As legislators completed the second week of this 2023 Regular Session, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives surpassed their first deadline. Wednesday, January 11 was the deadline to make requests for general bills and constitutional amendments to be drafted. Monday, January 16 will be the deadline for those introductions.
The Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee held a Workforce Development hearing on Tuesday, January 10. Senator David Parker (R-Olive Branch) chairs the committee and opened the hearing with Ryan Miller, Executive Director of Accelerate MS, to speak about the work Accelerate MS has done since its creation. Miller provided insight that within the 21 months of existence, they have created formal structure and organization. Miller highlighted the importance of three core pillars: workforce triage, customizable training, and horizon thinking.
Dr. Courtney Taylor, Director of Postsecondary Strategy of Accelerate MS, highlighted the importance of workforce triage and their workforce training programs. Dr. Taylor specifically mentioned how much of an impact the Workforce Enhancement Training (WET) funds helped utilize the state’s community college system as a training ground for workforce development and upskilling. Rebecca Brown, Dean of Workforce and Community Development for Pearl River Community College (PRCC), highlighted that companies on the Gulf Coast have utilized PRCC’s workforce development programs.
Dr. Nathan Oakley, Deputy Director for K-12 Innovation, highlighted the career coaches grant application program. The career coach program has provided an emphasis of reaching students to help provide post-secondary opportunities, job training, job fairs, and industry visits.
Several House and Senate Appropriations Committee meetings and hearings took place this week as state agencies gave a summary of their current fiscal year and estimated budget needs for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2024. Among the presenters were Child Protective Services, Public Service Commission, Department of Health, Department of Mental Health, Department of Transportation and Department of Public Safety. More state agency and board hearings will occur over the next few weeks.
On behalf of Child Protective Services (CPS), Commissioner Andrea Sanders, Principal Deputy Commissioner David Barton, and Executive Director of External Affairs Shannon Warnock have requested a general budget increase request of $15,159,398. If the request is approved, CPS will be able to hire more social workers while offering a higher salary and benefits for retainment, as well as attain efficient legal counsel. The addition of social workers as well as legal counsel will reduce the number of cases each social worker focuses on – with it currently being around 40 children – which will allow the legal process to operate more effectively regarding the adoption process.
Below you will find details on the State’s December revenue collections. These numbers are important as legislators work toward establishing and finalizing numbers for the upcoming budget year.
Representative Shanda Yates (I-Jackson) introduced a bill this week that would allow municipal officials to be removed from office. House Bill 370 moved through committee and made it to the House floor for debate. If passed, this legislation would mirror statutes that allow the removal of county elected officials by requiring 30% of electorate to sign a recall petition which would be sent to the governor. Then a three-judge panel would determine the merits of the petition and hold an election should the officer be removed. After a lengthy and contentious floor debate on Wednesday afternoon, the bill was tabled for the possibility of further consideration.
Residents of House District 23 went to the polls on Tuesday to select a replacement for former Rep. Jim Beckett (R- Bruce). The district is comprised of portions of Calhoun, Grenada, Lafayette, and Webster Counties. Unofficial results show candidates Andy Stepp received 48% of the vote, Perry Van Bailey received 38%, and Andy Clark received less than 14%. Stepp and Bailey will move to a runoff on January 31.
On Thursday, Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley (D-Nettleton) announced that he will be campaigning for the governor’s office this year. Commissioner Presley has represented the Northern District of the PSC for the past 15 years. In recent years, he has focused on providing broadband access to rural Mississippi. Prior to being elected commissioner in 2007, he served as mayor of Nettleton for six years. Primary elections are scheduled for Tuesday, August 8, 2023, and the general election is Tuesday, November 7, 2023.