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H. B. No. 72 *HR31/R649* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Education;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Hines
HOUSE BILL NO. 72
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, IN 1
CONJUNCTION WITH THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE, THE 2
MISSISSIPPI BOARD OF NURSING AND THE MISSISSIPPI HOSPITAL 3
ASSOCIATION, TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT THE DELTA MEDICAL 4
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM (MS DMAP) FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS 5
ENROLLED IN GRADES 9 THROUGH 12 IN SCHOOLS SITUATED IN COUNTIES OF 6
THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING CAREER PATHWAYS 7
INTO HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS; TO REQUIRE THE APPRENTICESHIP 8
PROGRAM TO BE CONDUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH LICENSED MEDICAL 9
FACILITIES IN THOSE DELTA COUNTIES EXPERIENCING CRITICAL SHORTAGES 10
IN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS; TO PRESCRIBE THE ELIGIBILITY 11
REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM; TO 12
PRESCRIBE THE COMPONENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE APPRENTICESHIP 13
PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC 14
AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION INSTRUCTION DURING THE COURSE OF THE 15
PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS TO COMPLETE CERTAIN 16
TASKS AND RESEARCH PROJECTS; TO LIMIT PARTICIPATION IN THE 17
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTIES OF THE 18
MISSISSIPPI DELTA ENTERING GRADES 9 THROUGH 12 IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL; 19
TO REQUIRE ELIGIBLE PERSONS TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR 20
PARTICIPATION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO REQUIRE THE 21
DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THE APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE TO LOCAL SCHOOL 22
DISTRICTS BY A CERTAIN DATE AND TO ESTABLISH THE DEADLINE FOR 23
ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS; TO PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE IN THE FORM OF 24
A REDUCED TUITION RATE FOR STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE 25
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM; TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA MEDICAL 26
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TRUST FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY TO PROVIDE 27
SUPPORT TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE BOARD OF MEDICAL 28
LICENSURE FOR START-UP COSTS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH 29
IMPLEMENTING AND OPERATING THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM; TO AMEND 30
SECTION 37-71-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO MAKE A MINOR 31
NONSUBSTANTIVE CHANGE; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 37-71-9 AND 32
31-71-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE 33
AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 34
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WHEREAS, the Mississippi Legislature emphasizes the 35
importance of fostering high standards for educating the state's 36
students enrolled in and attending public schools by increasing 37
efforts to prepare these students for the pursuit of continued 38
educational success and the professional careers that are obtained 39
as a result; and 40
WHEREAS, with a nationally growing demand for health care 41
professionals, the Mississippi Legislature finds it incumbent upon 42
itself to take proper measures to reduce shortages in health care 43
professions, as these shortages directly impact the medical 44
workforce and the availability of health care throughout our 45
state, particularly in the Mississippi Delta; and 46
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Mississippi Legislature to 47
promote the educational accountability of public schools and the 48
students educated therein through the implementation of 49
informational, analytical and research-based programs of 50
instruction to heighten public school students' awareness and 51
interests in health care professions: NOW, THEREFORE, 52
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 53
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the 54
"Mississippi Delta Medical Apprenticeship Program Act" (MS DMAP). 55
SECTION 2. As used in this act, the following terms shall 56
have the meanings as defined in this section, unless the context 57
clearly requires otherwise: 58
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(a) "Apprenticeship program" means the Mississippi 59
Delta Medical Apprenticeship Program. 60
(b) "Counties of the Mississippi Delta" means, Bolivar, 61
Carroll, Coahoma, Desoto, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, 62
Panola, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, 63
Warren, Washington and Yazoo Counties. 64
(c) "Department" means the State Department of 65
Education. 66
(d) "Participating licensed medical facility" means a 67
facility located in the counties of the Mississippi Delta 68
including, but not limited to, a hospital, nursing home, medical 69
clinic, medical or occupational rehabilitation facility, hospice 70
facility, skilled nursing facility, dialysis or renal care center, 71
blood bank, pharmacy or ambulatory surgical center, that has 72
entered into a memorandum of agreement with a local school 73
district to provide apprenticeships to qualifying high school 74
students, subject to approval by the State Board of Education and 75
the appropriate licensing entity that regulates the services and 76
practices of such facility. 77
SECTION 3. (1) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, 78
the State Board of Education, in conjunction with the State Board 79
of Medical Licensure, the Mississippi Board of Nursing and the 80
Mississippi Hospital Association, shall establish and implement a 81
program known as the Mississippi Delta Medical Apprenticeship 82
Program (MS DMAP) for public school students enrolled in Grades 9 83
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through 12, for the purpose of creating a pathway to develop a 84
health care professions pipeline within the underserved and 85
underrepresented populations in the eighteen (18) counties of the 86
Mississippi Delta, to increase the availability and presence of 87
qualified health care professionals in those counties experiencing 88
a critical shortage of such professionals. The provisions of the 89
MS DMAP shall adhere to the requirements of the Mississippi Learn 90
to Earn Act for Extended Learning Opportunities as provided in 91
Sections 37-71-7, 37-71-9 and 31-71-11. 92
(2) The apprenticeship program established under subsection 93
(1) of this section for the introduction and training of qualified 94
students for potential careers in health care professions must, at 95
a minimum, be a full-year program of academic and practical 96
application instruction, during which time students must be 97
provided onsite hands-on instruction to increase the students' 98
preparation for a premedical or allied health curriculum and to 99
strengthen academic competitiveness. Depending on the area of 100
health expertise and the required skills and certifications to 101
qualify an individual for employment, the apprenticeship program 102
may extend beyond a single year of participation, as determined by 103
the State Board of Education, the participating school district 104
and the participating licensed medical facility providing the 105
instruction. The lecture-based portions of instruction in the 106
apprenticeship program must be conducted by: 107
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(a) Instructors with adequate certification in science 108
or mathematics who are licensed by the State Department of 109
Education; 110
(b) Instructors who teach science or mathematics at the 111
postsecondary level; or 112
(c) Licensed or certified health care professionals who 113
have the requisite number of years of experience and 114
qualifications equivalent to what is required of an individual 115
licensed by the department as an expert citizen under Section 116
37-3-2(6)(c). 117
(3) Eligibility for participation in the apprenticeship 118
program is limited to students who: 119
(a) Maintain a cumulative 2.25 grade point average on a 120
4.0 scale; 121
(b) Are recommended by their science or mathematics 122
teachers, or professional school counselor; 123
(c) Have a consistent record of attendance; 124
(d) Display positive attitudes, character and 125
citizenship; 126
(e) Express a desire to expand their knowledge of 127
health care and medicine; 128
(f) Reside in one (1) of the counties of the 129
Mississippi Delta where a participating licensed medical facility 130
is located; and 131
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(g) Present proof of having health insurance or 132
Medicaid. 133
(4) Before any student is accepted for participation under 134
the criteria of subsection (3) of this section, that student's 135
parent, legal guardian or custodian must submit written 136
authorization agreeing to the student's participation in the 137
apprenticeship program. 138
(5) The apprenticeship program must include, but not be 139
limited to, the following components: 140
(a) An orientation, which the parents are encouraged to 141
attend; 142
(b) ACT instruction and practice exams; 143
(c) Instructional interaction with licensed and/or 144
certified medical or other health care professionals; 145
(d) Presentations from licensed and/or certified 146
medical or other health care professionals; 147
(e) Health-related hands-on activities; 148
(f) CPR certification; 149
(g) ACT and certification examination registration as 150
needed; and 151
(h) A waiver of fees for the required certification 152
assessments. 153
(6) Outside of the traditional scholastic year, the 154
apprenticeship program must consist of a full day of academic, 155
research or laboratory instruction beginning at 8:00 a.m. and 156
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lasting until 3:00 p.m. daily on Monday through Friday of each 157
week for a minimum of four (4) weeks between the end date of a 158
scholastic year and the beginning of the immediately following 159
scholastic year. During each week, two (2) days must be dedicated 160
to ACT and career certification preparation, and the remaining 161
three (3) days must be dedicated to health care career 162
preparation. 163
SECTION 4. Participation in the apprenticeship program is 164
limited to students who reside in any of the counties of the 165
Mississippi Delta, who are entering Grades 9 through 12 in a 166
public school, and who have submitted to the department a 167
completed application on the form designed and supplied by the 168
department, the State Board of Medical Licensure, the Mississippi 169
Board of Nursing and the Mississippi Hospital Association. The 170
department shall make applications available to each school 171
district on May 31 of each year and shall establish the deadline 172
for accepting applications. 173
SECTION 5. Students selected to participate in the 174
apprenticeship program who successfully complete the requirements 175
of their chosen health care pathway before high school graduation, 176
upon enrollment at a public two-year or four-year postsecondary 177
educational institution within the State of Mississippi and 178
declaration of a health related major, as verified by the 179
institution's registrar, shall be eligible for a reduced tuition 180
rate that shall be determined by the respective institution of 181
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enrollment, provided that the reduction shall not be less than 182
thirty percent (30%) of the total cost of attendance. 183
SECTION 6. (1) There is established in the State Treasury a 184
fund to be known as the Mississippi Delta Medical Apprenticeship 185
Program Trust Fund. The purpose of the fund is to provide 186
financial support to local school districts within the eligible 187
counties for start-up costs and costs associated with implementing 188
and operating the MS DMAP. The fund may consist of monies 189
obtained from grants from the federal government, funds made 190
available by the Legislature, and grants, gifts, devises, 191
donations and any other monies from any public or private source. 192
The State Board of Education and the State Board of Medical 193
Licensure shall administer the fund and may apply for any grants 194
from the federal government or private sources. 195
(2) The State Board of Education and the State Board of 196
Medical Licensure, jointly, shall adopt rules and regulations 197
necessary for the implementation of this section. If sufficient 198
funds are available for this purpose, monies from the Mississippi 199
Delta Medical Apprenticeship Program Trust Fund must be allocated 200
to local school districts and participating licensed medical 201
facilities in accordance with the procedures established by the 202
State Board of Education and the State Board of Medical Licensure. 203
SECTION 7. Section 37-71-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 204
amended as follows: 205
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37-71-7. (1) For the 2021-2022 school term, the State Board 206
of Education shall promulgate a rule by December 31, 2020, 207
authorizing local school boards, in their discretion, to develop 208
an Extended Learning Opportunity to include alternative 209
educational opportunities available to students in Grade 9 through 210
Grade 12, which are provided through apprenticeships, internships 211
or pre-apprenticeships for elective course credit. 212
(2) Each local school board may adopt an Extended Learning 213
Opportunities policy to include alternative educational 214
opportunities for course credit that recognizes learning 215
opportunities outside of the traditional classroom through 216
apprenticeships, internships or pre-apprenticeships, and grants 217
elective credit for those alternative learning opportunities. If 218
adopted the policy shall: 219
(a) Provide for an application process for entities to 220
submit proposals for alternative educational opportunities that 221
will qualify for elective course credit; 222
(b) Define which entities are eligible to submit 223
applications for alternative educational opportunities, which such 224
entities shall include, but not be limited to: 225
(i) Nonprofit organizations; 226
(ii) Businesses with established locations in the 227
state; 228
(iii) Trade associations; 229
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(iv) Parents of students involved in programs that 230
may otherwise qualify for alternative educational opportunities; 231
(v) Teachers involved in programs outside of the 232
traditional classroom; and 233
(vi) School personnel involved in programs outside 234
of the traditional classroom * * *; 235
(c) Provide for the criteria used to evaluate the 236
alternative educational opportunity; 237
(d) Describe any communication and collaboration needed 238
with local school districts to implement alternative educational 239
opportunities approved by the State Board of Education; 240
(e) Place requirements on the entity such as background 241
checks for key personnel and minimum accountability standards; and 242
(f) Provide a process for student credit transfer. 243
(3) The local school board is authorized to approve or deny 244
an application for an alternative educational opportunity. If an 245
application is approved by the school board, the application shall 246
be submitted to the State Board of Education for review as 247
provided in Section 37-71-11, prior to the implementation of the 248
program within the local school district. 249
(4) The State Department of Education shall have the 250
authority to audit approved alternative educational programs at 251
any time. If the audit results in findings that an approved 252
program is not meeting the provisions of this chapter or the 253
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policy outlined in subsection (2) of this section, then the local 254
school board shall disqualify the program immediately. 255
SECTION 8. Section 37-71-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 256
brought forward as follows: 257
37-71-9. (1) (a) Following the adoption of the rule 258
required in Section 37-71-7, the department shall accept 259
applications from local school districts for the implementation of 260
alternative courses, programs and opportunities or apprenticeship 261
programs. The department shall require an application for each 262
alternative course, program or opportunity or apprenticeship 263
program approved by a local school board to be implemented in its 264
school district. 265
(b) Upon receipt of an application, the department 266
shall have ninety (90) days to approve or deny the application. 267
Any denied application shall be returned to the submitting local 268
school board and shall include an explanation of the reasons for 269
denial of the application. 270
(2) The State Department of Education shall provide an 271
annual report detailing the progress that has been made in each 272
school district in providing alternative courses, programs and 273
opportunities or apprenticeships. The report shall be provided to 274
the Chairmen of the Senate and House Education Committees no later 275
than December 1 of each year, beginning December 1, 2021. The 276
report also shall be provided to the other members of the 277
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Legislature upon request and posted on the department's website 278
for the general public to view. 279
SECTION 9. Section 37-71-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 280
brought forward as follows: 281
37-71-11. (1) Beginning with July 1, 2020, a licensing 282
authority shall grant a license to any student applicant who 283
participates in an alternative learning course, program or 284
opportunity or apprenticeship program, and who meets the following 285
criteria: 286
(a) Completed an apprenticeship in the licensed 287
occupation or profession; 288
(b) Attained a satisfactory industry certification 289
score on the WorkKeys assessment, if such assessment is a required 290
component of the alternative course or apprenticeship; 291
(c) Passed an examination, if one is deemed to be 292
necessary by the licensing authority; and 293
(d) Paid any fees deemed necessary by the licensing 294
authority. 295
(2) Licensing authorities shall establish a passing score 296
for their respective examinations which shall not exceed the 297
passing score that is required under the standard licensing 298
processes. If the relevant licensing authority or provision of 299
law does not require an examination for the standard licensing 300
process for an occupation, no examination may be required for 301
applicants who complete an apprenticeship in that occupation. 302
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ST: Mississippi Delta Medical Apprenticeship
Program (MS DMAP); establish to provide health
care career pathways for students in the Delta.
(3) Licensing authorities shall establish a licensing fee, 303
which shall not exceed the licensing fee that is required under 304
the standard licensing processes. If the relevant licensing 305
authority or state does not require a fee for the standard 306
licensing process for an occupation, no fee can be required for 307
applicants who complete an apprenticeship in that occupation. 308
(4) Except as otherwise required by federal law, 309
apprenticeships for an occupation shall not be required to exceed 310
the number of hours required by the relevant licensing authority 311
or statute for that occupation. 312
(5) Licensing authorities shall adopt necessary rules for 313
the implementation of this section. 314
SECTION 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from 315
and after July 1, 2026. 316