Appropriation; Department of Employment Security for funding Paramedic Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Program.

HB 658 allocates $800,000 from Mississippi's general fund to fund scholarships for paramedic students through the Paramedics Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Program. The money will support education costs for individuals training to become paramedics in Mississippi during the 2027 fiscal year (July 2026-June 2027). The Mississippi Department of Employment Security will administer these funds on behalf of the Office of Workforce Development. This program directly assists prospective paramedics by reducing financial barriers to education and training.