School attendance officers; provide formula for allocating funds for the employment of and increase minimum base salary of.
Summary
HB 820 amends Mississippi’s school attendance officer law to change how the state funds those positions and to raise the minimum salary schedule for officers. The bill directs the state to provide funding for one school attendance officer for every 2,000 compulsory-school-age children, or a major fraction of that number, enrolled in the public schools of a county. It keeps the existing statewide cap of 153 officers and preserves the Department of Education’s role in employing and assigning officers.
The bill also updates the minimum base pay for school attendance officers across the existing salary tiers, increasing the floor for officers with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, social worker licensure, and a master’s degree in a behavioral science or related field. Other provisions in the underlying statute remain intact, including background check requirements, qualification standards, duties, leave rules, and training obligations. The act would take effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
HB 820 would amend Section 37-13-89 of the Mississippi Code, affecting the state’s compulsory school attendance enforcement system and the funding formula for school attendance officers. It would require the state to allocate funding based on county enrollment counts at a ratio of one officer per 2,000 compulsory-school-age children, which could alter staffing levels and appropriations for the State Department of Education. The bill would also increase the statutory minimum salary schedule for these officers, directly affecting compensation and state payroll obligations for the positions covered by the law.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented debate or roll-call evidence in the materials supplied. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears administrative and supportive of school attendance enforcement, with an emphasis on staffing formula clarity and higher pay for officers. The absence of recorded opposition or amendments in the provided context suggests no visible controversy in the available record, though that cannot be inferred beyond the materials given.
Contention
The main policy issues embedded in the bill are the funding formula and the salary increase. Supporters would likely view the measure as a way to better align attendance officer staffing with county student counts and to improve recruitment and retention through higher minimum pay. Potential concerns could center on the fiscal impact to the state budget, whether the 2,000-student ratio is sufficient or too rigid, and how the “major fraction thereof” standard will be applied by the department. No specific objections from legislators, agencies, or stakeholders are included in the provided context.