Miss. Code Ann. § 11-62-17: Miss. Code Ann. § 11-62-17

As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) “ State benefit program ” means any program administered or funded by the state, or by any agent on behalf of the state, providing cash, payments, grants, contracts, loans or in-kind assistance.

(2) “ State government ” means:

(a) The State of Mississippi or a political subdivision of the state;

(b) Any agency of the state or of a political subdivision of the state, including a department, bureau, board, commission, council, court or public institution of higher education;

(c) Any person acting under color of state law; and

(d) Any private party or third party suing under or enforcing a law, ordinance, rule or regulation of the state or political subdivision of the state.

(3) “ Person ” means:

(a) A natural person, in his or her individual capacity, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, or in his or her capacity as a member, officer, owner, volunteer, employee, manager, religious leader, clergy or minister of any entity described in this section;

(b) A religious organization;

(c) A sole proprietorship, or closely held company, partnership, association, organization, firm, corporation, cooperative, trust, society or other closely held entity operating with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in this chapter; or

(d) Cooperatives, ventures or enterprises comprised of two (2) or more individuals or entities described in this subsection.

(4) “ Religious organization ” means:

(a) A house of worship, including, but not limited to, churches, synagogues, shrines, mosques and temples;

(b) A religious group, corporation, association, school or educational institution, ministry, order, society or similar entity, regardless of whether it is integrated or affiliated with a church or other house of worship; and

(c) An officer, owner, employee, manager, religious leader, clergy or minister of an entity or organization described in this subsection (4).

(5) “ Adoption or foster care ” or “ adoption or foster care service ” means social services provided to or on behalf of children, including:

(a) Assisting abused or neglected children;

(b) Teaching children and parents occupational, homemaking and other domestic skills;

(c) Promoting foster parenting;

(d) Providing foster homes, residential care, group homes or temporary group shelters for children;

(e) Recruiting foster parents;

(f) Placing children in foster homes;

(g) Licensing foster homes;

(h) Promoting adoption or recruiting adoptive parents;

(i) Assisting adoptions or supporting adoptive families;

(j) Performing or assisting home studies;

(k) Assisting kinship guardianships or kinship caregivers;

(l) Providing family preservation services;

(m) Providing family support services; and

(n) Providing temporary family reunification services.