MS HB981

Creates the Mississippi Municipal Poverty Task Force to study poverty rates in municipalities with persistent poverty levels of 20% or greater and develop strategies to reduce poverty burdens.

Task force composed of 16 members: 5 appointed by House Speaker (including chairs of Appropriations and Public Health/Welfare committees plus 3 representatives), 5 by Lieutenant Governor (including Senate committee chairs plus 3 senators), plus representatives from Department of Human Services, Mississippi Development Authority, Division of Medicaid, Mississippi Center for Justice, and aging/adult services industry, plus one person living in poverty.

Task force must assess economic and human impacts of poverty, review remedies to reduce poverty, examine legislative solutions for 2016, and recommend state policies and coordinated services for high-poverty municipalities.

Members must be appointed within 30 days and task force shall organize by selecting chair and vice chair; nonlegislative members receive per diem and expense reimbursement.

Task force shall submit findings and recommendations to the House before December 1, 2015, at which point the task force is dissolved.