Senate Bill 2805

AN ACT TO ENACT THE "ARPA ACCOUNTABILITY ACT" TO ENSURE THAT FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 FUNDS ARE PROPERLY SPENT; TO ESTABLISH THE POSITION OF ARPA OMBUDSMAN IN THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT ON ARPA SPENDING AND TO SOLICIT PUBLIC FEEDBACK; TO DIRECT THE ARPA OMBUDSMAN TO DEVELOP AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE EXPENDITURE OF ARPA FUNDS AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXPENDITURES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the "ARPA Accountability Act."

(2) For purposes of this act, the term "ARPA" means the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

(3) There is hereby established in the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration the position of ARPA Ombudsman to ensure that federal ARPA funds are properly spent, to provide oversight on ARPA expenditures and to solicit public feedback.

(4) The ARPA Ombudsman shall develop an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on how ARPA funds are being spent, who the ARPA funds are serving and recommendations for improvements in the ARPA expenditure grant programs. The annual report shall be made on or before December 1 annually and shall be made available to the public .

(5) The ARPA Ombudsman shall be authorized to make necessary expenditures to employ personnel and operate an office to be paid from ARPA funds subject to appropriation of the Legislature.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.