House Bill 1625

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPANDING ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE FOR HIV DISEASE BY DEVELOPING AND OPERATING TWO STD/HIV SPECIALTY CLINICS IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STATE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2008.

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

SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much of it as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the State Department of Health for the purpose of expanding access to primary care for HIV disease, as provided in Section 2 of this act, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008................ $6,000,000.00.

SECTION 2. The money appropriated in Section 1 of this act shall be expended by the Department of Health as follows:

(a) Develop and operate two (2) STD/HIV specialty clinics based on the Crossroads Clinics model in the Jackson Medical Mall in the Delta portion of Mississippi and Forrest County$3,000,000.00.

(b) Provide HIV antiretroviral medications free of charge to any Mississippian living with HIV disease who is unable to pay and/or qualify for various assistance programs.................

................................................. $2,000,000.00.

(c) Incorporate science-based, age-, culturally- and linguistically-appropriate STD/HIV prevention and education messages and interventions through clinic and outreach encounters in the counties immediately surrounding the clinics...............

................................................. $1,000,000.00.

Any funds appropriated by this act that are not expended by the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund.

SECTION 3. The money appropriated by this act shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, officer or officers in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.