Section 37-153-203 - Legislative findings and intent(1) The Mississippi Legislature finds that:(a) The public health crisis related to COVID-19 resulted in a general disruption in the Mississippi economy and workforce, particularly in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and other health care facilities across the state;(b) Workforce shortages exist in the health care industry; and(c) The availability of unprecedented federal funding to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the workforce and economy has created a unique opportunity for the office, working with community colleges, to provide education and training to help Mississippians find employment in the nursing, allied health and other health care fields, including paramedics.(2) Therefore, the intent of the Mississippi Legislature is: (a) To provide funding for outreach efforts to connect citizens seeking employment in nursing, allied health, and other health care fields, including paramedics, with the education and training required to obtain necessary skills for relevant employment in the state;(b) To provide funding for new and increased capacity in existing nursing and allied health training programs, including accredited paramedic programs, or to help retain and graduate nursing and allied health students, including students in an accredited paramedic program, to include any required equipment or supplies, at community and junior colleges or through other entities facilitating healthcare-focused workforce training programs across the state;(c) To provide funding for new and increased capacity in physician residency and fellowship programs in hospitals across the state; and(d) To gauge the effectiveness of these programs by gathering data related to participation and wage and employment outcomes in order to replicate successful efforts in future workforce development programs.Added by Laws, 2023, ch. 473, SB 2371,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2023.