Senate Bill 2448

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE PEER COMMITTEE TO STUDY PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN STATE AGENCIES AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS; TO SET OUT CERTAIN SPECIFIC SUBJECTS FOR REVIEW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The PEER Committee shall study and report on public-private partnerships between state agencies and not-for-profit corporations that perform services under grants or contracts for the agencies. For purposes of this section, a public-private partnership shall not include contracts between state institutions of higher learning, locally supported community colleges, support foundations, or loyalty foundations. In conducting this study, the PEER Committee shall review:

(a) The methods by which agencies select not-for-profit corporations to provide services and support to the agency's clients;

(b) The processes by which agencies devise scope-of-work statements for their not-for-profit partners;

(c) The use of grant agreements and contracts to set out terms and conditions for payments and accountability for service delivery;

(d) The methods agencies use to monitor ongoing performance of their not-for-profit partners;

(e) Financial auditing or other financial integrity procedures used by the agency to ensure that services are properly rendered and that funds are not misspent; and

(f) Any other subject necessary to evaluate the accountability of not-for-profit partners to agencies, the Legislature, and the taxpayers of the state.

(2) The PEER Committee shall complete the report no later than December 1, 2021, and deliver copies to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House and the membership of the Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.