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H. B. No. 335 *HR43/R881* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R881
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To: Workforce Development
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representatives Bell (21st), Anthony
HOUSE BILL NO. 335
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO 1
PILOT THE MISSISSIPPI WORKFORCE DUAL ENROLLMENT FOR CAREER AND 2
TECHNICAL EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE OFFICE OF 3
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SHALL DISTRIBUTE ANY FUNDS RECEIVED FOR THE 4
PROGRAM TO THE DELTA WORKFORCE INVESTMENT AREA, THE TWIN DISTRICTS 5
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT AREA, THE MISSISSIPPI PARTNERSHIP WORKFORCE 6
INVESTMENT AREA AND THE SOUTHCENTRAL MISSISSIPPI WORKFORCE 7
INVESTMENT AREA FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES 8
AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES, WHERE SUCH COURSES QUALIFY AS A PRIORITY 9
SECTOR STRATEGY, AS ESTABLISHED BY THE OFFICE; TO PROVIDE THE 10
AMOUNT OF THE GRANT; TO PROVIDE WHAT THE GRANT MAY BE USED FOR; TO 11
PROVIDE A REPORTING REQUIREMENT; TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF 12
THE FUNDS THAT SHALL BE USED FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE 13
PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 14
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 15
SECTION 1. (1) Subject to appropriation, the Office of 16
Workforce Development, shall pilot the Mississippi Workforce Dual 17
Enrollment for Career and Technical Education Grant Program. The 18
Office of Workforce Development shall distribute any funds 19
received for the program to the Delta Workforce Investment Area, 20
the Twin Districts Workforce Investment Area, the Mississippi 21
Partnership Workforce Investment Area and the Southcentral 22
Mississippi Workforce Investment Area for the purpose of funding 23
dual enrollment courses at community colleges, where such courses 24
H. B. No. 335 *HR43/R881* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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qualify as a priority sector strategy, as established by the 25
office. 26
(2) Each workforce investment area shall pay a grant to each 27
community college in an amount equal to One Hundred Fifty Dollars 28
($150.00) per credit hour per student for each student who is 29
enrolled in a dual enrollment course that meets the definition of 30
a priority sector strategy as determined by the office. The 31
grants shall be used by the community colleges to pay for the 32
costs of educating a career and technical education dual 33
enrollment student. The Office of Workforce Development shall 34
prescribe the terms and conditions of the grant program. 35
(3) On or before October 1 of each year, the Office of 36
Workforce Development shall submit a report to the Governor, the 37
Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 38
the Chairmen of the House and Senate Education Committees, the 39
Chairman of the House Workforce Development Committee and the 40
Chairman of the Senate Economic and Workforce Development 41
Committee on the following: 42
(a) The number of students being served by the program; 43
(b) The increase, if any, in the number of dual 44
enrollment students; 45
(c) The courses being most and least utilized with the 46
program; 47
(d) The number of students who are enrolled in dual 48
enrollment as a result of the program who are interested in 49
H. B. No. 335 *HR43/R881* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: MS Workforce Dual Enrollment for Career and
Technical Education Grant Program; create pilot
program for.
furthering their training in the program after the course ends; 50
and 51
(e) Any other information as deemed appropriate by the 52
chairmen of the committees or the office. 53
(4) The Office of Workforce Development may use a maximum of 54
one percent (1%) of funds for the program for the administration 55
of the program, and the planning and development districts may use 56
a maximum of two percent (2%) of funds for the program for the 57
administration of the program. 58
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 59
and after July 1, 2026. 60