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HB 463

School social workers and psychologists; authorize districts to employ and receive partial state reimbursement for salaries of.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Omeria Scott

Mississippi bill authorizes school districts to hire social workers and psychologists with state partial salary reimbursement to expand student mental health services.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 463

Legislative bill overview

HB 463 would authorize Mississippi school districts to employ school social workers and psychologists while establishing a state reimbursement program to partially offset their salaries. The bill creates a financial mechanism allowing districts to hire these mental health professionals with state funding support rather than bearing full costs independently.

Why is this important

School social workers and psychologists address critical student mental health, behavioral, and social-emotional needs—issues that directly impact academic performance and school safety. By providing partial state reimbursement, the bill lowers the financial barrier for smaller or under-resourced districts to add these positions, potentially expanding access to mental health services across Mississippi schools.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and budget impact: The reimbursement program requires state funding allocation during a period when many states face budget constraints; legislators may debate whether this is a priority spending area
  • "Partial" reimbursement ambiguity: The bill doesn't specify the percentage of salary reimbursement, leaving questions about actual district financial relief and whether partial support meaningfully incentivizes hiring
  • Implementation and accountability: Questions remain about hiring standards, qualifications, caseload limits, and how the state would measure effectiveness or ensure quality service delivery across districts

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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