MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Judiciary B

By: Representative Guice

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 31-3-14, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE USE AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 31-3-14, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

31-3-14. (1) In addition to the fees required for application and renewal for certification and registration of all contractors in Section 31-3-13, all holders of a certificate of responsibility shall pay a fee equal to One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) at the time of application or renewal of certificates of responsibility. Any residential builder licensed under the provisions of Section 73-59-1 et seq. shall be exempt from the fee imposed under this section. The revenue derived from such additional fees shall be deposited into the "Construction Education Fund," a special fund hereby created in the State Treasury, and distributed by the State Board of Contractors created in Section 31-3-3, to * * * public high schools and community colleges that participate in the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation's "school-to-work" program and state universities that have construction technology programs and certain construction educational trusts approved by the State Board of Contractors in the manner hereinafter provided to offer courses for construction education and construction craft training to meet the needs of the construction industry of the State of Mississippi.

(2) The State Board of Contractors shall, on an annual basis, solicit from the Mississippi state institutions of higher learning, all the public community and junior colleges, the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation, public high schools that participate in the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation's "school-to-work" program and certain construction educational trusts, applications for the use of such funds in construction education and craft training programs in a manner prescribed by the board. The board may appoint a technical advisory committee to advise the board on the most needed areas of construction education and craft training, continuing education or research relating to the construction education and craft training in the state, based on significant changes in the construction industry's practices, economic development or on problems costing public or private contractors substantial waste. The board shall ensure that the monies distributed from this fund are properly spent to promote construction education and craft training in programs in the state which are approved by the board. At least seventy-five percent (75%) of the monies distributed by the board, pursuant to this section, must be used for construction craft training.

(3) Each university, junior college, community college, the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation, public high schools that participate in the foundation's "school-to-work" program or construction educational trust receiving funds pursuant to this section for construction education or construction craft training programs shall utilize such funds only for construction education and craft training curricula and program development, faculty development, equipment, student scholarships, student assistantships, and for continuing education programs related to construction education and craft training. Such funds shall not be commingled with the normal operating funds of the educational institution, regardless of the source of such funds.

(4) The State Board of Contractors shall ensure the distribution of reports and the availability of construction education programs established pursuant to this section to all segments of the construction industry that are subject to the fee provided under this section. The board shall cause a report to be made to the Legislature in October of each year, summarizing the allocation of funds by institution or program and summarizing the new projects funded and the status of previously funded projects.

(5) All monies deposited into the "Construction Education Fund" shall be used exclusively for construction education and craft training and any unspent funds at the end of the fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund of the State Treasury but shall be available for construction education and craft training in subsequent fiscal years.

(6) All expenditures from the "Construction Education Fund" shall be by requisition to the State Auditor, signed by the executive secretary of the board and countersigned by the chairman or vice chairman of the board, and the State Treasurer shall issue his warrants thereon.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.