House Bill 1322

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE PEER COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF EXPENDITURES OF TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) PROGRAM FUNDS RECEIVED BY THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, INCLUDING CONTRACTS, GRANTEES AND SUBGRANTEES, THAT ARE MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND ANY OTHER STATE AGENCY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE REVIEW SHALL ALSO INCLUDE AN AUDIT OF THE ELIGIBILITY OF APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS, ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES AND STATISTICS; TO REQUIRE THE PEER COMMITTEE TO MAKE A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT COVERS THE FINDINGS OF THE REVIEW, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE CERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE TANF PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) shall conduct an annual review of expenditures of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program funds received by the State of Mississippi, including contracts, grantees and subgrantees, that are made by the Department of Human Services and any other state agency. The review shall also include an audit of the eligibility of applicants and recipients, enrollment procedures and statistics.

(2) The PEER Committee shall make a report to the Legislature that covers the findings of the review conducted under subsection (1) of this section. The report shall include at a minimum the following information about the TANF program:

(a) The total number of recipients of TANF benefits;

(b) The total amount paid to them in benefits;

(d) The total number of applications;

(e) The number of applications granted;

(f) The number of applications denied;

(g) The number of applications cancelled; and

(h) The amount expended for the administration of the TANF program.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.