HB 240 Summary

• Creates the "Mississippi Youthbuild Act" and directs the Division of Family and Children's Services to administer programs providing disadvantaged youth ages 16-24 with employment training, education, and leadership development through housing construction and rehabilitation projects.

• Requires Youthbuild programs to allocate 50% of participant time to classroom instruction (math, language arts, life skills, high school diploma/GED) and 50% to on-site construction training with stipends at minimum wage.

• Establishes eligibility for youth who are not high school graduates, at risk of dropping out, or very low-income (at or below 50% of median family income), with up to 25% of participants allowed to be individuals who have completed high school but have educational needs.

• Requires grant applicants to be non-profit or public agencies with experience operating Youthbuild programs or plans to establish one, and mandates comprehensive applications detailing program components, recruitment strategies, budget, and compliance with Fair Housing Act and Civil Rights laws.

• Amends Mississippi Code Section 43-1-53 to include Youthbuild Act services in the Division of Family and Children's Services oversight; effective July 1, 2019.