Mississippi House Bill HB1115

Mississippi 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/9/24
• Refer: 2/9/24
• Failed: 3/5/24

Caption

Federal funds; Governor can not return to federal government as long as there is still a demonstrable need for those funds in Mississippi.

Impact

HB1115 aims to ensure that federal funding supports ongoing state needs without the risk of loss to the federal government. By empowering the Governor or agency heads to retain control over the allocation of these federal funds, the bill could potentially optimize program administration and sustainability within the state. The possibility to transfer funds to nonprofit entities is also introduced, allowing for more flexible management of resources in case these entities are deemed more capable of administering the programs effectively, subject to compliance with federal laws.

Summary

House Bill 1115 addresses the management of federal funds received by the state of Mississippi. The bill stipulates that whenever the state receives federal funds that are required or authorized for specific programs or purposes, the Governor or the executive director of the state agency controlling the funds cannot return these funds to the federal government as long as there is a demonstrable need for them. This decision is contingent upon an assessment by the Attorney General regarding the need for such funds in the designated programs.

Contention

Potential points of contention surrounding HB1115 could arise from the centralization of authority regarding federal funds. Critics may argue that giving the Governor or designated executive directors unfettered discretion over federal fund management limits legislative oversight. Furthermore, the criteria for determining the suitability of transferring funds to nonprofit entities might provoke concerns about transparency and accountability in government spending. Debate may center on whether the provisions truly serve the best interest of state-supported programs or if they could facilitate mismanagement or favoritism in the allocation of public resources.