Committee advances bill to let MDA grant funds to counties to staff welcome centers

Senate Bill 2883, which would authorize the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to contract with counties and award grants to staff state highway welcome centers, was reported out of committee by voice vote.

Senator Robinson, presenting the bill, said current welcome-center staff are full-time employees covered by the Public Employees' Retirement System and that the bill would authorize MDA to contract with counties so supervisors could hire local personnel on different schedules. "This legislation would allow MDA … to contract with the counties so that the county supervisors can get local personnel to fill these welcome centers," Robinson said, and described the fund the bill would create as the Mississippi Welcome Center Staff Grant Fund.

Under the description given in committee, MDA would determine reasonable compensation for employees and distribute grants from the newly created fund. Robinson said any money left in the fund at the end of the fiscal year would remain in the fund and not lapse to the general fund. She said counties would apply for grants and that the process should be straightforward.

Committee members did not record amendments or a roll-call tally in the transcript; the clerk announced the bill would be reported out after a titled-sufficient motion and a voice vote.

The transcript does not include the bill text or specific grant-application procedures, nor does it state whether changes to employee PERS coverage or employer contributions would be affected beyond the contracting authority described on the record.