MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services
By: Representative Mims
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-1-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE DIRECTOR OF THE FRAUD INVESTIGATION UNIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND EACH INVESTIGATOR OF THE UNIT TO BE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, PART-TIME LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINEE; TO EXPAND THE DUTIES OF THE UNIT TO INCLUDE INVESTIGATIONS TO AID THE DEPARTMENT IN THE PREVENTION OF FRAUD OR ABUSE OF ANY PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 43-1-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
43-1-23. (1) There is
created within the State Department of Human Services a separate administrative
unit to be known as the "Fraud Investigation Unit." The Fraud
Investigation Unit shall be headed by a director appointed by the Executive
Director of the department. The Director of the Fraud Investigation Unit and
each investigator of the unit shall be a * * * law enforcement officer, part-time
law enforcement officer or law enforcement trainee as defined in Section 45-6-3
who is knowledgeable in the programs administered by the department. The Fraud
Investigation Unit shall be responsible for:
(a) Conducting investigations for the purpose of aiding the department in the prevention, detection of and verification of the perpetration of fraud or abuse of any program by any client, any vendor of services with whom the department has contracted, any nonfederal entity with which the department has entered into an agreement, or any employee of the department, and for the aiding of the department in the recoupment of any funds owed to the department as a result of fraud or abuse;
(b) The notification and forwarding of any information relevant to possible criminal violations to the appropriate prosecuting authority and assisting in the prosecution of any case referred to a prosecutor, if requested; and
(c) Such other duties as prescribed in regulations of the department.
(2) The Fraud Investigation Unit is authorized to employ such other investigative, technical, secretarial and support staff as may be necessary.
(3) In order to carry out
the responsibilities of the Fraud Investigation Unit, the investigators may
request and receive assistance from all state and local agencies, boards,
commissions, and bureaus including, without limitation, the * * * Department of Revenue,
the Department of Public Safety, and all public and private agencies
maintaining data banks, criminal or other records that would enable the
investigators to make verification of fraud or abuse in violation of state or
federal statutes. All records and information shall be confidential and shall
be available only to the Fraud Investigation Unit, district or county attorneys,
the Attorney General, and courts having jurisdiction in criminal proceedings.
(4) The department is authorized to enter into contracts with other agencies administering aid or benefits or services under any state or federally funded assistance program which need the assistance of the department's Fraud Investigation Unit.
(5) To accomplish the objectives and to carry out the duties prescribed in this section, the executive director, or his designee, in addition to the powers conferred by this section, may issue subpoenas with the approval of, and returnable to, a judge of the circuit, county or chancery court, in termtime or in vacation, to examine the records, documents or other evidence of persons, firms, corporations or any other entities insofar as such records, documents or other evidence relate to dealings material to an investigation.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.