House Bill 812

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 33-4-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE GRANTS TO BE MADE FROM THE MISSISSIPPI MILITARY FAMILY RELIEF FUND TO FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES WHICH INCUR A LOSS DUE TO CERTAIN DISASTERS IN FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER AREAS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 33-4-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

33-4-1. (1) A special fund to be designated the "Mississippi Military Family Relief Fund" is created in the State Treasury. The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state. The fund shall consist of any money designated for deposit therein from any source, including, but not limited to, money designated for deposit therein by Section 27-7-94, and private contributions. 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 or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into the fund. Money in the fund shall be under the direction of the Military Department. Such funds shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Department of Finance and Administration, based upon recommendations made by the Adjutant General.

(2) Money in the Mississippi Military Family Relief Fund shall be utilized to make grants to families that experience a financial hardship as a result of the following:

(a) A family member who is a Mississippi resident and a member of the Mississippi National Guard or the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States being called to active duty as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; or

(b) Considerable loss being incurred by a family that has a member who is a Mississippi resident and a member of the Mississippi National Guard or the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States if the family resides in an area of the state which has been declared a disaster area by the President of the United States and the loss is a direct result of the disaster.

(3) The Adjutant General shall establish eligibility requirements for receipt of the grants and the amount of the grants by rule * * *.

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