House Bill 405

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE "MISSISSIPPI CAREER-TECH SCHOLARS PROGRAM" FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING LAST MINUTE SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS WHO ENROLL IN CERTAIN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT PUBLIC COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES, WHICH SUCH PROGRAMS ARE IDENTIFIED THROUGH SECTOR ANALYSIS TO MEET STATE WORKFORCE DEMANDS; TO PRESCRIBE THE CRITERIA THAT QUALIFIES A STUDENT FOR ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM ARE NONTRANSFERRABLE, AND ARE SPECIFIC TO THE PUBLIC COMMUNITY OR JUNIOR COLLEGE OF INITIAL ENROLLMENT; TO PROVIDE THAT A STUDENT IS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM ONCE THE STUDENT EARNS AN ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE FROM A PUBLIC COMMUNITY OR JUNIOR COLLEGE; TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE POSTSECONDARY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BOARD, TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL EVALUATION REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE BY SEPTEMBER 1 OF EACH YEAR, TO INCLUDE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS, PROGRAM COSTS AND APPROVED CAREER-TECH PROGRAMS; TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (MDA), IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD AND THE MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES, TO SELECT SECTOR STRATEGIES AND ELIGIBLE CAREER-TECH PROGRAMS; TO REQUIRE THE STATE LONGITUDINAL DATA SYSTEM TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION USED TO IDENTIFY OCCUPATIONAL SECTORS WHERE THE MOST OPPORTUNITIES AND WORKFORCE NEEDS EXIST; TO REQUIRE MDA TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN ELIGIBLE OCCUPATIONS; TO REQUIRE THE STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD TO COORDINATE WORKFORCE ACTIVITIES THAT PROVIDE THE NECESSARY ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS IN SUCCEEDING IN THE PROGRAM AND IN THE LABOR MARKET; TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC AND JUNIOR COLLEGE TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF ONE CAREER-TECH PROGRAM APPROVED FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH SECTORS IDENTIFIED BY THE FOUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS IN THE STATE; TO REQUIRE THE OCCUPATIONAL SECTORS AND CAREER-TECH PROGRAMS TO BE REVIEWED EVERY TWO YEARS BY MDA AMD THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD AND THE MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES; TO PROVIDE THAT NO GENERAL FUNDS APPROPRIATED AND EXPENDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM SHALL BE USED TO REPLACE ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL OR INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM IS CONTINGENT UPON LEGISLATION APPROPRIATIONS FOR SUCH PURPOSES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE APPROPRIATION FOR THE PROGRAM SHALL BE MADE TO THE STATE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE OF THE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BOARD AND SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION RECEIVED BY EACH COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGE; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY UNFUNDED TUITION SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY UNXEPENDED FUNDS OF THE AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED SHALL NOT LAPSE INTO THE GENERAL FUND AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, BUT MAY BE CARRIED FORWARD TO THE SUCCEEDING FISCAL YEAR; TO PROVIDE PRIORITY TO MILITARY PERSONNEL IF PROGRAM ENROLLMENT REACHES CAPACITY; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 37-103-7 AND 37-103-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Nolan Mettetal

  Sponsor

• Senate committee amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Mar 6

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Jan 5 – Jan 23

1. Jan 5Referred to the House committee on Universities and Colleges
2. Jan 17Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
3. Jan 23Committee substitute adopted in the House
4. Passed the House

In the Senate Jan 24 – Mar 6

1. Jan 24Sent to the Senate
2. Feb 16Referred to the Senate committees on Appropriations and on Universities and Colleges
3. Feb 27Reported as amended from AP to UC in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass
4. Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass as amended
5. Mar 6Amended in the Senate
6. Passed the Senate as amended

Back in the House of Representatives Mar 7 – Mar 26

1. Mar 7Returned to the House to concur in the Senate's amendments
2. Mar 15Declined in the House to concur, and invited a conference
3. Mar 20Conferees named in the House: Mettetal, Wilson and Holloway
4. Mar 24Conferees named in the Senate: Clarke, Harkins and Hopson
5. Mar 26Died in conference in the House