Mississippi SB 2447: Career and technical grants to schools for qualified students; provide for.

Bill Text

SB2447 (As Sent to Governor) - 2019 Regular Session 

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2019 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Tollison, Moran, Jackson (32nd), Jackson 
(11th)

Senate Bill 2447

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO CODIFY SECTION 37-153-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 
1972, TO PROVIDE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION GRANTS THROUGH THE STATE BOARD 
OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD (SWIB) TO SCHOOLS FOR 
EACH STUDENT WHO EARNS A QUALIFYING INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION; AND FOR RELATED 
PURPOSES.

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

���� SECTION 1. The 
following shall be codified as Section 37-153-15, Mississippi Code of 1972:

���� 37-153-15.� (1)� As 
used in this chapter:

��������� (a)� The words 
"industry certification" mean a voluntary 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 average annual wage in this state 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.

���� (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, or to increase access to qualifying industry 
certifications.� 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 July 1 of 
each year, the Department of Education 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 Labor 
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 2.� This act 
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2019.