MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Universities and Colleges

By: Representative Barnett (92nd)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-101-291, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE PROCEDURES FOR REVOCATION OF A LICENSE EARNED BY A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL LEAVE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-101-291, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-101-291. (1) In order to help alleviate the problem of the shortage of health care professionals at the state health institutions, there is hereby established a program of paid educational leave for the study of such health care professions as defined in Section 37-101-287 and licensed practical nursing by any employee who works at these state health institutions and who declares an intention to work in such respective health care occupation in the same state health institution in which they were working when they were granted educational leave, for a minimum period of time after graduation.

(2) The paid educational leave program shall be administered by the respective state health institutions.

(3) (a) Within the limits of the funds available to a state health institution for such purpose, the institution may grant paid educational leave to those applicants deemed 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 a state health institution at the time of application;

(ii) Attend any college or school approved and designated by the state health institution; and

(iii) Agree to work as a health care professional as defined in Section 37-101-285 or as a licensed practical nurse in the same state health institution for four (4) full years after graduation.

(c) (i) Before being granted paid educational leave, each applicant shall enter into a contract with the state health institution, which shall be deemed a contract with the State of Mississippi, agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the paid educational leave shall be granted to him. The contract shall include such terms and provisions necessary to carry out the full purpose and intent of this section. The form of such contract shall be prepared and approved by the Attorney General of this state, and shall be signed by the executive director of the respective state health institution and the recipient. If the recipient is a minor, his minority disabilities shall be removed by a chancery court of competent jurisdiction before the contract is signed.

(ii) The state health institution 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 executive director of such institution.

(iii) The state health institution is vested with full and complete authority and power to sue in its own name any recipient for any balance due the state on any such uncompleted contract, which suit shall be filed and handled by the Attorney General of the state.

(4) (a) Any recipient who is granted paid educational leave by a state health institution shall be compensated by the institution during the time he or she is in school, at the rate of pay received by a nurse's aide employed at the respective state health institution. However, no recipient of full-time educational leave shall accrue personal or major medical leave while he or she 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 State of Mississippi by working as a health care professional defined in Section 37-101-287 or as a licensed practical nurse in a state health institution; a recipient sponsored by a health institution under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health may fulfill his or her obligation under the contract with the State of Mississippi at another health institution under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health with prior written approval of the Director of the Department of Mental Health institution with which he or she originally contracted for educational leave. One-fourth (1/4) of the total compensation that the recipient was paid while on educational leave shall be considered as unconditionally earned for each year of service as such health care professional in his respective state health institution.

(ii) If the recipient does not work as a health care professional as defined in Section 37-101-285 or as a licensed practical nurse in his respective state health institution for four (4) full years after graduation, the recipient shall be liable for repayment on demand of the remaining portion of the compensation that he or she was paid while on paid educational leave which 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 that state health institution, 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 Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per year for each year remaining to be served under such contract.

(iii) If any recipient fails or withdraws from school at any time before completing his or her health care training, the recipient shall be liable for repayment on demand of the amount of the total compensation that he or she 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, if the recipient returns to work in the same position he or she held in the same state health institution prior to accepting educational leave, he or she 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 health care professional as defined in Section 37-101-285 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. No license shall be granted until a contract for repayment is executed. No license shall be renewed without proof of an existing contract which is not in default. Failure to meet the terms of an educational loan contract shall be grounds for revocation of the professional license which was earned through the paid educational leave compensation granted under this section.

(v) A finding of default by the Educational Leave Committee of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health shall be a finding of unprofessional conduct and therefore a basis for the revocation of the professional license which was obtained through the educational leave program.

(vi) Notice of pending default status shall be mailed to the recipient at the last known address by the sponsoring facility.

(vii) Appeal of a determination of default shall be before the Educational Leave Committee of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health who shall make a final determination and issue an order of default, if appropriate.

(viii) Appeal from the Educational Leave Committee shall be to the Circuit Court of Hinds County.

(ix) Rules and regulations governing appeals to the Educational Leave Committee shall be promulgated by the Board of Mental Health.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.