MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Workforce Development
By: Representative Smith (39th)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-353, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI WORKS FUND IN THE MISSISSIPPI EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW; TO PROVIDE THAT CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUCH FUND SHALL BE MADE IN CALENDAR YEARS 2015 AND 2016 AND TO PROVIDE THE AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE PAYMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUCH FUND; TO ESTABLISH THE CONTRIBUTION RATE FOR CALENDAR YEARS 2015 AND 2016; TO PROVIDE THAT MISSISSIPPI WORKS FUNDS SHALL BE TRANSFERRED TO A TREASURY FUND FOR THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY; TO PROVIDE THAT ALL FUNDS DEPOSITED INTO THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY TREASURY FUND FROM THE MISSISSIPPI WORKS CONTRIBUTIONS SHALL BE ALLOCATED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY TO MAKE STRATEGIC AND TARGETED INVESTMENTS IN THE MISSISSIPPI WORKFORCE TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF BETTER PAYING, HIGHER SKILLED IN-DEMAND JOBS, WITH A FOCUS ON HIGH GROWTH INDUSTRIES, SUPPLYING TRAINING FUNDS TO MEET IMMEDIATE TRAINING NEEDS; TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-355, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE GENERAL EXPERIENCE RATE FOR RATE YEARS 2015 AND 2016 SHALL BE ZERO; TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE GENERAL EXPERIENCE RATE IN 2015 AND 2016 UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-453, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; TO AMEND SECTION 37-153-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 71-5-353, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
71-5-353. (1) (a) Each employer shall pay unemployment insurance contributions equal to five and four-tenths percent (5.4%) of taxable wages paid by him each calendar year, except as may be otherwise provided in Section 71-5-361 and except that each newly subject employer shall pay unemployment insurance contributions at the rate of one percent (1%) of taxable wages, for his first year of liability, one and one-tenth percent (1.1%) of taxable wages for his second year of liability, and one and two-tenths percent (1.2%) of taxable wages for his third and subsequent years of liability unless the employer's experience-rating record has been chargeable throughout at least the twelve (12) consecutive calendar months ending on the most recent computation date at the time the rate for a year is determined; thereafter the employer's contribution rate shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 71-5-355.
(b) Notwithstanding the newly subject employer contribution rate provided for in paragraph (a) of this subsection, the contribution rate of all newly subject employers shall be reduced by seven one-hundredths of one percent (.07%) for calendar year 2013 only. The contribution rate of all newly subject employers shall be reduced by three one-hundredths of one percent (.03%) for calendar year 2014 only. For purposes of this chapter, "newly subject employers" means employers whose unemployment insurance experience-rating record has not been chargeable throughout at least the twelve (12) consecutive calendar months ending on the most recent computation date at the time the contribution rate for a year is determined.
(2) (a) (i) There is
hereby created in the Treasury of the State of Mississippi * * * special funds to be known as the
"Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund * * *" and the "Mississippi Works
Fund" which * * * consist of funds collected pursuant to subsection
(3) of this section.
(ii) Funds collected shall initially be deposited into the Mississippi Department of Employment Security bank account for clearing contribution collections and subsequently appropriate amounts shall be transferred to the Mississippi Workforce Investment and Training Fund Holding Account described in Section 71-5-453 and the Mississippi Department of Employment Security Treasury Fund for Mississippi Works Constributions. In the event any employer pays an amount insufficient to cover the total contributions due, the amounts due shall be satisfied in the following order:
1. Unemployment contributions;
* * *
* * *2. Mississippi Workforce Enhancement
Training Fund, State Workforce Investment Fund and Mississippi Works Fund
contributions * * *
on a pro rata basis;
* * *3. Interest and damages; then
* * *4. Legal and processing costs.
The amount of unemployment insurance contributions due for any period will be the amount due according to the actual computations unless the employer is participating in the MLPP. In that event, the amount due is the MLPP amount computed by the department.
Cost of collection and
administration of the Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund * * *, the State Workforce
Investment Fund and Mississippi Works Fund contributions shall be
allocated based on a plan approved by the United States Department of Labor
(USDOL) * * *.
The Mississippi Community College Board shall pay the cost of collecting the
Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund contributions, the State
Workforce Investment Board shall pay the costs of collecting the State
Workforce Investment Fund contributions and the Mississippi Department of
Employment Security shall pay the costs of collection for the Mississippi Works
Fund contributions, each out of the respective fund contributions. Payments
shall be made semiannually * * * with the cost allocated to each
based on a USDOL approved plan on a pro rata basis, for periods ending in * * * June and December of each
year. Payment shall be made by each organization to the department no
later than sixty (60) days after the billing date. Cost shall be allocated * * * under the United
States Department of Labor's approved plan and in the same ratio as the
distribution described for the distribution of funds described in paragraph
(b) of this subsection.
(b) Mississippi
Workforce Enhancement Training * * *, State Workforce
Investment and Mississippi Works contributions shall be distributed as
follows:
(i) For calendar year 2014, ninety-four and seventy-five one-hundredths percent (94.75%) shall be distributed to the Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund and the remainder shall be distributed to the State Workforce Investment Board bank account;
(ii) For calendar years 2015 and 2016, forty-one and seven-tenths percent (41.7%) shall be distributed to the Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund, two and seven-tenths percent (2.7%) shall be distributed to the State Workforce Investment Fund and fifty-five and six-tenths percent (55.6%) shall be distributed to the Mississippi Works Fund.
( * * *iii) For calendar years subsequent to
calendar year * * *
2016, ninety-three and seventy-five one-hundredths percent (93.75%)
shall be distributed to the Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund and
the remainder shall be distributed to the State Workforce Investment Board bank
account.
(c) All * * * contributions collected for
the State Workforce Enhancement Training Fund, the State Workforce Investments
Fund and the Mississippi Works Fund will be initially deposited into the
Mississippi Department of Employment Security bank account for clearing
contribution collections and subsequently transferred to the Workforce
Investment and Training Holding Account and will be held by the Mississippi
Department of Employment Security in such account for a period of not less than
thirty (30) days. After such period, the Mississippi Workforce Enhancement
Training Fund * * *
contributions shall be transferred to the Mississippi Community College
Board Treasury Account, * * *and the State Workforce Investment * * * Fund * * * contributions shall be
transferred to the State Workforce Investment Board bank account and the
Mississippi Works Fund contributions shall be transferred to the Mississippi
Department of Employment Security Mississippi Works Treasury Fund,
in the manner described in paragraph (b) of this subsection and within the time
frame determined by the department; however, except in cases of extraordinary
circumstances, these funds shall be transferred within fifteen (15) days.
Interest earnings or interest credits on deposit amounts in the Workforce
Investment and Training * * *bank Holding Account shall be retained in the account
to pay the banking costs of the account. If after the period of twelve (12)
months interest earnings less banking costs exceeds Ten Thousand Dollars
($10,000.00), such excess amounts shall be transferred to the respective
accounts within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar year on the
basis described in paragraph (b) of this subsection. Interest earnings
and/or interest credits for the State Workforce Investment funds shall be used
for payment of banking costs and excess shall be used in accordance with the
rules and regulations of the State Workforce Investment Board expenditure
policies.
(d) All enforcement
procedures for the collection of delinquent unemployment contributions
contained in Sections 71-5-363 through 71-5-383 shall be applicable in all
respects for collections of delinquent unemployment insurance contributions
designated for the Unemployment Compensation Fund, the Mississippi Workforce
Enhancement Training Fund * * * and, the State Workforce Investment * * * Fund and the Mississippi Works Fund.
(e) (i) Except as otherwise provided for in this subparagraph (i), all monies deposited into the Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund treasury account shall be utilized exclusively by the Mississippi Community College Board in accordance with the Workforce Training Act of 1994 (Section 37-153-1 et seq.) and the annual plan developed by the State Workforce Investment Board for the following purposes: to provide training at no charge to employers and employees in order to enhance employee productivity. Such training may be subject to a minimal administrative fee to be paid from the Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund as established by the State Workforce Investment Board subject to the advice of the Mississippi Community College Board. The initial priority of these funds shall be for the benefit of existing businesses located within the state. Employers may request training for existing employees and/or newly hired employees from the Mississippi Community College Board. The Mississippi Community College Board will be responsible for approving the training. A portion of the funds collected for the Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund shall be used for the development of performance measures to measure the effectiveness of the use of the Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund dollars. These performance measures shall be uniform for all community colleges and shall be reported to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and members of the Legislature. Nothing in this section or elsewhere in law shall be interpreted as giving the State Workforce Investment Board authority to direct the Mississippi Community College Board or individual community or junior colleges on how to expend money for workforce training, whether such money comes from the Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund, is appropriated by the Legislature to the Mississippi Community College Board for workforce training or comes from other sources. The Mississippi Community College Board, individual community or junior colleges and the State Workforce Investment Board shall cooperate with each other and with other state agencies to promote effective workforce training in Mississippi. Any subsequent changes to these performance measures shall also be reported to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and members of the Legislature. A performance report for each community college, based upon these measures, shall be submitted annually to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and members of the Legislature.
(ii) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, all funds deposited into the State Workforce Investment Board bank account shall be used for administration of State Workforce Investment Board business, grants related to training, and other projects as determined appropriate by the State Workforce Investment Board and shall be nonexpiring. Policies for grants and other projects shall be approved through a majority vote of the State Workforce Investment Board.
(iii) All funds deposited into the Mississippi Department of Employment Security Mississippi Works Fund shall be nonexpiring and allocated exclusively by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Workforce Investment Board Rules Committee, to make strategic and targeted investments in the Mississippi workforce for the purpose of meeting immediate training needs for economic development. When appropriate, the Mississippi Public Community College System and its partners shall be the preferred entities to facilitate the training. In no case shall these funds be used to supplant workforce funds available from any other sources, including, but not limited to, local, state or federal sources that are available for workforce training and development. Such training conducted utilizing these Mississippi Works funds may be subject to a minimal administrative fee to be paid from the Mississippi Works Fund as authorized by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. All costs associated with the administration of these funds shall be reimbursed to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security from the Mississippi Works Fund.
( * * *iv) 1. The Department of Employment
Security shall be the fiscal agent for the receipt and disbursement of all
funds in the State Workforce Investment Board bank account.
2. In
managing the State Workforce Investment Board bank account, the department
shall ensure that any funds expended for contractual services rendered to the
State Workforce Investment Board shall be paid only to service providers who
have been selected on a competitive basis. Any contract for services entered
into using funds from the Workforce Investment * * * Board bank account shall contain
the deliverables stated in terms that allow for the assessment of work
performance against measurable performance standards and shall include
milestones for completion of each deliverable under the contract. For each
contract for services entered into by the State Workforce Investment Board, the
board shall develop a quality assurance surveillance plan that specifies
quality control obligations of the contractor as well as measurable inspection
and acceptance criteria corresponding to the performance standards contained in
the contract's statement of work.
3. Any commodities procured for the board shall be procured in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-7-13.
( * * *v) In addition to other expenditures,
the department shall expend from the State Workforce Investment Board bank
account for the use and benefit of the State Workforce Investment Board, such
funds as are necessary to prepare and develop a study of workforce development
needs that will consist of the following:
1. An identification of the state's workforce development needs through a well-documented quantitative and qualitative analysis of:
a. The current and projected workforce training needs of existing and identified potential Mississippi industries, with priority given to assessing the needs of existing in-state industry and business. Where possible, the analysis should include a verification and expansion of existing information previously developed by workforce training and service providers, as well as analysis of existing workforce data, such as the data collected through the Statewide Longitudinal Data System.
b. The needs of the state's workers and residents requiring additional workforce training to improve their work skills in order to compete for better employment opportunities, including a priority-based analysis of the critical factors currently limiting the state's ability to provide a trained and ready workforce.
c. The needs of workforce service and training providers in improving their ability to offer industry-relevant training, including an assessment of the practical limits of keeping training programs on the leading edge and eliminating those programs with marginal workforce relevance.
2. An assessment of Mississippi's current workforce development service delivery structure relative to the needs quantified in this subparagraph, including:
a. Development of a list of strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats (SWOT) of the current workforce development delivery system relative to the identified needs;
b. Identification of strategic options for workforce development services based on the results of the SWOT analysis; and
c. Development of results-oriented measures for each option that can be baselined and, if implemented, tracked over time, with quantifiable milestones and goals.
3. Preparation of a report presenting all subjects set out in this subparagraph to be delivered to the Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee no later than February 1, 2015.
4. Following the preparation of the report, the State Workforce Investment Board shall make a recommendation to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on future uses of funds deposited to the State Workforce Investment Fund account. Such future uses may include:
a. The development of promotion strategies for workforce development programs;
b.
Initiatives designed to reduce the state's dropout rate including the
development of a statewide career awareness program * * *;
c. The long-term monitoring of the state's workforce development programs to determine whether they are addressing the needs of business, industry, and the workers of the state; and
d. The study of the potential restructuring of the state's workforce programs and delivery systems.
(3) (a) (i) 1. For
calendar year 2014 only, Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training
contributions and State Workforce Investment contributions shall be collected
at * * *
the rate of nineteen one-hundredths of
one percent (.19%) based upon taxable wages; * * *
2. For calendar years 2015 and 2016, Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training contributions and State Workforce Investment contributions shall be collected at the rate of sixteen one-hundredths of one percent (.16%), based upon taxable wages, and Mississippi Works contributions shall be collected in addition to Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training and State Workforce Investment contributions at the rate of two-tenths of one percent (.2%) based upon taxable wages. The total Workforce Enhancement Training, State Workforce Investment and Mississippi Works contributions rate shall be thirty-six one-hundredths of one percent (.36%) for 2015 and 2016 unless suspended under the provisions of Section 71-5-355;
* * *3. For calendar years subsequent to
calendar year * * *
2016, Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training contributions and
State Workforce Investment contributions shall be collected at a rate of
sixteen one-hundredths of one percent (.16%), based upon taxable wages.
(ii) The contribution rate to the Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund for calendar year 2013 only shall be twenty-two one-hundredths of one percent (.22%).
(iii)
The Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training * * * contributions, the State
Workforce Investment Fund contributions and Mississippi Works
contributions shall be in addition to the general experience rate plus
the individual experience rate of all employers but shall not be charged to
reimbursing or rate-paying political subdivisions or institutions of higher
learning, or reimbursing nonprofit organizations, as described in Sections 71-5-357
and 71-5-359.
(b) All Mississippi
Workforce Enhancement Training * * * contributions, State
Workforce Investment contributions and Mississippi Works contributions
collected shall be deposited initially into the Mississippi Department of
Employment Security bank account for clearing contribution collections and
shall within two (2) business days be transferred to the Workforce Investment
and Training Holding Account. Any Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training
Fund * * *,
State Workforce Investment * * * Fund and/or Mississippi Works Fund * * * transactions from the Mississippi
Department of Employment Security bank account for clearing contribution
collections that are deposited into the Workforce Investment and Training Fund
Holding Account and are not honored by a financial institution will be
transferred back to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security bank
account for clearing contribution collections out of funds in the Mississippi
Workforce Investment and Training Fund Holding Account.
(c) Suspension of the
Workforce Enhancement Training Fund contributions required pursuant to this
chapter shall occur if the insured unemployment rate exceeds an average of five
and five-tenths percent (5.5%) for the three (3) consecutive months immediately
preceding the effective date of the new rate year following such occurrence
and shall remain suspended throughout the duration of that rate year. Such
suspension shall continue until such time as the three (3) consecutive months
immediately preceding the effective date of * * * the next rate year that
has an insured unemployment rate of less than an average of four and five-tenths
percent (4.5%). Upon such occurrence, reactivation shall be effective upon
the first day of the rate year following the event that lifts suspension and
shall be in effect for that year only.
(4) All collections due or accrued prior to any suspension of the Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund will be collected based upon the law at the time the contributions accrued, regardless of when they are actually collected.
SECTION 2. Section 71-5-355, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
71-5-355. (1) As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Tax year" means any period beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 of a year.
(b) "Computation date" means June 30 of any calendar year immediately preceding the tax year during which the particular contribution rates are effective.
(c) "Effective date" means January 1 of the tax year.
(d) Except as hereinafter provided, "payroll" means the total of all wages paid for employment by an employer as defined in Section 71-5-11, subsection H, plus the total of all remuneration paid by such employer excluded from the definition of wages by Section 71-5-351. For the computation of modified rates, "payroll" means the total of all wages paid for employment by an employer as defined in Section 71-5-11, subsection H.
(e) For the computation of modified rates, "eligible employer" means an employer whose experience-rating record has been chargeable with benefits throughout the thirty-six (36) consecutive calendar-month period ending on the computation date, except that any employer who has not been subject to the Mississippi Employment Security Law for a period of time sufficient to meet the thirty-six (36) consecutive calendar-month requirement shall be an eligible employer if his experience-rating record has been chargeable throughout not less than the twelve (12) consecutive calendar-month period ending on the computation date. No employer shall be considered eligible for a contribution rate less than five and four-tenths percent (5.4%) with respect to any tax year, who has failed to file any two (2) quarterly reports within the qualifying period by September 30 following the computation date. No employer or employing unit shall be eligible for a contribution rate of less than five and four-tenths percent (5.4%) for the tax year in which the employing unit is found by the department to be in violation of Section 71-5-19(2) or (3) and for the next two (2) succeeding tax years. No representative of such employing unit who was a party to a violation as described in Section 71-5-19(2) or (3), if such representative was or is an employing unit in this state, shall be eligible for a contribution rate of less than five and four-tenths percent (5.4%) for the tax year in which such violation was detected by the department and for the next two (2) succeeding tax years.
(f) With respect to any tax year, "reserve ratio" means the ratio which the total amount available for the payment of benefits in the Unemployment Compensation Fund, excluding any amount which has been credited to the account of this state under Section 903 of the Social Security Act, as amended, and which has been appropriated for the expenses of administration pursuant to Section 71-5-457 whether or not withdrawn from such account, on October 31 (close of business) of each calendar year bears to the aggregate of the taxable payrolls of all employers for the twelve (12) calendar months ending on June 30 next preceding.
(g) "Modified rates" means the rates of employer unemployment insurance contributions determined under the provisions of this chapter and the rates of newly subject employers, as provided in Section 71-5-353.
(h) For the computation of modified rates, "qualifying period" means a period of not less than the thirty-six (36) consecutive calendar months ending on the computation date throughout which an employer's experience-rating record has been chargeable with benefits; except that with respect to any eligible employer who has not been subject to this article for a period of time sufficient to meet the thirty-six (36) consecutive calendar-month requirement, "qualifying period" means the period ending on the computation date throughout which his experience-rating record has been chargeable with benefits, but in no event less than the twelve (12) consecutive calendar-month period ending on the computation date throughout which his experience-rating record has been so chargeable.
(i) The "exposure criterion" (EC) is defined as the cash balance of the Unemployment Compensation Fund which is available for the payment of benefits as of November 16 of each calendar year or the next working day if November 16 falls on a holiday or a weekend, divided by the total wages, exclusive of wages paid by all state agencies, all political subdivisions, reimbursable nonprofit corporations, and tax-exempt public service employment, for the twelve-month period ending June 30 immediately preceding such date. The EC shall be computed to four (4) decimal places and rounded up if any fraction remains.
(j) The "cost rate criterion" (CRC) is defined as follows: Beginning with January 1974, the benefits paid for the twelve-month period ending December 1974 are summed and divided by the total wages for the twelve-month period ending on June 30, 1975. Similar ratios are computed by subtracting the earliest month's benefit payments and adding the benefits of the next month in the sequence and dividing each sum of twelve (12) months' benefits by the total wages for the twelve-month period ending on the June 30 which is nearest to the final month of the period used to compute the numerator. If December is the final month of the period used to compute the numerator, then the twelve-month period ending the following June 30 will be used for the denominator. Benefits and total wages used in the computation of the cost rate criterion shall exclude all benefits and total wages applicable to state agencies, political subdivisions, reimbursable nonprofit corporations, and tax-exempt PSE employment.
The CRC shall be computed as the average for the highest monthly value of the cost rate criterion computations during each of the economic cycles since the calendar year 1974 as defined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. The CRC shall be computed to four (4) decimal places and any remainder shall be rounded up.
The CRC shall be adjusted only through annual computations and additions of future economic cycles.
(k) "Size of fund index" (SOFI) is defined as the ratio of the exposure criterion (EC) to the cost rate criterion (CRC). The target size of fund index will be fixed at 1.0. If the insured unemployment rate (IUR) exceeds a four and five-tenths percent (4.5%) average for the most recent completed July to June period, the target SOFI will be .8 and will remain at that level until the computed SOFI (the average exposure criterion of the current year and the preceding year divided by the average cost rate criterion) equals 1.0 or the average IUR falls to four and five-tenths percent (4.5%) or less for any period July to June. However, if the IUR falls below two and five-tenths percent (2.5%) for any period July to June the target SOFI shall be 1.2 until such time as the computed SOFI is equal to or greater than 1.0 or the IUR is equal to or greater than two and five-tenths percent (2.5%), at which point the target SOFI shall return to 1.0.
(l) No employer's unemployment contribution rate shall exceed five and four-tenths percent (5.4%), nor, except as otherwise provided in subsection (2)(b)(v)5 of this section, be less than two-tenths of one percent (.2%). For any year the general experience rate computes as an amount less than two-tenths of one percent (.2%) the general experience rate shall be established at two-tenths of one percent (.2%). Accrual rules shall apply for purposes of computing contribution rates including associated functions.
(m) The term "general experience rate" has the same meaning as the minimum tax rate.
(2) Modified rates:
(a) For any tax year, when the reserve ratio on the preceding November 16, in the case of any tax year, equals or exceeds three percent (3%), the modified rates, as hereinafter prescribed, shall be in effect. In computation of this reserve ratio, any remainder shall be rounded down.
(b) Modified rates shall be determined for the tax year for each eligible employer on the basis of his experience-rating record in the following manner:
(i) The department shall maintain an experience-rating record for each employer. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to grant any employer or individuals performing services for him any prior claim or rights to the amounts paid by the employer into the fund.
(ii) Benefits paid to an eligible individual shall be charged against the experience-rating record of his base period employers in the proportion to which the wages paid by each base period employer bears to the total wages paid to the individual by all the base period employers, provided that benefits shall not be charged to an employer's experience-rating record if the department finds that the individual:
1. Voluntarily left the employ of such employer without good cause attributable to the employer or to accept other work;
2. Was discharged by such employer for misconduct connected with his work;
3. Refused an offer of suitable work by such employer without good cause, and the department further finds that such benefits are based on wages for employment for such employer prior to such voluntary leaving, discharge or refusal of suitable work, as the case may be;
4. Had base period wages which included wages for previously uncovered services as defined in Section 71-5-511(e) to the extent that the Unemployment Compensation Fund is reimbursed for such benefits pursuant to Section 121 of Public Law 94-566;
5. Extended benefits paid under the provisions of Section 71-5-541 which are not reimbursable from federal funds shall be charged to the experience-rating record of base period employers;
6. Is still working for such employer on a regular part-time basis under the same employment conditions as hired. Provided, however, that benefits shall be charged against an employer if an eligible individual is paid benefits who is still working for such employer on a part-time "as-needed" basis;
7. Was hired to replace a United States serviceman or servicewoman called into active duty and was laid off upon the return to work by that serviceman or servicewoman, unless such employer is a state agency or other political subdivision or instrumentality of the state;
8. Was paid benefits during any week while in training with the approval of the department, under the provisions of Section 71-5-513B, or for any week while in training approved under Section 236(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, under the provisions of Section 71-5-513C; or
9. Is not
required to serve the one-week waiting period as described in Section 71-5-505(2).
In that event, only the benefits paid in lieu of the waiting period week may be
noncharged * * *;
or
10. Was paid benefits as the result of a fraudulent claim.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, an employer shall not be noncharged when the department finds that the employer or the employer's agent of record was at fault for failing to respond timely or adequately to the request of the department for information relating to an unemployment claim that was subsequently determined to be improperly paid, unless the employer or the employer's agent of record shows good cause for having failed to respond timely or adequately to the request of the department for information. For purposes of this subparagraph "good cause" means an event that prevents the employer or employer's agent of record from timely responding, and includes a natural disaster, emergency or similar event, or an illness on the part of the employer, the employer's agent of record, or their staff charged with responding to such inquiries when there is no other individual who has the knowledge or ability to respond. Any agency error that resulted in a delay in, or the failure to deliver notice to, the employer or the employer's agent of record shall also be considered good cause for purposes of this subparagraph.
(iv) The department shall compute a benefit ratio for each eligible employer, which shall be the quotient obtained by dividing the total benefits charged to his experience-rating record during the period his experience-rating record has been chargeable, but not less than the twelve (12) consecutive calendar-month period nor more than the thirty-six (36) consecutive calendar-month period ending on the computation date, by his total taxable payroll for the same period on which all unemployment insurance contributions due have been paid on or before the September 30 immediately following the computation date. Such benefit ratio shall be computed to the tenth of a percent (.1%), rounding any remainder to the next higher tenth.
(v) 1. The unemployment insurance contribution rate for each eligible employer shall be the sum of two (2) rates: his individual experience rate in the range from zero percent (0%) to five and four-tenths percent (5.4%), plus a general experience rate. In no event shall the resulting unemployment insurance rate be in excess of five and four-tenths percent (5.4%), however, it is the intent of this section to provide the ability for employers to have a tax rate, the general experience rate plus the individual experience rate, of up to five and four-tenths percent (5.4%).
2. The employer's individual experience rate shall be equal to his benefit ratio as computed under subsection (2)(b)(iv) above.
3. The general experience rate shall be determined in the following manner: The department shall determine annually, for the thirty-six (36) consecutive calendar-month period ending on the computation date, the amount of benefits which were not charged to the record of any employer and of benefits which were ineffectively charged to the employer's experience-rating record. For the purposes of this item 3, the term "ineffectively charged benefits" shall include:
a. The total of the amounts of benefits charged to the experience-rating records of all eligible employers which caused their benefit ratios to exceed five and four-tenths percent (5.4%);
b. The total of the amounts of benefits charged to the experience-rating records of all ineligible employers which would cause their benefit ratios to exceed five and four-tenths percent (5.4%) if they were eligible employers; and
c. The total of the amounts of benefits charged or chargeable to the experience-rating record of any employer who has discontinued his business or whose coverage has been terminated within such period; provided, that solely for the purposes of determining the amounts of ineffectively charged benefits as herein defined, a "benefit ratio" shall be computed for each ineligible employer, which shall be the quotient obtained by dividing the total benefits charged to his experience-rating record throughout the period ending on the computation date, during which his experience-rating record has been chargeable with benefits, by his total taxable payroll for the same period on which all unemployment insurance contributions due have been paid on or before the September 30 immediately following the computation date; and provided further, that such benefit ratio shall be computed to the tenth of one percent (.1%) and any remainder shall be rounded to the next higher tenth.
The ratio of the sum of these amounts (subsection (2)(b)(v)3a, b and c) to the taxable wages paid during the same period divided by all eligible employers whose benefit ratio did not exceed five and four-tenths percent (5.4%), computed to the next higher tenth of one percent (.1%), shall be the general experience rate; however, the general experience rate for rate year 2014 shall be two tenths of one percent (.2%) and to that will be added the employer's individual experience rate for the total unemployment insurance rate.
4. a. Except as otherwise provided in this item 4, the general experience rate shall be adjusted by use of the size of fund index factor. This factor may be positive or negative, and shall be determined as follows: From the target SOFI, as defined in subsection (1)(k) of this section, subtract the simple average of the current and preceding years' exposure criterions divided by the cost rate criterion, as defined in subsection (1)(j) of this section. The result is then multiplied by the product of the CRC, as defined in subsection (1)(j) of this section, and total wages for the twelve-month period ending June 30 divided by the taxable wages for the twelve-month period ending June 30. This is the percentage positive or negative added to the general experience rate. The sum of the general experience rate and the trust fund adjustment factor shall be multiplied by fifty percent (50%) and this product shall be computed to one (1) decimal place, and rounded to the next higher tenth.
b. Notwithstanding the minimum rate provisions as set forth in subsection (1)(l) of this section, the general experience rate of all employers shall be reduced by seven one hundredths of one percent (.07%) for calendar year 2013 only.
5.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (2)(b)(v) of this section,
if the general experience rate for any tax year as computed and adjusted on the
basis of the size of fund index is a negative percentage, it shall be
disregarded and the general experience rate for the year shall be two-tenths of
one percent (.2%) except in rate years 2015 and
2016 or years the Mississippi Works Contributions are in effect. In tax years 2015 and 2016 or years the Mississippi
Works Contributions are in effect the general experience rate shall be zero
percent (0%) unless the insured unemployment rate exceeds an average of five
and five-tenths percent (5.5%) for the three (3) consecutive months immediately
preceding the 2016 rate year in which case Mississippi Works Fund collections
shall be suspended as of January 1, 2016, and shall remain suspended throughout
the duration of that rate year. Such suspension shall continue until there are
three (3) consecutive months immediately preceding the effective date of any
subsequent rate year with an insured unemployment rate of less than an average
of four and five-tenths percent (4.5%). When the specified insured
unemployment rate is achieved, the Mississippi Works Fund collections shall
resume for a period of one (1) rate year effective on January 1 of the year
immediately following the period when the insured unemployment rate described
in this paragraph meets the resumption criteria. In no year
shall the general experience rate be less than two-tenths of one percent (.2%)
except as otherwise provided in this item 5, and in all cases the employer's
total rate for unemployment insurance contributions shall be the sum of the
general experience rate plus the employer's individual tax rate. In the event suspension of Mississippi Works Fund
contributions occurs as described in Section 71-5-355(2)(b)(v) 5, the
unemployment insurance general experience rate shall equal the greater of the
computed general experience rate or two-tenths of one percent (.2%) as
described in this section. Upon resumption of Mississippi Works Fund
collections, the general experience rate shall be zero percent (0%) during the
one (1) year period for which the Mississippi Works contribution collections
are resumed. However, the total
contribution rate (including Workforce Enhancement Training and State Workforce
Investment contribution rate) shall not exceed five and four-tenths percent
(5.4%) for the rate year 2014. In order to achieve the maximum tax rate of
five and four-tenths percent (5.4%) for the rate year 2014, the Workforce
Enhancement Training and State Workforce Investment contribution rate shall be
reduced in the amounts necessary to achieve the maximum rate of five and four-tenths
percent (5.4%). If the total rate still exceeds five and four tenths percent
(5.4%), the individual experience rate is the component of the total tax rate
that will then be reduced to achieve the maximum unemployment contribution rate
of five and four-tenths percent (5.4%). For rate years subsequent to 2014, the
individual experience rate is the only component of the total unemployment tax
rate that will be reduced to achieve the maximum unemployment contribution rate
of five and four-tenths percent (5.4%). For rate years subsequent to 2014,
Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund contribution rate * * *, the State Workforce Investment
contribution rate and the Mississippi Works contribution rate shall be
added to the unemployment contribution rate in applicable years,
regardless of whether the addition of this contribution rate causes the total
contribution rate for the employer to exceed five and four-tenths percent
(5.4%).
6. The department shall include in its annual rate notice to employers a brief explanation of the elements of the general experience rate, and shall include in its regular publications an annual analysis of benefits not charged to the record of any employer, and of the benefit experience of employers by industry group whose benefit ratio exceeds four percent (4%), and of any other factors which may affect the size of the general experience rate.
(vi) When any employing unit in any manner succeeds to or acquires the organization, trade, business or substantially all the assets thereof of an employer, excepting any assets retained by such employer incident to the liquidation of his obligations, whether or not such acquiring employing unit was an employer within the meaning of Section 71-5-11, subsection H, prior to such acquisition, and continues such organization, trade or business, the experience-rating and payroll records of the predecessor employer shall be transferred as of the date of acquisition to the successor employer for the purpose of rate determination.
(vii) When any employing unit succeeds to or acquires a distinct and severable portion of an organization, trade or business, the experience-rating and payroll records of such portion, if separately identifiable, shall be transferred to the successor upon:
1. The mutual consent of the predecessor and the successor;
2. Approval of the department;
3. Continued operation of the transferred portion by the successor after transfer; and
4. The execution and the filing with the department by the predecessor employer of a waiver relinquishing all rights to have the experience-rating and payroll records of the transferred portion used for the purpose of determining modified rates of contribution for such predecessor.
(viii) If the successor was an employer subject to this chapter prior to the date of acquisition, it shall continue to pay unemployment insurance contributions at the rate applicable to it from the date the acquisition occurred until the end of the then current tax year. If the successor was not an employer prior to the date of acquisition, it shall pay unemployment insurance contributions at the rate applicable to the predecessor or, if more than one (1) predecessor and the same rate is applicable to both, the rate applicable to the predecessor or predecessors, from the date the acquisition occurred until the end of the then current tax year. If the successor was not an employer prior to the date the acquisition occurred and simultaneously acquires the businesses of two (2) or more employers to whom different rates of unemployment insurance contributions are applicable, it shall pay unemployment insurance contributions from the date of the acquisition until the end of the current tax year at a rate computed on the basis of the combined experience-rating and payroll records of the predecessors as of the computation date for such tax year. In all cases the rate of unemployment insurance contributions applicable to such successor for each succeeding tax year shall be computed on the basis of the combined experience-rating and payroll records of the successor and the predecessor or predecessors.
(ix) The department shall notify each employer quarterly of the benefits paid and charged to his experience-rating record; and such notification, in the absence of an application for redetermination filed within thirty (30) days after the date of such notice, shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the employer for all purposes. A redetermination, made after notice and opportunity for a fair hearing, by a hearing officer designated by the department who shall consider and decide these and related applications and protests; and the finding of fact in connection therewith may be introduced into any subsequent administrative or judicial proceedings involving the determination of the rate of unemployment insurance contributions of any employer for any tax year, and shall be entitled to the same finality as is provided in this subsection with respect to the findings of fact in proceedings to redetermine the contribution rate of an employer.
(x) The department shall notify each employer of his rate of contribution as determined for any tax year as soon as reasonably possible after September 1 of the preceding year. Such determination shall be final, conclusive and binding upon such employer unless, within thirty (30) days after the date of such notice to his last-known address, the employer files with the department an application for review and redetermination of his contribution rate, setting forth his reasons therefor. If the department grants such review, the employer shall be promptly notified thereof and shall be afforded an opportunity for a fair hearing by a hearing officer designated by the department who shall consider and decide these and related applications and protests; but no employer shall be allowed, in any proceeding involving his rate of unemployment insurance contributions or contribution liability, to contest the chargeability to his account of any benefits paid in accordance with a determination, redetermination or decision pursuant to Sections 71-5-515 through 71-5-533 except upon the ground that the services on the basis of which such benefits were found to be chargeable did not constitute services performed in employment for him, and then only in the event that he was not a party to such determination, redetermination, decision or to any other proceedings provided in this chapter in which the character of such services was determined. The employer shall be promptly notified of the denial of this application or of the redetermination, both of which shall become final unless, within ten (10) days after the date of notice thereof, there shall be an appeal to the department itself. Any such appeal shall be on the record before said designated hearing officer, and the decision of said department shall become final unless, within thirty (30) days after the date of notice thereof to the employer's last-known address, there shall be an appeal to the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in accordance with the provisions of law with respect to review of civil causes by certiorari.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following shall apply regarding assignment of rates and transfers of experience:
(a) (i) If an employer transfers its trade or business, or a portion thereof, to another employer and, at the time of the transfer, there is substantially common ownership, management or control of the two (2) employers, then the unemployment experience attributable to the transferred trade or business shall be transferred to the employer to whom such business is so transferred. The rates of both employers shall be recalculated and made effective on January 1 of the year following the year the transfer occurred.
(ii) If, following a transfer of experience under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (a), the department determines that a substantial purpose of the transfer of trade or business was to obtain a reduced liability of unemployment insurance contributions, then the experience-rating accounts of the employers involved shall be combined into a single account and a single rate assigned to such account.
(b) Whenever a person who is not an employer or an employing unit under this chapter at the time it acquires the trade or business of an employer, the unemployment experience of the acquired business shall not be transferred to such person if the department finds that such person acquired the business solely or primarily for the purpose of obtaining a lower rate of unemployment insurance contributions. Instead, such person shall be assigned the new employer rate under Section 71-5-353. In determining whether the business was acquired solely or primarily for the purpose of obtaining a lower rate of unemployment insurance contributions, the department shall use objective factors which may include the cost of acquiring the business, whether the person continued the business enterprise of the acquired business, how long such business enterprise was continued, or whether a substantial number of new employees were hired for performance of duties unrelated to the business activity conducted prior to acquisition.
(c) (i) If a person knowingly violates or attempts to violate paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection or any other provision of this chapter related to determining the assignment of a contribution rate, or if a person knowingly advises another person in a way that results in a violation of such provision, the person shall be subject to the following penalties:
1. If the person is an employer, then such employer shall be assigned the highest rate assignable under this chapter for the rate year during which such violation or attempted violation occurred and the three (3) rate years immediately following this rate year. However, if the person's business is already at such highest rate for any year, or if the amount of increase in the person's rate would be less than two percent (2%) for such year, then a penalty rate of unemployment insurance contributions of two percent (2%) of taxable wages shall be imposed for such year. The penalty rate will apply to the successor business as well as the related entity from which the employees were transferred in an effort to obtain a lower rate of unemployment insurance contributions.
2. If the person is not an employer, such person shall be subject to a civil money penalty of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00). Each such transaction for which advice was given and each occurrence or reoccurrence after notification being given by the department shall be a separate offense and punishable by a separate penalty. Any such fine shall be deposited in the penalty and interest account established under Section 71-5-114.
(ii) For purposes of this paragraph (c), the term "knowingly" means having actual knowledge of or acting with deliberate ignorance or reckless disregard for the prohibition involved.
(iii) For purposes of this paragraph (c), the term "violates or attempts to violate" includes, but is not limited to, intent to evade, misrepresentation or willful nondisclosure.
(iv) In addition to the penalty imposed by subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (c), any violation of this subsection may be punishable by a fine of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) or by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. This subsection shall prohibit prosecution under any other criminal statute of this state.
(d) The department shall establish procedures to identify the transfer or acquisition of a business for purposes of this subsection.
(e) For purposes of this subsection:
(i) "Person" has the meaning given such term by Section 7701(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
(ii) "Employing unit" has the meaning as set forth in Section 71-5-11.
(f) This subsection shall be interpreted and applied in such a manner as to meet the minimum requirements contained in any guidance or regulations issued by the United States Department of Labor.
SECTION 3. Section 71-5-453, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
71-5-453. The department
shall be the treasurer and custodian of the fund, and shall administer such
fund in accordance with the directions of the department, and shall issue its
warrants upon it in accordance with such regulations as the department shall
prescribe. The department shall maintain within the fund three (3) separate
accounts: (a) a clearing account, (b) an unemployment trust fund account, and
(c) a benefit payment account. All monies payable to the fund, upon receipt
thereof by the department, shall be immediately deposited in the clearing
account. Refunds payable pursuant to Section 71-5-383 may be paid from the
clearing account by the department. Transfers pursuant to Section 71-5-114 of
all interest, penalties and damages collected shall be made to the Special
Employment Security Administration Fund as soon as practicable after the end of
each calendar quarter. Workforce Enhancement Training and State Workforce
Investment contributions shall be deposited into the Workforce Investment and
Training Holding Account as described in this section. All other monies in the
clearing account shall be immediately deposited with the Secretary of the
Treasury of the United States of America to the Unemployment Trust Fund account
for the State of Mississippi, established and maintained pursuant to Section
904 of the Social Security Act, as amended, any provisions of law in this state
relating to the deposit, administration, release or disbursement of monies in
the possession or custody of this state to the contrary notwithstanding. The
benefit account shall consist of all monies requisitioned from this state's
account in the Unemployment Trust Fund. Except as herein otherwise provided,
monies in the clearing and benefit accounts may be deposited by the department,
in any bank or public depository in which general funds of the state may be
deposited, but no public deposit insurance charge or premium shall be paid out
of the fund. The department shall be liable for the faithful performance of
its duties in connection with the Unemployment Compensation Fund under this
chapter. A Workforce Investment and Training Holding Account shall be
established by and maintained under the control of the Mississippi Department
of Employment Security. Contributions collected pursuant to the provisions in
this chapter for the Workforce Enhancement Training * * *, State Workforce Investment and
Mississippi Works funds shall be transferred from the clearing account into
the Workforce Investment and Training Holding Account on the same schedule and
under the same conditions as funds transferred to the Unemployment Compensation
Fund. Such funds shall remain on deposit in the holding account for a period
of thirty (30) days. After such period, Workforce Enhancement Training
contributions shall be transferred to the appropriate Mississippi Community
College Board treasury account by the department. The State Workforce
Investment contributions shall be transferred to the State Workforce Investment
Board bank account established by the department, and the department shall have
the authority to deposit and disburse funds from the State Workforce Investment
Board bank account as directed by the State Workforce Investment Board, and
the Mississippi Works contribution shall be transferred to the Mississippi
Department of Employment Security treasury account for Mississippi Work Funds.
Such transfers of these contributions shall occur within fifteen (15)
days after the funds have resided in the Workforce Investment and Training
Holding Account for thirty (30) days. One (1) such transfer shall be made
monthly, but the department, in its discretion, may make additional transfers
in any month. In the event such funds transferred are subsequently determined
to be erroneously paid or collected, or if deposit of such funds is denied or
rejected by the banking institution for any reason, or deposits are unable to
clear drawer's account for any reason, the funds must be reimbursed by the
recipient of such funds within thirty (30) days of mailing of notice by the
department demanding such refund, unless funds are available in the Workforce
Investment and Training Holding Account. In that event such amounts shall be
immediately withdrawn from the Workforce Investment and Training Holding
Account by the department and re-deposited into the clearing account.
SECTION 4. Section 37-153-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-153-7. (1) There is
created the Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board. The Mississippi
State Workforce Investment Board shall be composed of * * * forty-one (41)
voting members, of which a majority shall be representatives of business and industry
in accordance with the federal Workforce Investment Act.
(a) The Governor shall appoint the following members of the board to serve a term of four (4) years:
(i) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors, or his/her designee;
(ii) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Municipal League;
(iii) One (1) elected mayor;
(iv) One (1) * * * representative of
an apprenticeship program in the state;
(v) * * * One (1) representative of labor
organizations, who * * *
has been nominated by state labor federations;
(vi) * * * One (1) representative of
individuals and organizations that * * * has experience with respect to
youth activities;
(vii) One (1) representative of the Mississippi Association of Planning and Development Districts;
(viii) One (1) representative from each of the four (4) workforce areas in the state, who has been nominated by the community colleges in each respective area, with the consent of the elected county supervisors within the respective workforce area; * * *
(ix) The chair of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges; and
( * * *x) * * * Twenty-one (21)
representatives of business owners nominated by business and industry
organizations, which may include representatives of the various planning and
development districts in Mississippi.
(b) The following state officials shall be members of the board:
(i) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security;
(ii) The Executive Director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services;
(iii) The State Superintendent of Public Education;
(iv) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority;
(v) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services;
(vi) The Executive
Director of the Mississippi Community College Board * * *;and
(vii) The Commissioner of the Institutions of Higher Learning.
(c) The Governor, or his designee, shall serve as a member.
(d) Four (4) legislators, who shall serve in a nonvoting capacity, two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor from the membership of the Mississippi Senate, and two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House from the membership of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
(e) The membership of the board shall reflect the diversity of the State of Mississippi.
(f) The Governor shall designate the Chairman of the Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board from among the voting members of the board, and a quorum of the board shall consist of a majority of the voting members of the board.
(g) The voting members of the board who are not state employees shall be entitled to reimbursement of their reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their duties under this chapter, from any funds available for that purpose.
* * *
(2) The Mississippi Department of Employment Security shall establish limits on administrative costs for each portion of Mississippi's workforce development system consistent with the federal Workforce Investment Act or any future federal workforce legislation.
(3) The Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board shall have the following duties:
(a) Develop and submit to the Governor a strategic plan for an integrated state workforce development system that aligns resources and structures the system to more effectively and efficiently meet the demands of Mississippi's employers and job seekers. This plan will comply with the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, as amended, the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 and amendments and successor legislation to these acts;
(b) Assist the Governor in the development and continuous improvement of the statewide workforce investment system that shall include:
(i) Development of linkages in order to assure coordination and nonduplication among programs and activities; and
(ii) Review local workforce development plans that reflect the use of funds from the federal Workforce Investment Act, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act and the amendment or successor legislation to the acts, and the Mississippi Comprehensive Workforce Training and Education Consolidation Act;
(c) Recommend the designation of local workforce investment areas as required in Section 116 of the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act of 2014. There shall be four (4) workforce investment areas that are generally aligned with the planning and development district structure in Mississippi. Planning and development districts will serve as the fiscal agents to manage Workforce Investment Act funds, oversee and support the local workforce investment boards aligned with the area and the local programs and activities as delivered by the one-stop employment and training system. The planning and development districts will perform this function through the provisions of the county cooperative service districts created under Sections 19-3-101 through 19-3-115; however, planning and development districts currently performing this function under the Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1974, Sections 17-13-1 through 17-13-17, may continue to do so;
(d) Assist the Governor in the development of an allocation formula for the distribution of funds for adult employment and training activities and youth activities to local workforce investment areas;
(e) Recommend comprehensive, results-oriented measures that shall be applied to all of Mississippi's workforce development system programs;
(f) Assist the Governor in the establishment and management of a one-stop employment and training system conforming to the requirements of the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act of 2014, as amended, recommending policy for implementing the Governor's approved plan for employment and training activities and services within the state. In developing this one-stop career operating system, the Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board, in conjunction with local workforce investment boards, shall:
(i) Design broad guidelines for the delivery of workforce development programs;
(ii) Identify all existing delivery agencies and other resources;
(iii) Define appropriate roles of the various agencies to include an analysis of service providers' strengths and weaknesses;
(iv) Determine the best way to utilize the various agencies to deliver services to recipients; and
(v) Develop a financial plan to support the delivery system that shall, at a minimum, include an accountability system;
(g) Assist the Governor in reducing duplication of services by urging the local workforce investment boards to designate the local community/junior college as the operator of the WIN Job Center. Incentive grants of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) from federal Workforce Investment Act funds may be awarded to the local workforce boards where the community/junior college district is designated as the WIN Job Center. These grants must be provided to the community and junior colleges for the extraordinary costs of coordinating with the Workforce Investment Act, advanced technology centers and advanced skills centers. In no case shall these funds be used to supplant state resources being used for operation of workforce development programs;
(h) To provide authority, in accordance with any executive order of the Governor, for developing the necessary collaboration among state agencies at the highest level for accomplishing the purposes of this chapter;
(i) To monitor the effectiveness of the workforce development centers and WIN job centers;
(j) To advise the Governor, public schools, community/junior colleges and institutions of higher learning on effective school-to-work transition policies and programs that link students moving from high school to higher education and students moving between community colleges and four-year institutions in pursuit of academic and technical skills training;
(k) To work with industry to identify barriers that inhibit the delivery of quality workforce education and the responsiveness of educational institutions to the needs of industry;
(l) To provide periodic assessments on effectiveness and results of the overall Mississippi comprehensive workforce development system and district councils; and
(m) To assist the Governor in carrying out any other responsibility required by the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, as amended and the Workforce Innovations and Opportunity Act, successor legislation and amendments.
(4) The Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board shall coordinate all training programs and funds in the State of Mississippi.
Each state agency director responsible for workforce training activities shall advise the Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board of appropriate federal and state requirements. Each such state agency director shall remain responsible for the actions of his agency; however, each state agency and director shall work cooperatively, and shall be individually and collectively responsible to the Governor for the successful implementation of the statewide workforce investment system. The Governor, as the Chief Executive Officer of the state, shall have complete authority to enforce cooperation among all entities within the state that utilize federal or state funding for the conduct of workforce development activities.
(5) The State Workforce Investment Board shall establish a Rules Committee. The Rules Committee, in consultation with the full board, shall be designated as the body with the sole authority to promulgate rules and regulations for distribution of Mississippi Works Funds created in Section 71-5-353. The State Workforce Investment Board Rules Committee shall develop and submit rules and regulations in accordance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Act, within sixty(60) days of the effective date of this act. The State Workforce Investment Board Rules Committee shall consist of the following State Workforce Investment Board members:
(a) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority;
(b) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security;
(c) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board;
(d) The Chair of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges;
(e) The Chair of the State Workforce Investment Board;
(f) The Commissioner of the Institutions of Higher Learning;
(g) A business representative currently serving on the board, selected by the Chairman of the State Workforce Investment Board; and
(h) Two (2) legislators, who shall serve in a nonvoting capacity, one (1) of whom shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor from the membership of the Mississippi Senate and one (1) of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from the membership of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
(6) The Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board shall create and implement performance metrics for the Mississippi Works Fund to determine the added value to the local and state economy and the contribution to the future growth of the state economy. A report on the performance of the fund shall be made to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House of Representatives annually, throughout the life of the fund.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.