MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2022 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Parks, Polk, Butler (36th), DeBar, Frazier, Michel, Williams, Butler (38th), Jordan, Jackson (11th), Thomas, Horhn, Blount, Hickman

Senate Bill 2724

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE "MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (MAICU) INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM ACT OF 2022" ADMINISTERED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION AND THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UTILIZING FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE UNDER THE FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS STATE FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS AND THE FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA); TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH GRANTS SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE; TO PRESCRIBE ELIGIBLE PROJECTS UNDER THE GRANT PROGRAM; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO PROMULGATE GRANT APPLICATION REGULATIONS AND ENGINEERING ASSISTANCE; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO ADMINISTER THE MAICU GRANT PROGRAM AND RETAIN ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS; TO CREATE IN THE STATE TREASURY A SPECIAL FUND DESIGNATED AS THE "MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (MAICU) INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM FUND"; TO AMEND SECTIONS 27-104-3 AND 41-3-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  (1)  This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) Infrastructure Grant Program Act of 2022."

     (2)  There is hereby established within the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration and the Mississippi Department of Health, the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) Infrastructure Grant Program under which independent colleges and universities may apply for reimbursable grants to make necessary investments in water and wastewater infrastructure to improve access to clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure to be funded by the Legislature utilizing Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds made available under the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).  Such grants shall be made available to the following institutions:  Belhaven University, Blue Mountain College, Millsaps College, Mississippi College, Rust College, Tougaloo College and William Carey College.  Grant program funds shall be distributed to each listed institution based on the pro rata share of student enrollment of the respective college or university.

     (3)  For purposes of this act, unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed herein:

          (a)  "MAICU Grant Program" shall mean the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) Infrastructure Grant Program.

          (b)  "ARPA" shall mean the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, which amends Title VI of the Social Security Act.

          (c)  "State Recovery Funds" shall mean Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds awarded through Section 602 of Title VI of the Social Security Act amended by Section 9901 of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2.

          (d)  "Department" shall mean the Department of Finance and Administration.

     (4)  On or before July 1, 2022, the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer the MAICU Grant Program prescribed under this act, including application procedures and deadlines.  The Mississippi State Board of Health acting through the Mississippi Department of Health is authorized and directed to advise the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration regarding all such rules and regulations.

     (5)  Eligible projects under the MAICU Grant Program shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

          (a)  Construction of publicly owned treatment works;

          (b)  Projects pursuant to implementation of a nonpoint source pollution management program established under the Clean Water Act (CWA);

          (c)  Decentralized wastewater treatment systems that treat municipal wastewater or domestic sewage;

          (d)  Management and treatment of storm water or subsurface drainage water;

          (e)  Water conservation, efficiency, or reuse measures;

          (f)  Development and implementation of a conservation and management plan under the CWA;

          (g)  Watershed projects meeting the criteria set forth in the CWA;

          (h)  Energy consumption reduction for publicly owned treatment works;

(i)  Reuse or recycling of wastewater, stormwater, or subsurface drainage water;

(j)  Security of publicly owned treatment works;

(k)  Facilities to improve drinking water quality;

(l)  Transmission and distribution, including improvements of water pressure or prevention of contamination in infrastructure and lead service line replacements;

(m)  New sources to replace contaminated drinking water or increase drought resilience, including aquifer storage and recovery system for water storage;

(n)  Green infrastructure, including green roofs, rainwater harvesting collection, permeable pavement;

(o)  Storage of drinking water, such as to prevent contaminants or equalize water demands;

(p)  Purchase of water systems and interconnection of systems;

(q)  New community water systems;

(r)  Culvert repair, resizing, and removal, replacement of storm sewers, and additional types of stormwater infrastructure;

(s)  Dam and reservoir rehabilitation if primary purpose of dam or reservoir is for drinking water supply and project is necessary for provision of drinking water;

(t)  Broad set of lead remediation projects eligible under EPA grant programs authorized by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act; and

          (u)  Any eligible project through ARPA guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury.

     (6)  The Board of Trustees of the respective members of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) may submit an application for grant funds under this act.  Applicants shall certify to the Department of Finance and Administration that each expenditure of the funds appropriated under this act is in compliance with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the State Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund in Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law No. 117-2).  Subsequent submissions will be due by the dates established by the department.

     (7)  There is no minimum grant amount for an individual project; however, the aggregate amount of the MAICU Grant Program shall not exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00).

     (8)  Applications shall be reviewed and the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration shall certify that each project submitted is a necessary investment in water and sewer infrastructure as defined in the American Rescue Plan Act and all applicable guidance issued by the department.  The Department of Finance and Administration shall review the lists of recommended water and sewer infrastructure projects and issue its list of recommended projects to the Mississippi Department of Health for its advice.  Grant agreements shall be executed between the recipient and the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration.  All final awards will be determined at the discretion of the executive director of the department.  Funds shall be made available to a grantee upon the execution of a grant agreement between the department and the approved applicant.  Each application shall include the following at a minimum:  applicant contact information; project description and type of project; project map; estimate of population served by the projects; estimated project cost; estimated project schedule and readiness to proceed.  The Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration is authorized to present additional rounds of grant proposals for application consideration as needed.

     (9)  Grant requirements shall be used prospectively and grants are not available to cover the costs of debt incurred prior to the enactment of this program.  The applicant shall agree to obtain all necessary state and federal permits, follow all state biding and contracting laws and fiscally sound practices in the administration of the funds.

     (10)  (a)  There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the "Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) Grant Program Fund," which shall consist of funds appropriated by the Legislature from federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) monies or other available federal grant funds for the purposes of awarding grants under this act.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse into the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund or the State General Fund, and any interest earned on amounts in the fund shall remain in the fund.  The expenditure of monies in the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) Grant Program Fund shall be under the direction of the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration;

     (b)  All monies shall be disbursed from the fund created in this subsection shall be in compliance with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies received by or on behalf of the State of Mississippi through the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law No. 117-2).  Unexpended amounts remaining in the funds at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund or the State General Fund, and any investment earnings or interest earned on amounts in the program fund shall be deposited to the credit of COVID-19 Hospital Expanded Capacity Program Fund;

          (c)  If there are unobligated Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund monies remaining in the fund created in this act, on the later of December 17, 2024, or fourteen (14) days prior to the fund obligation deadline provided by the federal government, the Department of Finance and Administration shall transfer these unobligated balances to the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund.  The Department of Finance and Administration shall then transfer the unobligated balance of Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to the State and School Employees' Life and Health Insurance Fund for an amount not to exceed the lesser of Sixty Million Dollars ($60,000,000.00) or the amount of allowable ARPA expenditures, by no later than December 31, 2024, or on the date of the fund obligation deadline provided by the federal government.  The Department of Finance and Administration shall then transfer all remaining unobligated balances of Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to the Unemployment Compensation Fund up to the ARPA allowable amount, by no later than December 31, 2024, or on the date of the fund obligation deadline provided by the federal government; and

          (d)  The use of funds allocated under this program shall be subject to audit by the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Inspector General and the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor.  Each person receiving funds under these programs found to be fully or partially noncompliant with the requirements in this act shall return to the state all or a portion of the funds received.

     (11)  The department shall submit to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by October 1 of each year an annual report.  The reports shall contain the applications received, the amount of grant funds awarded to each applicant, the amount of grant funds expended by each applicant, and status of each applicant's project.

     (12)  Grant funds shall be available under this act through December 31, 2026.  Each grant recipient shall certify for any project that a grant is awarded that in the event the project is not completed by December 31, 2026, and the United States Congress does not enact an extension of the deadline on the availability of ARPA Funds, then the grant recipient will complete the project through any other funds available.

     (13)  The Mississippi Finance and Administration may retain an amount not to exceed two percent (2%) of the total funds allocated to the program to defray administrative costs.

     SECTION 2.  Section 27-104-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     27-104-3.  In addition to other powers and duties prescribed by statute, the Department of Finance and Administration shall have the following powers and duties, with regard to fiscal management:

          (a)  Provide direct technical assistance and training to state agencies and departments in implementing generally accepted accounting principles, in preparing financial statements as required by law, and in management and executive development.

          (b)  Provide temporary administrative services in financial accounting and public administration to any state agency, department or institution upon request of the governing board of the state agency, department or institution.

          (c)  Prepare and issue a comprehensive reference manual or manuals of policies and procedures for each state agency and department to use, which may include chapters on purchasing, personnel, payroll, travel, chart of accounts, fund classifications, receipts, warrants, expenditures, fixed assets, property inventory, and maintaining financial records and preparing financial reports as required and prescribed by law.  The manual shall be revised on a continuing basis.  The manual shall be prepared and revised in consultation with the State Auditor's office.

          (d)  Provide assistance to any state agency, department or institution in collecting a fee or other valid obligation that another agency, department or institution has failed to pay to it.  For purposes of this paragraph, the agency, department or institution seeking to collect the funds shall be referred to as the "creditor agency," and the agency, department or institution that has not paid the creditor agency shall be referred to as the "delinquent agency."  A valid obligation may be evidenced by an invoice or any other documentation as may be required by the Department of Finance and Administration, hereinafter referred to as the department.  A creditor agency may request assistance from the department, and the department may require the creditor agency to furnish detailed information regarding the obligation.  Upon determining that the delinquent agency owes the creditor agency a specific amount, the State Fiscal Officer shall pay to the creditor agency that amount out of any funds in the State Treasury to the credit of the delinquent agency.  The State Fiscal Officer shall notify the creditor agency and the delinquent agency of the total amount of funds transferred.  Either agency may appeal the transfer of funds or the failure to transfer funds, under rules and regulations promulgated by the department and approved by the Office of the State Auditor.  The Department of Finance and Administration shall report any actions taken under this paragraph (d) to the Chairmen of the Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate on a quarterly basis.

          (e)  To issue a request for an ACA-compliant health insurance policy, or policies, to offer health insurance coverage to the full-time equivalent employees not otherwise eligible to participate in the State and School Employees' Health Insurance Plan; and to issue a request for administrative support in order to meet reporting requirements under Internal Revenue Code Section 6056 and to comply with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

          (f)  The Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration shall have as additional responsibilities, the administration of the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) Infrastructure Grant Program Act of 2022 and shall promulgate necessary rules and regulations relating to the application of eligible colleges and universities for grant funds and the awarding of such grants.

     SECTION 3.  Section 41-3-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     41-3-15.  (1)  (a)  There shall be a State Department of Health.

          (b)  The State Board of Health shall have the following powers and duties:

              (i)  To formulate the policy of the State Department of Health regarding public health matters within the jurisdiction of the department;

              (ii)  To adopt, modify, repeal and promulgate, after due notice and hearing, and enforce rules and regulations implementing or effectuating the powers and duties of the department under any and all statutes within the department's jurisdiction, and as the board may deem necessary;

              (iii)  To apply for, receive, accept and expend any federal or state funds or contributions, gifts, trusts, devises, bequests, grants, endowments or funds from any other source or transfers of property of any kind;

              (iv)  To enter into, and to authorize the executive officer to execute contracts, grants and cooperative agreements with any federal or state agency or subdivision thereof, or any public or private institution located inside or outside the State of Mississippi, or any person, corporation or association in connection with carrying out the provisions of this chapter, if it finds those actions to be in the public interest and the contracts or agreements do not have a financial cost that exceeds the amounts appropriated for those purposes by the Legislature;

              (v)  To appoint, upon recommendation of the Executive Officer of the State Department of Health, a Director of Internal Audit who shall be either a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor, and whose employment shall be continued at the discretion of the board, and who shall report directly to the board, or its designee; and

              (vi)  To discharge such other duties, responsibilities and powers as are necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter.

          (c)  The Executive Officer of the State Department of Health shall have the following powers and duties:

               (i)  To administer the policies of the State Board of Health within the authority granted by the board;

              (ii)  To supervise and direct all administrative and technical activities of the department, except that the department's internal auditor shall be subject to the sole supervision and direction of the board;

              (iii)  To organize the administrative units of the department in accordance with the plan adopted by the board and, with board approval, alter the organizational plan and reassign responsibilities as he or she may deem necessary to carry out the policies of the board;

              (iv)  To coordinate the activities of the various offices of the department;

              (v)  To employ, subject to regulations of the State Personnel Board, qualified professional personnel in the subject matter or fields of each office, and such other technical and clerical staff as may be required for the operation of the department.  The executive officer shall be the appointing authority for the department, and shall have the power to delegate the authority to appoint or dismiss employees to appropriate subordinates, subject to the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board;

               (vi)  To recommend to the board such studies and investigations as he or she may deem appropriate, and to carry out the approved recommendations in conjunction with the various offices;

              (vii)  To prepare and deliver to the Legislature and the Governor on or before January 1 of each year, and at such other times as may be required by the Legislature or Governor, a full report of the work of the department and the offices thereof, including a detailed statement of expenditures of the department and any recommendations the board may have;

              (viii)  To prepare and deliver to the Chairmen of the Public Health and Welfare/Human Services Committees of the Senate and House on or before January 1 of each year, a plan for monitoring infant mortality in Mississippi and a full report of the work of the department on reducing Mississippi's infant mortality and morbidity rates and improving the status of maternal and infant health; and

              (ix)  To enter into contracts, grants and cooperative agreements with any federal or state agency or subdivision thereof, or any public or private institution located inside or outside the State of Mississippi, or any person, corporation or association in connection with carrying out the provisions of this chapter, if he or she finds those actions to be in the public interest and the contracts or agreements do not have a financial cost that exceeds the amounts appropriated for those purposes by the Legislature.  Each contract or agreement entered into by the executive officer shall be submitted to the board before its next meeting.

     (2)  The State Board of Health shall have the authority to establish an Office of Rural Health within the department.  The duties and responsibilities of this office shall include the following:

          (a)  To collect and evaluate data on rural health conditions and needs;

          (b)  To engage in policy analysis, policy development and economic impact studies with regard to rural health issues;

          (c)  To develop and implement plans and provide technical assistance to enable community health systems to respond to various changes in their circumstances;

          (d)  To plan and assist in professional recruitment and retention of medical professionals and assistants; and

          (e)  To establish information clearinghouses to improve access to and sharing of rural health care information.

     (3)  The State Board of Health shall have general supervision of the health interests of the people of the state and to exercise the rights, powers and duties of those acts which it is authorized by law to enforce.

     (4)  The State Board of Health shall have authority:

          (a)  To make investigations and inquiries with respect to the causes of disease and death, and to investigate the effect of environment, including conditions of employment and other conditions that may affect health, and to make such other investigations as it may deem necessary for the preservation and improvement of health.

          (b)  To make such sanitary investigations as it may, from time to time, deem necessary for the protection and improvement of health and to investigate nuisance questions that affect the security of life and health within the state.

          (c)  To direct and control sanitary and quarantine measures for dealing with all diseases within the state possible to suppress same and prevent their spread.

          (d)  To obtain, collect and preserve such information relative to mortality, morbidity, disease and health as may be useful in the discharge of its duties or may contribute to the prevention of disease or the promotion of health in this state.

          (e)  To charge and collect reasonable fees for health services, including immunizations, inspections and related activities, and the board shall charge fees for those services; however, if it is determined that a person receiving services is unable to pay the total fee, the board shall collect any amount that the person is able to pay.  Any increase in the fees charged by the board under this paragraph shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 41-3-65.

          (f)  (i)  To establish standards for, issue permits and exercise control over, any cafes, restaurants, food or drink stands, sandwich manufacturing establishments, and all other establishments, other than churches, church-related and private schools, and other nonprofit or charitable organizations, where food or drink is regularly prepared, handled and served for pay; and

              (ii)  To require that a permit be obtained from the Department of Health before those persons begin operation.  If any such person fails to obtain the permit required in this subparagraph (ii), the State Board of Health, after due notice and opportunity for a hearing, may impose a monetary penalty not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each violation.  However, the department is not authorized to impose a monetary penalty against any person whose gross annual prepared food sales are less than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).  Money collected by the board under this subparagraph (ii) shall be deposited to the credit of the State General Fund of the State Treasury.

          (g)  To promulgate rules and regulations and exercise control over the production and sale of milk pursuant to the provisions of Sections 75-31-41 through 75-31-49.

          (h)  On presentation of proper authority, to enter into and inspect any public place or building where the State Health Officer or his representative deems it necessary and proper to enter for the discovery and suppression of disease and for the enforcement of any health or sanitary laws and regulations in the state.

          (i)  To conduct investigations, inquiries and hearings, and to issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and records at any hearing when authorized and required by statute to be conducted by the State Health Officer or the State Board of Health.

          (j)  To promulgate rules and regulations, and to collect data and information, on (i) the delivery of services through the practice of telemedicine; and (ii) the use of electronic records for the delivery of telemedicine services.

          (k)  To enforce and regulate domestic and imported fish as authorized under Section 69-7-601 et seq.

     (5)  (a)  The State Board of Health shall have the authority, in its discretion, to establish programs to promote the public health, to be administered by the State Department of Health. Specifically, those programs may include, but shall not be limited to, programs in the following areas:

              (i)  Maternal and child health;

              (ii)  Family planning;

              (iii)  Pediatric services;

              (iv)  Services to crippled and disabled children;

              (v)  Control of communicable and noncommunicable disease;

              (vi)  Chronic disease;

               (vii)  Accidental deaths and injuries;

               (viii)  Child care licensure;

              (ix)  Radiological health;

              (x)  Dental health;

              (xi)  Milk sanitation;

              (xii)  Occupational safety and health;

              (xiii)  Food, vector control and general sanitation;

               (xiv)  Protection of drinking water;

              (xv)  Sanitation in food handling establishments open to the public;

              (xvi)  Registration of births and deaths and other vital events;

              (xvii)  Such public health programs and services as may be assigned to the State Board of Health by the Legislature or by executive order; and

              (xviii)  Regulation of domestic and imported fish for human consumption.

          (b)  The State Board of Health and State Department of Health shall not be authorized to sell, transfer, alienate or otherwise dispose of any of the home health agencies owned and operated by the department on January 1, 1995, and shall not be authorized to sell, transfer, assign, alienate or otherwise dispose of the license of any of those home health agencies, except upon the specific authorization of the Legislature by an amendment to this section.  However, this paragraph (b) shall not prevent the board or the department from closing or terminating the operation of any home health agency owned and operated by the department, or closing or terminating any office, branch office or clinic of any such home health agency, or otherwise discontinuing the providing of home health services through any such home health agency, office, branch office or clinic, if the board first demonstrates that there are other providers of home health services in the area being served by the department's home health agency, office, branch office or clinic that will be able to provide adequate home health services to the residents of the area if the department's home health agency, office, branch office or clinic is closed or otherwise discontinues the providing of home health services.  This demonstration by the board that there are other providers of adequate home health services in the area shall be spread at length upon the minutes of the board at a regular or special meeting of the board at least thirty (30) days before a home health agency, office, branch office or clinic is proposed to be closed or otherwise discontinue the providing of home health services.

          (c)  The State Department of Health may undertake such technical programs and activities as may be required for the support and operation of those programs, including maintaining physical, chemical, bacteriological and radiological laboratories, and may make such diagnostic tests for diseases and tests for the evaluation of health hazards as may be deemed necessary for the protection of the people of the state.

     (6)  (a)  The State Board of Health shall administer the local governments and rural water systems improvements loan program in accordance with the provisions of Section 41-3-16.

          (b)  The State Board of Health shall have authority:

              (i)  To enter into capitalization grant agreements with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or any successor agency thereto;

              (ii)  To accept capitalization grant awards made under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended;

              (iii)  To provide annual reports and audits to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, as may be required by federal capitalization grant agreements; and

              (iv)  To establish and collect fees to defray the reasonable costs of administering the revolving fund or emergency fund if the State Board of Health determines that those costs will exceed the limitations established in the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended.  The administration fees may be included in loan amounts to loan recipients for the purpose of facilitating payment to the board; however, those fees may not exceed five percent (5%) of the loan amount.

     (7)  Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the State Department of Health shall have the following specific powers:  The department shall issue a license to Alexander Milne Home for Women, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, for the construction, conversion, expansion and operation of not more than forty-five (45) beds for developmentally disabled adults who have been displaced from New Orleans, Louisiana, with the beds to be located in a certified ICF-MR facility in the City of Laurel, Mississippi.  There shall be no prohibition or restrictions on participation in the Medicaid program for the person receiving the license under this subsection (7).  The license described in this subsection shall expire five (5) years from the date of its issue.  The license authorized by this subsection shall be issued upon the initial payment by the licensee of an application fee of Sixty-seven Thousand Dollars ($67,000.00) and a monthly fee of Sixty-seven Thousand Dollars ($67,000.00) after the issuance of the license, to be paid as long as the licensee continues to operate.  The initial and monthly licensing fees shall be deposited by the State Department of Health into the special fund created under Section 41-7-188.

     (8)  Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the State Department of Health shall have the following specific powers:  The State Department of Health is authorized to issue a license to an existing home health agency for the transfer of a county from that agency to another existing home health agency, and to charge a fee for reviewing and making a determination on the application for such transfer not to exceed one-half (1/2) of the authorized fee assessed for the original application for the home health agency, with the revenue to be deposited by the State Department of Health into the special fund created under Section 41-7-188.

     (9)  Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the State Department of Health shall have the following specific powers:  For the period beginning July 1, 2010, through July 1, 2017, the State Department of Health is authorized and empowered to assess a fee in addition to the fee prescribed in Section 41-7-188 for reviewing applications for certificates of need in an amount not to exceed twenty-five one-hundredths of one percent (.25 of 1%) of the amount of a proposed capital expenditure, but shall be not less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) regardless of the amount of the proposed capital expenditure, and the maximum additional fee permitted shall not exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00).  Provided that the total assessments of fees for certificate of need applications under Section 41-7-188 and this section shall not exceed the actual cost of operating the certificate of need program.

     (10)  Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the State Department of Health shall have the following specific powers:  The State Department of Health is authorized to extend and renew any certificate of need that has expired, and to charge a fee for reviewing and making a determination on the application for such action not to exceed one-half (1/2) of the authorized fee assessed for the original application for the certificate of need, with the revenue to be deposited by the State Department of Health into the special fund created under Section 41-7-188.

     (11)  Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the State Department of Health shall have the following specific powers:  The State Department of Health is authorized and empowered, to revoke, immediately, the license and require closure of any institution for the aged or infirm, including any other remedy less than closure to protect the health and safety of the residents of said institution or the health and safety of the general public.

     (12)  Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the State Department of Health shall have the following specific powers:  The State Department of Health is authorized and empowered, to require the temporary detainment of individuals for disease control purposes based upon violation of any order of the State Health Officer, as provided in Section 41-23-5.  For the purpose of enforcing such orders of the State Health Officer, persons employed by the department as investigators shall have general arrest powers.  All law enforcement officers are authorized and directed to assist in the enforcement of such orders of the State Health Officer.

     (13)  The State Board of Health shall have as additional responsibilities the formulation of technical advice and recommendations to the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration relative to the administration of the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (MAICU) Infrastructure Act of 2022 and recommendations for the approval of grant applications under said program.

     SECTION 4.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and shall stand repealed on July 1, 2026.