MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Ways and Means
By: Representatives Fondren, Anderson (122nd), Arnold, Carpenter, Estrada, Felsher, Grady, Hale, Hall, Hulum, Keen, Kinkade, Mattox, McKnight, Turner, Zuber, Anthony, Crawford
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-9-70, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER AND ANY BURN CENTER AFFILIATED WITH A LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER IN THE MISSISSIPPI TRAUMA CARE SYSTEM AS A BURN CENTER FOR WHICH FUNDS SHALL BE APPROPRIATED FROM THE MISSISSIPPI BURN CARE FUND; TO DELETE THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER AS BEING AN AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR RECEIVING GIFTS, DONATIONS, BEQUESTS, APPROPRIATIONS OR GRANTS AND FOR DEPOSIT OF SUCH INTO THE MISSISSIPPI BURN CARE FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 27-19-44.4, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THE ADDITIONAL FEE THAT IS IMPOSED FOR ANY DISTINCTIVE OR SPECIAL LICENSE TAG OR PLATE AND THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH ARE DEPOSITED INTO THE MISSISSIPPI BURN CARE FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 41-59-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH SHALL REVISE THE PLAN FOR THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO MISSISSIPPI BURN VICTIMS THROUGH THE EXISTING TRAUMA CARE SYSTEM OF HOSPITALS TO INCLUDE BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER AND ANY BURN CENTER AFFILIATED WITH A LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTER IN THE MISSISSIPPI TRAUMA CARE SYSTEM; TO AMEND SECTION 27-19-43, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ASSESS AN ADDITIONAL FEE OF FIFTY CENTS UPON EACH SET OF LICENSE TAGS AND TWO DECALS ISSUED, OR UPON EACH SET OF TWO DECALS ISSUED, FOR PRIVATE CARRIERS OF PASSENGERS AND FOR PRIVATE CARRIERS OF PROPERTY OF A GROSS WEIGHT OF 10,000 POUNDS AND LESS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROCEEDS FROM SUCH FEE SHALL BE DEPOSITED IN THE MISSISSIPPI BURN CARE FUND CREATED IN SECTION 7-9-70; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 7-9-70, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
7-9-70. (1) There is created and established in the State Treasury a special trust fund to be known as the "Mississippi Fire Fighters Memorial Burn Center Fund." There shall be deposited in such fund (a) all such fees as the State Treasurer is directed to deposit therein under subsection (4) of Section 27-19-56.1, under subsection (4) of Section 27-19-56.2 and under subsection (5)(b) of Section 27-19-56.4; and (b) any gift, donation, bequest, trust, grant, endowment, transfer of money or securities or any other monies from any source whatsoever as may be designated for deposit in the fund.
(2) The principal of the trust fund created under subsection (1) of this section shall remain inviolate and shall be invested as provided by law. Interest and income derived from investment of the principal of the trust fund may be appropriated by the Legislature and expended exclusively for the support and maintenance of the Mississippi Fire Fighters Memorial Burn Center.
(3) From and after June 17,
2005, there shall be created in the State Treasury a fund known as the
Mississippi Burn Care Fund. The Mississippi Burn Care Fund shall be the
Mississippi Fire Fighters Memorial Burn Center Fund and any reference to the
Mississippi Fire Fighters Memorial Burn Center Fund in law shall mean the
Mississippi Burn Care Fund. All funds payable to the Mississippi Fire Fighters
Memorial Burn Center Fund shall, from and after June 17, 2005, be paid to the
Mississippi Burn Care Fund. All balances in the Mississippi Fire Fighters
Memorial Burn Center Fund and the Mississippi Fire Fighters Memorial Fire
Fighters Burn Center Escrow Fund shall be transferred to the Mississippi Burn
Care Fund on June 17, 2005. All interest earned by funds in the Mississippi
Burn Care Fund shall be credited to the fund and not the General Fund. For
fiscal year 2006, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Legislature may
appropriate interest, income or other funds credited to the Mississippi Burn
Care Fund, and there shall be no requirement that the monies deposited to the
fund be held inviolate in trust. Any appropriation of funds from the
Mississippi Burn Care Fund shall be to the Mississippi Department of Health for
the purpose of carrying out its responsibilities established in Section 41-59-5;
however, after the Mississippi Burn Center established at the University of
Mississippi Medical Center under Section 37-115-45 is operational, any
appropriation of funds from the Mississippi Burn Care Fund shall be to the
University of Mississippi Medical Center for the operation of the Mississippi
Burn Center, to Baptist Medical Center, and to any burn center affiliated
with a Level I trauma center in the Mississippi Trauma Care System. However,
such funds shall be equitably distributed to the University of Mississippi
Medical Center for the operation of the Mississippi Burn Center, to Baptist Medical
Center, and to any burn center affiliated with a Level I trauma center in the
Mississippi Trauma Care System. The Mississippi Burn Care Fund shall be
authorized to accept gifts, donations, bequests, appropriations or other grants
from any source, governmental or private, for deposit into the fund. The
Department of Health * * * shall be the agency responsible for receiving
any such gifts, donations, bequests, appropriations or grants and shall deposit
such to the Mississippi Burn Care Fund.
SECTION 2. Section 27-19-44.4, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-19-44.4. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning with any registration year commencing on or after January 1, 2004, an additional fee of One Dollar ($1.00) is imposed for any distinctive or special license tag or plate authorized under this chapter regardless of whether such a distinctive or special license tag or plate was authorized before or after July 1, 2003. The proceeds collected from the additional fee imposed under this section shall be deposited into the special fund created under Section 27-19-56.69(8).
(2) Notwithstanding any
other provision of law to the contrary, beginning with any registration year
commencing on or after January 1, * * * 2025, an additional fee of * * * Two Dollars and Fifty Cents
($2.50) is imposed for any distinctive or special license tag or plate
authorized under this chapter regardless of whether such a distinctive or
special license tag or plate was authorized before or after July 1, * * * 2025. The proceeds collected from
the additional fee imposed under this section shall be deposited into the
Mississippi Burn Care Fund created under Section 7-9-70.
(3) The fees imposed under this section shall be in addition to any other fees imposed under this chapter for a distinctive or special license tag or plate.
(4) The provisions of this section shall not apply to distinctive or special license tags or plates:
(a) Which are issued under Section 27-19-46, 27-19-51, 27-19-53, 27-19-54, 27-19-56.5, 27-19-56.12, 27-19-56.13, 27-19-56.33, 27-19-56.36, 27-19-56.38, 27-19-56.42, 27-19-56.48, 27-19-56.49, 27-19-56.50, 27-19-56.51, 27-19-56.62, 27-19-56.79, 27-19-56.85 or 27-19-169; or
(b) For which no additional fee is required to be paid.
SECTION 3. Section 41-59-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-59-5. (1) The State Board of Health shall establish and maintain a program for the improvement and regulation of emergency medical services (hereinafter EMS) in the State of Mississippi. The responsibility for implementation and conduct of this program shall be vested in the State Health Officer of the State Board of Health along with such other officers and boards as may be specified by law or regulation.
(2) The board shall provide for the regulation and licensing of public and private ambulance service, inspection and issuance of permits for ambulance vehicles, training and certification of EMS personnel, including drivers and attendants, the development and maintenance of a statewide EMS records program, development and adoption of EMS regulations, the coordination of an EMS communications system, and other related EMS activities.
(3) The board is authorized to promulgate and enforce such rules, regulations and minimum standards as needed to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
(4) The board is authorized to receive any funds appropriated to the board from the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund created in Section 41-59-61 and is further authorized, with the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council acting in an advisory capacity, to administer the disbursement of such funds to the counties, municipalities and organized emergency medical service districts and the utilization of such funds by the same, as provided in Section 41-59-61.
(5) The department acting as the lead agency, in consultation with and having solicited advice from the EMS Advisory Council, shall develop a uniform nonfragmented inclusive statewide trauma care system that provides excellent patient care. It is the intent of the Legislature that the purpose of this system is to reduce death and disability resulting from traumatic injury, and in order to accomplish this goal it is necessary to assign additional responsibilities to the department. The department is assigned the responsibility for creating, implementing and managing the statewide trauma care system. The department shall be designated as the lead agency for trauma care systems development. The department shall develop and administer trauma regulations that include, but are not limited to, the Mississippi Trauma Care System Plan, trauma system standards, trauma center designations, field triage, interfacility trauma transfer, EMS aero medical transportation, trauma data collection, trauma care system evaluation and management of state trauma systems funding. The department shall promulgate regulations specifying the methods and procedures by which Mississippi-licensed acute care facilities shall participate in the statewide trauma system. Those regulations shall include mechanisms for determining the appropriate level of participation for each facility or class of facilities. The department shall also adopt a schedule of fees to be assessed for facilities that choose not to participate in the statewide trauma care system, or which participate at a level lower than the level at which they are capable of participating. The fees paid under this provision shall be for the exclusive benefit of the statewide trauma care system and shall not lapse into the State General Fund. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate this provision by September 1, 2008, with an implementation date of September 1, 2008. The department shall take the necessary steps to develop, adopt and implement the Mississippi Trauma Care System Plan and all associated trauma care system regulations necessary to implement the Mississippi Trauma Care System. The department shall cause the implementation of both professional and lay trauma education programs. These trauma educational programs shall include both clinical trauma education and injury prevention. As it is recognized that rehabilitation services are essential for traumatized individuals to be returned to active, productive lives, the department shall coordinate the development of the inclusive trauma system with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services and all other appropriate rehabilitation systems.
(6) The State Board of
Health is authorized to receive any funds appropriated to the board from the
Mississippi Trauma Care * * *System Systems Fund created in Section 41-59-75. It is
further authorized, with the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council and
the Mississippi Trauma Advisory Committee acting in advisory capacities, to
administer the disbursements of those funds according to adopted trauma care
system regulations. Any Level I trauma care facility or center located in a
state contiguous to the State of Mississippi that participates in the
Mississippi Trauma Care System and has been designated by the department to
perform specified trauma care services within the Trauma Care System under
standards adopted by the department shall receive a reasonable amount of
reimbursement from the department for the cost of providing trauma care services
to Mississippi residents whose treatment is uncompensated.
(7) In addition to the trauma-related duties provided for in this section, the Board of Health shall develop a plan for the delivery of services to Mississippi burn victims through the existing trauma care system of hospitals. Such plan shall be operational by July 1, 2005, and shall include:
(a) Systems by which burn patients will be assigned or transferred to hospitals capable of meeting their needs;
(b) Until the Mississippi Burn Center established at the University of Mississippi Medical Center under Section 37-115-45 is operational, procedures for allocating funds appropriated from the Mississippi Burn Care Fund to hospitals that provide services to Mississippi burn victims; and
(c) Such other provisions necessary to provide burn care for Mississippi residents, including reimbursement for travel, lodging, if no free lodging is available, meals and other reasonable travel-related expenses incurred by burn victims, family members and/or caregivers, as established by the State Board of Health through rules and regulations.
After the Mississippi Burn Center established at the University of Mississippi Medical Center under Section 37-115-45 is operational, the Board of Health shall revise the plan to include the Mississippi Burn Center, Baptist Medical Center, and any burn center affiliated with a Level I trauma center in the Mississippi Trauma Care System. In addition, all funds appropriated and collected shall be equitably distributed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for the operation of the Mississippi Burn Center, to Baptist Medical Center, and to any burn center affiliated with a Level I trauma center in the Mississippi Trauma Care System.
SECTION 4. Section 27-19-43, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-19-43. (1) License tags, substitute tags and decals for individual fleets and for private carriers of passengers, school buses (excluding school buses owned by a school district in the state), church buses, taxicabs, ambulances, hearses, motorcycles and private carriers of property, and private commercial carriers of property of a gross weight of ten thousand (10,000) pounds and less, shall be sold and issued by the tax collectors of the several counties.
(2) Applications for license tags for motor vehicles in a corporate fleet registered under Section 27-19-66, trailers in a fleet registered under Section 27-19-66.1, motor vehicles in a rental fleet registered under Section 27-19-66.2, and applications for all other license tags, substitute tags and decals shall be filed with the department or the local tax collector of the respective counties and forwarded to the department for issuance to the applicant. All tags and decals for vehicles owned by the state or any agency or instrumentality thereof, and vehicles owned by a fire protection district, school district or a county or municipality, and all vehicles owned by a road, drainage or levee district shall be issued by the department.
(3) In addition to the privilege taxes levied herein, there shall be collected the following registration or tag fee:
(a) For the issuance of both a license tag and two (2) decals, a fee of Five Dollars ($5.00).
(b) For the issuance of up to two (2) decals only, a fee of Three Dollars and Seventy-five Cents ($3.75).
(d) Additionally, there shall be assessed and collected a fee of Fifty Cents (50¢) upon each set of license tags and two (2) decals issued, or upon each set of two (2) decals issued, for private carriers of passengers, and for private carriers of property of a gross weight of ten thousand (10,000) pounds and less, and that sum shall be deposited in the Mississippi Burn Care Fund created in Section 7-9-70.
No tag or decal shall be issued either by a tax collector or by the department without the collection of such registration fee except substitute tags and decals and license tags for vehicles owned by the State of Mississippi.
Beginning July 1, 1987, and until the date specified in Section 65-39-35, there shall be levied a registration fee of Five Dollars ($5.00) in addition to the regular registration fee imposed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection. Such additional registration fee shall be levied in the same manner as the regular registration fee.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.