Senate Bill 2151

AN ACT TO CREATE THE EDUCATION CONTINUUM FOR MISSISSIPPI'S FUTURE TASK FORCE TO RESEARCH, REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE REGARDING THE STATE'S EDUCATION COORDINATING AGENCIES FOR EARLY EDUCATION THROUGH POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. There is created the Education Continuum for Mississippi's Future Task Force, which shall be responsible for studying the state's current system of coordinating agencies for early education through postsecondary education.

SECTION 2. (1) The task force shall be composed of thirteen (13) members from Mississippi as follows:

(a) The Chairmen of the Senate and House Universities and Colleges Committees, who shall serve as co-chairmen of the task force;

(b) The Chairmen of the Senate and House Education Committees;

(c) Two (2) members from Mississippi with significant experience in public K-12 education, with one (1) member selected by the Lieutenant Governor and one (1) member selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(d) Two (2) members from Mississippi with significant experience in community and junior college education, with one (1) member selected by the Lieutenant Governor and one (1) member selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(e) Two (2) members from Mississippi with significant experience in public undergraduate or graduate higher education, with one (1) member selected by the Lieutenant Governor and one (1) member selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(f) A member from Mississippi with significant experience in early childhood education appointed by the Governor;

(g) A member with significant experience in business appointed by the Governor; and

(h) A member with significant experience in workforce development appointed by the Governor.

(2) Appointees to the task force shall not include the State Superintendent of Education, any current member of the State Board of Education, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board, any current member of the Mississippi Community College Board, the Commissioner of Higher Education or any current member of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

(3) The chairmen of the task force shall jointly call the first meeting, at which time the task force shall set a schedule for meeting and adopting rules for transacting its business and keeping records. Members of the task force shall receive a per diem in the amount provided in Section 25-3-69 for each day engaged in the business of the task force. Members of the task force other than the legislative members shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred while engaged in office business of the task force in accordance with Section 25-3-41. Legislative members of the task force shall receive the expense allowance provided in Section 5-1-47.

(4) The duties of the task force shall be to research, review and make recommendations related to:

(a) The cost and efficiency of the current structure of the state's education coordinating agencies, including the Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi Community College Board, and the Mississippi institutions of higher learning;

(b) The coordination of the current structure related to transitions from early childhood to elementary education, elementary to secondary education and secondary education to workforce training and/or postsecondary education, with the goal of creating a seamless system students enter in early childhood and exit when they are prepared to enter the workforce, whether after receiving a high school diploma, nondegree credential, or associate, bachelor or graduate degree;

(c) The efficiency and outcomes of current collaborations between education coordinating agencies in the state, including, but not limited to, the efficacy of dual credit and enrollment programs, and career and technical education;

(d) The ability to set and carry out the state's educational attainment goals; and

(e) The distribution and use of federal, state and local dollars in carrying out the state's educational attainment goals.

(5) The task force shall report in writing to the Mississippi State Legislature by October 1, 2021, with recommendations as to any necessary statutory changes.

(6) The task force shall have access to any and all information, including, but not limited to, any and all information housed within the Mississippi Department of Health, Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi Community College Board or Mississippi institutions of higher learning, as necessary to fulfill the responsibilities provided in this section.

(7) If the task force requests information from a state agency or local governmental arm, the agency or entity shall provide the information to the task force in an expeditious manner.

(8) The Legislative Budget Office and Joint Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure shall supply the necessary staff and research assistance needed by the task force.

(9) The task force shall be subject to the provisions of the Open Meetings Act as provided in Section 25-41-5. The task force shall be subject to the provisions of the Public Records Act as provided in Section 25-61-5.

(10) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2022.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.