Senate Bill 2722

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ANNUALLY SET ASIDE A MINIMUM OF $10,000,000.00 RECEIVED BY THE STATE UNDER THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) BLOCK GRANT TO FUND GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH MILITARY OR FIRST RESPONDER FAMILIES TO PROVIDE MARRIAGE COUNSELING, PREPARATION AND SUPPORT; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES TO AWARD SUCH GRANTS AND TO IMPLEMENT THOSE POLICIES BY RULES PROMULGATED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 43-17-7 AND 25-43-101; TO DEFINE TERMS; TO STATE CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE INTENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) Of the moneys received by the state under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant during each fiscal year, the State Department of Human Services shall, consistent with federal law and subject to appropriation, set aside a minimum of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) of such monies to fund grants to nonprofit organizations specifically working with military or first responder families, or both, to provide marriage counseling, preparation and support. The State Department of Human Services is authorized to implement policies to award such grants and is authorized to implement those policies by rules promulgated pursuant to Sections 43-17-7 and 25-43-101.

(2) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed herein:

(a) "Military" means the Armed Forces or Reserves of the United States, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force and the reserve components thereof, the National Guard of any state, the military reserves of any state or the naval militia of any state.

(b) "First responder" means those serving as a:

(i) Firefighter;

(ii) Emergency medical technician;

(iii) Rescue squad member;

(iv) Law enforcement officer;

(v) Correctional officer; or

(vi) Sworn member of the State Fire Marshal's Office.

(3) It is the intent of the Legislature that funding authorized under this section be used to supplement, not supplant, other sources of revenue heretofore or hereafter used for the purposes of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.