MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2019 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representative Chism

House Bill 279

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-59-75, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ELIMINATE THE MONETARY CAP ON THE MISSISSIPPI TRAUMA CARE SYSTEMS FUND AND TRANSFER ALL MONIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI TRAUMA CARE ESCROW FUND TO THE SYSTEMS FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 41-59-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     41-59-75.  * * *(1) The Mississippi Trauma Care Systems Fund is established.  Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) collected from each assessment of Twenty Dollars ($20.00) under subsection (1) of Section 99-19-73 and Thirty Dollars ($30.00) collected from each assessment of Forty-five Dollars ($45.00) under subsection (2) of Section 99-19-73, as provided in Section 41-59-61, and any other funds made available for funding the trauma care system, shall be deposited into the fund.  Funds appropriated from the Mississippi Trauma Care Systems Fund to the State Board of Health shall be made available for department administration and implementation of the comprehensive state trauma care plan for distribution by the department to designated trauma care regions for regional administration, for the department's trauma specific public information and education plan, and to provide hospital and physician indigent trauma care block grant funding to trauma centers designated by the department.  All designated trauma care hospitals are eligible to contract with the department for these funds.  Monies in the Mississippi Trauma Care Systems Fund shall not lapse into the State General Fund at the end of the fiscal year, and all interest and other earnings on the monies in the Mississippi Trauma Care Systems Fund shall be deposited to the credit of the Mississippi Trauma Care Systems Fund.  Any monies in the Mississippi Trauma Care Escrow Fund on July 1, 2019, shall be transferred into the Mississippi Trauma Care Systems Fund.

 * * * (2)  The Mississippi Trauma Care Escrow Fund is created as a special fund in the State Treasury.  Whenever the amount in the Mississippi Trauma Care Systems Fund exceeds Twenty-five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00) in any fiscal year, the State Fiscal Officer shall transfer the amount above Twenty-five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00) to the Trauma Care Escrow Fund.  Monies in the Trauma Care Escrow Fund shall not lapse into the State General Fund at the end of the fiscal year, and all interest and other earnings on the monies in the Trauma Care Escrow Fund shall be deposited to the credit of the Trauma Care Escrow Fund.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2019.