Bill Text: MS SB2750 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Hotel health and safety inspections; State Department of Health may contract with MS Hotel & Lodging association for.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [SB2750 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-SB2750-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Welfare; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency
By: Senator(s) Horhn
Senate Bill 2750
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 41-49-1, 41-49-3, 41-49-5, 41-49-7 AND 41-49-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONTRACT WITH THE MISSISSIPPI HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION FOR THE INSPECTION OF HOTELS LOCATED IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI IN ORDER TO MEET HEALTH AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS; TO AUTHORIZE THE ASSOCIATION TO ASSESS A FEE ON ALL HOTELS TO DEFRAY THE COST OF SUCH INSPECTIONS; TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS REGARDING HOTEL HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 41-49-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-49-1. (1) It shall be the duty of the Mississippi State Board of Health to enforce the provisions of this chapter. In order to discharge its powers and duties under this statute, the board may promulgate such rules and regulations as are reasonable and necessary.
(2) The State Board of Health is authorized, in its discretion, to contract with the Mississippi Hotel and Lodging Association to provide inspectors and necessary support staff for the inspection of hotels located in the State of Mississippi in order to verify that hotels meet health, safety and industry standards. The Mississippi Hotel and Lodging Association may assess hotels an inspection fee as is necessary to defray the cost of providing the required inspection.
(3) The State Board of Health, in consultation with the Mississippi Hotel and Lodging Association, shall promulgate rules and regulations defining the health, safety, sanitary and illegal use of a hotel, inn or other related property pursuant to industry standards including the sanctions to be issued to all persons admitted as owners of such property or their designees.
(4) The Mississippi Hotel and Lodging Association may establish a Resource Oversight Committee to recommend to the Legislature necessary legislation relating to the hotel industry standards which in its judgment will improve the lodging industry, and may conduct educational meetings to inform members regarding these standards.
SECTION 2. Section 41-49-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-49-3. The term "hotel" shall mean and include any entity or individual engaged in the business of furnishing or providing one or more rooms intended or designed for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes that at any one time will accommodate transient guests and that are known to the trade as such and includes every building or other structure kept, used, maintained or advertised as, or held out to the public to be, a place where sleeping accommodations are supplied for pay or other consideration to transient guests regardless of the number of rooms, units, suites or cabins available, excluding nursing homes or institutions for the aged or infirm as defined in Section 43-11-1. The State Board of Health shall promulgate rules and regulations regarding the standards to be met by the owners of hotels.
SECTION 3. Section 41-49-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-49-5. It shall be the duty of every keeper, manager or person in charge of the conduct of any hotel or inn in this state to keep all of the rooms used in connection with such hotel, or provided for the use of guests, in clean and sanitary condition; and to provide each guest with effective protection against flies, mosquitoes and other vermin, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Health.
SECTION 4. Section 41-49-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-49-7. A copy of Sections 41-49-1 through 41-49-5, 41-49-9, shall be posted and kept posted in a conspicuous place in the general office or lobby, provided for the use of guests and patrons of every public inn and hotel, as prescribed by rule and regulation of the State Board of Health.
SECTION 5. Section 41-49-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-49-9. Any owner, manager
or person in charge of a hotel who shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with
any of Sections 41-49-1 through 41-49-7, or with any applicable rules or
regulations of the State Board of Health, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
on conviction shall be fined not less than * * * Five Hundred
Dollars ($500.00) nor more than * * * Five
Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00). Each day's failure, neglect or refusal shall
constitute a separate offense, and may be punished as such.
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.
