MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare

By: Representatives Malone, Barnett (92nd), Robinson (84th)

AN ACT TO CREATE THE TRAUMA CARE TASK FORCE TO ASSIST THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN DEVELOPING THE MISSISSIPPI TRAUMA CARE PLAN; TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMPOSITION OF THE TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE TASK FORCE SHALL MAKE A REPORT OF ITS WORK TO THE LEGISLATURE BEFORE DECEMBER 15, 1997; TO PROVIDE THAT THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE ASSIGNED TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Trauma Care Task Force, which shall be composed of sixteen (16) members as follows:

(a) The Director of the Division of Emergency Medical Services of the State Department of Health;

(b) Five (5) representatives from the Trauma Registry, as operated by the State Department of Health, that provide emergency medical services, named by the administrators of the hospitals;

(c) One (1) licensed physician appointed by the Governor from a list of nominees from the Mississippi Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians;

(d) One (1) licensed physician appointed by the Governor from a list of nominees from the Mississippi Chapter of the American College of Surgeons;

(e) One (1) emergency medical technician named by the State Department of Health;

(f) One (1) registered nurse named by the State Department of Health;

(g) Two (2) members of the Mississippi House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(h) Two (2) members of the Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(i) One (1) hospital employee named by the Mississippi Hospital Association; and

(j) One (1) representative appointed by the Governor.

(2) At its first meeting, the task force shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from its membership, and shall adopt rules for transacting its business and keeping records. Members of the task force shall receive a per diem in the amount provided in Section 25-3-69 for each day engaged in the business of the task force. Members of the task force other than the legislative members shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred while engaged in official business of the task force in accordance with Section 25-3-41, and the legislative members of the task force shall receive the expense allowance provided for in Section 5-1-47.

(3) (a) The duties of the task force shall be to:

(i) Assist the State Department of Health by studying the status of trauma care in Mississippi during 1997;

(ii) Further develop the Mississippi Trauma Care Plan, which plan and the findings of the study of trauma care shall address, at a minimum, the nature of the state's trauma care system and any additional legislation that may be needed to further enhance the plan;

(iii) Further empower the department in its authority to develop the state's trauma system;

(iv) Research financial mechanisms appropriate for offsetting uncompensated trauma care provided to victims of traumatic injury; and

(v) Present the findings of the trauma care study and the revised Trauma Care Plan to the Governor and to all members of the Legislature for consideration during the 1998 Regular Session.

(b) Before December 15, 1997, the task force shall make a report of its work and shall submit a copy of the report to the Legislature.

(4) The task force shall be assigned to the State Department of Health to assist the department in the review of the Mississippi Trauma Care Plan.

(5) All agencies, departments, offices and institutions of the state, including the state universities and the community and junior colleges, shall cooperate with the task force with such assistance as requested by the task force.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.