MS HB1795

Appropriates $55,000,000 from the Budget Contingency Fund to the Department of Employment Security for the period July 1, 2020 through December 30, 2020 to address COVID-19 workforce displacement.

Distributes $49,000,000 to four workforce investment areas (Delta, Twin Districts, Mississippi Partnership, and Southcentral) for short-term training programs, equipment purchases, tuition vouchers, infrastructure improvements, and marketing related to manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and truck driving training.

Allocates $4,700,000 for on-the-job training for COVID-19 displaced employees, distributed using federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) allocation methods.

Reserves $550,000 for Department of Employment Security administrative fees and $550,000 for the four workforce investment areas' administrative fees.

Requires workforce investment areas to prioritize furloughed, unemployed, and underemployed individuals displaced by COVID-19 and comply with federal CARES Act guidelines for fund expenditure, with the Department of Employment Security liable for repayment of improperly spent funds.