MS HB399

Creates the Mississippi Office of Workforce Development and Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board with 31 voting members, including a majority of business representatives, workforce representatives, and state officials.

Establishes workforce development centers affiliated with community colleges to provide assessment, training, and placement services for individuals needing retraining and skills development.

Creates the Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund and Mississippi Works Fund, funded through employer contributions collected with unemployment insurance, to support workforce training programs and economic development activities.

Requires the State Workforce Investment Board to develop a statewide strategic plan, coordinate training programs across state agencies, and oversee a one-stop employment and training system compliant with federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act requirements.

Establishes a career and technical education incentive grant program paying $600 per student who earns a qualifying industry certification, funded through the Department of Education beginning in fiscal year 2019-2020.