Sen. David Parker

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates funding for the Mississippi Department of Employment Security to cover its expenses for the 2025 fiscal year. It allocates money from the State General Fund and the Unemployment Trust Fund to support staff salaries, operational costs, and specific programs like One-Stop Career Centers and unemployment compensation administration. The legislation also establishes rules for hiring, limits salary increases to new hires only, and grants preference to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind when purchasing goods or services. Additionally, it sets aside specific amounts for data systems, workforce training initiatives, and administrative support.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi bill appropriates $20 million from the state's Capital Expense Fund to support the construction and renovation of the CARES Center, a facility for children and youth psychiatric treatment. The funds are designated for a subgrant to Canopy Children's Solutions, which must agree to reserve at least 33 beds for patients under state care and meet specific health regulatory standards. To protect state investment, the legislation requires Canopy to provide a financial security interest in the facility and allows the state to recoup the funds if the facility fails to meet standards for three consecutive months or ceases operations. Additionally, the bill explicitly prohibits using these funds to pay employee premium payments and releases the state from any future obligation to maintain the center if the agreement is breached.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates over $120 million from various state funds to cover the administrative expenses of the Mississippi Community College Board for the 2025 fiscal year. The funding supports a range of specific programs, including workforce training, industrial training, the Mississippi Virtual Community College, and the administration of proprietary school regulations. Additionally, the legislation authorizes 46 permanent staff positions and allocates money for facility repairs, equipment upgrades, and the Greenville Higher Education Center. The bill also includes provisions to prioritize purchases from the Mississippi Industries for the Blind and sets guidelines for future budget requests and industrial training commitments.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new rules for how long hospitals, doctors, and dentists in Mississippi must keep patient medical records. It requires general records to be stored for at least ten years and specific items like X-rays to be kept for a minimum of three years. Additionally, the law mandates that parents or guardians of minors under eighteen can request access to these records without needing the minor's permission. These changes apply to all licensed medical and dental facilities in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new trust fund to provide death benefits to Mississippi law enforcement officers and firefighters who die or suffer fatal injuries while performing official duties. It increases the base death benefit payment to $150,000 and allows for an additional $25,000 per child, with a maximum total payout of $250,000, while also authorizing up to $15,000 for funeral expenses. The legislation creates a separate fund for training and equipment grants, directing any money remaining in the death benefits trust after maintaining a $4 million minimum balance to support enhanced training or safety gear for covered individuals.

Maddy summaryThe SAFER Act establishes new state laws in Mississippi that require public schools and universities to maintain separate restrooms, changing facilities, and student housing spaces for males and females. Under this legislation, these areas must be designated exclusively for one sex or configured as single-occupant or family-use rooms with secure locks to ensure privacy. The law also restricts entry into these spaces, allowing access only for specific reasons such as assisting young children, responding to emergencies, or performing official government duties. Additionally, the bill defines terms like "female" and "male" based solely on biological sex determined at birth and mandates that social fraternities and sororities on public land adhere to these single-sex housing definitions.

Maddy summarySB 3016 appropriates state funds to support the operation of Mississippi's public community and junior colleges for the 2025 fiscal year. The bill allocates money from the State General Fund and special funds to cover general operating expenses, employee life and health insurance, workforce development programs, and technology initiatives. Funding distribution is based on a formula that considers student enrollment and specific program types, including academic, technical, and nursing degrees. The legislation also authorizes the Mississippi Community College Board to provide temporary financial advances to colleges that lack sufficient funds to operate until state appropriations are distributed.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how the Mississippi Public Employees' Retirement System collects contributions from employers by canceling a previously scheduled rate increase for July 2024 and replacing it with a gradual one-half percent hike each year from 2024 through 2028. To ensure these financial decisions are well-founded, the law requires the retirement board to submit at least two independent actuarial assessments before recommending any changes to employer contributions, with the final authority to implement those changes resting solely with the Legislature. Additionally, the legislation explicitly states that no current retirees or members will lose any benefits they have already earned, while expressing an intent to create a new tier for future members during the 2025 legislative session to help maintain the system's long-term stability.