AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-353, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF FUNDS COLLECTED FROM THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTIONS AND ANY OTHER MONIES THAT MAY BE APPROPRIATED TO IT FROM THE LEGISLATURE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WERE BEING DEPOSITED INTO THE STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD BANK ACCOUNT SHALL NOW BE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE MISSISSIPPI OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND DEPOSITED INTO THE MISSISSIPPI OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUND; TO PROVIDE THAT ADMINISTRATIVE FEES COLLECTED FOR THE TRAINING PROVIDED USING THE MISSISSIPPI WORKFORCE ENHANCEMENT TRAINING AND MISSISSIPPI WORKS FUNDS MAY NOT BE MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY SHALL BE THE FISCAL AGENT FOR ALL FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO IT FOR USE BY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; TO CREATE A NEW SECTION THAT ESTABLISHES THE MISSISSIPPI K-12 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PURPOSE FOR THE GRANT PROGRAM SHALL BE FOR CONSTRUCTING, REMODELING, PURCHASING OR UPGRADING EQUIPMENT OR OTHERWISE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO CAREER TECHNICAL CENTERS AT THE K-12 EDUCATION LEVEL; TO PROVIDE HOW A SCHOOL MAY APPLY FOR A GRANT; TO PROVIDE THAT MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT MAY BE USED FOR ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 37-153-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC POWERS AND DUTIES FOR THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; TO PROVIDE TIME-LIMITED EXEMPTIONS FROM THE MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC RECORDS ACT FOR CERTAIN RECORDS AND CONFIDENTIAL CLIENT INFORMATION FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OR LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITIES HELD BY THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 71-5-355 AND 71-5-453, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 27-104-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AS AMENDED BY HOUSE BILL NO. 249, HOUSE BILL NO. 540 AND SENATE BILL NO. 2810, 2023 REGULAR SESSION, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 25-61-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 37-153-17
As Passed by the House: 37-153-17
Approved by the Governor: 71-5-353, 37-153-7, 71-5-453, 25-61-5