House Bill 547

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE POSITION OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) EXPENDITURES OMBUDSMAN, WHO SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR FOR A TERM THAT EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 31, 2026; TO PROVIDE THAT THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL OVERSEE ALL EXPENDITURES OF ARPA FUNDS MADE BY THE LEGISLATURE, THE GOVERNOR AND ALL STATE AGENCIES AND SOLICIT FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ONGOING EXPENDITURE OF ARPA FUNDS IN THE STATE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL PREPARE AN ANNUAL REPORT ON HOW ARPA FUNDS ARE BEING EXPENDED, WHO THE FUNDS ARE HELPING, AND WHAT IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE IN THE ALLOCATION OF THE FUNDS, AND THE REPORT SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE AND SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC; TO PROVIDE THAT THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF THE OMBUDSMAN FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER DUTIES SHALL BE PAID FROM ARPA FUNDS THAT ARE APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR THAT PURPOSE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is established the position of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Expenditures Ombudsman, who shall be appointed by the Governor for a term that expires on December 31, 2026.

(2) The ombudsman shall oversee all expenditures of ARPA funds made by the Legislature, the Governor and all state agencies and solicit feedback from the public about the ongoing expenditure of ARPA funds in the state.

(3) The ombudsman shall prepare an annual report on (a) how ARPA funds are being expended, (b) who the funds are helping, and (c) what improvements can be made in the allocation of the funds. The report shall be provided to the Governor and the Legislature and shall be made available to the public.

(4) The annual compensation of the ombudsman for the performance of his or her duties shall be paid from ARPA funds that are appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.