MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2002 Regular Session
To: Judiciary A
By: Representative Holland
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 11-46-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE DIVISION OF MEDICAID TO PROVIDE NONEMERGENCY SERVICES FOR MEDICAID-ELIGIBLE PERSONS SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS EMPLOYEES OF THE DIVISION OF MEDICAID FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE TORT CLAIMS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 11-46-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
11-46-1. As used in this chapter the following terms shall have the meanings * * * ascribed in this section unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Claim" means any demand to recover damages from a governmental entity as compensation for injuries.
(b) "Claimant" means any person seeking compensation under the provisions of this chapter, whether by administrative remedy or through the courts.
(c) "Board" means the Mississippi Tort Claims Board.
(d) "Department" means the Department of Finance and Administration.
(e) "Director" means the executive director of the department who is also the executive director of the board.
(f) "Employee" means any officer, employee or servant of the State of Mississippi or a political subdivision of the state, including elected or appointed officials and persons acting on behalf of the state or a political subdivision in any official capacity, temporarily or permanently, in the service of the state or a political subdivision whether with or without compensation. The term "employee" shall not mean a person or other legal entity while acting in the capacity of an independent contractor under contract to the state or a political subdivision. * * * However, * * * for purposes of the limits of liability provided for in Section 11-46-15, the term "employee" shall include physicians under contract to provide health services with the State Board of Health, the State Board of Mental Health or any county or municipal jail facility while rendering services under the contract. In addition, the term "employee" includes individuals who are under contract with the Division of Medicaid under Section 43-13-117(36) to provide nonemergency services for Medicaid-eligible persons, and those individuals shall be considered as employees of the Division of Medicaid for the purposes of the Tort Claims Act. The term "employee" shall also include Mississippi Department of Human Services licensed foster parents for the limited purposes of coverage under the Tort Claims Act as provided in Section 11-46-8.
(g) "Governmental entity" means and includes the state and political subdivisions as herein defined.
(h) "Injury" means death, injury to a person, damage to or loss of property or any other injury that a person may suffer that is actionable at law or in equity.
(i) "Political subdivision" means any body politic or body corporate other than the state responsible for governmental activities only in geographic areas smaller than that of the state, including but not limited to any county, municipality, school district, community hospital as defined in Section 41-13-10, airport authority or other instrumentality thereof, whether or not the body or instrumentality thereof has the authority to levy taxes or to sue or be sued in its own name.
(j) "State" means the State of Mississippi and any office, department, agency, division, bureau, commission, board, institution, hospital, college, university, airport authority or other instrumentality thereof, whether or not the body or instrumentality thereof has the authority to levy taxes or to sue or be sued in its own name.
(k) "Law" means all species of law including but not limited to any and all constitutions, statutes, case law, common law, customary law, court order, court rule, court decision, court opinion, court judgment or mandate, administrative rule or regulation, executive order, or principle or rule of equity.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.