Committee
Judiciary A
Author
Jill Ford
Session
2023 Session
Latest Action
On March 27, the House and Senate adopted the conference report for HB 588. It is now awaiting the Governor’s signature.
Explanation of the Bill
As introduced, House Bill 588 would extend the repealer on the Mississippi Comprehensive Workforce Training and Education Consolidation Act (and conforming code sections) until 2026. The Act is currently set to be repealed on July 1, 2023.
The Act was passed in 2004 to “reduce fragmentation and duplication of services” across different workforce programs. In addition to establishing the Office of Workforce Development and State Workforce Development Investment Board, it includes numerous provisions related to the promotion of workforce development across the state.
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| 1/16/23 | On January 16, HB 588 was referred to the House Workforce Development Committee. |
| 1/2423 | On January 24, the House Workforce Development Committee passed HB 588. |
| 2/1/23 | On February 1, the House passed HB 588. |
| 2/14/23 | On February 14, HB 588 was referred to the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee. |
| 2/23/23 | On March 7, the Senate passed a “strike-all” amendment to HB 588. As amended, the bill would extend the repealer on the Mississippi Comprehensive Workforce Training and Education Consolidation Act until July 1, 2031. |
| 3/7/23 | On March 7, the Senate amended and passed HB 588. The first of the Senate’s amendments would put the State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB) in charge of career coaching programs at middle and high schools. It would also make SWIB responsible for the implementation of the K-12 Workforce Development Grant Program. The second amendment is a reverse repealer. |
| 3/14/23 | On March 14, the House invited conference on HB 588. House conferees include Donnie Bell, Kevin Felsher, and Jill Ford. Senate conferees include David Parker, Chuck Younger, and Jeremy England. |
| 3/24/23 | On March 24, House and Senate conferees filed a conference report for HB 588. If approved, the conference report would create the “Mississippi K-12 Workforce Development Grant Program,” to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. Through this program, schools at the K-12 level could apply for grants to support their career technical centers. The conference report would also create the “Mississippi Office of Workforce Development Fund.” The fund could be used for the administration of the State Workforce Investment Board or the Office of Workforce Development, training-related grants, the K-12 Workforce Development Grant Program, or other projects approved by the Office of Workforce Development. |
| 3/27/23 | On March 27, the House and Senate adopted the conference report for HB 588. |