MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2025 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Human Services

By: Representative Currie

House Bill 601

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-15-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE MISSISSIPPI BOARD OF NURSING TO REMOVE THE LICENSED PHYSICIAN MEMBER AND ADD A CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST MEMBER; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WHO ARE REGISTERED NURSES OTHER THAN THE NURSE PRACTITIONER MEMBER AND THE CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST MEMBER SHALL NOT BE ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES; TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL BE APPOINTED FROM LISTS OF NOMINEES SUBMITTED BY MISSISSIPPI REGISTERED NURSE AND PRACTICAL NURSE ORGANIZATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 73-15-11 AND 73-15-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 73-15-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-15-9.  (1)  There is * * *hereby created a board to be known as the Mississippi Board of Nursing, composed of thirteen (13) members, two (2) of whom shall be nurse educators; three (3) of whom shall be registered nurses in clinical practice, two (2) to have as basic nursing preparation an associate degree or diploma and one (1) to have as basic nursing preparation a baccalaureate degree; one (1) of whom shall be a registered nurse at large; one (1) of whom shall be a registered nurse practitioner; four (4) of whom shall be licensed practical nurses; one (1) of whom shall be a * * * licensed physician who shall always be a member of the State Board of Medical Licensure; certified registered nurse anesthetist; and one (1) of whom shall represent consumers of health services.  The members of the board who are registered nurses other than the nurse practitioner member and the certified registered nurse anesthetist member shall not be advanced practice registered nurses.  There shall be at least * * *one (1) two (2) board members from each * * *congressional Supreme Court district in the state; * * *provided, however, * * *that the physician member, the consumer representative member and one (1) registered nurse member shall be at large always. 

     (2)  Members of the Mississippi Board of Nursing * * *, excepting the member of the State Board of Medical Licensure, shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate * * *, from lists of nominees submitted by any Mississippi registered nurse organization and/or association chartered by the State of Mississippi whose board of directors is elected by the membership and whose membership includes registered nurses statewide, for the nomination of registered nurses, and by the Mississippi Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses and the Mississippi Licensed Practical Nurses' Association for the nomination of a licensed practical nurse.  Nominations submitted by any such registered nurse organization or association to fill vacancies on the board shall be made and voted on by registered nurses only.  Each list of nominees shall contain a minimum of three (3) names for each vacancy to be filled.  The list of names shall be submitted at least thirty (30) days before the expiration of the term for each position.  If such list is not submitted, the Governor is authorized to make an appointment from the group affected and without nominations.  Appointments made to fill vacancies for unexpired terms shall be for the duration of such terms and until a successor is duly appointed.

     (3)  Members of the board shall be appointed in staggered terms for four (4) years or until a successor shall be duly qualified.  No member may serve more than two (2) consecutive full terms.  Members of the board serving on July 1, 1988, shall continue to serve for their appointed terms. 

     (4)  Vacancies occurring by reason of resignation, death or otherwise shall be filled by appointment of the Governor * * * upon nominations from a list of nominees from the affected group to be submitted within not more than thirty (30) days after such a vacancy occurs.  In the absence of such list, the Governor is authorized to fill such vacancy in accordance with the provisions for making full‑term appointments.  All vacancy appointments shall be for the unexpired terms.

     (5)  Any member may be removed from the board by the Governor after a hearing by the board * * * and provided such removal is recommended by the executive committee of the affected group.

     SECTION 2.  Section 73-15-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-15-11.  (1)  The members of the Mississippi Board of Nursing shall meet annually and organize for the ensuing year by election of one (1) of its members as president, one (1) as secretary, and one (1) as treasurer.  The * * *physician member and the representative of consumers of health services may discuss and nominate but shall not vote for officers nor hold office in such elections. 

     (2)  The board shall meet at least once every four (4) months for the purpose of transacting such business as may come before the board.  Any member who shall not attend two (2) consecutive meetings of the board shall be subject to removal by the Governor.  The president of the board shall notify the Governor in writing when any such member has failed to attend two (2) consecutive regular meetings. 

     (3)  Special meetings of the board may be held on call of the president or upon call of any seven (7) members.  A notice of time, place and purpose of any special meeting shall be provided by the executive director to all members of the board. 

     (4)  On all matters the board shall function as a board of thirteen (13) members, and seven (7) members, including at least three (3) registered nurses and two (2) practical nurses, shall constitute a quorum.  In any case, the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and participating shall be necessary to take action.  In all cases pertaining to practical nursing, such majority must include the affirmative vote of at least one (1) of the practical nurse members of the board. 

     (5)  The board shall hold not less than two (2) examinations each year for registered nurses and not less than two (2) each year for licensed practical nurses, at such times and places as the board may determine. 

     (6)  Each member of the board shall receive a per diem compensation as provided in Section 25-3-69 for attendance at board meetings, together with necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the discharge of his or her duties as a board member.

     SECTION 3.  Section 73-15-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-15-15.  (1)  Each board member shall be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the State of Mississippi, and shall before entering upon duties of said office take the oath prescribed by Section 268 of the Constitution of the State of Mississippi and file same with the office of the secretary of state who shall thereupon issue such person so appointed a certificate of appointment. 

     (2)  Each registered nurse board member shall possess these additional qualifications:

          (a)  Education - graduation from an approved educational program for the preparation of registered nurses;

          (b)  Experience - have at least five (5) years of nursing experience since graduation;

          (c)  Employment - have been employed for at least the past three (3) years as a registered nurse in Mississippi;

          (d)  Licensure - be currently registered to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Mississippi. 

     (3)  Each licensed practical nurse board member shall possess these additional qualifications:

          (a)  Education - graduation from an approved educational program for the preparation of licensed practical nurses;

          (b)  Experience - have at least five (5) years of nursing experience since graduation;

          (c)  Employment - have been employed for at least the past three (3) years as a licensed practical nurse in Mississippi;

          (d)  Licensure - be currently registered to practice as a licensed practical nurse in the State of Mississippi. 

 * * * (4)  The physician member shall be a physician licensed to practice in the State of Mississippi and a member of the state board of medical licensure.

     SECTION 4.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.

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