MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Bean

AN ACT TO CREATE THE TRAUMA CARE TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE TRAUMA CARE NEEDS OF THE STATE, DETERMINE WHERE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED IN PROVIDING TRAUMA CARE IN THE STATE, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE PROVIDING OF TRAUMA CARE IN THE STATE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMPOSITION 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 FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY, AND THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DESIGNATE STAFF TO ASSIST THE TASK FORCE; 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 fifteen (15) 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 named 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 Mississippi State Department of Health by studying the status of trauma care in Mississippi during 1997;

(ii) Develop the Mississippi Trauma Care Plan which shall address, at a minimum, the nature of the state's trauma care system, and recommend additional legislation which may be needed to further enhance this plan;

(iii) Empower the agency's trauma system development authority;

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

(v) Present the findings of this study and the revised trauma care plan to the Governor of the State of Mississippi and to all members of this Legislature for consideration in 1998.

(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.