State JROTC Coordinator; exempt from qualification requirements of the State Personnel Board.
Summary
House Bill 810 amends Mississippi law governing the statewide Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) coordinator. The bill requires the State Superintendent of Public Education to employ, or alternatively contract with, a statewide JROTC coordinator for public schools, and it specifies that if the coordinator is employed by the State Department of Education, the person must be an active or retired member of the military. The measure also removes this position from State Personnel Board qualification requirements and places it in a role comparable to an Education Program Administrator/Supervisor within the department’s organizational structure.
The bill preserves and restates the coordinator’s duties, which include training and supporting JROTC instructors, facilitating communication among programs, helping organize competitions, assisting with curriculum development, gathering scholarship information, promoting community involvement, coordinating with the Mississippi National Guard and Air National Guard, and helping schools establish new JROTC programs. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.
Impact
HB810 amends Section 37-3-95 of the Mississippi Code to create a clearer personnel classification for the statewide JROTC coordinator and to exempt the position from State Personnel Board qualification rules when employed by the Department of Education. It does not create a new program, but it changes how the coordinator is hired and classified, while leaving the coordinator’s statutory duties largely intact. The bill affects the State Department of Education, the State Superintendent of Public Education, and JROTC programs in Mississippi public schools.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests strong support for the bill. It passed the House unanimously by a vote of 119-0, and no committee transcript or recorded opposition is provided in the materials. The lack of dissent and the unanimous vote indicate broad agreement that the personnel change is appropriate for the JROTC coordinator role.
Contention
No notable contention is reflected in the provided record. The bill’s main policy choice is to exempt the statewide JROTC coordinator from State Personnel Board qualification requirements and align the position with an education administrator/supervisor classification. Any potential concern would likely center on hiring flexibility versus standard civil service qualification rules, but no specific objections or competing viewpoints appear in the supplied discussion or vote history.