Senate Bill 2781

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (ITS) TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, AND MANAGE A WEBSITE AND A MOBILE APPLICATION TO COORDINATE AND PROMOTE INFORMATION AND SERVICES RELATED TO PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH AND CARE FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS AND NEW PARENTS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE WEBSITE AND MOBILE APPLICATION SHALL INCLUDE INFORMATION CONCERNING CERTAIN RESOURCES RELATED TO ADOPTION ASSISTANCE, CHILDCARE, DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTION, EARLY INTERVENTION, FOOD, CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES RELATED TO PREGNANCY AND NEWBORN CARE, JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, PATERNITY, PARENTING SKILLS, MENTAL HEALTH AND PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM CARE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL HAVE AUTHORITY FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS ACT AND SHALL COORDINATE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE AGENCIES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT IN ORDER TO BEST EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THIS ACT; TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES, THE MISSISSIPPI OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AND THE MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID TO SUBMIT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES THAT WILL BE INCLUDED ON THE WEBSITE AND MOBILE APPLICATION TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL; TO REQUIRE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE AGENCIES AND EACH COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO DISPLAY A PROMINENT LINK TO THE WEBSITE AND MOBILE APPLICATION ON THEIR OWN WEBSITES; TO REQUIRE THE AGENCIES TO COOPERATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES IN THE CREATION OF THE WEBSITE AND MOBILE APPLICATION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE WEBSITE SHALL BE OPERATIONAL NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 1, 2023; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MOBILE APPLICATION SHALL BE OPERATIONAL NO LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2024; TO REQUIRE A REPORT TO BE FILED WITH THE LEGISLATURE NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 1, 2024, CONCERNING THE OPERATION AND STATUS OF THE WEBSITE AND MOBILE APPLICATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) For the purpose of this section, the term "agencies" means the Mississippi State Department of Health, the Mississippi Department of Human Services, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, the Mississippi Office of Workforce Development, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, and the term "agency" means any one (1) of those entities.

(2) The Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) shall develop, implement and manage a separate website and a mobile application (app) that coordinate and promote information and services related to pregnancy, childbirth and care for dependent children for expectant mothers and new parents. The website and mobile app shall include, but shall not be limited to, comprehensive information and resources related to adoption assistance, child care, domestic abuse protection, early intervention, food, clothing and supplies related to pregnancy and newborn care, job training and placement, unemployment benefits, paternity, parenting skills, mental health, and prenatal and postpartum care provided by the State of Mississippi or any other governmental entity, or relevant nonprofit organizations, including religious institutions.

(3) The Attorney General shall have the ultimate authority for oversight of the administration of this act and shall coordinate the activities of the agencies and the Department of Information Technology Services under the provisions of this act in order to best effectuate the purpose and intent of this act.

(4) (a) The information about the services and resources that will be included on the website and mobile app shall be provided to the Attorney General by the agencies about the particular programs and services of the agency that are related to the purpose of the website and mobile app.

(b) The Attorney General, the agencies and each county health department shall provide a prominent link on their own websites to the website and mobile app authorized by this act.

(5) The agencies shall cooperate with ITS, as overseen by the Attorney General, in developing, implementing and managing the website and mobile app. The website shall be operational not later than October 1, 2023, and the mobile app shall be operational not later than January 1, 2024.

(6) ITS and the agencies, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall apply for any federal grants that may be available to assist in paying the costs of developing, implementing and managing the website and mobile app.

(7) The Attorney General shall promulgate such rules as necessary to implement this act.

(8) Not later than October 1, 2024, the Attorney General shall report to the Chairs of the Senate Judiciary, Division A, and the House Judiciary A Committees, and the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and the House Public Health and Human Services Committee on the operation and status of the website and mobile app.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.