House Bill 650

AN ACT TO CREATE A GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST HOSPITALS WITH THE COST OF PURCHASING BABY SAFETY DEVICES FOR LOCATION AND OPERATION AT THE HOSPITAL; TO PROVIDE THAT THE GRANT PROGRAM WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES, AND WILL BE FUNDED FROM FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THAT PURPOSE BY THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, the following terms shall be defined as provided in this subsection:

(a) "Baby safety device" shall have the meaning as defined in Section 43-15-201.

(b) "Hospital" means a licensed hospital as defined in Section 41-9-3 that operates an emergency department.

(2) There is created a grant program to assist hospitals with the cost of purchasing baby safety devices for location and operation at the hospital. The grant program shall be administered by the Department of Child Protection Services as provided in this section and in accordance with such regulations as adopted by the department. The grant program shall be funded from funds made available to the department for that purpose by the Legislature.

(3) The department shall make grants under the program in accordance with the following provisions:

(a) A hospital must make application to the department for a grant and provide all information about the hospital and the proposed use of the grant as required by the department;

(b) The department shall make grants available to at least one (1) hospital in each county in which a hospital is located;

(d) A hospital receiving a grant must purchase, install and have in operation a baby safety device at the hospital within one (1) year after receiving the grant, or the hospital shall be required to repay the amount of the grant to the department.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.