MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Fees and Salaries of Public Officers; Labor

By: Representative Scott (80th)

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT EACH STATE AGENCY SHALL ESTABLISH RECRUITMENT AND HIRING GOALS THAT TARGET TEN PERCENT OF CERTAIN JOBS TO BE FILLED WITH RECIPIENTS OF TANF BENEFITS OR FOOD STAMPS; TO PROVIDE THAT WHENEVER A TANF RECIPIENT SEEKS EMPLOYMENT WITH THE STATE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION SHALL ENTER THE RECIPIENT IN JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES AND SHALL PROVIDE INTENSIVE JOB DEVELOPMENT AND JOB REFERRAL ASSISTANCE TO THE RECIPIENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Each state agency in the state personnel system shall establish recruitment and hiring goals which shall target ten percent (10%) of all jobs requiring a high school diploma or less to be filled with recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits or food stamps. The State Personnel Board may add a question concerning receipt of TANF benefits or food stamps to the state employment application for the purposes of targeting these applicants. Each state agency shall report annually to the State Personnel Board and to the Department of Human Services the number of recipients of TANF benefits and food stamps who have been employed in comparison to the established goal of the agency. The State Personnel Board shall adopt rules and regulations for state agencies to follow in complying with this section.

SECTION 2. Whenever a recipient of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits seeks employment opportunities through the Mississippi State Employment Service, the Mississippi Employment Security Commission shall enter the recipient in the job placement services of the State Employment Service and shall provide intensive job development and job referral assistance to the recipient in order to help the recipient become employed.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.