MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare

By: Representative Moody

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE GOVERNOR TO DESIGNATE A PERSON IN HIS OFFICE TO BE A CHILDREN'S SERVICES COORDINATOR; TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHILDREN'S SERVICE COORDINATOR WILL HAVE THE DUTY OF RECEIVING INQUIRIES FROM THE PUBLIC RELATED TO CHILDREN'S SERVICES AND REFERRING AND ASSISTING THOSE PERSONS IN LOCATING THE APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCY THAT PROVIDES THE SERVICES REQUESTED OR NEEDED; TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES COORDINATOR SHALL BE A PERSON WHO IS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT CHILDREN'S SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE STATE; TO REQUIRE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO MAINTAIN A TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER DEDICATED SOLELY FOR THE USE OF THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES COORDINATOR; TO DIRECT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PREPARE A PAMPHLET DESCRIBING CHILDREN'S SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY STATE AGENCIES, WHICH WILL PROMINENTLY DISPLAY THE TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES COORDINATOR; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO DISTRIBUTE THE PAMPHLET TO VARIOUS LOCATIONS TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO PARENTS AND CHILDREN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Governor shall appoint or designate one or more persons in his office to be a children's services coordinator, who will have the duty of receiving calls and other inquiries from the public related to children's services and referring and otherwise assisting those persons in locating the appropriate state agency or department that provides the services requested or needed by those persons. The children's services coordinator shall be a person who is knowledgeable about children's services provided by the state, particularly services provided by the Department of Human Services, the Division of Medicaid, the State Department of Health, the Department of Rehabilitation Services, and the Office of Insurance of the Department of Finance and Administration. The Governor's Office shall maintain a toll-free telephone number dedicated solely for the use of the children's services coordinator.

(2) The State Department of Health shall prepare a brochure or pamphlet describing children's services that are provided by state agencies, and shall prominently display in the brochure or pamphlet the telephone number of the children's services coordinator in the Governor's Office. The Department of Health shall distribute the brochure or pamphlet to county health departments, county departments of human services, school districts, doctors' offices and other appropriate locations to get that information to parents and children.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.