House Bill 1385

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 35-1-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI VETERANS AFFAIRS BOARD TO REGULATE DAILY RATES FOR DAILY LIVING EXPENSES AT VETERANS HOMES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 35-1-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

35-1-33. Veteran residents of state veterans homes shall pay to the home each month all income required to fund their monthly expenses. This payment, which shall be inclusive of the daily cost of residence, shall be known as the veteran resident contribution. The maximum amount of the veteran resident contribution to provide services to state veterans home residents shall not exceed the private rate for the service area in which the veteran resident resides.

The veteran resident contribution for daily living expenses in state veterans homes shall be Sixty-six Dollars ($66.00) per day through June 30, 2008. Beginning July 1, 2008, the veteran resident contribution for veteran residents of state veterans homes shall decrease by a sum of Five Dollars ($5.00) per day until July 1, 2011, so that the veteran resident contribution will be Sixty-one Dollars ($61.00) per day from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009; Fifty-six Dollars ($56.00) per day from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010; Fifty-one Dollars ($51.00) per day from July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011; and Forty-six Dollars ($46.00) per day from July 1, 2011, and each fiscal year thereafter contingent upon the legislative appropriation. These annual decreases in the veteran resident contribution revenue shall be offset with additional funds in the annual legislative appropriation, however, if such funds are not made available these rate reductions shall be delayed until proper funding is provided.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board is authorized to regulate resident daily rate contributions as determined appropriate by the board based on current and projected appropriations.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.