Career pathways initiative; provide for development of to increase access to educational credentials for higher-paying jobs.

HB 105 establishes the "Career Pathways Initiative," requiring Mississippi's Department of Employment Security, higher education boards, and workforce agencies to jointly develop a plan. It directly targets low-income parents and other individuals with family income below 250% of the federal poverty level (especially those with custody of children under 21) to access training for higher-paying local jobs. Key provisions include developing programs based on employer-identified skills, using performance incentives for enrollment, course completion, job placement, and retention, and funding through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds combined with other resources. The initiative mandates contracting with community colleges and local providers to deliver job training certificates or degrees for low-income adults.