MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Workforce Development
By: Representative Bell (21st)
AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STUDY COMMITTEE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MISSISSIPPI WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STUDY COMMITTEE SHALL REVIEW THE CURRICULUM IN K-12 SCHOOLS THAT IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND PREPARATION AND SHALL DEVELOP AND DESIGN A CURRICULUM THAT MEETS THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE MISSISSIPPI WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STUDY COMMITTEE; TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STUDY COMMITTEE TO SUBMIT A REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS TO THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 30, 2020; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Mississippi Workforce Development Study Committee. The purpose of the study committee is to review the curriculum in K-12 schools that is designed to promote workforce development and preparation and to develop and design a curriculum to recommend to the Legislature that meets the workforce development needs of the State of Mississippi.
(2) The Mississippi Workforce Development Study Committee shall be composed of the following thirteen (13) members:
(a) The State Superintendent of Public Education;
(b) One (1) person from the Mississippi Community College Board;
(c) One (1) person from the Mississippi Manufacturers Association;
(d) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, or his or her designee;
(e) One (1) person from the State Workforce Investment Board;
(f) One (1) person appointed by the Chair of the Mississippi Economic Council;
(g) One (1) person appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;
(h) One (1) person appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(i) One (1) person appointed by the Governor;
(j) The Chair of the House of Representatives Workforce Development Committee;
(k) The Chair of the Senate Labor Committee;
(l) The Chair of the House Education Committee; and
(m) The Chair of the Senate Education Committee.
(3) Appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days after the sine die adjournment of the 2020 Regular Session. The chair of the study committee shall be the Chair of the House of Representatives Workforce Development Committee. The study committee shall meet and organize fifteen (15) days after all appointments have been made and select a vice chair from its membership. The vice chair shall also serve as secretary and shall be responsible for keeping all records of the study committee. A majority of the members of the study committee shall constitute a quorum. In the selection of its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the study committee shall be required. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings, such notices to be mailed at least fifteen (15) days before the date on which a meeting is to be held. Members of the study committee shall not be compensated or reimbursed for travel expenses.
(4) The Mississippi Workforce Development Study Committee shall have the following duties:
(a) Review the curriculum currently in place to promote workforce development preparation in K-12 schools;
(b) Determine if the curriculum currently in place to promote workforce development preparation in K-12 schools meets the workforce development needs of the State of Mississippi;
(c) To review reports, studies and materials as it deems appropriate;
(d) To require testimony from school officials, community college and university officials, business people and others involved with workforce development within the state as it deems appropriate;
(e) To appoint any subcommittees as it finds proper;
(f) To make recommendations based on its findings on how to develop and design a state workforce development curriculum that meets the workforce development needs of the State of Mississippi; and
(g) To submit the report from its findings in paragraph (f) of this subsection (4) to the Legislature and the Governor no later than November 30, 2020.
(5) In making such recommendations, the Mississippi Workforce Development Study Committee may seek input from all school districts within the state, the Mississippi Community College Board, the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning and businesses throughout this state as is necessary for proper review. After submitting the report required in this subsection (5), the Mississippi Workforce Development Study Committee shall be dissolved.
(6) Notwithstanding any provisions of the laws of the State of Mississippi to the contrary, school districts within the state, the Mississippi Community College Board, the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning and businesses throughout this state shall be required to cooperate with the Mississippi Workforce Development Study Committee.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.