Senate Bill 2625

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A PUBLIC WELFARE OVERSIGHT TASK FORCE AND PRESCRIBE ITS MEMBERSHIP; TO PRESCRIBE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TASK FORCE TO ASSESS ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION SYSTEMS FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND ADVISE THE LEGISLATURE REGARDING THE INTEGRITY OF THE STATE'S PUBLIC WELFARE PROGRAMS; TO AUTHORIZE THE TASK FORCE TO APPLY FOR AND EXPEND FUNDS AND MAKE A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

SECTION 1. This act shall be known as the Welfare Fraud Prevention Act of 2020.

SECTION 2. (1) There is hereby established the Public Welfare Oversight Task Force, hereinafter called the Oversight Task Force.

(2) The Oversight Task Force shall be composed of the following members:

(a) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint two (2) members;

(b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two (2) members;

(d) The Director of the Division of Medicaid, or his designee;

(e) The Director of the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review, or his designee;

(f) The Attorney General, or her designee;

(g) The State Auditor, or his designee;

(h) The Secretary of State, or his designee;

(i) The Director of the Department of Employment Security, or his designee;

(j) A designee of one of Mississippi's Regional Housing Authorities with expertise in public housing; and

(k) The Chairman of the Mississippi Advisory Council on Faith-Based Initiatives, or his designee.

(3) The task force shall meet on or before July 15, 2020, at the call of the Director of the Department of Human Services and organize itself by electing one (1) of its members as Chair and such other officers as the task force may consider necessary. Thereafter, the task force shall meet at least biannually and at the call of the Chair or by a majority of the members. A quorum consists of seven (7) members.

(4) The task force shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) Track and assess the eligibility verification systems established by the "Medicaid and Human Services Transparency and Fraud Prevention Act" (Section 43-12-1, Mississippi Code of 1972);

(b) Track and assess the eligibility verification systems established by the National Accuracy Clearinghouse (NAC), of which Mississippi is a part;

(i) Prevent fraud and abuse by providers, vendors and administrators of services in public welfare programs;

(ii) Recover improper payments made to providers and vendors of services in those programs;

(iii) Enhance the integrity and efficacy of the state's public welfare programs;

(iv) Evaluate and enhance current eligibility verification systems;

(v) Increase self-sufficiency for recipients of public welfare programs;

(vi) Prioritize existing resources for disabled adults and children and children in foster care; and

(vii) Fully use its available discretion in submitting applications for waivers under federal law to ensure program integrity and sustainability.

The Oversight Task Force shall prepare and submit an annual report no later than the first day of the second full week of each regular session of the Legislature. The report shall include specific recommendations on how to prevent fraud and abuse; insure program integrity; and increase self-sufficiency.

(5) The Oversight Task Force shall use clerical and professional employees of the Department of Human Services for its staff and may employ or retain other professional staff, upon the determination of the necessity for other staff.

(6) The Oversight Task Force may employ consultants to assist in its evaluations and, when necessary, the implementation of its recommendations. The Oversight Task Force is encouraged to apply for and may expend grants, gifts, or federal funds it receives from other sources to carry out its duties and responsibilities.

(7) This section shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020, and shall stand repealed on December 31, 2024.