HB 134

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION SHORTAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO HELP ATTRACT PHYSICIANS, NURSES, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE WORKERS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND TEACHERS TO WORK IN RURAL AREAS OF COUNTIES THAT HAD AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF MORE THAN TEN PERCENT IN THE PREVIOUS CALENDAR YEAR AND CURRENTLY HAVE A SHORTAGE OF ANY OF THOSE PROFESSIONALS; TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM WILL BE PROVIDED FROM THE MISSISSIPPI WORKS FUND AND WILL BE DISBURSED TO THE COUNTIES BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY UPON APPROPRIATION BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR THAT PURPOSE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE AMOUNT APPROPRIATED FOR THE PROGRAM SHALL BE NOT LESS THAN FIVE MILLION DOLLARS FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY ELIGIBLE COUNTY THAT WISHES TO RECEIVE FUNDS UNDER THE PROGRAM MUST ADOPT A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE FUNDS AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY WITH A DETAILED PLAN OF HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE USED; TO PROVIDE THAT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FUNDS UNDER THE PROGRAM, A COUNTY MUST PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS OF NOT LESS THAN THIRTY PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT OF THE FUNDS PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY UNDER THE PROGRAM; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 71-5-353, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING FUNDS, FOR THE PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.