Senate Bill 2370

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-153-57, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW THE PARTICIPATION OF VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS IN THE ACCELERATE MISSISSIPPI WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-153-57, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-153-57. (1) There is established the Accelerate Mississippi Workforce Development Program, which shall be directed by the office for the purpose of providing education and training to citizens seeking employment in high-wage, high-demand industries in the state, including, but not limited to, the nursing and healthcare fields, which were impacted by the disruption to the economy and workforce caused by COVID-19, and, beginning July 1, 2023, providing training to volunteer firefighters. This program shall be subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the Legislature using Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds made available under ARPA or any other funds appropriated by the Legislature.

(2) As used in this section, the following words have the meanings ascribed unless the context requires otherwise:

(a) "Recipient" means a community college, institution of higher learning, or trainee recipient of grant funding under this section.

(b) "Trainee" means an individual receiving training or other services through programs under this article with the goal of becoming employed in a high-wage, high-demand industry. From and after July 1, 2023, "trainee" shall also include a volunteer firefighter.

(c) "High-wage, high-demand industry" means those industries paying above Mississippi's median annual income and prioritized by the office and the four (4) local workforce areas.

(d) "Eligible expenses" means a cost incurred by a recipient, pursuant to this article, to include:

(i) Necessary equipment or other supplies;

(ii) Curricula or other academic or training materials;

(iii) Remote learning or other classroom technology;

(iv) Stipends for teaching staff or faculty for workforce development programs;

(v) Trainee support, including tuition expenses and childcare or transportation assistance;

(vi) Coaching or mentoring services;

(vii) Job placement services;

(viii) Apprenticeship programs; and

(ix) Recruitment programs.

(3) The Department of Employment Security shall serve as fiscal agent in administering the funds.

(4) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, allocations to recipients shall be awarded by the office through an application process, which shall require the applicant to provide:

(a) A detailed explanation of the program the applicant intends to use awarded funds to create or expand, including:

(i) A description of the high-wage, high-demand field or workforce shortage area the program is intended to address, or, if applicable, a statement that the awarded funds will be used to train volunteer firefighters;

(ii) The number of trainees who will be served by the program; and

(iii) Except with respect to volunteer firefighters, the average wage rate for trainees receiving employment after completing the program;

(b) A proposed budget on how awarded funds will be expended, including a plan to consistently report expenditures to the office throughout the funding commitment;

(c) A plan to provide data on participation and outcomes of the program, including a plan to report outcomes to the office throughout the funding commitment; and

(d) Other relevant information as determined appropriate by the office.

(5) Applicants agreeing to commit a portion of their federal COVID-19 relief funds, if they received federal COVID-19 relief funds directly, or other state, federal or private funds as supplemental matching funds to offset the total cost of the approved program will be prioritized for approval.

(6) The office shall:

(a) Inform each recipient of its portion of the funds appropriated to the grant program;

(b) Develop regulations and procedures to govern the administration of the grant program;

(c) Prioritize high-wage, high-skill industries, including, but not limited to, nursing jobs or other jobs within the healthcare field; and

(d) Coordinate with the Department of Employment Security to share information to identify individuals who were furloughed, unemployed, underemployed or otherwise displaced due to COVID-19.

(7) The office may use a maximum of two percent (2%) of funds allocated for this article for the administration of the grant program, to the extent permissible under federal law.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.