MS HB1597

Appropriates $269,688.00 from special funds in the State Treasury to the Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists for fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024).

Authorizes 3 permanent positions and 0 time-limited positions for the board.

Allocates $5,500.00 of the appropriated funds for upgrading and maintaining the Board's Licensing and Regulatory System (LARS) to a cloud-based system.

Requires the board to maintain complete accounting and personnel records in the same format and detail as fiscal year 2023, and restricts salary increases to only new hires unless additional funds are appropriated.

Establishes that the Mississippi Industries for the Blind shall receive preference in competitive bidding when all other factors are equal.