Senate Bill 2461

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI MILITARY HOME MODIFICATION GRANT PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE VETERANS' AFFAIRS BOARD; TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THE ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT GRANTS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO SERVICEMEN LIVING IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI WHO WERE WOUNDED DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM/OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM AND WHO NEED TO MODIFY THEIR HOME OR APARTMENT UNIT; TO CREATE A SPECIAL FUND FROM WHICH GRANTS IN THE PROGRAM SHALL BE DISBURSED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is established the Mississippi Military Home Modification Grant Program to be administered by the State Veterans' Affairs Board. The board shall promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of this act.

(2) All applications for grants shall be submitted in accordance with the provisions of grant procedures, criteria and standards developed and made public by the board. The board shall develop regulations, procedures and application forms consistent with this act to govern how grants will be awarded.

(3) Grants shall be eligible to servicemen living in the State of Mississippi who were wounded during Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom and who need to modify their home or apartment unit. The applicant shall provide evidence that he was injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom.

(4) Properties eligible for grants include homes and apartments located within the State of Mississippi. Modifications shall be recommended and approved by an attending physician, hospital rehabilitation officer or veteran's affairs officer before grant can be awarded. Funds can be used to widen doorways, raise toilet heights, lower counters and add ramps, grab bars, tubcuts, visual smoke detectors, shower chairs, handheld shower fixtures and any other modifications recommended by an attending physician, hospital rehabilitation officer or veteran's affairs officer.

(5) The maximum award available for each dwelling unit shall be Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00). When the work has been completed, the grant funds shall be paid to the merchant or contractor and shall not be dispersed directly to the serviceman.

(6) The board may accept and expend grants and private donations from any source, including federal, state, public and private entities, to assist it to carry out the purposes of this act.

(7) There is created a special fund in the State Treasury to be known as the Military Home Modification Grant Fund from which grants in this program shall be disbursed. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.