MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2018 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services
By: Representative Scott
AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE DIVISION OF MEDICAID TO PREPARE A VIDEO FOR PRESENTATION IN THE OFFICES IN WHICH TANF BENEFITS, SNAP BENEFITS, FOOD THROUGH THE WIC PROGRAM, AND MEDICAID ASSISTANCE ARE PROVIDED BY THOSE AGENCIES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE VIDEO SHALL PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT PROPER NUTRITION, HEALTHY EATING HABITS, PREVENTION OF AND REDUCING OBESITY, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAST-FEEDING INFANTS; TO PROVIDE THAT APPLICANTS FOR AND RECIPIENTS OF THOSE BENEFITS MAY VIEW THE VIDEO IN THE OFFICE OF THE AGENCY; TO PROVIDE THAT THOSE AGENCIES ALSO SHALL PREPARE VIDEOS WITH INFORMATION ON PRENATAL HEALTH CARE, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, ABSTINENCE EDUCATION, PREVENTIVE BIRTH CONTROL, MARRIAGE EDUCATION, PARENTING SKILLS, FAMILY PRESERVATION AND FATHERHOOD AND OTHER RELATED SUBJECTS, FOR DISTRIBUTION TO CERTAIN PERSONS AND ENTITIES AND TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, the term "agency" means the Mississippi Department of Human Services for applicants for and recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits; the State Department of Health for applicants for and recipients of food through the Women, Infants and Children's Nutrition Program (WIC); and the Division of Medicaid for applicants for and recipients of Medicaid assistance.
(2) (a) The agency shall prepare a video in an appropriate medium for presentation in the main or local offices in which the benefits specified in subsection (1) of this section are provided by the agency. The video shall provide information about proper nutrition, healthy eating habits, preventing and reducing obesity, and, for WIC recipients, the importance of breast-feeding infants.
(b) Applicants for and recipients of the benefits specified in subsection (1) of this section may view the video in the main or local office of the agency.
(3) In addition to the requirements of subsection (2) of this section, the agency shall prepare appropriate versions of videos as required by this subsection in an appropriate medium for presentation. The videos shall provide information on prenatal health care, sexually transmitted diseases, abstinence education, preventive birth control, marriage education, parenting skills, family preservation and fatherhood and other related subjects.
The agency shall distribute the videos to the following persons and entities:
(a) TANF recipients between the ages of thirteen (13) and twenty (20) years who are pregnant or have a child and the fathers of their children;
(b) Participants in the Medicaid family planning waiver and the fathers of their children;
(c) Physicians who are Medicaid providers and who practice obstetrics and gynecology;
(d) County health departments;
(e) WIC centers; and
(f) Family resource centers.
In addition, the agency shall make the videos available to the public upon request.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2018.