MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2023 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services
By: Representative Currie
AN ACT TO CREATE THE "MISSISSIPPI FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE FUND" IN THE STATE TREASURY; TO AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ADMINISTER THE FUND; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO DISTRIBUTE GRANTS TO LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENTS AND NONPROFITS THAT MAKE PARENTING RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO FATHERS; 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 the Mississippi Fatherhood Initiative Fund, to be administered by the Mississippi State Department of Health, for the purpose of providing grants to local units of government, nongovernmental organizations, institutions of higher learning, community colleges, public schools, and nonprofit entities that provide resources to assist fathers. The monies in the fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal-year limitations, and shall consist of:
(a) Monies appropriated by the Legislature;
(b) Any interest accrued to the fund;
(c) Donations from private or public sources;
(d) Monies received from such other sources as may be otherwise provided by law.
(2) The State Department of Health shall establish the criteria for the grants authorized by this section. The criteria shall, at a minimum, require that the grantee's services:
(a) Assist fathers in finding and/or maintaining employment,
(b) Manage child support obligations,
(c) Assist the transition of incarcerated fathers to post incarceration housing and employment,
(d) Assist fathers in providing health care and health insurance for the father's dependents,
(e) Train fathers in understanding child development and enhancing parenting skills, and
(f) Use a case management system that is tailored to the needs of the father being served.
(3) The State Department of Health shall develop regulations, procedures and application forms to govern how grants will be awarded under the provisions of this act, ensure that care grants are equitably distributed, develop an audit process to assure that grant monies are used to provide the services for which they are approved.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.