MS HB1009

Amends Section 43-1-3 of the Mississippi Code to allow the Department of Human Services to contract with vendors or contractors to improve performance, reduce costs, or increase efficiency.

Contracts must remain under the supervision or control of a department office, bureau, or division and cannot delegate, privatize, or outsource the operation of any department office.

Requires advance legislative authorization before any county office of the Department of Human Services may be closed.

Grandfathers existing contracts in place before January 1, 1994, and allows renewal or replacement of such contracts with substantially similar terms.

Takes effect July 1, 2013, and the authorization expires July 1, 2015.