Bill > HB218

This bill, the "2026 Mississippi Youthbuild Pilot Program Act," establishes a pilot program at Coahoma Community College and Jones County Junior College to help low-income youth rebuild their lives and communities. The program, known as YouthBuild, will provide disadvantaged youth, particularly those who have not finished high school, with opportunities for employment, education, leadership development, entrepreneurial skills, and training in constructing or rehabilitating housing for special needs populations and low-income households. The colleges will apply for grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Mississippi Department of Human Services will provide the required matching funds. The bill defines "YouthBuild" as a pre-apprenticeship program for at-risk youth administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. It also outlines specific services that must be provided, including housing construction/rehabilitation, integrated education and job skills training, counseling, leadership development, and financial assistance for participants. Eligibility criteria include being between 16 and 24 years old and economically disadvantaged. The Division of Family and Children's Services will report to the Legislature on the program's effectiveness before January 1, 2029. Additionally, the bill brings forward Section 43-26-1 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, which establishes the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, for potential amendment.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0218.xml