MS HB1522

Appropriates $239,634,514 from State General Fund and $40,002,804 from Education Enhancement Fund for public community and junior colleges for fiscal year July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, reaching one-half of mid-level funding commitment from Senate Bill 2364.

Distributes funds based on full-time equivalency (FTE) hours with weighted formulas: Academic and Technical programs at 1.0, Virtual Community College at 0.50, Associate Degree Nursing and Allied Health at 1.19, and Career programs at 1.0.

Appropriates additional funding for employee life and health insurance ($23,761,000 plus $730,000), Workforce Development Centers ($4,500,000), Advanced Training Centers ($2,250,000), Associate Degree Nursing and Allied Health programs ($2,556,922), and dropout recovery initiative ($1,500,000).

Allocates $5,000,000 from Capital Expense Fund for construction and repair projects across all 15 participating community and junior colleges.

Sets performance targets for instruction outcomes including GED awards, degrees awarded, licensure exam pass rates, dual enrollment, and developmental education course completion rates.