Senate Bill 2818

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 41-26-150, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ESTABLISH THE JACKSON WATER REIMBURSEMENT GRANT PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALLOWING CERTAIN REIMBURSEMENTS TO BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS AND CITIZENS WHO WERE SUBJECT TO VARIOUS ISSUES, INCLUDING BOIL-WATER NOTICES AND LACK OF WATER PRESSURE, INVOLVING THE JACKSON WATER SYSTEM; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY MAKE IN AWARDING GRANT FUNDS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE ANNUAL GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS TO THE JACKSON WATER REIMBURSEMENT GRANT PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 41-26-150, Mississippi Code of 1972:

41-26-150. (1) There is hereby established the City of Jackson Water Reimbursement Grant Program.

(2) The Department of Health shall administer the grant program for the purpose of allowing certain reimbursements to businesses, non-profits and citizens who were subject to various issues, including boil-water notices and lack of water pressure, involving the Jackson Water System. Applicants may apply for reimbursement of certain expenses related to such issues, including but not limited to, the cost to pay for bottled water.

(3) The Department of Health shall promulgate rules and regulations to administer the grant program. The rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Health may include the following considerations for recipients of grant funds:

(a) The amount of applicants;

(b) The number of household members per applicant;

(c) The size of the business or non-profit applying for grant funds, with a particular emphasis on distributing grant funds to non-profits and small or disadvantaged businesses; and

(d) The number of children, disabled individuals or elderly members of an applicant's household.

(4) The Department of Health shall provide grant funding in the amount of Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00) to the Jackson Water Reimbursement Grant Program.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.