MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Workforce Development
By: Representative Bell (21st)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-73-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO MODIFY THE DIRECTIVE OF THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FROM PILOTING A CAREER COACHING PROGRAM IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS, TO IMPLEMENTING SUCH PROGRAM FOR THE LONG TERM; TO AMEND SECTION 37-153-209, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE QUALIFICATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI ALLIED HEALTH COLLEGE AND CAREER NAVIGATOR TO PROVIDE THAT THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS ON THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE NAVIGATORS; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 37-153-223, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE INDIVIDUAL TRAINING ACCOUNT WORKFORCE REINFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE (ITA-WRAP) PROGRAM, WHICH SHALL BE DIRECTED BY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO CITIZENS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT IN HIGH-WAGE, HIGH-DEMAND INDUSTRIES WITH DOCUMENTED WORKFORCE SHORTAGES PRIORITIZED BY THE OFFICE; TO PROVIDE FOR DEFINITIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY SHALL SERVE AS FISCAL AGENT IN ADMINISTERING THE FUNDS; TO CREATE A NEW SECTION OF LAW TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES TO GRANT A PAID INTERNSHIP TO STUDENTS PURSUING JUNIOR OR SENIOR UNDERGRADUATE-LEVEL YEAR COURSEWORK TOWARD A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN A PROGRAM THAT QUALIFIES THE INDIVIDUAL TO BECOME A REHABILITATION SPECIALIST OR A BENEFIT PROGRAM SPECIALIST WITHIN THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR TUITION, BOOKS AND RELATED FEES; TO PROVIDE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE AND REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR THE INTERNSHIP; TO PROVIDE THE TERMS OF THE INTERNSHIP; TO CREATE THE PARAMEDICS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM SHALL BE USED BY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WITH THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY ACTING AS THE FISCAL AGENT, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDING FOR GRANTS TO COVER THE FULL COST OF TUITION, FEES, BOOKS AND ANY REQUIRED UNIFORMS FOR QUALIFIED APPLICANTS TO ATTEND AN ACCREDITED PARAMEDIC PROGRAM AND TO REIMBURSE THE COST OF A QUALIFIED APPLICANT'S FEE FOR THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE NATIONAL REGISTRY PARAMEDIC COGNITIVE AND PSYCHOMOTOR EXAMINATIONS; TO PROVIDE HOW AN APPLICANT MAY QUALIFY FOR A GRANT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE RECIPIENT OF A GRANT SHALL COMMIT TO SERVING AS A PARAMEDIC FOR THREE CONTINUOUS YEARS IN THE STATE; TO PROVIDE THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; TO AUTHORIZE THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO ENTER INTO MOAS WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALLOWING CERTAIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ENROLL IN ACCREDITED PARAMEDIC TRAINING PROGRAMS THROUGH DUAL-CREDIT OR DUAL-ENROLLMENT; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH STUDENT CANNOT TAKE THE CERTIFICATION EXAM UNTIL HE OR SHE ATTAINS 18 YEARS OF AGE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-73-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-73-3. (1) Subject to appropriation
by the Legislature, the Office of Workforce Development shall * * * implement a career coaching program
to support middle schools and high schools as students are exposed, prepared and
connected to career avenues within and beyond the classroom setting. Through strong
partnerships with economic and business leaders, paired with viable relationships
with school districts, the career coaches shall target the alignment of students'
strengths with intentional academic and work-based learning in pursuit of meaningful
professional employment.
(2) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, the Office of Workforce Development, working through the Department of Employment Security as fiscal agent, shall establish rules and regulations to operate the career coaching program, which may include granting funds to eligible recipients such as state agencies, regional workforce entities and other nonprofits, to hire coaches. The Office of Workforce Development shall establish criteria for coaches and shall work with partner organizations to identify candidates and measure outcomes.
SECTION 2. Section 37-153-209, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-153-209. (1) There is established
the Mississippi Allied Health College and Career Navigator Grant Program, which
shall be directed by the office for the purpose of hiring professionals, or navigators,
to provide individual assistance and guidance to students to assist them in many
areas, from maneuvering challenges while enrolled in college programs and understanding
the job market to working through course challenges, and to help retain and graduate
nursing and allied health students, at community and junior colleges. * * * The Office of Workforce
Development shall promulgate rules and regulations on the eligibility requirements
to be a navigator. The grant program shall be funded from monies appropriated
by the Legislature for that purpose.
(2) The office shall prescribe the terms and conditions of the grant program. To be eligible to receive a grant from the office under the grant program, a community college shall provide the following information:
(a) The number of nursing or allied health students who will be served by the program;
(b) 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
(c) Any other information that the office determines is necessary.
SECTION 3. The following shall be codified as Section 37-153-223:
37-153-223. (1) There is established the Individual Training Account Workforce Reinforcement Assistance (ITA-WRAP) Program, which shall be directed by the Office of Workforce Development for the purpose of providing education and training to citizens seeking employment in high-wage, high-demand industries with documented workforce shortages prioritized by the office. This program shall be subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the Legislature.
(2) As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings as defined herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) "Recipient" means a community college, institution of higher learning, local workforce development area or other eligible recipient of grant funding under this section.
(b) "Trainee" means an individual receiving training or other services through programs under this section with the goal of becoming employed in a high-wage, high-demand industry.
(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 section, to include trainee support, including tuition or registration expenses and supportive services such as childcare or transportation assistance.
(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;
(ii) The number of trainees who will be served by the program and how each will be tracked for reporting; and
(iii) The average wage rate for trainees receiving employment before and 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) The office shall:
(a) Inform each recipient of its portion of the funds appropriated to the grant program; and
(b) Develop regulations and procedures to govern the administration of the grant program.
(7) The office may use a minimal amount of funds allocated for this section for the administration of the grant program, to be approved by the State Workforce Investment Board Executive Committee.
SECTION 4. (1) Within the limits of the funds available to the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services for such purpose, the Executive Director may grant a paid internship to students pursuing junior or senior undergraduate-level year coursework toward a bachelor's degree in a program that qualifies the individual to qualify to become a rehabilitation specialist or a benefit program specialist within the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. Those applicants deemed qualified shall receive funds that may be used to pay for tuition, books and related fees to pursue their degree. It is the intent of the Legislature that the paid internship program (hereinafter referred to as the "program") shall be used as an incentive for students to develop job-related skills and to encourage careers as rehabilitation specialists or benefits programs specialists at the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.
(2) In order to be eligible for the program, an applicant must:
(a) Attend any college or school approved and designated by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.
(b) Have successfully obtained a minimum of fifty-eight (58) semester hours toward a bachelor's degree in an eligible field as determined by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services from a Mississippi institution of higher learning. Applicants must have achieved a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) on these semester hours of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. If accepted into the internship program, participants shall maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all coursework counted toward a bachelor's degree in an eligible field as determined by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.
(c) Work at least a total of three hundred (300) hours each summer at a Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services' (MDRS) offices that is mutually agreed upon between MDRS and the respective intern.
(d) Agree to work as a rehabilitation specialist or a benefit program specialist at the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services upon graduation for a period of time equivalent to one (1) year for each semester the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services remits payment for tuition, books and/or related fees towards a bachelors degree in an eligible field as determined by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.
(3) (a) Before being placed into the program, each applicant shall enter into a contract with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, which shall be deemed a contract with the State of Mississippi, agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the internship shall be granted to him or her. The contract shall include such terms and provisions necessary to carry out the full purpose and intent of this section. The form of such contract shall be prepared and approved by the Attorney General of this state, and shall be signed by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services and the participant.
(b) Upon entry into the program, participants will become employees of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services during their time in the program and shall be eligible for benefits such as medical insurance paid by the agency for the participant; however, in accordance with Section 25-11-105II.(b), those participants shall not become members of the Public Employees' Retirement System while participating in the program. Participants shall not accrue personal or major medical leave while they are in the program.
(c) The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services shall have the authority to cancel any contract made between it and any program participant upon such cause being deemed sufficient by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.
(d) The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services is vested with full and complete authority and power to sue in its own name any participant for any damages due the state on any such uncompleted contract, which suit shall be filed and handled by the Attorney General of the state. The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services may contract with a collection agency or banking institution, subject to approval by the Attorney General, for collection of any damages due the state from any participant. The State of Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services and its employees are immune from any suit brought in law or equity for actions taken by the collection agency or banking institution incidental to or arising from their performance under the contract. The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, collection agency and banking institution may negotiate for the payment of a sum that is less than full payment in order to satisfy any damages the participant owes the state, subject to approval by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.
(4) (a) Any recipient who is accepted into the program by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services and who fails to complete undergraduate level coursework toward an approved degree, or withdraws from school at any time before completing his or her education, shall be liable to repay the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services for all monies received during the time the recipient was in the program, at the rate of pay received by the employee while in the program, including benefits paid by the agency for the participant, and monies received for tuition, books and related fees used to pursue their degree with interest accruing at ten percent (10%) per annum from the date the recipient failed or withdrew from school. The recipient also shall not be liable for repayment for any money earned during the required summer hours. This money shall be considered earned by the recipient at the federal minimum wage rate.
(b) All paid internship compensation received by the recipient while in school shall be considered earned conditioned upon the fulfillment of the terms and obligations of the paid internship contract and this section. However, no recipient of the paid internship shall accrue personal or major medical leave while the recipient is pursuing junior or senior undergraduate-level year coursework toward a bachelor's degree in a program that qualifies the individual to qualify to become a rehabilitation specialist or a benefit program specialist within the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. The recipient shall not be liable for liquidated damages.
(c) If the recipient does not work as a rehabilitation specialist or a benefit program specialist at the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services for the period required under subsection (2)(d) of this section, the recipient shall be liable for repayment on demand of the remaining portion of the compensation that the recipient was paid while in the program which has not been unconditionally earned, with interest accruing at ten percent (10%) per annum from the recipient's date of graduation or the date that the recipient last worked at the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, whichever is the later date.
SECTION 5. Sections 5 through 9 of this act shall be known and cited as the "Paramedics Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Program Act."
SECTION 6. (1) The Legislature finds the following:
(a) The public health crisis related to COVID-19 resulted in a general disruption in the Mississippi economy and workforce, particularly in the healthcare industry.
(b) COVID-19 and the closing of or reduction in services at rural hospitals created an unprecedented demand on emergency medical response providers.
(c) Consequently, the number of paramedics decreased in the State of Mississippi by approximately nineteen percent (19%).
(d) The lack of paramedics directly impacts all Mississippians ability to rely on quality emergency care.
(2) Therefore, the intent of the Legislature is:
(a) To provide funding to the Office of Workforce Development to establish a scholarship program for the purposes outlined herein.
(b) To provide funding for grants to cover the full cost of tuition, fees, books and any required uniforms for qualified applicants to attend an accredited paramedic program.
(c) To provide funding for grants to reimburse the cost of a qualified applicant's fee for the successful completion of the National Registry Paramedic cognitive and psychomotor examinations.
(d) To gauge the effectiveness of this program by gathering data related to the participation and employment outcomes in order to replicate successful efforts in future
workforce development programs.
SECTION 7. (1) There is established the Paramedics Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Program ("the program"). The scholarship program shall be used by the Office of Workforce Development, with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security acting as the fiscal agent, for the purpose of providing funding for grants to cover the full cost of tuition, fees, books and any required uniforms for qualified applicants to attend an accredited paramedic program and to reimburse the cost of a qualified applicant's fee for the successful completion of the National Registry Paramedic cognitive and psychomotor examinations. The scholarship program shall be funded from monies appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.
(2) For the purposes of Sections 5 through 9 of this act, a "paramedic" means a certified healthcare professional who specializes in providing emergency medical treatment to people who are injured or ill, typically in a setting outside of a hospital.
(3) The Office of Workforce Development shall prescribe the terms and conditions of grants awarded under the program. To qualify for a grant under this program, an applicant must:
(a) Be a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT);
(b) Have the necessary requisites for an accredited paramedic program;
(c) Commit to locate in the State of Mississippi for a minimum of three (3) years; and
(d) Meet any other conditions for receipt as prescribed by the Office of Workforce Development.
(4) The Office of Workforce Development may use a maximum of five percent (5%) of funds appropriated for the program for the administration of the program.
SECTION 8. The office shall enter into a grant contract agreement with each recipient of a grant under the program that incorporates the following obligations and conditions:
(a) The recipient of a grant shall commit to serving as a paramedic for three (3) continuous years in the State of Mississippi;
(b) If any recipient of a grant under the program does not engage in serving as a paramedic in accordance with the terms of Sections 5 through 9 of this act, the recipient shall be obligated to repay the grant amounts received, together with interest thereon at the maximum rate allowed by Mississippi law or the federal discount rate plus five percent (5%) per year, whichever is less, the interest to accrue from the date that each payment of funds was received by the recipient;
(c) No interest shall accrue and there shall be no obligation to repay the principal sums accrued during any one (1) period of time that the recipient involuntarily serves on active duty in the United States Armed Forces; and
(d) Repayment of the principal with interest shall be due and payable in full immediately on the occurrence of either of the following events:
(i) Failure to remain in the State of Mississippi for three (3) continuous years for any reason other than temporary personal illness; or
(ii) Failure to serve as a paramedic on a regularly sustained basis as provided in the eligibility requirements of Section 7.
SECTION 9. (1) The Office of Workforce Development shall submit an annual report on the grant program to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chair of the House Workforce Development Committee and the Chair of the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee. The report shall contain a detailed explanation of how the funds appropriated for the program were awarded and how many paramedics have participated in the grant program and their employment outcomes.
(2) The Office of Workforce Development is authorized to enter into a memorandum of agreement with any public or nonpublic school which provides secondary education to students enrolled therein, for the purpose of allowing students who are at least seventeen (17) years of age to be eligible for enrollment in any accredited paramedic training program without any cost to the students, through dual-credit or dual-enrollment class offerings through an accredited entity authorized by the office to provide such trainings for purposes of the program. However, such students shall not be eligible to take any examination for certification as a paramedic until the time that he or she attains the age of eighteen (18), at which time he or she would be allowed to take the certification examination to become a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
SECTION 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.