House Bill 976

AN ACT TO CREATE A FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY TO BE KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL MUNICIPAL YOUTH PROGRAMS FUND"; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS FOR THE FUND; TO PROVIDE THAT THE FUND SHALL CONSIST OF MONIES APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND OTHER SOURCES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE FUND SHALL BE UTILIZED TO PROVIDE CERTAIN GRANTS TO MUNICIPALITIES THAT IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS OR AWARD GRANTS TO PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR AT-RISK YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is established in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the "Local Municipal Youth Programs Fund" which shall be administered by the Department of Public Safety. Such fund shall be used for the purposes established in this section. The Department of Public Safety shall promulgate regulations for the administration of the fund including applications for grants, the awarding of grants and any necessary forms therefor.

(2) The fund shall consist of any monies appropriated by the Legislature, monies provided by any federal or state grants or provided from any public or private source. Any interest which accrues in the fund shall remain in the fund and at the end of the fiscal year any monies remaining in the fund shall not lapse into the General Fund but shall remain in the fund.

(3) The fund shall be used to provide grants to municipal governing authorities that implement programs or award grants to programs that provide prevention and intervention services for at-risk and/or delinquent youth and their families. Grants shall be awarded on a proportionate basis based on the population of the local governmental unit.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.