MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2005 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representative Warren

House Bill 204

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 31-7-38, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE DATE OF REPEAL ON THE SECTION OF LAW THAT ESTABLISHES GROUP PURCHASE PROGRAMS BY CERTAIN PUBLIC HOSPITALS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 31-7-38, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     31-7-38.  The board of trustees or governing board of any hospital or regional mental health center owned or owned and operated separately or jointly by the State of Mississippi or any of its branches, agencies, departments or subdivisions, or by one or more counties, cities, towns, supervisors districts or election districts, or combinations thereof, may authorize by resolution the organization and operation of, or the participation in, a group purchasing program with other hospitals or regional mental health centers, for the purchase of supplies, commodities and equipment when it appears to the board of trustees or governing board that such a group purchasing program could or would affect economy or efficiency in their operations.  Purchases by hospitals or regional mental health centers participating in group purchasing programs of supplies, commodities and equipment through such programs shall be exempt from the provisions of Sections 31-7-9, 31-7-10, 31-7-11, 31-7-12 and 31-7-13.  The Mississippi Department of Mental health shall develop and submit to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees a report analyzing the savings and economic benefits of the group purchasing program authorized under this section for state hospitals or regional mental health centers compared to the purchasing procedures authorized prior to passage of Laws, 2001, Chapter 473.  This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2007.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.