Title 43, Public Welfare

(a) The purposes of MIB are as follows:(a) To establish industries, businesses, shops and workshops primarily for the employment of blind persons and other persons;(b) To employ blind persons whose training is not otherwise provided for and to market their products; and(c) To fur…

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the executive director of the MIB is hereby empowered to maintain sufficient funds to cover disbursements for current operations. The executive director shall deposit any excess funds with any official depository of the state and inv…

The agencies named or referred to are authorized separately or collectively to cooperate with any agency or instrumentality of the state or of the United States government in acquiring public funds for use in the constructing and equipping of the Adjustment Center for Individuals…

Any funds obtained by MIB as a result of a sale of goods manufactured by it shall be accounted for separate and apart from any funds received by MIB through appropriation from the state legislature. All nonappropriated funds generated by MIB shall not be subject to appropriation …

The Department of Finance and Administration is authorized to build a suitable facility, and payment for construction of that building shall be made from any money made available for this purpose. Any funds appropriated or granted from any source for purposes of Sections 43-3-1 t…

This law shall be construed to be supplemental and in addition to any present laws governing the agencies specified in Sections 43-3-1 through 43-3-15. Whenever a conflict exists between such sections and any of said present laws, the provisions of Sections 43-3-1 through 43-3-15…

It is declared that the state public welfare demands and the state public policy requires that a state facility be built and a state program be established that can teach and assist individuals who are blind to adjust to and become a useful part of society; that in addition to ex…

The directors of the University of Mississippi Medical School and Teaching Hospital, with the direction of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, may establish, maintain and supervise an Adjustment Center for Indi…

For the purpose of providing for blind persons in need, a statewide system of aid to the needy blind is hereby established and shall be in effect in all political subdivisions of this state to operate with due regard to the varying conditions and costs of living, to be financed b…

When used herein, the term “State Department” means the State Department of Public Welfare. “County department” means the county board of public welfare and the county welfare agent of each of the several counties in this state. “Applicant” means a person who has applied for assi…

(a) Assistance shall be granted under Sections 43-3-51 through 43-3-91 to any person who:(a) Has no vision or whose vision, with correcting glasses is so defective as to prevent the performance of ordinary activities for which eyesight is essential;(b) Has not sufficient income o…

The amount of assistance which any needy blind person shall receive shall be determined by the county department with due regard to the resources and necessary expenditures of the individual and the conditions existing in each case and in accordance with the rules and regulations…

(a) The state department shall:(a) Supervise the administration of assistance to the needy blind under Sections 43-3-51 through 43-3-91 by the county departments;(b) Make such rules and regulations and take such action as may be necessary or desirable for carrying out the provisi…

(a) The county departments shall:(a) Administer the provisions of Sections 43-3-51 through 43-3-91 in the respective counties subject to the rules and regulations prescribed by the state department pursuant to the provisions of said sections;(b) Report to the state department at …

Application for assistance under Sections 43-3-51 through 43-3-91 shall be made to the county department of the county in which the applicant resides. The application shall be in writing or reduced to writing in the manner and upon the form prescribed by the state department. Suc…

Whenever a county department receives an application for assistance under Sections 43-3-51 through 43-3-91, an investigation and record shall promptly be made of the circumstances of the applicant in order to ascertain the facts supporting the application and in order to obtain s…

No application shall be approved until the applicant has been examined by an ophthalmologist or by a licensed optometrist designated or approved by the state department to make such examinations, and said applicant shall be permitted to choose whether the examination will be made…

Upon the completion of such investigation the county department shall decide whether the applicant is eligible for assistance under the provisions of Sections 43-3-51 through 43-3-91, and determine in accordance with the rules and regulations of the state department the amount of…

The governing authorities shall promulgate such reasonable rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the intent of Sections 43-3-1 through 43-3-15. Any such rules and regulations shall be published and kept on file in the office of the director and shall be available to…

Assistance granted under Sections 43-3-51 through 43-3-91 shall not be transferable or assignable, at law or in equity, and none of the money paid or payable under said sections shall be subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal process, or to the operati…

If an application is not acted upon by the county department within a reasonable time after the filing of the application, or is denied in whole or in part, or if any award of assistance is modified or canceled under any provision of Sections 43-3-51 through 43-3-91, the applican…

All assistance grants made under Sections 43-3-51 through 43-3-91 shall be reconsidered by the county department as frequently as may be required by the rules of the state department. After such further investigation as the county department may deem necessary or the state depart…

A recipient shall submit to a reexamination as to his eyesight when required to do so by the county or the state department. He shall also furnish any information required by the county department or by the state department.

If at any time during the continuance of assistance the recipient thereof becomes possessed of any property or income in excess of the amount stated in the application provided for in Section 43-3-63, it shall be the duty of the recipient immediately to notify the county departme…

Whoever knowingly obtains, or attempts to obtain, or aids, or abets any person to obtain by means of a wilfully false statement or representation or by impersonation, or other fraudulent device, assistance to which he is not entitled, or assistance greater than that to which he i…

Federal and other funds shall be received, disposed of, and disbursed in the same manner as is provided for the handling of funds for the needy aged in Sections 43-9-33 through 43-9-37. Any funds paid to any applicant under the provisions of Sections 43-3-51 through 43-3-91 shall…

The State Board of Public Welfare shall make a detailed report to the Legislature each year in which it convenes, showing all appropriations and donations received and how same have been expended, and covering its activities and accomplishments and making recommendations therein …

The directors, professors, physicians, and all other personnel employed at the University of Mississippi Medical School and Teaching Hospital shall offer full cooperation to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services i…

The State Board of Public Welfare is hereby authorized and empowered to receive donations from any and all sources and expend same for the purpose herein outlined.

(1) For the purpose of providing legally blind persons with remunerative employment, enlarging the economic opportunities of the blind, and stimulating the blind to greater efforts in striving to make themselves self-supporting, blind persons licensed under the provisions of this…