Bill Text: MS HB1363 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

Mississippi House Bill 1363

Introduced

Bill Title: TANF benefits; DHS shall require compliance with work requirements or educational or vocational advancement before granting.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-20 - Referred To Public Health and Human Services [HB1363 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2025-HB1363-Introduced.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2025 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Human Services

By: Representative Bell (65th)

House Bill 1363

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-12-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO REQUIRE ALL ENROLLEES IN THE TANF PROGRAM TO BE COMPLIANT WITH WORK REQUIREMENTS OR ANY EDUCATIONAL OR VOCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT REGARDLESS OF AGE BEFORE GRANTING BENEFITS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 43-12-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-12-35. Noncompliance with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program rules. (1) The Department of Human Services shall only grant benefits when an approved applicant has signed a written agreement clearly enumerating continued eligibility requirements, circumstances in which sanctions may be imposed, and any potential penalties for noncompliance.

(2) The department shall require all enrollees to be compliant with all program requirements, including work requirements or any educational or vocational advancement regardless of age, before granting benefits.

(3) The department shall institute a three-month, full-household sanction for the first instance of noncompliance with any TANF requirement, unless expressly prohibited by federal law.

(4) The department shall terminate benefits for the second instance of noncompliance with any TANF requirement, unless expressly prohibited by federal law.

(5) An individual sanctioned under subsection (3) of this section shall not have benefits reinstated without reviewing the agreement required under subsection (1) of this section.

(6) The department shall deny benefits to any adult member of a household where another adult member of the household has been found to have committed benefits fraud.

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