House Bill 543

AN ACT TO CREATE THE HELPING MISSISSIPPIANS AFFORD BROADBAND ACT; TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FROM THE CORONAVIRUS STATE FISCAL RECOVERY FUND TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES; TO DEFINE TERMS AS USED IN THE ACT; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION COMMISSION, TO CREATE A PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS TO PURCHASE BROADBAND SERVICES; TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDERS IN ORDER TO REDUCE BROADBAND COSTS TO HOUSEHOLDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "Helping Mississippians Afford Broadband Act."

SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much of it as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services for the purposes described in Section 4 of this act, for the period beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025................ ...............................................$ 100,000,000.00.

SECTION 3. As used in this act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "Commission" means Wireless Communication Commission.

(b) "Department" means Department of Information Technology Services.

(c) "Provider" means a broadband Internet access service provider, including any telecommunications company, cable television company, or wireless network provider that provides broadband Internet access service.

(d) "Eligible households" are defined as those households that have already been approved to receive the federal Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) or the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefit.

SECTION 4. (1) Using the funds appropriated under Section 2 of this act, the department in conjunction with the commission shall create a program for the purpose of providing financial assistance to eligible households to purchase broadband services. An amount not to exceed Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) per month per household shall be paid directly to providers to reduce broadband costs for households. Either a provider or a household may apply for the benefit.

(2) The department, in conjunction with the commission shall appoint an ombudsman to monitor the program created in this section. The ombudsman shall advocate for those eligible to receive the financial assistance and shall work to ensure the financial assistance reaches the underserved communities that need it most.

SECTION 5. The department shall not disburse any funds appropriated under this act to any recipient without first: (a) making an individualized determination that the reimbursement sought is, in the department's independent judgment, for necessary expenditures eligible under Section 602 of the federal Social Security Act as added by Section 9901 of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and its implementing guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, by the United States Department of the Treasury; and (b) determining that the recipient has not received and will not receive reimbursement for the expense in question from any source of funds, including insurance proceeds, other than those funds provided under Section 602 of the federal Social Security Act as added by Section 9901 of (ARPA). In addition, the department shall ensure that all funds appropriated under this act are disbursed in compliance with the Single Audit Act (31 USC Sections 7501-7507) and the related provisions of the Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR Section 200.303 regarding internal controls, Sections 200.330 through 200.332 regarding sub-recipient monitoring and management, and subpart F regarding audit requirements.

SECTION 6. (1) As a condition of receiving and expending the funds appropriated to the department under this act, the department shall certify to the Department of Finance and Administration that each expenditure of the funds appropriated to the department under this act complies with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established by the American Rescue Plan Act 223 of 2021.

(2) If the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of the Treasury, or the Office of Inspector General of any other federal agency having oversight over the use of monies from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (a) determines that the department or recipient has expended or otherwise used any of the funds appropriated to the department under this act for any purpose that is not in compliance with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and (b) the State of Mississippi is required to repay the federal government for any of those funds that the Office of the Inspector General determined were expended or otherwise used improperly by the department or recipient, then the department or recipient that expended or otherwise used those funds improperly shall be required to pay the amount of those funds to the State of Mississippi for repayment to the federal government.

SECTION 7. The money appropriated by this act shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund not otherwise appropriated, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his or her warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, officer or officers in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.