House Bill 560

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO CREATE THE CHILD DEATH REVIEW PANEL, WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO FOSTER THE REDUCTION OF INFANT AND CHILD MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY IN MISSISSIPPI AND TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH STATUS OF INFANTS AND CHILDREN; TO PROVIDE THAT THE REVIEW PANEL SHALL BE ASSIGNED TO THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE REVIEW PANEL SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT ANNUALLY TO THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE INFORMATION ON CHILD AND INFANT DEATHS IN MISSISSIPPI AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO MOST EFFECTIVELY DIRECT STATE RESOURCES TO DECREASE INFANT AND CHILD DEATHS IN MISSISSIPPI; TO PROVIDE THAT DATA FOR THE REVIEW PANEL'S REVIEW AND REPORTING SHALL BE SUPPLIED BY THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Child Death Review Panel, whose primary purpose is to foster the reduction of infant and child mortality and morbidity in Mississippi and to improve the health status of infants and children.

(2) The Child Death Review Panel shall be composed of fifteen (15) voting members: the State Medical Examiner or his representative, a pathologist on staff at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, an appointee of the Lieutenant Governor, an appointee of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and one (1) representative from each of the following: the State Coroners Association, the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Office of Vital Statistics in the State Department of Health, the Attorney General's Office, the State Sheriff's Association, the Mississippi Police Chiefs Association, the Department of Human Services, the Children's Advocacy Center, the State Chapter of the March of Dimes, the State SIDS Alliance, and Compassionate Friends.

(3) The Chairman of the Child Death Review Panel shall be elected annually by the Review Panel membership. The Review Panel shall develop and implement such procedures and policies necessary for its operation, including obtaining and protecting confidential records. The Review Panel shall be assigned to the State Medical Examiner's Office for administrative purposes only, and the Medical Examiner shall designate staff to assist the Review Panel.

(4) The Child Death Review Panel shall submit a report annually to the Chairmen of the House Public Health and Human Services Committee and the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee on or before December 1. The report shall include the numbers, causes and relevant demographic information on child and infant deaths in Mississippi, and appropriate recommendations to the Legislature on how to most effectively direct state resources to decrease infant and child deaths in Mississippi. Data for the Review Panel's review and reporting shall be supplied by the State Medical Examiner's Office. This office shall also be responsible for printing and distributing the annual report(s) on child and infant deaths in Mississippi.

(5) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2010.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.