Mississippi 2024 Regular Session

Mississippi House Bill HB577

Introduced
1/24/24  
Refer
1/24/24  

Caption

Essential health care workers premium pay; Department of Health to create program with Coronavirus Recovery Funds.

Impact

The bill stipulates that to be eligible for the premium pay, essential health care workers must earn an annual income of $75,000 or less. This includes a wide range of job roles, from clinical workers to non-managerial administrative staff. The implementation of this bill is expected to improve the financial situation of many essential workers during a continued recovery period from the pandemic. Additionally, this financial support serves as a recognition of the risks they face and aims to provide them with a sense of security as they continue to navigate their roles amidst health and safety risks associated with COVID-19.

Summary

House Bill 577 aims to create a grant program for essential health care workers in Mississippi. This program will provide $1,500 in premium pay to those workers who are deemed essential and perform their jobs in public settings with a heightened risk of COVID-19 exposure. The initiative is part of the state's broader response to the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in recognizing and compensating the efforts of health care workers who have been on the frontlines. The program will be administered by the State Department of Health using funds made available through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Contention

While the bill has supportive backing for acknowledging essential workers' contributions, potential points of contention may arise regarding the allocation of ARPA funds and the efficiency of administering such a grant program. The bill requires that the State Department of Health submit an annual report on the program to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, which could lead to scrutiny about how funds are distributed and used. Furthermore, the requirement that grant funds cannot be used retroactively to cover payments made before July 1, 2024, may raise concerns over timing for employers looking to compensate their workers retroactively for past work during the pandemic.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

MS HB333

Appropriation; State Department of Health from Coronavirus Recovery Fund for premium pay to essential health care workers.

MS SB3052

Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund; FY2024 reappropriate to certain agencies.

MS HB604

New programs funded with ARPA funds; revise certain provisions and bring forward sections of.

MS SB2929

Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund; FY2024 to DFA for capital projects at the eight universities.

MS SB2444

ARPA programs; revise provisions related to certain programs.

MS HB59

Appropriation; Department of Health for MAGnet community Health Disparity Program.

MS SB2371

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Nurse/Allied Health Workforce Development and Retention Act; create.

MS HB271

Appropriation; additional to Health Department for Mississippi Hospital Sustainability Grant Program, ARPA funds.

MS HB272

Appropriation; Health Department for Local Provider Innovation Grant Program.

MS HB1715

Appropriation; Health Department for funding the ARPA Rural Water Associations Infrastructure Grant Program.

Similar Bills

TX SB8

Relating to making supplemental appropriations and giving direction regarding appropriations.

MS SB2865

Appropriation; Mental Health, Department of-ARPA funds.

TX HR297

Suspending limitations on conference committee jurisdiction, S.B. No. 8.

TX SR94

Suspending the limitations on the conference committee jurisdiction for S.B. 8.

MS SB3114

Appropriation; additional to DEQ for Mississippi Municipality and County Water Infrastructure Grant Program, ARPA funds.

MS SB3056

Appropriation; additional to Environmental Quality for the MS MCWI Grant Program-ARPA funds.

TX HB145

Relating to making supplemental appropriations and giving direction regarding appropriations.

MS SB2863

Appropriation; Mississippi Emergency Management Agency-ARPA funds.