Senate Bill 2453

(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE SHERIFFS TO EMPLOY PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES, PREVENTATIVE PRIMARY CARE AND ACUTE CARE TO SHERIFF EMPLOYEES AND THEIR DEPENDENTS; TO AUTHORIZE THE ADOPTION OF STANDARDS FOR THE PROVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) Sheriffs in each county of the state may employ personnel to provide occupational health services and employee (and eligible dependent) health care services.

(2) Sheriffs, utilizing duly licensed and certified personnel, may provide occupational health services and employee and eligible dependent health care services to include without limitation:

(a) Authorization for the sheriff's staff to provide occupational health services to employees;

(b) Authorization for the sheriff's personnel to provide preventive primary care and acute care (employee and dependent health care) to sheriff office employees and their county insured dependents;

(c) Authorization for the sheriff to expand these health care services to all county employees and their insured dependents should the staffing resources be able to support the expansion and the board of supervisors consents to and approves the expansion;

(d) Authorization for the sheriff to hire additional personnel to assist with program operations;

(e) Authorization for the sheriff to devote office/medical space for these purposes, or in conjunction with the board of supervisors within other county buildings, to house this program;

(f) Authorization for the sheriff to expend funds from within his board approved operating budget, or the board of supervisors may expend funds in the county's general budget, to purchase equipment and supplies for this program;

(g) All health records maintained by this entity shall be protected under federal HIPAA regulations, and shall be exempt from production to the public and from the Mississippi Public Records Act, Section 25-61-1 et seq.; and

(h) All health records maintained by a sheriff's office shall be maintained appropriately and independent of each other, in compliance with federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. Occupational health records shall be separate from employee and dependent health records.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after January 1, 2020, and shall stand repealed on December 31, 2019.