FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT 7
AND OPERATE THE BUSINESS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE PROCESSED DEER MEAT 8
TO SNAP RECIPIENTS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF A GRANT 9
THAT A PROCESSOR MAY RECEIVE THROUGH THE PROGRAM IS FIFTY THOUSAND 10
DOLLARS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM SHALL BE FUNDED FROM TANF 11
FUNDS THAT ARE TRANSFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THAT PURPOSE; TO 12
REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR A FEDERAL WAIVER IF IT 13
DETERMINES THAT A WAIVER IS NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR DEER PROCESSORS 14
TO BECOME AUTHORIZED SNAP RETAILERS; TO AMEND SECTION 43-17-5, 15
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT EACH FISCAL YEAR, TEN 16
MILLION DOLLARS OF UNSPENT TANF FUNDS SHALL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE 17
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE FOR THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED 18
UNDER THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 19
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 20
SECTION 1. (1) The Department of Agriculture and Commerce 21
shall establish a program under which deer processors may receive 22
incentive grants to become an authorized SNAP retailer and process 23
donated deer meat for sale to SNAP recipients. 24
(2) A deer processor that wishes to participate in the 25
program must apply to the department, and to receive an incentive 26
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grant under the program, a processor must (a) present a plan for 27
how the processor plans to use the grant to upgrade the deer 28
processing facility and equipment and operate the business to be 29
able to provide processed deer meat to SNAP recipients, and (b) 30
meet such requirements as prescribed by the department. 31
(3) The maximum amount of a grant that a processor may 32
receive through the program is Fifty Thousand Dollars 33
($50,000.00). The program shall be funded from TANF funds that 34
are transferred to the department for that purpose as provided in 35
Section 43-17-5(12). 36
(4) If the department determines that a federal waiver is 37
necessary in order for deer processors to become authorized SNAP 38
retailers, the department shall apply to the United States 39
Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, for a 40
waiver of applicable laws and regulations as needed to allow deer 41
processors participating in the program to become authorized SNAP 42
retailers. 43
SECTION 2. Section 43-17-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 44
amended as follows: 45
43-17-5. (1) The amount of Temporary Assistance for Needy 46
Families (TANF) benefits which may be granted for any dependent 47
child and a needy caretaker relative shall be determined by the 48
county department with due regard to the resources and necessary 49
expenditures of the family and the conditions existing in each 50
case, and in accordance with the rules and regulations made by the 51
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Department of Human Services which shall not be less than the 52
Standard of Need in effect for 1988, and shall be sufficient when 53
added to all other income (except that any income specified in the 54
federal Social Security Act, as amended, may be disregarded) and 55
support available to the child to provide such child with a 56
reasonable subsistence compatible with decency and health. The 57
first family member in the dependent child's budget may receive an 58
amount not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) per month; the 59
second family member in the dependent child's budget may receive 60
an amount not to exceed Thirty-six Dollars ($36.00) per month; and 61
each additional family member in the dependent child's budget an 62
amount not to exceed Twenty-four Dollars ($24.00) per month. The 63
maximum for any individual family member in the dependent child's 64
budget may be exceeded for foster or medical care or in cases of 65
children with an intellectual disability or a physical disability. 66
TANF benefits granted shall be specifically limited only (a) to 67
children existing or conceived at the time the caretaker relative 68
initially applies and qualifies for such assistance, unless this 69
limitation is specifically waived by the department, or (b) to a 70
child born following a twelve-consecutive-month period of 71
discontinued benefits by the caretaker relative. 72
(2) TANF benefits in Mississippi shall be provided to the 73
recipient family by an online electronic benefits transfer system. 74
(3) The Department of Human Services shall deny TANF 75
benefits to the following categories of individuals, except for 76
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individuals and families specifically exempt or excluded for good 77
cause as allowed by federal statute or regulation: 78
(a) Families without a minor child residing with the 79
custodial parent or other adult caretaker relative of the child; 80
(b) Families which include an adult who has received 81
TANF assistance for sixty (60) months after the commencement of 82
the Mississippi TANF program, whether or not such period of time 83
is consecutive; 84
(c) Families not assigning to the state any rights a 85
family member may have, on behalf of the family member or of any 86
other person for whom the family member has applied for or is 87
receiving such assistance, to support from any other person, as 88
required by law; 89
(d) Families who fail to cooperate in establishing 90
paternity or obtaining child support, as required by law; 91
(e) Any individual who has not attained eighteen (18) 92
years of age, is not married to the head of household, has a minor 93
child at least twelve (12) weeks of age in his or her care, and 94
has not successfully completed a high school education or its 95
equivalent, if such individual does not participate in educational 96
activities directed toward the attainment of a high school diploma 97
or its equivalent, or an alternative educational or training 98
program approved by the department; 99
(f) Any individual who has not attained eighteen (18) 100
years of age, is not married, has a minor child in his or her 101
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care, and does not reside in a place or residence maintained by a 102
parent, legal guardian or other adult relative or the individual 103
as such parent's, guardian's or adult relative's own home; 104
(g) Any minor child who has been, or is expected by a 105
parent or other caretaker relative of the child to be, absent from 106
the home for a period of more than thirty (30) days; 107
(h) Any individual who is a parent or other caretaker 108
relative of a minor child who fails to notify the department of 109
the absence of the minor child from the home for the thirty-day 110
period specified in paragraph (g), by the end of the five-day 111
period that begins with the date that it becomes clear to the 112
individual that the minor child will be absent for the thirty-day 113
period; 114
(i) Any individual who fails to comply with the 115
provisions of the Employability Development Plan signed by the 116
individual which prescribe those activities designed to help the 117
individual become and remain employed, or to participate 118
satisfactorily in the assigned work activity, as authorized under 119
subsection (6)(c) and (d), or who does not engage in applicant job 120
search activities within the thirty-day period for TANF 121
application approval after receiving the advice and consultation 122
of eligibility workers and/or caseworkers of the department 123
providing a detailed description of available job search venues in 124
the individual's county of residence or the surrounding counties; 125
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(j) A parent or caretaker relative who has not engaged 126
in an allowable work activity once the department determines the 127
parent or caretaker relative is ready to engage in work, or once 128
the parent or caretaker relative has received TANF assistance 129
under the program for twenty-four (24) months, whether or not 130
consecutive, whichever is earlier; 131
(k) Any individual who is fleeing to avoid prosecution, 132
or custody or confinement after conviction, under the laws of the 133
jurisdiction from which the individual flees, for a crime, or an 134
attempt to commit a crime, which is a felony under the laws of the 135
place from which the individual flees, or who is violating a 136
condition of probation or parole imposed under federal or state 137
law; 138
(l) Aliens who are not qualified under federal law; 139
(m) For a period of ten (10) years following 140
conviction, individuals convicted in federal or state court of 141
having made a fraudulent statement or representation with respect 142
to the individual's place of residence in order to receive TANF, 143
food stamps or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) assistance under 144
Title XVI or Title XIX simultaneously from two (2) or more states; 145
(n) Individuals who are recipients of federal 146
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) assistance; and 147
(o) Individuals who are eighteen (18) years of age or 148
older who are not in compliance with the drug testing and 149
substance use disorder treatment requirements of Section 43-17-6. 150
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(4) (a) Any person who is otherwise eligible for TANF 151
benefits, including custodial and noncustodial parents, shall be 152
required to attend school and meet the monthly attendance 153
requirement as provided in this subsection if all of the following 154
apply: 155
(i) The person is under age twenty (20); 156
(ii) The person has not graduated from a public or 157
private high school or obtained a High School Equivalency Diploma 158
equivalent; 159
(iii) The person is physically able to attend 160
school and is not excused from attending school; and 161
(iv) If the person is a parent or caretaker 162
relative with whom a dependent child is living, child care is 163
available for the child. 164
The monthly attendance requirement under this subsection 165
shall be attendance at the school in which the person is enrolled 166
for each day during a month that the school conducts classes in 167
which the person is enrolled, with not more than two (2) absences 168
during the month for reasons other than the reasons listed in 169
paragraph (e)(iv) of this subsection. Persons who fail to meet 170
participation requirements in this subsection shall be subject to 171
sanctions as provided in paragraph (f) of this subsection. 172
(b) As used in this subsection, "school" means any one 173
(1) of the following: 174
(i) A school as defined in Section 37-13-91(2); 175
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(ii) A vocational, technical and adult education 176
program; or 177
(iii) A course of study meeting the standards 178
established by the State Department of Education for the granting 179
of a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation. 180
(c) If any compulsory-school-age child, as defined in 181
Section 37-13-91(2), to which TANF eligibility requirements apply 182
is not in compliance with the compulsory school attendance 183
requirements of Section 37-13-91(6), the superintendent of schools 184
of the school district in which the child is enrolled or eligible 185
to attend shall notify the county department of human services of 186
the child's noncompliance. The Department of Human Services shall 187
review school attendance information as provided under this 188
paragraph at all initial eligibility determinations and upon 189
subsequent report of unsatisfactory attendance. 190
(d) The signature of a person on an application for 191
TANF benefits constitutes permission for the release of school 192
attendance records for that person or for any child residing with 193
that person. The department shall request information from the 194
child's school district about the child's attendance in the school 195
district's most recently completed semester of attendance. If 196
information about the child's previous school attendance is not 197
available or cannot be verified, the department shall require the 198
child to meet the monthly attendance requirement for one (1) 199
semester or until the information is obtained. The department 200
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shall use the attendance information provided by a school district 201
to verify attendance for a child. The department shall review 202
with the parent or caretaker relative a child's claim that he or 203
she has a good cause for not attending school. 204
A school district shall provide information to the department 205
about the attendance of a child who is enrolled in a public school 206
in the district within five (5) working days of the receipt of a 207
written request for that information from the department. The 208
school district shall define how many hours of attendance count as 209
a full day and shall provide that information, upon request, to 210
the department. In reporting attendance, the school district may 211
add partial days' absence together to constitute a full day's 212
absence. 213
If a school district fails to provide to the department the 214
information about the school attendance of any child within 215
fifteen (15) working days after a written request, the department 216
shall notify the Department of Audit within three (3) working days 217
of the school district's failure to comply with that requirement. 218
The Department of Audit shall begin audit proceedings within five 219
(5) working days of notification by the Department of Human 220
Services to determine the school district's compliance with the 221
requirements of this subsection (4). If the Department of Audit 222
finds that the school district is not in compliance with the 223
requirements of this subsection, the school district shall be 224
penalized as follows: The Department of Audit shall notify the 225
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State Department of Education of the school district's 226
noncompliance, and the Department of Education shall reduce the 227
calculation of the school district's net enrollment that is used 228
to determine the allocation of total funding formula funds by the 229
number of children for which the district has failed to provide to 230
the Department of Human Services the required information about 231
the school attendance of those children. The reduction in the 232
calculation of the school district's net enrollment under this 233
paragraph shall be effective for a period of one (1) year. 234
(e) A child who is required to attend school to meet 235
the requirements under this subsection shall comply except when 236
there is good cause, which shall be demonstrated by any of the 237
following circumstances: 238
(i) The minor parent is the caretaker of a child 239
less than twelve (12) weeks old; or 240
(ii) The department determines that child care 241
services are necessary for the minor parent to attend school and 242
there is no child care available; or 243
(iii) The child is prohibited by the school 244
district from attending school and an expulsion is pending. This 245
exemption no longer applies once the teenager has been expelled; 246
however, a teenager who has been expelled and is making 247
satisfactory progress towards obtaining a High School Equivalency 248
Diploma equivalent shall be eligible for TANF benefits; or 249
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(iv) The child failed to attend school for one or 250
more of the following reasons: 251
1. Illness, injury or incapacity of the child 252
or the minor parent's child; 253
2. Court-required appearances or temporary 254
incarceration; 255
3. Medical or dental appointments for the 256
child or minor parent's child; 257
4. Death of a close relative; 258
5. Observance of a religious holiday; 259
6. Family emergency; 260
7. Breakdown in transportation; 261
8. Suspension; or 262
9. Any other circumstance beyond the control 263
of the child, as defined in regulations of the department. 264
(f) Upon determination that a child has failed without 265
good cause to attend school as required, the department shall 266
provide written notice to the parent or caretaker relative 267
(whoever is the primary recipient of the TANF benefits) that 268
specifies: 269
(i) That the family will be sanctioned in the next 270
possible payment month because the child who is required to attend 271
school has failed to meet the attendance requirement of this 272
subsection; 273
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(ii) The beginning date of the sanction, and the 274
child to whom the sanction applies; 275
(iii) The right of the child's parents or 276
caretaker relative (whoever is the primary recipient of the TANF 277
benefits) to request a fair hearing under this subsection. 278
The child's parent or caretaker relative (whoever is the 279
primary recipient of the TANF benefits) may request a fair hearing 280
on the department's determination that the child has not been 281
attending school. If the child's parents or caretaker relative 282
does not request a fair hearing under this subsection, or if, 283
after a fair hearing has been held, the hearing officer finds that 284
the child without good cause has failed to meet the monthly 285
attendance requirement, the department shall discontinue or deny 286
TANF benefits to the child thirteen (13) years old, or older, in 287
the next possible payment month. The department shall discontinue 288
or deny twenty-five percent (25%) of the family grant when a child 289
six (6) through twelve (12) years of age without good cause has 290
failed to meet the monthly attendance requirement. Both the child 291
and family sanction may apply when children in both age groups 292
fail to meet the attendance requirement without good cause. A 293
sanction applied under this subsection shall be effective for one 294
(1) month for each month that the child failed to meet the monthly 295
attendance requirement. In the case of a dropout, the sanction 296
shall remain in force until the parent or caretaker relative 297
provides written proof from the school district that the child has 298
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reenrolled and met the monthly attendance requirement for one (1) 299
calendar month. Any month in which school is in session for at 300
least ten (10) days during the month may be used to meet the 301
attendance requirement under this subsection. This includes 302
attendance at summer school. The sanction shall be removed the 303
next possible payment month. 304
(5) All parents or caretaker relatives shall have their 305
dependent children receive vaccinations and booster vaccinations 306
against those diseases specified by the State Health Officer under 307
Section 41-23-37 in accordance with the vaccination and booster 308
vaccination schedule prescribed by the State Health Officer for 309
children of that age, in order for the parents or caretaker 310
relatives to be eligible or remain eligible to receive TANF 311
benefits. Proof of having received such vaccinations and booster 312
vaccinations shall be given by presenting the certificates of 313
vaccination issued by any health care provider licensed to 314
administer vaccinations, and submitted on forms specified by the 315
State Board of Health. If the parents without good cause do not 316
have their dependent children receive the vaccinations and booster 317
vaccinations as required by this subsection and they fail to 318
comply after thirty (30) days' notice, the department shall 319
sanction the family's TANF benefits by twenty-five percent (25%) 320
for the next payment month and each subsequent payment month until 321
the requirements of this subsection are met. 322
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(6) (a) If the parent or caretaker relative applying for 323
TANF assistance is work eligible, as determined by the Department 324
of Human Services, the person shall be required to engage in an 325
allowable work activity once the department determines the parent 326
or caretaker relative is determined work eligible, or once the 327
parent or caretaker relative has received TANF assistance under 328
the program for twenty-four (24) months, whether or not 329
consecutive, whichever is earlier. No TANF benefits shall be 330
given to any person to whom this section applies who fails without 331
good cause to comply with the Employability Development Plan 332
prepared by the department for the person, or who has refused to 333
accept a referral or offer of employment, training or education in 334
which he or she is able to engage, subject to the penalties 335
prescribed in paragraph (e) of this subsection. A person shall be 336
deemed to have refused to accept a referral or offer of 337
employment, training or education if he or she: 338
(i) Willfully fails to report for an interview 339
with respect to employment when requested to do so by the 340
department; or 341
(ii) Willfully fails to report to the department 342
the result of a referral to employment; or 343
(iii) Willfully fails to report for allowable work 344
activities as prescribed in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this 345
subsection. 346
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(b) The Department of Human Services shall operate a 347
statewide work program for TANF recipients to provide work 348
activities and supportive services to enable families to become 349
self-sufficient and improve their competitive position in the 350
workforce in accordance with the requirements of the federal 351
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 352
1996 (Public Law 104-193), as amended, and the regulations 353
promulgated thereunder, and the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 354
(Public Law 109-171), as amended. Within sixty (60) days after 355
the initial application for TANF benefits, the TANF recipient must 356
participate in a job search skills training workshop or a job 357
readiness program, which shall include resume writing, job search 358
skills, employability skills and, if available at no charge, the 359
General Aptitude Test Battery or its equivalent. All adults who 360
are not specifically exempt shall be referred by the department 361
for allowable work activities. An adult may be exempt from the 362
mandatory work activity requirement for the following reasons: 363
(i) Incapacity; 364
(ii) Temporary illness or injury, verified by 365
physician's certificate; 366
(iii) Is in the third trimester of pregnancy, and 367
there are complications verified by the certificate of a 368
physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or any other 369
licensed health care professional practicing under a protocol with 370
a licensed physician; 371
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(iv) Caretaker of a child under twelve (12) 372
months, for not more than twelve (12) months of the sixty-month 373
maximum benefit period; 374
(v) Caretaker of an ill or incapacitated person, 375
as verified by physician's certificate; 376
(vi) Age, if over sixty (60) or under eighteen 377
(18) years of age; 378
(vii) Receiving treatment for substance abuse, if 379
the person is in compliance with the substance abuse treatment 380
plan; 381
(viii) In a two-parent family, the caretaker of a 382
severely disabled child, as verified by a physician's certificate; 383
or 384
(ix) History of having been a victim of domestic 385
violence, which has been reported as required by state law and is 386
substantiated by police reports or court records, and being at 387
risk of further domestic violence, shall be exempt for a period as 388
deemed necessary by the department but not to exceed a total of 389
twelve (12) months, which need not be consecutive, in the 390
sixty-month maximum benefit period. For the purposes of this 391
subparagraph (ix), "domestic violence" means that an individual 392
has been subjected to: 393
1. Physical acts that resulted in, or 394
threatened to result in, physical injury to the individual; 395
2. Sexual abuse; 396
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3. Sexual activity involving a dependent 397
child; 398
4. Being forced as the caretaker relative of 399
a dependent child to engage in nonconsensual sexual acts or 400
activities; 401
5. Threats of, or attempts at, physical or 402
sexual abuse; 403
6. Mental abuse; or 404
7. Neglect or deprivation of medical care. 405
(c) For all families, all adults who are not 406
specifically exempt shall be required to participate in work 407
activities for at least the minimum average number of hours per 408
week specified by federal law or regulation, not fewer than twenty 409
(20) hours per week (thirty-five (35) hours per week for 410
two-parent families) of which are attributable to the following 411
allowable work activities: 412
(i) Unsubsidized employment; 413
(ii) Subsidized private employment; 414
(iii) Subsidized public employment; 415
(iv) Work experience (including work associated 416
with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing), if sufficient 417
private employment is not available; 418
(v) On-the-job training; 419
(vi) Job search and job readiness assistance 420
consistent with federal TANF regulations; 421
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(vii) Community service programs; 422
(viii) Vocational educational training (not to 423
exceed twelve (12) months with respect to any individual); 424
(ix) The provision of child care services to an 425
individual who is participating in a community service program; 426
(x) Satisfactory attendance at high school or in a 427
course of study leading to a high school equivalency certificate, 428
for heads of household under age twenty (20) who have not 429
completed high school or received such certificate; 430
(xi) Education directly related to employment, for 431
heads of household under age twenty (20) who have not completed 432
high school or received such equivalency certificate. 433
(d) The following are allowable work activities which 434
may be attributable to hours in excess of the minimum specified in 435
paragraph (c) of this subsection: 436
(i) Job skills training directly related to 437
employment; 438
(ii) Education directly related to employment for 439
individuals who have not completed high school or received a high 440
school equivalency certificate; 441
(iii) Satisfactory attendance at high school or in 442
a course of study leading to a high school equivalency, for 443
individuals who have not completed high school or received such 444
equivalency certificate; 445
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(iv) Job search and job readiness assistance 446
consistent with federal TANF regulations. 447
(e) If any adult or caretaker relative refuses to 448
participate in allowable work activity as required under this 449
subsection (6), the following full family TANF benefit penalty 450
will apply, subject to due process to include notification, 451
conciliation and a hearing if requested by the recipient: 452
(i) For the first violation, the department shall 453
terminate the TANF assistance otherwise payable to the family for 454
a two-month period or until the person has complied with the 455
required work activity, whichever is longer; 456
(ii) For the second violation, the department 457
shall terminate the TANF assistance otherwise payable to the 458
family for a six-month period or until the person has complied 459
with the required work activity, whichever is longer; 460
(iii) For the third violation, the department 461
shall terminate the TANF assistance otherwise payable to the 462
family for a twelve-month period or until the person has complied 463
with the required work activity, whichever is longer; 464
(iv) For the fourth violation, the person shall be 465
permanently disqualified. 466
For a two-parent family, unless prohibited by state or 467
federal law, Medicaid assistance shall be terminated only for the 468
person whose failure to participate in allowable work activity 469
caused the family's TANF assistance to be sanctioned under this 470
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paragraph (e), unless an individual is pregnant, but shall not be 471
terminated for any other person in the family who is meeting that 472
person's applicable work requirement or who is not required to 473
work. Minor children shall continue to be eligible for Medicaid 474
benefits regardless of the disqualification of their parent or 475
caretaker relative for TANF assistance under this subsection (6), 476
unless prohibited by state or federal law. 477
(f) Any person enrolled in a two-year or four-year 478
college program who meets the eligibility requirements to receive 479
TANF benefits, and who is meeting the applicable work requirements 480
and all other applicable requirements of the TANF program, shall 481
continue to be eligible for TANF benefits while enrolled in the 482
college program for as long as the person meets the requirements 483
of the TANF program, unless prohibited by federal law. 484
(g) No adult in a work activity required under this 485
subsection (6) shall be employed or assigned (i) when any other 486
individual is on layoff from the same or any substantially 487
equivalent job within six (6) months before the date of the TANF 488
recipient's employment or assignment; or (ii) if the employer has 489
terminated the employment of any regular employee or otherwise 490
caused an involuntary reduction of its workforce in order to fill 491
the vacancy so created with an adult receiving TANF assistance. 492
The Mississippi Department of Employment Security, established 493
under Section 71-5-101, shall appoint one or more impartial 494
hearing officers to hear and decide claims by employees of 495
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violations of this paragraph (g). The hearing officer shall hear 496
all the evidence with respect to any claim made hereunder and such 497
additional evidence as he may require and shall make a 498
determination and the reason therefor. The claimant shall be 499
promptly notified of the decision of the hearing officer and the 500
reason therefor. Within ten (10) days after the decision of the 501
hearing officer has become final, any party aggrieved thereby may 502
secure judicial review thereof by commencing an action, in the 503
circuit court of the county in which the claimant resides, against 504
the department for the review of such decision, in which action 505
any other party to the proceeding before the hearing officer shall 506
be made a defendant. Any such appeal shall be on the record which 507
shall be certified to the court by the department in the manner 508
provided in Section 71-5-531, and the jurisdiction of the court 509
shall be confined to questions of law which shall render its 510
decision as provided in that section. 511
(7) The Department of Human Services may provide child care 512
for eligible participants who require such care so that they may 513
accept employment or remain employed. The department may also 514
provide child care for those participating in the TANF program 515
when it is determined that they are satisfactorily involved in 516
education, training or other allowable work activities. The 517
department may contract with Head Start agencies to provide child 518
care services to TANF recipients. The department may also arrange 519
for child care by use of contract or vouchers, provide vouchers in 520
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advance to a caretaker relative, reimburse a child care provider, 521
or use any other arrangement deemed appropriate by the department, 522
and may establish different reimbursement rates for child care 523
services depending on the category of the facility or home. Any 524
center-based or group home child care facility under this 525
subsection shall be licensed by the State Department of Health 526
pursuant to law. When child care is being provided in the child's 527
own home, in the home of a relative of the child, or in any other 528
unlicensed setting, the provision of such child care may be 529
monitored on a random basis by the Department of Human Services or 530
the State Department of Health. Transitional child care 531
assistance may be continued if it is necessary for parents to 532
maintain employment once support has ended, unless prohibited 533
under state or federal law. Transitional child care assistance 534
may be provided for up to twenty-four (24) months after the last 535
month during which the family was eligible for TANF assistance, if 536
federal funds are available for such child care assistance. 537
(8) The Department of Human Services may provide 538
transportation or provide reasonable reimbursement for 539
transportation expenses that are necessary for individuals to be 540
able to participate in allowable work activity under the TANF 541
program. 542
(9) Medicaid assistance shall be provided to a family of 543
TANF program participants for up to twenty-four (24) consecutive 544
calendar months following the month in which the participating 545
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family would be ineligible for TANF benefits because of increased 546
income, expiration of earned income disregards, or increased hours 547
of employment of the caretaker relative; however, Medicaid 548
assistance for more than twelve (12) months may be provided only 549
if a federal waiver is obtained to provide such assistance for 550
more than twelve (12) months and federal and state funds are 551
available to provide such assistance. 552
(10) The department shall require applicants for and 553
recipients of public assistance from the department to sign a 554
personal responsibility contract that will require the applicant 555
or recipient to acknowledge his or her responsibilities to the 556
state. 557
(11) The department shall enter into an agreement with the 558
State Personnel Board and other state agencies that will allow 559
those TANF participants who qualify for vacant jobs within state 560
agencies to be placed in state jobs. State agencies participating 561
in the TANF work program shall receive any and all benefits 562
received by employers in the private sector for hiring TANF 563
recipients. This subsection (11) shall be effective only if the 564
state obtains any necessary federal waiver or approval and if 565
federal funds are available therefor. Not later than September 1, 566
2021, the department shall prepare a report, which shall be 567
provided to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Public Health 568
Committees and to any other member of the Legislature upon 569
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ST: SNAP recipients; Department of Agriculture
establish grant program for deer processors to
become SNAP retailers and process deer meat for
sale to.
request, on the history, status, outcomes and effectiveness of the 570
agreements required under this subsection. 571
(12) Any unspent TANF funds remaining from the prior fiscal 572
year may be expended for any TANF allowable activities. Each 573
fiscal year, Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) of unspent TANF 574
funds shall be transferred to the Department of Agriculture and 575
Commerce for the program established under Section 1 of this act. 576
(13) The Mississippi Department of Human Services shall 577
provide TANF applicants information and referral to programs that 578
provide information about birth control, prenatal health care, 579
abstinence education, marriage education, family preservation and 580
fatherhood. Not later than September 1, 2021, the department 581
shall prepare a report, which shall be provided to the Chairmen of 582
the House and Senate Public Health Committees and to any other 583
member of the Legislature upon request, on the history, status, 584
outcomes and effectiveness of the information and referral 585
requirements under this subsection. 586
(14) No new TANF program requirement or restriction 587
affecting a person's eligibility for TANF assistance, or allowable 588
work activity, which is not mandated by federal law or regulation 589
may be implemented by the Department of Human Services after July 590
1, 2004, unless such is specifically authorized by an amendment to 591
this section by the Legislature. 592
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 593
and after July 1, 2026. 594