MS HB31

Creates the "Mississippi Youthbuild Act" to provide economically disadvantaged youth ages 16-24 with employment, education, leadership development, and construction training opportunities focused on building or rehabilitating housing for homeless, low-income, and special needs populations

Requires programs to split participant time 50/50 between classroom instruction (basic skills, secondary education, life skills, leadership) and hands-on construction site training, with a minimum 6-month and maximum 24-month participation period

Mandates participants receive a training subsidy or stipend of at least minimum wage for construction work, with public assistance recipients maintaining their housing, medical, child care, and food stamp benefits

Establishes eligibility criteria including youth who dropped out of school, those at risk of dropping out, or very low-income individuals (at or below 50% of median family income), with up to 25% of slots available to high school graduates with educational needs

Assigns administration to the Division of Family and Children's Services within the Department of Human Services, with priority funding given to organizations licensed by Youthbuild USA or those with prior federal HUD Youthbuild funding experience