MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2013 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Welfare
By: Senator(s) Smith
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 73-25-2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE MEDICAL LICENSURE BOARD TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING BACKGROUND OF DOCTORS; TO AMEND SECTION 73-52-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; TO PROVIDE AN EXTENDED LENGTH OF TIME FOR THE BOARD TO COMPLY WITH THE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 73-25-2, Mississippi Code of 1972:
73-25-2. The State Board of Medical Licensure shall maintain information on its website listing each licensee's business or practice address, the medical school from which the licensee graduated, the year of graduation, the licensee's post-graduate training and year or years thereof, the date of issuance of the licensee's Mississippi license or licenses and type or types thereof, and whether the licensee is licensed by the Drug Enforcement Administration to prescribe narcotic substances. The information shall be searchable by physician name.
The State Board of Medical Licensure shall make such rules and regulations as it considers necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
SECTION 2. Section 73-52-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
73-52-1. (1) Applications
for licensure in the possession of a public body, as defined by paragraph (a)
of Section 25-61-3, except that which may be released to the person who made
the application * * *,
with the prior written consent of the person who made the application, or as
required under Section 73-25-2, shall be exempt from the provisions of the
Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983.
(2) Test questions in the possession of a public body, as defined by paragraph (a) of Section 25-61-3, that are to be used in future license examinations, shall be exempt from the provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983.
(3) Recommendations in the possession of any state board which is authorized to hold examinations and grant licenses or certificates to practice any profession, respecting any application for a professional license or certificate, shall be exempt from the provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983.
SECTION 3. The website information required by Section 1 of this act shall be installed and operational not later than January 1, 2015, following an appropriate testing period of not less than six (6) months, but the board is authorized to implement the searchable database before that date.
SECTION 4. It is the intent of the Legislature that no portion of this act shall be interpreted to mean that any particular vendor's verification system or methodology be considered preferential to another's solely based on any language in this act and as long as the system is in compliance with this act.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2013.