Section 37-153-235 - Paramedics Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Program established; qualifications; funds(1) There is established the Paramedics Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Program ("the program"). The scholarship program shall be used by the Office of Workforce Development, with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security acting as the fiscal agent, for the purpose of providing funding for grants to cover the full cost of tuition, fees, books and any required uniforms for qualified applicants to attend an accredited paramedic program and to reimburse the cost of a qualified applicant's fee for the successful completion of the National Registry Paramedic cognitive and psychomotor examinations. The scholarship program shall be funded from monies appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.(2) For the purposes of Sections 5 through 9 of this act, a "paramedic" means a certified healthcare professional who specializes in providing emergency medical treatment to people who are injured or ill, typically in a setting outside of a hospital.(3) The Office of Workforce Development shall prescribe the terms and conditions of grants awarded under the program. To qualify for a grant under this program, an applicant must: (a) Be a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT);(b) Have the necessary requisites for an accredited paramedic program;(c) Commit to locate in the State of Mississippi for a minimum of three (3) years; and(d) Meet any other conditions for receipt as prescribed by the Office of Workforce Development.(4) The Office of Workforce Development may use a maximum of five percent (5%) of funds appropriated for the program for the administration of the program.Added by Laws, 2024, ch. 481, HB 1567,§ 7, eff. 7/1/2024.