CRNAs; exempt from requirement for collaborative agreement after completion of certain practice hours.

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To: Public Health and Human
Services
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Creekmore IV

HOUSE BILL NO. 1313

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-15-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
INCLUDE ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES IN THE STATEMENT OF 2
PURPOSE OF THE MISSISSIPPI NURSING PRACTICE LAW; TO AMEND SECTION 3
73-15-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS 4
AND REVISE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS IN THE NURSING PRACTICE LAW 5
REGARDING ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE; TO AMEND SECTION 73-15-9, 6
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE COMPOSITION OF THE 7
MISSISSIPPI BOARD OF NURSING TO INCLUDE A CERTIFIED REGISTERED 8
NURSE ANESTHETIST AS A MEMBER; TO AMEND SECTION 73-15-20, 9
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO 10
THE PRACTICE OF ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE NURSES; TO PROVIDE THAT 11
CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED NOT 12
LESS THAN 8,000 PRACTICE HOURS ARE EXEMPT FROM MAINTAINING A 13
COLLABORATIVE/CONSULTATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH A LICENSED PHYSICIAN 14
OR DENTIST; TO PROVIDE THAT CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE 15
ANESTHETISTS MAY APPLY HOURS WORKED BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF 16
THIS ACT TO FULFILL THE PRACTICE HOUR REQUIREMENT; TO CONFORM 17
CERTAIN PROVISIONS WITH THE MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CANNABIS ACT; TO 18
AMEND SECTION 73-15-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE 19
ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES IN THE PROVISIONS RELATING TO 20
GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST NURSES; TO AMEND SECTION 21
41-21-131, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS 22
OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 23
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 24
SECTION 1. Section 73-15-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 25
amended as follows: 26
73-15-3. In order to safeguard life and health, any person 27
practicing or offering to practice as a registered nurse, an 28
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advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse 29
in Mississippi for compensation shall hereafter be required to 30
submit evidence of qualifications to practice and shall be 31
licensed or hold the privilege to practice as hereinafter 32
provided. It shall be unlawful for any person not licensed or 33
holding the privilege to practice under the provisions of this 34
article: 35
(a) To practice or offer to practice as a registered 36
nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed 37
practical nurse; 38
(b) To use a sign, card or device to indicate that such 39
person is a registered nurse, an advanced practice registered 40
nurse or a licensed practical nurse. 41
Any person offering to practice nursing in Mississippi must 42
be licensed or otherwise authorized to practice as provided in 43
this article. 44
SECTION 2. Section 73-15-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 45
amended as follows: 46
73-15-5. (1) "Board" means the Mississippi Board of 47
Nursing. 48
(2) The "practice of nursing" by a registered nurse means 49
the performance for compensation of services which requires 50
substantial knowledge of the biological, physical, behavioral, 51
psychological and sociological sciences and of nursing theory as 52
the basis for assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and 53
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evaluation in the promotion and maintenance of health; management 54
of individuals' responses to illness, injury or infirmity; the 55
restoration of optimum function; or the achievement of a dignified 56
death. "Nursing practice" includes, but is not limited to, 57
administration, teaching, counseling, delegation and supervision 58
of nursing, and execution of the medical regimen, including the 59
administration of medications and treatments prescribed by any 60
licensed or legally authorized physician, advanced practice 61
registered nurse or dentist. The foregoing shall not be deemed to 62
include acts of medical diagnosis or prescriptions of medical, 63
therapeutic or corrective measures, except as may be set forth by 64
rules and regulations promulgated and implemented by the 65
Mississippi Board of Nursing. 66
* * * 67
( * * *3) "Advanced * * * practice registered nursing" 68
means, in addition to the practice of professional nursing, the 69
performance of advanced-level nursing approved by the board which, 70
by virtue of graduate education and experience are appropriately 71
performed by an advanced practice registered nurse. The advanced 72
practice registered nurse may diagnose, treat and manage medical 73
conditions. This may include prescriptive authority as identified 74
by the board. Except as otherwise authorized in Section 75
73-15-20(3), advanced practice registered nurses must practice in 76
a collaborative/consultative relationship with a physician or 77
dentist with an unrestricted license to practice in the State of 78
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Mississippi and advanced nursing must be performed within the 79
framework of a standing protocol or practice guidelines, as 80
appropriate. 81
( * * *4) The "practice of nursing" by a licensed practical 82
nurse means the performance for compensation of services requiring 83
basic knowledge of the biological, physical, behavioral, 84
psychological and sociological sciences and of nursing procedures 85
which do not require the substantial skill, judgment and knowledge 86
required of a registered nurse. These services are performed 87
under the direction of a registered nurse or a licensed physician 88
or licensed dentist and utilize standardized procedures in the 89
observation and care of the ill, injured and infirm; in the 90
maintenance of health; in action to safeguard life and health; and 91
in the administration of medications and treatments prescribed by 92
any licensed physician * * *, licensed dentist or advanced 93
practice registered nurse authorized by state law to prescribe. 94
On a selected basis, and within safe limits, the role of the 95
licensed practical nurse shall be expanded by the board under its 96
rule-making authority to more complex procedures and settings 97
commensurate with additional preparation and experience. 98
( * * *5) A "license" means an authorization to practice 99
nursing as a registered nurse, an advanced practice registered 100
nurse or a licensed practical nurse designated herein. 101
( * * *6) A "registered nurse" is a person who is licensed 102
or holds the privilege to practice under the provisions of this 103
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article and who practices nursing as defined herein. "RN" is the 104
abbreviation for the title of Registered Nurse. 105
( * * *7) A "licensed practical nurse" is a person who is 106
licensed or holds the privilege to practice under this article and 107
who practices practical nursing as defined herein. "LPN" is the 108
abbreviation for the title of Licensed Practical Nurse. 109
( * * *8) A "registered nurse in clinical practice" is one 110
who functions in any health care delivery system which provides 111
nursing services. 112
* * * 113
(9) "Collaboration" or "collaborate" means the act of 114
communicating pertinent information or consulting with a licensed 115
physician or other licensed health care provider with each 116
provider contributing the provider's respective expertise to 117
optimize the overall care delivered to the patient. 118
( * * *10) An "advanced practice registered nurse" is a 119
person who is licensed or holds the privilege to practice under 120
this article as a professional nurse and who is * * * licensed as 121
an advanced practice registered nurse or specialized nursing 122
practice and includes certified registered nurse midwives, 123
certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse 124
specialists and certified nurse practitioners. "APRN" is the 125
abbreviation for the title of advanced practice registered nurse. 126
As used in this subsection (10): 127
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(a) "Certified registered nurse midwife" means a 128
registered nurse who holds certification as a certified registered 129
nurse midwife by a nationally recognized certifying body approved 130
by the board and is licensed by the board to engage in advanced 131
practice nursing in this state. "CNM" is the abbreviation for the 132
title of Certified Nurse Midwife * * *. 133
(b) "Certified registered nurse anesthetist" means a 134
registered nurse who holds certification as a certified registered 135
nurse anesthetist by a nationally recognized certifying body 136
approved by the board and is licensed by the board to engage in 137
advanced practice nursing in this state. "CRNA" is the 138
abbreviation for the title of Certified Registered Nurse 139
Anesthetist. 140
(c) "Certified nurse practitioner" means a registered 141
nurse who holds certification as a certified nurse practitioner by 142
a nationally recognized certifying body approved by the board and 143
is licensed by the board to engage in advanced practice nursing in 144
this state. "CNP" is the abbreviation for the title of Certified 145
Nurse Practitioner. 146
(d) "Clinical nurse specialist" means a registered 147
nurse who holds certification as a clinical nurse specialist by a 148
nationally recognized certifying body approved by the board and is 149
licensed by the board to engage in advanced practice nursing in 150
this state. "CNS" is the abbreviation for the title of Clinical 151
Nurse Specialist. 152
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( * * *11) A "nurse educator" is a registered nurse who 153
meets the criteria for faculty as set forth in a state-accredited 154
program of nursing for registered nurses, or a state-approved 155
program of nursing for licensed practical nurses, and who 156
functions as a faculty member. 157
( * * *12) A "consumer representative" is a person 158
representing the interests of the general public, who may use 159
services of a health agency or health professional organization or 160
its members but who is neither a provider of health services, nor 161
employed in the health services field, nor holds a vested interest 162
in the provision of health services at any level, nor has an 163
immediate family member who holds vested interests in the 164
provision of health services at any level. 165
( * * *13) "Privilege to practice" means the multistate 166
licensure privilege to practice nursing in the state as described 167
in the Nurse Licensure Compact provided for in Section 73-15-201. 168
( * * *14) "Licensee" is a person who has been issued a 169
license to practice nursing or advanced practice nursing in the 170
state or who holds the privilege to practice nursing in the state. 171
(15) "Practice hours" include, but are not limited to: 172
clinical practice hours completed in an APRN program, CRNA 173
critical care nursing hours, and practice hours completed as an 174
authorized APRN in this state or any other state. 175
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(16) "Critical care nursing hours" means any nursing hours 176
received by a CRNA in a critical care setting required as a 177
prerequisite for admission to a Nurse Anesthesia program. 178
SECTION 3. Section 73-15-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 179
amended as follows: 180
73-15-9. (1) There is * * * created a board to be known as 181
the Mississippi Board of Nursing, composed of thirteen (13) 182
members, two (2) of whom shall be nurse educators; three (3) of 183
whom shall be registered nurses in clinical practice, two (2) to 184
have as basic nursing preparation an associate degree or diploma 185
and one (1) to have as basic nursing preparation a baccalaureate 186
degree; one (1) of whom shall be a registered nurse at large; one 187
(1) of whom shall be a registered nurse practitioner; * * * three 188
(3) of whom shall be licensed practical nurses; one (1) of whom 189
shall be a certified registered nurse anesthetist; one (1) of whom 190
shall be a licensed physician who shall always be a member of the 191
State Board of Medical Licensure; and one (1) of whom shall 192
represent consumers of health services. There shall be at least 193
one (1) board member from each congressional district in the 194
state; * * * however, * * * the physician member, the consumer 195
representative member and one (1) registered nurse member shall be 196
at large always. 197
(2) Members of the Mississippi Board of Nursing, excepting 198
the member of the State Board of Medical Licensure, shall be 199
appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the 200
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Senate, from lists of nominees submitted by any Mississippi 201
registered nurse organization and/or association chartered by the 202
State of Mississippi whose board of directors is elected by the 203
membership and whose membership includes registered nurses 204
statewide, for the nomination of registered nurses, and by 205
the * * * National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses and 206
the Mississippi Licensed Practical Nurses' Association for the 207
nomination of a licensed practical nurse. Nominations submitted 208
by any such registered nurse organization or association to fill 209
vacancies on the board shall be made and voted on by registered 210
nurses only. Each list of nominees shall contain a minimum of 211
three (3) names for each vacancy to be filled. The list of names 212
shall be submitted at least thirty (30) days before the expiration 213
of the term for each position. If such list is not submitted, the 214
Governor is authorized to make an appointment from the group 215
affected and without nominations. Appointments made to fill 216
vacancies for unexpired terms shall be for the duration of such 217
terms and until a successor is duly appointed. 218
(3) Members of the board shall be appointed in staggered 219
terms for four (4) years or until a successor shall be duly 220
qualified. No member may serve more than two (2) consecutive full 221
terms. Members of the board serving on July 1, 1988, shall 222
continue to serve for their appointed terms. 223
(4) Vacancies occurring by reason of resignation, death or 224
otherwise shall be filled by appointment of the Governor upon 225
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nominations from a list of nominees from the affected group to be 226
submitted within not more than thirty (30) days after such a 227
vacancy occurs. In the absence of such list, the Governor is 228
authorized to fill such vacancy in accordance with the provisions 229
for making full-term appointments. All vacancy appointments shall 230
be for the unexpired terms. 231
(5) Any member may be removed from the board by the Governor 232
after a hearing by the board and provided such removal is 233
recommended by the executive committee of the affected group. 234
SECTION 4. Section 73-15-20, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 235
amended as follows: 236
73-15-20. (1) Advanced practice registered nurses. Any 237
nurse desiring to be * * * licensed as an advanced practice 238
registered nurse shall apply to the board and submit proof that he 239
or she holds a current license * * * as a registered nurse and 240
that he or she meets one or more of the following requirements: 241
(a) Satisfactory completion of a formal post-basic 242
educational program of at least one (1) academic year, the primary 243
purpose of which is to prepare nurses for advanced or specialized 244
practice. 245
(b) Certification by a board-approved certifying body. 246
Such certification shall be required for initial state * * * 247
licensure and any * * * license renewal as a certified registered 248
nurse anesthetist, certified nurse practitioner, clinical nurse 249
specialist or certified nurse midwife. The board may by rule 250
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provide for provisional or temporary state * * * licensure of 251
graduate * * * advanced practice registered nurses for a period of 252
time determined to be appropriate for preparing and passing the 253
National Certification Examination. Those with provisional or 254
temporary * * * licenses must practice under the direct 255
supervision of a licensed physician or * * * an advanced practice 256
registered nurse with at least five (5) years of experience. 257
(c) Graduation from a program leading to a master's or 258
post-master's degree in a * * * program of study preparing for one 259
(1) of the described advanced practice registered nurse roles. 260
(2) Rulemaking. The board shall provide by rule the 261
appropriate requirements for advanced practice registered nurses 262
in the categories of certified registered nurse anesthetist, 263
certified registered nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist 264
and * * * certified nurse practitioner. 265
(3) Collaboration. (a) Except as otherwise authorized in 266
paragraph (b) of this subsection (3), an advanced practice 267
registered nurse shall perform those functions authorized in this 268
section within a collaborative/consultative relationship with a 269
dentist or physician with an unrestricted license to practice 270
dentistry or medicine in this state and within an established 271
protocol or practice guidelines, as appropriate, that is filed 272
with the board upon license application, license renewal, after 273
entering into a new collaborative/consultative relationship or 274
making changes to the protocol or practice guidelines or practice 275
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site. The board shall review and approve the protocol to ensure 276
compliance with applicable regulatory standards. * * * 277
(b) Certified registered nurse anesthetists who have 278
completed not less than eight thousand (8,000) practice hours are 279
exempt from maintaining a collaborative/consultative relationship 280
with a licensed physician or dentist as required by paragraph (a) 281
of this subsection (3). 282
(c) Certified registered nurse anesthetists may apply 283
hours worked before July 1, 2026, to fulfill the practice hour 284
requirements under paragraph (b) of this subsection (3). 285
(4) Renewal. The board shall renew a license for an 286
advanced practice registered nurse upon receipt of the renewal 287
application, fees and any required protocol or practice 288
guidelines. The board shall adopt rules establishing procedures 289
for license renewals. The board shall by rule prescribe 290
continuing education requirements for advanced practice registered 291
nurses * * * as a condition for renewal of * * * licensure. 292
(5) Reinstatement. Advanced practice registered nurses may 293
reinstate a lapsed privilege to practice upon submitting 294
documentation of a current active license to practice professional 295
nursing, a reinstatement application and fee, * * * any required 296
protocol or practice guidelines, documentation of current 297
certification as an advanced practice registered nurse in a 298
designated area of practice by a national certification 299
organization recognized by the board and documentation of at least 300
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forty (40) hours of continuing education related to the advanced 301
clinical practice of the * * * advanced practice registered nurse 302
within the previous two-year period. The board shall adopt rules 303
establishing the procedure for reinstatement. 304
(6) Changes in status. * * * An advanced practice 305
registered nurse who is required to have a 306
collaborative/consultative relationship with a licensed physician 307
or dentist shall notify the board immediately regarding changes in 308
the collaborative/consultative relationship * * *. If changes 309
leave the advanced practice registered nurse without a 310
board-approved collaborative/consultative relationship with a 311
physician or dentist, the advanced practice registered nurse may 312
not practice as an advanced practice registered nurse. 313
(7) Practice requirements. The advanced practice registered 314
nurse shall practice as follows: 315
(a) According to standards and guidelines of their 316
respective professional organization and the National 317
Certification Organization. 318
(b) Except as otherwise authorized in subsection (3) of 319
this section, in a collaborative/consultative relationship with a 320
licensed physician whose practice is compatible with that of 321
the * * * advanced practice registered nurse. However, certified 322
registered nurse anesthetists may collaborate/consult with any 323
physician or licensed * * * dentist. The advanced practice 324
registered nurse must be able to communicate reliably with a 325
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collaborating/consulting physician or dentist while practicing. 326
Advanced practice registered nurses who are not required to have a 327
collaborative/consultative relationship with a licensed physician 328
or dentist shall collaborate with other health care providers and 329
refer or transfer patients as appropriate. 330
(c) According to a board-approved protocol or practice 331
guidelines, except as otherwise authorized in subsection (3) of 332
this section. 333
(d) Advanced practice registered nurses practicing as 334
certified registered nurse anesthetists must practice according to 335
board-approved practice guidelines that address pre-anesthesia 336
preparation and evaluation; anesthesia induction, maintenance, and 337
emergence; post-anesthesia care; peri-anesthetic and clinical 338
support functions, and additional advanced nursing functions 339
outside of the peri-operative area as described by their national 340
professional nursing organization. 341
(e) Except as otherwise authorized in subsection (3) of 342
this section, advanced practice registered nurses practicing in 343
other specialty areas must practice according to a board-approved 344
protocol that has been mutually agreed upon by the nurse 345
practitioner and a Mississippi licensed physician or dentist whose 346
practice or prescriptive authority is not limited as a result of 347
voluntary surrender or legal/regulatory order. 348
(f) Each required collaborative/consultative 349
relationship shall include and implement a formal quality 350
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assurance/quality improvement program which shall be maintained on 351
site and shall be available for inspection by representatives of 352
the board. This quality assurance/quality improvement program 353
must be sufficient to provide a valid evaluation of the practice 354
and be a valid basis for change, if any. 355
(g) * * * Advanced practice registered nurses may not 356
write prescriptions for, dispense or order the use of or 357
administration of any schedule of controlled substances except as 358
contained in this chapter. 359
(8) Prescribing controlled substances and medications. * * * 360
Advanced practice registered nurses may apply for controlled 361
substance prescriptive authority after completing a board-approved 362
educational program. * * * Advanced practice registered nurses 363
who have completed the program and received prescription authority 364
from the board may prescribe Schedules II-V. The words 365
"administer," "controlled substances" and "ultimate user," shall 366
have the same meaning as set forth in Section 41-29-105, unless 367
the context otherwise requires. The board shall promulgate rules 368
governing prescribing of controlled substances, including 369
distribution, record keeping, drug maintenance, labeling and 370
distribution requirements and prescription guidelines for 371
controlled substances and all medications. Prescribing any 372
controlled substance in violation of the rules promulgated by the 373
board shall constitute a violation of Section 73-15-29(1)(f), (k) 374
and (l) and shall be grounds for disciplinary action. The 375
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prescribing, administering or distributing of any legend drug or 376
other medication in violation of the rules promulgated by the 377
board shall constitute a violation of Section 73-15-29(1)(f), (k) 378
and (l) and shall be grounds for disciplinary action. Advanced 379
practice registered nurses may issue written certifications for 380
medical cannabis in accordance with the provisions of the 381
Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act. 382
SECTION 5. Section 73-15-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 383
amended as follows: 384
73-15-29. (1) The board shall have power to revoke, suspend 385
or refuse to renew any license issued by the board, or to revoke 386
or suspend any privilege to practice, or to deny an application 387
for a license, or to fine, place on probation and/or discipline a 388
licensee, in any manner specified in this article, upon proof that 389
such person: 390
(a) Has committed fraud or deceit in securing or 391
attempting to secure such license; 392
(b) Has been convicted of a felony, or a crime 393
involving moral turpitude or has had accepted by a court a plea of 394
nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude 395
(a certified copy of the judgment of the court of competent 396
jurisdiction of such conviction or pleas shall be prima facie 397
evidence of such conviction); 398
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(c) Has negligently or willfully acted in a manner 399
inconsistent with the health or safety of the persons under the 400
licensee's care; 401
(d) Has had a license or privilege to practice as a 402
registered nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse or a 403
licensed practical nurse suspended or revoked in any jurisdiction, 404
has voluntarily surrendered such license or privilege to practice 405
in any jurisdiction, has been placed on probation as a registered 406
nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed 407
practical nurse in any jurisdiction or has been placed under a 408
disciplinary order(s) in any manner as a registered nurse, an 409
advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse 410
in any jurisdiction, (a certified copy of the order of suspension, 411
revocation, probation or disciplinary action shall be prima facie 412
evidence of such action); 413
(e) Has negligently or willfully practiced nursing in a 414
manner that fails to meet generally accepted standards of such 415
nursing practice; 416
(f) Has negligently or willfully violated any order, 417
rule or regulation of the board pertaining to nursing practice or 418
licensure; 419
(g) Has falsified or in a repeatedly negligent manner 420
made incorrect entries or failed to make essential entries on 421
records; 422
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(h) Is addicted to or dependent on alcohol or other 423
habit-forming drugs or is a habitual user of narcotics, 424
barbiturates, amphetamines, hallucinogens, or other drugs having 425
similar effect, or has misappropriated any medication; 426
(i) Has a physical, mental or emotional condition that 427
renders the licensee unable to perform nursing services or duties 428
with reasonable skill and safety; 429
(j) Has engaged in any other conduct, whether of the 430
same or of a different character from that specified in this 431
article, that would constitute a crime as defined in Title 97 of 432
the Mississippi Code of 1972, as now or hereafter amended, and 433
that relates to such person's employment as a registered nurse, an 434
advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse; 435
(k) Engages in conduct likely to deceive, defraud or 436
harm the public; 437
(l) Engages in any unprofessional conduct as identified 438
by the board in its rules; 439
(m) Has violated any provision of this article; 440
(n) Violation(s) of the provisions of Sections 41-121-1 441
through 41-121-9 relating to deceptive advertisement by health 442
care practitioners; or 443
(o) Violation(s) of any provision of Title 41, Chapter 444
141, Mississippi Code of 1972. 445
(2) When the board finds any person unqualified because of 446
any of the grounds set forth in subsection (1) of this section, it 447
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may enter an order imposing one or more of the following 448
penalties: 449
(a) Denying application for a license or other 450
authorization to practice nursing or practical nursing; 451
(b) Administering a reprimand; 452
(c) Suspending or restricting the license or other 453
authorization to practice as a registered nurse, an advanced 454
practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse for up to 455
two (2) years without review; 456
(d) Revoking the license or other authorization to 457
practice nursing, advanced practice registered nursing or 458
practical nursing; 459
(e) Requiring the disciplinee to submit to care, 460
counseling or treatment by persons and/or agencies approved or 461
designated by the board as a condition for initial, continued or 462
renewed licensure or other authorization to practice nursing, 463
advanced practice registered nursing or practical nursing; 464
(f) Requiring the disciplinee to participate in a 465
program of education prescribed by the board as a condition for 466
initial, continued or renewed licensure or other authorization to 467
practice; 468
(g) Requiring the disciplinee to practice under the 469
supervision of a registered nurse or an advanced practice 470
registered nurse for a specified period of time; or 471
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(h) Imposing a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars 472
($500.00). 473
(3) In addition to the grounds specified in subsection (1) 474
of this section, the board shall be authorized to suspend the 475
license or privilege to practice of any licensee for being out of 476
compliance with an order for support, as defined in Section 477
93-11-153. The procedure for suspension of a license or privilege 478
to practice for being out of compliance with an order for support, 479
and the procedure for the reissuance or reinstatement of a license 480
or privilege to practice suspended for that purpose, and the 481
payment of any fees for the reissuance or reinstatement of a 482
license or privilege to practice suspended for that purpose, shall 483
be governed by Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be. 484
If there is any conflict between any provision of Section 485
93-11-157 or 93-11-163 and any provision of this article, the 486
provisions of Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be, 487
shall control. 488
(4) If the public health, safety or welfare imperatively 489
requires emergency action and the board incorporates a finding to 490
that effect in an order, the board may order summary suspension of 491
a license pending proceedings for revocation or other action. 492
These proceedings shall be promptly instituted and determined by 493
the board. 494
(5) The board may establish by rule an alternative to 495
discipline program for licensees who have an impairment as a 496
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result of substance abuse or a mental health condition, which 497
program shall include at least the following components: 498
(a) Participation in the program is voluntary with the 499
licensee, and the licensee must enter the program before the board 500
holds a disciplinary action hearing regarding the licensee; 501
(b) The full cost of participation in the program, 502
including the cost of any care, counseling, treatment and/or 503
education received by the licensee, shall be borne by the 504
licensee; 505
(c) All of the procedures and records regarding the 506
licensee's participation in the program shall be confidential, 507
shall not be disclosed and shall be exempt from the provisions of 508
the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983; and 509
(d) A licensee may not participate in the program more 510
often than one (1) time during any period of five (5) years or 511
such longer period as set by the board. 512
(6) * * * An advanced practice registered nurse who provides 513
a written certification as authorized under the Mississippi 514
Medical Cannabis Act and in compliance with rules and regulations 515
adopted thereunder shall not be subject to any disciplinary action 516
under this section solely due to providing the written 517
certification. 518
SECTION 6. Section 41-21-131, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 519
amended as follows: 520
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41-21-131. As used in Sections 41-21-131 through 41-21-143, 521
the following terms shall have the meanings as defined in this 522
section: 523
(a) "Crisis Intervention Team" means a community 524
partnership among a law enforcement agency, a community mental 525
health center, a hospital, other mental health providers, 526
consumers and family members of consumers. 527
(b) "Participating partner" means a law enforcement 528
agency, a community mental health center or a hospital that has 529
each entered into collaborative agreements needed to implement a 530
Crisis Intervention Team. 531
(c) "Catchment area" means a geographical area in which 532
a Crisis Intervention Team operates and is defined by the 533
jurisdictional boundaries of the law enforcement agency that is 534
the participating partner. 535
(d) "Crisis Intervention Team officer" or "CIT officer" 536
means a law enforcement officer who is authorized to make arrests 537
under Section 99-3-1 and who is trained and certified in crisis 538
intervention and who is working for a law enforcement agency that 539
is a participating partner in a Crisis Intervention Team. 540
(e) "Substantial likelihood of bodily harm" means that: 541
(i) The person has threatened or attempted suicide 542
or to inflict serious bodily harm to himself; or 543
(ii) The person has threatened or attempted 544
homicide or other violent behavior; or 545
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(iii) The person has placed others in reasonable 546
fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm to them; or 547
(iv) The person is unable to avoid severe 548
impairment or injury from specific risks; and 549
(v) There is substantial likelihood that serious 550
harm will occur unless the person is placed under emergency 551
treatment. 552
(f) "Single point of entry" means a specific hospital 553
that is the participating partner in a Crisis Intervention Team 554
and that has agreed to provide psychiatric emergency services and 555
triage and referral services. 556
(g) "Psychiatric emergency services" means services 557
designed to reduce the acute psychiatric symptoms of a person who 558
is mentally ill or a person who has an impairment caused by drugs 559
or alcohol and, when possible, to stabilize that person so that 560
continuing treatment can be provided in the local community. 561
(h) "Triage and referral services" means services 562
designed to provide evaluation of a person with mental illness or 563
a person who has an impairment caused by drugs or alcohol in order 564
to direct that person to a mental health facility or other mental 565
health provider that can provide appropriate treatment. 566
(i) "Comprehensive psychiatric emergency service" means 567
a specialized psychiatric service operated by the single point of 568
entry and located in or near the hospital emergency department 569
that can provide psychiatric emergency services for a period of 570
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ST: CRNAs; exempt from requirement for
collaborative agreement after completion of
certain practice hours.
time greater than can be provided in the hospital emergency 571
department. 572
(j) "Extended observation bed" means a hospital bed 573
that is used by a comprehensive psychiatric emergency service and 574
is licensed by the State Department of Health for that purpose. 575
(k) "Psychiatric nurse practitioner" means a registered 576
nurse who has completed the educational requirements specified by 577
the State Board of Nursing, has successfully passed either the 578
adult or family psychiatric nurse practitioner examination and is 579
licensed by the State Board of Nursing * * *. 580
(l) "Psychiatric physician assistant" means a physician 581
assistant who has completed the educational requirements and 582
passed the certification examination as specified in Section 583
73-26-3, is licensed by the State Board of Medical Licensure, has 584
had at least one (1) year of practice as a physician assistant 585
employed by a community mental health center, and is working under 586
the supervision of a physician at a single point of entry. 587
SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from 588
and after July 1, 2026. 589