MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2023 Regular Session

To: Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

By: Representative Hobgood-Wilkes

House Bill 985

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-59-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 41-59-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     41-59-7.  (1)  There is created an Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council to consist of the following members who shall be appointed by the Governor:

          (a)  One (1) licensed physician to be appointed from a list of nominees presented by the Mississippi Trauma Committee, American College of Surgeons;

          (b)  One (1) licensed physician to be appointed from a list of nominees who are actively engaged in rendering emergency medical services presented by the Mississippi State Medical Association;

          (c)  One (1) registered nurse whose employer renders emergency medical services, to be appointed from a list of nominees presented by the Mississippi Nurses Association;

          (d)  Two (2) hospital administrators who are employees of hospitals which provide emergency medical services, to be appointed from a list of nominees presented by the Mississippi Hospital Association;

          (e)  Two (2) operators of ambulance services from a list of nominees presented by the Mississippi Ambulance Alliance;

          (f)  Three (3) officials of county or municipal government;

          (g)  One (1) licensed physician to be appointed from a list of nominees presented by the Mississippi Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians;

          (h)  One (1) representative from each previously designated trauma care region * * *, to be appointed from a list of nominees submitted by each region;

          (i)  One (1) registered nurse to be appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Mississippi Emergency Nurses Association;

          (j)  * * *One (1) EMT‑Paramedic whose employer renders emergency medical services in a designated trauma care region; Two (2) paramedics who are actively employed by a Mississippi licensed emergency medical services agency;

 * * *  (k)  One (1) representative from the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services;

          ( * * *lk)  One (1) member who shall be a person who has been a recipient of trauma care in Mississippi or who has an immediate family member who has been a recipient of trauma care in Mississippi;

          ( * * *ml)  One (1) licensed neurosurgeon to be appointed from a list of nominees presented by the Mississippi State Medical Association;

          ( * * *nm)  One (1) licensed physician with certification or experience in trauma care to be appointed from a list of nominees presented by the Mississippi Medical and Surgical Association;

 * * *  (o)  One (1) representative from the Mississippi Firefighters Memorial Burn Association, to be appointed by the association's governing body; and

          ( * * *pn)  One (1) representative from the Mississippians for Emergency Medical Services, to be appointed by the association's governing body * * *.; and

          (o)  One (1) representative from the Mississippi Association of Emergency Medical Services Educators Association.

     The terms of the advisory council members shall begin on July 1, 1974.  Four (4) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, and three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years.  Thereafter, members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years.  The executive officer or his designated representative shall serve as ex officio chairman of the advisory council.  Advisory council members may hold over and shall continue to serve until a replacement is named by the Governor.

     The advisory council shall meet at the call of the chairman at least annually.  For attendance at such meetings, the members of the advisory council shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses including food, lodging and mileage as authorized by law, and they shall be paid per diem compensation authorized under Section 25-3-69.

     The advisory council shall advise * * *and make recommendations to the board regarding rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter.

     (2)  There is created a committee of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council to be named the Mississippi Trauma Advisory Committee (hereinafter "MTAC").  This committee shall act as the advisory body for trauma care system development and provide technical support to the department in all areas of trauma care system design, trauma standards, data collection and evaluation, continuous quality improvement, trauma care system funding, and evaluation of the trauma care system and trauma care programs.  The membership of the Mississippi Trauma Advisory Committee shall be comprised of Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council members appointed by the chairman.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.