Miss. Code Ann. § 37-179-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 179-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-179-3
Status: in_force

(1) A district which is an applicant to be designated as a district of innovation under Section 37-179-1 shall:

(a) Establish goals and performance targets for the district of innovation proposal, which may include:

(i) Reducing achievement gaps among groups of public school students by expanding learning experiences for students who are identified as academically low-achieving;

(ii) Increasing pupil learning through the implementation of high, rigorous standards for pupil performance;

(iii) Increasing the participation of students in various curriculum components and instructional components within selected schools to enhance at each grade level;

(iv) Increasing the number of students who are college and career-ready;

(v) Motivating students at different grade levels by offering more curriculum choices and student learning opportunities to parents and students within the district;

(b) Identify changes needed in the district and schools to lead to better prepared students for success in life and work;

(c) Have a district wide plan of innovation that describes and justifies which schools and innovative practices will be incorporated;

(d) Provide documentation of community, educator, parental, and the local board's support of the proposed innovations;

(e) Provide detailed information regarding the rationale of requests for waivers from Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972 , which relate to the elementary and secondary education of public school students, and administrative regulations, and exemptions for selected schools regarding waivers of local school board policies;

(f) Document the fiscal and human resources the board will provide throughout the term of the implementation of the innovations within its plan; and

(g) Provide other materials as required by the department in compliance with the board's administrative regulations and application procedures.

(2) The district and all schools participating in a district's innovation plan shall:

(a) Ensure the same health, safety, civil rights, and disability rights requirements as are applied to all public schools;

(b) Ensure students meet compulsory attendance requirements under Sections 37-13-91 and 37-13-92 ;

(c) Ensure that high school course offerings meet or exceed the minimum required under Sections 37-16-7 and 37-3-49 , for high school graduation or meet early graduation requirements that may be enacted by the Mississippi Legislature;

(d) Ensure the student performance standards meet or exceed those adopted by the State Board of Education as required by Sections 37-3-49 , 37-16-3 and 37-17-6 , including compliance with the statewide assessment system specified in Chapter 16, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972;

(e) Adhere to the same financial audits, audit procedures, and audit requirements as are applied under Section 7-7-211(e) ;

(f) Require state and criminal background checks for staff and volunteers as required of all public school employees and volunteers within the public schools and specified in Section 37-9-17 ;

(g) Comply with open records and open meeting requirements under Sections 25-41-1 et seq. and 25-61-1 et seq. ;

(h) Comply with purchasing requirements and limitations under Chapter 39, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972;

(i) Provide overall instructional time that is equivalent to or greater than that required under Sections 37-1-11 and 37-13-67 , but which may include on-site instruction, distance learning, online courses, and work-based learning on nontraditional school days or hours; and

(j) Provide data to the department as deemed necessary to generate school and district reports.

(3)(a) Only schools that choose to be designated as schools of innovation shall be included in a district's application;

(b) As used in this paragraph, “ eligible employees ” means employees that are regularly employed at the school and those employees whose primary job duties will be affected by the plan; and

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection, a local school board may require a school that has been identified as a persistently low-achieving school under provisions of Section 37-17-6 to participate in the district's plan of innovation.

(4) Notwithstanding any statutes to the contrary, the board may approve the requests of districts of innovation to:

(a) Use capital outlay funds for operational costs;

(b) Hire persons for classified positions in nontraditional school and district assignments who have bachelors and advanced degrees from postsecondary education institutions accredited by a regional accrediting association (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) or by an organization affiliated with the National Commission on Accrediting;

(c) Employ teachers on extended employment contracts or extra duty contracts and compensate them on a salary schedule other than the single salary schedule;

(d) Extend the school days as is appropriate within the district with compensation for the employees as determined locally;

(e) Establish alternative education programs and services that are delivered in nontraditional hours and which may be jointly provided in cooperation with another school district or consortia of districts;

(f) Establish online classes within the district for delivering alternative classes in a blended environment to meet high school graduation requirements;

(g) Use a flexible school calendar;

(h) Convert existing schools into schools of innovation; and

(i) Modify the formula under Chapter 151, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for distributing total funding formula funds for students in net enrollment in nontraditional programming time, including alternative programs and virtual programs. Funds granted to a district shall not exceed those that would have otherwise been distributed based on net enrollment during regular instructional days.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-19-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 19-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-19-7
Status: in_force

(1) Teachers' salaries in each public school district shall be determined and paid in accordance with the scale for teachers' salaries as provided in this subsection. For teachers holding the following types of licenses or the equivalent as determined by the State Board of Education, and the following number of years of teaching experience, the scale shall be as follows:

2022-2023 AND SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL YEARS MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE

Exp.

AAAA

AAA

AA

A

0

45,500.00

44,000.00

43,000.00

41,500.00

1

46,100.00

44,550.00

43,525.00

41,900.00

2

46,700.00

45,100.00

44,050.00

42,300.00

3

47,300.00

45,650.00

44,575.00

42,700.00

4

47,900.00

46,200.00

45,100.00

43,100.00

5

49,250.00

47,500.00

46,350.00

44,300.00

6

49,850.00

48,050.00

46,875.00

44,700.00

7

50,450.00

48,600.00

47,400.00

45,100.00

8

51,050.00

49,150.00

47,925.00

45,500.00

9

51,650.00

49,700.00

48,450.00

45,900.00

10

53,000.00

51,000.00

49,700.00

47,100.00

11

53,600.00

51,550.00

50,225.00

47,500.00

12

54,200.00

52,100.00

50,750.00

47,900.00

13

54,800.00

52,650.00

51,275.00

48,300.00

14

55,400.00

53,200.00

51,800.00

48,700.00

15

56,750.00

54,500.00

53,050.00

49,900.00

16

57,350.00

55,050.00

53,575.00

50,300.00

17

57,950.00

55,600.00

54,100.00

50,700.00

18

58,550.00

56,150.00

54,625.00

51,100.00

19

59,150.00

56,700.00

55,150.00

51,500.00

20

60,500.00

58,000.00

56,400.00

52,700.00

21

61,100.00

58,550.00

56,925.00

53,100.00

22

61,700.00

59,100.00

57,450.00

53,500.00

23

62,300.00

59,650.00

57,975.00

53,900.00

24

62,900.00

60,200.00

58,500.00

54,300.00

25

65,400.00

62,700.00

61,000.00

56,800.00

26

66,000.00

63,250.00

61,525.00

57,200.00

27

66,600.00

63,800.00

62,050.00

57,600.00

28

67,200.00

64,350.00

62,575.00

58,000.00

29

67,800.00

64,900.00

63,100.00

58,400.00

30

68,400.00

65,450.00

63,625.00

58,800.00

31

69,000.00

66,000.00

64,150.00

59,200.00

32

69,600.00

66,550.00

64,675.00

59,600.00

33

70,200.00

67,100.00

65,200.00

60,000.00

34

70,800.00

67,650.00

65,725.00

60,400.00

35

& above

71,400.00

68,200.00

66,250.00

60,800.00

2024-2025 AND SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL YEARS MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE

The school district, with assistance from the Department of Education, shall consider the teacher's years of service and license type and determine the corresponding salary for the retired teacher. After determining the retired teacher's corresponding salary, the school district may allocate up to one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the amount provided under the salary schedule for such teacher, as applicable, as salary and assessment under the program.

After determining the retired teacher's salary, the school district may pay no more than fifty percent (50%) of the retired teacher's compensation as salary to the retired teacher. The remaining fifty percent (50%) of the retired teacher's compensation as salary shall be paid by the school district to PERS as a pension liability participation assessment.

It is the intent of the Legislature that any state funds made available for salaries of licensed personnel in excess of the funds paid for such salaries for the 1986-1987 school year shall be paid to licensed personnel pursuant to a personnel appraisal and compensation system implemented by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall have the authority to adopt and amend rules and regulations as are necessary to establish, administer and maintain the system.

All teachers employed on a full-time basis shall be paid a minimum salary in accordance with the above scale. However, no school district shall receive any funds under this section for any school year during which the local supplement paid to any individual teacher shall have been reduced to a sum less than that paid to that individual teacher for performing the same duties from local supplement during the immediately preceding school year. The amount actually spent for the purposes of group health and/or life insurance shall be considered as a part of the aggregate amount of local supplement but shall not be considered a part of the amount of individual local supplement.

The level of professional training of each teacher to be used in establishing the salary for the teacher for each year shall be determined by the type of valid teacher's license issued to that teacher on or before October 1 of the current school year. However, school districts are authorized, in their discretion, to negotiate the salary levels applicable to licensed employees who are receiving retirement benefits from the retirement system of another state.

(2)(a) The following employees shall receive an annual salary supplement in the amount of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00), plus fringe benefits, in addition to any other compensation to which the employee may be entitled:

(i) Any licensed teacher or retired teacher employed by a school district under the authority of Section 25-11-126 who has met the requirements and acquired a Master Teacher certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who is employed by a local school board or the State Board of Education as a teacher and not as an administrator. Such teacher shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the certificate was received prior to October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the teacher shall submit such documentation to the State Department of Education prior to February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year.

(ii) A licensed nurse who has met the requirements and acquired a certificate from the National Board for Certification of School Nurses, Inc., and who is employed by a local school board or the State Board of Education as a school nurse and not as an administrator. The licensed school nurse shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the certificate was received before October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the licensed school nurse shall submit the documentation to the State Department of Education before February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year.

(iii) Any licensed school counselor who has met the requirements and acquired a National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) endorsement from the National Board of Certified Counselors and who is employed by a local school board or the State Board of Education as a counselor and not as an administrator. Such licensed school counselor shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the endorsement was received prior to October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the licensed school counselor shall submit such documentation to the State Department of Education prior to February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year. However, any school counselor who started the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards process for school counselors between June 1, 2003, and June 30, 2004, and completes the requirements and acquires the Master Teacher certificate shall be entitled to the master teacher supplement, and those counselors who complete the process shall be entitled to a one-time reimbursement for the actual cost of the process as outlined in paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(iv) Any licensed speech-language pathologist and audiologist who has met the requirements and acquired a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and any certified academic language therapist (CALT) who has met the certification requirements of the Academic Language Therapy Association and who is employed by a local school board. The licensed speech-language pathologist and audiologist and certified academic language therapist shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the certificate or endorsement was received before October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the licensed speech-language pathologist and audiologist and certified academic language therapist shall submit the documentation to the State Department of Education before February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year.

(v) Any licensed athletic trainer who has met the requirements and acquired Board Certification for the Athletic Trainer from the Board of Certification, Inc., and who is employed by a local school board or the State Board of Education as an athletic trainer and not as an administrator. The licensed athletic trainer shall submit documentation to the State Department of Education that the certificate was received before October 15 in order to be eligible for the full salary supplement in the current school year, or the licensed athletic trainer shall submit the documentation to the State Department of Education before February 15 in order to be eligible for a prorated salary supplement beginning with the second term of the school year.

(b) An employee shall be reimbursed for the actual cost of completing each component of acquiring the certificate or endorsement, excluding any costs incurred for postgraduate courses, not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each component, not to exceed four (4) components, for a teacher, school counselor or speech-language pathologist and audiologist, regardless of whether or not the process resulted in the award of the certificate or endorsement. A local school district or any private individual or entity may pay the cost of completing the process of acquiring the certificate or endorsement for any employee of the school district described under paragraph (a), and the State Department of Education shall reimburse the school district for such cost, regardless of whether or not the process resulted in the award of the certificate or endorsement. If a private individual or entity has paid the cost of completing the process of acquiring the certificate or endorsement for an employee, the local school district may agree to directly reimburse the individual or entity for such cost on behalf of the employee.

(c) All salary supplements, fringe benefits and process reimbursement authorized under this subsection shall be paid directly by the State Department of Education to the local school district and shall be in addition to its allotments from the total funding formula provided in Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 and not a part thereof in accordance with regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education. Local school districts shall not reduce the local supplement paid to any employee receiving such salary supplement, and the employee shall receive any local supplement to which employees with similar training and experience otherwise are entitled. However, an educational employee shall receive the salary supplement in the amount of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) for only one (1) of the qualifying certifications authorized under paragraph (a) of this subsection. No school district shall provide more than one (1) annual salary supplement under the provisions of this subsection to any one (1) individual employee holding multiple qualifying national certifications.

(d) If an employee for whom such cost has been paid, in full or in part, by a local school district or private individual or entity fails to complete the certification or endorsement process, the employee shall be liable to the school district or individual or entity for all amounts paid by the school district or individual or entity on behalf of that employee toward his or her certificate or endorsement.

(3) The following employees shall receive an annual salary supplement in the amount of Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00), plus fringe benefits, in addition to any other compensation to which the employee may be entitled:

Effective July 1, 2016, if funds are available for that purpose, any licensed teacher or retired teacher employed by a local school district under the authority of Section 25-11-126 who has met the requirements and acquired a Master Teacher Certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who is employed in a public school district located in one (1) of the following counties: Claiborne, Adams, Jefferson, Wilkinson, Amite, Bolivar, Coahoma, Leflore, Quitman, Sharkey, Issaquena, Sunflower, Washington, Holmes, Yazoo and Tallahatchie. The salary supplement awarded under the provisions of this subsection (3) shall be in addition to the salary supplement awarded under the provisions of subsection (2) of this section.

Teachers who meet the qualifications for a salary supplement under this subsection (3) who are assigned for less than one (1) full year or less than full time for the school year shall receive the salary supplement in a prorated manner, with the portion of the teacher's assignment to the critical geographic area to be determined as of June 15th of the school year.

(4)(a) This subsection shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Performance-Based Pay (MPBP)” plan. In addition to the minimum base pay described in this section, only if funds are available for that purpose, the State of Mississippi may provide monies from state funds to school districts for the purposes of rewarding licensed teachers, administrators and nonlicensed personnel at individual schools showing improvement in student test scores. The MPBP plan shall be developed by the State Department of Education based on the following criteria:

(i) It is the express intent of this legislation that the MPBP plan shall utilize only existing standards of accreditation and assessment as established by the State Board of Education.

(ii) To ensure that all of Mississippi's teachers, administrators and nonlicensed personnel at all schools have equal access to the monies set aside in this section, the MPBP program shall be designed to calculate each school's performance as determined by the school's increase in scores from the prior school year. The MPBP program shall be based on a standardized scores rating where all levels of schools can be judged in a statistically fair and reasonable way upon implementation. At the end of each year, after all student achievement scores have been standardized, the State Department of Education shall implement the MPBP plan.

(iii) To ensure all teachers cooperate in the spirit of teamwork, individual schools shall submit a plan to the local school district to be approved before the beginning of each school year. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, how all teachers, regardless of subject area, and administrators will be responsible for improving student achievement for their individual school.

(b) The State Board of Education shall develop the processes and procedures for designating schools eligible to participate in the MPBP. State assessment results, growth in student achievement at individual schools and other measures deemed appropriate in designating successful student achievement shall be used in establishing MPBP criteria.

(5)(a) If funds are available for that purpose, each school in Mississippi shall have mentor teachers, as defined by Sections 37-9-201 through 37-9-213 , who shall receive additional base compensation provided for by the State Legislature in the amount of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per each beginning teacher that is being mentored. The additional state compensation shall be limited to those mentor teachers that provide mentoring services to beginning teachers. For the purposes of such funding, a beginning teacher shall be defined as any teacher in any school in Mississippi that has less than one (1) year of classroom experience teaching in a public school. For the purposes of such funding, no full-time academic teacher shall mentor more than two (2) beginning teachers.

(b) To be eligible for this state funding, the individual school must have a classroom management program approved by the local school board.

(6) Effective with the 2014-2015 school year, the school districts participating in the Pilot Performance-Based Compensation System pursuant to Section 37-19-9 may award additional teacher and administrator pay based thereon.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-283 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 101-283
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-283
Status: in_force

Each male applicant for any scholarship or loan funded in whole or in part by this state, whether granted by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, the post-secondary education financial assistance board, or otherwise granted by any state-supported college or university, and whether to be used at a state-supported institution of higher learning or at a private institution, shall within six (6) months after he attains the age of eighteen (18) years submit to the person, commission, board or agency in which his application for scholarship or loan is or has been made satisfactory evidence of his compliance with the draft registration requirements of the military selective service act. Such evidence shall consist of a signed affirmation under penalty of perjury from the scholarship or loan applicant that he has complied with the requirements of the federal selective service act. If an applicant for or holder of any such scholarship or loan fails to submit a copy of his draft registration acknowledgment letter in the manner and within the time allowed therefor, any pending application of such person for the award, grant or renewal of any such scholarship or loan shall be denied, and any such scholarship or loan currently held by such person shall be revoked to the extent that no further payments under that scholarship or loan may be made to him or on his behalf. The person, commission, board or agency to which an application for the award, grant or renewal of such scholarship or loan is made, or by or through which any such scholarship or loan is administered or issued shall notify the applicant or holder and the chief executive officer of any institution at which a holder of a scholarship or loan so revoked is enrolled of its action, and upon request of the scholarship or loan applicant or holder shall afford him the opportunity, either in person, in writing or by counsel of his choice to present evidence against such action.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 175-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-25
Status: in_force

(1) Each school providing instruction to children with speech-language impairment shall certify to the State Department of Education its student enrollment in the same manner as local school districts.

(2) The state shall ensure that each school is treated equitably in the calculation and disbursement of all state categorical aid program dollars. Each school participating in the scholarship program shall comply with all reporting requirements to receive the aid.

(3)(a) Each nonpublic school shall adhere to generally accepted accounting principles as promulgated by nationally recognized professional organizations.

(b) Each school shall have its financial records audited annually, at the end of each fiscal year, by the State Auditor and shall file a copy of each audit report and accompanying management letter with the board by July 30.

(4) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any person or organization from providing funding or other assistance to the establishment or operation of any school authorized under this chapter, except religious or sectarian organizations. The State Board of Education, acting on behalf of the participating schools, is authorized to accept gifts, donations, and grants of any kind made to a participating school and to expend or use such gifts, donations, and grants in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the donor; however, no gift, donation, or grant may be accepted if subject to a condition that is contrary to any provision of federal law, state law or board rule.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-31 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 153-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-31
Status: in_force

(1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund, separate and apart from any other fund, to be designated the “Work Force Carryover Fund,” into which shall be deposited any funds which were appropriated by the Legislature to the work force program of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges’ budget for Fiscal Year 1995 and thereafter which said funds were allocated but unexpended for the purposes set forth in the Work Force and Education Act of 1994 in Sections 37-151-63 through 37-151-75 and 37-153-1 through 37-153-13 .

(2) Unexpended amounts remaining in the trust fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and all interest earned on amounts in this special fund shall be deposited to the credit of the trust fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-201 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 153-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-201
Status: in_force

(1) This article shall be known and may be cited as the “American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Nurse/Allied Health Workforce Development and Retention Act.” Under this article, the Legislature creates the “Accelerate Mississippi Nursing/Allied Health Grant Program,” the “Accelerate Mississippi Physician Residency and Fellowship Start-Up Grant Program” and the “Mississippi Allied Health College and Career Navigator Grant Program.”

(2) As used in this article, “ office ” means the Office of Workforce Development established in Section 37-153-7 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-103 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 33-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-103
Status: in_force

The Executive Director of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, through the Director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, may, within budgetary limitations, purchase and operate motor vehicles for the purpose of transporting material, products and clients, and may employ program coordinating, supervising, support and production personnel to properly effectuate the purposes for which community rehabilitation programs are established under Section 37-33-101 . The director may designate a member of his or her staff to execute and enter into, on behalf of the office, contracts and subcontracts with any industry, manufacturer or other party for the production and the manufacture of goods or provision of services in the community rehabilitation program; however, the director must approve the general terms and conditions thereof. The director may authorize community rehabilitation programs to manufacture items and/or provide services for sale to jobbers or directly to the general public.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-71 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 113-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-113-71
Status: in_force

There is established, at Mississippi State University, the “Dr. Elton Mac Huddleston Rural Veterinarians Scholarship Program” for the purpose of identifying and providing qualified students with scholarships to assist such students in pursuing degrees through matriculation in veterinary medicine. The scholarship program shall:

(a) Be developed and implemented in order to provide encouragement, opportunities and incentives for persons pursuing a veterinary medicine degree at Mississippi State University to:

(i) Provide veterinary services in rural Mississippi communities; and

(ii) Receive specialized training to meet the needs of rural Mississippians and livestock producers in rural Mississippi communities;

(b) Be administered by the Dean of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine; and

(c) Annually award scholarships to an average of two (2) scholars, whose scholarship assistance may be funded annually for a period not to exceed four (4) years.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-17
Status: in_force

If the parent, guardian or other person having custody of any child shall feel aggrieved by the assignment of such child to a school or attendance center by the school board, then such parent, guardian or other person may, at any time within thirty (30) days after such assignment, make application in writing to the school board for a review or reconsideration of such assignment. Upon receiving any such application, the school board shall set a time and place for the hearing thereof which time shall be not more than fifteen (15) days after the regular meeting of said board next succeeding the date of the filing of said application. At the time and place so fixed, the person filing such application shall have the right to appear and present evidence in support of said application. After hearing said evidence, the school board shall determine whether said application is well taken and supported by the evidence and shall enter an order either affirming its previous action or modifying or changing same as said school board shall find proper.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-107 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 65-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-107
Status: in_force

Upon and during the closure in accordance with the provisions of this article of any school, the educable children or enrolled students affected thereby may be assigned or transferred, as the case may be, to another school or district, as the case may be, in accordance with the laws of this state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 9-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-21
Status: in_force

It shall be illegal for any superintendent, principal or other licensed employee to be elected by the school board if such superintendent, principal or licensed employee is related within the third degree by blood or marriage according to the common law to a majority of the members of the school board. No member of the school board shall vote for any person as a superintendent, principal or licensed employee who is related to him within the third degree by blood or marriage or who is dependent upon him in a financial way. Any contract entered into in violation of the provisions of this section shall be null and void.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-58 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-58
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-58
Status: in_force

(1) The state department of education is hereby designated as the state agency responsible for the administration and supervision of the career education concept as an educational innovation in the State of Mississippi. It is the intent of the legislature that all funds made available to the State of Mississippi, for the purpose of enhancing career education, be administered by the state department of education.

(2) Pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the state department of education is hereby authorized to establish an office of career education within the framework of the state department of education for the purpose of developing standards, procedures and criteria for the administration and supervision of a statewide program of career education in grades one (1) through twelve (12). The state department of education, through the office of career education, shall assume the further responsibility for promoting a statewide effort designed to prepare local school faculties and staffs to incorporate the career education concept into their local educational programs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-200 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 151-200
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-200
Status: in_force

(1) Sections 37-151-200 through 37-151-215 shall be known, and may be cited as the “Mississippi Student Funding Formula.”

(2) Wherever the phrase “ total funding formula ,” “ funding formula ” or “ total funding formula program ” shall appear in the laws of this state, it shall be construed to mean the “ Mississippi Student Funding Formula ” created under Chapter 151, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-235 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-235
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-235
Status: in_force

A public junior college fraternity, sorority or secret society, as contemplated by Sections 37-29-235 through 37-29-243 is hereby defined to be any organization composed wholly, or in part, of public junior college pupils, which seeks to perpetuate itself by taking in additional members from the pupils enrolled in such junior college on the basis of the decision of the membership of such fraternity, sorority or secret society, rather than upon the free choice of any pupil in the junior college. However, this does not apply to the Order of DeMolay or a similar organization sponsored by any branch of the Masonic Orders or like adult fraternal organization.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-79 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-79
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-79
Status: in_force

Any junior college district is charged with the responsibility for providing preprofessional courses, liberal arts, technical, vocational, and adult education courses and shall undertake to provide the same as conveniently as is possible to the residents of the district, and to this end, the board of trustees is authorized and empowered to transport such enrollees as, in its discretion, should be transported in the best interest of the district. However, no additional allocation of any appropriation shall be made for such transportation. The board of trustees shall promulgate uniform rules to prevent discrimination in all matters of transportation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-451 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 29-451
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-451
Status: in_force

There is hereby created the Copiah-Lincoln Junior College District comprised of the territory lying within Adams, Copiah, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln and Simpson Counties and having boundaries coinciding with the external boundaries thereof. The said district shall be and is hereby constituted a legal political governmental subdivision and a body corporate. The board of trustees of said district, with the consent of the Mississippi Community College Board, is hereby empowered to change the name of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 61-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-5
Status: in_force

If in any year there should remain a balance in the total funding formula funds of any school district on June 30 which amount is not to be used or is not needed in the payment of expenses for the preceding fiscal year properly payable out of such total funding formula funds, then such balance on hand to the credit of such funds of the school district shall be carried forward as a part of such total funding formula funds for the next succeeding fiscal year. The proper pro rata part of the amount so carried forward, to be determined by the percentage which the state total funding formula funds during the year bore to the entire amount of the school district's total funding formula funds, shall be charged against and deducted from the amount which the school district is allotted from state total funding formula funds for the succeeding fiscal year, in a manner prescribed by the State Auditor. The remainder of the amount so carried forward may be deducted from the amount which the school district is required to produce as its local minimum ad valorem tax effort for the support of the total funding formula for the succeeding fiscal year.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-29 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 43-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-43-29
Status: in_force

Any person, firm or corporation with whom a contract has been entered into, under the provisions of this chapter, shall designate the Secretary of State of Mississippi as its agent, upon whom citation and all other writs and processes may be served, in case any suit shall be brought against such person, firm or corporation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-279 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 101-279
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-279
Status: in_force

(1) If a borrower defaults on an educational loan or scholarship, the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall bring suit against the defaulting party as soon as practicable.

(2) A suit against a defaulting party under this section may be brought in the county in which the defaulting person resides, in which the lender is located, or in any Hinds County court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-21 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 45-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-21
Status: in_force

The commission shall distribute and disburse, subject to the provisions of law, such funds as may be appropriated by the legislature, and such funds as may otherwise become available, for constructing, improving, equipping, renovating, and repairing school buildings or other school facilities, as authorized and directed by chapter 47 of this title. No funds shall be distributed by said commission to any school district operating a school in the State of Mississippi until such school district shall have conclusively shown that it has complied with all the requirements of the laws of the State of Mississippi for the operation of schools or school districts, and until such school district shall have complied with all the applicable regulations of the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 146-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-11
Status: in_force

(1) Students in the program may apply to the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry.

(2) Students in the program seeking admission to the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry shall be eligible for the admissions process pursuant to criteria established by the School of Dentistry Admissions Committee which will include consideration of the attributes of participation in the program.

(3) In carrying out the admissions process developed for the Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program participants under this section, the goal is for the program to work with the School of Dentistry to enhance the capability of participants to successfully enter and complete dental school and enter practice in rural or underserved areas in Mississippi. To the extent feasible, the early admissions process should be completed before December 1 of the year preceding a student's admission to dental school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-39-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 39-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-39-25
Status: in_force

(1) The school boards which choose to act jointly as authorized by Section 37-39-23 shall adopt resolutions to that effect which shall be recorded on the minutes of the school boards and copies of which shall be filed with the clerk of the chancery court of the county in which such school districts are located.

(2) The school board may appoint a purchasing agent who shall be responsible, subject to the approval of the board, for all purchases of competitively priced services, materials and supplies. The purchasing agent shall be bonded in accordance with section 37-39-21 . The purchasing agent shall serve all of the school districts acting jointly. There shall not be a separate purchasing agent for the separate districts which are acting jointly.

(3) The purchasing agent for the county school boards shall arrange for purchase, storage and distribution of supplies and materials purchased jointly. The costs involved in purchase, transportation, storage, administration and any other activity regarding joint purchases by the school boards shall be shared among the participating districts on a pro rata basis.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-71-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 71-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-71-9
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Following the adoption of the rule required in Section 37-71-7 , the department shall accept applications from local school districts for the implementation of alternative courses, programs and opportunities or apprenticeship programs. The department shall require an application for each alternative course, program or opportunity or apprenticeship program approved by a local school board to be implemented in its school district.

(b) Upon receipt of an application, the department shall have ninety (90) days to approve or deny the application. Any denied application shall be returned to the submitting local school board and shall include an explanation of the reasons for denial of the application.

(2) The State Department of Education shall provide an annual report detailing the progress that has been made in each school district in providing alternative courses, programs and opportunities or apprenticeships. The report shall be provided to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Education Committees no later than December 1 of each year, beginning December 1, 2021. The report also shall be provided to the other members of the Legislature upon request and posted on the department's website for the general public to view.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 101-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-23
Status: in_force

(1) The Mississippi Small Farm Development Center, which shall be referred to in this section as the SFDC, is established under the management and control of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. The principal offices of the SFDC shall be located at Alcorn State University and shall be under the direction of the president of the university subject to the governance of the board of trustees. The president shall appoint a director of the SFDC who shall recommend to the president necessary professional and administrative staff of the center, all subject to the approval of the board of trustees.

(2) It shall be the function and duty of the SFDC to:

(a) Develop a system to deliver management and technical assistance to small farms utilizing the resources of local, state and federal government programs, various segments of the private sector, and universities and colleges throughout the state;

(b) Make management and technical assistance available to small farms by linking together with the above resources;

(c) Research and develop small farm opportunities for new or alternative crops;

(d) Develop a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of agricultural and economic data; and

(e) Assist small farms in developing more efficient marketing and distribution channels, including foreign trade marketing.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-67 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 115-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-67
Status: in_force

If any such county makes the contribution or donation as provided for in Section 37-115-61 , neither such donation nor any provisions of Sections 37-115-61 through 37-115-67 shall be held to give rise to any right of title, lien, encumbrance or other right in the buildings, facilities or equipment so constructed or acquired and installed by means of or with the aid of such contribution or donation or upon the site on which they are located. Neither shall such donation nor any provisions of said sections give rise to any right or obligation on the part of such county with respect to the operation or maintenance of said hospital, facilities or equipment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 13-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-61
Status: in_force

The local school board shall have the power and authority to fix the date for the opening and closing of the school term, subject to the minimum number of days which schools must be in session during a scholastic year, as prescribed under Section 37-13-63 . However, local school boards are authorized to keep school in session in excess of the minimum number of days prescribed in Section 37-13-63 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-23 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 61-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-23
Status: in_force

The superintendent of schools of each school district shall open and keep regular sets of books, as prescribed by the State Department of Education, which shall be subject to inspection during office hours by any citizen so desiring to inspect the same. The books for each fiscal year shall be kept separately and same shall be safely preserved by the superintendent of schools.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 185-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-185-5
Status: in_force

(1) The Independent Schools' COVID-19 Assistance Grant Program is established, to be administered by the MDA, for the purpose of making grants to eligible independent schools to provide reimbursements for eligible expenses, as defined in Section 37-185-3 .

(2) From the date of the beginning of the period for applications for grants under this section, the MDA shall consider and review applications from eligible independent schools that did not receive and have not been awarded reimbursement under any other federal program for the expenses that will be reimbursed by a grant under this section.

(3) The MDA shall develop regulations, procedures and application forms to govern the administration of the program, which at a minimum, shall require eligible independent schools to:

(a) Submit an application for a grant for reimbursement;

(b) Demonstrate the need and purpose of the grant funds received to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the operation of the school and its delivery of instruction; and

(c) Provide an itemized list of reimbursable eligible expenses as defined in Section 37-185-3 , which the independent school has previously incurred, is presently incurring or will incur before December 30, 2020, as such expenses relate to mitigation of the impact of COVID-19.

(4) The MDA may retain One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) for the administration of the program.

(5) The department shall report on the utilization of the program to the Chairs of the Universities and Colleges Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House and the Governor by October 1, 2020. At a minimum, the report shall contain:

(a) The name of each eligible independent school;

(b) The total amount of reimbursement requested by each eligible independent school; and

(c) The total amount of reimbursement received by each eligible independent school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-139-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 139-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-139-11
Status: in_force

For the operation and support of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, the board is authorized and empowered to receive contributions, donations, gifts, bequests of money, other forms of financial assistance and/or property, equipment, materials or manpower from persons, foundations, trust funds, corporations, organizations and other sources, private or public, to be expended and utilized by said board in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 115-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-61
Status: in_force

Any county of this state now or hereafter having a population of more than 100,000 according to the latest available census, acting by and through its board of supervisors, is hereby authorized and empowered to contribute the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000.00) toward the construction, erection and equipping of a teaching hospital and related facilities in the four year school of medicine of the University of Mississippi created and authorized by the terms and provisions of Sections 37-115-21 through 37-115-33 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 181-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-181-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as “The Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-67-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 67-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-67-1
Status: in_force

(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Distance Learning Collaborative Act of 2016.”

(2) As used in this section:

(a) “ Distance learning ” means a method of delivering education and instruction on an individual basis to students who are not physically present in a traditional setting such as a classroom. Distance learning provides access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both. Distance learning courses that require a physical on-site presence for any reason other than taking examinations may be referred to as hybrid or blended courses of study.

(b) “ Department ” means the Mississippi Department of Education.

(c) A “ distance learning collaborative ” means a school or schools that write and submit an application to participate in the voluntary distance learning program. A distance learning collaborative is comprised, at a minimum, of a public school district, and may include an agency or other nonprofit organization approved by the State Department of Education to provide distance learning resources.

(d) A “ lead partner ” is a public school district or other nonprofit entity with the instructional expertise and operational capacity to manage the Distance Learning Collaborative Program as described in the approved application for funds. The lead partner serves as the fiscal agent for the collaborative and shall disburse awarded funds in accordance with the collaborative's approved application. The lead partner ensures that the collaborative adopts and implements the Distance Learning Collaborative Program consistent with the standards adopted by the State Board of Education. The public school district shall be the lead partner if no other qualifying lead partner is selected.

(3) Effective with the 2016-2017 school year, the Mississippi State Department of Education shall establish a voluntary distance learning grant program which shall be a collaboration among the entities providing distance learning services for students. The Distance Learning Collaborative Program shall provide financial assistance to encourage and improve distance learning education services in rural areas through the use of telecommunications, computer networks and related advanced technologies to be used by students, teachers and rural residents. Grants are for projects where the benefit is primarily delivered to end users who are not at the same location as the source of the education service.

(4) Distance Learning Collaborative Grants may be used to:

(a) Acquire the following types of equipment: (i) computer hardware and software; (ii) audio and video equipment; (iii) computer network components; (iv) terminal equipment; (v) data terminal equipment; (vi) inside wiring; (vii) interactive video equipment; and (viii) other facilities that further distance learning technology services.

(b) Acquire instructional programming for distance learning programs.

(c) Acquire technical assistance and instruction for using eligible equipment.

(d) The cost of tuition and fees for students to participate over and above the available federal Perkins Loans or Stafford Loans which are loaned directly to qualifying students to assist in covering the cost of distance learning funding.

(e) Any interest charges that accumulate during a student's degree program for the utilization of distance learning services.

(5) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated therefor, the State Department of Education shall administer the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the voluntary Distance Learning Collaborative Program, including awards and the application process. The department shall establish a rigorous and transparent application process for the awarding of funds. Lead partners shall submit the application on behalf of their distance learning collaborative. The department will establish monitoring policies and procedures that shall include at least one (1) site visit per year. The department will provide technical assistance to collaboratives and their providers to improve the quality of distance learning services. The department will evaluate the effectiveness of each distance learning collaborative.

(6) Distance Learning Collaborative Program funds shall be awarded to distance learning collaboratives whose proposed programs meet the program criteria established by the State Board of Education which shall include the following:

(a) Distance learning programs shall be approved and registered with the State Department of Education and course content must be aligned with state standards.

(b) Distance learning instructors shall complete professional development training in online methodology and technical aspects of web-based instruction, and may be credentialed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

(c) Transcript equivalency of grades between online and traditional classes. Student enrollment and credits awarded shall be made in accordance with regulations jointly approved by the State Board of Education, the Mississippi Community College Board and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

(d) Curriculum standards for online courses.

(e) Classroom “seat time” requirements for online courses.

(f) Accountability for student achievement, including methods to assess online course completion rates.

(7) A teacher, assistant teacher or other employee whose salary and fringe benefits are paid from state funds allocated for the Distance Learning Collaborative Program shall only be classified as a state or local school district employee eligible for state health insurance benefits or membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System, if the person's employer is already a public school district or an agency or instrumentality of the state, and the employee would be eligible for such benefits in the normal course of business.

(8) Funding shall be provided for the Distance Learning Collaborative Program beginning with the 2016-2017 fiscal year subject to appropriation by the Legislature, and the Legislature may appropriate funds to implement the program on a phased-in basis. The State Department of Education may receive and expend contributions and funding from private sources for the administration and implementation of the Distance Learning Collaborative Program. In the initial phase of implementation, the State Department of Education shall award state funds based on a community's capacity, commitment and need in order to encourage and improve distance learning services in rural areas. The department shall make an annual report to the Legislature and the Governor regarding the effectiveness of the Distance Learning Collaborative Program, and the PEER Committee shall review those reports and other program data and submit an independent evaluation of the program operation and effectiveness to the Legislature and the Governor on or before October 1 of the calendar year before the beginning of the next phased-in period of funding. The State Department of Education shall reserve no more than five percent (5%) of the appropriation in any year for administrative costs. Funds remaining after awards to distance learning collaboratives may be carried over in the following year.

(9) The lead partner of a distance learning collaborative and the local school district shall compile information about online learning programs for high school students to earn college credit and place the information on its website. Examples of information to be compiled and placed on the website include links to providers of approved online learning programs, comparisons among various types of online programs regarding awarding of credit, advantages and disadvantages of online learning programs, and other general assistance and guidance for students, teachers and counselors in selecting and considering online learning programs. Public high schools shall ensure that teachers and counselors have information about online learning programs for high school students to earn college or university credit and are able to assist parents and students in accessing the information. Distance learning collaboratives shall ensure that parents and students have opportunities to learn about online learning programs under this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 45-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-43
Status: in_force

The fees of the reporter, per diem, and for the transcription of any evidence taken by him upon any hearing before the commission, shall not be in excess of the customary per diem, transcription and filing fees made by the chancery court reporters of this state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-107 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 115-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-107
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning to elect or appoint a dean of this school; to determine and provide for an adequate faculty, staff and other employees; to fix and provide for the compensation of said faculty, staff and employees; to provide an adequate physical plant for this school; to prescribe the courses of study and research compatible with the objects and purposes hereinabove set forth; and to do and accomplish all other related functions consistent with the implementation of Sections 37-115-101 through 37-115-111 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-105-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 105-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-105-9
Status: in_force

Any act which, if committed within the limits of a city, town or village, or in any public place, would be a violation of the general laws of this state, shall be criminal and punishable if done on the campus, grounds or roads of any of the state institutions of higher learning. The peace officers duly appointed by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning are vested with the powers and subjected to the duties of a constable for the purpose of preventing and punishing all violations of law on university or college grounds, and for preserving order and decorum thereon.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-292 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 101-292
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-292
Status: in_force

(1) Within the limits of the funds available to the Mississippi Transportation Commission for such purpose, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation may pay a stipend to contractual services employees for educational expenses such as tuition, books and related fees to pursue junior or senior undergraduate level year coursework toward a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or graduate level coursework toward a master's degree in civil engineering to those applicants deemed qualified. It is the intent of the Legislature that such an educational program shall be used as a method of encouraging recruitment of well-qualified civil engineers for employment with the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

(2)(a) In order to be eligible for this program an undergraduate participant must:

(i) Have successfully obtained a minimum of fifty-eight (58) semester hours toward a bachelor of science in civil engineering from a state institution of higher learning that has been fully accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology;

(ii) Have achieved a minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale on the previously obtained semester hours toward a bachelor of science in civil engineering; and

(iii) Agree to work as a civil engineer at the Mississippi Department of Transportation for a period of time equivalent to the period of time for which the applicant receives a stipend for educational expenses calculated to the nearest whole month.

(b) In order to be eligible for this program a graduate participant must:

(i) Have obtained a bachelor of science in civil engineering from a state institution of higher learning that has been fully accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology;

(ii) Have met the regular admission standards and been accepted into a master of science in civil engineering program at a state institution of higher learning that has been fully accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology;

(iii) Have submitted a proposed graduate program thesis project for review by the Department of Transportation; and

(iv) Agree to work as a civil engineer at the Mississippi Department of Transportation for a period of time equivalent to the period of time for which the applicant receives a stipend for educational expenses calculated to the nearest whole month.

(3)(a) Each participant shall enter into a contract with the Mississippi Transportation Commission, which shall be deemed a contract with the State of Mississippi, agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the stipend shall be granted to him. The contract shall include such terms and provisions necessary to carry out the full purpose and intent of this section. The form of such contract shall be prepared and approved by the Attorney General of this state, and shall be signed by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation and the recipient. If the recipient is a minor, his minority disabilities shall be removed by a chancery court of competent jurisdiction before the contract is signed.

(b) The Mississippi Transportation Commission may cancel any contract made between it and any participant upon such cause being deemed sufficient by the executive director.

(c) The Mississippi Transportation Commission is vested with full and complete authority and power to sue in its own name any recipient for any balance due the state on any such uncompleted contract, which suit shall be filed and handled by the Attorney General of the state. The Mississippi Transportation Commission may contract with a collection agency or banking institution, subject to approval by the Attorney General, for collection of any balance due the state from any recipient. The State of Mississippi, the Mississippi Transportation Commission and the Mississippi Department of Transportation and its employees are immune from any suit brought in law or equity for actions taken by the collection agency or banking institution incidental to or arising from their performance under the contract. The Mississippi Transportation Commission may negotiate for the payment of a sum that is less than full payment in order to satisfy any balance the recipient owes the state, if necessary or advisable.

(d) Notice of pending default status shall be mailed to the recipient at the last known address prior to commencing a lawsuit.

(e) The sponsoring agency shall conduct a hearing of pending default status, make a final determination, and issue an Order of Default, if appropriate.

(f) Recipients may appear either personally or by counsel, or both, and produce and cross-examine witnesses or evidence in the recipient's behalf. The procedure of the hearing shall not be bound by the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence.

(g) Appeals from a finding of default by the sponsoring agency shall be to the Circuit Court of Hinds County.

(h) Rules and regulations governing this program and other applicable matters may be promulgated by the sponsoring agency.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 31-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-1
Status: in_force

The State of Mississippi hereby accepts all the provisions and benefits of an act passed by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in congress assembled, entitled: “An act to provide for the promotion of vocational education; to provide for co-operation with the state in the promotion of such education in agriculture, trades and industries, home economics and distributive education; to provide for co-operation with the states in the preparation of teachers of vocational subjects, and to appropriate money and regulate its expenditure,” approved February 23, nineteen hundred seventeen, and known as the “Smith-Hughes Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-67 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 27-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-67
Status: in_force

If, within three (3) weeks after notice by publication has been made of intention to issue bonds pursuant to the provisions of Section 37-27-65 , ten percent (10%) of the adult taxpayers of the county shall petition against the issuance of said bonds, then the question shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the county, within twenty (20) days after the next meeting of the board of supervisors after the filing of the petition. Should a majority of those voting in such election vote against the bond issue, the bonds shall not be issued, and the order shall be null and void.

When ten percent (10%) of the adult taxpayers of the county shall petition for the issuance of bonds pursuant to the provisions of Section 37-27-65 , then the board of supervisors shall submit the question to the qualified electors of the county within twenty (20) days after the meeting of the board of supervisors at which such petition is filed. Should a majority of those voting in such election vote for the bond issue the bonds shall be issued by the board of supervisors as provided by law, but if a majority of the qualified electors voting at such election should vote against the bond issue, the bonds shall not be issued.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-101 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 33-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-101
Status: in_force

In addition to the authority now vested in the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, it may establish and operate by any means, including incorporation under the nonprofit laws of this state, a system of community rehabilitation programs in the several counties of the state for the general purposes of training, rehabilitating, retraining and developing individuals with disabilities to become more productive citizens, including, but not limited to training and job coaching, in order to obtain the maximum degree of independent living.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 61-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-61-9
Status: in_force

(1) On or before the fifteenth day of August of each year, the local school board of each school district, with the assistance of the superintendent of schools, shall prepare and file with the levying authority for the school district, as defined in Section 37-57-1 , at least two (2) copies of a budget of estimated expenditures for the support, maintenance and operation of the public schools of the school district for the fiscal year commencing on July 1 of such year. Such budget shall be prepared on forms prescribed and provided by the State Auditor and shall contain such information as the State Auditor may require.

(2) In addition, on or before the fifteenth day of August of each year, the local school board of each school district, with the assistance of the superintendent of schools, shall prepare and file with the State Department of Education such budgetary information as the State Board of Education may require. The State Board of Education shall prescribe and provide forms to each school district for this purpose.

(3) Prior to the adoption of a budget pursuant to this section, the school board of each school district shall hold at least one (1) public hearing to provide the general public with an opportunity to comment on the taxing and spending plan incorporated in the proposed budget. The public hearing shall be held at least one (1) week prior to the adoption of the budget with advance notice. After final adoption of the budget, a synopsis of such budget in a form prescribed by the State Department of Audit shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the school district on a date different from the date on which the county or any municipality therein may publish its budget.

(4) There shall be imposed limitations on budgeted expenditures for certain administration costs, as defined hereinafter, in an amount not greater than One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) plus four percent (4%) of the expenditures of all school districts each year. For purposes of this subsection, “ administration costs ” shall be defined as expenditures for salaries and fringe benefits paid for central administration costs from all sources of revenue in the following expenditure functions as defined in the MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING MANUAL:

2300

=

Support Services--General Administration

2310

=

Board of Education Services

2320

=

Executive Administration Services

2330

=

Special Area Administration Services

2500

=

Business Services

2510

=

Fiscal Services

2520

=

Purchasing Services

2530

=

Warehousing and Distributing Services

2540

=

Printing, Publishing and Duplicating Services

2590

=

Other Support Services--Business

Any costs classified as “ administration costs ” for purposes of this subsection which can be demonstrated by the local school district to be an expenditure that results in a net cost savings to the district that may otherwise require budget expenditures for functions not covered under the definition of administration costs herein may be excluded from the limitations imposed herein. The local school board shall make a specific finding of such costs and spread such finding upon its minutes, which shall be subject to the approval of the Office of Educational Accountability of the State Department of Education. Any school district required to make expenditure cuts, as a result of application of this subsection, shall not be required to reduce such expenditures more than twenty-five percent (25%) in any year in order to comply with this mandate.

The State Auditor shall ensure that functions in all expenditure categories to which this administrative limitation applies shall be properly classified.

This section shall not apply to central administration with five (5) or less full-time employees, or to those school districts which can substantiate that comparable reductions have occurred in administrative costs for the five-year period immediately prior to school year 1993-1994. In the event the application of this section may jeopardize the fiscal integrity or operations of the school district, have an adverse impact on the ability of the district to deliver educational services, or otherwise restrict the district from achieving or maintaining a quality education program, the State Board of Education shall be authorized to exempt the application of this section to such school district pursuant to rules and regulations of the State Board of Education consistent with the intent of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-293 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 101-293
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-293
Status: in_force

(1) Within the limits of the funds available to any state agency for such purpose, the administrative head of such state agency may grant paid educational leave on a part-time or full-time basis and reimburse employees for educational expenses such as tuition, books and related fees to pursue undergraduate or graduate level education to those applicants deemed qualified.

It is the intent of the Legislature that such educational leave program shall be used as an incentive for employees to develop job-related skills and to develop employees for higher-level professional and management positions.

(2) In order to be eligible for paid educational leave, reimbursement for educational expenses or both, an applicant must:

(a) Be working at a state agency for at least three (3) years at the time of application or be working at a state agency at the time of application for part-time graduate level education in a particular profession deemed by the administrative head of the state agency to meet a critical need within the state agency;

(b) Attend any college or school located in the State of Mississippi and approved by the administrative head of such agency, unless such course of study is not available at a Mississippi college or school, in which case the applicant may attend an out-of-state college or school;

(c) Agree to work as an employee in the same state agency for at least three (3) full years after completion of the course of study or, in the case of employees on educational leave on a part-time basis or receiving reimbursement for educational expenses only, to work for a time prorated based upon the total amount of expenses, including leave, paid for by the agency.

(3)(a) Before being granted paid educational leave, or being approved for reimbursement of educational expense or both, each applicant shall enter into a contract with the state agency, which shall be deemed a contract with the State of Mississippi, agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the paid educational leave will be granted to him. The contract shall include such terms and provisions necessary to implement the purpose and intent of this section. The form of such contract shall be prepared by the Attorney General of this state and approved by the State Personnel Board, and shall be signed by the administrative head of the state agency and signed by the recipient. If the recipient is a minor, his minority disabilities shall be removed by a chancery court of competent jurisdiction before the contract is signed.

(b) Educational expenses for tuition, books and associated fees shall be reimbursed to the employee only after the employee has submitted documentation that the approved course has been successfully completed.

(c) If the recipient does not work as an employee in that state agency for the period of employment specified in the contract, the recipient shall be liable for repayment on demand of the remaining portion of the compensation that he or she was paid while on paid educational leave and educational expenses paid, with interest accruing at ten percent (10%) per annum from the recipient's date of graduation, or the date that the recipient last worked at that state agency, whichever is the later date. In addition, there shall be included in any contract for paid educational leave a provision for liquidated damages equal to Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per year for each year remaining to be served under such contract.

(d) If any recipient fails or withdraws from school at any time before completing his or her education, the recipient shall be liable for repayment on demand of the amount of the total compensation that he or she was paid while on paid educational leave, with interest accruing at ten percent (10%) per annum from the date the recipient failed or withdrew from school. However, if the recipient remains or returns to work in the same position he or she held in the same state agency prior to accepting educational leave, he or she shall not be liable for payment of any interest on the amount owed.

(e) The state agency shall have the authority to cancel any contract made between it and any recipient for paid educational leave or educational expenses or both upon such cause being deemed sufficient by the administrative head of the agency.

(f) The state agency is vested with full and complete authority and power to sue in its own name any recipient for any balance due the state on any such uncompleted contract, which suit shall be conducted and handled by the Attorney General of the state.

(g) Persons who default on contracts entered into under this section shall have the default determined and lose their professional health care licenses under the procedures provided in Section 37-101-291 .

(4) At the discretion of the administrative head of the state agency, any recipient who is granted paid educational leave by the state agency, including nurses, shall be compensated by such agency as prescribed by the State Personnel Board during the time he or she is in school. For employees who are on educational leave on a full-time basis, the State Personnel Board shall establish a maximum salary amount at which any employee may be paid full compensation while on educational leave and shall establish a deduction ratio or reduced percentage rate of compensation to be paid to all employees compensated at a salary level above such maximum salary amount. No recipient of full-time educational leave shall accrue personal or major medical leave while he or she is on paid educational leave.

(5) Each state agency granting paid educational leave to employees or reimbursing educational expenses or both shall file an annual report with the Legislature which shall detail for each recipient of paid educational leave the position of the employee, the cost of the educational assistance and the degree program and school attended.

(6) Within the limits of funds available to the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, the Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health may grant educational leave to medical residents of the University of Mississippi and pay a stipend in an amount not to exceed the salary of a medical resident. In order to be eligible for paid educational leave under this subsection, the applicant must be approved by the Department of Mental Health Educational Leave Committee and meet all obligations established under agreements between the Department of Mental Health and the University of Mississippi and regulations promulgated by the Board of Mental Health. The recipient shall fulfill his or her obligation under this program on an annual pro rata basis for each year on paid education leave.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 145-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-145-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Opportunity Loan Program Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-111 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 59-111
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-111
Status: in_force

All indebtedness incurred under the provisions of this article shall be evidenced by the negotiable notes or certificates of indebtedness of the school district on whose behalf the money is borrowed. Said notes or certificates of indebtedness shall be signed by the president of the school board and superintendent of schools of such school district. Such notes or certificates of indebtedness shall not bear a greater overall maximum interest rate to maturity than the rates now or hereafter authorized under the provisions of Section 19-9-19 . No such notes or certificates of indebtedness shall be issued and sold for less than par and accrued interest. All such notes or certificates of indebtedness shall mature according to the following:

(a) All notes or certificates of indebtedness issued for purposes authorized under Section 37-59-101 , with the exception of the financing of school buses and transportation equipment, shall mature in approximately equal installments of principal and interest over a period not to exceed twenty (20) years from the date of issuance thereof. Provided, however, that if negotiable notes used to finance other such capital improvements are outstanding from not more than one (1) previous issue authorized under the provisions of this article, then the schedule of payments for a new or supplementary issue may be so adjusted that the schedule of maturities of all notes or series of notes hereunder shall, when combined, mature in approximately equal installments of principal and interest over a period of twenty (20) years from the date of the new or supplementary issue, or if a lower interest rate will be secured on notes previously issued and outstanding, a portion of the proceeds of any issue authorized hereunder may be used to refund the balance of the indebtedness previously issued under the authority of this article.

(b) All notes or certificates of indebtedness for purposes of financing of school buses and transportation equipment shall mature in approximately equal installments of principal and interest over a period not to exceed ten (10) years from the date of issuance thereof. Provided, however, that if negotiable notes used to finance such noncapital improvements are outstanding from not more than one (1) previous issue authorized under the provisions of this article, then the schedule of payments for a new or supplementary issue may be so adjusted that the schedule of maturities of all notes or series of notes hereunder shall, when combined, mature in approximately equal installments of principal and interest over a period of ten (10) years from the date of the new or supplementary issue, or if a lower interest rate will thereby be secured on notes previously issued and outstanding, a portion of the proceeds of any issue authorized hereunder may be used to refund the balance of the indebtedness previously issued under the authority of this article.

Such notes or certificates of indebtedness shall be issued in such form and in such denominations as may be determined by the school board, and same may be made payable at the office of any bank or trust company selected by the school board, and, in such case, funds for the payment of principal and interest due thereon shall be provided in the same manner provided by law for the payment of the principal and interest due on bonds issued by the taxing districts of this state.

Any school district in Mississippi may borrow money from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development agency under any provision of state or federal law that provides for the borrowing of money by school districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-69-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 69-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-69-7
Status: in_force

(1) The Board of Trustees of the Vicksburg-Warren School District and the Claiborne County Board of Education are authorized to make application to the Mississippi Development Authority for the approval of entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with a nuclear facility and Warren County and the State of Mississippi for the establishment of a partnership for the operation of an Energy High School Academy. The purpose of the Energy High School Academy shall be to provide qualified students attending school in Warren and/or Claiborne County in the eighth through twelfth grade with career education, potential student internships and continuing education for careers in the energy industry.

(2)(a) The Energy High School Academy shall be under the administrative direction of the Energy High School Academy Partnership Council (Partnership Council) consisting of one (1) member from each of the following entities:

(i) The Chief Executive Officer of an enterprise engaged in the generation of nuclear energy located in Claiborne County, or his designee, who shall serve for four (4) years;

(ii) The superintendent of the Vicksburg-Warren School District, who shall serve for four (4) years;

(iii) The superintendent of the Claiborne County School District, who shall serve for four (4) years;

(iv) A designee of the Mississippi Development Authority, appointed by the executive director of MDA, and who may be the executive director, who shall serve three (3) years;

(v) A member of the Board of Trustees of the Vicksburg-Warren School District, appointed by the Vicksburg Mayor and Board of Alderman, who shall serve two (2) years;

(vi) A member of the Claiborne County Board of Education, appointed by the Claiborne County Board of Supervisors, who shall serve two (2) years;

(vii) A member of the Claiborne County Chamber of Commerce, appointed by the chairman of the board of directors, who may appoint himself or herself, and who shall serve one (1) year; and

(viii) A member of the Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce, appointed by the chairman of the board of directors, who may appoint himself or herself, and who shall serve one (1) year.

(b) Members of the Partnership Council shall serve staggered terms, as prescribed in paragraph (a) of this subsection, commencing with the initial appointments made in 2019, and shall thereafter, upon the expiration of the initial term, the succeeding appointees shall serve a term of four (4) years. Members of the council may be reappointed to the council by the original appointing authority without limitation on the number of terms served. In the event of a vacancy on the council, the original appointing authority shall appoint a replacement to complete the unexpired term of the member creating the vacancy.

(c) The Partnership Council shall meet on or before August 1, 2019, and organize for business, elect officers and adopt necessary regulations for the operation of the Energy High School Academy. Meetings shall be held upon the call of the chairman.

(3) The Energy High School Academy Partnership Council shall promulgate administrative rules and regulations to prescribe the criteria to be used in the establishment of the Energy High School Academy, which shall include student qualifications, application requirements and curriculum components.

(4)(a) There is established in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the “Energy High School Academy Fund.” The purpose of the fund is to provide necessary financial support to Vicksburg-Warren/Claiborne County School Districts and the Mississippi Development Authority for start-up costs and costs associated with implementing and operating the Energy Academy established under this section. The fund may consist of monies obtained from grants from any public or private source. The Mississippi Development Authority shall administer the fund pursuant to appropriation by the Legislature, and may apply for any grants from the federal government or private sources.

(b) The Mississippi Development Authority shall prepare a three-year budget proposal for the operation of the Energy Academy which shall include staff and liaison salary estimates, equipment and facility costs and job demand estimates. This budget shall be submitted to the Governor, the Legislative Budget Office and the Partnership Council and updated annually.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-110-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 110-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-110-7
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty and responsibility of universities participating in the intern program to nominate qualified graduate students to said program and to keep the program coordinator fully apprised of the academic development of the intern student, including any change in the student's educational status.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-505 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 29-505
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-505
Status: in_force

The control and operation of the Meridian Junior College District shall be vested in a board of trustees appointed by the city council of the City of Meridian. The board of trustees of the Meridian Junior College District shall consist of five (5) members. When the initial appointments are made, the first appointee shall serve for a term of one (1) year, the second appointee for a term of two (2) years, the third appointee for a term of three (3) years, the fourth appointee for a term of four (4) years and the fifth appointee for a term of five (5) years; thereafter all appointments shall be for a term of five (5) years. Trustees of the Meridian Junior College District shall be appointed by a majority vote of the full membership of the city council of the City of Meridian at the first meeting of the council held in the month of February of each year, and the term of office of each trustee so appointed shall commence on the first Saturday of March following, except that the existing trustees of the Meridian Municipal Separate School District as of April 30, 1980, shall constitute the initial board of trustees of the Meridian Junior College District. As the terms of these individual trustees expire, trustees for the Meridian Junior College District shall be appointed as provided herein. All vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms by appointment by majority vote of the full membership of the city council.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-435 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 29-435
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-435
Status: in_force

All bonds issued by authority of Sections 37-29-401 through 37-29-437 shall be full faith and credit bonds of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District. It shall be the duty of the board of trustees to request and the county board of supervisors to levy annually a tax on all of the taxable property of each county in the district sufficient to meet the principal and interest falling due on said bonds during the year for which said taxes are levied.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 115-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-33
Status: in_force

The state building commission in the development of the architectural facilities of the medical center and hospital facilities is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to erect and equip adequate facilities for the training of nurses under such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-103 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 155-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-155-103
Status: in_force

The following are the purposes of this article:

(a) To provide a program of savings trust agreements to apply distributions toward qualified higher education expenses at eligible educational institutions, as defined in Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code , as amended, or other applicable federal law.

(b) To provide for the creation of a trust fund, as an instrumentality of the State of Mississippi, to assist qualified students in financing costs of attending institutions of higher education.

(c) To encourage timely financial planning for higher education by the creation of savings trust accounts.

(d) To provide a choice of programs to persons who determine that the overall educational needs of their families are best suited to a prepaid tuition contract under the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (MPACT) Program, a savings trust agreement under this article, or both.

(e) To provide a savings program for those persons who wish to save to meet post secondary educational needs beyond the traditional baccalaureate curriculum.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-77 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 31-77
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-77
Status: in_force

It is expressly provided that any payment from the funds of one (1) governmental authority into the funds of any other governmental authority made in compliance with provisions of Sections 37-31-71 through 37-31-79 , shall not be charged against homestead exemption reimbursements under the provisions of Section 27-33-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, or any other similar statute.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 175-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-175-25
Status: in_force

(1) Each school providing instruction to children with speech-language impairment shall certify to the State Department of Education its student enrollment in the same manner as local school districts.

(2) The state shall ensure that each school is treated equitably in the calculation and disbursement of all state categorical aid program dollars. Each school participating in the scholarship program shall comply with all reporting requirements to receive the aid.

(3)(a) Each nonpublic school shall adhere to generally accepted accounting principles as promulgated by nationally recognized professional organizations.

(b) Each school shall have its financial records audited annually, at the end of each fiscal year, by the State Auditor and shall file a copy of each audit report and accompanying management letter with the board by July 30.

(4) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any person or organization from providing funding or other assistance to the establishment or operation of any school authorized under this chapter, except religious or sectarian organizations. The State Board of Education, acting on behalf of the participating schools, is authorized to accept gifts, donations, and grants of any kind made to a participating school and to expend or use such gifts, donations, and grants in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the donor; however, no gift, donation, or grant may be accepted if subject to a condition that is contrary to any provision of federal law, state law or board rule.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-77 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 11-77
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-77
Status: in_force

Students in public schools may engage in political activities or political or philosophical expression before, during and after the school day in the same manner and to the same extent that students may engage in nonpolitical activities or expression. Students may organize partisan or nonpartisan political groups, political clubs, political rallies, or other politically themed gatherings before, during and after school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other noncurricular student activities and groups. Partisan and nonpartisan political groups must be given the same access to school facilities for assembling as is given to other noncurricular groups without discrimination based on the political content of the students' expression.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-173 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 33-173
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-173
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section:

(a) “ Certification ” means the credentials that has been granted or recognized, or both, by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), or any other national certifying body that is recognized by the Mississippi Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH), including, but not limited to: RID/NAD National Interpreter Certification (NIC)(NIC, NIC Advanced, NIC Master), NAD (III, IV or V), Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC), Certificate of Interpretation (CI), Certificate of Transliteration (CT), Ed:K-12 (Educational Interpreter Performance Appraisal [EIPA] Level 4 or 5), Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI). It further includes the documentation that supports the certification level the interpreter has achieved.

(b) “ Deaf or hard of hearing person ” means a person who has either no hearing or who has significant hearing loss so as to need the services of an interpreter to communicate. “ Deafblind person ” means a person who has either the dual loss of hearing and sight or who has significant hearing and vision losses so as to need the services of an interpreter to communicate.

(c) “ Interpreter training program ” means a postsecondary degree program of at least two (2) years in duration that is accredited by the Mississippi Community College Board, the Mississippi institutions of higher learning or a comparable agency in another state.

(d) “ Interpreter ” means an individual who is certified or credentialed by the National Association of the Deaf, the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, any other national certifying organization which is recognized by the Mississippi Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH), or an individual who holds a valid ODHH-approved quality assurance screening level. Registered interpreters are required to adhere to professional standards and a Code of Ethics as established by the National Association of the Deaf and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

(e) “ Interpreting ” is the process of providing accessible communication between and among consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing and those who are hearing. This process includes, but is not limited to, communication between persons who use American Sign Language, English, cued speech and oral communication. It may also include various other modalities that involve visual, gestural and tactile methods.

(f) “ Quality assurance level (QA level) ” means the level granted through an ODHH-approved quality assurance screening evaluation. It further includes the documentation that supports the QA level the interpreter has achieved.

(g) “ Register ” means the process whereby the certification and quality assurance level of qualified interpreters are documented and maintained so as to permit those individuals to act as an interpreter for pay in the State of Mississippi.

(h) “ Registering authority ” means the agency that registers the credentials an interpreter holds, issues the registration documentation to do business in the State of Mississippi, and maintains the records to support the registration. The registering authority is the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

(i) “ EIPA ” means the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment.

(2)(a) Commencing on July 1, 2005, no person, except as noted in subsection (2)(f), shall do any of the following with respect to providing interpreting services for consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing for a fee or other remuneration unless the person is registered with the registering authority:

(i) Engage in the practice of, or offer to engage in the practice of, interpreting for a fee.

(ii) Use the title of interpreter in connection with the person's name.

(iii) Assume the identity of an interpreter.

(iv) Use the title of interpreter in advertisements or descriptions.

(v) Perform the function of or convey the impression that the person is an interpreter.

(b) On or after July 1, 2010, no person shall provide interpreting services and/or represent himself or herself as an interpreter for deaf or hard of hearing consumers for compensation unless such person is registered with the registering authority according to the provisions of this section. To register as an interpreter, one must satisfy one (1) of the following requirements: (i) hold certification recognized by the National Association of the Deaf or the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, (ii) hold a quality assurance screening level that is accepted by the Registering Authority, or (iii) score 3.0 or higher on the EIPA.

(c) In situations where there is extreme hardship or where deaf and hard of hearing consumers would be left with no interpreting services, a provisional permit may be granted on an annual basis, provided that documentation of improved interpreting skills is shown.

(d) The registering authority shall be charged with the responsibility for keeping all records and verifying the accuracy of the credentials of each applicant.

(e) Registration shall be for a period of two (2) years, and is renewable.

(f) The following shall be exceptions to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this subsection (2):

(i) A person may engage in the practice of interpreting for religious services without being registered under the provisions of this section.

(ii) Students enrolled in an approved Interpreter Training Program (ITP) are granted a student level registration provided the ITP has an instructor who also is registered under the provisions of this section and the student pays the appropriate fees.

(iii) A graduate of an approved Interpreter Training Program (ITP) can continue to utilize their student level for two (2) years without registering provided they are supervised by an interpreter who is registered under the provisions of this section and the graduate pays the appropriate fees.

(g) The registering authority shall establish an Advisory Council to assist in writing the rules and setting the fees for registering. The Advisory Council shall have three (3) members. One (1) member shall be a deaf consumer; one (1) member shall be a registered interpreter who is actively engaged in the interpreting business; and one (1) member shall be at large. The Advisory Council may ask additional persons who are knowledgeable about the process and business of interpreting to assist them with the business of the council as needed.

(3) The deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind consumer(s) and the hearing person(s) who employ, contract or otherwise engage the services of an interpreter are the principal parties in the interpreted communication or conversation, and as such hold exclusive rights to any information conveyed therein. Interpreters may not disclose or be compelled to disclose, through reporting or testimony or by subpoena, the contents of the conversations, except an interpreter working in conjunction with and paid by a state agency, private organization or primary or secondary school for the therapeutic, educational or rehabilitation purposes. This communication remains confidential, but may be shared with the appropriate agency or educational staff working to assist the deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind person.

(4) The registering authority shall develop forms and assist in referring grievances to the appropriate professional organization and/or authorities.

(5) The registering authority shall have oversight authority regarding in-state quality assurance evaluations to ensure that proper assessment tools, methods and procedures are followed and that evaluators are trained and qualified, as well as the authority to employ personnel as necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(6) Whoever is in violation of subsection (2) or (3) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), and may be imprisoned for not more than six (6) months.

(7) Mississippi shall recognize interpreters who are licensed and/or certified in other states with equal or higher certification than the interpreting levels prescribed by the rules and regulations incumbent in this section. A nonresident interpreter may work up to fifteen (15) days per year without seeking a valid permit from the registering authority. The person who utilizes a nonresident interpreter is charged with the responsibility of verifying the credentials and type of interpreting the interpreter is qualified to do. If a nonresident interpreter works more than fifteen (15) calendar days per year in the State of Mississippi for compensation or other remuneration, the interpreter must become registered under the provisions of this section and pay the appropriate fees.

(8) The registering authority shall establish fair and equitable rules and a fee schedule, not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per annual registration, to cover the cost of administering this section. The rules and fee schedule will be published for the general public.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-24-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 24-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-24-5
Status: in_force

Each local board of education, administration of a nonpublic school, and governing body of a charter school shall adopt and implement a concussion management and return to play policy that includes the following components:

(a) Parents or guardians shall receive and sign a copy of the concussion policy before the start of the regular school athletic event season.

(b) An athlete who reports or displays any symptoms or signs of a concussion in a practice or game setting shall be removed immediately from the practice or game. The athlete shall not be allowed to return to the practice or game for the remainder of the day regardless of whether the athlete appears or states that he or she is normal.

(c) The athlete shall be evaluated by a health care provider working within the provider's scope of practice.

(d) If an athlete has sustained a concussion, the athlete shall be referred to a licensed physician, preferably one with experience in managing sports concussion injuries.

(e) The athlete who has been diagnosed with a concussion shall be returned to play only after full recovery and clearance by a health care provider.

(f) An athlete shall not return to a competitive game before demonstrating that he or she has no symptoms in a full supervised practice.

(g) Athletes shall not continue to practice or return to play while still having symptoms of a concussion.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-13 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 16-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-13
Status: in_force

(1) The school board of a local school district may award an honorary high school diploma in a form prescribed and supplied to school districts by the State Board of Education to veterans of World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam Conflict who were unable to complete their education due to their military service. The honorary diploma is available to any honorably discharged veteran residing in Mississippi who was (a) scheduled to graduate between 1941 and 1955 but was inducted into military service before completing the necessary graduation requirements, or (b) was scheduled to graduate between 1963 and 1973 but volunteered for military service and received the Vietnam Service Ribbon. Family members of deceased eligible veterans may apply for the diploma to be awarded posthumously.

(2) The State Board of Education and State Veterans Affairs Board jointly shall develop a uniform application for persons seeking a diploma under subsection (1) of this section. The application shall request no less than the following information:

(a) The veteran's name, social security number and date of birth;

(b) The last year the veteran was in school and the veteran's grade level during that year;

(c) The year the veteran left school to enter World War II, the Korean Conflict or the Vietnam Conflict;

(d) The year the veteran would have graduated from high school;

(e) The name and location of the school attended;

(f) The date of the veteran's enlistment or draft;

(g) The veteran's service number;

(h) The veteran's date of honorable discharge;

(i) A copy of the veteran's DD-214 form, if available; and

(j) Any other information deemed relevant by the State Board of Education or State Veterans Affairs Board.

The State Board of Education shall provide local school districts, county departments of human services and local veterans services offices with copies of the uniform application.

(3) A person may request an application from any local school district, county department of human services or local veterans services office. Completed applications for a diploma may be submitted to the veteran's local school district, regardless of whether or not the veteran attended school in that district. Upon verifying the information contained in the application, including verifying the veteran's military service information with the State Veterans Affairs Board, and determining the veteran's eligibility for the honorary high school diploma, the local school board may award the diploma to the veteran. The diploma shall indicate clearly that the recipient is a veteran of World War II, the Korean Conflict or the Vietnam Conflict and that the diploma was issued at a later date due to the veteran's participation in the war. The State Department of Education and the State Veterans Affairs Board may work together to provide communities with information about hosting a diploma ceremony on or around Veteran's Day. The diploma shall be provided to the veteran or, if the veteran is deceased, to the veteran's family.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-209 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 9-209
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-209
Status: in_force

After consulting with representatives of teachers, administrators, school boards, schools of education, the institutions of higher learning and such others as it considers appropriate, the Mississippi Teacher Center shall develop or approve workshops to provide training for mentor teachers and beginning teachers.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-41 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 45-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-41
Status: in_force

When the reporter's notes shall have been transcribed, the reporter shall certify same and file an original and one copy with the commission and give notice by registered mail of the fact of such filing to the county board or county boards of education and the board of trustees of any municipal separate school district involved in the proceeding covered by the transcript, and their respective counsel of record, if any, and to the commission.

Any correction of the transcript shall be made in the same manner provided for correcting a transcript in Section 9-13-35, Mississippi Code of 1972 , with the commission exercising the rights and power of the trial judge mentioned therein, and the executive secretary of the commission exercising the duties of the clerk mentioned in said section. The written agreement provided by said section concerning the transcript therein provided to be filed in the supreme court may be entered into and filed in the chancery court to which the appeal is taken from any final rule, regulation or order of the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 121-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-7
Status: in_force

The new dining hall, currently under construction on the campus of Alcorn State University, located in Lorman, Mississippi, shall be named the Dr. Clinton Bristow, Jr., Dining Facility. Alcorn State University shall prepare a distinctive plaque to be placed in a prominent place within the Dr. Clinton Bristow, Jr., Dining Facility, which states the background, accomplishments and service to the university of Dr. Bristow.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 121-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-121-7
Status: in_force

The new dining hall, currently under construction on the campus of Alcorn State University, located in Lorman, Mississippi, shall be named the Dr. Clinton Bristow, Jr., Dining Facility. Alcorn State University shall prepare a distinctive plaque to be placed in a prominent place within the Dr. Clinton Bristow, Jr., Dining Facility, which states the background, accomplishments and service to the university of Dr. Bristow.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-145 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 23-145
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-145
Status: in_force

(1) The State Board of Education shall establish and maintain an advisory panel for the purpose of providing policy guidance with respect to special education and related services for children with disabilities in the State.

(2) The advisory panel shall consist of members appointed by the State Superintendent of Education who are representative of the state's population and who are composed of individuals involved in, or concerned with, the education of children with disabilities, including:

(a) Parents of children with disabilities;

(b) Individuals with disabilities;

(c) Teachers;

(d) Representatives of institutions of higher education that prepare special education and related services personnel;

(e) State and local education officials;

(f) Administrators of programs for children with disabilities;

(g) Representatives of other state agencies involved in the financing or delivery of related services to children with disabilities;

(h) Representatives of private schools and public charter schools;

(i) At least one (1) representative of a vocational, community, or business organization concerned with the provision of transition services to children with disabilities; and

(j) Representatives from the State juvenile and adult correction agencies.

(3) A majority of the members of the panel shall be individuals with disabilities or parents of children with disabilities.

(4) The duties of the advisory panel shall include:

(a) Advise the State Department of Education of unmet needs within the State in the education of children with disabilities;

(b) Comment publicly on any rules or regulations proposed by the State Department of Education regarding the education of children with disabilities;

(c) Advise the State Department of Education in developing evaluations and reporting on data to the secretary in accordance with the requirements under IDEA;

(d) Advise the State Department of Education in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities; and

(e) Advise the State Department of Education in developing corrective action plans to address findings identified in federal monitoring reports under IDEA.

(5) The advisory panel shall be provided the opportunity to provide comments to the State Board of Education on rules or regulations proposed by the State Department of Education relating to the implementation of the IDEA 1997 Amendments.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-555 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 29-555
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-555
Status: in_force

The president of the community college shall have the power to recommend to the trustees all teachers to be employed; and he may remove or suspend any member of the faculty subject to the approval of the trustees. He shall be the general manager of all fiscal and administrative affairs of the district with full authority to select, direct, employ and discharge any and all employees other than teachers; however, the board may make provisions and establish policies for leave for faculty members and other key personnel.

The president shall have the authority, subject to the provisions of Sections 37-29-551 through 37-29-569 and the approval of the trustees, to arrange and survey courses of study, fix schedules, and establish and enforce rules and discipline for the governing of teachers and students. He shall be the general custodian of the property of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-93 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 41-93
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-93
Status: in_force

All notes or bonds issued under the authority of Section 37-41-89 shall mature in approximately equal annual installments over a period of not exceeding six (6) years from the date of the issuance of such notes or bonds. Such notes or bonds may bear interest at a rate not exceeding that allowed in Section 75-17-105 , and such interest may be payable annually or semiannually.

In the event the funds borrowed under the authority of Section 37-41-89 are to be expended for the purchase of used transportation equipment, then all notes or bonds evidencing such loans shall be made to mature within two (2) years from the date of the issuance of such notes or bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-25 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 138-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-138-25
Status: in_force

(1) The commission is authorized to assess and collect fees for the issuance and annual renewal of certificates for management planner, project designer, air monitor, contractor, supervisor, inspector and worker pursuant to Sections 37-138-11 through 37-138-21 in amounts sufficient to fully administer this chapter. The fees assessed pursuant to this section are conditions precedent to the issuance and renewal of the certificates set forth in Sections 37-138-11 through 37-138-21 .

(2) There is hereby established a special revenue fund to be known as the Asbestos Abatement Accreditation and Certification Act Fund (the fund) to be deposited in an approved state depository and expended by appropriation approval by the Legislature for the administration of this chapter as provided by law. The interest obtained from any investment or deposit of monies in the fund shall be deposited by the State Treasurer to such fund. Furthermore, all monies collected as fees for certificates provided by this chapter shall, not later than sixty (60) days next succeeding the month in which collections were made, be paid over to the fund.

(3) If the total of monies deposited into the fund exceeds the appropriation by the Legislature for the administration of this chapter, the monies shall be retained in the depository for the fund to be expended by appropriation approval by the Legislature for the administration of this chapter as provided by law in the next succeeding fiscal year.

(4) The commission shall have authority to promulgate rules and regulations for the administration of and expenditures from the fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 106-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-43
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby established an intern educational program to be designated as the Mississippi Public Management Graduate Intern Program to be administered by the board through a program coordinator. The program shall consist of not more than thirty-six (36) positions in the general fields of public management, program analysis and public administration. These positions shall not be included in the number of employees allowed by law within a particular state agency. Graduate intern students shall be temporarily assigned by the program coordinator to specific state or local agencies and offices, including offices of the Legislature. Each participating agency or office shall not employ more than four (4) graduate intern students per year. To qualify for the program, a student must (a) be enrolled as a graduate student in a state university masters program in public administration, public policy and administration, or criminal justice administration; and (b) have committed himself to a field of graduate study directly related to a state or local government public managerial position.

(2) There is hereby created the Mississippi Intern Public Management Education Council to consist of the following members: The chairmen of the various departments of Mississippi institutions of higher learning that offer graduate programs in one of the following: public administration, public policy and administration, and criminal justice administration. The council shall elect from its membership a chairman, which shall be a rotating, one-year appointment. The council shall meet at the place and time designated by the chairman at least twice but no more than six (6) times per year.

(3) The council shall adopt, amend and repeal the rules and regulations as it deems necessary to establish standards and ensure the orderly execution of the objectives of the intern educational program, not inconsistent with the provisions of this section. The regulations shall be submitted to the board for implementation by the program coordinator. The council shall review and evaluate the program on a yearly basis and submit its findings to the program coordinator.

(4) There is hereby created the position of Program Coordinator who shall be the Chief Administrative Officer of the Mississippi Public Management Graduate Intern Program. The program coordinator shall be appointed by and be an employee of the agency.

(5) The program coordinator shall administer the policies of the council and supervise and direct all technical activities of the program. The coordinator shall select students to participate in the program based upon the nominees of the participating state institutions of higher learning. No participating university shall be allotted less than three (3) intern students per year unless the university nominates less than three (3) students. The coordinator shall place the intern students in state or local agencies which agree in writing to participate in the program.

(6) The program coordinator shall prepare and deliver to the Legislature and to the Governor an annual report describing the operation and progress of the Mississippi Public Management Graduate Intern Program, including a detailed statement of expenditures and any recommendations the board may have.

(7) It shall be the duty and responsibility of universities participating in the intern program to nominate qualified graduate students to the program and to keep the program coordinator fully apprised of the academic development of the intern student, including any change in the student's educational status.

(8) State or local agencies participating in the intern program shall employ intern students with the expectation that they shall contribute to agency policy decisions, participate in managerial activities, and deliver agency services. Intern graduate students shall receive compensation on the basis of their professional work experience, but shall receive no less than Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00) per month or Four Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($4,500.00) for a six-month work period. In addition to the salary, students shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses and mileage authorized by law for travel to seminars, workshops and training sessions, as well as other related professional travel expenses. When the student has received his graduate degree, the agency may offer him a permanent position with the state or local agency or office, assuming funding and position openings are available.

(9) Intern students shall submit an evaluation of the intern program and an assessment of its educational value to the program coordinator at the end of each work period.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-33 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 29-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-33
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided in Sections 37-29-1 through 37-29-273 , all of the property belonging to the board of trustees of any existing junior college and all of the property belonging to any or all of the counties cooperating, as of July 1, 1964, in the existing junior colleges or the agricultural high schools and junior colleges located at the existing campuses and utilized or held for the present or future use and benefit of such junior colleges and/or agricultural high schools and junior colleges, shall be and the same is hereby transferred to and vested in the boards of trustees of the junior college districts created in Section 37-29-31 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-193 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 13-193
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-193
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education may make civil rights and human rights education a part of the K-12 curriculum of instruction in Mississippi public schools. The State Department of Education shall work with the Mississippi Civil Rights Education Commission established in Section 37-13-195 in implementing these five (5) guidelines: (a) provide assistance and advice to K-12 schools with respect to the Civil Rights Movement and human rights education and awareness programs; (b) survey and catalog the extent to which civil rights and human rights education exists in state curricula; (c) inventory civil rights memorials, exhibits and resources that could be used in classrooms and other educational programs; (d) compile a list of volunteers who are willing to share their knowledge and experiences concerning the struggle for civil rights; (e) prepare reports for the Governor and the State Legislature on the inclusion of civil rights studies into the educational systems of the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-87 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 11-87
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-11-87
Status: in_force

(1) Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, each public school shall develop a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds.

(2) Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, each public school with an athletic department or organized athletic program shall develop a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while attending or participating in an athletic practice or event while on school grounds.

(3) School officials shall work directly with local emergency service providers to integrate the CERP into the community's EMS responder protocols. Each plan shall integrate evidence-based core elements, such as those recommended by the American Heart Association guidelines or another nationally recognized, evidence-based standard.

(4) The CERP shall integrate, at a minimum, the following guidelines:

(a) Establishing a cardiac emergency response team;

(b) Activating the team in response to a SCA;

(c) A plan for implementing AED placement and routine maintenance within the school;

(d) Disseminating the plan throughout the school campus;

(e) Maintaining ongoing staff training in CPR/AED use;

(f) Practicing using drills annually;

(g) Integrating local EMS with the plan; and

(h) Ongoing and annual review and evaluation of the plan.

(5) Appropriate AED placement shall be dictated by the CERP and in accordance with guidelines set by the American Heart Association or another nationally recognized, evidence-based standard. A school or local and regional board of education may accept gifts, grants and donations, including in-kind donations designated for the purchase of an AED that meets the standards established by the United States Food and Drug Administration and for the costs incurred to inspect and maintain such device and train staff in the use of such device.

(6) Appropriate school staff shall be trained in first-aid, CPR, and AED use that follow evidence-based guidelines set forth by the American Heart Association or another nationally recognized, evidence-based standard. Staff trained shall be determined by the CERP, including, but not limited to, licensed coaches, school nurses and athletic trainers.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-73-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 73-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-73-5
Status: in_force

The Mississippi Department of Education shall work in conjunction with the Mississippi Community College Board to ensure alignment of career technical education courses across the public school system and community college system. If a community college chooses not to participate in the dual credit program or does not have certain courses available for participating students, eligible high school students may enroll in dual credit courses and attend such courses at the campus of another participating community college within the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-119 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 65-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-119
Status: in_force

If a petition or petitions be filed with the secretary or president of the board of trustees, signed in person in accord with the provisions of this article by three-fifths of the persons who are qualified electors in or of the school district in which any one or more schools have been closed and three-fifths of the qualified electors who reside in the territory comprising the attendance area, if any has been designated, served by any school which may be closed, requesting the opening of a school or schools which have been closed and specifying the school or schools the re-opening of which is requested by the petition they signed, then it shall be the mandatory duty of such board of trustees to forthwith determine whether said petition or petitions are signed by the said requisite number of said qualified electors. In order to facilitate the determination by the board of whether the petition or petitions have been signed by the requisite number of said qualified electors and so that the board of trustees may have the completed petitions before it upon which its determination shall be made, all petitions requesting the opening of the same school or schools shall be filed not later than seven days after the filing of the first petition addressed to the re-opening of the same school or schools; in computing such period of time the day of filing the said first petition shall be excluded.

The board of trustees with whom any such petition or petitions are filed shall check and verify every petition or petitions filed with it to determine whether it be properly signed or executed by the required number of qualified electors. Such board of trustees is fully authorized to employ such person or persons, including counsel, as it may deem necessary in order to expeditiously make such investigation, and it is also authorized to hold such hearing or hearings as it may deem necessary in and about its said investigation and determination. All persons purporting to have signed said petition or petitions shall cooperate with said board of trustees in and about such investigation and determination.

The said board of trustees shall diligently proceed with and complete its investigation and determination of whether said petition or petitions are signed by the requisite number of qualified electors so as to avoid unnecessary delay and in any event shall complete same within not more than forty-five days after the last day upon which, in accord with this section, any petition or petitions may be filed as above provided for. The verification by the board of trustees of the signatures to said petition or petitions shall include an examination of the records on file in the office of the circuit clerk or registrar of the county or counties in which the school district involved may be situated. If it be apparent upon the face of the petition or petitions that same are not signed by the requisite number of qualified electors, when all petitions are considered together which may have been filed within such period of time above provided for, the said board of trustees may make its determination upon the sufficiency of said petition without making the detailed investigation or incurring the expense which would otherwise be incurred by such investigation and check of the records.

Within three days after the board of trustees shall have determined whether said petition or petitions do or do not contain the requisite number of signatures to re-open any school or schools therein designated, it shall hold a regular or special meeting at the place where its regular meetings are held, if the building containing same be then in existence, or, otherwise, in some other public place within the district to be selected by the president of said board of trustees, and there make the official announcement and determination of the sufficiency or insufficiency of the said petition or petitions to cause a re-opening of any school or schools which have been closed in accord with the terms of this article and enter an order evidencing its determination. If it finds that said petition or petitions are insufficient to cause such a re-opening of any such school, it shall so state in its order, but if it finds that the petition or petitions are sufficient in accord with the terms of this article to cause a re-opening of any school or schools previously closed, it shall order that the school or schools be re-opened and go into operation within one week from the date of such meeting; the day of the entry of such order shall be included in such computation of time. Upon the entry of such order all students which have been transferred to other schools and all employees who have been working in other schools and all other employees and all other students who were enrolled in any school or schools which were closed shall, on the day appointed for the re-opening of said school or schools, report for classes and duty in the school or schools where they were attending or working when such school or schools were closed, and such order shall automatically be a re-transfer of such students and employees.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 47-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-3
Status: in_force

The term “ school district ” as used in this chapter shall be defined as including all public school districts and public charter schools in this state and also all agricultural high schools not located on the campus of a junior college.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-435 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 29-435
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-435
Status: in_force

All bonds issued by authority of Sections 37-29-401 through 37-29-437 shall be full faith and credit bonds of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District. It shall be the duty of the board of trustees to request and the county board of supervisors to levy annually a tax on all of the taxable property of each county in the district sufficient to meet the principal and interest falling due on said bonds during the year for which said taxes are levied.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-9 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 151-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-9
Status: in_force

(1) The State Board of Education and State Superintendent of Education shall establish within the State Department of Education a special unit at the division level called the Office of Educational Accountability. The Director of the Office of Educational Accountability shall hold a position comparable to a deputy superintendent and shall be appointed by the State Board of Education with the advice and consent of the Senate. He shall serve at the will and pleasure of the State Board of Education and may employ necessary professional, administrative and clerical staff. The Director of the Office of Educational Accountability shall provide all reports to the Legislature, Governor, Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation and State Board of Education and respond to any inquiries for information.

(2) The Office of Educational Accountability is responsible for monitoring and reviewing programs developed under the Education Reform Act, the Mississippi Adequate Education Program Act of 1994, the Education Enhancement Fund, the Mississippi Student Funding Formula, and subsequent education initiatives, and shall provide information, recommendations and an annual assessment to the Legislature, Governor, Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation and the State Board of Education. The annual assessment of education reform programs shall be performed by the Office of Educational Accountability by December 1 of each year.

(3) In addition, the Office of Educational Accountability shall have the following specific duties and responsibilities:

(a) Developing and maintaining a system of communication with school district personnel;

(b) Provide opportunities for public comment on the current functions of the State Department of Education's programs, needed public education services and innovative suggestions; and

(c) Assess both positive and negative impact on school districts of new education programs, including but not limited to The Mississippi Report Card and alternative school programs.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-148-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 148-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-148-3
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ College ” means the state institutions of higher learning in Mississippi which are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

(b) “ Investor ” means a natural person, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation, business trust or other business entity, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the rebate offered, which is subject to Mississippi income tax. The term “investor” does not include any medical cannabis establishment as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.

(c) “ Qualified research ” means the systematic investigative process that is undertaken for the purpose of discovering information. The term “ qualified research ” does not include research conducted outside the State of Mississippi or research expenses that are already being funded by any grant, contract or otherwise by another person or governmental entity.

(d) “ Research agreement ” means a written contract, grant or cooperative agreement entered into between a person and a college or research corporation for the performance of qualified research. All qualified research costs generating a SMART Business Rebate must be spent by the college or research corporation on qualified research undertaken according to a research agreement.

(e) “ Research corporation ” means any research corporation formed under Section 37-147-15 if the corporation is wholly owned by or affiliated with a college and all income and profits of the corporation inure to the benefit of the college.

(f) “ Qualified research costs ” means costs paid or incurred by an investor to a college or research corporation for qualified research undertaken according to a research agreement.

(g) “ State ” means the State of Mississippi or a governmental entity of the State of Mississippi.

(h) “ IHL ” means the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in Mississippi.

(i) “ SMART Business ” means Strengthening Mississippi Academic Research Through Business.

(j) “ Applicant ” means a college or research corporation applying for SMART Business Accelerate Initiative funds to develop state-owned intellectual property into products and services.

(k) “ Qualified validation expense ” includes, but is not limited to, services that accelerate the development of early product concepts, conducting proof-of-concept studies, and manufacturing prototypes to perform research validation. Qualified validation expense does not include salaries or wages associated with a licensee of state-owned intellectual property, legal fees or any payment in conflict with state law.

(l) “ Research validation ” means research intended to validate the commercial viability of state-owned intellectual property.

(m) “ Disbursement ” means a grant of funds to support research validation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 104-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-104-17
Status: in_force

Having determined that the private institution of higher learning reasonably can be expected to produce sufficient revenue over a period of twenty-five (25) years to pay the revenue bonds issued for the financing or refinancing of the educational facility project, as well as the interest on the revenue bonds and a reasonable sum for maintenance, renewal and replacement as aforesaid, the Authority shall have the power and is hereby authorized, at one (1) time or from time to time, to provide by resolution for the issuance of negotiable revenue bonds to provide funds for the purpose of financing or refinancing all or any part of the cost of the educational facility project, but in no event shall the amount of the revenue bonds issued for the financing or refinancing of any educational facility project exceed the estimated cost of the educational facility project. The principal of and the interest on the revenue bonds shall be payable solely from a special fund to be provided for that purpose in the manner hereinafter set forth. The revenue bonds shall bear date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates, not to exceed that rate authorized in Section 75-17-103, Mississippi Code of 1972 , be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times, be redeemable prior to maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by the bond loan agreement and the resolution of the Authority. However, the revenue bonds shall mature in annual installments beginning not more than three (3) years from date thereof and extending not more than twenty-five (25) years from date thereof. The revenue bonds shall be signed by the president of the Authority, or by his facsimile signature, attested by the secretary of the Authority, and the official seal of the Authority shall be affixed thereto. The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to the revenue bonds may be executed by the facsimile signature of the president of the Authority. Whenever any revenue bonds shall have been signed by the president of the Authority who was in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be president of the Authority prior to the sale and delivery of the revenue bonds or who may have not been in office on the date the revenue bonds may bear, the signatures of such president of the Authority upon the revenue bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the president of the Authority so officially signing the revenue bonds had remained in office until the delivery of the revenue bonds to the purchaser or had been in office on the date the revenue bonds may bear.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-183 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 101-183
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-183
Status: in_force

Any members of the faculty of the state institutions of higher learning of the State of Mississippi shall be eligible for sabbatical leaves, for the purpose of professional improvement, for not more than two semesters immediately following any twelve or more consecutive semesters of active service in the institutions of higher learning of this state where such faculty member is employed or for not more than one semester immediately following any six or more consecutive semesters of such service. Absence on sick leave shall not be deemed to interrupt the active service herein provided for.

Applications for sabbatical leave shall be made to the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, with the approval of the chancellor or the president of the institutions of higher learning. Approval or disapproval of the applications for sabbatical leave shall be made on the basis of regulations prescribed by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning.

Any person who is granted a sabbatical leave and who fails to comply with the provisions of such leave as approved by the state institution of higher learning may have his or her leave terminated by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning.

No person on sabbatical leave can be denied any regular increment of increase in salary because of absence on sabbatical leave.

Service on sabbatical leave shall count as active service for the purpose of retirement and contributions to the retirement fund shall be continued.

In order to provide for the above leaves the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning shall have power to adopt rules and regulations regarding such leave. In no instance shall leave be granted unless there is a contract providing for continued service, after expiration of the leave, in the college where the faculty member is employed.

Every person on sabbatical leave shall enjoy all the rights and privileges pertaining to his or her employment in the institution of higher learning in which such person is employed, which such person would have enjoyed if in active service during such leave in the position from which such leave was taken.

Each person granted sabbatical leave may receive and be paid compensation up to the rate of fifty per cent of such person's annual salary.

Compensation payable to persons on sabbatical leave shall be paid at the same time and in the same manner salaries of the other members of the faculty are paid.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-117 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 57-117
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-117
Status: in_force

All funds derived from such taxation under Sections 37-57-111 through 37-57-119 shall be collected by the tax assessors and/or tax collectors of the county prior to or simultaneous with the sale of the new family unit and shall be deposited into a county trust fund entitled “county school building and repair fund” to be utilized by the county board of education for capital improvements only in compacted areas. However, the board of supervisors of such county shall be authorized to utilize the proceeds of taxation toward paying the principal and interest on full faith and credit bonds of the county which may be issued to provide immediate funds for acquiring sites and constructing public school facilities.

All funds levied and collected under authority of Sections 37-57-111 through 37-57-119 shall be expended for the purposes set forth in said sections and in the manner now provided by law for making such expenditures in counties having a countywide school district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-140-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 140-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-140-11
Status: in_force

The board shall prepare the annual budget for the school. For the operation and support of the school, the board may receive contributions, donations, gifts, bequests of money, other forms of financial assistance and property, equipment, materials or manpower from persons, foundations, trust funds, corporations, organizations and other sources, public or private, to be expended and utilized by the board in carrying out this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-1 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-15-1
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education shall prepare and provide necessary forms for keeping permanent records and cumulative folders for each pupil in the public schools, including charter schools, of the state. In the permanent record and cumulative folders, the teachers and principals shall keep information concerning the pupil's date of birth, as verified by the documentation authorized in this section, record of attendance, grades and withdrawal from the school, including the date of any expulsion from the school and a description of the student's act or behavior resulting in the expulsion. The records also shall contain information pertaining to immunization and such other information as the State Board of Education may prescribe. The cumulative folder, in addition to that information maintained in the permanent records, also shall contain such other information as the State Board of Education shall prescribe. It shall be the responsibility of the person in charge of each school to enforce the requirement for evidence of the age of each pupil before enrollment. If the first prescribed evidence is not available, the next evidence obtainable in the order set forth below shall be accepted:

(a) A certified birth certificate;

(b) A duly attested transcript of a certificate of baptism showing the date of birth and place of baptism of the child, accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by a parent, grandparent or custodian;

(c) An insurance policy on the child's life which has been in force for at least two (2) years;

(d) A bona fide contemporary Bible record of the child's birth accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the parent, grandparent or custodian;

(e) A passport or certificate of arrival in the United States showing the age of the child;

(f) A transcript of record of age shown in the child's school record of at least four (4) years prior to application, stating date of birth; or

(g) If none of these evidences can be produced, an affidavit of age sworn to by a parent, grandparent or custodian. Any child enrolling in kindergarten or Grade 1 shall present the required evidence of age upon enrollment. Any child in Grades 2 through 12 not in compliance at the end of sixty (60) days from enrollment shall be suspended until in compliance.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-151 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 101-151
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-151
Status: in_force

All trust funds which have heretofore been established for the use and benefit of any of the institutions named in Section 37-101-141 out of the proceeds of the sales or leases of any of the land specified in Sections 37-101-141 , 37-101-143 , as provided either in Chapter 45, Laws of Extraordinary Session of 1898, Chapter 46, Laws of Extraordinary Session of 1898, or Chapter 117, Laws of 1896, shall remain a fund for the use of the institution to which it is credited. The interest thereon shall be paid to such institution by the state in accordance with and as provided in Section 212 of the Constitution of the State of Mississippi .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-61 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 153-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-61
Status: in_force

The office shall provide a comprehensive report on the use and effectiveness of funds distributed under the grant programs created in this article, to include, if applicable, wage data and employment outcomes for trainees, to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, Chair of the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee, and Chair of the House Workforce Development Committee by October 1 each year of the existence of the program. The report shall also contain, if applicable, the submitted applications, the score of the applications, the amount of grant funds awarded to each applicant, the amount of grant funds expended by each applicant, the status of the training infrastructure, the number of students currently trained at the applicant's school, and the estimated increase in the number of students to be trained at the applicant's school.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-35 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 28-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-35
Status: in_force

(1) Before implementing a charter school closure decision, the authorizer must develop a charter school closure protocol to ensure timely notification to parents, orderly transition of students and student records to new schools, and proper disposition of school funds, property and assets in accordance with the requirements of this chapter. The protocol must specify tasks, timelines and responsible parties, including delineating the respective duties of the school and the authorizer. If a charter school is to be closed for any reason, the authorizer shall oversee and work with the closing school to ensure a smooth and orderly closure and transition for students and parents, as guided by the closure protocol.

(2) If a charter school closes, all unspent government funds, unspent earnings from those funds and assets purchased with government funds must revert to the local school district in which the charter school is located. Unless otherwise provided for in the charter or a debt instrument, unspent funds from nongovernmental sources, unspent earnings from those funds, assets purchased with those funds and debts of the school must revert to the nonprofit entity created to operate the school and may be disposed of according to applicable laws for nonprofit corporations.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-17 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 45-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-17
Status: in_force

The commission shall select an executive secretary, who shall be the administrative officer of the commission. The executive secretary shall perform such duties as are required of him by law, and such other duties as may be assigned to him by the commission. He shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by the commission. He shall hold, or be eligible to secure, a Class AA certificate for administrators as defined in the rules and regulations of the state department of education covering the certification of instructional personnel. He shall have had ten years' experience as a teacher, supervisor or administrator in the public schools, of which not less than five years shall have been in a responsible administrative position. He shall have had broad professional education experience and shall have recognized ability as a school administrator. He shall have no vote in the decisions of said commission, and shall have no voice in the making or fixing of policies by said commission. Said executive secretary, in order to qualify for his position, shall be required to make a good and sufficient bond in some surety company qualified and doing business in the State of Mississippi, in the penal sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00), conditioned upon the faithful performance of his duties as required by law and the directives of said commission. The premium on said bond shall be paid from any funds available to the commission for such purpose. Said executive secretary may be removed at any time upon a majority vote of the membership of said commission.

The commission shall have the power and authority to employ such technical, professional, and clerical help as may be necessary for the administration of this chapter and for the performance of such other duties as may be imposed upon the commission by law, and to define the duties and fix the compensation of such employees.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-77 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 31-77
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-77
Status: in_force

It is expressly provided that any payment from the funds of one (1) governmental authority into the funds of any other governmental authority made in compliance with provisions of Sections 37-31-71 through 37-31-79 , shall not be charged against homestead exemption reimbursements under the provisions of Section 27-33-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, or any other similar statute.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-7 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 12-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-12-7
Status: in_force

Students in public schools may pray or engage in religious activities or religious expression before, during and after the school day in the same manner and to the same extent that students may engage in nonreligious activities or expression. Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs, “see you at the pole” gatherings, or other religious gatherings before, during and after school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other noncurricular student activities and groups. Religious groups must be given the same access to school facilities for assembling as is given to other noncurricular groups without discrimination based on the religious content of the students' expression. If student groups that meet for nonreligious activities are permitted to advertise or announce meetings of the groups, the school district may not discriminate against groups that meet for prayer or other religious speech. A school district may disclaim school sponsorship of noncurricular groups and events in a manner that neither favors nor disfavors groups that meet to engage in prayer or religious speech.

Students in public schools may wear clothing, accessories and jewelry that display religious messages or religious symbols in the same manner and to the same extent that other types of clothing, accessories and jewelry that display messages or symbols are permitted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-1001 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 7-1001
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-1001
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education is hereby authorized to establish a Standing Commission on School District Efficiency. The commission shall meet and study the operations, rules, policies and regulations in school districts on an ongoing basis for the purpose of identifying opportunities to increase efficiencies, and to determine appropriate efficiency standards that should be considered for accreditation standards. The commission shall report annually its findings and recommendations to the State Board of Education, and the State Board of Education may make its report and recommendations annually to the Legislature seeking legislative support to achieve efficiencies in school districts. In establishing the Standing Commission on School District Efficiency the State Board of Education shall provide that the membership not be less than six (6) members. The State Board of Education shall appoint school district employees proficient in the areas of fiscal management, procurement, data processing or other fields of school business, with at least one (1) member being appointed from each congressional district. The commission shall meet on a date designated by the State Superintendent of Education and organize by selecting a chairman and adopt rules for conducting business. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses from any available funds for attending official meetings of the commission. The State Department of Education shall provide necessary administrative and clerical support for the functions of the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-103 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 11 / Section 31-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-31-103
Status: in_force

(1) The State Board of Education is authorized to develop and establish special education and skill training programs to fill specific employment opportunities in areas of the state that have both employment opportunities and able-bodied unemployed and underemployed groups of adults, with priority to be given to unemployed adults.

This program shall be administered by the division of vocational and technical education in community/junior colleges and secondary school systems wherever practical, and shall have general supervision over the programs established by Sections 37-31-101 through 37-31-111 . Programs shall parallel, complement and be compatible with the existing structure of all vocational-technical education, both state and federal, as operated under the board.

(2) A comprehensive program of educational activity including skill training shall be developed and tailored to meet the needs of each individual student and the needs of industry for specially trained workers, and programs shall be planned and operated flexibly in order that students may progress individually.

Specific employment objectives that are practical for each student shall be identified early in the program and the individual trained accordingly.

Programs may include, when needed for employment purposes, but not be limited to, basic education, remedial education, attitude training, employability and communications skills, prevocational, vocational and technical education, and supplementary and related instruction for on-the-job training whether conducted at the job site or elsewhere.

(3) Local craft advisory committees made up of potential employers shall be established to advise on the validity of the training curriculum being offered.

(4) Programs shall be developed on a project basis, with all projects considered temporary, and renewed only as long as the dual needs of qualified students exist and potential job opportunities can be identified. Each project shall consist of a minimum of: (a) statement of need, (b) occupational training plan, (c) budget, and (d) budget backup information.

(5) Full-time (forty (40) hours per week), part-time, and upgrading programs are authorized, and all programs as conducted by local school districts shall meet or exceed the standards of the board, and failure to do so by a school district shall result in loss of funds as provided in Sections 37-31-101 through 37-31-111 .

(6) Utilization shall be made of existing equipment, materials and facilities purchased by previous programs such as the Manpower Development and Training Program, Public Law 87-415 , 42 USCA 2571, et seq., whenever practical and legal.

(7) The board shall review local public school and community/junior college project proposals to determine appropriateness of content, length of training, hours of instruction per week, and whether estimated costs are realistic, and shall evaluate, monitor and provide needed services in support of the local projects.

(8) The board shall be responsible for state level development and coordination of a vocational and technical program which shall include but not be limited to the following: A program which will provide immediate training for established industries and which provides training for prospective employees for new and expanding industry, such program to be characterized with a strong emphasis on the employment needs of the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-162 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 33-162
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-33-162
Status: in_force

(1) If medical or rehabilitation assistance is provided to a client under this article for injury, loss or damage caused under circumstances creating a cause of action in favor of the client against any person, firm or corporation, then the department shall be entitled to recover the proceeds that may result from the exercise of any rights of recovery which the client may have against any such person, firm or corporation to the extent of the actual amount of the medical or rehabilitation assistance made by the department on behalf of the client. The client shall execute and deliver instruments and papers to do whatever is necessary to secure such rights and shall do nothing after said medical and/or rehabilitation assistance is provided to prejudice the subrogation rights of the department.

Pursuant to Section 31-19-29, Mississippi Code of 1972 , the department may compromise or settle any such claim and execute a release of any claim it has by virtue of this section.

(2) The acceptance of medical and/or rehabilitation assistance under this article or the making of a claim thereunder shall not affect the right of client or his legal representative to recover the medical and/or rehabilitation payments made by the department as an element of damages in any action at law; provided, however, that a copy of the pleadings shall be certified to the department at the time of the institution of suit, and proof of such notice shall be filed of record in such action. The department may, at any time before the trial on the facts, join in such action or may intervene therein. Any amount recovered by a client or his legal representative shall be applied as follows:

(a) The reasonable costs of the collection, including attorney's fees, as approved and allowed by the court in which such action is pending, or in case of settlement without suit, by the legal representative of the department;

(b) The actual amount of the medical and/or rehabilitation payments made by the department on behalf of the client; or such pro rata amount as may be arrived at by compromise settlement pursuant to Section 37-33-162(1) , or as set by the court having jurisdiction; and

(c) Any excess shall be awarded to the client.

(3) No compromise of any claim by the client or his legal representative shall be binding upon or affect the rights of the department against the third party unless, pursuant to Section 37-33-162(1) , the department has entered into the compromise. Any compromise effected by the client or his legal representative with the third party in the absence of advance notification to and approved by the department shall constitute conclusive evidence of the liability of the third party, and the department, in litigating its claim against said third party, shall be required only to prove the amount and correctness of its claim relating to such injury, loss or damage. It is further provided that should the client or his legal representative fail to notify the department of the institution of legal proceedings against a third party for which the department has a cause of action, the facts relating to negligence and the liability of the third party, if judgment is rendered for the client, shall constitute conclusive evidence of liability in a subsequent action maintained by the department and only the amount and correctness of the department's claim relating to injury, loss or damage shall be tried before the court. The department shall be authorized in bringing such action against the third party and his insurer jointly or against the insurer alone.

(4) By accepting medical and/or rehabilitation payments from the department, the client shall, to the extent of the payment of medical expenses by the department, be deemed to have made an assignment to the department of any and all rights and interests in any third-party benefits, hospitalization or indemnity contract or any cause of action, past, present or future, against any person, firm or corporation for benefits provided to the client by the department for loss, injury or damage caused or suffered under circumstances creating a cause of action in favor of the client against such person, firm or corporation as set out in Section 37-33-162(1) .

(5) Nothing herein shall be construed to diminish or otherwise restrict the subrogation rights of the department against a third party for medical and/or rehabilitation payment paid by the department in behalf of the client as a result of injury, loss or damage caused under circumstances creating a cause of action in favor of the client against such a third party.

(6) Any person, firm or corporation who fails or refuses to honor the subrogation rights of the department and specifically, without limitation, hospital insurance and indemnity benefits accruing to a client, shall be subject, should suit become necessary and liability be established, to an assessment of double the amount of medical/rehabilitation payments paid by the department, or double the amount of the insurance policy limits, whichever is the lesser, inclusive of the assessment of a reasonable attorney's fee and all costs of court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-115 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 59-115
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-115
Status: in_force

The indebtedness incurred under the authority of this article shall not be included in computing the statutory limitation upon the indebtedness which may be incurred by school districts as provided in Article 1 of this chapter, or any other statute, but shall be in addition thereto. The only limitation upon the amount of indebtedness which may be incurred under the provisions of this article shall be that provided in Section 37-59-107 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 146-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-146-3
Status: in_force

(1) The Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program shall be administered by a commission to be known as the “Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Commission.” The commission shall be directed by a board composed of the following members:

(a) Two (2) dentists appointed by and from the membership of the Mississippi Dental Association, the term of which shall be three (3) years and who may be reappointed for one (1) additional term;

(b) One (1) dentist appointed by and from the membership of each of the following organizations, the term of which shall be three (3) years and who may be reappointed for one (1) additional term:

(i) Mississippi Dental Society;

(ii) Mississippi Academy of General Dentistry; and

(iii) Mississippi Chapter, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry;

(c) Two (2) designees of the Dean of the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry whose terms are at the discretion of the dean, at least one (1) of whom is a member of the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry Admissions Committee; and

(d) Two (2) dental students, one (1) of whom shall be selected yearly through a process developed by the Dean of the School of Dentistry in consultation with the chairs of the various departments.

(2) The pre-professional advisors from the accredited four-year colleges and universities in the State of Mississippi shall comprise an advisory committee to the commission in the administration of the Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program.

(3) Vacancies on the commission must be filled in a manner consistent with the original appointments.

(4) All appointments to the commission must be made no later than September 1, 2013. After the members are appointed, the Program Director of the Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program shall set a date for the organizational meeting that is mutually acceptable to the majority of the commission members. The organizational meeting shall be for the purposes of organizing the commission and establishing rules for transacting its business. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum at all commission meetings. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting shall be required in the adoption of rules, reports and in any other actions taken by the commission. At the organizational meeting, the commission shall elect a chair and vice chair from the members appointed according to paragraphs (a) through (d) of subsection (1). The chair shall serve for a term of two (2) years, upon the expiration of which, the vice chair shall assume the office of chair.

(5) After the organizational meeting, the commission shall hold no less than two (2) meetings annually.

(6) The commission may form an executive committee for the purpose of transacting business that must be conducted before the next regularly scheduled meeting of the commission. All actions taken by the executive committee must be ratified by the commission at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

(7) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed, subject to the availability of funding, for mileage and actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of the commission, as provided in Section 25-3-41 .

(8) Funding for the establishment and continued operation of the program and commission shall be appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not already appropriated to the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-231 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 153-231
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-231
Status: in_force

This article shall be known and cited as the “Paramedics Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Program Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-275 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 29-275
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-275
Status: in_force

Any act, which, if committed within the limits of a city, town or village, or in any public place, would be a violation of the general laws of this state, shall be criminal and punishable if done on the campus, grounds or roads of any of the state-supported junior colleges. The peace officers duly appointed by the board of trustees of state-supported community or junior colleges or officers of private security firms licensed by the State of Mississippi contracted by the boards of trustees of state supported community/junior colleges are vested with the powers and subjected to the duties of a constable for the purpose of preventing and punishing all violations of law on state-supported junior college grounds and for preserving order and decorum thereon. Peace officers appointed by the boards of trustees or officers of private security firms licensed by the State of Mississippi contracted by the boards of trustees shall have authority to bear arms in order to carry out their law enforcement responsibilities if such officers have been certified according to the minimum standards established by the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training. The peace officers duly appointed by the boards of trustees of public community/junior colleges are also vested with the powers and subjected to the duties of a constable for the purpose of preventing all violations of law that occur within five hundred (500) feet of any property owned by the college, if reasonably determined to have a possible impact on the safety of students, faculty or staff of the college while on said property. Provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be interpreted to require action by any such peace officer appointed by a college to events occurring outside the boundaries of college property, nor shall any such college or its employees be liable for any failure to act to any event occurring outside the boundaries of property owned by the college. If a law enforcement officer is duly appointed to be a peace officer by a college under this section, the board of trustees of the public community/junior college may enter into an interlocal agreement with other law enforcement entities for the provision of equipment or traffic control duties, however, the duty to enforce traffic regulations and to enforce the laws of the state or municipality off of college property lies with the local police or sheriff's department which cannot withhold its services solely because of the lack of such an agreement.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-81 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 41-81
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-81
Status: in_force

The local school boards of this state are hereby authorized and empowered to purchase, own and operate, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the State Board of Education, motor vehicles, electric vehicles and other equipment for the transportation of children to and from the public schools of the respective counties and school districts, and to provide for the servicing, repair, care and maintenance of such county or district-owned motor vehicles and to employ drivers for the operation thereof, and to establish, erect and equip school bus shops or garages, and purchase land therefor, all under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the State Board of Education.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-117-5 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 117-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-117-5
Status: in_force

The right belongs to each county to have a number of girls admitted, proportionate to its number of educable girls as compared with the whole number in the state. The total attendance at any session shall not exceed the entire allotment to the several counties for such session.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-435 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 29-435
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-435
Status: in_force

All bonds issued by authority of Sections 37-29-401 through 37-29-437 shall be full faith and credit bonds of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District. It shall be the duty of the board of trustees to request and the county board of supervisors to levy annually a tax on all of the taxable property of each county in the district sufficient to meet the principal and interest falling due on said bonds during the year for which said taxes are levied.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-123 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 23-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-123
Status: in_force

The intent of the legislature of the State of Mississippi, by passage of Sections 37-23-123 through 37-23-131 , is to develop and make available to children of this state who are being considered for possible or continued placement in the exceptional child program of diagnostic and evaluation and related services that will raise the quality of education for all such children in the State of Mississippi who are in need of such services.

The intent of the legislature is to provide an overall system to give direction in developing diagnostic and evaluation and related services required for the exceptional child program, to coordinate existing resources in the state for such services, and to provide such services, within the limitation of staff availability, on a statewide basis with priority being given to areas of the state where such services are not available. This service is intended to complement the services presently available from the state department of education and other agencies.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 4 / Section 47-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-47-43
Status: in_force

All bonds issued under the authority of this chapter shall be lithographed or engraved and printed in two (2) or more colors to prevent counterfeiting. Such bonds shall be issued in denominations as shall be specified by the State Bond Commission. No bond shall bear more than one (1) rate of interest; each bond shall bear interest from its date to its stated maturity date at the interest rate specified in the bid; all bonds of the same maturity shall bear the same rate of interest from date to maturity; all interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually, except that the first interest coupon attached to any such bond may be for any period not exceeding one (1) year.

No interest payment shall be evidenced by more than one (1) coupon and neither cancelled nor supplemental coupons shall be permitted. The interest rate of any one (1) interest coupon shall not exceed eight percent (8%) except that the interest rate of any one (1) coupon issued after March 31, 1981, shall not exceed seven percent (7%).
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-15 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 51-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-51-15
Status: in_force

Applicants who are granted loans may receive a loan in any amount, not exceeding two thousand four hundred dollars ($2,400.00) to any one applicant. Said amount is to be paid in annual, semiannual or quarterly installments not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) per school year, and shall be used to defray part of the applicant's tuition and other costs of attending said schools. The loans herein provided shall not exceed the limitations set out above, but they may be for any such lesser amounts as may be required.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-467 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-467
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-467
Status: in_force

The Copiah-Lincoln Junior College District is charged with the responsibility for providing preprofessional courses, liberal arts, technical, vocational and adult education courses, and shall undertake to provide the same as conveniently as is possible to the residents of the district, and to this end the board of trustees is authorized and empowered to transport such students as, in its discretion, should be transported in the best interest of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 15 / Section 131-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-131-3
Status: in_force

The president or executive head of any institution of higher learning which has established a demonstration or practice school, subject to the approval of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, shall have the power and authority to enter into contracts and agreements with the board of trustees of any school district providing for the attendance of pupils, or one or more, or parts of, grades, from the educable children of such school district at such demonstration or practice school. The board of trustees of any school district is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into contracts and agreements with the president or executive head of an institution of higher learning for such purpose. All such contracts shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by and between the president or executive head of the institution of higher learning and the board of trustees of the school district involved.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-85 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 13-85
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-85
Status: in_force

The Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement shall have the following powers and duties, in addition to all others imposed or granted by law:

(a) To establish any policies or guidelines concerning the employment of school attendance officers which serve to effectuate a uniform system of enforcement under the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law throughout the state, and to designate the number of school attendance officers which shall be employed to serve in each school district area;

(b) To supervise and assist school attendance officer supervisors in the performance of their duties;

(c) To establish minimum standards for enrollment and attendance for the state and each individual school district, and to monitor the success of the state and districts in achieving the required levels of performance;

(d) To provide to school districts failing to meet the established standards for enrollment and attendance assistance in reducing absenteeism or the dropout rates in those districts;

(e) To establish any qualifications, in addition to those required under Section 37-13-89 , for school attendance officers as the office deems necessary to further the purposes of the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law;

(f) To develop and implement a system under which school districts are required to maintain accurate records that document enrollment and attendance in such a manner that the records reflect all changes in enrollment and attendance, and to require school attendance officers to submit information concerning public school attendance on a monthly basis to the office;

(g) To prepare the form of the certificate of enrollment required under the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law and to furnish a sufficient number of the certificates of enrollment to each school attendance officer in the state;

(h) To provide to the State Board of Education statistical information concerning absenteeism, dropouts and other attendance-related problems as requested by the State Board of Education;

(i) To provide for the certification of school attendance officers;

(j) To provide for a course of training and education for school attendance officers, and to require successful completion of the course as a prerequisite to certification by the office as school attendance officers;

(k) To adopt any guidelines or policies the office deems necessary to effectuate an orderly transition from the supervision of school attendance officers by district attorneys to the supervision by the school attendance officer supervisors;

(l) Beginning on July 1, 1998, to require school attendance officer supervisors to employ persons employed by district attorneys before July 1, 1998, as school attendance officers without requiring such persons to submit an application or interview for employment with the State Department of Education;

(m) To adopt policies or guidelines linking the duties of school attendance officers to the appropriate courts, law enforcement agencies and community service providers; and

(n) To adopt any other policies or guidelines that the office deems necessary for the enforcement of the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law; however, the policies or guidelines shall not add to or contradict with the requirements of Section 37-13-91 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-111 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 57-111
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-57-111
Status: in_force

For the purposes of Sections 37-57-111 through 37-57-119 , the following words shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:

(a) “Family unit” means a new family dwelling, mobile home, apartment, condominium, duplex, townhouse or structure, used for family residency.

(b) “Compacted area” means any countywide school system with inadequate building facilities to meet the educational needs of school children, causing crowded conditions, which will continue in the public school facilities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-57 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 3 / Section 45-57
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-57
Status: in_force

In the event of an appeal by any county board of education or board of trustees of any municipal separate school district from any final rule, regulation or order of the state educational finance commission, it shall be the duty and responsibility of such appealing county board or board of trustees, under the supervision of the executive secretary of said commission, to prepare or cause to be prepared the record on appeal, which, when approved by the commission or by the chairman thereof in vacation, shall be and constitute the record on appeal. The same shall thereupon be filed, as required by law, in the chancery court to which the appeal is taken. The cost of making and filing such record shall be an item of cost of said appeal, which shall be paid by said appellant. The cost of such record shall not be in excess of the cost of a similar record on appeal from a chancery court of this state to the supreme court of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-55 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 41-55
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-41-55
Status: in_force

(1) The driver of every school transportation vehicle used to transport pupils, on approaching any railroad crossing, shall bring the vehicle to a complete stop within fifty (50) feet but not less than fifteen (15) feet from the nearest rail of the railroad. While stopped, the driver shall open the service door and driver's window, and look and listen for:

(a) Approaching trains or any other vehicle operated upon the rails for the purpose of maintenance of railroads, including, but not limited to, all hi-rail vehicles and on-track maintenance machines; and

(b) Signals indicating the approach of a train or other vehicle or machine operated upon the rails.

The driver shall not proceed until the driver has determined that it is safe to proceed.

(2) The driver of every school transportation vehicle used to transport pupils, on approaching any highway intersection, shall bring the vehicle to a complete stop and shall not proceed until the driver has determined that it is safe to proceed.

(3) Any driver who fails to bring his vehicle to a complete stop and follow the procedures as herein required is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) for each offense.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-109 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 1 / Section 65-109
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-65-109
Status: in_force

Upon or during any period of closure in accordance with the provisions of this article, any teacher or other employee affected thereby may be, by the board of trustees of such school district, placed in any other school within the district, or in a school or schools of another convenient district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-35 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 115-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-115-35
Status: in_force

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby authorized and empowered to establish a fund to be known as “The Fielding L. Wright Memorial Health Fund,” which fund shall be administered by said board.

The corpus of “The Fielding L. Wright Memorial Health Fund” shall consist of any moneys appropriated to it by the state legislature and any funds received by donation, gift, legacy, or otherwise, the said board of trustees being hereby specifically authorized and empowered to accept such funds. All funds received by said board of trustees shall be invested in the following classes of securities, preference being in the order listed:

(a) Bonds, notes, certificates, and other valid obligations of the State of Mississippi, or any county or city of the State of Mississippi, or of any school district bonds of the State of Mississippi;

(b) Bonds, notes, certificates, and other valid obligations of the United States;

(c) Bonds, notes, debentures and other securities issued by any federal instrumentality and fully guaranteed by the United States; or

(d) Interest-bearing bonds or notes which are general obligations of any other state in the United States or of any city or county therein, provided that any such city or county had a population as shown by the federal census next preceding such investment of not less than twenty-five thousand inhabitants, and provided that any such state, city or county has not defaulted for a period longer than thirty days in the payment of principal or interest on any of its general obligation indebtedness during a period of ten calendar years immediately preceding such investment.

All interest derived from investments and any gains from the sale or exchange of investments shall be expended by the staff of the University Medical Center, under the supervision of the director of the University Medical Center, for medical research in behalf of The Fielding L. Wright Memorial Health Fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-553 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 29-553
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-29-553
Status: in_force

The Coahoma Community College District shall be under the executive direction of a president elected by the board of trustees of the district for a term not to exceed four (4) years.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-43 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 12 / Section 59-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-59-43
Status: in_force

(1) Whenever any school district or levying authority, as defined in Section 37-57-1(1)(b) , acting on behalf of a school district, shall have on hand any bond and interest funds, any funds derived from the sale of bonds, or any other funds in excess of the sums which will be required for payment of current obligations and expenses as they come due, and which are not needed or cannot by law be used for the payment of the current obligations or expenses of the school district, the school board of the district shall have the power and authority to invest such excess funds in any bonds or other direct obligations of the United States of America or the State of Mississippi, or of any county or municipality of this state, which such county or municipal bonds have been approved by a reputable bond attorney or have been validated by a decree of the chancery court; or in interest-bearing time certificates of deposit or interest-bearing accounts with or through any financial institution approved for the deposit of state funds; and such institution shall be eligible to hold school district funds to the extent that it is qualified as a depository for state funds; or in any type of investment permitted by Sections 27-105-33(d) and 27-105-33(e) . The rate of interest on such time certificates of deposit and interest-bearing accounts may be negotiated. The negotiated rate of interest shall be at the highest rate possible at the date of purchase or investment for such time certificates of deposit or interest-bearing accounts. In any event, the bonds or obligations in which such funds are invested shall mature or be redeemable prior to the time the funds so invested will be needed for expenditure. When bonds or other obligations have been so purchased, the same may be sold or surrendered for redemption at any time, except certificates of deposit which must mature, by order or resolution of such school board, and the president of the school board, when authorized by such order or resolution, shall have the power and authority to execute all instruments and take such other action as may be necessary to effectuate the sale or redemption thereof. In addition to the foregoing, any school board may invest any such funds in the same manner as provided for the investment of sixteenth section principal funds pursuant to Section 29-3-113 .

(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall also apply to funds of community and junior college districts, and the governing authorities of such districts are vested with all power and authority with respect to such funds and matters herein mentioned as are vested in the other boards mentioned above with respect to such matters.

(3) All earnings from funds other than bond funds or bond sinking funds in excess of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) in any fiscal year, invested according to the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall be deposited in the district fund from which the investment was made, or the treasury of the junior college, as the case may be. Earnings from such school district funds which are less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) in any fiscal year may be deposited in the school district maintenance fund, or in the district fund from which the investment was made, in the discretion of the school board. Earnings from funds invested out of bond funds or bond sinking funds, together with the principal thereof, shall be deposited in the fund from which the investment was made.

(4) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent the payment of a portion of the earnings derived from the investment of bond proceeds or any other amounts in the bond fund or related reserve or sinking funds to the federal government to the extent required by the federal laws applicable to such bonds or the interest income thereon in order to maintain their tax exempt status.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-105 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 151-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-151-105
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education shall have the authority to make such regulations not inconsistent with law which it deems necessary for the administration of this chapter. The State Board of Education, if it deems such practice necessary, may use reports of the first six (6) months of school for the purpose of determining net enrollment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-51 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 13 / Section 153-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-153-51
Status: in_force

The provisions of this article shall be known and may be cited as the “American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Workforce Development and Retention Act.” Under this article, the Legislature creates the Accelerate Mississippi Workforce Development Program and the Mississippi Health Sciences Training Infrastructure Grant Program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-99-3 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 6 / Section 99-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-99-3
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed in this subsection, unless context of use clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “ Department ” means the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services.

(b) “ Eligible child ” means:

(i) Any individual who is younger than twenty-one (21) years of age who was placed in the legal custody of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services by a youth court or through other legal means and who was in the legal custody of the department at any time;

(ii) Any individual who is younger than twenty-one (21) years of age who was placed in a qualified residential child care agency by a parent, legal guardian, court of competent jurisdiction, or other person or entity acting in the best interest of the individual and who did reside in a qualified residential child care agency at any time; or

(iii) Any individual who is younger than twenty-one (21) years of age who was adopted from the department's legal custody or adopted while residing at a qualified residential child care agency as described in paragraph (c) of this subsection at any time.

(c) “ Qualified residential child care agency ” means an entity that provides a home for children and was licensed by the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services at the time that the eligible child was housed by the agency.

(2) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the boards of trustees of the community and junior colleges shall adopt policies requiring each public institution of higher learning, community or junior college to provide free transcripts to an eligible child when requested.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-39 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 14 / Section 45-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-45-39
Status: in_force

The reporter shall act in the same capacity as an official court reporter of the chancery courts of this state. His shorthand notes and the transcription thereof shall be preserved in the same manner and accorded the same verity as those of chancery court reporters.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-11 — MS Code / Title 37 / Chapter 9 / Section 144-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-144-11
Status: in_force

(1) Students in the program may apply to any medical or osteopathic school that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

(2) Students in the program seeking admission to the University of Mississippi School of Medicine shall be eligible for a special admissions process pursuant to criteria established by the School of Medicine Admissions Committee which will include special consideration of the attributes of participation in the program.

(3) In carrying out the admissions process developed for the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program participants under this section, the goal is for the program to work with the School of Medicine to enhance the capability of participants to successfully enter and complete medical school, train in family medicine or other generalist primary care specialty and enter practice in rural or underserved areas in Mississippi. To the extent feasible, the early admissions process should be completed before November 1 of the year preceding a student's admission to medical school.