Senate Bill 2592 Summary

• Establishes minimum spending requirement of $20 million annually from TANF Block Grant funds for the Child Care Payment Program to support affordable childcare for eligible families.

• Expands Medicaid eligibility beginning July 1, 2020 to include individuals age 65+ whose income does not exceed 133% of federal poverty level, with coverage limited to essential health benefits under the Affordable Care Act.

• Creates Women and High-Wage, High-Demand, Nontraditional Jobs Grant Program to increase women's participation in skilled trades and STEM occupations through grants to eligible organizations.

• Establishes Mississippi Paid Family Leave Act providing 12 weeks of paid leave annually for childbirth, child placement, serious health conditions, or family member care for employees of employers with 50+ employees.

• Implements Mississippi Sick and Safe Leave Act requiring employers to provide minimum 1 hour of paid sick time per 30 hours worked (up to 40 hours annually) for employee illness, family care, public health emergencies, and domestic violence situations.

• Increases state minimum wage to $7.50/hour (2020), $7.75/hour (2021), $8.00/hour (2022), and $10.00/hour (2023), with adjustments when federal minimum wage increases.

• Requires businesses with 40+ employees to obtain equal pay certificates of compliance for state contracts exceeding $100,000, with certification valid for four years.

• Prohibits employment discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions, requiring reasonable workplace accommodations unless causing undue hardship to employer.