Bill Text: MS HB1604 | 2024 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Comprehensive Career and Technical Education Reform Act; revise certain portions of regarding industry certification and grants.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-04-02 - Died In Committee [HB1604 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2024-HB1604-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Workforce Development
By: Representative Roberson
House Bill 1604
(As Passed the House)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-73-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE SINGLE LIST OF NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS SHALL ONLY BE USED FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER SECTION 37-153-15 AND NOT IN THE MISSISSIPPI STATEWIDE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM OR IN DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENTS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD SHALL CREATE A SEPARATE LIST OF NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HIGH VALUE INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED IN COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES; TO REQUIRE, SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE FUNDING, THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD TO PAY A CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION INCENTIVE GRANT TO CERTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGES; TO AMEND SECTION 37-153-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION GRANTS MAY BE USED TO PURCHASE NEEDED EQUIPMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-73-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-73-7. (1) The State
Workforce Investment Board, by and through the Office of Workforce Development,
shall create, in consultation with the Mississippi Department of Education, the
Mississippi Community College Board, the Mississippi State University Research and
Curriculum Unit and other appropriate business and industry stakeholders, a single
list of nationally recognized industry certifications * * * for reimbursement under Section
37-153-15.
(2) The State Workforce Investment Board, by and through the Office of Workforce Development, shall create, in consultation with the Mississippi Community College Board, the Mississippi State University Research and Curriculum Unit and other appropriate business and industry stakeholders, a separate list of nationally recognized high value industry certifications for participants enrolled at Mississippi Community and Junior Colleges for reimbursement from the Mississippi Community College Board, pending availability of funds. This list shall align with the approved State Workforce Investment Board K-12 industry certification list to encourage more students to connect their secondary career preparatory work with postsecondary opportunities.
(3) Subject to available funding beginning in fiscal year 2025, the Mississippi Community College Board shall pay a career and technical education incentive grant to the community college for each student enrolled in the community college who earns a qualifying industry certification. The amount per student for the career and technical education incentive grant shall be Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00). The Mississippi Community College Board shall ensure that no college is reimbursed for a student receiving certification that has already been obtained through any secondary or postsecondary institution. If the statewide sum of the career and technical education incentive grants awarded pursuant to this section exceeds the amount of available funds appropriated for the grants, the grants per student shall be reduced proportionately to cover all eligible grants under this section. Any costs accrued during one (1) fiscal year may be claimed and reimbursed in the following fiscal year.
SECTION 2. Section 37-153-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-153-15. (1) As used in this article:
(a) The words "industry certification" mean a process through which students are assessed by an independent, third-party certifying entity using predetermined standards for knowledge, skills and competencies, resulting in the award of a credential that is nationally recognized and must be at least one (1) of the following:
(i) Within an industry that addresses a critical local, regional or statewide economic need;
(ii) Linked to an occupation that is included in the State Department of Employment Security's occupations in high-demand list; or
(iii) Linked to an occupation that is identified as emerging.
(b) The words "qualifying industry certification" mean an industry certification that is linked to an occupation with wages of at least seventy percent (70%) of the median state income unless the industry certification is stackable to another postsecondary or professional credential which is linked to an occupation which meets the wage criterion.
(2) The State Workforce Investment Board shall provide the State Board of Education annually with a list of qualifying industry certifications. If the occupations identified in the list are not substantially the same as those occupations identified in the prior year, the State Board of Education shall provide reasonable notice of the changes to school districts.
(3) Beginning in fiscal year 2019-2020 and subject to available funding, the Department of Education shall pay a career and technical education incentive grant to the public school for each student enrolled in the public school who earns a qualifying industry certification. The amount per student for the career and technical education incentive grant shall be Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00). If the statewide sum of the career and technical education incentive grants awarded pursuant to this section exceeds the amount of available funds appropriated for the grants, the grants per student shall be reduced proportionately to cover all eligible grants under this section. Any costs accrued during one (1) fiscal year may be claimed and reimbursed in the following fiscal year.
(4) The grants may be used for
qualifying industry certification examination fees, professional development for
teachers in career and technical education programs under this section, student
instructional support for programs that lead to qualifying industry certifications, * * * to increase access to qualifying industry certifications
or to purchase needed equipment. Any grants awarded under this section may
not be used to supplant funds provided for the basic operation of the career and
technical education programs.
(5) On or before October 1 of each year, the Department of Education, working in collaboration with the Office of Workforce Development and any other entities as necessary, shall submit a report to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairmen of the House and Senate Education Committees, the Chairman of the House Workforce Development Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee on the following:
(a) The number of students who enrolled in a career and technical education course or program that leads to a qualifying industry certification.
(b) The number of students who earned a qualifying industry certification by certification.
(c) The amount of career and technical education incentive grants awarded by the school.
(d) The amount of career and technical education incentive grants awarded per student.
(e) Aggregated demographic data on the students who earned a qualifying industry certification, including the qualifying industry certifications earned by rural and urban students.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.
