MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representative Ryan

House Bill 169

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHALL APPROPRIATE TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ANNUALLY FROM THE STATE GENERAL FUND AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANT THAT THE STATE RECEIVES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDER THE RYAN WHITE CARE GRANT PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THESE FUNDS SHALL BE A SEPARATE LINE ITEM IN THE APPROPRIATION BILL OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND SHALL BE DESIGNATED AS MISSISSIPPI RYAN WHITE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL EXPEND THESE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS EXCLUSIVELY FOR HIV DISEASE MEDICATIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Legislature shall appropriate to the State Department of Health annually from the State General Fund an amount equal to the amount of the base grant that the State of Mississippi will receive from the federal government under the CARE Grant Program (42 USCS Section 300ff-21 et seq.) of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act (Public Law 101-381), as amended, for the grant period beginning in April of the current year. The appropriation required by this section shall be a separate line item in the appropriation bill of the State Department of Health, and shall be designated as Mississippi Ryan White Supplemental Funds. The State Department of Health shall expend Mississippi Ryan White Supplemental Funds exclusively for medications to treat HIV disease or prevent the serious deterioration of health arising from HIV disease in eligible individuals under the federal CARE Grant Program.

(2) Any Mississippi Ryan White Supplemental Funds that are not expended by the end of any fiscal year shall not lapse into the General Fund, but shall be appropriated by the Legislature for the next fiscal year as a separate line item in the appropriation bill of the State Department of Health, and shall be designated as Mississippi Ryan White Emergency Funds. Any Mississippi Ryan White Emergency Funds available shall be appropriated in addition to the Mississippi Ryan White Supplemental Funds required to be appropriated, and shall be expended for the same purpose as Mississippi Ryan White Supplemental Funds. However, Mississippi Ryan White Emergency Funds may be expended only after the amount of the grant received under the federal CARE Grant Program and the Mississippi Ryan White Supplemental Funds appropriated for a fiscal year have been fully expended before the end of the fiscal year.

(3) It is the intention of the Legislature that if the state funding required under this section is to be discontinued for any reason other than the discontinuation of federal funding under the CARE Grant Program, the Legislature will provide not less than one (1) year's notice to the State Department of Health that state funding will be discontinued, in order to allow the department adequate time to make other provisions for the treatment and care of the individuals receiving HIV disease medications funded by the state funds appropriated under this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.