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Committee advances bill to let MDA grant counties funds to staff welcome centers
Summary
Senate Bill 2883 would authorize the Mississippi Development Authority to award grants to counties to staff state welcome centers, allowing counties to hire local staff outside the current 40-hour PERS staffing model; the committee approved the bill for further consideration.
Senator Robinson, chair of the Senate Tourism Committee, presented Senate Bill 2883, which would allow the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to contract with counties and award grants to fund staffing for the state’s welcome centers.
“As you know our current situation is that the Welcome Centers are staffed by people who are working 40 hours a week,” Robinson said, adding the bill would enable counties to hire local people — including students or part-time workers — through county contracts rather than keeping all positions on the PERS system.
Under the bill as described in committee, MDA would determine reasonable compensation for employees and would create a Mississippi Welcome Center Staff Grant Fund from which grants could be distributed. The transcript shows the sponsor said any funds remaining at the end of the fiscal year would remain in the fund rather than reverting to the general fund.
Senator Robinson said counties would apply for grants and that the process should be straightforward for counties that have welcome centers. The chair characterized the change as a streamlining effort intended to preserve services — visitors’ access to restrooms and informational brochures — while reducing the need for 40-hour PERS-staffed positions at all centers.
The committee voted to report the bill out after a motion described as “titled sufficient to pass.” The transcript does not show a roll-call tally or identify the motion’s mover and seconder in the provided record.
