Miss. Code Ann. § 41-59-101 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 9 / Section 59-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-59-101
Status: in_force

The EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact is enacted into law and entered into by this state with any and all states legally joining in the Compact in accordance with its terms in the form substantially as follows:

EMS PERSONNEL LICENSURE INTERSTATE COMPACT

Section 1. Purpose. In order to protect the public through verification of competency and ensure accountability for patient care related activities all states license emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, such as emergency medical technicians (EMTs), advanced EMTs and paramedics. This Compact is intended to facilitate the day-to-day movement of EMS personnel across state boundaries in the performance of their EMS duties as assigned by an appropriate authority and authorize state EMS offices to afford immediate legal recognition to EMS personnel licensed in a member state. This Compact recognizes that states have a vested interest in protecting the public's health and safety through their licensing and regulation of EMS personnel and that such state regulation shared among the member states will best protect public health and safety. This Compact is designed to achieve the following purposes and objectives:

(a) Increase public access to EMS personnel;

(b) Enhance the states' ability to protect the public's health and safety, especially patient safety;

(c) Encourage the cooperation of member states in the areas of EMS personnel licensure and regulation;

(d) Support licensing of military members who are separating from an active duty tour and their spouses;

(e) Facilitate the exchange of information between member states regarding EMS personnel licensure, adverse action and significant investigatory information;

(f) Promote compliance with the laws governing EMS personnel practice in each member state; and

(g) Invest all member states with the authority to hold EMS personnel accountable through the mutual recognition of member state licenses.

Section 2. Definitions. In this Compact:

(a) “ Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) ” means an individual licensed with cognitive knowledge and a scope of practice that corresponds to that level in the National EMS Education Standards and National EMS Scope of Practice Model.

(b) “ Adverse action ” means any administrative, civil, equitable or criminal action permitted by a state's laws which may be imposed against licensed EMS personnel by a state EMS authority or state court, including, but not limited to, actions against an individual's license such as revocation, suspension, probation, consent agreement, monitoring or other limitation or encumbrance on the individual's practice, letters of reprimand or admonition, fines, criminal convictions and state court judgments enforcing adverse actions by the state EMS authority.

(c) “ Alternative program ” means a voluntary, nondisciplinary substance abuse recovery program approved by a state EMS authority.

(d) “ Certification ” means the successful verification of entry-level cognitive and psychomotor competency using a reliable, validated, and legally defensible examination.

(e) “ Commission ” means the national administrative body of which all states that have enacted the Compact are members.

(f) “ Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) ” means an individual licensed with cognitive knowledge and a scope of practice that corresponds to that level in the National EMS Education Standards and National EMS Scope of Practice Model.

(g) “ Home state ” means a member state where an individual is licensed to practice emergency medical services.

(h) “ License ” means the authorization by a state for an individual to practice as an EMT, AEMT, paramedic, or a level in between EMT and paramedic.

(i) “ Medical director ” means a physician licensed in a member state who is accountable for the care delivered by EMS personnel.

(j) “ Member state ” means a state that has enacted this Compact.

(k) “ Privilege to practice ” means an individual's authority to deliver emergency medical services in remote states as authorized under this Compact.

(l) “ Paramedic ” means an individual licensed with cognitive knowledge and a scope of practice that corresponds to that level in the National EMS Education Standards and National EMS Scope of Practice Model.

(m) “ Remote state ” means a member state in which an individual is not licensed.

(n) “ Restricted ” means the outcome of an adverse action that limits a license or the privilege to practice.

(o) “ Rule ” means a written statement by the Interstate Commission promulgated pursuant to Section 12 of this Compact that is of general applicability; implements, interprets, or prescribes a policy or provision of the Compact; or is an organizational, procedural, or practice requirement of the Commission and has the force and effect of statutory law in a member state and includes the amendment, repeal, or suspension of an existing rule.

(p) “ Scope of practice ” means defined parameters of various duties or services that may be provided by an individual with specific credentials. Whether regulated by rule, statute, or court decision, it tends to represent the limits of services an individual may perform.

(q) “ Significant investigatory information ” means:

(i) Investigative information that a state EMS authority, after a preliminary inquiry that includes notification and an opportunity to respond if required by state law, has reason to believe, if proved true, would result in the imposition of an adverse action on a license or privilege to practice; or

(ii) Investigative information that indicates that the individual represents an immediate threat to public health and safety regardless of whether the individual has been notified and had an opportunity to respond.

(r) “ State ” means any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States.

(s) “ State EMS authority ” means the board, office, or other agency with the legislative mandate to license EMS personnel.

Section 3. Home state licensure. (1) Any member state in which an individual holds a current license shall be deemed a home state for purposes of this Compact.

(2) Any member state may require an individual to obtain and retain a license to be authorized to practice in the member state under circumstances not authorized by the privilege to practice under the terms of this Compact.

(3) A home state's license authorizes an individual to practice in a remote state under the privilege to practice only if the home state:

(a) Currently requires the use of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) examination as a condition of issuing initial licenses at the EMT and paramedic levels;

(b) Has a mechanism in place for receiving and investigating complaints about individuals;

(c) Notifies the Commission, in compliance with the terms herein, of any adverse action or significant investigatory information regarding an individual;

(d) No later than five (5) years after activation of the Compact, requires a criminal background check of all applicants for initial licensure, including the use of the results of fingerprint or other biometric data checks compliant with the requirements of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the exception of federal employees who have suitability determination in accordance with US CFR Section 731.202 and submit documentation of such as promulgated in the rules of the Commission; and

(e) Complies with the rules of the Commission.

Section 4. Compact privilege to practice. (1) Member states shall recognize the privilege to practice of an individual licensed in another member state that is in conformance with Section 3.

(2) To exercise the privilege to practice under the terms and provisions of this Compact, an individual must:

(a) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age;

(b) Possess a current unrestricted license in a member state as an EMT, AEMT, paramedic, or state recognized and licensed level with a scope of practice and authority between EMT and paramedic; and

(c) Practice under the supervision of a medical director.

(3) An individual providing patient care in a remote state under the privilege to practice shall function within the scope of practice authorized by the home state unless and until modified by an appropriate authority in the remote state as may be defined in the rules of the Commission.

(4) Except as provided in Section 4(3), an individual practicing in a remote state will be subject to the remote state's authority and laws. A remote state may, in accordance with due process and that state's laws, restrict, suspend, or revoke an individual's privilege to practice in the remote state and may take any other necessary actions to protect the health and safety of its citizens. If a remote state takes action it shall promptly notify the home state and the Commission.

(5) If an individual's license in any home state is restricted or suspended, the individual shall not be eligible to practice in a remote state under the privilege to practice until the individual's home state license is restored.

(6) If an individual's privilege to practice in any remote state is restricted, suspended, or revoked the individual shall not be eligible to practice in any remote state until the individual's privilege to practice is restored.

Section 5. Conditions of practice in a remote state. An individual may practice in a remote state under a privilege to practice only in the performance of the individual's EMS duties as assigned by an appropriate authority, as defined in the rules of the Commission, and under the following circumstances:

(a) The individual originates a patient transport in a home state and transports the patient to a remote state;

(b) The individual originates in the home state and enters a remote state to pick up a patient and provide care and transport of the patient to the home state;

(c) The individual enters a remote state to provide patient care and/or transport within that remote state;

(d) The individual enters a remote state to pick up a patient and provide care and transport to a third member state;

(e) Other conditions as determined by rules promulgated by the Commission.

Section 6. Relationship to Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Upon a member state's governor's declaration of a state of emergency or disaster that activates the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), all relevant terms and provisions of EMAC shall apply and to the extent any terms or provisions of this Compact conflicts with EMAC, the terms of EMAC shall prevail with respect to any individual practicing in the remote state in response to such declaration.

Section 7. Veterans, service members separating from active duty military, and their spouses. (1) Member states shall consider a veteran, active military service member, and member of the National Guard and Reserves separating from an active duty tour, and a spouse thereof, who holds a current valid and unrestricted NREMT certification at or above the level of the state license being sought as satisfying the minimum training and examination requirements for such licensure.

(2) Member states shall expedite the processing of licensure applications submitted by veterans, active military service members, and members of the National Guard and Reserves separating from an active duty tour, and their spouses.

(3) All individuals functioning with a privilege to practice under this section remain subject to the adverse actions provisions of Section 8.

Section 8. Adverse actions. (1) A home state shall have exclusive power to impose adverse action against an individual's license issued by the home state.

(2) If an individual's license in any home state is restricted or suspended, the individual shall not be eligible to practice in a remote state under the privilege to practice until the individual's home state license is restored.

(a) All home state adverse action orders shall include a statement that the individual's Compact privileges are inactive. The order may allow the individual to practice in remote states with prior written authorization from both the home state and remote state's EMS authority.

(b) An individual currently subject to adverse action in the home state shall not practice in any remote state without prior written authorization from both the home state and remote state's EMS authority.

(3) A member state shall report adverse actions and any occurrences that the individual's Compact privileges are restricted, suspended, or revoked to the Commission in accordance with the rules of the Commission.

(4) A remote state may take adverse action on an individual's privilege to practice within that state.

(5) Any member state may take adverse action against an individual's privilege to practice in that state based on the factual findings of another member state, so long as each state follows its own procedures for imposing such adverse action.

(6) A home state's EMS authority shall investigate and take appropriate action with respect to reported conduct in a remote state as it would if such conduct had occurred within the home state. In such cases, the home state's law shall control in determining the appropriate adverse action.

(7) Nothing in this Compact shall override a member state's decision that participation in an alternative program may be used in lieu of adverse action and that such participation shall remain nonpublic if required by the member state's laws. Member states must require individuals who enter any alternative programs to agree not to practice in any other member state during the term of the alternative program without prior authorization from such other member state.

Section 9. Additional powers invested in a member state's EMS authority. A member state's EMS authority, in addition to any other powers granted under state law, is authorized under this Compact to:

(a) Issue subpoenas for both hearings and investigations that require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence. Subpoenas issued by a member state's EMS authority for the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and/or the production of evidence from another member state, shall be enforced in the remote state by any court of competent jurisdiction, according to that court's practice and procedure in considering subpoenas issued in its own proceedings. The issuing state EMS authority shall pay any witness fees, travel expenses, mileage, and other fees required by the service statutes of the state where the witnesses and/or evidence are located; and

(b) Issue cease and desist orders to restrict, suspend, or revoke an individual's privilege to practice in the state.

Section 10. Establishment of the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice. (1) The Compact states hereby create and establish a joint public agency known as the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice.

(a) The Commission is a body politic and an instrumentality of the Compact states.

(b) Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the Commission shall be brought solely and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the Commission is located. The Commission may waive venue and jurisdictional defenses to the extent it adopts or consents to participate in alternative dispute resolution proceedings.

(c) Nothing in this Compact shall be construed to be a waiver of sovereign immunity.

(2) Membership, voting, and meetings.

(a) Each member state shall have and be limited to one (1) delegate. The responsible official of the state EMS authority or his designee shall be the delegate to this Compact for each member state. Any delegate may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of the state from which the delegate is appointed. Any vacancy occurring in the Commission shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the member state in which the vacancy exists. In the event that more than one (1) board, office, or other agency with the legislative mandate to license EMS personnel at and above the level of EMT exists, the Governor of the state will determine which entity will be responsible for assigning the delegate.

(b) Each delegate shall be entitled to one (1) vote with regard to the promulgation of rules and creation of bylaws and shall otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the business and affairs of the Commission. A delegate shall vote in person or by such other means as provided in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for delegates' participation in meetings by telephone or other means of communication.

(c) The Commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set forth in the bylaws.

(d) All meetings shall be open to the public, and public notice of meetings shall be given in the same manner as required under the rulemaking provisions in Section 12.

(e) The Commission may convene in a closed, nonpublic meeting if the Commission must discuss:

(i) Noncompliance of a member state with its obligations under the Compact;

(ii) The employment, compensation, discipline or other personnel matters, practices or procedures related to specific employees or other matters related to the Commission's internal personnel practices and procedures;

(iii) Current, threatened, or reasonably anticipated litigation;

(iv) Negotiation of contracts for the purchase or sale of goods, services, or real estate;

(v) Accusing any person of a crime or formally censuring any person;

(vi) Disclosure of trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential;

(vii) Disclosure of information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;

(viii) Disclosure of investigatory records compiled for law enforcement purposes;

(ix) Disclosure of information related to any investigatory reports prepared by or on behalf of or for use of the Commission or other committee charged with responsibility of investigation or determination of compliance issues pursuant to the Compact; or

(x) Matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal or member state statute.

(f) If a meeting, or portion of a meeting, is closed pursuant to this provision, the Commission's legal counsel or designee shall certify that the meeting may be closed and shall reference each relevant exempting provision. The Commission shall keep minutes that fully and clearly describe all matters discussed in a meeting and shall provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken, and the reasons therefore, including a description of the views expressed. All documents considered in connection with an action shall be identified in such minutes. All minutes and documents of a closed meeting shall remain under seal, subject to release by a majority vote of the Commission or order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(3) The Commission shall, by a majority vote of the delegates, prescribe bylaws and/or rules to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and exercise the powers of the Compact, including but not limited to:

(a) Establishing the fiscal year of the Commission;

(b) Providing reasonable standards and procedures:

(i) For the establishment and meetings of other committees; and

(ii) Governing any general or specific delegation of any authority or function of the Commission;

(c) Providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting meetings of the Commission, ensuring reasonable advance notice of all meetings, and providing an opportunity for attendance of such meetings by interested parties, with enumerated exceptions designed to protect the public's interest, the privacy of individuals, and proprietary information, including trade secrets. The Commission may meet in closed session only after a majority of the membership votes to close a meeting in whole or in part. As soon as practicable, the Commission must make public a copy of the vote to close the meeting revealing the vote of each member with no proxy votes allowed;

(d) Establishing the titles, duties and authority, and reasonable procedures for the election of the officers of the Commission;

(e) Providing reasonable standards and procedures for the establishment of the personnel policies and programs of the Commission. Notwithstanding any civil service or other similar laws of any member state, the bylaws shall exclusively govern the personnel policies and programs of the Commission;

(f) Promulgating a code of ethics to address permissible and prohibited activities of Commission members and employees;

(g) Providing a mechanism for winding up the operations of the Commission and the equitable disposition of any surplus funds that may exist after the termination of the Compact after the payment and/or reserving of all of its debts and obligations;

(h) The Commission shall publish its bylaws and file a copy thereof, and a copy of any amendment thereto, with the appropriate agency or officer in each of the member states, if any;

(i) The Commission shall maintain its financial records in accordance with the bylaws;

(j) The Commission shall meet and take such actions as are consistent with the provisions of this Compact and the bylaws.

(4) The Commission shall have the following powers:

(a) The authority to promulgate uniform rules to facilitate and coordinate implementation and administration of this Compact. The rules shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in all member states;

(b) To bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in the name of the Commission, provided that the standing of any state EMS authority or other regulatory body responsible for EMS personnel licensure to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be affected;

(c) To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;

(d) To borrow, accept, or contract for services of personnel, including, but not limited to, employees of a member state;

(e) To hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix compensation, define duties, grant such individuals appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the Compact, and to establish the Commission's personnel policies and programs relating to conflicts of interest, qualifications of personnel, and other related personnel matters;

(f) To accept any and all appropriate donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, and to receive, utilize and dispose of the same; provided that at all times the Commission shall strive to avoid any appearance of impropriety and/or conflict of interest;

(g) To lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use, any property, real, personal or mixed; provided that at all times the Commission shall strive to avoid any appearance of impropriety;

(h) To sell convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or otherwise dispose of any property real, personal, or mixed;

(i) To establish a budget and make expenditures;

(j) To borrow money;

(k) To appoint committees, including advisory committees comprised of members, state regulators, state legislators or their representatives, and consumer representatives, and such other interested persons as may be designated in this Compact and the bylaws;

(l) To provide and receive information from, and to cooperate with, law enforcement agencies;

(m) To adopt and use an official seal; and

(n) To perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Compact consistent with the state regulation of EMS personnel licensure and practice.

(5) Financing of the Commission.

(a) The Commission shall pay, or provide for the payment of, the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization, and ongoing activities.

(b) The Commission may accept any and all appropriate revenue sources, donations, and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services.

(c) The Commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on other parties to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the Commission and its staff, which must be in a total amount sufficient to cover its annual budget as approved each year for which revenue is not provided by other sources. The aggregate annual assessment amount shall be allocated based upon a formula to be determined by the Commission, which shall promulgate a rule binding upon all member states.

(d) The Commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same; nor shall the Commission pledge the credit of any of the member states, except by and with the authority of the member state.

(e) The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the Commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the Commission shall be audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant, and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the Commission.

(6) Qualified immunity, defense, and indemnification.

(a) The members, officers, executive director, employees and representatives of the Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect any such person from suit and/or liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person.

(b) The Commission shall defend any member, officer, executive director, employee or representative of the Commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining his or her own counsel; and provided further, that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from that person's intentional or willful or wanton misconduct.

(c) The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any member, officer, executive director, employee, or representative of the Commission for the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from the intentional or willful or wanton misconduct of that person.

Section 11. Coordinated database. (1) The Commission shall provide for the development and maintenance of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and significant investigatory information on all licensed individuals in member states.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of state law to the contrary, a member state shall submit a uniform data set to the coordinated database on all individuals to whom this Compact is applicable as required by the rules of the Commission, including:

(a) Identifying information;

(b) Licensure data;

(c) Significant investigatory information;

(d) Adverse actions against an individual's license;

(e) An indicator that an individual's privilege to practice is restricted, suspended or revoked;

(f) Nonconfidential information related to alternative program participation;

(g) Any denial of application for licensure, and the reason(s) for such denial; and

(h) Other information that may facilitate the administration of this Compact, as determined by the rules of the Commission.

(3) The coordinated database administrator shall promptly notify all member states of any adverse action taken against, or significant investigative information on, any individual in a member state.

(4) Member states contributing information to the coordinated database may designate information that may not be shared with the public without the express permission of the contributing state.

(5) Any information submitted to the coordinated database that is subsequently required to be expunged by the laws of the member state contributing the information shall be removed from the coordinated database.

Section 12. Rulemaking. (1) The Commission shall exercise its rulemaking powers pursuant to the criteria set forth in this section and the rules adopted thereunder. Rules and amendments shall become binding as of the date specified in each rule or amendment.

(2) If a majority of the Legislatures of the member states rejects a rule, by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the Compact, then such rule shall have no further force and effect in any member state.

(3) Rules or amendments to the rules shall be adopted at a regular or special meeting of the Commission.

(4) Prior to promulgation and adoption of a final rule or rules by the Commission, and at least sixty (60) days in advance of the meeting at which the rule will be considered and voted upon, the Commission shall file a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking:

(a) On the website of the Commission; and

(b) On the website of each member state EMS authority or the publication in which each state would otherwise publish proposed rules.

(5) The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking shall include:

(a) The proposed time, date, and location of the meeting in which the rule will be considered and voted upon;

(b) The text of the proposed rule or amendment and the reason for the proposed rule;

(c) A request for comments on the proposed rule from any interested person; and

(d) The manner in which interested persons may submit notice to the Commission of their intention to attend the public hearing and any written comments.

(6) Prior to adoption of a proposed rule, the Commission shall allow persons to submit written data, facts, opinions, and arguments, which shall be made available to the public.

(7) The Commission shall grant an opportunity for a public hearing before it adopts a rule or amendment if a hearing is requested by:

(a) At least twenty-five (25) persons;

(b) A governmental subdivision or agency; or

(c) An association having at least twenty-five (25) members.

(8) If a hearing is held on the proposed rule or amendment, the Commission shall publish the place, time, and date of the scheduled public hearing.

(a) All persons wishing to be heard at the hearing shall notify the executive director of the Commission or other designated member in writing of their desire to appear and testify at the hearing not less than five (5) business days before the scheduled date of the hearing.

(b) Hearings shall be conducted in a manner providing each person who wishes to comment a fair and reasonable opportunity to comment orally or in writing.

(c) No transcript of the hearing is required, unless a written request for a transcript is made, in which case the person requesting the transcript shall bear the cost of producing the transcript. A recording may be made in lieu of a transcript under the same terms and conditions as a transcript. This subsection shall not preclude the Commission from making a transcript or recording of the hearing if it so chooses.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a separate hearing on each rule. Rules may be grouped for the convenience of the Commission at hearings required by this section.

(9) Following the scheduled hearing date, or by the close of business on the scheduled hearing date if the hearing was not held, the Commission shall consider all written and oral comments received.

(10) The Commission shall, by majority vote of all members, take final action on the proposed rule and shall determine the effective date of the rule, if any, based on the rulemaking record and the full text of the rule.

(11) If no written notice of intent to attend the public hearing by interested parties is received, the Commission may proceed with promulgation of the proposed rule without a public hearing.

(12) Upon determination that an emergency exists, the Commission may consider and adopt an emergency rule without prior notice, opportunity for comment, or hearing, provided that the usual rulemaking procedures provided in the Compact and in this section shall be retroactively applied to the rule as soon as reasonably possible, in no event later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of the rule. For the purposes of this provision, an emergency rule is one that must be adopted immediately in order to:

(a) Meet an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare;

(b) Prevent a loss of Commission or member state funds;

(c) Meet a deadline for the promulgation of an administrative rule that is established by federal law or rule; or

(d) Protect public health and safety.

(13) The Commission or an authorized committee of the Commission may direct revisions to a previously adopted rule or amendment for purposes of correcting typographical errors, errors in format, errors in consistency, or grammatical errors. Public notice of any revisions shall be posted on the website of the Commission. The revision shall be subject to challenge by any person for a period of thirty (30) days after posting. The revision may be challenged only on grounds that the revision results in a material change to a rule. A challenge shall be made in writing, and delivered to the chair of the Commission prior to the end of the notice period. If no challenge is made, the revision will take effect without further action. If the revision is challenged, the revision may not take effect without the approval of the Commission.

Section 13. Oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement. (1) Oversight:

(a) The executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government in each member state shall enforce this Compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the Compact's purposes and intent. The provisions of this Compact and the rules promulgated hereunder shall have standing as statutory law.

(b) All courts shall take judicial notice of the Compact and the rules in any judicial or administrative proceeding in a member state pertaining to the subject matter of this Compact which may affect the powers, responsibilities or actions of the Commission.

(c) The Commission shall be entitled to receive service of process in any such proceeding, and shall have standing to intervene in such a proceeding for all purposes. Failure to provide service of process to the Commission shall render a judgment or order void as to the Commission, this Compact, or promulgated rules.

(2) Default, technical assistance and termination.

(a) If the Commission determines that a member state has defaulted in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities under this Compact or the promulgated rules, the Commission shall:

(i) Provide written notice to the defaulting state and other member states of the nature of the default, the proposed means of curing the default and/or any other action to be taken by the Commission; and

(ii) Provide remedial training and specific technical assistance regarding the default.

(b) If a state in default fails to cure the default, the defaulting state may be terminated from the Compact upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the member states, and all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by this Compact may be terminated on the effective date of termination. A cure of the default does not relieve the offending state of obligations or liabilities incurred during the period of default.

(c) Termination of membership in the Compact shall be imposed only after all other means of securing compliance have been exhausted. Notice of intent to suspend or terminate shall be given by the Commission to the Governor, the majority and minority leaders of the defaulting state's Legislature, and each of the member states.

(d) A state that has been terminated is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination, including obligations that extend beyond the effective date of termination.

(e) The Commission shall not bear any costs related to a state that is found to be in default or that has been terminated from the Compact, unless agreed upon in writing between the Commission and the defaulting state.

(f) The defaulting state may appeal the action of the Commission by petitioning the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has its principal offices. The prevailing member shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.

(3) Dispute resolution.

(a) Upon request by a member state, the Commission shall attempt to resolve disputes related to the Compact that arise among member states and between member and nonmember states.

(b) The Commission shall promulgate a rule providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes as appropriate.

(4) Enforcement.

(a) The Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions and rules of this Compact.

(b) By majority vote, the Commission may initiate legal action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or the federal district where the Commission has its principal offices against a member state in default to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Compact and its promulgated rules and bylaws. The relief sought may include both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary, the prevailing member shall be awarded all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.

(c) The remedies herein shall not be the exclusive remedies of the Commission. The Commission may pursue any other remedies available under federal or state law.

Section 14. Date of implementation of the Interstate Commission for EMS personnel practice and associated rules, withdrawal, and amendment. (1) The Compact shall come into effect on the date on which the Compact statute is enacted into law in the tenth member state. The provisions, which become effective at that time, shall be limited to the powers granted to the Commission relating to assembly and the promulgation of rules. Thereafter, the Commission shall meet and exercise rulemaking powers necessary to the implementation and administration of the Compact.

(2) Any state that joins the Compact subsequent to the Commission's initial adoption of the rules shall be subject to the rules as they exist on the date on which the Compact becomes law in that state. Any rule that has been previously adopted by the Commission shall have the full force and effect of law on the day the Compact becomes law in that state.

(3) Any member state may withdraw from this Compact by enacting a statute repealing the same.

(a) A member state's withdrawal shall not take effect until six (6) months after enactment of the repealing statute.

(b) Withdrawal shall not affect the continuing requirement of the withdrawing state's EMS authority to comply with the investigative and adverse action reporting requirements of this Compact prior to the effective date of withdrawal.

(4) Nothing contained in this Compact shall be construed to invalidate or prevent any EMS personnel licensure agreement or other cooperative arrangement between a member state and a nonmember state that does not conflict with the provisions of this Compact.

(5) This Compact may be amended by the member states. No amendment to this Compact shall become effective and binding upon any member state until it is enacted into the laws of all member states.

Section 15. Construction and severability. This Compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. If this Compact shall be held contrary to the Constitution of any state member thereto, the Compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining member states. Nothing in this Compact supersedes state law or rules related to licensure of EMS agencies.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-41-165 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 21 / Section 41-165
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-41-165
Status: in_force

In every civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding or action brought under Sections 41-41-151 through 41-41-169 , the court shall rule whether the anonymity of any woman upon whom a dismemberment abortion has been performed or attempted to be performed shall be preserved from public disclosure if she does not give her consent to the disclosure. The court, upon motion or sua sponte, shall make such a ruling and, upon determining that her anonymity should be preserved, shall issue orders to the parties, witnesses, and counsel and shall direct the sealing of the record and exclusion of individuals from courtrooms or hearing rooms to the extent necessary to safeguard her identity from public disclosure. Each such order shall be accompanied by specific written findings explaining why the anonymity of the woman should be preserved from public disclosure, why the order is essential to that end, how the order is narrowly tailored to serve that interest, and why no reasonable less restrictive alternative exists. In the absence of written consent of the woman upon whom a dismemberment abortion has been performed or attempted to be performed, anyone other than a public official who brings an action under Section 41-41-157 or 41-41-159 shall do so under a pseudonym. This section may not be construed to conceal the identity of the plaintiff or of witnesses from the defendant or from attorneys for the defendant.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-19-5 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 4 / Section 19-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-19-5
Status: in_force

With funds provided by the legislature, by direct appropriation or authorized bond issue, with federal matching funds, or with any other available funds, the Mississippi State Building Commission is hereby authorized to construct and equip the necessary residential and service buildings and other facilities to care for approximately five hundred (500) residents. The general design of the center and all construction plans shall be approved and recommended by the board of trustees of mental institutions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-107 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-107
Status: in_force

Neither the establishment of a trust under Section 41-13-101 nor the participation of a hospital in such trust shall constitute a “contract of insurance” within the meaning of Section 83-5-5 , and the trust shall not be considered an “insurance company” or any other concern subject to the inspection and supervision of the Insurance Commissioner within the meaning of Section 83-5-1 or of the Insurance Commission within the meaning of Section 83-3-1 et seq.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-21-83 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 7 / Section 21-83
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-21-83
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided in Section 41-21-63 , if a hearing is requested as provided in Section 41-21-74 , 41-21-81 or 41-21-99 , the court shall not make a determination of the need for continued commitment unless a hearing is held and the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that (a) the person continues to have mental illness or have an intellectual disability; and (b) involuntary commitment is necessary for the protection of the patient or others; and (c) there is no alternative to involuntary commitment. Hearings held under this section shall be held in the chancery court of the county where the facility is located; however, if the patient is confined at the Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield, Mississippi, the hearing shall be conducted by the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi.

The hearing shall be held within fourteen (14) days after receipt by the court of the request for a hearing. The court may continue the hearing for good cause shown. The clerk shall ascertain whether the patient is represented by counsel, and, if the patient is not represented, shall notify the chancellor who shall appoint counsel for him if the chancellor determines that the patient for any reason does not have the services of an attorney; however, the patient may waive the appointment of counsel subject to the approval of the court. Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be served at least seventy-two (72) hours before the time of the hearing upon the patient, his attorney, the director, and the person requesting the hearing, if other than the patient, and any witnesses requested by the patient or his attorney, or any witnesses the court may deem necessary or desirable.

The patient must be present at the hearing unless the chancellor determines that the patient is unable to attend and makes that determination and the reasons therefor part of the record.

The court shall put its findings and the reasons supporting its findings in writing and shall have copies delivered to the patient, his attorney, and the director of the treatment facility. An appeal from the final commitment order by either party may be had on the terms prescribed for appeals in civil cases; however, such appeal shall be without supersedeas. The record on appeal shall include the transcript of the commitment hearing.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-63-27 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 23 / Section 63-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-63-27
Status: in_force

It is not the intent of Sections 41-63-21 through 41-63-29 to amend, alter or modify the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence as promulgated by the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-51-17 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 9 / Section 51-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-51-17
Status: in_force

Whenever the commissioner, by his first inspection of the applicant's plant, shall find that the applicant has not complied with all the requirements of this chapter and of such rules and regulations, he shall at once notify the applicant in writing, delivered in person or by registered mail, with return receipt, specifying the particulars of such failure to comply therewith and of any further objections he may have. Upon being notified in like manner by the applicant in writing of such compliance and that such plant conforms to the requirements of this chapter and of such rules and regulations, the commissioner shall, within ten (10) days, make a similar second inspection thereof. The commissioner shall not be required to make more than two (2) of the aforesaid initial inspections of the same plant, substation and vehicles under one (1) application and the original payment of fees unless he so desires. If one (1) or two (2) inspections additional to the second inspection are desired by the applicant in effecting a compliance by him with the requirements of this chapter, such applicant shall request the same in writing and pay in advance additional inspection fees of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) for each such inspection so requested by him; for any further such inspections, he shall pay a fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) each.

In the event such applicant shall be refused a license and such refusal be finally sustained upon any appeal, no part of the fees paid by him shall be refunded, but all such fees shall belong to the State of Mississippi, as a part of its general fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-25-3 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 25-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-25-3
Status: in_force

The board shall assess a fee in the following amount and for the following purpose:

Mobile home and recreational vehicle park annual permit fee. . . . .$50.00

The fee authorized under this section shall not be assessed for any mobile home and recreational vehicle park operated by a state or federal agency or institution.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-73-53 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 3 / Section 73-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-73-53
Status: in_force

Any pledge made by the authority shall be valid and binding from the time when the pledge is made. The revenue, money or properties so pledged and thereafter received by the authority shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-41-91 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 11 / Section 41-91
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-41-91
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no public funds that are made available to any institution, board, commission, department, agency, official, or employee of the State of Mississippi, or of any local political subdivision of the state, whether those funds are made available by the government of the United States, the State of Mississippi, or a local governmental subdivision, or from any other public source, shall be used in any way for, to assist in, or to provide facilities for abortion, except:

(a) When the abortion is medically necessary to prevent the death of the mother; or

(b) When the abortion is being sought to terminate a pregnancy resulting from an alleged act of rape or incest; or

(c) When there is a fetal malformation that is incompatible with the baby being born alive.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-30-11 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 21 / Section 30-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-30-11
Status: in_force

The division, subject to applicable provisions of law, may arrange for the use of local and private treatment facilities on a cooperative basis by contractual, cost-sharing, or other method of joint or shared support whenever the director, subject to the policies of the board, considers this to be the most effective and economical course to follow. Authority is granted to the division to accept, receive, administer and expend any moneys or materials, gifts or grants from whatever source, and to contract for services with or make grants to any governmental units, agencies or departments, federal, state or local, and any treatment resource having available approved treatment, rehabilitation or educational services relating to alcoholism, but this chapter shall not affect the right of any institution under the jurisdiction of the board of trustees of mental institutions to apply for, receive or expend federal funds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-21-102 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 13 / Section 21-102
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-21-102
Status: in_force

(1) A patient has the right to be free from restraints. Restraints shall not be applied to a patient unless the director of the treatment facility or a member of the medical staff determines that they are necessary for the safety of the patient or others. Each use of a restraint and reason for such use shall be made part of the clinical record of the patient under the signature of the director of the treatment facility.

(2) A patient has the right to correspond freely without censorship. The director of the treatment facility may restrict receipt of correspondence if he determines that the medical welfare of the patient requires it. Any limitation imposed on the exercise of patient's correspondence rights and the reason for it shall be made a part of the clinical record of the patient. Any communication which is not delivered to a patient shall be immediately returned to the sender. No restriction shall be placed upon correspondence between a patient and his attorney or any court of competent jurisdiction.

(3) Subject to the general rules of the treatment facility, a patient has the right to receive visitors and make phone calls. The director of the treatment facility may restrict visits and phone calls if he determines that the medical welfare of the patient requires it. Any limitation imposed on the exercise of the patient's visitation and phone call rights and the reason for it shall be made a part of the clinical record of the patient. No restriction shall be placed upon a patient's visitation at the treatment facility with or upon calls to or from his attorney.

(4) A patient has the right to meet with or call his personal physician, spiritual advisor, and counsel at all reasonable times. The patient has the right to reasonable accommodation of religious practice.

(5) A patient has the right to periodic medical assessment. The director of a treatment facility shall have the physical and mental condition of every patient assessed as frequently as necessary, but not less often than every six (6) months.

(6) A person receiving services under Sections 41-21-61 through 41-21-107 has the right to receive proper care and treatment, best adapted, according to contemporary professional standards, to rendering further custody, institutionalization, or other services unnecessary. The treatment facility shall devise a written program plan for each person which describes in behavioral terms the case problems, the precise goals, and to modify the program plan as necessary. The program plan shall be reviewed with the patient.

(7) Unless disclosure is determined to be detrimental to the physical or mental health of the patient, and unless notation to that effect is made in the patient's record, a patient has the right of access to his medical records.

(8) A patient has the right to be represented by counsel at any proceeding under Sections 41-21-61 through 41-21-107 . The court shall appoint counsel to represent the proposed patient if neither the proposed patient nor others provide counsel. In all proceedings under Section 41-21-61 through 41-21-107 , counsel shall: (a) consult with the person prior to any hearing; (b) be given adequate time to prepare for all hearings; (c) continue to represent the person throughout any proceedings under this charge unless released as counsel by the court; and (d) be a vigorous advocate on behalf of his client.

(9) All persons admitted or committed to a treatment facility shall be notified in writing of their rights under Sections 41-21-61 through 41-21-107 at the time of admission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-41-165 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 10 / Section 41-165
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-41-165
Status: in_force

In every civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding or action brought under Sections 41-41-151 through 41-41-169 , the court shall rule whether the anonymity of any woman upon whom a dismemberment abortion has been performed or attempted to be performed shall be preserved from public disclosure if she does not give her consent to the disclosure. The court, upon motion or sua sponte, shall make such a ruling and, upon determining that her anonymity should be preserved, shall issue orders to the parties, witnesses, and counsel and shall direct the sealing of the record and exclusion of individuals from courtrooms or hearing rooms to the extent necessary to safeguard her identity from public disclosure. Each such order shall be accompanied by specific written findings explaining why the anonymity of the woman should be preserved from public disclosure, why the order is essential to that end, how the order is narrowly tailored to serve that interest, and why no reasonable less restrictive alternative exists. In the absence of written consent of the woman upon whom a dismemberment abortion has been performed or attempted to be performed, anyone other than a public official who brings an action under Section 41-41-157 or 41-41-159 shall do so under a pseudonym. This section may not be construed to conceal the identity of the plaintiff or of witnesses from the defendant or from attorneys for the defendant.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-9-37 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 7 / Section 9-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-9-37
Status: in_force

(1)(a) A hospital may grant paid educational leave to those applicants it deems qualified therefor, upon such terms and conditions as it may impose and as provided for in this section.

(b) In order to be eligible for paid educational leave, an applicant must:

(i) Be working at the sponsoring hospital at the time of application;

(ii) Attend any college or school approved and designated by the sponsoring hospital; and

(iii) Agree to work in a health-care occupation as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist or other health-care professional in the sponsoring hospital for a period of time equivalent to the period of time for which the applicant receives paid educational leave compensation, calculated to the nearest whole month, but in no event less than two (2) years.

(c)(i) Before being granted paid educational leave, each applicant shall enter into a contract with the sponsoring hospital agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the paid educational leave shall be granted. The contract shall include such terms and provisions necessary to carry out the full purpose and intent of this section. The contract shall be signed by the administrator of the sponsoring hospital and the recipient of paid educational leave compensation. If the recipient is a minor, his or her minority disabilities shall be removed by a chancery court of competent jurisdiction before the contract is signed.

(ii) The sponsoring hospital shall have the authority to cancel any contract made between it and any recipient for paid educational leave upon such cause being deemed sufficient by the administrator of the hospital.

(iii) The sponsoring hospital is vested with full and complete authority and power to sue in its own name any recipient for any balance due to the hospital on any such uncompleted contract. The sponsoring hospital may contract with a collection agency or banking institution for collection of any balance due to the hospital from any recipient. The sponsoring hospital and its employees and, if applicable, its board of trustees are immune from any suit brought in law or equity for actions taken by the collection agency or banking institution incidental to or arising from their performance under the contract. The sponsoring hospital, collection agency and banking institution may negotiate for the payment of a sum that is less than full payment in order to satisfy any balance the recipient owes.

(iv) Failure to meet the terms of an educational loan contract shall be grounds for revocation of the professional license that was earned through the paid educational leave compensation granted under this section.

(v) A finding by the sponsoring hospital of a default by the recipient shall be a finding of unprofessional conduct and, therefore, a basis for the revocation of the professional license that was obtained through the educational leave program. A finding by the sponsoring hospital of default shall be a disciplinary action, not a collection action, and shall not be affected by the recipient declaring bankruptcy.

(vi) Notice of pending default status, the consequences of a default and the hearing to determine the pending default status shall be mailed by the sponsoring hospital to the recipient at the last known address.

(vii) The sponsoring hospital shall conduct a hearing of pending default status, make a final determination, and, if appropriate, issue a finding of default.

(viii) Recipients may appear at the hearing of pending default status, either personally or through counsel, or both, and produce and cross-examine witnesses or evidence in the recipient's behalf. The procedure of the hearing shall not be bound by the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence.

(ix) If at the hearing a recipient is found to be in default, a copy of the finding of default shall be forwarded to the appropriate licensing agency.

(x) Appeals from a finding of default made by the sponsoring hospital shall be to the circuit court of the county in which the hospital is located.

(xi) Rules and regulations governing the hearing of pending default status and other applicable matters shall be promulgated by the sponsoring hospital.

(xii) Any person who is subject to the revocation of his or her professional license for not meeting the terms of an educational loan contract may appear before the appropriate licensing agency to show mitigating circumstances for failure to meet the terms of the contract, and may appeal any revocation of his or her professional license under the laws applicable to the licensing agency.

(xiii) A license that has been revoked under this section shall be reinstated upon a showing of proof that the recipient is no longer in default.

(xiv) These procedures shall only be applicable to educational leave contracts entered into under this section and shall not apply to educational leave contracts entered into with any state health institution pursuant to Section 37-101-291 or Section 37-101-293 , as amended.

(2)(a) Any recipient who is granted paid educational leave by a hospital shall be compensated by the sponsoring hospital during the time the recipient is in school, at the rate of pay received by a nurse's aide employed at the hospital. All educational leave compensation received by the recipient while in school shall be considered earned conditioned upon the fulfillment of the terms and obligations of the educational leave contract and this section. However, no recipient of full-time educational leave shall accrue personal or major medical leave while the recipient is on paid educational leave. Recipients of paid educational leave shall be responsible for their individual costs of tuition and books.

(b) Paid educational leave shall be granted only upon the following conditions:

(i) The recipient shall fulfill his or her obligation under the contract with the sponsoring hospital by working as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist or other health-care professional. The total compensation that the recipient was paid while on educational leave shall be considered as unconditionally earned on an annual pro rata basis for each year of service rendered under the educational leave contract as a health-care professional in the sponsoring hospital.

(ii) If the recipient does not work as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist or other health-care professional in the sponsoring hospital for the period required under this section, the recipient shall be liable for repayment on demand of the remaining portion of the compensation that the recipient was paid while on paid educational leave that has not been unconditionally earned, with interest accruing at ten percent (10%) per annum from the recipient's date of graduation or the date that the recipient last worked at the sponsoring hospital, whichever is the later date. In addition, there shall be included in any contract for paid educational leave a provision for liquidated damages equal to Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), which may be reduced on a pro rata basis for each year served under the contract.

(iii) If any recipient fails or withdraws from school at any time before successfully completing his or her health-care training, the recipient shall be liable for repayment on demand of the amount of the total compensation that the recipient was paid while on paid educational leave, with interest accruing at ten percent (10%) per annum from the date the recipient failed or withdrew from school. However, the recipient shall not be liable for liquidated damages, and if the recipient returns to work at the sponsoring hospital in the same position held at the hospital before accepting educational leave, or a position approved by the hospital, the recipient shall not be liable for payment of any interest on the amount owed.

(iv) The issuance and renewal of the professional license required to work as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist or other health-care professional for which the educational leave was granted shall be contingent upon the repayment of the total compensation that the recipient received while on paid educational leave. Failure to meet the terms of an educational loan contract shall be grounds for revocation of the professional license that was earned through the paid educational leave compensation granted under this section. Any individual who receives any amount of paid educational leave compensation while in school and subsequently receives a professional license shall be deemed to have earned the professional license through paid educational leave. Any person who is subject to the revocation of his or her professional license for not meeting the terms of an educational loan contract may appear before the appropriate licensing agency to show mitigating circumstances for failure to meet the terms of the contract, and may appeal any revocation of his or her professional license under the laws applicable to the licensing agency.

(v) These procedures shall only apply to educational leave contracts entered into under this section and shall not apply to educational leave contracts entered into with any state institution pursuant to Section 37-101-291 or Section 37-101-293 , as amended.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-14-7 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 11 / Section 14-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-14-7
Status: in_force

(1) There is created a special fund in the State Treasury, to be known as the “ICU Infrastructure Fund,” from which the awards authorized under the ICU Infrastructure Program shall be disbursed by the Department of Health.

(2)(a) All monies shall be disbursed from the fund created in subsection (1) of this section in compliance with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the CARES Act. However, unexpended amounts of any monies unrelated to the Coronavirus Relief Fund, whether appropriated by the Legislature or donated by any public or private entity, remaining in the funds at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the Budget Contingency Fund or the State General Fund, and any investment earnings or interest earned on amounts in the program fund shall be deposited to the credit of the ICU Infrastructure Fund; and

(b) If on December 15, 2020, there are unexpended Coronavirus Relief Fund monies remaining in the fund created in this section, those funds shall be transferred into the Unemployment Compensation Fund no later than December 30, 2020.

(3) The use of funds allocated under this program shall be subject to audit by the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Inspector General and the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. Each person receiving funds under these programs found to be fully or partially noncompliant with the requirements in sections 41-14-1 through 41-14-11 shall return to the state all or a portion of the funds received.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-77-1 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 11 / Section 77-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-77-1
Status: in_force

For purposes of this chapter:

(a) “Birthing center” shall mean a publicly or privately owned facility, place or institution constructed, renovated, leased or otherwise established where nonemergency births are planned to occur away from the mother's usual residence following a documented period of prenatal care for a normal uncomplicated pregnancy which has been determined to be low risk through a formal risk scoring examination. Care provided in a birthing center shall be provided by a licensed physician, or certified nurse midwife, and a registered nurse. Services provided in a birthing center shall be limited in the following manner: (i) surgical services shall be limited to those normally performed during uncomplicated childbirth, such as episiotomy and repair, and shall not include operative obstetrics or caesarean sections; (ii) labor shall not be inhibited, stimulated or augmented with chemical agents during the first or second stage of labor; (iii) systemic analgesia may be administered and local anesthesia for pudendal block and episiotomy repair may be performed. General and conductive anesthesia shall not be administered at birthing centers; (iv) patients shall not remain in the facility in excess of twenty-four (24) hours.

Hospitals are excluded from the definition of a “birthing center” unless they choose to and are qualified to designate a portion or part of the hospital as a birthing center, and nothing herein shall be construed as referring to the usual service provided the pregnant female in the obstetric-gynecology service of an acute care hospital. Such facility or center, as heretofore stated, shall include the offices of physicians in private practice alone or in groups of two (2) or more; and such facility or center rendering service to pregnant female persons, as stated heretofore and by the rules and regulations promulgated by the licensing agency in furtherance thereof, shall be deemed to be a “birthing center” whether using a similar or different name. Such center or facility if in any manner is deemed to be or considered to be operated or owned by a hospital or a hospital holding leasing or management company, for profit or not for profit, is required to comply with all birthing center standards governing a “hospital affiliated” birthing center as adopted by the licensing authority.

(b) “Hospital affiliated” birthing center shall mean a separate and distinct unit of a hospital or a building owned, leased, rented or utilized by a hospital and located in the same county as the hospital for the purpose of providing the service of a “birthing center.” Such center or facility is not required to be licensed separately, and may operate under the license issued to the hospital if it is in compliance with Section 41-9-1 et seq. , where applicable, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the licensing agency in furtherance thereof.

(c) “Freestanding” birthing center shall mean a separate and distinct facility or center or a separate and distinct organized unit of a hospital or other defined persons ( Section 41-7-173(p) ) for the purpose of performing the service of a “birthing center.” Such facility or center must be separately licensed and must comply with all licensing standards promulgated by the licensing agency by virtue of this chapter. Further, such facility or center must be a separate, identifiable entity and must be physically, administratively and financially independent from other operations of any hospital or other health care facility or service and shall maintain a separate and required staff, including administrative staff. Further, any “birthing center” licensed as a “freestanding” center shall not become a component of any hospital or other health care facility without securing a “certificate of need.”

(d) “Licensing agency” shall mean the State Department of Health.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-73-31 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 11 / Section 73-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-73-31
Status: in_force

In addition to the other powers and duties of the authority specified elsewhere in this act, the authority is specifically authorized to initiate a program of providing hospital equipment or hospital facilities located within the state to be operated by participating hospital institutions. In this regard, the authority shall be authorized to exercise the following powers:

(1) To establish eligibility standards for participating hospital institutions;

(2) To enter into an agreement with any entity securing the payment of bonds pursuant to Section 41-73-27(j) or (k) , authorizing said entity to approve the participating hospital institutions that can finance or refinance hospital equipment or hospital facilities with proceeds from the bond issue secured by said entity;

(3) To lease to a participating hospital institution specific hospital facilities or items of hospital equipment upon such terms and conditions as the authority may deem proper, to charge and collect rents therefor, to terminate any such lease upon the failure of the lessee to comply with any of its obligations thereunder or otherwise as such lease may provide, to include in any such lease provisions that the lessee shall have the option to renew the term of the lease for such period or periods and at such rents as may be determined by the authority or to purchase any or all of the hospital facilities or hospital equipment to which such lease shall apply;

(4) To loan to a participating hospital institution under an installment purchase contract or loan agreement monies to finance or refinance the cost of specific items of hospital facilities or hospital equipment and to take back a secured or unsecured promissory note evidencing such loan and a mortgage or security interest in the hospital facilities or hospital equipment financed or refinanced with such loan, upon such terms and conditions as the authority may deem proper;

(5) To sell or otherwise dispose of any or all unneeded or obsolete hospital facilities or hospital equipment under terms and conditions as determined by the authority;

(6) To maintain, repair, replace and otherwise improve or cause to be maintained, repaired, replaced and otherwise improved any hospital facilities or hospital equipment owned by the authority;

(7) To obtain or aid in obtaining property insurance on all hospital facilities or hospital equipment owned or financed by the authority and to enter into any agreement, contract or other instrument with respect to any such insurance to accept payment in the event of damage to or destruction of any hospital equipment;

(8) To enter into any agreement, contract or other instrument with respect to any insurance or guarantee or letter of credit, accepting payment in such manner and form as provided therein in the event of default by a participating hospital institution, and to assign any such insurance or guarantee or letter of credit as security for bonds issued by the authority; and

(9) To purchase and maintain business property insurance and business personal property insurance on all hospital-owned buildings and/or contents as required by federal law and regulations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as is necessary for receiving public assistance or reimbursement for repair, reconstruction, replacement or other damage to those buildings and/or contents caused by the Hurricane Katrina Disaster of 2005 or subsequent disasters. The authority is authorized to expend funds from any available source for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining that property insurance. The authority is authorized to enter into agreements with the Department of Finance and Administration, local school districts, community/junior college districts, state institutions of higher learning, other community hospitals and/or other state agencies to pool their liabilities to participate in a group business property and/or business personal property insurance program, subject to uniform rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Department of Finance and Administration.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-73-69 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 20 / Section 73-69
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-73-69
Status: in_force

The state and all public officers, municipal corporations, political subdivisions and public bodies, all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks and institutions, building and loan associations, savings and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business, all insurance companies, insurance associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business and all executors, administrators, guardians, trustees and other fiduciaries and the Mississippi Public Employees' Retirement System may legally invest any sinking funds, moneys or other funds belonging to them or within their control in any bonds issued by the authority, and such bonds shall be authorized security for all public deposits; it being the purpose of this section to authorize any persons, firms, corporations, associations, political subdivisions, bodies and officers, public or private, to use any funds owned or controlled by them, including, but not limited to, sinking, insurance, investment, retirement, compensation, pension and trust funds, and funds held on deposit, for the purchase of any such bonds, and that any such bonds shall be authorized security for all public deposits. However, nothing contained in this chapter with regard to legal investments shall be construed as relieving any person, firm or corporation from any duty of exercising reasonable care in selecting securities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-43-40 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 21 / Section 43-40
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-43-40
Status: in_force

Every perpetual care cemetery shall maintain continuously and at all times an up-to-date record of the persons buried in the cemetery or entombed within a mausoleum or columbarium; the date of burial or entombment; a map of the designated lot for burial or entombment as well as a map of lots, burial spaces, mausoleum crypts or columbarium niches that have been sold. The map or plat shall also contain up-to-date designations indicating committed or planned designations of burial lots, crypt, niche or mausoleum spaces for future use. Additionally, the Secretary of State may require those maps to be filed with the Secretary of State in any intervals as the Secretary of State may establish by rule or regulation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-51-13 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 10 / Section 51-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-51-13
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of every person operating a disposal plant or rendering plant to apply to the commissioner for a license to operate such establishment, and no person shall engage in this state in the business of operating such a disposal plant or rendering plant without first having obtained for each such disposal plant so operated by him, or in his behalf, a license pursuant to this chapter.

Said commissioner shall keep a record of all applications for licenses, showing all issued, denied or revoked by him and such other facts as he may prescribe. The application for a license shall be made on a form to be supplied by the commissioner, and shall show the location of each establishment and the name and address of the owner and the name and address of the lessor or lessee. Such application shall also set forth the particular method or methods which the applicant intends to employ, or is employing, in the transportation and in the disposal or processing of poultry by-products or the bodies of such dead animals; the number and location of all substations he desires to operate, if any; the number and kind of vehicles he will use; and such other essential information thereto as the commissioner, by his rules and regulations, may require.

The application shall have attached thereto the affidavit of the person applying for the licensing that the facts set forth therein are true and correct.

Such application shall be accompanied by an initial fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for each disposal plant or rendering plant, Five Dollars ($5.00) for each substation operated in conjunction therewith, and Five Dollars ($5.00) for each vehicle unit used in transportation of the poultry by-products, bodies of dead animals and products of said rendering operation. Like fees shall be paid to the commissioner annually for each renewal thereof. All fees collected under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited in the general fund in the state treasury.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-29-515 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 10 / Section 29-515
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-29-515
Status: in_force

(1) Upon receipt of an application, the judge may enter an ex parte order, as requested or as modified, authorizing interception of wire, oral or other communications if the judge determines from the evidence submitted by the applicant that:

(a) There is probable cause to believe that a person is committing, has committed, or is about to commit a particular offense enumerated in Section 41-29-505 ;

(b) There is probable cause to believe that particular communications concerning that offense will be obtained through the interception;

(c) Normal investigative procedures have been tried and have failed or reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed or to be too dangerous if tried;

(d) There is probable cause to believe that the facilities from which or the place where the wire, oral or other communications are to be intercepted are being used or are about to be used in connection with the commission of an offense or are leased to, listed in the name of, or commonly used by the person; and

(e) A covert entry is or is not necessary to properly and safely install the electronic, mechanical or other device.

(2) Each order authorizing the interception of a wire or oral communication shall specify:

(a) The identity of the person, if known, whose communications are to be intercepted;

(b) The nature and location of the communications facilities as to which or the place where authority to intercept is granted;

(c) A particular description of the type of communication sought to be intercepted and a statement of the particular offense to which it relates;

(d) A statement setting forth the identity of the prosecutor and stating that the director has requested the prosecutor to apply for the order authorizing the interception;

(e) The time during which the interception is authorized, including a statement of whether or not the interception will automatically terminate when the described communication is first obtained; and

(f) Whether or not a covert entry is necessary to properly and safely install wiretapping, electronic surveillance or eavesdropping equipment.

(3) The order authorizing the interception of a wire, oral or other communication shall, upon request of the applicant, direct that a communication common carrier, landlord, custodian or other person furnish the applicant all information, facilities and technical assistance necessary to accomplish the interception unobtrusively and with a minimum of interference with the services that the carrier, landlord, custodian or other person is providing the person whose communications are to be intercepted. Any communication common carrier, landlord, custodian or other person furnishing facilities or technical assistance is entitled to compensation by the applicant for the facilities or assistance at the prevailing rates.

(4) An order entered pursuant to this section may not authorize the interception of a wire, oral or other communication for longer than is necessary to achieve the objective of the authorization, and in no event may it authorize interception for more than thirty (30) days. The issuing judge may grant extensions of an order, but only upon application for an extension made in accordance with Section 41-29-513 and the court making the findings required by subsection (1) of this section. The period of extension may not be longer than the authorizing judge deems necessary to achieve the purposes for which it is granted, and in no event may the extension be for more than thirty (30) days. To be valid, each order and extension of an order shall provide that the authorization to intercept be executed as soon as practicable, be conducted in a way that minimizes the interception of communications not otherwise subject to interception under this article, and terminate on obtaining the authorized objective or within thirty (30) days, whichever occurs sooner.

(5) An order entered pursuant to this section may not authorize a covert entry into a residence solely for the purpose of intercepting a wire communication.

(6) An order entered pursuant to this section may not authorize a covert entry into or onto a premises for the purpose of intercepting an oral or other communication unless:

(a) The judge, in addition to making the determinations required under subsection (1) of this section, determines that:

(i)(A) The premises into or onto which the covert entry is authorized or the person whose communications are to be obtained has been the subject of a pen register previously authorized in connection with the same investigation; (B) the premises into or onto which the covert entry is authorized or the person whose communications are to be obtained has been the subject of an interception of wire communications previously authorized in connection with the same investigation; (C) that such procedures have failed; and (D) if the order is for the interception of other communications and requires covert entry, a court-ordered attempt to intercept the communications without using covert entry must have been made without success;

(ii) That the procedures enumerated in item (i) reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed or to be too dangerous if tried or are not feasible under the circumstances or exigencies of time; and

(b) The order, in addition to the matters required to be specified under subsection (2) of this section, specifies that the covert entry is for the purpose of intercepting oral communications of two (2) or more persons and that there is probable cause to believe they are committing, have committed, or are about to commit a particular offense enumerated in Section 41-29-505 .

(7) The judge of a court of competent jurisdiction may issue an order for the interception of wire, oral or other communications conducted within a vehicle, vessel, other mode of transportation or any location where a reasonable expectation of privacy might exist, provided the requirements of this section, where applicable, are met.

(8) Whenever an order authorizing interception is entered pursuant to this article, the order may require reports to the judge who issued the order showing what progress has been made toward achievement of the authorized objective and the need for continued interception. Reports shall be made at any interval the judge requires.

(9) A judge who issues an order authorizing the interception of a wire, oral or other communication may not hear a criminal prosecution in which evidence derived from the interception may be used or in which the order may be an issue.

(10) An order issued pursuant to this section authorizing the interception of any cellular, portable, transportable or mobile telephone or communication instrument is valid throughout the State of Mississippi unless otherwise specified by the issuing judge.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-27-103 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 27-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-27-103
Status: in_force

When, in any county of this state other than a county bordering on the Mississippi Sound or Gulf of Mexico, a petition, signed by fifty (50) or more qualified electors of such county, shall be presented to the board of supervisors of such county, requesting that a county mosquito control commission for such county be created, the board of supervisors may, within sixty (60) days from the date of the filing of the petition with the clerk of the board, create a county mosquito control commission, and the order creating said county mosquito control commission shall be entered on the minutes of the board of supervisors. The said order shall name three (3) commissioners, one (1) of whom shall be designated as temporary chairman, and shall set a time, date, and place for a meeting to organize said commission. The date of said organizational meeting shall be within sixty (60) days from the date of said order.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-113-3 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 21 / Section 113-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-113-3
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created the Office of Tobacco Control (office) which shall be an administrative division of the State Department of Health.

(2) The Office of Tobacco Control, with the advice of the Mississippi Tobacco Control Advisory Board, shall develop and implement a comprehensive and statewide tobacco education, prevention and cessation program that is consistent with the recommendations for effective program components and funding recommendations in the 1999 Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as those Best Practices may be periodically amended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(3) At a minimum, the program shall include the following components, and may include additional components that are contained within the Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as periodically amended, and that based on scientific data and research have been shown to be effective at accomplishing the purposes of this section:

(a) The use of mass media, including paid advertising and other communication tools to discourage the use of tobacco products and to educate people, especially youth, about the health hazards from the use of tobacco products, which shall be designed to be effective at achieving these goals and shall include, but need not be limited to, television, radio, and print advertising, as well as sponsorship, exhibits and other opportunities to raise awareness statewide;

(b) Evidence-based curricula and programs implemented in schools to educate youth about tobacco and to discourage their use of tobacco products, including, but not limited to, programs that involve youth, educate youth about the health hazards from the use of tobacco products, help youth develop skills to refuse tobacco products, and demonstrate to youth how to stop using tobacco products;

(c) Local community programs, including, but not limited to, youth-based partnerships that discourage the use of tobacco products and involve community-based organizations in tobacco education, prevention and cessation programs in their communities;

(d) Enforcement of laws, regulations and policies against the sale or other provision of tobacco products to minors, and the possession of tobacco products by minors;

(e) Programs to assist and help people to stop using tobacco products; and

(f) A surveillance and evaluation system that monitors program accountability and results, produces publicly available reports that review how monies expended for the program are spent, and includes an evaluation of the program's effectiveness in reducing and preventing the use of tobacco products, and annual recommendations for improvements to enhance the program's effectiveness.

(4) All programs or activities funded by the State Department of Health through the tobacco education, prevention and cessation program, whether part of a component described in subsection (2) or an additional component, must be consistent with the Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as periodically amended, and all funds received by any person or entity under any such program or activity must be expended for purposes that are consistent with those Best Practices. The State Department of Health shall exercise sole discretion in determining whether components are consistent with the Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(5) Funding for the different components of the program shall be apportioned between the components based on the recommendations in the Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as periodically amended, or any additional programs as determined by the State Board of Health to provide adequate program development, implementation and evaluation for effective control of the use of tobacco products. While the office shall develop annual budgets based on strategic planning, components of the program shall be funded using the following areas as guidelines for priority:

(a) School nurses and school programs;

(b) Mass media (counter-marketing);

(c) Cessation programs (including media promotions);

(d) Community programs;

(e) Surveillance and evaluation;

(f) Law enforcement; and

(g) Administration and management; however, not more than five percent (5%) of the total budget may be expended for administration and management purposes.

(6) In funding the components of the program, the State Department of Health may provide funding for health care programs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Mississippi Quality Health Center Grants that are related to the prevention and cessation of the use of tobacco products and the treatment of illnesses that are related to the use of tobacco products.

(7) No statewide, district, local, county or municipal elected official shall take part as a public official in mass media advertising under the provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-57-13 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 11 / Section 57-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-57-13
Status: in_force

(1) Death certificate errors in the recording of personal information of the deceased may be corrected by affidavit of the informant and the funeral director of the funeral home that disposed of the body. Items in the medical certification or of a medical nature may be amended upon receipt of the specified amendment form from (a) the person originally certifying the information or, if deceased or incapacitated, from the person responsible for the completion of such items, or (b) the State Medical Examiner. All other amendments to a death certificate require adjudication by a chancery court in the county of residence of the complainant or in any chancery court district in the state if the complainant is a nonresident. In all such proceedings, the State Department of Health, the State Medical Examiner and the county medical examiner or county medical examiner investigator who certified the information shall be made defendants. No death certificate shall be changed or amended by the State Medical Examiner or any county medical examiner or county medical examiner investigator after he has resigned or been removed from his office as the State Medical Examiner, county medical examiner or county medical examiner investigator.

(2) The local registrar of births and deaths in each county in the state shall, at least monthly, supply the county registrar, the tax assessor and the chairman of the county election commission of each county a list of deaths in the counties of individuals of voting age who have not been previously listed. Such lists shall include the following information for each deceased person: full name (as recorded on the death certificate), social security number, date of death, sex, race, age and usual place of residence.

(3) No such payment as is provided for in Section 41-57-11 shall be made by the board of supervisors unless and until the local registrar shall certify that a list of all deaths of individuals of voting age has been filed with the county voting registrar, tax assessor and with the chairman of the county election commission of the last county of residence of the decedent in this state.

(4) In the event that the decedent is a female, who at the time of her death was between the ages of ten (10) and fifty (50) years old, the physician, medical examiner, coroner or other official who certifies the decedent's cause of death shall indicate, where appropriately designated, on the death certificate whether (a) the decedent was pregnant at the time of her death; (b) the decedent had given birth within the preceding ninety (90) days; or (c) the decedent had a miscarriage within the preceding ninety (90) days.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-77-7 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 13 / Section 77-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-77-7
Status: in_force

No license shall be issued to a “birthing center” until such “birthing center” shall have obtained a written agreement with a hospital which has an organized obstetrical service and provides such service on a continuing basis, stating that said hospital agrees to accept from the “birthing center” such cases as may need to be referred for whatever reason from the “birthing center”.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-27-113 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 21 / Section 27-113
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-27-113
Status: in_force

The county mosquito control commission shall, immediately after the organizational meeting, make an investigation to ascertain and determine a feasible method for the control and extermination of rice field mosquitoes within the county. If a feasible method of control and extermination be found, the commission shall make investigations to determine the estimated cost of a mosquito control program on the following basis:

The commission shall, as nearly as possible, ascertain the estimated number of acres of land within the county upon which rice will be planted the next following crop year. The commission shall then estimate the total cost of the poison or other control material which would be needed for the control of rice field mosquitoes on the estimated acreage to be planted, the total cost of application of the poison or other control material, and the cost of administering the program, including salaries of such personnel as may be needed for the efficient administration of the program. When such information has been obtained by the commission, it shall submit a detailed report to the board of supervisors, showing all such costs and information, and the basis for such determination. Such investigation and report shall be submitted to the board of supervisors annually thereafter so long as a mosquito control program is continued, with such annual reports being filed not later than January 1st of each year.

The board of supervisors shall, within sixty (60) days after the commission's report is filed, determine whether or not the mosquito control program described in said report is feasible or practical, considering among other factors the cost involved. If the board of supervisors finds that such a program is not feasible or practical, it shall enter an order abolishing the commission. All expenses incurred by said commission shall be paid by the board of supervisors out of the general county fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-29-191 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 19 / Section 29-191
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-29-191
Status: in_force

On the first Monday of each month, each drug task force may collect prescription pills and drugs that are brought to the main office of the task force from residential sources, and shall transport the collected pills and drugs to the incinerator maintained by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics for disposal. For the purposes of this section, the term “ drug task force ” means a drug or narcotics task force or enforcement team created through an interlocal cooperation agreement under Section 17-13-1 et seq.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-73-31 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 4 / Section 73-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-73-31
Status: in_force

In addition to the other powers and duties of the authority specified elsewhere in this act, the authority is specifically authorized to initiate a program of providing hospital equipment or hospital facilities located within the state to be operated by participating hospital institutions. In this regard, the authority shall be authorized to exercise the following powers:

(1) To establish eligibility standards for participating hospital institutions;

(2) To enter into an agreement with any entity securing the payment of bonds pursuant to Section 41-73-27(j) or (k) , authorizing said entity to approve the participating hospital institutions that can finance or refinance hospital equipment or hospital facilities with proceeds from the bond issue secured by said entity;

(3) To lease to a participating hospital institution specific hospital facilities or items of hospital equipment upon such terms and conditions as the authority may deem proper, to charge and collect rents therefor, to terminate any such lease upon the failure of the lessee to comply with any of its obligations thereunder or otherwise as such lease may provide, to include in any such lease provisions that the lessee shall have the option to renew the term of the lease for such period or periods and at such rents as may be determined by the authority or to purchase any or all of the hospital facilities or hospital equipment to which such lease shall apply;

(4) To loan to a participating hospital institution under an installment purchase contract or loan agreement monies to finance or refinance the cost of specific items of hospital facilities or hospital equipment and to take back a secured or unsecured promissory note evidencing such loan and a mortgage or security interest in the hospital facilities or hospital equipment financed or refinanced with such loan, upon such terms and conditions as the authority may deem proper;

(5) To sell or otherwise dispose of any or all unneeded or obsolete hospital facilities or hospital equipment under terms and conditions as determined by the authority;

(6) To maintain, repair, replace and otherwise improve or cause to be maintained, repaired, replaced and otherwise improved any hospital facilities or hospital equipment owned by the authority;

(7) To obtain or aid in obtaining property insurance on all hospital facilities or hospital equipment owned or financed by the authority and to enter into any agreement, contract or other instrument with respect to any such insurance to accept payment in the event of damage to or destruction of any hospital equipment;

(8) To enter into any agreement, contract or other instrument with respect to any insurance or guarantee or letter of credit, accepting payment in such manner and form as provided therein in the event of default by a participating hospital institution, and to assign any such insurance or guarantee or letter of credit as security for bonds issued by the authority; and

(9) To purchase and maintain business property insurance and business personal property insurance on all hospital-owned buildings and/or contents as required by federal law and regulations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as is necessary for receiving public assistance or reimbursement for repair, reconstruction, replacement or other damage to those buildings and/or contents caused by the Hurricane Katrina Disaster of 2005 or subsequent disasters. The authority is authorized to expend funds from any available source for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining that property insurance. The authority is authorized to enter into agreements with the Department of Finance and Administration, local school districts, community/junior college districts, state institutions of higher learning, other community hospitals and/or other state agencies to pool their liabilities to participate in a group business property and/or business personal property insurance program, subject to uniform rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Department of Finance and Administration.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-103 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 11 / Section 13-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-103
Status: in_force

The trustees of trusts established pursuant to Section 41-13-101 shall hold the legal title to all property at any time belonging to the trust. They shall have control over such property as well as the control and management of the business and affairs of the trust. Liability to third persons for any act, omission or obligation of a trustee of a trust, when acting in such capacity, shall extend to the whole of the trust estate or so much thereof as may be necessary to discharge such obligation, but no trustee shall be personally liable for any such act, omission or obligation. The trustees shall have such powers as to the investment of the trust estate as may be set out in the declaration of trust. However, the investments of the trust shall be limited to the same type, kind and quality as those required of a domestic casualty insurer. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the trustees shall have any powers, whether conferred upon them by the agreement of trust or otherwise, to perform all acts necessary or desirable to the conduct of the business of a public liability insurer.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-57-26 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 13 / Section 57-26
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-57-26
Status: in_force

The Office of Vital Records Registration shall furnish up to five (5) certified copies of the death certificate of any deceased person who was an honorably discharged veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States or who was killed or died while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, without charge, to any person or entity that is authorized to receive death certificates. The applicant for a copy of the death certificate must furnish such written evidence of the deceased person's service in the Armed Forces of the United States as required by the office. Copies of death certificates furnished under the authority under this section shall be in addition to any copies of death certificates furnished without charge under the authority of Section 35-3-9 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-26-101 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 10 / Section 26-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-26-101
Status: in_force

(1) Each member elected or reelected after June 30, 1998, to serve on a governing board of any community public water system, except systems operated by municipalities with a population greater than ten thousand (10,000), shall attend a minimum of eight (8) hours of management training within two (2) years following the election of that board member. Any member failing to complete the management training within two (2) years after his election shall be subject to removal from the board by the remaining members. If a board member has undergone training and is reelected to the board, that board member shall not be required to attend training as provided by this subsection.

(2) The management training shall be organized by the State Department of Health, in cooperation with the Mississippi Rural Water Association and other organizations. The management training shall include information on water system management and financing, rate setting and structures, operations and maintenance, applicable laws and regulations, ethics, the duties and responsibilities of a board member and other information deemed necessary by the department after consultation with the association and other organizations. The department shall develop and provide all training materials. The association and other training organizations may charge a fee in the amount of Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) per member plus the cost of the manual and materials. These costs shall be reimbursed to the board member as an expense of the community public water system.

(3) Two (2) officers of each board shall also obtain an additional four (4) hours of updated and advanced training within a four-year period. The term “officers” shall include the legally responsible official of the community public water system and the mayor, mayor pro tem, the president, and the vice president of the board. If one (1) of the officers is not able to attend the training, then he may appoint someone from among the existing board to attend in his place; however, the board member attending this training must have first completed the eight (8) hours of management training. This training will be held at a time and place that will accommodate those members who have other responsibilities. The training shall consist of, but not be limited to, updated regulatory rules and regulations, an in-depth look at the Mississippi Nonprofit Corporation Act as well as any updated information that would aid them in making decisions for their utility system. The association and other training organizations may charge a fee in the amount of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) per member plus the cost of the material needed for the training. These costs shall also be reimbursed to the board member as an expense of the community water system.

(4) To avoid board members having to interfere with their jobs or employment, management training sessions may be divided into segments and, to the greatest extent possible, shall be scheduled for evening sessions. The department shall conduct management training on a regional basis and shall use community college or other public facilities for the convenience of board members.

(5) The department may make exceptions to and grant exemptions and variances to the requirements of this section for good cause shown.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-87-13 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 87-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-87-13
Status: in_force

(1) Upon full implementation of the early intervention system, eligible infants and toddlers and their families shall receive the following, at no cost to the parents:

(a) A comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation and assessment of the needs of the infant and toddler and the concerns, priorities and resources of the family, and the identification of services to meet such needs;

(b) An explanation of the assessment and all service options in the family's native language or through an interpreter for the deaf, if necessary, accommodating cultural differences;

(c) A written individualized family service plan developed according to the federal Part C regulations and the state guidelines and the recommendations by a multidisciplinary team with the parents as fully participating members of the team;

(d) Case management/service coordination services; and

(e) Procedural safeguards as outlined in state policy and according to the regulations.

(2) The individualized family service plan shall serve as the singular comprehensive service plan for all agencies involved in providing early intervention services to the infant or toddler and the family. Service plans from other agencies should be incorporated into the individualized family service plan on an individual basis.

(3) The contents of the individualized family service plan shall be fully explained to the parents or guardian, and informed written consent from such parents or guardian shall be obtained before the provision of early intervention services described in such plan. If such parents or guardian do not provide consent with respect to a particular early intervention service, then the early intervention services to which such consent is obtained shall be provided.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-77-3 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 25 / Section 77-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-77-3
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to protect and promote the public welfare by providing for the development, establishment and enforcement of certain standards in the maintenance and operation of “birthing centers” which will ensure safe, sanitary and reasonably adequate care of individuals in such institutions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-19-291 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 17 / Section 19-291
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-19-291
Status: in_force

(1) The Specialized Treatment Facility for the Emotionally Disturbed, located in Harrison County, Mississippi, is recognized as now existing and shall be for the care and treatment of persons with mental illness. The facility shall have the power to receive and hold property, real, personal, and mixed, as a body corporate. The facility shall be under the direction and control of the State Board of Mental Health.

(2) Admissions shall be limited to mentally or emotionally disturbed adolescents who have been committed to the facility by a youth court judge or chancellor as provided in Section 41-21-109 , or who are voluntarily admitted to the facility.

(3) With funds provided by the Legislature, by direct appropriation or authorized bond issue, with federal matching funds, or with any other available funds, the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management may construct and equip the necessary residential and service buildings and other facilities to care for the residents of the Specialized Treatment Facility for the Emotionally Disturbed. The general design of the facility and all construction plans shall be approved and recommended by the State Department of Mental Health.

(4) The Specialized Treatment Facility for the Emotionally Disturbed shall be administered by the State Board of Mental Health. Provisions relating to the admission and care of residents at the facility shall be promulgated by the board.

(5) The Specialized Treatment Facility for the Emotionally Disturbed is authorized to establish and operate a school to meet the educational needs of its patients.

(6) Persons admitted to the Specialized Treatment Facility for the Emotionally Disturbed shall be assessed support and maintenance costs in accordance with the provisions of the state reimbursement laws as they apply to other state institutions.

(7) Any person who (a) knowingly and unlawfully or improperly causes a person to be adjudged mentally ill, (b) procures the escape of a legally committed patient or knowingly conceals an escaped legally committed patient of the facility or (c) unlawfully brings any firearm, deadly weapon or explosive into the facility or its grounds, or passes any thereof to a resident, employee or officer of the school, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00), or more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00), imprisonment for not less than six (6) months, or both.

(8) The Specialized Treatment Facility for the Emotionally Disturbed is designated as a state agency for carrying out the purposes of any act of the Congress of the United States, now existing or at any time hereafter enacted, pertaining to mental illness.

(9) If no funding for the Specialized Treatment Facility for the Emotionally Disturbed is provided by state appropriation, the Department of Mental Health may lease the facility to carry out the purposes of the facility as provided in this section and Section 41-21-109 . Before the facility may be leased, the department, in conjunction with the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management of the Department of Finance and Administration, shall publicly issue requests for proposals, advertised in the same manner as provided in Section 31-7-13 for seeking competitive sealed bids. The requests for proposals shall contain terms and conditions relating to submission of proposals, evaluation and selection of proposals, financial terms, legal responsibilities, and any other matters as the department and bureau determine to be appropriate for inclusion. Upon receiving responses to the request for proposals, the department and bureau shall select the most qualified proposal or proposals on the basis of experience and qualifications of the proposers, the technical approach, the financial arrangements, the best value and overall benefits to the state, and any other relevant factors determined to be appropriate, and from those proposals, shall negotiate and enter a contract or contracts for the lease of the facility with one or more of the persons or firms submitting proposals. However, if the department and bureau deem none of the proposals to be qualified or otherwise acceptable, the request for proposals process may be reinitiated.

(10) If the Specialized Treatment Facility for the Emotionally Disturbed is leased under subsection (9) of this section, the lessee of the facility must give first priority in hiring employees for the facility to the current employees at the facility. This condition must be included as one (1) of the specifications in the request for proposals for leasing the facility.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-36-3 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 10 / Section 36-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-36-3
Status: in_force

An individual who has sustained either (a) irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or (b) irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem, is dead. A determination of death must be made in accordance with accepted medical standards.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-11-109 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 3 / Section 11-109
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-11-109
Status: in_force

When the Mississippi Children's Rehabilitation Center has been completed and made ready for occupancy, the buildings and land on which they are located, together with any and all equipment therefor, shall be conveyed and transferred by the State Building Commission to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for the use and benefit of the State of Mississippi in accordance with the provisions of Sections 41-11-101 through 41-11-113 . Title to all land, buildings and equipment held by the board of trustees of the Mississippi Hospital School for Cerebral Palsy shall be conveyed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for the use and benefit of the state in accordance with the provisions of such sections.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center may contract for and obtain the services of the board of education for the purpose of conducting educational programs for children in the Mississippi Children's Rehabilitation Center and all institutions and agencies of the state government are requested and directed to participate and cooperate to the fullest extent authorized by law in rendering assistance towards the rehabilitation and restoration of such cerebral palsy patients and patients with other crippling conditions which are amenable to such treatment.

No member of the family of any member of the board of trustees shall be eligible for treatment in the center. Crippled children shall be admitted to the center insofar as practicable in proportion to the number of such children in the counties of the State of Mississippi, so that all such crippled children shall have equal opportunity for admission to the center.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-29-119 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 23 / Section 29-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-29-119
Status: in_force

(A) The controlled substances listed in this section are included in Schedule IV.

SCHEDULE IV

(a) Narcotic drugs. Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains limited quantities of the following narcotic drugs, or any salts thereof:

(1) Not more than one (1) milligram of difenoxin and not less than twenty-five (25) micrograms of atropine sulfate per dosage unit;

(2) Dextropropoxyphene, including its salts (Darvon, Darvon-N; also found in Darvon compound and Darvocet-N, etc.);

(3) 2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)cyclohexanol, its salts, optical and geometric isomers and salts of these isomers (including tramadol).

(b) Depressants . Any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances:

(1) Alfaxalone;

(2) Alprazolam;

(3) Barbital;

(4) Brexanolone;

(5) Bromazepam;

(6) Camazepam;

(7) Carisoprodol;

(8) Chloral betaine;

(9) Chloral hydrate;

(10) Chlordiazepoxide and its salts, but does not include chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride and clidinium bromide or chlordiazepoxide and esterified estrogens;

(11) Clobazam;

(12) Clonazepam;

(13) Clorazepate;

(14) Clotiazepam;

(15) Cloxazolam;

(16) Daridorexant ([(S)-2-(5-chloro-4-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-2-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl](5-methoxy-2-(2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl)methanone), including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers;

(17) Delorazepam;

(18) Diazepam;

(19) Dichloralphenazone;

(20) Estazolam;

(21) Ethchlorvynol;

(22) Ethinamate;

(23) Ethyl loflazepate;

(24) Fludiazepam;

(25) Flunitrazepam;

(26) Flurazepam;

(27) Fospropofol;

(28) Halazepam;

(29) Haloxazolam;

(30) Ketazolam;

(31) Lemborexant;

(32) Loprazolam;

(33) Lorazepam;

(34) Lormetazepam;

(35) Mebutamate;

(36) Medazepam;

(37) Meprobamate;

(38) Methohexital;

(39) Methylphenobarbital;

(40) Midazolam;

(41) Nimetazepam;

(42) Nitrazepam;

(43) Nordiazepam;

(44) Oxazepam;

(45) Oxazolam;

(46) Paraldehyde;

(47) Petrichloral;

(48) Phenobarbital;

(49) Pinazepam;

(50) Prazepam;

(51) Quazepam;

(52) Remimazolam;

(53) Suvorexant;

(54) Temazepam;

(55) Tetrazepam;

(56) Triazolam;

(57) Zaleplon;

(58) Zolpidem;

(59) Zopiclone.

(c) [Deleted]

(d) Lorcaserin . Any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of Lorcaserin, including its salts, isomers, and salts of such isomers, whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible.

(e) Stimulants. Any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances:

(1) Cathine ((+/-) Norpseudoephedrine);

(2) Diethylpropion;

(3) Fencamfamin;

(4) Fenproporex;

(5) Mazindol;

(6) Mefenorex;

(7) Modafinil;

(8) Pemoline (including any organometallic complexes and chelates thereof);

(9) Phentermine;

(10) Pipradrol;

(11) Serdexmethylphenidate;

(12) Sibutramine;

(13) Solriamfetol;

(14) SPA ((-)-1-dimethylamino-1,2-diphenylethane).

(f) Other substances.

(1) Pentazocine;

(2) Butorphanol (including its optical isomers);

(3) Eluxadoline (5-[[[(2S)-2-amino-3-[4-aminocarbonyl)-2,6-dimethylphenyl]-1-oxopropyl][(1S)-1-(4-phenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)ethyl]amino]methyl]-2-methoxybenzoic acid); (including its optical isomers) and its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers.

(4) Zuranolone and its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers.

(B) Any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of a Schedule IV controlled substance and is listed as an exempt substance in 21 CFR, Section 1308.22 , 1308.24 , 1308.26 , 1308.32 or 1308.34 , shall be exempted from the provisions of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-15 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 4 / Section 13-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-15
Status: in_force

(1) Any county and/or any political or judicial subdivision of a county and/or any municipality of the State of Mississippi, acting individually or jointly, may acquire and hold real estate for a community hospital either recognized and/or licensed as such by either the State of Mississippi or the United States Government, and may, after complying with applicable health planning and licensure statutes, construct a community hospital thereon and/or appropriate funds according to the provisions of this chapter for the construction, remodeling, maintaining, equipping, furnishing and expansion of such facilities by the board of trustees upon such real estate.

(2) Where joint ownership of a community hospital is involved, the owners are hereby authorized to contract with each other for determining the pro rata ownership of such community hospital, the proportionate cost of maintenance and operation, and the proportionate financing that each will contribute to the community hospital.

(3) The owners may likewise contract with each other, or on behalf of any subordinate political or judicial subdivision, or with the board of trustees of a community hospital, and/or any agency of the State of Mississippi or the United States Government, for necessary purposes related to the establishment, operation or maintenance of community hospitals and related programs wherever located, and may either accept from, sell or contribute to the other entities, monies, personal property or existing health facilities. The owners or the board of trustees may also receive monies, property or any other valuables of any kind through gifts, donations, devises or other recognized means from any source for the purpose of hospital use.

(4) Owners and boards of trustees, acting jointly or severally, may acquire and hold real estate for offices for physicians and other health care practitioners and related health care or support facilities, provided that any contract for the purchase of real property must be ratified by the owner, and may thereon construct and equip, maintain and remodel or expand such offices and related facilities, and the board of trustees may lease same to members of the hospital staff or others at a rate deemed to be in the best interest of the community hospital.

(5) If any political or judicial subdivision of a county is obligated hereunder, the boundaries of such district shall not be altered in such a manner as to relieve any portion thereof of its obligation hereunder.

(6) Owners may convey to any other owner any or all property, real or personal, comprising any existing community hospital, including related facilities, wherever located, owned by such conveying owner. Such conveyance shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon and may make such provisions for transfers of operating funds and/or for the assumption of liabilities of the community hospital as may be deemed appropriate by the respective owners.

(7)(a) Except as provided for in subsection (11) of this section, owners may lease all or part of the property, real or personal, comprising a community hospital, including any related facilities, wherever located, and/or assets of such community hospital, to any individual, partnership or corporation, whether operating on a nonprofit basis or on a profit basis, or to the board of trustees of such community hospital or any other owner or board of trustees, subject to the applicable provisions of subsections (8), (9) and (10) of this section. The term of such lease shall not exceed fifty (50) years. Such lease shall be conditioned upon (i) the leased facility continuing to operate in a manner safeguarding community health interests; (ii) the proceeds from the lease being first applied against such bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness as are issued pursuant to Section 41-13-19 as and when they are due, provided that the terms of the lease shall cover any indebtedness pursuant to Section 41-13-19 ; and (iii) any surplus proceeds from the lease being deposited in the general fund of the owner, which proceeds may be used for any lawful purpose. Such lease shall be subject to the express approval of the board of trustees of the community hospital, except in the case where the board of trustees of the community hospital will be the lessee. However, owners may not lease any community hospital to the University of Mississippi Medical Center unless first the University of Mississippi Medical Center has obtained authority to lease such hospital under specific terms and conditions from the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

If the owner wishes to lease a community hospital without an option to sell it and the approval of the board of trustees of the community hospital is required but is not given within thirty (30) days of the request for its approval by the owner, then the owner may enter such lease as described herein on the following conditions: A resolution by the owner describing its intention to enter such lease shall be published once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in at least one (1) newspaper published in the county or city, as the case may be, or if none be so published, in a newspaper having a general circulation therein. The first publication of such notice shall be made not less than twenty-one (21) days prior to the date fixed in such resolution for the lease of the community hospital and the last publication shall be made not more than seven (7) days prior to such date. If, on or prior to the date fixed in such resolution for the lease of the community hospital, there shall be filed with the clerk of the owner a petition signed by twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever is less, of the qualified voters of such owner, requesting that an election be called and held on the question of the lease of the community hospital, then it shall be the duty of the owner to call and provide for the holding of an election as petitioned for. In such case, no such lease shall be entered into unless authorized by the affirmative vote of the majority of the qualified voters of such owner who vote on the proposition at such election. Notice of such election shall be given by publication in like manner as hereinabove provided for the publication of the initial resolution. Such election shall be conducted and the return thereof made, canvassed and declared as nearly as may be in like manner as is now or may hereafter be provided by law in the case of general elections in such owner. If, on or prior to the date fixed in the owner's resolution for the lease of the community hospital, no such petition as described above is filed with the clerk of the owner, then the owner may proceed with the lease subject to the other requirements of this section. Subject to the above conditions, the lease agreement shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon and may make such provision for transfers of tangible and intangible personal property and operating funds and/or for the assumption of liabilities of the community hospital and for such lease payments, all as may be deemed appropriate by the owners.

(b) Owners may sell and convey all or part of the property, real or personal, comprising a community hospital, including any related facilities, wherever located, and/or assets of such community hospital, to any individual, partnership or corporation, whether operating on a nonprofit basis or on a profit basis, or to the board of trustees of such community hospital or any other owner or board of trustees, subject to the applicable provisions of subsections (8) and (10) of this section. Such sale and conveyance shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the owner and the purchaser that are consistent with the requirements of this section, and the parties may make such provisions for the transfer of operating funds or for the assumption of liabilities of the facility, or both, as they deem appropriate. However, such sale and conveyance shall be conditioned upon (i) the facility continuing to operate in a manner safeguarding community health interests; (ii) the proceeds from such sale being first applied against such bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness as are issued pursuant to Section 41-13-19 as and when they are due, provided that the terms of the sale shall cover any indebtedness pursuant to Section 41-13-19 ; and (iii) any surplus proceeds from the sale being deposited in the general fund of the owner, which proceeds may be used for any lawful purpose. However, owners may not sell or convey any community hospital to the University of Mississippi Medical Center unless first the University of Mississippi Medical Center has obtained authority to purchase such hospital under specific terms and conditions from the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

(8) Whenever any owner decides that it may be in its best interests to sell or lease a community hospital as provided for under subsection (7) of this section, the owner shall first contract with a certified public accounting firm, a law firm or competent professional health care or management consultants to review the current operating condition of the community hospital. The review shall consist of, at minimum, the following:

(a) A review of the community's inpatient facility needs based on current workload, historical trends and projections, based on demographic data, of future needs.

(b) A review of the competitive market for services, including other hospitals which serve the same area, the services provided and the market perception of the competitive hospitals.

(c) A review of the hospital's strengths relative to the competition and its capacity to compete in light of projected trends and competition.

(d) An analysis of the hospital's options, including service mix and pricing strategies. If the study concludes that a sale or lease should occur, the study shall include an analysis of which option would be best for the community and how much revenues should be derived from the lease or sale.

(9) After the review and analysis under subsection (8) of this section, an owner may choose to sell or lease the community hospital. If an owner chooses to sell such hospital or lease the hospital with an option to sell it, the owner shall follow the procedure specified in subsection (10) of this section. If an owner chooses to lease the hospital without an option to sell it, it shall first spread upon its minutes why such a lease is in the best interests of the persons living in the area served by the facility to be leased, and it shall make public any and all findings and recommendations made in the review required under proposals for the lease, which shall state clearly the minimum required terms of all respondents and the evaluation process that will be used when the owner reviews the proposals. The owner shall lease to the respondent submitting the highest and best proposal. In no case may the owner deviate from the process provided for in the request for proposals.

(10) If an owner wishes to sell such community hospital or lease the hospital with an option to sell it, the owner first shall conduct a public hearing on the issue of the proposed sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital. Notice of the date, time, location and purpose of the public hearing shall be published once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in at least one (1) newspaper published in the county or city, as the case may be, or if none be so published, in a newspaper having a general circulation therein. The first publication of the notice shall be made not less than twenty-one (21) days before the date of the public hearing and the last publication shall be made not more than seven (7) days before that date. If there is filed with the clerk of the owner not more than twenty-one (21) days after the date of the public hearing, a petition signed by twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever is less, of the qualified voters of the owner, requesting that an election be called and held on the question of whether the owner should proceed with the process of seeking proposals for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital, then it shall be the duty of the owner to call and provide for the holding of an election as petitioned for. Notice of the election shall be given by publication in the same manner as provided for the publication of the notice of the public hearing. The election shall be conducted and the return thereof made, canvassed and declared in the same manner as provided by law in the case of general elections in the owner. If less than a majority of the qualified voters of the owner who vote on the proposition at such election vote in favor of the owner proceeding with the process of seeking proposals for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital, then the owner is not authorized to sell or lease the hospital. If a majority of the qualified voters of the owner who vote on the proposition at such election vote in favor of the owner proceeding with the process of seeking proposals for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital, then the owner may seek proposals for the sale or lease of the hospital. If no such petition is timely filed with the clerk of the owner, then the owner may proceed with the process of seeking proposals for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital. The owner shall adopt a resolution describing its intention to sell or lease with an option to sell the hospital, which shall include the owner's reasons why such a sale or lease is in the best interests of the persons living in the area served by the facility to be sold or leased. The owner then shall publish a copy of the resolution; the requirements for proposals for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital, which shall state clearly the minimum required terms of all respondents and the evaluation process that will be used when the owner reviews the proposals; and the date proposed by the owner for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital. Such publication shall be made once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in at least one (1) newspaper published in the county or city, as the case may be, or if none be so published, in a newspaper having a general circulation therein. The first publication of the notice shall be made not less than twenty-one (21) days before the date proposed for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital and the last publication shall be made not more than seven (7) days before that date. After receiving proposals, such sale or lease shall be made to the respondent submitting the highest and best proposal. In no case may the owner deviate from the process provided for in the request for proposals.

(11) A lessee of a community hospital, under a lease entered into under the authority of Section 41-13-15 , in effect prior to July 15, 1993, or an affiliate thereof, may extend or renew such lease whether or not an option to renew or extend the lease is contained in the lease, for a term not to exceed fifteen (15) years, conditioned upon (a) the leased facility continuing to operate in a manner safeguarding community health interest; (b) proceeds from the lease being first applied against such bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness as are issued pursuant to Section 41-13-19 ; (c) surplus proceeds from the lease being used for health related purposes; (d) subject to the express approval of the board of trustees of the community hospital; and (e) subject to the express approval of the owner. If no board of trustees is then existing, the owner shall have the right to enter into a lease upon such terms and conditions as agreed upon by the parties. Any lease entered into under this subsection (11) may contain an option to purchase the hospital, on such terms as the parties shall agree.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-59-13 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 25 / Section 59-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-59-13
Status: in_force

The board shall issue a license which shall be valid for a period of one (1) year when it determines that all the requirements of this chapter have been met.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-121-1 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 22 / Section 121-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-121-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as “The Patient's Right to Informed Health Care Choices Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-30-31 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 13 / Section 30-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-30-31
Status: in_force

Involuntary commitment of an individual to an approved public or private treatment facility for treatment or rehabilitation for a period in excess of five (5) days shall be according to the provisions of Title 41, Chapter 31, Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-59-21 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 17 / Section 59-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-59-21
Status: in_force

The issuance of a license shall not be construed to authorize any person, firm, corporation or association to provide ambulance services or to operate any ambulance not in conformity with any ordinance or regulation enacted by any county, municipality or special purpose district or authority.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-41-80 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 22 / Section 41-80
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-41-80
Status: in_force

The provisions of Sections 41-41-75 through 41-41-80 are declared to be severable, and if any provision, word, phrase, or clause of Sections 41-41-75 through 41-41-80 or the application thereof to any person is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of Sections 41-41-75 through 41-41-80 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-19-237 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 7 / Section 19-237
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-19-237
Status: in_force

A person may be deemed eligible for admission to the center if:

(a) His parents or guardian or person in loco parentis has resided in the state not less than one (1) year before the date of admission; and

(b) He is at least five (5) years of age and has such an intellectual disability that he is incapable of managing himself or his affairs, or he has an intellectual disability to the extent that special care, training and education provided at the center will enable him to better function in society; or

(c) He is committed to the center by the chancery court in the manner hereinafter provided; or

(d) He is under five (5) years of age and is approved for admission by the Board of Mental Health, upon the recommendation of the director, because of having an exceptional handicap.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-137-7 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 19 / Section 137-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-137-7
Status: in_force

(1) The MDOH shall have the ultimate authority for oversight of the administration of the medical cannabis program, and the MDOH shall coordinate the activities of the MDOH and MDOR under the provisions of this chapter in order to best effectuate the purpose and intent of this chapter.

(2) The MDOH may contract with other governmental agencies and public or private third parties to assist the MDOH with carrying out any of the responsibilities delegated to the MDOH under this section. However, the MDOH shall be ultimately responsible for the performance of any responsibilities that are exercised by any agency or third party with which the MDOH has contracted under the authority of this subsection.

(3) The MDOH shall be responsible for:

(a) The licensing, oversight and inspection of cannabis testing facilities and cannabis research facilities;

(b) The licensing of cannabis cultivation facilities, cannabis processing facilities, cannabis transportation entities and cannabis disposal entities;

(c) The application and licensing of registry identification cards for qualifying patients and designated caregivers;

(d) The registering of practitioners in accordance with this chapter; and

(e) The selection, certification and oversight of the statewide seed-to-sale tracking system as provided for in Section 41-137-11 .

(4) Unless otherwise provided herein, the MDOR shall be responsible for the licensing, inspection and oversight of medical cannabis dispensaries.

(5) The MDOR and MDOH shall accept applications for and award licenses according to their respective duties as provided for in this chapter, subject to the following:

(a) After one hundred twenty (120) days from February 2, 2022, the MDOH shall begin accepting applications, registering and licensing registry identification cards and practitioners.

(b) After one hundred twenty (120) days from February 2, 2022, the MDOH shall begin licensing and registering cannabis cultivation facilities, cannabis processing facilities, cannabis testing facilities, cannabis research facilities, cannabis disposal entities and cannabis transportation entities. After one hundred fifty (150) days from February 2, 2022, the MDOR shall issue licenses for medical cannabis dispensaries as provided for in this chapter within thirty (30) days of receipt of the application from an applicant or within thirty (30) days after the initial one-hundred-fifty-day period, whichever is the later date.

(6) The MDOR and MDOH shall issue a registration certificate and a random ten-digit alphanumeric identification number to each licensed medical cannabis establishment, as applicable.

(7) After one hundred twenty (120) days from February 2, 2022, the MDOH shall issue licenses according to their respective duties as provided for in this chapter within thirty (30) days of receipt of the application from an applicant or within thirty (30) days after the initial one-hundred-twenty-day period, whichever is the later date. After one hundred fifty (150) days from February 2, 2022, the MDOR shall issue licenses according to their respective duties as provided for in this chapter within thirty (30) days of receipt of the application from an applicant or within thirty (30) days after the initial one-hundred-fifty-day period, whichever is the later date.

(8) It is the intent of the Legislature that the MDOH and MDOR and any other state agency, as needed, shall cooperate and collaborate together to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.

(9)(a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection, the Department of Public Safety shall not be involved in or have any role regarding the administration, regulation or oversight of the medical cannabis program established under this chapter; however, this provision does not prohibit the department from carrying out any law enforcement activities that a law enforcement agency may exercise under this chapter or that the department may exercise under the authority of any other law.

(b) The Department of Public Safety may assist the MDOH in conducting background checks of individuals as required under this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-23 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 4 / Section 13-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-23
Status: in_force

(1) All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued under Section 41-13-19 may be secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit, and resources of the county, city, town, supervisors district, judicial district or election district issuing the same. There shall annually be levied upon all taxable property within such county, city, town, supervisors district, judicial district or election district, as the case may be, an ad valorem tax, in addition to all other taxes, sufficient to provide for the payment of the principal of and the interest on said bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit, and resources of the issuing entity as the same respectively matures and accrues.

(2) All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued under Section 41-13-19 may be secured by a pledge of all or a specified portion of the annual general or special revenues of the facility for which the same were issued to acquire, construct, expand, equip or furnish, or by a pledge of any unrestricted unencumbered income from an endowment or other trust funds available to the board of trustees of the facility for which the same were issued to acquire, construct, expand, equip or furnish. The security for such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness authorized and provided for by this subsection may be in addition to or in lieu of the pledge of the full faith, credit, and resources of the issuing entity as provided in subsection (1) hereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-125-21 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 23 / Section 125-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-125-21
Status: in_force

The requirements for the construction or renovation of a PPEC center shall comply with:

(a) All state and local requirements pertaining to building construction standards, including plumbing, electrical code, glass, manufactured buildings, accessibility for the physically disabled;

(b) The minimum standards for physical facilities in the Mississippi Child Care Standards; and

(c) The standards or rules adopted under this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-19-17 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 19 / Section 19-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-19-17
Status: in_force

The North Mississippi Regional Center is designated as a state agency for carrying out the purposes of any act of the Congress of the United States of America, now existing or at any time hereafter enacted, pertaining to intellectual disabilities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-63-5 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 4 / Section 63-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-63-5
Status: in_force

No physician, dentist, pharmacist, nurse, hospital, organization or institution furnishing information, data, reports or records under Section 41-63-3 or 41-63-4 shall, by reason of furnishing such information be liable in damages to any person. No hospital, hospital governing body, medical or dental review committee, or member of such a committee or governing body, or employee thereof, shall be liable in damages to any person for any action taken or recommendation made within the scope of the functions of any medical or dental review committee if such committee or committee member acts without malice and in the reasonable belief that such action or recommendation is warranted by the facts known to him at the time of such action or recommendation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-61-66 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 22 / Section 61-66
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-61-66
Status: in_force

(1) This section shall be referred to and may be cited as “Christian's Law.”

(2) For the purposes of this section:

(a) “ Surviving relative ” means:

(i) The surviving spouse of the deceased;

(ii) If there is no surviving spouse, the surviving parents of the deceased;

(iii) If there is no surviving spouse or parent, the surviving adult children of the deceased; or

(iv) If there is no surviving spouse, parent or adult children, the next of kin of the deceased.

(b) “ Autopsy media records ” means:

(i) A photograph or video or audio recording of an autopsy; and

(ii) A photograph or video or audio recording of the crime scene taken by or used by the coroner or the medical examiner.

(3) Autopsy media records are confidential subject to the provisions of this section. The custodian of the autopsy medical records, or his or her designee, may not permit any person or entity, unless authorized by this section or court order pursuant to this section, to access autopsy media records. In all cases, the viewing, copying, listening to and/or other handling of autopsy media records must be under the direct supervision of the custodian of the record or his or her designee.

(4)(a) A surviving relative, or the surviving relative's designee, may view, listen to, and/or copy autopsy media records;

(b) A local governmental entity, or a state or federal agency, in furtherance of its official duties, pursuant to a written request, may view, listen to, copy and/or disclose autopsy media records. Unless otherwise required in the performance of the duties of the local governmental entity, the identity of the deceased shall remain confidential and exempt under this paragraph;

(c) A criminal or administrative proceeding is exempt from this section. This section does not prohibit a court in a criminal or administrative proceeding upon good cause shown from restricting or otherwise controlling the disclosure of an autopsy, crime scene, or similar photograph or video or audio recordings in the manner prescribed herein;

(d) A coroner or a medical examiner, and his or her designee, or a medical physician, and his or her designee, in lawful possession of autopsy media records may use autopsy media records for educational purposes as long as:

(i) Personal information identifying the decedent, including name, address, social security number, case and/or medical record number and any other uniquely identifying features, is redacted and expunged from the autopsy records; and

(ii) Facial identity of the deceased is rendered as anonymous as reasonably possible.

For the purposes of this paragraph, “ educational purposes ” include, but are not limited to, medical or scientific teaching or training purposes, teaching or training law enforcement personnel, teaching or training of attorneys or others with a bona fide professional need to use or understand forensic science, conferring with medical or scientific experts in the field of forensic science, publication in a scientific or medical journal or textbook.

(5)(a) A court, upon a showing of good cause, may:

(i) Issue an order authorizing any person to view, listen to, and/or copy an autopsy media record; and

(ii) May prescribe any restrictions or stipulations that the court deems appropriate.

(b) In determining good cause, a court shall consider whether such disclosure is necessary for the public evaluation of governmental performance; the seriousness of the intrusion into the family's right to privacy and whether such disclosure is the least intrusive means available; and the availability of similar information in other public records, regardless of form.

(c) A surviving relative shall be given:

(i) Reasonable notice of a petition filed with a court to view, listen to, and/or copy an autopsy media record;

(ii) A copy of such petition; and

(iii) Reasonable notice of the opportunity to be present and heard at any hearing on the matter.

(d) Any person who willfully and knowingly violates a court order issued pursuant to this section commits a felony punishable upon conviction by one-year imprisonment in the State Penitentiary or a fine of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or both.

(6) Any custodian of an autopsy media record who willfully and knowingly violates this section commits a felony punishable upon conviction by one-year imprisonment in the State Penitentiary or a fine of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or both.

(7) Nothing in this section shall:

(a) Prevent the disclosure of confidential victim communications by any governmental or private participant of a meeting of a multidisciplinary child protection team created under Section 43-15-51 .

(b) Prevent an advocate from a governmental organization from sharing victim information with necessary persons to accomplish the duties of the job or to satisfy statutory or constitutional requirements of disclosure.

(8) This section shall not be construed as creating a cause of action for damages against the state or any of its agencies, officials, employees or political subdivisions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-141-3 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 141-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-141-3
Status: in_force

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed herein:

(a) “ Sex ” means the biological indication of male and female in the context of reproductive potential or capacity, such as sex chromosomes, naturally occurring sex hormones, gonads, and nonambiguous internal and external genitalia present at birth, without regard to an individual's psychological, chosen, or subjective experience of gender;

(b) “ Cross-sex hormones ” means:

(i) Testosterone or other androgens given to females in amounts that are larger or more potent than would normally occur naturally in healthy sex females; and

(ii) Estrogen given to males in amounts that are larger or more potent than would normally occur naturally in healthy sex males;

(c) “ Gender ” means the psychological, behavioral, social, and cultural aspects of being male or female;

(d) “ Gender reassignment surgery ” means any medical or surgical service that seeks to surgically alter or remove healthy physical or anatomical characteristics or features, except for a male circumcision that are typical for the individual's sex, in order to instill or create physiological or anatomical characteristics that resemble a sex different from the individual's sex, including, without limitation:

(i) Surgical procedures such as penectomy, castration, orchiectomy, vaginoplasty, clitoroplasty, or vulvoplasty for male patients;

(ii) Surgical procedures such as hysterectomy, oophorectomy, reconstruction of the urethra, metoidioplasty, phalloplasty, vaginectomy, scrotoplasty, or implantation of erection or testicular prostheses for female patients;

(iii) Surgical procedures such as augmentation mammoplasty, facial feminization surgery, liposuction, lipofilling, voice surgery, thyroid cartilage reduction, gluteal augmentation, hair reconstruction, or various aesthetic procedures for male patients; or

(iv) Surgical procedures such as subcutaneous mastectomy, voice surgery, liposuction, lipofilling, pectoral implants, or various aesthetic procedures for female patients;

(e) “ Gender transition ” means the process in which a person goes from identifying with and living as a gender that corresponds to his or her sex to identifying with and living as a gender different from his or her sex, and may involve social, legal, or physical changes;

(f)(i) “ Gender transition procedures ” means any of the following medical or surgical services performed for the purpose of assisting an individual with a gender transition:

1. Prescribing or administering puberty-blocking drugs;

2. Prescribing or administering cross-sex hormones; or

3. Performing gender reassignment surgeries.

(ii) “Gender transition procedures” do not include:

1. Services to persons born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development, including a person with external sex characteristics that are irresolvably ambiguous, such as those born with forty-six (46) XX chromosomes with virilization, forty-six (46) XY chromosomes with undervirilization, or having both ovarian and testicular tissue;

2. Services provided when a physician has otherwise diagnosed a disorder of sexual development that the physician has determined through genetic or biochemical testing that the person does not have normal sex chromosome structure, sex steroid hormone production, or sex steroid hormone action;

3. The treatment of any infection, injury, disease, or disorder that has been caused by or exacerbated by the performance of gender transition procedures, whether or not the gender transition procedure was performed in accordance with state and federal law or whether or not the funding for the gender transition procedure is permissible under this chapter; or

4. Any procedure for a male circumcision;

(g) “ Health care professional ” means a person who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized by the laws of this state to administer health care in the ordinary course of the practice of his or her profession;

(h) “ Physician ” means a person who is licensed to practice medicine in this state as provided in Sections 73-25-1 etc.;

(i) “ Puberty-blocking drugs ” means gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues or other synthetic drugs used in males to stop luteinizing hormone secretion and therefore testosterone secretion, or synthetic drugs used in females which stop the production of estrogens and progesterone, when used to delay or suppress pubertal development in children for the purpose of assisting an individual with a gender transition; and

(j) “ Public funds ” means federal, state, county, or local government monies, in addition to any department, agency, or instrumentality authorized or appropriated under state law or derived from any fund in which such monies are deposited.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-73-17 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 3 / Section 73-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-73-17
Status: in_force

The members of the authority may appoint an executive director and/or a secretary who shall be employees of the authority, but not members thereof, and who shall serve at the pleasure of the members and receive such compensation as shall be fixed by the members. The executive director, if appointed, shall attend the meetings of the members of the authority and shall administer, manage and direct the affairs and activities of the authority in accordance with the policies and under the control and direction of the members. The executive director shall approve all accounts for salaries, allowable expenses of the authority or of any employee or consultant thereof, and expenses incidental to the operation of the authority. He shall perform such other duties as may be directed by the members in carrying out the purposes of this chapter. The practices and procedures regarding administrative functions and responsibilities of the authority shall be subject to the approval and review of the director of the state bond advisory division of the governor's office. In lieu of or in addition to the appointment of an executive director, the authority may contract with the state bond advisory division of the governor's office to carry out in whole or in part the administrative functions and responsibilities of the authority, but may only pay the actual expenses incurred by such division in performing such functions and responsibilities. The expenses incurred by the authority in contracting for such administrative functions and responsibilities shall be paid by the authority as a qualified cost pursuant to Section 41-73-5(d)(vii) .

The secretary shall attend the meetings of the members of the authority, shall keep a record of the proceedings of the authority, and shall maintain and be custodian of all books, documents and papers filed with the authority, the minute book or journal of the authority, and its official seal. He may cause copies to be made of all minutes and other records and documents of the authority and may give certificates under seal of the authority to the effect that such copies are true copies, and all persons dealing with the authority may rely upon such certificates. If an executive director and/or secretary are not appointed, the members of the authority may designate from among themselves or the authority's employees the person or persons responsible for carrying out the duties set out in this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-125-5 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 19 / Section 125-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-125-5
Status: in_force

(1) The licensing agency shall license and regulate all PPEC centers in the state that are not exempt under subsection (2) of this section. A license issued by the department is required for the operation of a PPEC center in this state.

(2) A facility, institution or other place operated by the federal government or any agency of the federal government is exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-21-201 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 4 / Section 21-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-21-201
Status: in_force

(1) The State Department of Health shall establish, maintain and carry out a comprehensive newborn screening program designed to detect hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria (PKU), hemoglobinopathy, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), galactosemia, any other conditions listed on the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP), and such other conditions as specified by the State Board of Health. The State Board of Health shall ensure that each condition listed on the RUSP is included in the comprehensive newborn screening program within three (3) years after being added to the RUSP and shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary to accomplish the program. If the department does not include a RUSP-listed condition in the comprehensive newborn screening program within three (3) years, the department shall provide a report on the status and reasons for the delay to the House and Senate Public Health Committees once a year after the three-year period.

(2) The State Board of Health shall determine and specify the conditions that will be included in the comprehensive newborn screening program in addition to those conditions named in subsection (1) of this section and any other conditions listed on the RUSP, upon the advice and recommendations of a genetics advisory committee. The advisory committee shall be appointed by the Executive Director of the State Department of Health, and shall include at least two (2) pediatricians and one (1) consumer representative from a family that has experience with a newborn infant with an abnormal screening test. The State Department of Health shall maintain a list of each of the conditions included in the comprehensive newborn screening program, which shall be made available to physicians and other health care providers who are required to provide for newborn screening testing under Section 41-21-203 .

(3) The State Department of Health shall develop information materials about newborn screening tests that are available, which may be used by physicians and other health care providers to inform pregnant women and parents.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-73-1 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 17 / Section 73-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-73-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Hospital Equipment and Facilities Authority Act.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-57-43 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 57-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-57-43
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the state registrar of vital statistics, in addition to the duties now required of him by law, to carry into effect the provisions of law relating to registration of marriages and the rules, regulations and orders of the State Board of Health which may be promulgated pursuant to Section 41-57-45 . The said State Board of Health shall provide for such clerical and other assistance as may be necessary, and may fix the compensation of persons thus employed. The said board shall provide suitable apartments properly equipped with fireproof vault and filing cases for the permanent and safe preservation of all official records made and returned to said bureau.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-29-305 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 9 / Section 29-305
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-29-305
Status: in_force

A physician or a dentist, in good faith and in the course of his professional practice only, may prescribe, administer, dispense, mix or otherwise prepare narcotic drugs, or he may cause the same to be administered by a nurse or interne under his direction and supervision.

A veterinarian, in good faith and in the course of his professional practice only, and not for use by human beings, may prescribe, administer, dispense, mix or otherwise prepare narcotic drugs, and he may cause them to be administered by an assistant or orderly under his direction and supervision.

Any person who has obtained from a physician, dentist, or veterinarian any narcotic drug for administration to a patient during the absence of such physician, dentist, or veterinarian, shall return to such physician, dentist, or veterinarian any unused portion of such drug, when it is no longer required by the patient.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-137-57 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 17 / Section 137-57
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-137-57
Status: in_force

(1) The cultivation, processing, sale and distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as performed in accordance to the provisions of this chapter, shall be legal in every county and municipality of this state unless a county or municipality opts out through a vote by the board of supervisors of the county or governing authorities of the municipality, as applicable, within ninety (90) days after February 2, 2022. The governing authorities of the municipality or the board of supervisors of the county, as applicable, shall provide a notice in accordance with the Open Meetings Act ( Section 25-41-1 et seq. ) of its intent of holding a vote regarding opting out of allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable. The governing authorities of the municipality or the board of supervisors of the county, as applicable, may opt out of allowing one or more of the following: cultivation, processing, sale or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products. The governing authorities of a municipality, by a vote entered upon their minutes, may opt out of allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, in the municipality. The board of supervisors of a county, by a vote entered upon its minutes, may opt out of allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, in the unincorporated areas of the county.

(2) If the board of supervisors of a county or the governing authorities of a municipality do not opt out of allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, within ninety (90) days after February 2, 2022, then no vote by the board of supervisors or governing authorities, as applicable, may be held to so opt out, and the provisions of this chapter shall remain applicable and operative in the county or municipality, as applicable. If the board of supervisors of a county or governing authorities of a municipality have opted out of allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, then the board of supervisors or governing authorities of a municipality may later opt in regarding the same through a vote by the board of supervisors or governing authorities, as applicable, entered upon its or their minutes, or an election duly held according to subsection (3) or (4) of this section, as applicable.

(3)(a) Upon presentation and filing of a proper petition requesting that the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, be legal in the unincorporated areas of the county signed by at least twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever number is the lesser, of the qualified electors of the county, it shall be the duty of the board of supervisors to call an election at which there shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the county the question of whether or not the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, shall be legal in the unincorporated areas of such county as provided in this chapter. Such election shall be held and conducted by the county election commissioners on a date fixed by the order of the board of supervisors, which date shall not be more than sixty (60) days from the date of the filing of the petition. Notice thereof shall be given by publishing such notice once each week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in some newspaper published in the county or if no newspaper be published therein, by such publication in a newspaper in an adjoining county and having a general circulation in the county involved. The election shall be held not earlier than fifteen (15) days from the first publication of such notice.

(b) The election shall be held and conducted as far as may be possible in the same manner as is provided by law for the holding of general elections. The ballots used at the election shall contain a brief statement of the proposition submitted and, on separate lines, the words “I vote FOR allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, in the unincorporated areas of ________ [Name of County] ( )” or “I vote AGAINST allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, in the unincorporated areas of ________ [Name of County] ( )” with appropriate boxes in which the voters may express their choice. All qualified electors may vote by marking the ballot with a cross (x) or check (✓) mark opposite the words of their choice.

(c) The election commissioners shall canvass and determine the results of the election and shall certify the same to the board of supervisors which shall adopt and spread upon its minutes an order declaring such results. If, in such election, a majority of the qualified electors participating therein vote in favor of allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, in the unincorporated areas of the county, this chapter shall be applicable and operative in the unincorporated areas of such county, and the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, in the unincorporated areas of the county shall be lawful to the extent and in the manner permitted in this chapter. If, on the other hand, a majority of the qualified electors participating in the election vote against allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, then it shall be illegal to cultivate, process, sell and/or distribute medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, in the unincorporated areas of the county. In either case, no further election shall be held in the county under the provisions of this section for a period of two (2) years from the date of the prior election and then only upon the filing of a petition requesting same signed by at least twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever number is the lesser, of the qualified electors of the county as provided in this section.

(4)(a) Upon presentation and filing of a proper petition requesting that the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, be legal in the municipality signed by at least twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever number is the lesser, of the qualified electors of the municipality, it shall be the duty of the governing authorities of the municipality to call an election at which there shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the municipality the question of whether or not the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, shall be legal in the municipality as provided in this chapter. Such election shall be held and conducted on a date fixed by the order of the governing authorities of the municipality, which date shall not be more than sixty (60) days from the date of the filing of the petition. Notice thereof shall be given by publishing such notice once each week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in some newspaper published in the municipality or if no newspaper be published therein, by such publication in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality involved. The election shall be held not earlier than fifteen (15) days from the first publication of such notice.

(b) The election shall be held and conducted as far as may be possible in the same manner as is provided by law for the holding of municipal elections. The ballots used at the election shall contain a brief statement of the proposition submitted and, on separate lines, the words “I vote FOR allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, in ________ [Name of Municipality] ( )” or “I vote AGAINST allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, in ________ [Name of Municipality] ( )” with appropriate boxes in which the voters may express their choice. All qualified electors may vote by marking the ballot with a cross (x) or check (✓) mark opposite the words of their choice.

(c) The election commissioners shall canvass and determine the results of the election and shall certify the same to the governing authorities which shall adopt and spread upon their minutes an order declaring such results. If, in such election, a majority of the qualified electors participating therein vote in favor of allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, this chapter shall be applicable and operative in such municipality and the cultivation, processing, sale, and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, therein shall be lawful to the extent and in the manner permitted in this chapter. If, on the other hand, a majority of the qualified electors participating in the election vote against allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, then it shall be illegal to cultivate, process, sell and/or distribute medical cannabis and cannabis products, as applicable, in the municipality. In either case, no further election shall be held in the municipality under the provisions of this section for a period of two (2) years from the date of the prior election and then only upon the filing of a petition requesting same signed by at least twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever number is the lesser, of the qualified electors of the municipality as provided in this section.

(5) Regardless of whether a county or municipality opts out of allowing the cultivation, processing, sale and/or distribution of medical cannabis and cannabis products, cardholders, cannabis testing facilities, cannabis research facilities, cannabis transportation entities and cannabis disposal entities may possess medical cannabis in the municipality or county if done in accordance with this chapter.

(6)(a) If a municipality that has opted out under this section annexes a geographic area which contains a licensed entity operating under the provisions of this chapter, then the licensed entity may continue its operation in that municipality's newly annexed geographic area.

(b) If a licensed entity operating under the provisions of this chapter is located in a municipality that contracts its corporate boundaries thereby causing the geographic area in which the licensed entity is located to no longer be in the municipality and instead in an unincorporated area of a county that has opted out under this section, then the licensed entity may continue its operation in that area of the county.

(7) In any county or municipality in which real property is owned, leased or otherwise controlled by a waterway district or water management district created in Title 51, Mississippi Code of 1972 , the decision of the county or municipality to opt out or opt in as provided in this section shall be binding on all real property in such district. The ordinances of a county or municipality related to the provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to all real property within the respective boundaries of the county or municipality in such district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-20-53 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 17 / Section 20-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-20-53
Status: in_force

It is the intent of the Legislature to:

(a) Save lives by improving access to appropriate services and supports to respond to behavioral health crises;

(b) Comply with the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 and the Federal Communication Commission's rules adopted on July 16, 2020, to assure that all Mississippians receive a consistent level of 9-8-8 and crisis behavioral health services no matter where they live, work or travel in the state;

(c) Authorize the State Department of Mental Health to designate 9-8-8 crisis hotline center(s) that shall:

(i) Have an active agreement with the administrator of the NSPL for participation within the network;

(ii) Meet NSPL requirements and best practices guidelines for operational and clinical standards;

(iii) Report and participate in evaluations and related quality improvement activities;

(iv) Use technology, including chat and text, that is interoperable across emergency response systems used throughout Mississippi;

(v) Deploy crisis and outgoing services, including mobile crisis response teams, and coordinate access to crisis receiving and stabilization services and other local resources as appropriate and according to guidelines and best practices established by the NSPL;

(vi) Meet the requirements set forth by NSPL for serving high-risk and specialized populations as identified by SAMHSA, including training requirements and policies for transferring hotline callers to an appropriate specialized center or subnetworks within, or external to, the NSPL network;

(vii) Provide follow-up services to individuals accessing the 9-8-8 hotline consistent with guidance and policies established by the NSPL; and

(viii) Provide to the State Department of Mental Health and SAMHSA, as required, an annual report of the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline's usage and the services provided;

(d) Appropriate the funds needed for the first year of 9-8-8 implementation and to make additional investments to enhance the crisis response system; and

(e) Maintain access to a statewide crisis system of care that is interconnected, effective and ensures a culturally and linguistically competent response to behavioral health crises.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-43-59 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 22 / Section 43-59
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-43-59
Status: in_force

(1) A person or entity that owns a cemetery in which dead human remains are buried or otherwise interred is authorized to disinter individual remains and either reinter the remains at another location within the cemetery or deliver the remains to a carrier for transportation out of the cemetery, all pursuant to written instructions signed and acknowledged by the next of kin of the deceased person as defined in subsection (2) of this section. The costs of the disinterment and reinterment or delivery shall be paid by the next of kin.

(2) For purposes of this section, the term “ next of kin ” means the following persons in the priority listed if the person is eighteen (18) years of age or older, is mentally competent, and is willing to assume responsibility for the costs of disposition:

(a) The decedent's spouse, if the spouse has not remarried.

(b) The decedent's children.

(c) The decedent's parents.

(d) The decedent's siblings.

(3) If the person or entity that owns the cemetery has received contrary written instructions from members of the same class with the highest priority under subsection (2) of this section regarding the disinterment and reinterment of the individual remains at another location within the cemetery or delivery of the individual remains for transportation out of the cemetery, the person or entity that owns the cemetery shall act in accordance with the written instructions received from the greatest number of members of the class. If that number is equal, the person or entity that owns the cemetery shall act in accordance with the earlier written instructions unless the person(s) providing the later written instructions is granted an order from the chancery court for the county in which the cemetery is located.

(4) A person or entity that owns a cemetery in which dead human remains are buried or otherwise interred is authorized to disinter individual remains and either reinter the remains at another location within the cemetery or deliver the remains to a carrier for transportation out of the cemetery, all pursuant to a final order issued by the chancery court for the county in which the cemetery is located. The court may issue the order, in the court's discretion and upon such notice and hearing as the court deems appropriate, for good cause shown. The costs of the disinterment and reinterment or delivery, and the related court proceedings, shall be paid by the persons or entities so ordered by the court.

(5) A person or entity that owns a cemetery in which dead human remains are buried or otherwise interred is authorized, at the cemetery owner's expense, to disinter individual remains and reinter the remains at another location within the cemetery in order to correct an error made in the original burial or interment of the remains. The cemetery owner shall provide written notice of the disinterment and reinterment to the last known address of the known next of kin of the deceased person as defined in subsection (2) of this section, in the priority listed, by certified mail not later than the fifth day after the date the remains are disinterred and reinterred. The notice shall indicate that the remains were disinterred, the reason for the disinterment and reinterment of the remains, and the location of the reinterred remains.

(6) A person or entity that owns a cemetery or funeral establishment, and its employees, officers and directors, shall not be liable to any person or entity for any claims, causes of action, or damages arising out of or resulting from the original interment and the disinterment and reinterment or delivery of dead human remains made in accordance with this section, except in cases of intentional misconduct or malice.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-29-123 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 4 / Section 29-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-29-123
Status: in_force

The board shall revise and republish the schedules set out in Sections 41-29-113 through 41-29-121 at least once every twelve months.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-147-9 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 17 / Section 147-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-147-9
Status: in_force

(1) A licensing board or disciplinary subcommittee shall not revoke, fail to renew, suspend, or take any action against a health care provider's license, and based solely on the health care provider's recommendations to an eligible patient regarding access to or treatment with an individualized investigational drug, biological product or device.

(2) An entity responsible for Medicare certification shall not take action against a health care provider's Medicare certification based solely on the health care provider's recommendation that a patient have access to an individualized investigational drug, biological product, or device.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-37-21 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 10 / Section 37-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-37-21
Status: in_force

The physician performing the autopsy or the chemist performing such analysis in criminal investigations may be subpoenaed as a witness in any such criminal case. If subpoenaed as a prosecution witness, he shall be paid a fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per day as an expert witness for each day while in attendance at the trial, and in addition thereto he shall be paid Seven Cents (7¢) per mile for travel from his home to the location of the trial and return. The fees herein provided for shall be paid to prosecution witnesses as otherwise provided for by law for the payment of such witness fees. If subpoenaed as a witness by the defense, such physician or chemist may collect a fee from the defendant not to exceed that prescribed hereunder for prosecution witnesses.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-30-29 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 14 / Section 30-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-30-29
Status: in_force

The provisions of subsections (3) and (4) of Section 41-30-27 shall be supplemental and in addition to the provisions of Title 41, Chapter 31, Mississippi Code of 1972 , which pertain to commitment of alcoholics.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-67-28 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 3 / Section 67-28
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-67-28
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any person who shall knowingly violate this chapter or any rule or regulation or written order of the board in pursuance thereof is, upon conviction, guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in Section 41-3-59 .

(2) Each day of a continuing violation is a separate violation.

(3)(a) In addition to all other statutory and common law rights, remedies and defenses, any person who purchases an individual on-site wastewater disposal system and suffers any ascertainable loss of money or property, real or personal, may bring an action at law in the court having jurisdiction in the county in which the installer or manufacturer has the principal place of business, where the act allegedly occurred, to recover any loss of money or damages for the loss of any property resulting from any of the following:

(i) Improper installation of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system due to faulty workmanship;

(ii) Failure of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system to operate properly due to failure to install the system in accordance with any requirements of the manufacturer or in compliance with any rules and regulations of the board; or

(iii) Failure of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system to operate properly due to installation.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit any class action or suit, but every private action must be maintained in the name of and for the sole use and benefit of the individual person.

(4) A person who violates this chapter thereby causing a discharge off the property of the generator shall be liable to the party aggrieved or damaged by that violation for the actual damages and additional punitive damages equal to a maximum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the actual damages proven by the aggrieved party, to be taxed by the court where the suit is heard on an original action, by appeal or otherwise and recovered by a suit at law in any court of competent jurisdiction. In addition, the court may award the prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. Before filing suit, the party aggrieved or damaged must give thirty (30) days' written notice of its intent to file suit to the alleged violator.

(5)(a) Any person who violates Section 41-67-7(5) or 41-67-11(2) may be assessed an administrative fine in the amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and the public water system may discontinue service to that property owner until the failure to comply with Section 41-67-7(5) or 41-67-11(2) has been corrected.

(b) All violators shall be given thirty (30) days' notice before any adverse action.

(c) Any violator shall have the right to appeal an adverse determination through the procedures set out in Section 41-67-29 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-32-7 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 24 / Section 32-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-32-7
Status: in_force

Upon allegation in the affidavit and upon clear and convincing proof that the defendant is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both, to the extent that if the defendant is served with process he will, in all likelihood, flee the jurisdiction of the court or physically harm himself or others, then the chancellor may, in his discretion, set the matter for hearing not more than five (5) days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, from the filing of the affidavit, and order the defendant committed and confined, without notice, until the hearing, to a chemical dependency unit, alcohol and drug unit, outpatient house or any other private facility for the treatment of chemically dependent persons.
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-125-17 — MS Code / Title 41 / Chapter 4 / Section 125-17
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-125-17
Status: in_force

Whenever a PPEC center voluntarily discontinues operation, it shall, at least thirty (30) days before the discontinuance of operation, inform each child's legal guardian of the fact and the proposed time of the discontinuance.