House Bill 810

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-1-4, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO PERFORM CRIMINAL RECORD BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ITS EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 43-1-4, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-1-4. The Department of Human Services shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To provide basic services and assistance statewide to needy and disadvantaged individuals and families.

(b) To promote integration of the many services and programs within its jurisdiction at the client level thus improving the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery and providing easier access to clients.

(c) To develop a statewide comprehensive service delivery plan in coordination with the Board of Health, the Board of Mental Health, and the Department of Finance and Administration. Such plan shall be developed and presented to the Governor by January 1, 1990.

(d) To employ personnel and expend funds appropriated to the department to carry out the duties and responsibilities assigned to the department by law.

(e) To fingerprint and perform a criminal history record check on every employee or volunteer (i) who has direct access to clients of the department who are children or vulnerable adults, or (ii) who are in a position of fiduciary responsibility. Every such employee and volunteer shall provide a valid current social security number and or driver's license number which shall be furnished to conduct the criminal history record check. If no disqualifying record is identified at the state level, fingerprints shall be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.