SB 2848 — ARPA programs; revise related programs, provide procedure of unobligated funds, and transfer certain funds.

(g) "Project" means the infrastructure improvements defined in an application that (i) complies with all requirements of ARPA, and (ii) is eligible for a grant award under this section.

(4) (a) On or before July 1, 2022, the Department of Environmental Quality shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer the MCWI Grant Program prescribed under this section, including application procedures and deadlines.

The department is exempt from compliance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law in fulfilling the requirements of this section.

(b) The Department of Health shall advise the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality regarding all such rules and regulations as related to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

(5) Funding under the MCWI Grant Program shall be allocated to projects certified by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality as eligible for federal funding, including, but not be limited to, the following:

2848 *SS36/R375CS**SS26/R375SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS24/SS26/R375SG PAGE 53 (a)(c) ConstructionA ofcurrent publiclyrelevant ownedMississippi treatmentprofessional works;license;

(b)and Projects(d) pursuantOutstanding toqualifying educational loans, received at any point during the implementationrecipients ofpostsecondary aeducation nonpointcareer, sourcewhich pollutionmay managementinclude programthe establishedprincipal, underinterest and related expenses such as the Cleanrequired Waterinterest Actpremium (CWA);on the unpaid balances of government and commercial loans obtained by the recipient for educational expense.

(c)(3) DecentralizedPersons wastewaterwho treatmenthave systemsreceived thatfunds treatfrom municipalstate-forgivable wastewaterloan programs established under Mississippi law, or domesticwho sewage;are in default or delinquent on any federal, state, local or commercial qualifying educational loan, shall not be eligible for this program.

(d)(4) ManagementRecipients andin treatmentthe ofprogram stormwatershall orbe subsurfaceselected drainageon water;a first-come, first-served basis from all eligible applicants.

(e)The WaterMississippi conservation,Postsecondary efficiency,Education orFinancial reuseAssistance measures;Board shall renew eligible applicants approved in prior years only if the renewal applicant continues to meet the standards set forth in this act, and the renewal applicant has not received full funding provided by this subsection (4).

(f)(5) DevelopmentAwards andfor implementationrecipients ofwho are employed at a conservationskilled andnursing managementhome planor undera licensed general acute care hospital in the CWA;state may be a maximum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) for each year of employment up to three (3) years.

(g) Watershed projects meeting the criteria set forth in the CWA;

(h) Energy consumption reduction for publicly owned treatment works;

(i) Reuse or recycling of wastewater, stormwater, or subsurface drainage water;

(j) Facilities to improve drinking water quality;

(k) Transmission and distribution, including improvements of water pressure or prevention of contamination in infrastructure and lead service line replacements;

(l) New sources to replace contaminated drinking water or increase drought resilience, including aquifer storage and recovery system for water storage;

2848 *SS36/R375CS**SS26/R375SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS24/SS26/R375SG PAGE 64 (m)(6) StorageA recipient shall not be penalized for ending employment at a skilled nursing home or a licensed general acute care hospital in the State of drinkingMississippi water,if suchthe asrecipient tobegins preventworking contaminantsfor another skilled nursing home or equalizelicensed watergeneral demands;acute care hospital in the State of Mississippi during the year on which the award is based.

(n)(7) PurchaseAwards ofshall waterbe systemsgranted on a year-to-year basis, and interconnectionrecipients ofhave systems;no obligation to seek a subsequent award.

(o)(8) NewAwards communityshall waterbe systems;paid annually, after the expiration of the year of employment for which the award was granted, to the recipient's lender or loan service provider, to be applied to the outstanding balance.

(p)Monies Culvertpaid repair,by resizing,the andrecipient removal,or replacementon ofthe stormrecipient's sewers,behalf andtoward additionalqualifying typeseducational loans before payment of stormwaterthe infrastructure;award shall not be eligible for reimbursement through the program.

(q)(9) DamDuring andthe reservoiremployment rehabilitation,year iffor which the primaryaward purposeis ofgranted, dama orrecipient reservoirshall isat forall drinkingtimes waterkeep supplythe andState projectFinancial isAid necessaryBoard forinformed of any changes to the provisionrecipient's ofcurrent, drinkingcorrect water;and complete employment information and status.

(r)(10) BroadRecipients, setwho offail leadto remediationmaintain projectsa eligiblerelevant underMississippi EPAprofessional grantlicense programsor authorizedfail byto fulfill the Wateryear Infrastructureof Improvementsemployment foron which the Nationaward (WIIN)was Act;based, forfeit any right to the award.

and(11) (s)The AnyMississippi eligiblePostsecondary drinkingEducation water,Financial wastewaterAssistance orBoard, stormwaterin projectcollaboration throughwith ARPAthe guidelines,State guidance,Board rules,of regulationsNursing and any other criteria,applicable asstate mayagency beas amendeddetermined from time to time, by the UnitedS. States Department of the Treasury.

(6) The governing authority of a municipality, county or public utility that is not regulated by the Public Service Commission may submit an application for grant funds under this section if the applicant is an operator-member of Mississippi 811, Inc., as defined in Section 77-13-3.

Applicants shall certify to the department that each expenditure of the funds awarded to them under this section is in compliance with ARPA guidelines, S.

2848 *SS36/R375CS**SS26/R375SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS24/SS26/R375SG PAGE 75 guidance,Mississippi rules,Postsecondary regulationsEducation andFinancial otherAssistance criteria,Board, asshall mayattempt beto amendedtrack fromaward timerecipients tounder time,this byprogram thethrough Unitedtheir Statesthird Departmentemployment ofyear, unless the Treasuryrecipient regardingleaves theemployment useat ofa moniesskilled fromnursing thehome Stateor Coronavirusa Statelicensed Fiscalgeneral Recoveryacute Funds.care hospital in the state at an earlier date.

SubsequentData submissionscollected willshall beinclude dueeach byrecipients' place of employment and any other pertinent information necessary to determine the datesefficacy establishedof bythe program in retaining nurses in skilled nursing homes or licensed general acute care hospitals in the department.State of Mississippi.

(7)(12) AnThe applicationMississippi forPostsecondary aEducation grantFinancial underAssistance thisBoard section shall bepromulgate submittedregulations atnecessary suchfor time,the beproper inadministration suchof form,this andsection, containincluding suchsetting informationa asfiscal year policy for the departmentprogram prescribes.and application dates and deadlines.

Each(13) applicationThis forsection grant funds shall includestand therepealed followingon atJuly a1, minimum:2027.

(a) applicant contact information;

(b) project description and type of project;

(c) project map;

(d) estimate of population affected by the project;

(e) disadvantaged community criteria (population, median household income, unemployment, current water/sewer rates);

(f) estimated project cost;

(g) list of match funds of direct Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds received and to be received from the federal government, a certification that such funds have been or will be used for the project detailed in the application, and documentation of commitment;

(h) estimated project schedule and readiness to proceed;

(i) engineering services agreement;

(j) engineering reports;

and (k) information about status of obtaining any required permits.

(8) The department must apply a system for use in ranking the grant applications received, unless the Legislature funds all eligible grant requests under the program.

When applying the ranking system, the department shall apply a greater weight to S.

B.

No.

2848 *SS36/R375CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS PAGE 8 projects that have approved engineering/design, plans and permits if the department has deemed the project is ready to begin construction within six (6) months.

Projects that are included on the municipal or county engineer's approved list and provide applicable supporting documentation shall receive additional consideration awarded to the application.

The ranking system shall include the following factors, at a minimum:

(a) the environmental impact of the proposed project;

(b) the proposed project's ability to address noncompliance with state/federal requirements;

(c) the extent to which the project promotes economic development;

(d) the number of people served by the project and the number of communities the project serves;

(e) impacts of the proposed project on disadvantaged/overburdened communities;

(f) the grant applicant's prior efforts to secure funding to address the proposed project's objectives;

(g) the grant applicant's proposed contribution of other funds or in-kind cost-sharing to the proposed project;

(h) the grant applicant's long-term plans for the financial and physical operation and maintenance of the project;

(i) the grant applicant's capacity to initiate construction in a timely manner and complete the proposed project by the deadline specified by the United States Department of Treasury rules for ARPA funds;

(j) the extent to which the project benefits multiple political subdivisions in a regional manner;

(k) the project's ability to enhance public service S.

B.

No.

2848 *SS36/R375CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS PAGE 9 infrastructure, including transportation and emergency access;

and (l) any other factors as determined by the department.

(9) The grant program shall include a specific emphasis on addressing the needs of an economically disadvantaged community, including providing safe, reliable drinking water in areas that lack infrastructure, providing sewage treatment capacity in unsewered areas and providing regional development of infrastructure to serve multiple communities.

(10) Applications shall be reviewed and scored as they are received, unless the Legislature funds all eligible grant requests under the program.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality shall certify whether each project submitted is a "necessary investment" in water, wastewater, or stormwater infrastructure as defined in the American Rescue Plan Act and all applicable guidance issued by the United States Department of the Treasury.

The Department of Environmental Quality shall review the lists of recommended water infrastructure projects and issue its list of recommended projects to the Mississippi Department of Health for its advice.

Grant agreements shall be executed between the recipient and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.

All final awards shall be determined at the discretion of the executive director of the department.

Any funds awarded to the City of Jackson under this section shall be deposited in the Capital City Water/Sewer Projects Fund of the State Treasury.

Funds shall be obligated to a grantee upon the execution of a S.

B.

No.

2848 *SS36/R375CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS PAGE 10 grant agreement between the department and the approved applicant.

Funds shall be made available to a grantee when the department obtains the necessary support for reimbursement.

The department is authorized to conduct additional rounds of grants as needed;

however, in the first round no more than forty percent (40%) of the total funds appropriated for each grant program may be awarded by the department, and the remaining funds may be awarded in the final round which shall occur no later than six (6) months from the previous round.

To ensure equitable treatment between the categories of projects, no less than twenty percent (20%) awarded under this section shall be allocated to each of the three (3) categories of drinking water projects, wastewater projects and stormwater projects.

In the final round, any funds not requested may be allocated to any category.

(11) Grant funds shall be used prospectively;

however, grant funds may be used to reimburse expenses incurred before the enactment of this program if the costs are adequately documented and comply with applicable ARPA guidelines.

An applicant must agree to obtain all necessary state and federal permits and follow all state bidding and contracting laws and fiscally sound practices in the administration of the funds.

(12) (a) Monies must be disbursed under this section in compliance with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from S.

B.

No.

2848 *SS36/R375CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS PAGE 11 the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, established by the American Rescue Plan of 2021.

(b) The use of funds allocated under this program shall be subject to audit by the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Inspector General and the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor.

Each person receiving funds under these programs found to be fully or partially noncompliant with the requirements in this section shall return to the state all or a portion of the funds received.

(13) The department shall submit to the Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, House and Senate Appropriations Chairmen, and the Legislative Budget Office quarterly reports and annual reports that are due by the dates established in the Compliance and Reporting Guidance by the United States Department of Treasury.

The reports shall contain the applications received, the score of the applications, the amount of grant funds awarded to each applicant, the amount of grant funds expended by each applicant, and status of each applicant's project.

The score of the applications is not required if the award was provided in the final round of grants and the Legislature provided the total amount of funds for all eligible grant requests.

(14) Grant funds shall be available under this section through December 31, 2026, or on the date of the fund expenditure deadline provided by the federal government, whichever occurs later.

Each grant recipient shall certify for any project for S.

B.

No.

2848 *SS36/R375CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS PAGE 12 which a grant is awarded that if the project is not completed by December 31, 2026, and the United States Congress does not enact an extension of the deadline on the availability of ARPA funds, then the grant recipient will complete the project through other funds.

(15) The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality may retain an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of the total funds allocated to the program to defray administrative costs.

(16) The department shall be exempt from provisions of the Public Procurement Review Board for any requirements of personal or professional service contracts or the pre-approval of the solicitation for such contracts used in the execution of its responsibilities under this section.

This subsection shall stand repealed on January 1, 2026.

(17) The provisions of this section shall stand repealed on January 1, 2027.

Section 41-3-16.1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is broughtamended forward as follows:

(1) (a) The State Department of Health (department) shall establish a grant program to be known as the ARPA Rural Water Associations Infrastructure Grant Program (program) to assist rural water associations and entities in the construction of eligible drinking water infrastructure projects as provided in the Final Rule for the Coronavirus State and Local S.Fiscal Recovery Funds as established by the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

S.

2848 *SS36/R375CS**SS26/R375SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS24/SS26/R375SG PAGE 136 Fiscal(b) RecoveryRural Fundswater asassociations establishedand byany entity that received funding under the federalARPA AmericanRural RescueWater PlanAssociations ActInfrastructure (ARPA).Grant Program or the Mississippi Municipality and County Water Infrastructure (MCWI) Grant Program before April 14, 2023, shall be ineligible for additional grants under this section.

(b) Rural water associations and any entity that received funding under the ARPA Rural Water Associations Infrastructure Grant Program or the Mississippi Municipality and County Water Infrastructure (MCWI) Grant Program before April 14, 2023, shall be ineligible for additional grants under this section.

(e) impacts of the proposed S.project on disadvantaged/overburdened communities;

(f) the grant applicant's prior efforts to secure funding to address the S.

2848 *SS36/R375CS**SS26/R375SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS24/SS26/R375SG PAGE 147 projectproposed onproject's disadvantaged/objectives; overburdened communities;

(f) the grant applicant's prior efforts to secure funding to address the proposed project's objectives;

(6) (a) Upon the approval of an application for a grant under this section, the department shall enter into a project S.grant agreement with each grantee to establish the terms of the grant for the project, including the amount of the grant.

S.

2848 *SS36/R375CS**SS26/R375SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS24/SS26/R375SG PAGE 158 grant(b) agreement(i) withFor eachthe granteefirst toaward establishof grants, the termsmaximum amount of thefunds grantthat formay thebe project,provided includingto theany amountrural ofwater association or entity from all grants under the grant.program is Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000.00).

(b) (i) For the first award of grants, the maximum amount of funds that may be provided to any rural water association or entity from all grants under the program is Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000.00).

(7) TheWith any funds appropriated to the department shallfor havethe allprogram powersafter necessaryApril 1, 2024, the department shall distribute the funds to implementprojects from the second round of grant awards in the order in which the applications were ranked for grants as long as the department determines that the project can obligate the funds by October 1, 2024, and administerexpend the program.funds by December 31, 2026.

OfWhere the department determines that a project cannot obligate or expend the funds appropriatedby tothe required dates, the department forshall not fund the program,project, notand moreit thanshall fivecontinue percentfrom (5%)the maysecond beround usedof bygrant awards in the departmentorder toin coverwhich the department'sapplications costswere ofranked administeringfor thegrants. program.

(8) In carrying out its responsibilities under the program, for any contract under the purview of the Public Procurement Review Board (PPRB), the department shall be exempt from any requirement that the PPRB approve any personal or professional S.

2848 *SS36/R375CS**SS26/R375SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS24/SS26/R375SG PAGE 169 services( contracts* or* pre-approve*8) anyThe solicitationdepartment ofshall suchhave contracts.all powers necessary to implement and administer the program.

Of the funds appropriated to the department for the program, not more than five percent (5%) may be used by the department to cover the department's costs of administering the program.

( * * *9) In carrying out its responsibilities under the program, for any contract under the purview of the Public Procurement Review Board (PPRB), the department shall be exempt from any requirement that the PPRB approve any personal or professional services contracts or pre-approve any solicitation of such contracts.

(9)( * * *10) The department shall submit an annual report regarding the program no later than December 31 of each year to the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.

(10)( * * *11) For the purposes of this section, "entity" means:

(d) "Entity" under this subsection does not include any state agency.

No state agency shall be eligible under this program.

SECTION 4.

Section 41-9-371, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

41-9-371.

(1) There is established the Mississippi Hospital Sustainability Grant Program which shall be administered by the State Department of Health.

(2) In order to strengthen, improve and preserve access to Mississippi hospital care services for all Mississippians and in S.

B.

No.

2848 *SS36/R375CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS PAGE 17 recognition of the challenges incurred by Mississippi hospitals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, funds from the program shall be distributed, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to each hospital licensed by the State of Mississippi, except for hospitals operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and hospitals operated by the State Department of Mental Health.

Licensed specialty hospitals that are recognized as such by the State Department of Health, except for those excluded under this subsection, are eligible for grants under the program.

(3) The department shall distribute grants to each eligible hospital based upon the following formula:

(a) Each hospital that has fewer than one hundred (100) licensed beds and that is not classified as a critical access hospital that operates an emergency department shall be eligible to receive Six Hundred Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($625,000.00) to defray the costs of providing emergency department services.

(b) Each rural hospital that has fewer than one hundred (100) licensed beds and that is classified as a critical access hospital that operates an emergency department shall be eligible to receive Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) to defray the costs of providing emergency department services.

(c) Each hospital that operates an emergency department and that has more than one hundred (100) licensed beds shall be eligible to receive One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00).

2848 *SS36/R375CS**SS26/R375SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS24/SS26/R375SG PAGE 1810 (d) Each"Entity" hospitalunder withthis fewersubsection thandoes twonot hundredinclude (200)any licensedstate bedsagency. with the majority of such beds being dedicated to providing specialty services such as women's health services, long-term acute care, rehabilitation or psychiatric services shall be eligible to receive Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00).

(e)No Eachstate ruralagency hospital with fewer than one hundred (100) licensed beds with no emergency department shall be eligible tounder receivethis Threeprogram. Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) to defray the costs of providing access to hospital care in rural communities.

(f)SECTION In4. addition to the funds provided in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this subsection, each small rural hospital with fifty (50) beds or less which operated an emergency department shall be eligible to receive Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) to defray the costs of providing access to hospital care in rural communities.

(g)(1) InThe additionLegislature, tobased theupon fundscurrent distributedUnited inStates paragraphsTreasury (a)guidance, throughhas (c)determined andthat (e)all throughCoronavirus (f)State ofFiscal thisRecovery subsection,Funds anymust remaining funds appropriated for the purposes of this grant program shall be distributedobligated toby hospitalsDecember receiving31, funds2024, in paragraphs (a) through (c) and (e)expended through (f) of this subsection on a pro rata amount by dividingDecember the31, total2026. amount of the remaining funds by the number of licensed beds attributable to all licensed Mississippi hospitals except for licensed beds attributable to S.

(2) (a) In order to meet the obligation deadline set forth by the United States Treasury, the State Fiscal Officer shall determine the amount of Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds appropriated to various agencies that will not be obligated as of October 1, 2024.

(b) In making the determination required by this section, the State Fiscal Officer shall use the guidance released by the United States Treasury to determine if the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds are not obligated.

(3) If at any time during the period from passage of this act to October 1, 2024, a state agency determines that Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds will not be obligated by October 1, 2024, the state agency shall notify the State Fiscal Officer.

(4) If at any time the State Fiscal Officer determines that funds will be unobligated as of October 1, 2024, under subsection (2) or (3) of this section, the State Treasurer, in coordination with the State Fiscal Officer, shall transfer these funds to the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (Fund No.

682111300) by no S.

2848 *SS36/R375CS**SS26/R375SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS24/SS26/R375SG PAGE 1911 hospitalslater describedthan inOctober paragraph5, (d)2024. of this subsection and for licensed beds attributable to hospitals operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and hospitals operated by the State Department of Mental Health and determining a dollar amount for each bed, and then multiplying that dollar amount by the number of licensed beds of that hospital.

(4) The departmentState shallFiscal adoptOfficer suchmay reasonableretain rulesan asamount necessarynot forto exceed the administrationlesser of the program,estimated butcost shallof notARPA placeadministration additionalor qualificationTwenty-five requirementsMillion onDollars hospitals($25,000,000.00) otherin than the minimumCoronavirus requirementsState inFiscal thisRecovery section.Fund to be utilized for administrative and reporting costs.

(5)No Thelater Mississippithan HospitalOctober Association6, shall2024, form a work group to review the deliveryState ofTreasurer, hospital services in Mississippiconjunction andwith shall make recommendations regarding the changesState neededFiscal toOfficer, sustainshall accesstransfer to hospital care to the Lieutenantfunds Governor, Speaker of the House, Chairmen of the House and Senate Public Health Committees with copies to the GovernorARPA-MDOT andMaintenance theProject StateFund. Health Officer.

SectionThere 37-106-64,is Mississippicreated Codein ofthe 1972,State isTreasury broughta forwardspecial fund to be designated as follows:the "ARPA-MDOT Maintenance Project Fund," which shall consist of funds made available by the Legislature in any manner and funds from any other source designated for deposit into such fund.

37-106-64.The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.

(1)Unexpended Thereamounts isremaining establishedin the "Skilledfund Nursingat Homethe andend Hospitalof Nursesa Retentionfiscal Loanyear Repaymentshall Program"not forlapse newinto nursingthe graduatesState toGeneral beFund, administeredand byany investment earnings or interest earned on amounts in the Mississippifund Postsecondaryshall Educationbe Financialdeposited Assistanceto Board.the credit of the fund.

(2)Monies Subjectin tothe fund shall be used by the availabilityDepartment of funds,Transportation anfor eligible applicantSurface forTransportation anmaintenance initialprojects awardincluded mustin have:the Maintenance Program of the Three-Year Plan as adopted by, amended by, or reissued by the Mississippi Transportation Commission under the authority of Section 65-1-141.

The Department of Transportation may escalate its budget upon receiving Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds and expend such S.

2848 *SS36/R375CS**SS26/R375SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS24/SS26/R375SG PAGE 2012 (a)funds Legalin residencyaccordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the Stateescalation of Mississippi;federal funds.

(b)The GainedDepartment employmentof withinTransportation theshall lastdetermine yearif fora theproject firstis timeeligible asbased aupon full-timeSection licensed602 practicalof nursethe orfederal licensedSocial registeredSecurity nurseAct atas aadded skilledby nursingSection home9901 inof the Statefederal American Rescue Plan Act of Mississippi2021 or(ARPA) aand generalits acuteimplementing careguidelines, hospitalguidance, inrules, theregulations Stateand/or ofother Mississippicriteria, thatas ismay licensedbe amended or supplemented from time to time, by the MississippiUnited StateStates Department of Health;the Treasury, including, but not limited to, Federal Register Volume 88, Issue 181, September 20, 2023, which allows for Surface Transportation projects.

(c) A current relevant Mississippi professional license;

and (d) Outstanding qualifying educational loans, received at any point during the recipients postsecondary education career, which may include the principal, interest and related expenses such as the required interest premium on the unpaid balances of government and commercial loans obtained by the recipient for educational expense.

(3) Persons who have received funds from state-forgivable loan programs established under Mississippi law, or who are in default or delinquent on any federal, state, local or commercial qualifying educational loan, shall not be eligible for this program.

(4) Recipients in the program shall be selected on a first-come, first-served basis from all eligible applicants.

The Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board shall renew eligible applicants approved in prior years only if the renewal applicant continues to meet the standards set forth in S.

B.

No.

2848 *SS36/R375CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS PAGE 21 this act, and the renewal applicant has not received full funding provided by this subsection (4).

(5) Awards for recipients who are employed at a skilled nursing home or a licensed general acute care hospital in the state may be a maximum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) for each year of employment up to three (3) years.

(6) A recipient shall not be penalized for ending employment at a skilled nursing home or a licensed general acute care hospital in the State of Mississippi if the recipient begins working for another skilled nursing home or licensed general acute care hospital in the State of Mississippi during the year on which the award is based.

(7) Awards shall be granted on a year-to-year basis, and recipients have no obligation to seek a subsequent award.

(8) Awards shall be paid annually, after the expiration of the year of employment for which the award was granted, to the recipient's lender or loan service provider, to be applied to the outstanding balance.

Monies paid by the recipient or on the recipient's behalf toward qualifying educational loans before payment of the award shall not be eligible for reimbursement through the program.

(9) During the employment year for which the award is granted, a recipient shall at all times keep the State Financial Aid Board informed of any changes to the recipient's current, correct and complete employment information and status.

S.

B.

No.

2848 *SS36/R375CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS PAGE 22 (10) Recipients who fail to maintain a relevant Mississippi professional license or fail to fulfill the year of employment on which the award was based forfeit any right to the award.

(11) The Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board, in collaboration with the State Board of Nursing and any other applicable state agency as determined by the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board, shall attempt to track award recipients under this program through their third employment year, unless the recipient leaves employment at a skilled nursing home or a licensed general acute care hospital in the state at an earlier date.

Data collected shall include each recipients' place of employment and any other pertinent information necessary to determine the efficacy of the program in retaining nurses in skilled nursing homes or licensed general acute care hospitals in the State of Mississippi.

(12) The Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board shall promulgate regulations necessary for the proper administration of this section, including setting a fiscal year policy for the program and application dates and deadlines.

(13) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2027.

(1) (a) The State Fiscal Officer shall determine the amount of Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds appropriated to various agencies that will not be obligated as of November 1, 2024.

S.

B.

No.

2848 *SS36/R375CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS PAGE 23 (b) In making the determination required by this subsection, the State Fiscal Officer shall use the criteria released by the United States Treasury to determine if the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds are not obligated.

(2) If at any time during the period from passage of this act to November 1, 2024, a state agency determines that Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds will not be obligated by November 1, 2024, the state agency shall notify the State Fiscal Officer.

(3) If at any time the State Fiscal Officer determines that funds will be unobligated as of November 1, 2024, under subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the State Treasurer, in coordination with the State Fiscal Officer, shall transfer these funds to the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (Fund No.

682111300) by no later than November 5, 2024.

No later than November 6, 2024, the State Treasurer, in conjunction with the State Fiscal Officer, shall transfer the funds to the following funds:

SECTION 7.

FUND FUND NUMBER AMOUNT Mississippi Municipal and County Water Infrastructure Fund 68221470006822147000...........$ $25,265,726.00 28,557,785.00ARPA- Tourism Fund 6822113300...........$ 861,050.00 Mississippi Hospital Sustainability Grant Program Fund 6822130500...........$ 39,460,629.00 MH SB Corona State Fiscal S.

2848 *SS36/R375CS**SS26/R375SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS24/SS26/R375SG PAGE 2413 ARPA-MississippiRec IndependentFunds SchoolARPA Infra Grant Fund 68221134006822437100...........$ $29,384,500.00 10,000,000.00 Mississippi Hospital Sustainability Grant Program Fund 6822130500 $ 36,458,878.00 MDCPS American Rescue Plan Act Fund 6822166100 $ 15,607,348.00 Trial Judges-ARPA 2021- (CPS) Fund 6822105100 $ 1,500,000.00 MH SBCO Corona State Fiscal Rec Funds ARPA Fund 68224371006822337100...........$ $18,057,096.00 29,384,500.00Mississippi MHLaw COEnforcement Coronaand StateFire FiscalFighters RecPremium FundsPay ARPA Fund 68223371006822171100...........$ $3,316,000.00 18,250,000.00 Trial Judges-ARPA 2021- Temporary(CPS) Courts Fund 68221052006822105100...........$ $1,500,000.00 1,589,094.00Trial MississippiJudges-ARPA Law2021- EnforcementTemporary andCourts Fire Fighters Premium Pay Fund 68221711006822105200...........$ $3,063,505.00 3,448,580.00TOTAL....................................$120,908,506.00 TOTAL $144,796,185.00 SECTION 8.7.

ThisUpon actthe shalleffective takedate effectof andthis beact, inthe forceState fromTreasurer, andin afterconjunction Julywith 1,the 2024,State andFiscal Officer, shall standtransfer repealedthe onsum Juneof 30,Fifty-four 2024.Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($54,100,000.00) from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (Fund No.

6821113000) to the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Lost Revenue Fund (Fund No.

3822113000).

SECTION 8.

This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

2848 *SS36/R375CS**SS26/R375SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 24/SS36/R375CS24/SS26/R375SG ST:

revise andrelated bringprograms, forward PAGE 2514 related provisions and provide forprocedure determination of unobligated fundsfunds, byand Nov.transfer certain funds.

1.