MS HB333

Appropriates $60,000,000 from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to the State Department of Health for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.

Establishes a "Hazard Pay for Essential Health Care Workers" grant program providing $1,500 premium pay to eligible health care workers earning $75,000 or less annually who performed essential services during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Defines eligible health care workers to include nurses, aides, janitorial staff, security guards, food service workers, and other employees with elevated risk of COVID-19 exposure in public health settings.

Requires essential work to have been performed from January 27, 2020 through 60 days after the federal public health emergency ends, excluding telework from residences.

Department may set aside 3% of grant funds for administrative costs and must certify all expenditures comply with federal Treasury guidelines for Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund use; non-compliant funds must be repaid to the state.