MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2025 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Human Services; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

By: Representative Hobgood-Wilkes

House Bill 1606

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-59-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE COMPOSITION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 41-59-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     41-59-7.  (1)  There is created an Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council, which * * *to shall consist of * * *the following thirteen (13) members who shall be appointed by the Governor, except under paragraphs (k) and (l), as follows:

          (a)  One (1) licensed physician to be appointed from a list of nominees presented by the Mississippi Trauma Committee, American College of Surgeons;

          (b)  One (1) licensed physician to be appointed from a list of nominees who are actively engaged in rendering emergency medical services presented by the Mississippi State Medical Association;

          (c)  * * *One (1) registered nurse whose employer renders emergency medical services, to be appointed from a list of nominees presented by the Mississippi Nurses Association;

  (d)  Two (2) hospital administrators who are employees of hospitals which provide emergency medical services, to be appointed from a list of nominees presented by the Mississippi Hospital Association;

  (e)  Two (2) operators of ambulance services;

  (f)  Three (3) officials of county or municipal government;

  (g)  One (1) licensed physician to be appointed from a list of nominees presented by the Mississippi Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians;

  (h)  One (1) representative from each designated trauma care region, to be appointed from a list of nominees submitted by each region;

  (i)  One (1) registered nurse to be appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Mississippi Emergency Nurses Association;

  (j)  One (1) EMT‑Paramedic whose employer renders emergency medical services in a designated trauma care region;

  (k)  One (1) representative from the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services;

  (l)  One (1) member who shall be a person who has been a recipient of trauma care in Mississippi or who has an immediate family member who has been a recipient of trauma care in Mississippi;

  (m)  One (1) licensed neurosurgeon to be appointed from a list of nominees presented by the Mississippi State Medical Association;

  (n)  One (1) licensed physician with certification or experience in trauma care to be appointed from a list of nominees presented by the Mississippi Medical and Surgical Association;

  (o)  One (1) representative from the Mississippi Firefighters Memorial Burn Association, to be appointed by the association's governing body; and

  (p)  One (1) representative from the Mississippians for Emergency Medical Services, to be appointed by the association's governing body. Two (2) EMS educators employed full-time by a Mississippi community college having a nationally certified paramedic program.  The two (2) educators must be from different Mississippi community colleges;

(d)  One (1) operator of an EMS ground ambulance service.  This member cannot be employed by the same owner and/or operator of the service operated by the member appointed under paragraph (e);

(e)  One (1) operator of air medical services.  This member cannot be employed by the same owner and/or operator of the service operated by the member appointed under paragraph (d);

(f)  One (1) critical care paramedic in clinical practice;

(g)  One (1) paramedic in clinical practice;

(h)  One (1) AEMT in clinical practice;

(i)  One (1) EMT in clinical practice;

(j)  One (1) member who shall represent consumers of EMS services;

(k)  One (1) representative from the Mississippians for Emergency Medical Services, to be appointed by the association's governing body; and

(l)  The Executive Director of the Mississippi Fire Academy.

The appointees representing the critical care paramedic, paramedic, AEMT and EMT must represent the level of provider that they are licensed for in the State of Mississippi.

     The terms of the advisory council members shall begin on July 1, * * *1974 2025.  Four (4) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, * * *three (3) four (4) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, and * * *three (3) five (5) members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years.  Thereafter, members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years from the expiration date of the previous term.  No member may serve more than two (2) consecutive full terms.  There shall be a minimum of two (2) members from each supreme court district excluding the two (2) physicians, the consumer and the Executive Director of the Mississippi Fire Academy.  The * * *executive State Health Officer or his or her designated representative shall serve as ex officio chairman of the advisory council.  Advisory council members may hold over and shall continue to serve until a replacement is named by the Governor.

     The advisory council shall meet at the call of the chairman at least * * *annually monthly.  For attendance at such meetings, the members of the advisory council shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses including food, lodging and mileage as authorized by * * *law Section 25-3-41, and they shall be paid per diem compensation authorized under Section 25-3-69.

     The advisory council shall advise and make recommendations to the board regarding rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter.

     (2)  There is created a committee of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council to be named the Mississippi Trauma Advisory Committee (hereinafter "MTAC").  This committee shall act as the advisory body for trauma care system development and provide technical support to the department in all areas of trauma care system design, trauma standards, data collection and evaluation, continuous quality improvement, trauma care system funding, and evaluation of the trauma care system and trauma care programs.  The membership of the Mississippi Trauma Advisory Committee shall be comprised of Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council members appointed by the chairman.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.

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