Public schools; allow to employ or accept services of chaplains.

H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 1 (DJ\KP)

To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Carpenter

HOUSE BILL NO. 678

AN ACT TO ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO 1
EMPLOY OR ACCEPT AS A VOLUNTEER, A CHAPLAIN TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, 2
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL; 3
TO REQUIRE EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER EMPLOYING OR ALLOWING A 4
CHAPLAIN TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO ITS STUDENTS TO UNDERGO A CRIMINAL 5
BACKGROUND CHECK BEFORE ENTERING THE SCHOOLS TO CARRY OUT THEIR 6
OBLIGATIONS; TO PROHIBIT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS FROM 7
EMPLOYING OR ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS 8
SEX OFFENDERS FROM PROVIDING SERVICES WITHIN ITS SCHOOLS; TO AMEND 9
SECTION 37-3-93, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE A QUICK 10
RESPONSE TEAM OF PERSONNEL TRAINED IN SCHOOL SAFETY AND CRISIS 11
MANAGEMENT BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE 12
CHAPLAINS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-7-301, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 13
REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FUND AND OPERATE IMPROVED SCHOOL 14
SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES, INCLUDING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH 15
TRAINING AND PLANNING AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY CHAPLAINS; TO AMEND 16
SECTION 37-11-54, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE LOCAL 17
SCHOOL BOARDS TO INCORPORATE EMERGENCY AND THREAT MANAGEMENT 18
AWARENESS AND POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION SUPPORTS WHICH 19
INCLUDE SERVICES PROVIDED BY CHAPLAINS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE 20
SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT WHICH MAY BE DEEMED 21
UNCONSTITUTIONAL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 22
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 23
SECTION 1. (1) A school district or charter school may 24
employ or accept as a volunteer, a chaplain to provide support, 25
services and programs for students as assigned by the board of 26
trustees of the district or the governing body of the school. The 27
school chaplain shall be selected by and be responsible to the 28
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 2 (DJ\KP)

local school board of each school district. A chaplain employed 29
or volunteering under this act is not required to be certified by 30
the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, 31
Certification and Licensure and Development. Nothing in this 32
section shall prohibit any school board from employing or 33
accepting as a volunteer more than one (1) chaplain for any 34
school. 35
(2) A school district or charter school that employs or 36
accepts as volunteer a chaplain under this act shall ensure that 37
the chaplain complies with the applicable criminal background 38
check requirements of Section 37-9-17, before the chaplain begins 39
employment or volunteering at the district or school. 40
(3) A school district or charter school may not employ or 41
accept as a volunteer, a chaplain who has been convicted of or 42
placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an 43
offense for which a defendant is required to register as sex 44
offender under Section 45-33-35. 45
SECTION 2. Each board of trustees of a school district and 46
each governing body of a charter school shall take a record vote, 47
and spread the same upon its minutes, not later than December 1, 48
2026, on whether to adopt a policy authorizing a campus of the 49
district or school to employ or accept as a volunteer a chaplain 50
under this act, which shall be implemented for the 2026-2027 51
school year. 52
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 3 (DJ\KP)

SECTION 3. Section 37-3-93, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 53
amended as follows: 54
37-3-93. (1) Subject to the availability of funding 55
specifically appropriated for such purpose, there is established a 56
School Crisis Management Program under the State Department of 57
Education. This program is to be initiated and executed by the 58
department using only existing staff and resources. Under this 59
program, the State Department of Education shall create an office 60
making available a quick response team of personnel trained in 61
school safety and crisis management, which shall include 62
chaplains, to respond to traumatic or violent situations that 63
impact students and faculty in the public schools in Mississippi. 64
The required School Crisis Management Program shall operate in 65
accordance with the following: 66
(a) The basic response team shall consist of those 67
personnel designated by the State Superintendent of Public 68
Education, or their designees, depending on the size of the school 69
and the nature of the event. 70
(b) In order to access the services of a response team, 71
the request must be made by the local school principal or the 72
superintendent of schools, who shall make the request to the State 73
Department of Education or its contact designee. 74
(c) A response team shall enter a school to work with 75
students and faculty for a period of no more than three (3) days, 76
unless otherwise requested by the school district. 77
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 4 (DJ\KP)

(d) The State Department of Education, or its designee, 78
shall operate a toll-free incoming wide area telephone service for 79
the purpose of receiving reports of suspected cases of school 80
violence and other traumatic situations impacting on students and 81
faculty in the public schools. 82
(e) The request made by a school district to access the 83
services of a response team following a school safety incident may 84
seek a review of the local school district's safety plan, and the 85
results of this evaluation may be published by the local school 86
board in a newspaper with wide circulation in the district. 87
(f) Subject to the availability of funds specifically 88
appropriated therefor by the Legislature, the expenses of the 89
quick response teams and their administrative support shall be 90
provided from state funds. The State Department of Education may 91
apply for and expend funds for the support and maintenance of this 92
program from private and other funding sources. 93
(2) Local school districts, school superintendents and 94
principals may request and utilize the services of quick response 95
teams provided for under this section; however, this section does 96
not require school officials to request the services of quick 97
response teams. 98
(3) As a component of the School Crisis Management Program, 99
the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security shall develop a 100
curriculum, train and certify threat assessment officers. A 101
certified threat assessment officer shall conduct an annual 102
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 5 (DJ\KP)

inspection and threat assessment of each public school in the 103
state. The threat assessment officer shall develop an improvement 104
plan for each school inspected. The assessment shall include the 105
inspection of surveillance equipment and building-specific floor 106
plans. The findings of the inspection and threat assessment, 107
including a copy of the improvement plan shall be provided to 108
local law enforcement agencies and the local school board within 109
four (4) weeks of completion. 110
SECTION 4. Section 37-7-301, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 111
amended as follows: 112
37-7-301. The school boards of all school districts shall 113
have the following powers, authority and duties in addition to all 114
others imposed or granted by law, to wit: 115
(a) To organize and operate the schools of the district 116
and to make such division between the high school grades and 117
elementary grades as, in their judgment, will serve the best 118
interests of the school; 119
(b) To introduce public school music, art, manual 120
training and other special subjects into either the elementary or 121
high school grades, as the board shall deem proper; 122
(c) To be the custodians of real and personal school 123
property and to manage, control and care for same, both during the 124
school term and during vacation; 125
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 6 (DJ\KP)

(d) To have responsibility for the erection, repairing 126
and equipping of school facilities and the making of necessary 127
school improvements; 128
(e) To suspend or to expel a pupil or to change the 129
placement of a pupil to the school district's alternative school 130
or homebound program for misconduct in the school or on school 131
property, as defined in Section 37-11-29, on the road to and from 132
school, or at any school-related activity or event, or for conduct 133
occurring on property other than school property or other than at 134
a school-related activity or event when such conduct by a pupil, 135
in the determination of the school superintendent or principal, 136
renders that pupil's presence in the classroom a disruption to the 137
educational environment of the school or a detriment to the best 138
interest and welfare of the pupils and teacher of such class as a 139
whole, and to delegate such authority to the appropriate officials 140
of the school district; 141
(f) To visit schools in the district, in their 142
discretion, in a body for the purpose of determining what can be 143
done for the improvement of the school in a general way; 144
(g) To support, within reasonable limits, the 145
superintendent, principal and teachers where necessary for the 146
proper discipline of the school; 147
(h) To exclude from the schools students with what 148
appears to be infectious or contagious diseases; provided, 149
however, such student may be allowed to return to school upon 150
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 7 (DJ\KP)

presenting a certificate from a public health officer, duly 151
licensed physician or nurse practitioner that the student is free 152
from such disease; 153
(i) To require those vaccinations specified by the 154
State Health Officer as provided in Section 41-23-37; 155
(j) To see that all necessary utilities and services 156
are provided in the schools at all times when same are needed; 157
(k) To authorize the use of the school buildings and 158
grounds for the holding of public meetings and gatherings of the 159
people under such regulations as may be prescribed by said board; 160
(l) To prescribe and enforce rules and regulations not 161
inconsistent with law or with the regulations of the State Board 162
of Education for their own government and for the government of 163
the schools, and to transact their business at regular and special 164
meetings called and held in the manner provided by law; 165
(m) To maintain and operate all of the schools under 166
their control for such length of time during the year as may be 167
required; 168
(n) To enforce in the schools the courses of study and 169
the use of the textbooks prescribed by the proper authorities; 170
(o) To make orders directed to the superintendent of 171
schools for the issuance of pay certificates for lawful purposes 172
on any available funds of the district and to have full control of 173
the receipt, distribution, allotment and disbursement of all funds 174
provided for the support and operation of the schools of such 175
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 8 (DJ\KP)

school district whether such funds be derived from state 176
appropriations, local ad valorem tax collections, or otherwise. 177
The local school board shall be authorized and empowered to 178
promulgate rules and regulations that specify the types of claims 179
and set limits of the dollar amount for payment of claims by the 180
superintendent of schools to be ratified by the board at the next 181
regularly scheduled meeting after payment has been made; 182
(p) To select all school district personnel in the 183
manner provided by law, and to provide for such employee fringe 184
benefit programs, including accident reimbursement plans, as may 185
be deemed necessary and appropriate by the board; 186
(q) To provide athletic programs and other school 187
activities and to regulate the establishment and operation of such 188
programs and activities; 189
(r) To join, in their discretion, any association of 190
school boards and other public school-related organizations, and 191
to pay from local funds other than total funding formula funds, 192
any membership dues; 193
(s) To expend local school activity funds, or other 194
available school district funds, other than total funding formula 195
funds, for the purposes prescribed under this paragraph. 196
"Activity funds" shall mean all funds received by school officials 197
in all school districts paid or collected to participate in any 198
school activity, such activity being part of the school program 199
and partially financed with public funds or supplemented by public 200
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 9 (DJ\KP)

funds. The term "activity funds" shall not include any funds 201
raised and/or expended by any organization unless commingled in a 202
bank account with existing activity funds, regardless of whether 203
the funds were raised by school employees or received by school 204
employees during school hours or using school facilities, and 205
regardless of whether a school employee exercises influence over 206
the expenditure or disposition of such funds. Organizations shall 207
not be required to make any payment to any school for the use of 208
any school facility if, in the discretion of the local school 209
governing board, the organization's function shall be deemed to be 210
beneficial to the official or extracurricular programs of the 211
school. For the purposes of this provision, the term 212
"organization" shall not include any organization subject to the 213
control of the local school governing board. Activity funds may 214
only be expended for any necessary expenses or travel costs, 215
including advances, incurred by students and their chaperons in 216
attending any in-state or out-of-state school-related programs, 217
conventions or seminars and/or any commodities, equipment, travel 218
expenses, purchased services or school supplies which the local 219
school governing board, in its discretion, shall deem beneficial 220
to the official or extracurricular programs of the district, 221
including items which may subsequently become the personal 222
property of individuals, including yearbooks, athletic apparel, 223
book covers and trophies. Activity funds may be used to pay 224
travel expenses of school district personnel. The local school 225
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 10 (DJ\KP)

governing board shall be authorized and empowered to promulgate 226
rules and regulations specifically designating for what purposes 227
school activity funds may be expended. The local school governing 228
board shall provide (i) that such school activity funds shall be 229
maintained and expended by the principal of the school generating 230
the funds in individual bank accounts, or (ii) that such school 231
activity funds shall be maintained and expended by the 232
superintendent of schools in a central depository approved by the 233
board. The local school governing board shall provide that such 234
school activity funds be audited as part of the annual audit 235
required in Section 37-9-18. The State Department of Education 236
shall prescribe a uniform system of accounting and financial 237
reporting for all school activity fund transactions; 238
(t) To enter into an energy performance contract, 239
energy services contract, on a shared-savings, lease or 240
lease-purchase basis, for energy efficiency services and/or 241
equipment as provided for in Section 31-7-14; 242
(u) To maintain accounts and issue pay certificates on 243
school food service bank accounts; 244
(v) (i) To lease a school building from an individual, 245
partnership, nonprofit corporation or a private for-profit 246
corporation for the use of such school district, and to expend 247
funds therefor as may be available from any sources other than 248
total funding formula funds as set by Sections 37-151-200 through 249
37-151-215. The school board of the school district desiring to 250
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 11 (DJ\KP)

lease a school building shall declare by resolution that a need 251
exists for a school building and that the school district cannot 252
provide the necessary funds to pay the cost or its proportionate 253
share of the cost of a school building required to meet the 254
present needs. The resolution so adopted by the school board 255
shall be published once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks 256
in a newspaper having a general circulation in the school district 257
involved, with the first publication thereof to be made not less 258
than thirty (30) days prior to the date upon which the school 259
board is to act on the question of leasing a school building. If 260
no petition requesting an election is filed prior to such meeting 261
as hereinafter provided, then the school board may, by resolution 262
spread upon its minutes, proceed to lease a school building. If 263
at any time prior to said meeting a petition signed by not less 264
than twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever is 265
less, of the qualified electors of the school district involved 266
shall be filed with the school board requesting that an election 267
be called on the question, then the school board shall, not later 268
than the next regular meeting, adopt a resolution calling an 269
election to be held within such school district upon the question 270
of authorizing the school board to lease a school building. Such 271
election shall be called and held, and notice thereof shall be 272
given, in the same manner for elections upon the questions of the 273
issuance of the bonds of school districts, and the results thereof 274
shall be certified to the school board. If at least three-fifths 275
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 12 (DJ\KP)

(3/5) of the qualified electors of the school district who voted 276
in such election shall vote in favor of the leasing of a school 277
building, then the school board shall proceed to lease a school 278
building. The term of the lease contract shall not exceed twenty 279
(20) years, and the total cost of such lease shall be either the 280
amount of the lowest and best bid accepted by the school board 281
after advertisement for bids or an amount not to exceed the 282
current fair market value of the lease as determined by the 283
averaging of at least two (2) appraisals by certified general 284
appraisers licensed by the State of Mississippi. The term "school 285
building" as used in this paragraph (v)(i) shall be construed to 286
mean any building or buildings used for classroom purposes in 287
connection with the operation of schools and shall include the 288
site therefor, necessary support facilities, and the equipment 289
thereof and appurtenances thereto such as heating facilities, 290
water supply, sewage disposal, landscaping, walks, drives and 291
playgrounds. The term "lease" as used in this paragraph (v)(i) 292
may include a lease-purchase contract; 293
(ii) If two (2) or more school districts propose 294
to enter into a lease contract jointly, then joint meetings of the 295
school boards having control may be held but no action taken shall 296
be binding on any such school district unless the question of 297
leasing a school building is approved in each participating school 298
district under the procedure hereinabove set forth in paragraph 299
(v)(i). All of the provisions of paragraph (v)(i) regarding the 300
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 13 (DJ\KP)

term and amount of the lease contract shall apply to the school 301
boards of school districts acting jointly. Any lease contract 302
executed by two (2) or more school districts as joint lessees 303
shall set out the amount of the aggregate lease rental to be paid 304
by each, which may be agreed upon, but there shall be no right of 305
occupancy by any lessee unless the aggregate rental is paid as 306
stipulated in the lease contract. All rights of joint lessees 307
under the lease contract shall be in proportion to the amount of 308
lease rental paid by each; 309
(w) To employ all noninstructional and noncertificated 310
employees and fix the duties and compensation of such personnel 311
deemed necessary pursuant to the recommendation of the 312
superintendent of schools; 313
(x) To employ and fix the duties and compensation of 314
such legal counsel as deemed necessary; 315
(y) Subject to rules and regulations of the State Board 316
of Education, to purchase, own and operate trucks, vans and other 317
motor vehicles, which shall bear the proper identification 318
required by law; 319
(z) To expend funds for the payment of substitute 320
teachers and to adopt reasonable regulations for the employment 321
and compensation of such substitute teachers; 322
(aa) To acquire in its own name by purchase all real 323
property which shall be necessary and desirable in connection with 324
the construction, renovation or improvement of any public school 325
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 14 (DJ\KP)

building or structure. Whenever the purchase price for such real 326
property is greater than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), the 327
school board shall not purchase the property for an amount 328
exceeding the fair market value of such property as determined by 329
the average of at least two (2) independent appraisals by 330
certified general appraisers licensed by the State of Mississippi. 331
If the board shall be unable to agree with the owner of any such 332
real property in connection with any such project, the board shall 333
have the power and authority to acquire any such real property by 334
condemnation proceedings pursuant to Section 11-27-1 et seq., 335
Mississippi Code of 1972, and for such purpose, the right of 336
eminent domain is hereby conferred upon and vested in said board. 337
Provided further, that the local school board is authorized to 338
grant an easement for ingress and egress over sixteenth section 339
land or lieu land in exchange for a similar easement upon 340
adjoining land where the exchange of easements affords substantial 341
benefit to the sixteenth section land; provided, however, the 342
exchange must be based upon values as determined by a competent 343
appraiser, with any differential in value to be adjusted by cash 344
payment. Any easement rights granted over sixteenth section land 345
under such authority shall terminate when the easement ceases to 346
be used for its stated purpose. No sixteenth section or lieu land 347
which is subject to an existing lease shall be burdened by any 348
such easement except by consent of the lessee or unless the school 349
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 15 (DJ\KP)

district shall acquire the unexpired leasehold interest affected 350
by the easement; 351
(bb) To charge reasonable fees related to the 352
educational programs of the district, in the manner prescribed in 353
Section 37-7-335; 354
(cc) Subject to rules and regulations of the State 355
Board of Education, to purchase relocatable classrooms for the use 356
of such school district, in the manner prescribed in Section 357
37-1-13; 358
(dd) Enter into contracts or agreements with other 359
school districts, political subdivisions or governmental entities 360
to carry out one or more of the powers or duties of the school 361
board, or to allow more efficient utilization of limited resources 362
for providing services to the public; 363
(ee) To provide for in-service training for employees 364
of the district; 365
(ff) As part of their duties to prescribe the use of 366
textbooks, to provide that parents and legal guardians shall be 367
responsible for the textbooks and for the compensation to the 368
school district for any books which are not returned to the proper 369
schools upon the withdrawal of their dependent child. If a 370
textbook is lost or not returned by any student who drops out of 371
the public school district, the parent or legal guardian shall 372
also compensate the school district for the fair market value of 373
the textbooks; 374
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 16 (DJ\KP)

(gg) To conduct fund-raising activities on behalf of 375
the school district that the local school board, in its 376
discretion, deems appropriate or beneficial to the official or 377
extracurricular programs of the district; provided that: 378
(i) Any proceeds of the fund-raising activities 379
shall be treated as "activity funds" and shall be accounted for as 380
are other activity funds under this section; and 381
(ii) Fund-raising activities conducted or 382
authorized by the board for the sale of school pictures, the 383
rental of caps and gowns or the sale of graduation invitations for 384
which the school board receives a commission, rebate or fee shall 385
contain a disclosure statement advising that a portion of the 386
proceeds of the sales or rentals shall be contributed to the 387
student activity fund; 388
(hh) To allow individual lessons for music, art and 389
other curriculum-related activities for academic credit or 390
nonacademic credit during school hours and using school equipment 391
and facilities, subject to uniform rules and regulations adopted 392
by the school board; 393
(ii) To charge reasonable fees for participating in an 394
extracurricular activity for academic or nonacademic credit for 395
necessary and required equipment such as safety equipment, band 396
instruments and uniforms; 397
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 17 (DJ\KP)

(jj) To conduct or participate in any fund-raising 398
activities on behalf of or in connection with a tax-exempt 399
charitable organization; 400
(kk) To exercise such powers as may be reasonably 401
necessary to carry out the provisions of this section; 402
(ll) To expend funds for the services of nonprofit arts 403
organizations or other such nonprofit organizations who provide 404
performances or other services for the students of the school 405
district; 406
(mm) To expend federal No Child Left Behind Act funds, 407
or any other available funds that are expressly designated and 408
authorized for that use, to pay training, educational expenses, 409
salary incentives and salary supplements to employees of local 410
school districts; except that incentives shall not be considered 411
part of the local supplement, nor shall incentives be considered 412
part of the local supplement paid to an individual teacher for the 413
purposes of Section 37-19-7(1); 414
(nn) To use any available funds, not appropriated or 415
designated for any other purpose, for reimbursement to the 416
state-licensed employees from both in state and out of state, who 417
enter into a contract for employment in a school district, for the 418
expense of moving when the employment necessitates the relocation 419
of the licensed employee to a different geographical area than 420
that in which the licensed employee resides before entering into 421
the contract. The reimbursement shall not exceed One Thousand 422
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 18 (DJ\KP)

Dollars ($1,000.00) for the documented actual expenses incurred in 423
the course of relocating, including the expense of any 424
professional moving company or persons employed to assist with the 425
move, rented moving vehicles or equipment, mileage in the amount 426
authorized for county and municipal employees under Section 427
25-3-41 if the licensed employee used his personal vehicle or 428
vehicles for the move, meals and such other expenses associated 429
with the relocation. No licensed employee may be reimbursed for 430
moving expenses under this section on more than one (1) occasion 431
by the same school district. Nothing in this section shall be 432
construed to require the actual residence to which the licensed 433
employee relocates to be within the boundaries of the school 434
district that has executed a contract for employment in order for 435
the licensed employee to be eligible for reimbursement for the 436
moving expenses. However, the licensed employee must relocate 437
within the boundaries of the State of Mississippi. Any individual 438
receiving relocation assistance through the Critical Teacher 439
Shortage Act as provided in Section 37-159-5 shall not be eligible 440
to receive additional relocation funds as authorized in this 441
paragraph; 442
(oo) To use any available funds, not appropriated or 443
designated for any other purpose, to reimburse persons who 444
interview for employment as a licensed employee with the district 445
for the mileage and other actual expenses incurred in the course 446
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 19 (DJ\KP)

of travel to and from the interview at the rate authorized for 447
county and municipal employees under Section 25-3-41; 448
(pp) Consistent with the report of the Task Force to 449
Conduct a Best Financial Management Practices Review, to improve 450
school district management and use of resources and identify cost 451
savings as established in Section 8 of Chapter 610, Laws of 2002, 452
local school boards are encouraged to conduct independent reviews 453
of the management and efficiency of schools and school districts. 454
Such management and efficiency reviews shall provide state and 455
local officials and the public with the following: 456
(i) An assessment of a school district's 457
governance and organizational structure; 458
(ii) An assessment of the school district's 459
financial and personnel management; 460
(iii) An assessment of revenue levels and sources; 461
(iv) An assessment of facilities utilization, 462
planning and maintenance; 463
(v) An assessment of food services, transportation 464
and safety/security systems; 465
(vi) An assessment of instructional and 466
administrative technology; 467
(vii) A review of the instructional management and 468
the efficiency and effectiveness of existing instructional 469
programs; and 470
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 20 (DJ\KP)

(viii) Recommended methods for increasing 471
efficiency and effectiveness in providing educational services to 472
the public; 473
(qq) To enter into agreements with other local school 474
boards for the establishment of an educational service agency 475
(ESA) to provide for the cooperative needs of the region in which 476
the school district is located, as provided in Section 37-7-345; 477
(rr) To implement a financial literacy program for 478
students in Grades 10 and 11. The board may review the national 479
programs and obtain free literature from various nationally 480
recognized programs. After review of the different programs, the 481
board may certify a program that is most appropriate for the 482
school districts' needs. If a district implements a financial 483
literacy program, then any student in Grade 10 or 11 may 484
participate in the program. The financial literacy program shall 485
include, but is not limited to, instruction in the same areas of 486
personal business and finance as required under Section 487
37-1-3(2)(b). The school board may coordinate with volunteer 488
teachers from local community organizations, including, but not 489
limited to, the following: United States Department of 490
Agriculture Rural Development, United States Department of Housing 491
and Urban Development, Junior Achievement, bankers and other 492
nonprofit organizations. Nothing in this paragraph shall be 493
construed as to require school boards to implement a financial 494
literacy program; 495
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 21 (DJ\KP)

(ss) To collaborate with the State Board of Education, 496
Community Action Agencies or the Department of Human Services to 497
develop and implement a voluntary program to provide services for 498
a prekindergarten program that addresses the cognitive, social, 499
and emotional needs of four-year-old and three-year-old children. 500
The school board may utilize any source of available revenue to 501
fund the voluntary program. Effective with the 2013-2014 school 502
year, to implement voluntary prekindergarten programs under the 503
Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2013 pursuant to state funds 504
awarded by the State Department of Education on a matching basis; 505
(tt) With respect to any lawful, written obligation of 506
a school district, including, but not limited to, leases 507
(excluding leases of sixteenth section public school trust land), 508
bonds, notes, or other agreement, to agree in writing with the 509
obligee that the Department of Revenue or any state agency, 510
department or commission created under state law may: 511
(i) Withhold all or any part (as agreed by the 512
school board) of any monies which such local school board is 513
entitled to receive from time to time under any law and which is 514
in the possession of the Department of Revenue, or any state 515
agency, department or commission created under state law; and 516
(ii) Pay the same over to any financial 517
institution, trustee or other obligee, as directed in writing by 518
the school board, to satisfy all or part of such obligation of the 519
school district. 520
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 22 (DJ\KP)

The school board may make such written agreement to withhold 521
and transfer funds irrevocable for the term of the written 522
obligation and may include in the written agreement any other 523
terms and provisions acceptable to the school board. If the 524
school board files a copy of such written agreement with the 525
Department of Revenue, or any state agency, department or 526
commission created under state law then the Department of Revenue 527
or any state agency, department or commission created under state 528
law shall immediately make the withholdings provided in such 529
agreement from the amounts due the local school board and shall 530
continue to pay the same over to such financial institution, 531
trustee or obligee for the term of the agreement. 532
This paragraph (tt) shall not grant any extra authority to a 533
school board to issue debt in any amount exceeding statutory 534
limitations on assessed value of taxable property within such 535
school district or the statutory limitations on debt maturities, 536
and shall not grant any extra authority to impose, levy or collect 537
a tax which is not otherwise expressly provided for, and shall not 538
be construed to apply to sixteenth section public school trust 539
land; 540
(uu) With respect to any matter or transaction that is 541
competitively bid by a school district, to accept from any bidder 542
as a good-faith deposit or bid bond or bid surety, the same type 543
of good-faith deposit or bid bond or bid surety that may be 544
accepted by the state or any other political subdivision on 545
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 23 (DJ\KP)

similar competitively bid matters or transactions. This paragraph 546
(uu) shall not be construed to apply to sixteenth section public 547
school trust land. The school board may authorize the investment 548
of any school district funds in the same kind and manner of 549
investments, including pooled investments, as any other political 550
subdivision, including community hospitals; 551
(vv) To utilize the alternate method for the conveyance 552
or exchange of unused school buildings and/or land, reserving a 553
partial or other undivided interest in the property, as 554
specifically authorized and provided in Section 37-7-485; 555
(ww) To delegate, privatize or otherwise enter into a 556
contract with private entities for the operation of any and all 557
functions of nonacademic school process, procedures and operations 558
including, but not limited to, cafeteria workers, janitorial 559
services, transportation, professional development, achievement 560
and instructional consulting services materials and products, 561
purchasing cooperatives, insurance, business manager services, 562
auditing and accounting services, school safety/risk prevention, 563
data processing and student records, and other staff services; 564
however, the authority under this paragraph does not apply to the 565
leasing, management or operation of sixteenth section lands. 566
Local school districts, working through their regional education 567
service agency, are encouraged to enter into buying consortia with 568
other member districts for the purposes of more efficient use of 569
state resources as described in Section 37-7-345; 570
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 24 (DJ\KP)

(xx) To partner with entities, organizations and 571
corporations for the purpose of benefiting the school district; 572
(yy) To borrow funds from the Rural Economic 573
Development Authority for the maintenance of school buildings; 574
(zz) To fund and operate voluntary early childhood 575
education programs, defined as programs for children less than 576
five (5) years of age on or before September 1, and to use any 577
source of revenue for such early childhood education programs. 578
Such programs shall not conflict with the Early Learning 579
Collaborative Act of 2013; 580
(aaa) To issue and provide for the use of procurement 581
cards by school board members, superintendents and licensed school 582
personnel consistent with the rules and regulations of the 583
Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration under Section 584
31-7-9; * * * 585
(bbb) To conduct an annual comprehensive evaluation of 586
the superintendent of schools consistent with the assessment 587
components of paragraph (pp) of this section and the assessment 588
benchmarks established by the Mississippi School Board Association 589
to evaluate the success the superintendent has attained in meeting 590
district goals and objectives, the superintendent's leadership 591
skill and whether or not the superintendent has established 592
appropriate standards for performance, is monitoring success and 593
is using data for improvement * * *; and 594
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 25 (DJ\KP)

(ccc) To fund and operate improved school safety and 595
security measures, including costs associated with training and 596
planning, including: 597
(i) The prevention, identification, and management 598
of emergencies and threats, using effective prevention practices 599
and including: 600
1. Providing licensed counselors, social 601
workers and chaplains; 602
2. Providing mental health personnel and 603
support, including chaplains; 604
3. Providing behavioral health services, 605
including services provided by chaplains; 606
4. Establishing threat reporting systems; and 607
5. Developing and implementing programs 608
focused on providing mental health support, including support 609
provided by chaplains; and 610
(ii) Providing programs related to suicide 611
prevention, intervention and postvention, including programs 612
provided by chaplains. 613
SECTION 5. Section 37-11-54, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 614
amended as follows: 615
37-11-54. The State Board of Education shall develop a list 616
of recommended conflict resolution and mediation materials, models 617
and curricula that are developed from evidence-based practices and 618
positive behavioral intervention supports to address responsible 619
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 26 (DJ\KP)

decision making, the causes and effects of school violence and 620
harassment, cultural diversity, and nonviolent methods for 621
resolving conflict, including peer mediation, and shall make the 622
list available to local school administrative units and school 623
buildings before the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year. In 624
addition, local school boards shall incorporate evidence-based 625
practices and positive behavioral intervention supports into 626
individual school district policies and Codes of Conduct. In 627
developing this list, the board shall emphasize materials, models 628
and curricula that currently are being used in Mississippi and 629
that the board determines to be effective. The board shall 630
include at least one (1) model that includes instruction and 631
guidance for the voluntary implementation of peer mediation 632
programs and one (1) model that provides instruction and guidance 633
for teachers concerning the integration of conflict resolution and 634
mediation lessons into the existing classroom curriculum, both of 635
which shall include programs and services provided by chaplains. 636
SECTION 6. If any one or more provisions, sections, 637
subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases or words of this act or 638
the application thereof to any person or circumstances is found to 639
be unconstitutional, the same is hereby declared to be severable 640
and the balance of this act shall remain effective notwithstanding 641
such unconstitutionality. The Legislature hereby declares that it 642
would have passed this act, and each provision, section, 643
subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word thereof, irrespective 644
H. B. No. 678 *HR43/R818* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R818
PAGE 27 (DJ\KP)
ST: Public schools; allow to employ or accept
services of chaplains.
of the fact that any one or more provisions, sections, 645
subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases or words be declared 646
unconstitutional. 647
SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from 648
and after July 1, 2026. 649