Bill Text: MS HB1619 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Agricultural vocation instruction; clarify contract and compensation provision for those who teach in districts with an extended school year calendar.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-22 - Referred To Education [HB1619 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2025-HB1619-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Representative Roberson
House Bill 1619
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-31-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY CONTRACTING AND COMPENSATION PROVISIONS FOR VOCATIONAL INSTRUCTORS IN AGRICULTURAL RELATED VOCATION DURING THE DESIGNATED TIME BETWEEN ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEARS AND BETWEEN ACADEMIC QUARTERS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE ADOPTED AN EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-31-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-31-13. (1) Any appropriation that may be made under the provisions of Sections 37-31-1 through 37-31-15 shall be used by the board for the promotion of vocational education as provided for in the "Smith-Hughes Act" and for the purpose set forth in Sections 37-31-1 through 37-31-15. The state appropriation shall not be used for payments to high schools which are now receiving other state funds, except in lieu of not more than one-half (1/2) the amount that may be due such high schools from federal funds. Only such portion of the state appropriation shall be used as may be absolutely necessary to carry out the provisions of Sections 37-31-1 through 37-31-15, and to meet the federal requirements. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the state appropriation shall not be used for payments to high schools for conducting vocational programs for more than ten (10) months in any school year, and only funds other than total funding formula funds may be expended for such purpose.
(2) Subject to annual approval
by the State Board of Education, extended contracts for vocational agriculture
education services and other related vocational education services which
contribute to economic development may be conducted by local school districts,
and state appropriations may be used for payments to school districts providing
such services. The board of trustees of each school district shall determine
whether any proposed services contribute to the economic development of the
area. Local districts may apply to the Division of Vocational and Technical
Education of the State Department of Education for any state funds available
for these extended contracts. The State Board of Education shall establish the
application process and the selection criteria for this program. The number of
state funded extended contracts approved by the State Board of Education will
be determined by the availability of funds specified for this purpose. The
State Board of Education's decision shall be final. Payments under this
subsection shall only be available to those high schools whose teachers of
vocational programs are responsible for the following programs of instruction
during those * * *
days and weeks between the academic years and between academic
quarters for school districts having adopted the extended school year calendar:
(a) supervision and instruction of students in agricultural or other vocational
experience programs; (b) group and individual instruction of farmers and
agribusinessmen; (c) supervision of student members of youth groups who are
involved in leadership training or other activity required by state or federal
law; or (d) any program of vocational agriculture or other vocational-related
services established by the Division of Vocational and Technical Education of
the State Department of Education that contribute to the economic development
of the geographic area.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.
