MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Simmons

A RESOLUTION TO CREATE AND EMPOWER A SPECIAL SENATE TANF MONITORING TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND CONSIDER ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE EFFECT OF WELFARE PROGRAM REVISIONS ON THE WELL-BEING OF NEEDY FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN MISSISSIPPI.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That:

(1) There is hereby created a special TANF Monitoring Task Force to study and consider all matters relating to the effect of recent federal and state welfare program revisions on the well-being of needy families and children in Mississippi. The task force may conduct public hearings and receive information from any source deemed appropriate. The task force shall be composed of the following members:

(a) The Chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, or his designee;

(b) The Chairman of the Senate Education Committee or his designee;

(c) The Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, or his designee;

(d) The Chairman of the Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Parks Committee, or his designee;

(e) Two (2) representatives of the Department of Human Services, appointed by the Executive Director of the Department;

(f) One (1) representative of the Division of Medicaid, Office of the Governor, appointed by the Executive Director of the Division of Medicaid;

(g) Five (5) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor from the public at large which shall include two (2) recipients or former recipients of public assistance;

(h) One (1) member of the Lieutenant Governor's staff appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

Appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days of passage of this resolution.

(2) The task force shall study and consider the following issues:

(a) Determine how federal and state welfare law and policy revisions have affected the well-being of needy families and children in Mississippi, what barriers continue to affect recipients' and former recipients' abilities to find and keep jobs and to move toward self-sufficiency, the quality of jobs they obtain, and how Mississippi's welfare program can be improved to help families overcome the barriers to self-sufficiency;

(b) How the researchers will collect information representative of the State of Mississippi and each of the states' congressional districts;

(c) What questions should be answered about the families that have left welfare, including their work experience, the barriers they face in trying to become self-sufficient, the health and well-being of children and adults in the families;

(d) Research methods that should be used to collect information about these families, including surveys and matching of administrative data;

(e) A schedule for research for the next five (5) years to track changes in the experience and well-being of families during that period;

(f) An analysis of key subgroups within the population, such as experienced workers or women without job experience and how research can be designed to develop information specific to those groups;

(g) An identification of potential organizations to do the research, including an assessment of their expertise and experience in the different methods proposed;

(h) An estimate of the costs of doing the research; and

(i) A plan for reporting the research to the Governor and the Legislature that will insure the timely and independent analysis of the effects of welfare reform on Mississippi's families.

(3) The Lieutenant Governor shall call the first meeting and shall preside over the meeting, at which time the task force shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman of the task force. The vice-chairman shall also serve as secretary and shall be responsible for keeping all records of the task force. A majority of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings at least five (5) days prior to the date on which a meeting is to be held.

(4) Members of the task force who are not legislators, state officials or state employees shall be reimbursed from the Senate Contingent Expense Fund in accordance with Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Legislative members of the task force shall be paid from the Senate Contingent Expense Fund in the same manner as provided for attendance at committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session; however, no per diem or expense for attending meetings of the task force will be paid to legislators while the Legislature is in session. Members of the task force who are state officials or state employees shall be reimbursed by their department or agency for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972. No task force member may incur per diem, travel or other expenses unless previously authorized by vote, at a meeting of the task force, which action shall be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting.

(5) The task force shall utilize clerical and legal staff of the Senate. To effectuate the purposes of the task force any department, board or agency of the state or local government shall, at the request of the chairman of the task force, provide to the task force such facilities, assistance and data as will enable the task force to properly carry out its powers and duties.

(6) The task force shall present its findings to the Senate on or before December 15, 1999, by filing its report thereon with the Secretary of the Senate. Its report may propose legislation related to the matters within the jurisdiction of the task force. The task force shall be dissolved on January 1, 2000.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to those state agencies and those associations which have members on the Senate task force created pursuant to this resolution.