43-15-107 - Licensure requirements. - Mississippi Statutes

§ 43-15-107. Licensure requirements.
 

(1)  Except as provided in Section 43-15-111, no person, agency, firm, corporation, association or other entity, acting individually or jointly with any other person or entity, may establish, conduct or maintain foster homes, residential child-caring agencies and child-placing agencies or facility and/or engage in child placing in this state without a valid and current license issued by and under the authority of the division as provided by this article and the rules of the division. Any out-of-state child-placing agency that provides a full range of services, including, but not limited to, adoptions, foster family homes, adoption counseling services or financial aid, in this state must be licensed by the division under this article. 

(2)  No license issued under this article is assignable or transferable. 

(3)  A current license shall at all times be posted in each licensee's facility, in a place that is visible and readily accessible to the public. 

(4) (a)  Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, each license issued under this article expires at midnight (Central Standard Time) twelve (12) months from the date of issuance unless it has been: 

(i) Previously revoked by the office; or 

(ii) Voluntarily returned to the office by the licensee. 

(b) (i) For any child-placing agency located in Mississippi that remains in good standing, the license issued under this article expires at midnight (Central Standard Time) twenty-four (24) months from the date of issuance unless it has been: 

1. Previously revoked by the office; or 

2. Voluntarily returned to the office by the licensee. 

(ii) Any child-placing agency whose license is governed by this paragraph (b) shall submit the following information to the office annually: 

1. A copy of an audit report and IRS Form 990 for the agency; 

2. The agency's fee schedule; and 

3. The agency's client list. 

(c) A license may be renewed upon application and payment of the applicable fee, provided that the licensee meets the license requirements established by this article and the rules and regulations of the division. 

(5)  Any licensee or facility which is in operation at the time rules are made in accordance with this article shall be given a reasonable time for compliance as determined by the rules of the division. 
 

Sources: Laws, 2000, ch. 379, § 4; Laws, 2007, ch. 496, § 1, eff from and after July 1, 2007.