Senate Bill 2738

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE PROGRAM FOR THE REGISTRATION OF HEMODIALYSIS TECHNICIANS UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI STATE BOARD OF HEALTH; TO PRESCRIBE THE POWERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH IN THE REGISTRATION OF HEMODIALYSIS TECHNICIANS; TO REPEAL SECTION 73-15-101, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH CREATES A STATEWIDE HEMODIALYSIS TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION PROGRAM UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI BOARD OF NURSING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The State Board of Health shall establish and maintain a statewide program for registration of hemodialysis technicians.

SECTION 2. The State Board of Health is authorized and empowered to:

(a) Register hemodialysis technicians who meet the qualifications prescribed by the board;

(b) Maintain a permanent register of all registered hemodialysis technicians; and

SECTION 3. Any person desiring registration as a registered hemodialysis technician shall submit to the State Department of Health:

(a) An application as prescribed by the board; and

(b) A registration fee to be fixed by the board, which shall be paid to the State Department of Health.

SECTION 4. A hemodialysis technician may administer hemodialysis under the authority of a registered nurse licensed pursuant to the Mississippi Nursing Practice Law who may delegate tasks based on nursing judgment to a hemodialysis technician based on the technician's education, knowledge, training and skills. A hemodialysis technician who has completed or is currently in a training program recognized by the board may perform as a hemodialysis technician under the authority of a registered nurse prior to obtaining national certification, provided, however, that the national certification must be obtained within eighteen (18) months of the hiring of the hemodialysis technician, and evidence of such national certification must be provided to the State Department of Health.

SECTION 5. The State Board of Health shall establish fees necessary for the administration of this section.

SECTION 6. Section 73-15-101 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, which creates a statewide Hemodialysis Technician Certification Program under the Mississippi Board of Nursing is repealed.

SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2019.