House Bill 569

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM KNOWN AS THE "HEALTH CAREERS ACADEMY" FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GRADES 9 THROUGH 12; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE ACADEMY WILL BE TO STIMULATE INTEREST IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, LANGUAGE ARTS, CRITICAL THINKING AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS; TO REQUIRE THE ACADEMY TO BE CONDUCTED AS A SIX-WEEK NONRESIDENTIAL SUMMER PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO JOINTLY DEVELOP THE CRITERIA AND PROCESS TO BE USED IN A RANDOM SELECTION OF CANDIDATES; TO REQUIRE THAT THE CRITERIA AND PROCESS USED BE NONDISCRIMINATORY IN NATURE; TO PRESCRIBE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE ACADEMY; TO PRESCRIBE THE COMPONENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ACADEMY; TO REQUIRE THE ACADEMY TO PROVIDE FULL-DAY INSTRUCTION DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS TO COMPLETE CERTAIN TASKS AND RESEARCH PROJECTS; TO LIMIT PARTICIPATION IN THE ACADEMY TO MISSISSIPPI RESIDENTS IN GRADES 9 THROUGH 12 WHO ATTEND A PUBLIC SCHOOL; TO REQUIRE ELIGIBLE PERSONS TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR PARTICIPATION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THE APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE TO ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS BY A CERTAIN DATE AND TO ESTABLISH THE DEADLINE FOR ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO FORWARD THE COMPLETED APPLICATIONS TO THE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR HEALTH AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER AT THE CLOSING DATE FOR ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS; TO PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE IN THE FORM OF A STIPEND FOR STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE ACADEMY; TO ESTABLISH THE HEALTH CAREERS ACADEMY TRUST FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER FOR START-UP COSTS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING AND OPERATING THE ACADEMY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Legislature emphasizes the importance of fostering high standards for educating the state's students enrolled in and attending public schools by increasing efforts to prepare these students for the pursuit of continued educational success and the professional careers that are obtained as a result; and

WHEREAS, with a nationally growing demand for health care professionals, the Mississippi Legislature finds it incumbent upon itself to take proper measures to reduce shortages in the health care profession, as these shortages directly impact the medical workforce and the availability of health care throughout our state; and

WHEREAS, with education being the fundamental building block for the grooming and development of the impressionable minds of our state's educable children for the educational and career paths upon which they will embark, there exists a great need for the implementation of a more rigorously enhanced scientific, mathematic and language arts curriculum in the public school setting to facilitate an increased educational capacity in health care programs; and

WHEREAS, to accomplish the pertinent goal of producing a capable and knowledgeable health care workforce, a collaborative effort must be undertaken by the state's medical university and research institution, the State Department of Education and local school districts to afford students every reasonable opportunity to explore a career in the field of health care; and

WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Mississippi Legislature to promote the educational accountability of public schools and the students educated therein through the implementation of informational, analytical and research-based programs of instruction to heighten public school students' awareness and interests in health care professions: NOW, THEREFORE,

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

SECTION 1. (1) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, the State Department of Education, in conjunction with the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning acting for and on behalf of the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), shall establish and implement a program known as the "Health Careers Academy" for public school students in Grades 9 through 12, the purpose of which will be to stimulate interest in science, mathematics, language arts, critical thinking and the health care professions, especially among underserved and underrepresented populations in Mississippi, to increase awareness of the urgent need for health care professionals in our state and to raise ACT scores through preparatory instruction.

(2) The academy established under subsection (1) of this section for the introduction of students to a potential career in the health care professions must be a six-week nonresidential summer program at UMMC, during which time students must be provided onsite hands-on instruction to increase the students' preparation for a premedical or allied health curriculum and to strengthen academic competitiveness. The lecture-based portions of instruction in the academy must be conducted by instructors with adequate certification in science, mathematics and language arts who are licensed by the State Department of Education or who teach those subject areas at the collegiate level.

(3) The State Department of Education and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall develop jointly the criteria and process to be used in a random selection of candidates to participate in the academy. The criteria and process must be nondiscriminatory in nature and may not refuse admission into the academy on the basis of race, color, age, disability, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or prior academic achievement.

(4) Eligibility for participation in the academy is limited to students who:

(a) Maintain a cumulative 2.25 grade point average on a 4.0 scale;

(b) Are recommended by their science or mathematics teachers, or both;

(d) Display positive attitudes, character and citizenship;

(e) Express a desire to expand their knowledge of health care and medicine;

(f) Are residents of Mississippi; and

(g) Present proof of having health insurance or Medicaid.

However, before any student is accepted for participation under the criteria of this subsection, that student's parent, legal guardian or custodian must submit written authorization agreeing to the student's participation in the academy.

(5) The Health Careers Academy must include, but not be limited to, the following components:

(a) An orientation, which the parents are encouraged to attend;

(b) Classes in mathematics, science, language arts, critical thinking and study skills;

(d) Instructional interaction with UMMC medical students;

(e) Presentations from UMMC professionals;

(f) Health-related hands-on activities;

(g) CPR certification;

(h) A graduation ceremony; and

(i) ACT registration as needed.

(6) The Health Careers Academy must consist of a full day of academic, research or laboratory instruction beginning at 8:00 a.m. and lasting until 3:00 p.m. daily on Monday through Friday of each week during the six (6) weeks of the academy. During each week, two (2) afternoons must be dedicated to ACT preparation and the remaining three (3) days must be dedicated to health care career preparation and volunteerism.

(7) Students participating in the academy must complete a series of tasks designed to enhance their knowledge of the health care professions and must complete a research project to be judged by the faculty of UMMC.

SECTION 2. Participation in the academy must be limited to Mississippi residents who are entering Grades 9 through 12 in a public school and who have submitted to the State Department of Education a completed application on the form designed and supplied by the department and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. The department shall make applications available to each school district on October 1 of each year and shall establish the deadline for accepting applications. Upon the closing date for acceptance of applications, the department shall forward the completed applications to the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, who shall determine the number of openings available for participation in the academy.

SECTION 3. Students selected to participate in the academy must be provided, as an incentive to participate, a stipend in an amount not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for the completion of the academy.

SECTION 4. (1) There is established in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the "Health Careers Academy Trust Fund." The purpose of the fund is to provide financial support to local school districts and UMMC for start-up costs and costs associated with implementing and operating the Health Careers Academy. The fund may consist of monies obtained from grants from the federal government, funds made available by the Legislature, and grants, gifts, devises and donations from any public or private source. The State Board of Education and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall administer the fund and may apply for any grants from the federal government or private sources.

(2) The State Board of Education and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning jointly shall adopt rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this section. If sufficient funds are available for this purpose, monies from the Health Careers Academy Trust Fund must be allocated to UMMC in accordance with the procedures established by the State Board of Education and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.