Military education credits and certifications; require IHL, MCCB and SWIB to develop a policy for the acceptance of.

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To: Universities and
Colleges; Workforce
Development
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Hines

HOUSE BILL NO. 149

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD 1
OR AN APPLICABLE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING BOARD SHALL ACCEPT 2
MILITARY EDUCATION, TRAINING AND SERVICE AS QUALIFIED CREDENTIALS 3
OTHERWISE REQUIRED OF AN APPLICANT FOR A LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE; 4
TO DEFINE TERMS USED IN THIS ACT; TO SPECIFY THE PROFESSIONAL 5
OCCUPATIONS AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING BOARDS TO WHICH THE 6
PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT APPLY; TO REQUIRE EVIDENCE OF SUCCESSFUL 7
COMPLETION OF THE EDUCATION, TRAINING OR SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF 8
THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED STATES RESERVES, 9
THE NATIONAL GUARD OF ANY STATE, THE MILITARY RESERVES OF ANY 10
STATE OR THE NAVAL MILITIA OF ANY STATE TO QUALIFY FOR SUCH 11
BENEFIT; TO PRESCRIBE THE PROCESS BY WHICH ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS 12
SHALL ADHERE TO IN APPLYING FOR A TEMPORARY PRACTICE PERMIT, 13
LICENSE OF CERTIFICATION; TO REQUIRE THE STATE WORKFORCE 14
INVESTMENT BOARD OR APPLICABLE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING BOARD TO 15
EXPEDITE THE PROCEDURE FOR ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE 16
FOR APPLICANTS WHO ARE ON ACTIVE DUTY; TO AMEND SECTION 37-101-13, 17
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF 18
STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND THE MISSISSIPPI 19
COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD TO REQUIRE THE POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS 20
UNDER THEIR GOVERNANCE TO IMPLEMENT A POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR THE 21
ACCEPTANCE OF ACADEMIC CREDITS RECEIVED BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 22
FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES UPON PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE OF 23
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF RELEVANT MILITARY EDUCATION, TRAINING OR 24
SERVICE; TO AMEND SECTION 37-153-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 25
REQUIRE THE STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD, IN CONJUNCTION WITH 26
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND 27
THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD TO FACILITATE THE 28
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A STATEWIDE POLICY AND PROCEDURE 29
FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF ACADEMIC CREDITS RECEIVED BY MEMBERS OF THE 30
ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES UPON PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE OF 31
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF RELEVANT MILITARY EDUCATION, TRAINING OR 32
SERVICE; TO AMEND SECTION 73-50-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR 33
THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 34
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 35
SECTION 1. As used in this act the following terms shall 36
have the meanings ascribed herein, unless context clearly 37
indicates otherwise: 38
(a) "Board" includes the boards and commissions listed 39
in Section 2 of this act. 40
(b) "Department" means the Department of Commerce, 41
Community, and Economic Development. 42
(c) "Director" means the executive director of the 43
State Workforce Investment Board. 44
(d) "License" means a business license or a license, 45
certificate, permit or registration or similar evidence of 46
authority issued for an occupation by the State Workforce 47
Investment Board or by one (1) of the boards listed in Section 2 48
of this act. 49
(e) "Licensee" means a person who holds a license. 50
(f) "Occupation" means a trade or profession listed in 51
Section 2 of this act. 52
SECTION 2. This act applies to: 53
(a) The Board of Public Accountancy under Chapter 33, 54
Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 55
(b) The regulation of acupuncturists under Chapter 71, 56
Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 57
(c) The State Board of Architecture and the regulation 58
of engineers and land surveyors under Chapter 1, Title 73, 59
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Mississippi Code of 1972, and Chapter 13, Title 73, Mississippi 60
Code of 1972; 61
(d) The Athletic Commission under Chapter 75, Title 75, 62
Mississippi Code of 1972; 63
(e) The regulation of athletic trainers under Chapter 64
55, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 65
(f) The regulation of audiologists and speech-language 66
pathologists under Chapter 38, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 67
(g) The Board of Barber Examiners and the State 68
Cosmetology Board under Chapter 5, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 69
1972, and Chapter 7, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 70
(h) The regulation of behavior analysts under Chapter 71
75, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 72
(i) The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners under 73
Chapter 6, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 74
(j) The regulation of construction contractors and home 75
inspectors under Chapter 60, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 76
(k) The Board of Dental Examiners under Chapter 9, 77
Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 78
(l) The regulation of dietitians and nutritionists 79
under Chapter 10, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 80
(m) The regulation of midwives under Section 41-39-3; 81
(n) The regulation of dispensing opticians under 82
Chapter 19, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 83
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(o) The Board of Registered Professional Geologists 84
under Chapter 63, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 85
(p) The regulation of private professional guardians 86
and private professional conservators under Chapter 13, Title 93, 87
Mississippi Code of 1972; 88
(q) The regulation of hearing aid dealers under Chapter 89
14, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 90
(r) The regulation of marriage and family therapists 91
under Chapter 54, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 92
(s) The State Board of Massage Therapy under Chapter 93
67, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 94
(t) The State Board of Medical Licensure under Chapter 95
25, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 96
(u) The State Board of Funeral Services under Chapter 97
11, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 98
(v) The Mississippi Board of Nursing under Chapter 15, 99
Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 100
(w) The Board of Nursing Home Administrators under 101
Chapter 17, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 102
(x) The State Board of Optometry under Chapter 19, 103
Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 104
(y) The regulation of pawnbrokers under Chapter 67, 105
Title 75, Mississippi Code of 1972; 106
(z) The State Board of Pharmacy under Chapter 21, Title 107
73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 108
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(aa) The State Board of Physical Therapy and the 109
regulation of occupational therapists under Chapter 23, Title 73, 110
Mississippi Code of 1972, and Chapter 24, Title 73, Mississippi 111
Code of 1972; 112
(bb) The Mississippi Board of Examiners for Licensed 113
Professional Counselors under Chapter 30, Title 73, Mississippi 114
Code of 1972; 115
(cc) The Board of Psychological Examiners under Chapter 116
31, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 117
(dd) The Mississippi Real Estate Commission under 118
Chapter 35, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972; 119
(ee) The Mississippi Real Estate Appraiser and 120
Licensing and Certification Board under Chapter 34, Title 73, 121
Mississippi Code of 1972; 122
(ff) The Board of Examiners for Social Workers and 123
Marriage and Family Therapists under Chapter 53, Title 73, 124
Mississippi Code of 1972; and 125
(gg) The Board of Veterinary Medicine under Chapter 39, 126
Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972. 127
SECTION 3. (1) Notwithstanding another provision of law, 128
the State Workforce Investment Board or an applicable occupational 129
licensing board shall accept military education, training and 130
service for some or all of the qualifications otherwise required 131
of an applicant for a license or certificate issued under this 132
chapter if: 133
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(a) The State Workforce Investment Board or an 134
applicable occupational licensing board determines that the 135
military education, training and service is substantially 136
equivalent to some or all of the qualifications otherwise required 137
of an applicant for a license or certificate issued under this 138
chapter; and 139
(b) The applicant provides satisfactory evidence of 140
successful completion of the education, training or service as a 141
member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the United States 142
Reserves, the National Guard of any state, the Military Reserves 143
of any state or the Naval Militia of any state. 144
(2) If the department issues temporary practice permits as 145
authorized by the State Workforce Investment Board or an 146
applicable occupational licensing board, the State Workforce 147
Investment Board or the applicable occupational licensing board 148
shall issue a temporary license or certificate to a person who: 149
(a) Applies to the State Workforce Investment Board or 150
an applicable occupational licensing board in a manner prescribed 151
by the State Workforce Investment Board or the applicable 152
occupational licensing board; 153
(b) Meets the requirements of Section 73-50-1; 154
(c) While in the Armed Forces of the United States or 155
any state, as described in subsection (1) of this section: 156
(i) Held a current license or certificate in 157
another state, district or territory of the United States, 158
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practiced in the area of the license or certificate, and 159
maintained the license or certificate in active status before and 160
at the time of application for a license or certificate under this 161
subsection; or 162
(ii) Was awarded a degree, diploma or certificate 163
by a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or any state, 164
as described in subsection (1) of this section, that met standards 165
for an equivalent license or a certificate of technical training; 166
(d) If required by the State Workforce Investment Board 167
or applicable occupational licensing board for obtaining a license 168
in the applicant's profession, has been fingerprinted and has 169
provided the fees required by the Department of Public Safety for 170
criminal justice information and a national criminal history 171
record check. The fingerprints and fees shall be forwarded to the 172
Department of Public Safety to obtain a report of criminal justice 173
information and a national criminal history record check; 174
(e) Has not committed an offense in any jurisdiction 175
that would have constituted grounds for the refusal, suspension or 176
revocation of a license or certificate to practice that occupation 177
under this act at the time the offense was committed; 178
(f) Has not been disciplined by a licensing or 179
credentialing entity in another jurisdiction and is not the 180
subject of an unresolved complaint, review procedure, or 181
disciplinary proceeding conducted by a licensing or credentialing 182
entity in another jurisdiction; and 183
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(g) Pays any fees required under this act. 184
(3) The State Workforce Investment Board or applicable 185
occupational licensing board shall expedite the procedure for 186
issuance of a license or certificate under subsection (2) of this 187
section for an applicant who is on active duty. 188
(4) A license or certificate issued under subsection (2) of 189
this section is valid for one hundred eighty (180) days, and may 190
be extended at the discretion of the State Workforce Investment 191
Board or applicable occupational licensing board for one (1) 192
additional one hundred eighty-day period if the holder of the 193
license or certificate applies for an extension on a form approved 194
by the State Workforce Investment Board or applicable occupational 195
licensing board. 196
(5) The State Workforce Investment Board or applicable 197
occupational licensing board may adopt regulations necessary to 198
implement this section. 199
SECTION 4. Section 37-101-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 200
amended as follows: 201
37-101-13. (1) It shall be the duty of the Board of 202
Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the boards 203
of trustees of the community colleges to begin immediately a 204
comprehensive study of gaming and related programs, degrees and 205
courses offered. Following the completion of such study, the 206
board shall make such adjustments as may be found to be necessary 207
in the programs of the various institutions, to the end that the 208
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broadest possible educational opportunities shall be offered to 209
the citizens of this state without inefficient and needless 210
duplication. Subject to the provisions of Section 75-76-34, the 211
board shall, through such officers of the board and through such 212
procedures as it shall see fit to establish, exercise continuing 213
jurisdiction and control over the establishment of new courses of 214
study, new departments and new functions and activities in each 215
institution so that the growth and development of the program of 216
higher education in the state shall proceed in an orderly and 217
rational manner, inefficient and needless duplication may be 218
avoided, and new expanded programs will be undertaken only as the 219
same may become justified, based upon objective criteria to be 220
established by the board. In carrying out the purposes of this 221
section, particular attention shall be given to the extension 222
programs of the various institutions. The boards, in conjunction 223
with the chancellor and presidents of the institutions, shall take 224
such steps as may be necessary to improve and coordinate such 225
programs and shall exercise such direct control over the 226
establishment, organization, operation and granting of credit for 227
such programs as may be necessary to accomplish such purposes. 228
(2) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher 229
Learning and the Mississippi Community College Board shall require 230
the chancellor and presidents of state institutions of higher 231
learning and public community and junior colleges to implement a 232
policy and procedure for the acceptance of academic credit toward 233
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a degree or technical program offered by the postsecondary 234
educational institution if an applicant provides satisfactory 235
evidence of successful completion of relevant military education, 236
training or service as a member of the Armed Forces of the United 237
States, the United States Reserves, the National Guard of any 238
state, the Military Reserves of any state or the Naval Militia of 239
any state. 240
(3) Each postsecondary educational institution must be 241
maintained and operated, so that: 242
(a) The quality and content of each course or program 243
of instruction, training or study are such as may reasonably and 244
adequately achieve the stated objective for which the course or 245
program is offered; 246
(b) The postsecondary educational institution has or 247
has access to adequate space, equipment, instructional materials, 248
and personnel where applicable to achieve the stated objective 249
of the course or program of study and to provide education of good 250
quality; 251
(c) The education or experience qualifications of 252
directors, administrators, supervisors and instructors are such as 253
may reasonably ensure that the students will receive education 254
consistent with the objectives of the course or program 255
of study; 256
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(d) The postsecondary educational institution provides 257
a catalog or brochure containing information to prospective 258
students before enrollment, describing: 259
(i) The programs offered; 260
(ii) The program objectives; 261
(iii) The length of the program; 262
(iv) The schedule of tuition, fees and all other 263
charges and expenses necessary for completion of the course of 264
study; 265
(v) The cancellation and refund policies; and 266
(vi) Other material facts concerning the 267
institution and the program or course of instruction that are 268
reasonably likely to affect the decision of the student to enroll, 269
together with any other disclosures specified by the commission by 270
regulation; 271
(e) Upon satisfactory completion of training, the 272
student is given appropriate educational credentials by the 273
postsecondary educational institution, indicating that the course 274
of instruction or study has been satisfactorily completed by the 275
student; 276
(f) Adequate records are maintained by the institution 277
to show attendance, progress or grades, and that satisfactory 278
standards are enforced relating to attendance, progress, and 279
performance; 280
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(g) The postsecondary educational institution is 281
maintained and operated in compliance with all pertinent 282
ordinances and laws relating to the safety and health of persons 283
on the premises of the postsecondary educational institution; 284
(h) The institution is financially sound and capable of 285
fulfilling its commitments to students; 286
(i) Neither the postsecondary educational institution 287
nor its agents engage in advertising, sales, collection, credit or 288
other practices which are false, deceptive, misleading or unfair; 289
(j) The student housing owned, maintained or approved 290
by the postsecondary educational institution is appropriate, safe 291
and adequate; 292
(k) The postsecondary educational institution has a 293
fair and equitable cancellation and refund policy; 294
(l) The charges set by the postsecondary educational 295
institution for tuition, fees, books and supplies are fair and 296
equitable; and 297
(m) The postsecondary educational institution accepts 298
military education, training, or service credit or hours toward a 299
degree or technical program offered by the institution if: 300
(i) The postsecondary educational institution 301
otherwise accepts transfer credits or hours; and 302
(ii) The credit or hours transfer process meets 303
the requirements of the accrediting body of the postsecondary 304
educational institution or its applicable governing entity. 305
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SECTION 5. Section 37-153-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 306
amended as follows: 307
37-153-7. (1) There is created the Mississippi Office of 308
Workforce Development and the Mississippi State Workforce 309
Investment Board, which shall serve as the advisory board for the 310
office. The Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board shall be 311
composed of thirty-one (31) voting members, of which a majority 312
shall be representatives of business and industry in accordance 313
with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, or any 314
successive acts. 315
(2) The members of the State Workforce Investment Board 316
shall include: 317
(a) The Governor, or his designee; 318
(b) Nineteen (19) members, appointed by the Governor, 319
of whom: 320
(i) A majority shall be representatives of 321
businesses in the state, who: 322
1. Are owners of businesses, chief executives 323
or operating officers of businesses, or other business executives 324
or employers with optimum policymaking or hiring authority, and 325
who, in addition, may be members of a local board described in 326
Section 3122(b)(2)(A)(i) of the federal Workforce Innovation and 327
Opportunity Act. At least two (2) of the members appointed under 328
this item 1. shall be small business owners, chief executives or 329
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operating officers of businesses with less than fifty (50) 330
employees; 331
2. Represent businesses, including small 332
businesses, or organizations representing businesses, which 333
provide employment opportunities that, at a minimum, include 334
high-quality, work-relevant training and development in 335
high-demand industry sectors or occupations in the state; and 336
3. Are appointed from among individuals 337
nominated by state business organizations and business trade 338
associations; 339
(ii) Not less than twenty percent (20%) shall 340
consist of representatives of the workforce within the state, 341
which: 342
1. Includes labor organization 343
representatives who have been nominated by state labor 344
federations; 345
2. Includes a labor organization member or 346
training director from an apprenticeship program in the state, 347
which shall be a joint labor-management apprenticeship program if 348
such a program exists in the state; 349
3. May include representatives of 350
community-based organizations, including organizations serving 351
veterans or providing or supporting competitive, integrated 352
employment for individuals with disabilities, who have 353
demonstrated experience and expertise in addressing employment, 354
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training or education needs of individuals with barriers to 355
employment; and 356
4. May include representatives of 357
organizations, including organizations serving out-of-school 358
youth, who have demonstrated experience or expertise in addressing 359
the employment, training or education needs of eligible youth; 360
(iii) The balance shall include government 361
representatives, including the lead state officials with primary 362
responsibility for core programs, and chief elected officials 363
(collectively representing both cities and counties, where 364
appropriate); 365
(c) Two (2) representatives of businesses in the state 366
appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; 367
(d) Two (2) representatives of businesses in the state 368
appointed by the Governor from a list of three (3) recommendations 369
from the Speaker of the House; and 370
(e) The following state officials or their designees: 371
(i) The Executive Director of the Mississippi 372
Department of Employment Security; 373
(ii) The Executive Director of the Department of 374
Rehabilitation Services; 375
(iii) The State Superintendent of Public 376
Education; 377
(iv) The Executive Director of the Mississippi 378
Development Authority; 379
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(v) The Executive Director of the Mississippi 380
Community College Board; 381
(vi) The President of the Community College 382
Association; and 383
(vii) The Commissioner of Higher Education. 384
(f) One (1) senator, appointed by the Lieutenant 385
Governor, and one (1) representative, appointed by the Speaker of 386
the House, shall serve on the state board in a nonvoting capacity. 387
(g) The Governor may appoint additional members if 388
required by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 389
or any successive acts. 390
(h) Members of the board shall serve a term of four (4) 391
years, and shall not serve more than three (3) consecutive terms. 392
(i) The membership of the board shall reflect the 393
diversity of the State of Mississippi. 394
(j) The Governor shall designate the Chairman of the 395
Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board from among the 396
business and industry voting members of the board, and a quorum of 397
the board shall consist of a majority of the voting members of the 398
board. 399
(k) The voting members of the board who are not state 400
employees shall be entitled to reimbursement of their reasonable 401
expenses in the manner and amount specified in Section 25-3-41 and 402
shall be entitled to receive per diem compensation as authorized 403
in Section 25-3-69. 404
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(3) Members of the state board may be recalled by their 405
appointing authority for cause, including a felony conviction, 406
fraudulent or dishonest acts or gross abuse of discretion, failure 407
to meet board member qualifications, or chronic failure to attend 408
board meetings. 409
(4) The Mississippi Department of Employment Security shall 410
establish limits on administrative costs for each portion of 411
Mississippi's workforce development system consistent with the 412
federal Workforce Investment Act or any future federal workforce 413
legislation. 414
(5) The Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board shall 415
have the following duties, which are intended to be consistent 416
with the scope of duties provided in the federal Workforce 417
Innovation and Opportunity Act, amendments and successor 418
legislation to this act, and other relevant federal law: 419
(a) Through the office, develop and submit to the 420
Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House a strategic 421
plan for an integrated state workforce development system that 422
aligns resources and structures the system to more effectively and 423
efficiently meet the demands of Mississippi's employers and job 424
seekers. This plan will comply with the federal Workforce 425
Investment Act of 1998, as amended, the federal Workforce 426
Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 and amendments and 427
successor legislation to these acts; 428
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(b) Assist the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and 429
Speaker of the House in the development and continuous improvement 430
of the statewide workforce investment system that shall include: 431
(i) Development of linkages in order to assure 432
coordination and nonduplication among programs and activities; and 433
(ii) Review local workforce development plans that 434
reflect the use of funds from the federal Workforce Investment 435
Act, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the Wagner-Peyser 436
Act and the amendment or successor legislation to the acts, and 437
the Mississippi Comprehensive Workforce Training and Education 438
Consolidation Act; 439
(c) Recommend to the office the designation of local 440
workforce investment areas as required in Section 116 of the 441
federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Workforce 442
Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. There shall be four (4) 443
workforce investment areas that are generally aligned with the 444
planning and development district structure in Mississippi. 445
Planning and development districts will serve as the fiscal agents 446
to manage Workforce Investment Act funds, oversee and support the 447
local workforce investment boards aligned with the area and the 448
local programs and activities as delivered by the one-stop 449
employment and training system. The planning and development 450
districts will perform this function through the provisions of the 451
county cooperative service districts created under Sections 452
19-3-101 through 19-3-115; however, planning and development 453
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districts currently performing this function under the Interlocal 454
Cooperation Act of 1974, Sections 17-13-1 through 17-13-17, may 455
continue to do so; 456
(d) Assist the Governor in the development of an 457
allocation formula for the distribution of funds for adult 458
employment and training activities and youth activities to local 459
workforce investment areas; 460
(e) Recommend comprehensive, results-oriented measures 461
that shall be applied to all of Mississippi's workforce 462
development system programs; 463
(f) Assist the Governor in the establishment and 464
management of a one-stop employment and training system conforming 465
to the requirements of the federal Workforce Investment Act of 466
1998 and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, as 467
amended, recommending policy for implementing the Governor's 468
approved plan for employment and training activities and services 469
within the state. In developing this one-stop career operating 470
system, the Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board, in 471
conjunction with local workforce investment boards, shall: 472
(i) Design broad guidelines for the delivery of 473
workforce development programs; 474
(ii) Identify all existing delivery agencies and 475
other resources; 476
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(iii) Define appropriate roles of the various 477
agencies to include an analysis of service providers' strengths 478
and weaknesses; 479
(iv) Determine the best way to utilize the various 480
agencies to deliver services to recipients; and 481
(v) Develop a financial plan to support the 482
delivery system that shall, at a minimum, include an 483
accountability system; 484
(g) To provide authority, in accordance with any 485
executive order of the Governor, for developing the necessary 486
collaboration among state agencies at the highest level for 487
accomplishing the purposes of this article; 488
(h) To monitor the effectiveness of the workforce 489
development centers and WIN job centers; 490
(i) To advise the Governor, public schools, community 491
and junior colleges and institutions of higher learning on 492
effective school-to-work transition policies and programs that 493
link students moving from high school to higher education and 494
students moving between community colleges and four-year 495
institutions in pursuit of academic and technical skills training; 496
(j) To work with industry to identify barriers that 497
inhibit the delivery of quality workforce education and the 498
responsiveness of educational institutions to the needs of 499
industry; 500
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(k) To provide periodic assessments on effectiveness 501
and results of the overall Mississippi comprehensive workforce 502
development system and district councils; 503
(l) Develop broad statewide development goals, 504
including a goal to raise the state's labor force participation 505
rate; 506
(m) Perform a comprehensive review of Mississippi's 507
workforce development efforts, including the amount spent and 508
effectiveness of programs supported by state or federal money; and 509
(n) To assist the Governor in carrying out any other 510
responsibility required by the federal Workforce Investment Act of 511
1998, as amended and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 512
successor legislation and amendments. 513
(6) The Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board shall 514
coordinate all training programs and funds within its purview, 515
consistent with the federal Workforce Investment Act, Workforce 516
Innovation and Opportunity Act, amendments and successor 517
legislation to these acts, and other relevant federal law. 518
Each state agency director responsible for workforce training 519
activities shall advise the Mississippi Office of Workforce 520
Development and the State Workforce Investment Board of 521
appropriate federal and state requirements. Each state agency, 522
department and institution shall report any monies received for 523
workforce training activities or career and technical education 524
and a detailed itemization of how those monies were spent to the 525
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state board. The board shall compile the data and provide a 526
report of the monies and expenditures to the Chairs of the House 527
and Senate Appropriations Committee, the Chair of the House 528
Workforce Development Committee and the Chair of the Senate 529
Economic and Workforce Development Committee by October 1 of each 530
year. Each such state agency director shall remain responsible 531
for the actions of his agency; however, each state agency and 532
director shall work cooperatively to fulfill the state's goals. 533
(7) The State Workforce Investment Board shall establish an 534
executive committee, which shall consist of the following State 535
Workforce Investment Board members: 536
(a) The Chair of the State Workforce Investment Board; 537
(b) Two (2) business representatives currently serving 538
on the state board selected by the Governor; 539
(c) The two (2) business representatives currently 540
serving on the state board appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; 541
(d) The two (2) business representatives currently 542
serving on the state board appointed by the Governor from a list 543
of three (3) recommendations from the Speaker of the House; 544
(e) The two (2) legislators, who shall serve in a 545
nonvoting capacity, one (1) of whom shall be appointed by the 546
Lieutenant Governor from the membership of the Mississippi Senate 547
and one (1) of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House 548
of Representatives from the membership of the Mississippi House of 549
Representatives. 550
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(8) The executive committee shall select an executive 551
director of the Office of Workforce Development, with the advice 552
and consent of a majority of the State Workforce Investment Board. 553
The executive committee shall seek input from economic development 554
organizations across the state when selecting the executive 555
director. The executive director shall: 556
(a) Be a person with extensive experience in 557
development of economic, human and physical resources, and 558
promotion of industrial and commercial development. The executive 559
director shall have a bachelor's degree from a state-accredited 560
institution and no less than eight (8) years of professional 561
experience related to workforce or economic development; 562
(b) Perform the functions necessary for the daily 563
operation and administration of the office, with oversight from 564
the executive committee and the State Workforce Investment Board, 565
to fulfill the duties of the state board as described in Chapter 566
476, Laws of 2020; 567
(c) Hire staff needed for the performance of his or her 568
duties under Chapter 476, Laws of 2020. The executive director, 569
with approval from the executive committee, shall set the 570
compensation of any hired employees from any funds made available 571
for that purpose; 572
(d) Enter any part of the Mississippi Community College 573
Board, individual community and junior colleges, or other 574
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workforce training facilities operated by the state or its 575
subdivisions; 576
(e) Serve at the will and pleasure of the executive 577
committee; 578
(f) Promulgate rules and regulations, subject to 579
oversight by the executive committee, not inconsistent with this 580
article, as may be necessary to enforce the provisions in Chapter 581
476, Laws of 2020; and 582
(g) Perform any other actions he or she, in 583
consultation with the executive committee, deems necessary to 584
fulfill the duties under Chapter 476, Laws of 2020. 585
(9) The office shall file an annual and a quarterly report 586
with the Governor, Secretary of State, President of the Senate, 587
Speaker of the House, Chairman of the House Workforce Development 588
Committee and Chairman of the Senate Economic and Workforce 589
Development Committee. The annual report shall be filed not later 590
than October 1 of each year regarding all funds approved by the 591
office to be expended on workforce training during the prior 592
calendar year. The quarterly and annual reports shall include: 593
(a) Information on the performance of the Mississippi 594
Workforce Enhancement Training Fund and the Mississippi Works 595
Fund, in terms of adding value to the local and state economy, the 596
contribution to future growth of the state economy, and movement 597
toward state goals, including increasing the labor force 598
participation rate; 599
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(b) With respect to specific workforce training 600
projects: 601
(i) The location of the training; 602
(ii) The amount allocated to the project; 603
(iii) The purpose of the project; 604
(iv) The specific business entity that is the 605
beneficiary of the project; 606
(v) The number of employees intended to be trained 607
and actually trained, if applicable, in the course of the project; 608
and 609
(vi) The types of funds used for the project; 610
(c) With respect to the grants that have been awarded 611
under the Mississippi K-12 Workforce Development Grant Program 612
created in Section 37-153-221: 613
(i) The entity that was awarded the grant; 614
(ii) The amount allocated to the grant; 615
(iii) The purpose of the grant; 616
(iv) How the grant has been used since it was 617
awarded; and 618
(d) With respect to the office's authority to select 619
tools and resources, including necessary online platforms and 620
similar systems in furtherance of the mission of the office: 621
(i) The policies that the office has adopted or 622
amended on the process for the selection of tools and resources, 623
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including necessary online platforms and similar systems in 624
furtherance of the mission of the office; 625
(ii) The eligible entities that the office 626
determined may provide services, such as companies, nonprofit 627
organizations, or other similar groups; 628
(iii) Any tools and resources, including necessary 629
online platforms and similar systems in furtherance of the mission 630
of the office, that have been selected by the office; and 631
(iv) What entity received the benefit of the tools 632
and resources that were selected. 633
(e) All information concerning a proposed project which 634
is provided to the executive director shall be kept confidential. 635
Except as provided in subsections (13) and (14), such 636
confidentiality shall not limit disclosure under the Mississippi 637
Public Records Act of 1983 of records describing the nature, 638
quantity, cost or other pertinent information related to the 639
activities of, or services performed using, the Mississippi 640
Workforce Enhancement Training Fund or the Mississippi Works Fund. 641
(10) In addition to other powers and duties provided in this 642
section, the Office of Workforce Development shall also have the 643
following powers and duties: 644
(a) Direct access to accounting and banking statements 645
for all funds under its direction to ensure accurate and efficient 646
management of funds and to improve internal control; 647
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(b) The ability to enter into nondisclosure agreements 648
to effectively support economic development activities and the 649
proprietary nature of customized training for existing and new 650
industry; 651
(c) To adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations 652
as may be necessary or desirable for the purpose of implementing 653
the Mississippi K-12 Workforce Development Grant Program created 654
in Section 37-153-221; 655
(d) To receive contributions, donations, gifts, 656
bequests of money, other forms of financial assistance and 657
property, equipment, materials or manpower from persons, 658
foundations, trust funds, corporations, organizations and other 659
sources, public or private, made to the office, and may expend or 660
use the same in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the 661
donor, provided that no such condition is contrary to any 662
provision of law; 663
(e) To contract with state agencies, governing 664
authorities or economic and workforce development entities for 665
shared programmatic efforts and support service or joint 666
employment of personnel in order to further the office's purposes; 667
(f) To determine, subject to appropriation, the need 668
for and, if desired, the selection of tools and resources, 669
including necessary online platforms and similar systems in 670
furtherance of the mission of the office, through processes 671
established in policies adopted by the office that are deemed to 672
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be practical, feasible and in the public interest. These 673
processes shall outline eligible entities that may provide such 674
services, such as companies, nonprofit organizations, or other 675
similar groups and shall ensure the office determines metrics for 676
success, including deliverables as required by the office; 677
(g) To implement the career coaching program provided 678
for in Section 37-73-3; 679
(h) To provide career coaches with access to technology 680
to develop customized career pathways and connect students with 681
postsecondary and employment opportunities matching their skills 682
and interests; and 683
(i) To implement and oversee programs providing support 684
to community and junior colleges for training needs that may arise 685
when new businesses locate in Mississippi, to include providing 686
support to existing industries that may lose employees as a result 687
of the new business. 688
Through December 31, 2026, the provisions of Section 27-104-7 689
related to rental agreements or leasing of real property for the 690
purpose of conducting agency business shall not apply to the 691
office. 692
(11) Nothing in Chapter 476, Laws of 2020 * * * shall void 693
or otherwise interrupt any contract, lease, grant or other 694
agreement previously entered into by the State Workforce 695
Investment Board, Mississippi Community College Board, individual 696
community or junior colleges, or other entities. 697
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(12) Any records of the office which contain client 698
information from the Mississippi Development Authority or local 699
economic development entities concerning development projects 700
shall be exempt from the provisions of the Mississippi Public 701
Records Act of 1983 for a period of two (2) years after receipt of 702
the information by the office. Confidential client information as 703
described in this section shall not include the information which 704
must be disclosed by the certified applicant related to a 705
qualified economic development project in the annual report 706
described in Section 57-1-759. 707
(13) Confidential client information in public records held 708
by the office shall be exempt from the provisions of the 709
Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983 during any period of review 710
and negotiation on a project proposal facilitated by the 711
Mississippi Development Authority or local economic development 712
entities and for a period of thirty (30) days after approval, 713
disapproval or abandonment of the proposal not to exceed one (1) 714
year. 715
(14) The Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board, in 716
conjunction with the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of 717
Higher Learning and the Mississippi Community College Board, shall 718
facilitate the development and implementation of a statewide 719
policy and procedure that provides for the acceptance of credits 720
or hours toward a degree or technical program offered by a 721
vocational or technical training center in the state for an 722
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applicant who provides satisfactory evidence of successful 723
completion of relevant military education, training or service as 724
a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the United 725
States Reserves, the National Guard of any state, the Military 726
Reserves of any state or the Naval Militia of any state. 727
SECTION 6. Section 73-50-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 728
amended as follows: 729
73-50-1. (1) This section shall be known as the "Military 730
Family Freedom Act." 731
(2) As used in this section, the term: 732
(a) "License" means any license (other than a privilege 733
license), certificate, registration or other evidence of 734
qualification that an individual is required to obtain before he 735
or she may engage in or represent himself or herself to be a 736
member of a particular profession or occupation. 737
(b) "Occupational licensing board" means any state 738
board, commission, department or other agency in Mississippi that 739
is established for the primary purpose of regulating the entry of 740
persons into, and/or the conduct of persons within, a particular 741
profession or occupation, and which is authorized to issue 742
licenses. For the purposes of this section, the State Department 743
of Education shall be considered an occupational licensing board 744
when issuing teacher licenses under Section 37-3-2. 745
(c) "Military" means the Armed Forces or Reserves of 746
the United States, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast 747
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Guard, Air Force, Space Force and the reserve components thereof, 748
the National Guard of any state, the military reserves of any 749
state, or the naval militia of any state. 750
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an 751
occupational licensing board shall issue a license to an applicant 752
who is a member of the military, or an applicant who is married to 753
or is a dependent of a member of the military, if, upon 754
application to an occupational licensing board, the applicant 755
satisfies the following conditions: 756
(a) The applicant has been awarded a military 757
occupational specialty, completed a military program of training, 758
completed testing or equivalent training and experience, and 759
performed in the occupational specialty; or 760
(b) The applicant holds a current and valid license in 761
another state in an occupation with a similar scope of practice, 762
as determined by the occupational licensing board in Mississippi 763
and has held this license from the occupational licensing board in 764
the other state for at least one (1) year; and 765
(c) The applicant has not committed any act in the 766
other state that would have constituted grounds for refusal, 767
suspension or revocation of a license to practice that occupation 768
in Mississippi at the time the act was committed, the occupational 769
licensing board in the other state holds the applicant in good 770
standing, and the applicant does not have a disqualifying criminal 771
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record as determined by the occupational licensing board in 772
Mississippi under Mississippi law; and 773
(d) The applicant did not surrender a license because 774
of negligence or intentional misconduct related to the applicant's 775
work in the occupation in another state; and 776
(e) The applicant does not have a complaint, allegation 777
or investigation pending before an occupational licensing board or 778
other board in another state that relates to unprofessional 779
conduct or an alleged crime. If the applicant has a complaint, 780
allegation or investigation pending, the occupational licensing 781
board in Mississippi shall not issue or deny a license to the 782
applicant until the complaint, allegation or investigation is 783
resolved, or the applicant otherwise satisfies the criteria for 784
licensure in Mississippi to the satisfaction of the occupational 785
licensing board in Mississippi; and 786
(f) The applicant pays all applicable fees in 787
Mississippi. 788
(4) Notwithstanding any other law, the occupational 789
licensing board shall issue a license to an applicant who is a 790
member of the military, or an applicant who is married to or is a 791
dependent of a member of the military, upon application based on 792
work experience in another state, if all the following apply: 793
(a) The applicant worked in a state that does not use a 794
license to regulate a lawful occupation, but Mississippi uses a 795
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license to regulate a lawful occupation with a similar scope of 796
practice, as determined by the occupational licensing board; 797
(b) The applicant worked for at least three (3) years 798
in the lawful occupation; and 799
(c) The applicant satisfies the provisions of 800
paragraphs (c) through (f) of subsection (3) of this section. 801
(5) An occupational licensing board may require an applicant 802
to pass a jurisprudential examination specific to relevant state 803
laws in Mississippi that regulate the occupation if the issuance 804
of a license in Mississippi requires an applicant to pass a 805
jurisprudential examination specific to relevant state statutes 806
and administrative rules in Mississippi that regulate the 807
occupation. 808
(6) The occupational licensing board shall issue or deny the 809
license to the applicant within one hundred twenty * * * (120) 810
days after receiving an application. 811
If the application requires longer than two (2) weeks to 812
process, the occupational licensing board shall issue a temporary 813
practice permit within thirty (30) days after receiving the 814
application if the applicant submits an affidavit, under penalties 815
of perjury, affirming that he or she satisfies the provisions of 816
subsection (3)(a) or subsection (3)(b) of this section and 817
subsection (3)(c) through (e) and pays all applicable fees as 818
required by subsection (3)(f), or satisfies the provisions of 819
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subsection (4)(a) through (c) and pays all applicable fees as 820
required by subsection (3)(f). 821
The applicant may practice under the temporary permit until a 822
license is granted, or until a notice to deny the license is 823
issued, in accordance with rules adopted by the occupational 824
licensing board. A temporary license will expire in three hundred 825
sixty-five (365) days after its issuance if the applicant fails to 826
satisfy the requirement for licensure in subsection (5), if 827
applicable. 828
(7) (a) The applicant may appeal any of the following 829
decisions of an occupational licensing board to a court of general 830
jurisdiction: 831
(i) Denial of a license; 832
(ii) Determination of the occupation; 833
(iii) Determination of the similarity of the scope 834
of practice of the license issued; or 835
(iv) Other determinations under this section. 836
(b) The court shall determine all questions of law, 837
including the interpretation of a constitutional or statutory 838
provision or a rule adopted by an occupational licensing board, 839
without regard to any previous determination that may have been 840
made on the question in any action before the occupational 841
licensing board. 842
(8) An occupational licensing board shall prominently print 843
the following on all license applications, any communication 844
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denying a license, and on the board's website: "Pursuant to the 845
provisions of the Military Family Freedom Act, Mississippi shall 846
recognize occupational licenses obtained from other states for 847
military members and their families." An occupational licensing 848
board shall prepare and place on the board's website an annual 849
report detailing the number of applications submitted to the 850
licensing board under this section during a calendar year and the 851
actions taken by the board on the applications. 852
(9) An occupational licensing board shall adopt rules 853
necessary to implement this section by January 1, 2021. In 854
addition, an occupational licensing board shall make all 855
reasonable efforts to issue a license to an applicant for a 856
license under this section. 857
(10) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit 858
a military applicant, spouse or dependent from proceeding under 859
the existing licensure requirements established by an occupational 860
licensing board in Mississippi. 861
(11) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent 862
Mississippi from entering into a licensing compact or reciprocity 863
agreement with another state, foreign province or foreign country. 864
A license issued under this section is valid only in Mississippi. 865
It does not make the person eligible to work in another state 866
under an interstate compact or reciprocity agreement unless 867
otherwise provided in Mississippi law. 868
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ST: Military education credits and
certifications; require IHL, MCCB and SWIB to
develop a policy for the acceptance of.
(12) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to 869
the practice of law as regulated under Section 73-3-1 et seq. 870
(13) This section preempts any ordinances of any 871
municipality, county and other political subdivisions of the State 872
of Mississippi that regulate licenses. 873
SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from 874
and after July 1, 2026. 875