Bill > HB245

This bill establishes the Mississippi Skill Standards Board as an advisory body to the Governor, Legislature, and the state's workforce development system, tasked with creating a statewide framework of industry-defined and industry-recognized skill standards and credentials for skilled occupations that offer good employment and earnings opportunities, are recognized nationally, and do not require a bachelor's degree. The board will consist of thirteen members appointed by the Governor, including representatives from business (with specific provisions for small businesses and different industry sectors), workers, secondary education, two-year public colleges, and four-year public universities, with the Governor appointing a business representative as the presiding officer. The board's duties include validating existing national skill standards for curriculum and training, developing new standards and certification procedures for industries lacking them, reviewing and potentially adopting standards from other regions to allow for skill portability, promoting the use of these standards with employers, and creating agreements between workforce and education entities for effective implementation. The board will meet at least quarterly and will receive staff support from the Mississippi Community College Board, reporting its progress periodically to the Governor and annually to the Governor, Legislature, and the Mississippi Community College Board, with the act taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Labor and Employment

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0245.xml