House Bill 1092

AN ACT TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 41-3-5.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER AND SETS THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE OFFICE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 41-3-5.1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

41-3-5.1. The State Department of Health shall be headed by an executive officer who shall be appointed by the State Board of Health. The executive officer shall be either a physician who has earned a graduate degree in public health or health care administration, or a physician who in the opinion of the board is fitted and equipped to execute the duties incumbent upon him or her by law. The executive officer shall not engage in the private practice of medicine. The term of office of the executive officer shall be six (6) years, and the executive officer may be removed for cause by majority vote of the members of the board. The executive officer shall be subject to such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the State Board of Health. The executive officer shall be the State Health Officer with such authority and responsibility as is prescribed by law.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.