MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Economic Dev, Tourism and Parks; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Burton, Hall, Horhn, Dearing, Woodfield, Hamilton, Ferris, Moffatt, Stogner, Ross, Johnson (19th), Carlton, Harvey, Gordon, White (29th), Mettetal, Carter

AN ACT TO BE KNOWN AS THE COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE TRAINING AND EDUCATION CONSOLIDATION ACT OF 1999; TO CODIFY SECTIONS 37-4-11 THROUGH 37-4-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO TRANSFER RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNDS FOR ALL WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE POSTSECONDARY TRAINING SERVICES TO ADULTS CURRENTLY ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO THE STATE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES; TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES TO BE THE SOLE SINGLE ADMINISTRATOR AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR ALL ADULT WORKFORCE TRAINING FUNDS CURRENTLY ADMINISTERED BY THE AFOREMENTIONED STATE AGENCIES; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-3-25, 37-31-205 THROUGH 37-31-211, 37-31-106, 57-1-56 AND 57-61-42, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 7-1-351, 7-1-355, 7-1-357, 7-1-361, 7-1-363, 7-1-365 AND 7-1-371, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO ADMINISTER, ISSUE REGULATIONS AND ENTER INTO CONTRACTS REGARDING THE FEDERAL COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ACT PROGRAMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following provision shall be codified as Section 37-4-11, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-4-11. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Comprehensive Workforce Training and Education Consolidation Act of 1999."

SECTION 2. The following provision shall be codified as Section 37-4-13, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-4-13. It is the intent of the Legislature by passage of this act to establish one (1) comprehensive workforce training system in the State of Mississippi that is focused on achieving results, using resources efficiently and ensuring that workers and employers can easily access needed training services.

The purpose of this act is to provide workforce training activities, through statewide and local workforce training systems, that increase the employment, retention and earnings of participants, and increase occupational skill attainment by participants and, as a result, improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency and enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the state.

SECTION 3. The following provision shall be codified as Section 37-4-15, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-4-15. (1) The following training programs and funds shall be transferred to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges on July 1, 1999:

(a) Adult Education programs and funds presently administered by the State Department of Education;

(b) Industrial Services training programs and funds presently administered by the State Department of Education.

(2) The following training programs and funds shall be transferred to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges on July 1, 2000:

(a) Postsecondary vocational-technical funds and programs presently administered by the State Department of Education;

(b) Postsecondary Carl Perkins programs and funds presently administered by the State Department of Education;

(c) Postsecondary Tech Prep programs and funds presently administered by the State Department of Education;

(d) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) workforce training programs and funds presently administered by the Department of Human Services and subcontracted to the State Department of Education;

(e) Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) programs and funds presently administered by the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development;

(f) State Occupational Information and Coordinating committee (SOICC) programs and funds presently administered by the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development;

(g) Any other Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 federally funded support programs and funds presently administered by the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development.

(3) (a) All powers, duties and functions of the State Department of Education and the State Board of Education that are being exercised or performed by the Division of Vocational Education on June 30, 1999, utilizing funds from all sources for Adult Education and Industrial Services training, either directly or indirectly, and all Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) workforce training funds, are hereby transferred to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges on July 1, 1999. All powers, duties and functions of the State Department of Education and the State Board of Education that are being exercised or performed by the Division of Vocational Education on June 30, 1999, utilizing funds from all sources for all postsecondary vocational-technical education training funds, all postsecondary Tech Prep funds and Carl Perkins funds, are hereby transferred to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges on July 1, 2000. All records, property and contractual rights and obligations of, and unexpended balances of appropriations and any other allocations to, the State Department of Education that relate to the powers, duties and functions exercised or performed for such programs on June 30, 1999, shall be transferred to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges on or before July 1 of 1999 or 2000, as the case may be. The State Fiscal Officer shall transfer to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges all funds that are allocated to the State Department of Education for such programs and such funds shall be used by the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges under the same terms and conditions as specified for those funds in the applicable appropriation bill. Sufficient staff shall be transferred from the agencies that will, by virtue of this act have a reduction in training and educational responsibilities, to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges to assure that those transferred responsibilities shall be properly managed and administered. Determinations as to which jobs shall be transferred shall be made by agreement between the Executive Director of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges and the chief executive of the affected transferring agencies utilizing information provided by the Legislative Budget Office necessary for the determination of personnel needs and costs of supportive services. In the event that an agreement cannot be reached between the parties, reassignments shall be created by the Legislature through the agencies' appropriation bills. Authorized transition activities may include, but not be limited to, the enhancement of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges to manage the additional federal and state funds, budgeting, accounting, grant management, property management, personnel, legal and/or other administrative services. The State Department of Education shall retain responsibility to manage the closeout of all grants relating to Industrial Training Programs and Adult Education Programs at the end of June 30, 1999, and postsecondary vocational-technical programs and postsecondary Carl Perkins programs at the end of June 30, 2000, and shall be authorized to retain sufficient grant funds to properly close-out said grant activities. Upon closeout of such grants, any remaining funds will be transferred to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges by the State Fiscal Officer. The State Department of Education shall assist the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges with the greatest degree of cooperation to carry out the intent and purpose of this act and to accomplish an orderly transition.

(b) The allocation of postsecondary vocational-technical education funds and funds for new or expanded programs and equipment will be allocated based on a formula developed by the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, which shall be based on the specific training needs of the population served by such community and junior college and the commitment and capacity of the facilities available for such service.

(c) The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall enter into a contract with the State Department of Education that clarifies that the State Department of Education will continue to be the designated recipient of the Carl Perkins funds at the state level and said funds will continue to be administered and used in accordance with federal guidelines. The contract shall specify that all Carl Perkins funds used for postsecondary training and other purposes will be transferred to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges and that the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall have the responsibility and authority to direct and oversee such programs as may be financed with such funds.

(4) All powers, duties and functions of the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development that are being exercised or performed on June 30, 1999, utilizing funds from all sources for adult education and training, either directly or indirectly, are hereby transferred to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges on July 1, 2000. The programs and funds to be transferred shall include all Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) funds, State Occupational Information and Coordinating Committee (SOICC) funds, and any other Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 federally funded support program funds presently administered by the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development. All records, property and contractual rights and obligations of, and unexpended balances of appropriations and any other allocations to, the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development that relate to the powers, duties and functions exercised or performed for such programs on June 30, 1999, shall be transferred to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges on or before July 1, 2000. The State Fiscal Officer shall transfer to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges all funds that are allocated to the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development for such programs and such funds shall be used by the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges under the same terms and conditions as specified for those funds in the applicable appropriation bill.

Sufficient staff shall be transferred from the agencies that will, by virtue of this act have a reduction in training and educational responsibilities, to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges to assure that those transferred responsibilities shall be properly managed and administered. Determinations as to which jobs shall be transferred shall be made by agreement between the Executive Director of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges and the chief executive of the affected transferring agencies utilizing information provided by the Legislative Budget Office necessary for the determination of personnel needs and costs of supportive services. In the event that an agreement cannot be reached between the parties, reassignments shall be created by the Legislature through the agencies' appropriation bills. Authorized transition activities may include, but not be limited to, the enhancement of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges to manage the additional federal and state funds, budgeting, accounting, grant management, property management, personnel, legal and/or other administrative services. The Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development shall retain responsibility to manage the closeout of all grants relating to such programs until the end of June 30, 2001, and shall be authorized to retain sufficient grant funds to properly close out said grant activities. Upon closeout of such grants, any remaining funds will be transferred to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges by the State Fiscal Officer. The Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development shall assist the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges with the greatest degree of cooperation to carry out the intent and purpose of this act and to accomplish an orderly transition.

(5) All powers, duties and functions of the Department of Human Services that are being exercised or performed on June 30, 1999, utilizing funds from all sources for training recipients and clients of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF), either directly or indirectly, are hereby transferred to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges on July 1, 2000. All records, property and contractual rights and obligations of, and unexpended balances of appropriations and any other allocations to, the Department of Human Services that relate to the powers, duties and functions exercised or performed for such programs on June 30, 1999, shall be transferred to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges on or before July 1, 2000. The State Fiscal Officer shall transfer to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges all funds that are allocated to the Department of Human Services for such programs and such funds shall be used by the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges under the same terms and conditions as specified for those funds in the applicable appropriation bill. Sufficient staff shall be transferred from the agencies that will, by virtue of this act have a reduction in training and educational responsibilities, to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges to assure that those transferred responsibilities shall be properly managed and administered. Determinations as to which jobs shall be transferred shall be made by agreement between the Executive Director of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges and the chief executive of the affected transferring agencies utilizing information provided by the Legislative Budget Office necessary for the determination of personnel needs and costs of supportive services. In the event that an agreement cannot be reached between the parties, reassignments shall be created by the Legislature through the agencies' appropriation bills. Authorized transition activities may include, but not be limited to, the enhancement of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges to manage the additional federal and state funds, budgeting, accounting, grant management, property management, personnel, legal and or other administrative services. The Department of Human Services shall retain responsibility to manage the closeout of all grants relating to such programs at the end of June 30, 2000, and shall be authorized to retain sufficient grant funds to properly close out said grant activities. Upon closeout of such grants, any remaining funds will be transferred to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges by the State Fiscal Officer. Identification, eligibility, certification, enrollment, follow-up, performance standards and sanction liabilities of the TANF clients will remain the sole responsibility of the Department of Human Services. The Department of Human Services shall assist the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges with the greatest degree of cooperation to carry out the intent and purpose of this act and to accomplish an orderly transition.

(6) The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall set aside from its annual appropriation from the Legislature "incentive funds" to be used exclusively by the Executive Director of the Department of Economic and Community Development, at his discretion, for the purpose of bringing additional economic development activity to the state which includes, but is not limited to, strengthening the environment within our communities for entrepreneurial growth, retaining and creating jobs, and fostering an expanding and globally competitive economy. The Department of Economic and Community Development, in conjunction with the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, shall develop a memorandum which authorizes the Executive Director of the Department of Economic and Community Development to commit said "incentive funds" and provide for use of funds, including, but not limited to, how funds will be expended, for what purpose, and time frame for use, subject to approval by the Legislature. If "incentive funds" set aside for exclusive use by the Executive Director of the Department of Economic and Community Development are not expended for stated purposes by March 30 of each funding period, said monies will revert back to the annual appropriation funds of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges to be allocated for projects by the end of June 30 with "carryover" authority to the next funding year granted to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges for funds not expended. The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges will set accountability guidelines for use of such incentive funds.

SECTION 4. The following provision shall be codified as Section 37-4-17, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-4-17. (1) The Legislature shall appropriate to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges those state funds to be expended for postsecondary vocational-technical education. The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall set standards for, approve and expend funds for all postsecondary vocational and technical education programs. The Executive Director of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall be responsible to the state board for the proper administration of the programs of postsecondary vocation and technical education in conformity with the policies adopted by the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges and shall be responsible for appointing any necessary employees to assist in carrying out said programs.

(2) The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall be the Division of Job Development and Training and shall retain all powers and duties granted by law to the Division of Job Development and Training and wherever the term "Division of Job Development and Training" shall appear in any law it shall mean the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges. The executive director of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges may assign to appropriate divisions powers and duties as deemed appropriate to carry out the lawful functions of the department.

(3) The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges is hereby designated as the sole administrator of all programs for which the state is the prime sponsor under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973, as amended (29 USCA 801 et seq.), and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and is hereby authorized to take all necessary action to secure to this state the benefits of such legislation. The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges is empowered to receive and disburse funds for such programs which become available to it from any source.

(4) The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges is hereby authorized to cooperate with or enter into agreements with any agency, official, educational institution or political subdivision of this state, any agency or official of the government of the United States of America, or any private person, firm, partnership or corporation in order to carry out the provisions of this section.

(5) The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(6) To the maximum extent practicable, all programs embracing an institutional training component shall be coordinated with and complementary to the existing state public educational systems and shall not be duplicative or competitive in nature to such systems.

(7) The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, the State Department of Education, the board of trustees of any junior college district, the board of trustees of any school district, the Mississippi Employment Security Commission, and the Division of Job Development and Training, Office of the Governor, shall cooperate in carrying out the provisions of this act. Such cooperation shall include data transfer and information between agencies to the extent allowable by federal and state laws.

SECTION 5. Section 37-3-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-3-25. (1) The Director of the Division of Vocational and Technical Education of the State Department of Education who shall be an associate state superintendent of education shall be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education. The director's salary shall be set by the State Board of Education subject to the approval of the State Personnel Board. His salary, compensation, travel expenses or other expenses shall be provided for out of any funds made available for such purpose by the Legislature, the federal government, or other gifts or grants. The director shall be responsible to the State Superintendent of Public Education for the proper administration of the programs of primary and secondary vocational and technical education in conformity with the policies adopted by the State Board of Education and shall be responsible for appointing any necessary supervisors, assistants, and employees to assist in carrying out the programs of primary and secondary vocational and technical education. The director shall have the authority to employ, compensate, terminate, promote, demote, transfer or reprimand employees of the division. The salary and compensation of such employees shall be subject to the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the State Personnel Board as created under Section 25-9-101 et seq.

(2) The Director of the Division of Vocational and Technical Education, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education, shall have charge of and be responsible for primary and secondary vocational and technical education training in:

(a) Agriculture;

(b) Occupational and consumer home economics;

(c) Consumer and homemaking education;

(d) Trades and industry;

(e) Distributive education;

(f) Adult education;

(g) Teacher training and supervision;

(h) Business and office;

(i) Health;

(j) Industrial arts;

(k) Guidance services;

(l) Technical education;

(m) Cooperative education; and

(n) All other specialized primary and secondary training * * *.

SECTION 6. Section 37-31-205, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-31-205. (1) The State Board of Education shall have the authority to:

(a) Expend funds received either by appropriation or directly from federal or private sources;

(b) Channel funds to secondary schools * * * and regional vocational-technical facilities according to priorities set by the board;

(c) Allocate funds on an annual budgetary basis;

(d) Set standards for and approve all primary and secondary vocational and technical education programs in the public school system * * * or other agencies or institutions which receive state funds and federal funds for such purposes, including, but not limited to, the following primary and secondary vocational and technical education programs: agriculture, trade and industry, occupational home economics, consumer and homemaking education, distributive education, business and office, health, industrial arts, guidance services, technical education, cooperative education, * * * all other specialized primary and secondary training * * *. The State Board of Education shall authorize local school boards, within such school board's discretion, to offer distributive education as a one-hour or two-hour block course. There shall be no reduction of reimbursements from state funding for distributive education due to the selection of either the one-hour or two-hour course offering;

(e) Set and publish certification standards for primary and secondary vocational and technical education personnel;

(f) Require data and information on program performance from those programs receiving state funds;

(g) Expend funds to expand career information;

(h) Supervise and maintain the division of vocational and technical education and to utilize to the greatest extent possible said division as the administrative unit of the board responsible for coordinating programs and services with local institutions;

(i) Promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter in accordance with Section 25-43-1 et seq.;

(j) Set standards and approve all primary and secondary vocational and technical education equipment and facilities purchased and/or leased with state and federal vocational funds;

(k) Encourage provisions for lifelong learning and changing personal career preferences and advancement of vocational and technical education students through articulated programs between high schools and community/junior colleges;

(l) Encourage the establishment of new linkages with business and industry which will provide for a better understanding of essential labor market concepts;

(m) Periodically review the funding and reporting processes required of local school districts by the board or division with the aim of simplifying or eliminating inefficient practices and procedures; and

(n) Assist in the development of high technology programs and resource centers to support current and projected industrial needs.

(2) The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall set standards for, approve and expend funds for all postsecondary vocational and technical education programs. * * *

(3) The State Board of Education and the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges may provide that beginning with the 1999-2000 school year, every vocational and technical education course or program in Mississippi may integrate academic and vocational-technical education through coherent sequences of courses, so that students in such programs achieve both academic and occupational competencies. The boards may expend federal funds available from the 1990 Perkins Act, or other available federal funds, for the alignment of vocational-technical programs with academic programs through the accreditation process and the teacher certification process. The State Board of Education and the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall make a joint report to the 2000 Regular Session of the Legislature to the Senate and House Committees on Education regarding the various methods or models of integrating academic and vocational-technical courses and setting forth a specific state plan for the integration or realignment of these programs in the secondary and postsecondary schools for implementation in the 2000-2001 school year.

SECTION 7. Section 37-31-207, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-31-207. The State Board of Education shall have the following duties:

(a) To seek the best available projections of employment and occupations for Mississippians;

(b) To utilize these projections and other considerations to set primary and secondary vocational and technical education priorities;

(c) To utilize the services of all state agencies having information regarding the purposes of this chapter;

(d) To cooperate with the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges to prevent duplication and provide continuity of employment and training services;

(e) To conduct evaluations of the success or failure of primary and secondary vocational-technical programs, including the extent to which training actually leads to jobs in the field in which the student was trained;

(f) Obtain and publish data and information on program performance from those primary and secondary vocational-technical programs receiving state funds; and

(g) To notify local school districts * * * prior to March 1 annually of any discontinuation of ongoing vocational programs which would affect the renewing of contracts with vocational personnel.

SECTION 8. Section 37-31-209, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-31-209. (1) Any advisory council, other than the special management advisory board, serving the board shall include five (5) members who are presidents of public community/junior colleges located in the State of Mississippi, and three (3) members who are superintendents of education of a countywide, municipal separate or consolidated school district.

(2) In addition to any other requirements of law, it is made the duty of the advisory council and it is hereby granted the authority to:

(a) Advise the State Board of Education in the development of comprehensive policies and programs for the improvement of primary and secondary vocational-technical education in the state;

(b) Assist in the formulation of rules, regulations and standards relating to primary and secondary vocational-technical education programs by submitting written recommendations prior to their adoption and promulgation by the board; and

(c) Assist in the promotion of public understanding of the purposes, policies and practices regarding primary and secondary vocational-technical education in this state.

(3) The additional members of the advisory council may meet with the board in a nonvoting capacity at regular meetings of the board when the board is not in executive session.

(4) The additional members required by this section shall be reimbursed for their expenses in the same manner and from the same source as other members.

SECTION 9. Section 37-31-211, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-31-211. (1) The Legislature shall appropriate to the State Board of Education those state funds to be expended by the board through the Division of Vocational and Technical Education of the State Department of Education for primary and secondary vocational-technical education.

(2) The Legislature shall appropriate to the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges those state funds to be expended for postsecondary vocational-technical education.

SECTION 10. Section 37-31-106, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-31-106. There is hereby created a special fund in the State Treasury to be designated as the "Manpower Development and Training Carryover Fund." Said fund shall be credited with any funds which were previously appropriated by the Legislature to the Industrial Training Program of the State Department of Education General Education Programs Budget for any year for which said funds were allocated for industry specific training but unexpended for such training. Said funds shall be deposited and administered by the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges into the Manpower Development and Training Carryover Fund to the credit of the industry specific training projects which were originally allocated such funds. On June 30, 1999, or upon closeout, any funds in the Manpower Development and Training Carryover Fund shall be transferred to the Workforce Carryover Fund established in Chapter 498, Laws of 1995.

SECTION 11. Section 57-1-56, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

57-1-56. The Occupational Information Coordinating Committee shall be located within the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges and shall develop and implement an occupational information system for vocational education, employment and training programs.

SECTION 12. Section 57-61-42, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

57-61-42. (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall utilize not more than Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds issued in this chapter to provide funds for a job recruitment, training, development, counseling, motivation and referral services program for less developed counties of this state. The services provided under this program shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Recruitment for available positions;

(b) Job orientation;

(c) Job related counseling;

(d) Motivational services;

(e) Tutoring of job applicants when appropriate;

(f) Training;

(g) Job placement;

(h) Follow-up services to ensure successful employment;

(i) Referrals to social services where appropriate.

(2) The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges may contract with a public or private entity to administer the program authorized in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) The primary focus of such program shall be to meet the State of Mississippi's work requirements under the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families ("TANF") Program, but the program may also be used for other purposes that meet the criteria of this section.

(4) As used in this section the term "less developed counties" means the twenty-eight (28) counties in this state ranked and designated annually by the State Tax Commission as having the highest unemployment rate for the most recent thirty-six-month period. The State Tax Commission shall make such ranking and designation annually by December 31, using the most current data available from the University Research Center, Mississippi State Employment Security Commission and the United States Department of Commerce.

SECTION 13. Sections 7-1-351, 7-1-355, 7-1-357, 7-1-361, 7-1-363, 7-1-365 and 7-1-371, Mississippi Code of 1972, which authorize the Department of Economic and Community Development to administer, issue regulations and enter into contracts regarding the federal Comprehensive Employment and Training Act programs, are hereby repealed.

SECTION 14. Nothing in this act shall be construed to conflict with any federal law.

SECTION 15. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999; provided, however, that Sections 4 through 13 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.