Bill Text: MS HB443 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Mississippi Poverty Reduction and Advocacy Office; create.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2011-02-01 - Died In Committee [HB443 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2011-HB443-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Select Committee on Poverty; Appropriations
By: Representative Dickson
House Bill 443
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE CREATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI POVERTY REDUCTION AND ADVOCACY OFFICE, A PUBLIC-PRIVATE NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIP THAT SHALL COORDINATE GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND PRIVATE SECTOR EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MISSISSIPPIANS IN POVERTY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE OFFICE; TO SYSTEMATICALLY PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST PEOPLE IN POVERTY; TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST PEOPLE IN POVERTY TO ACCESS THE FEDERAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT; TO REQUIRE THE OFFICE TO REPORT ANNUALLY TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE ON ITS EFFORTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. It shall be the public policy of the State of Mississippi to focus on reducing the number of Mississippians in poverty by twenty percent (20%) through a systematic, coordinated and collaborative effort of governmental agencies and private sector entities by the year 2021.
SECTION 2. (1)
There is authorized the creation of the
Mississippi Poverty Reduction and Advocacy Office, which may be referred to as
the office in this act.
(2) The purpose of the office shall be to develop a comprehensive strategy to help Mississippians eradicate themselves of poverty, and to coordinate governmental agencies and private sector efforts in developing and implementing effective programs that help individuals out of poverty to become productive members of the state who contribute to the economy.
(3) The office shall develop comprehensive databases and accountability measures on poverty to aid agencies and private entities in developing and implementing poverty reduction programs and shall evaluate the resulting benefits and long-term savings to the state's economy and the effectiveness of strategies for decreasing the number of citizens in poverty.
(4) The Mississippi Poverty Reduction and Advocacy Office shall seek tax—exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.
SECTION 3. (1) The office shall be governed by a thirteen-member board of directors of public and private citizens, which shall be composed as follows:
(a) Two (2) members, one (1) of whom must be a Mississippian with experience in poverty related programs and who has been a recipient of benefits from a program that assists those in poverty, appointed by the Governor;
(b) Two (2) members, one (1) of whom must be a Mississippian with experience in poverty related programs and who has been a recipient of benefits from a program that assists those in poverty, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of the Senate;
(c) Two (2) members, one (1) of whom must be a Mississippian with experience in poverty related programs, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(d) One (1) member who is the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services;
(e) One (1) member who is the State Health Officer of the Mississippi State Department of Health;
(f) One (1) member who is the State Superintendent of Education;
(g) One (1) member who is the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security;
(h) One (1) member who is the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority;
(i) One (1) member who is the Executive Director of the Department of Rehabilitative Services; and
(j) One (1) member who is an operator of a workforce development center appointed by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
(2) No state agency head may send a designated representative to any board meeting, and each agency head shall make a good faith effort to attend regularly scheduled board meetings.
(3) Membership on the board of directors by a state agency official constitutes work duties for the official and does not create a conflict of interest under Section 25-4-105.
(4) Within thirty (30) days of enactment, the board shall meet to develop articles of incorporation of the office and shall begin the operation of the office.
(5) The actions of the board shall be governed by the articles of incorporation including the hiring of a director, staff and other business activities of the office.
(6) The board may designate and appoint as many technical advisory committees as needed by the board to advise, counsel and assist the board in developing innovative and effective efforts that help citizens out of poverty, assist citizens in poverty to take advantage of federal, state, local and private programs, and to evaluate activities and efforts related to poverty in state agencies, and private entities.
(7) The board, with assistance of the director of the office and staff, shall prepare and submit a report of the activities and accomplishments of the office to the Governor and Legislature on the opening day of each regular session of the Legislature.
(8) The office may match dollars appropriated from the state with nonpublic dollars raised by the board.
SECTION 4. (1) The board, shall meet at least quarterly, and shall take into consideration the counsel and advice of any technical advisory committees and shall inform the office director and staff on the programs and activities that help Mississippians out of poverty.
(2) The director and staff of the office shall be responsible for carrying out the directives of the board including assisting the board in the preparation of reports to the Governor and Legislature.
(3) The director and staff shall keep abreast of poverty-related research and efforts of other states related to poverty reduction and assistance programs and shall keep the board informed of all such findings.
(4) The director and staff of the office shall work with existing agencies and advocacy groups to inform Mississippians in poverty of all federal, state, local and private programs that may assist individuals in poverty.
(5) The director and staff of the office shall work with existing agencies and advocacy groups who encourage and assist Mississippians in poverty to apply for and receive all unclaimed local, state and federal funds, such as the federal earned income tax credit, which on an annual basis over one-half (1/2) of such credits go unclaimed by citizens of this state.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
