Nurses; require to receive training on human trafficking and certify such receipt when applying for or renewing their licenses.

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

By: Representative Currie

HOUSE BILL NO. 1547

AN ACT TO BE KNOWN AS THE HEALING OUTREACH, PREVENTION AND 1
EDUCATION (H.O.P.E.) ACT; TO REQUIRE EVERY NURSE WHO APPLIES FOR A 2
NURSING LICENSE OR APPLIES TO RENEW HIS OR HER LICENSE MUST 3
CERTIFY TO THE MISSISSIPPI BOARD OF NURSING THAT HE OR SHE HAS 4
COMPLETED ONE HOUR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING THAT INCLUDES A 5
TRAUMA-INFORMED CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO EDUCATE NURSES ON 6
IDENTIFYING, RESPONDING TO AND REPORTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING; TO 7
REQUIRE NURSES TO REPORT ANY SUSPECTED CASE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING 8
INVOLVING A MINOR TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES; 9
TO REQUIRE NURSES TO REPORT ANY SUSPECTED CASE OF HUMAN 10
TRAFFICKING INVOLVING AN ADULT TO APPROPRIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT 11
AUTHORITIES WHEN A VICTIM IS IN IMMINENT DANGER, AFTER CONFIRMING 12
A VICTIM'S CONSENT, OR ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE WHEN DISCLOSURE TO 13
LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES IS REQUIRED BY LAW; TO REQUIRE THAT 14
REPORTS BE MADE AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE, BUT NO LATER THAN 15
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AFTER FORMING A REASONABLE SUSPICION OF HUMAN 16
TRAFFICKING; TO PROVIDE THAT FAILURE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF 17
THIS ACT IS A VIOLATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI NURSING PRACTICE LAW 18
AND SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF 19
NURSING; TO AMEND SECTIONS 73-15-19, 73-15-21 AND 73-15-29, 20
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; 21
TO AMEND SECTION 45-33-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE 22
THAT PERSONS WHO ARE CONVICTED OF HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING SHALL BE 23
REGISTERED AS SEX OFFENDERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 24
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 25
SECTION 1. (1) This section shall be known and may be cited 26
as the "Healing Outreach, Prevention and Education (H.O.P.E.) 27
Act." 28
(2) The Legislature finds that: 29
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(a) Human trafficking is a pervasive issue affecting 30
individuals across Mississippi, necessitating a comprehensive and 31
informed response; 32
(b) Nurses are often in a unique position to identify 33
and assist victims of human trafficking; 34
(c) Implementing trauma-informed training will enhance 35
the ability of nurses to recognize and respond to signs of human 36
trafficking; and 37
(d) Establishing clear reporting mechanisms will 38
facilitate timely intervention and support for victims. 39
(2) Every nurse under the purview of the Mississippi Board 40
of Nursing who applies for a nursing license or applies to renew 41
his or her license must certify to the board that he or she has 42
completed one (1) hour of human trafficking training that includes 43
a trauma-informed curriculum designed to educate nurses on 44
identifying, responding to and reporting human trafficking. 45
(3) (a) Licensed nurses requiring training under this 46
section shall report any suspected case of human trafficking 47
involving a minor to the Department of Child Protection Services, 48
in accordance with Sections 43-21-353 and 97-5-51. 49
(b) Licensed nurses requiring training under this 50
section shall report any suspected case of human trafficking 51
involving an adult to appropriate law enforcement authorities when 52
a victim is in imminent danger, after confirming a victim's 53
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consent, or any other circumstance when disclosure to law 54
enforcement authorities is required by law. 55
(c) In addition to the mandated reports in paragraphs 56
(a) and (b) of this subsection, licensed nurses requiring training 57
under this section shall submit reports of suspected human 58
trafficking to the state and national hotlines, ensuring timely 59
communication with relevant authorities and service providers. 60
(d) Reports required under this section shall be made 61
as soon as practicable, but no later than twenty-four (24) hours 62
after forming a reasonable suspicion of human trafficking. 63
(4) Failure to meet the requirements of this section shall 64
be a violation of the Mississippi Nursing Practice Law, Section 65
73-15-1 et seq., subject to disciplinary action as determined by 66
the Board of Nursing in accordance with its governing laws, 67
policies, and procedures. 68
(5) The requirements under this section shall take effect 69
January 1, 2027. 70
SECTION 2. Section 73-15-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 71
amended as follows: 72
73-15-19. (1) Registered nurse applicant qualifications. 73
Any applicant for a license to practice as a registered nurse 74
shall submit to the board: 75
(a) An attested written application on a Board of 76
Nursing form; 77
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(b) Written official evidence of completion of a 78
nursing program approved by the Board of Trustees of State 79
Institutions of Higher Learning, or one approved by a legal 80
accrediting agency of another state, territory or possession of 81
the United States, the District of Columbia, or a foreign country 82
which is satisfactory to this board; 83
(c) Evidence of competence in English related to 84
nursing, provided the first language is not English; 85
(d) Certification that he or she has completed the 86
training required under Section 1 of this act; and 87
( * * *e) Any other official records required by the 88
board. 89
In addition to the requirements specified in paragraphs (a) 90
through ( * * *e) of this subsection, in order to qualify for a 91
license to practice as a registered nurse, an applicant must have 92
successfully been cleared for licensure through an investigation 93
that shall consist of a determination as to good moral character 94
and verification that the prospective licensee is not guilty of or 95
in violation of any statutory ground for denial of licensure as 96
set forth in Section 73-15-29 or guilty of any offense specified 97
in Section 73-15-33. To assist the board in conducting its 98
licensure investigation, all applicants shall undergo a 99
fingerprint-based criminal history records check of the 100
Mississippi central criminal database and the Federal Bureau of 101
Investigation criminal history database. Each applicant shall 102
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submit a full set of his or her fingerprints in a form and manner 103
prescribed by the board, which shall be forwarded to the 104
Mississippi Department of Public Safety (department) and the 105
Federal Bureau of Investigation Identification Division for this 106
purpose. 107
Any and all state or national criminal history records 108
information obtained by the board that is not already a matter of 109
public record shall be deemed nonpublic and confidential 110
information restricted to the exclusive use of the board, its 111
members, officers, investigators, agents and attorneys in 112
evaluating the applicant's eligibility or disqualification for 113
licensure, and shall be exempt from the Mississippi Public Records 114
Act of 1983. Except when introduced into evidence in a hearing 115
before the board to determine licensure, no such information or 116
records related thereto shall, except with the written consent of 117
the applicant or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, be 118
released or otherwise disclosed by the board to any other person 119
or agency. 120
The board shall provide to the department the fingerprints of 121
the applicant, any additional information that may be required by 122
the department, and a form signed by the applicant consenting to 123
the check of the criminal records and to the use of the 124
fingerprints and other identifying information required by the 125
state or national repositories. 126
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The board shall charge and collect from the applicant, in 127
addition to all other applicable fees and costs, such amount as 128
may be incurred by the board in requesting and obtaining state and 129
national criminal history records information on the applicant. 130
The board may, in its discretion, refuse to accept the 131
application of any person who has been convicted of a criminal 132
offense under any provision of Title 97 of the Mississippi Code of 133
1972, as now or hereafter amended, or any provision of this 134
article. 135
(2) Licensure by examination. (a) Upon the board being 136
satisfied that an applicant for a license as a registered nurse 137
has met the qualifications set forth in subsection (1) of this 138
section, the board shall proceed to examine such applicant in such 139
subjects as the board shall, in its discretion, determine. The 140
subjects in which applicants shall be examined shall be in 141
conformity with curricula in schools of nursing approved by the 142
Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, or one 143
approved by a legal accrediting agency of another state, territory 144
or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a 145
foreign country which is satisfactory to the board. 146
(b) The applicant shall be required to pass the written 147
examination as selected by the board. 148
(c) Upon successful completion of such examination, the 149
board shall issue to the applicant a license to practice as a 150
registered nurse. 151
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(d) The board may use any part or all of the state 152
board test pool examination for registered nurse licensure, its 153
successor examination, or any other nationally standardized 154
examination identified by the board in its rules. The passing 155
score shall be established by the board in its rules. 156
(3) Licensure by endorsement. The board may issue a license 157
to practice nursing as a registered nurse without examination to 158
an applicant who has been duly licensed as a registered nurse 159
under the laws of another state, territory or possession of the 160
United States, the District of Columbia, or a foreign country if, 161
in the opinion of the board, the applicant meets the 162
qualifications required of licensed registered nurses in this 163
state and has previously achieved the passing score or scores on 164
the licensing examination required by this state, at the time of 165
his or her graduation. The issuance of a license by endorsement 166
to a military-trained applicant, military spouse or person who 167
establishes residence in this state shall be subject to the 168
provisions of Section 73-50-1 or 73-50-2, as applicable. 169
(4) Requirements for rewriting the examination. The board 170
shall establish in its rules the requirements for rewriting the 171
examination for those persons failing the examination on the first 172
writing or subsequent rewriting. 173
(5) Fee. The applicant applying for a license by 174
examination or by endorsement to practice as a registered nurse 175
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shall pay a fee not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) to the 176
board. 177
(6) Temporary permit. (a) The board may issue a temporary 178
permit to practice nursing to a graduate of an approved school of 179
nursing pending the results of the examination in Mississippi, and 180
to a qualified applicant from another state, territory or 181
possession of the United States, or District of Columbia, or 182
pending licensure procedures as provided for elsewhere in this 183
article. The fee shall not exceed Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00). 184
(b) The board may issue a temporary permit for a period 185
of ninety (90) days to a registered nurse who is currently 186
licensed in another state, territory or possession of the United 187
States or the District of Columbia and who is an applicant for 188
licensure by endorsement. Such permit is not renewable except by 189
board action. The issuance of a temporary permit to a 190
military-trained applicant, military spouse or person who 191
establishes residence in this state shall be subject to the 192
provisions of Section 73-50-1 or 73-50-2, as applicable. 193
(c) The board may issue a temporary permit to a 194
graduate of an approved school of nursing pending the results of 195
the first licensing examination scheduled after application. Such 196
permit is not renewable except by board action. 197
(d) The board may issue a temporary permit for a period 198
of thirty (30) days to any registered nurse during the time 199
enrolled in a nursing reorientation program. This time period may 200
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be extended by board action. The fee shall not exceed Twenty-five 201
Dollars ($25.00). 202
(e) The board may adopt such regulations as are 203
necessary to limit the practice of persons to whom temporary 204
permits are issued. 205
(7) Temporary license. The board may issue a temporary 206
license to practice nursing at a youth camp licensed by the State 207
Board of Health to nonresident registered nurses and retired 208
resident registered nurses under the provisions of Section 209
75-74-8. 210
(8) Title and abbreviation. Any person who holds a license 211
or holds the privilege to practice as a registered nurse in this 212
state shall have the right to use the title "registered nurse" and 213
the abbreviation "R.N." No other person shall assume such title 214
or use such abbreviation, or any words, letters, signs or devices 215
to indicate that the person using the same is a registered nurse. 216
(9) Registered nurses licensed under a previous law. Any 217
person holding a license to practice nursing as a registered nurse 218
issued by this board which is valid on July 1, 1981, shall 219
thereafter be deemed to be licensed as a registered nurse under 220
the provisions of this article upon payment of the fee provided in 221
Section 73-15-27. 222
(10) Each application or filing made under this section 223
shall include the social security number(s) of the applicant in 224
accordance with Section 93-11-64. 225
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SECTION 3. Section 73-15-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 226
amended as follows: 227
73-15-21. (1) Licensed practical nurse applicant 228
qualifications. Any applicant for a license to practice practical 229
nursing as a licensed practical nurse shall submit to the board: 230
(a) An attested written application on a Board of 231
Nursing form; 232
(b) A diploma from an approved high school or the 233
equivalent thereof, as determined by the appropriate educational 234
agency; 235
(c) Written official evidence of completion of a 236
practical nursing program approved by the State Department of 237
Education through its Division of Vocational Education, or one 238
approved by a legal accrediting agency of another state, territory 239
or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a 240
foreign country which is satisfactory to this board; 241
(d) Evidence of competence in English related to 242
nursing, provided the first language is not English; 243
(e) Certification that he or she has completed the 244
training required under Section 1 of this act; and 245
( * * *f) Any other official records required by the 246
board. 247
(2) Licensed practical nurse applicant qualifications for 248
military medics. Any applicant for a license to practice 249
practical nursing as a licensed practical nurse who is a United 250
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States Army Combat Medic Specialist, a United States Navy Hospital 251
Corpsman, or a United States Air Force Aerospace Medical Service 252
Specialist shall submit to the board: 253
(a) An attested written application on a Board of 254
Nursing form; 255
(b) A diploma from an approved high school or the 256
equivalent thereof, as determined by the appropriate educational 257
agency; 258
(c) Written official evidence of completion of the 259
training required for a United States Army Combat Medic 260
Specialist, a United States Navy Hospital Corpsman, or a United 261
States Air Force Aerospace Medical Service Specialist, and after 262
such training, completion of two (2) years of clinical experience 263
that involves providing direct patient care, which may include 264
trauma or emergency oriented care; 265
(d) Evidence of competence in English related to 266
nursing, provided the first language is not English; 267
(e) Certification that he or she has completed the 268
training required under Section 1 of this act; and 269
( * * *f) Any other official records required by the 270
board. 271
(3) Additional requirements for applicants. In addition to 272
the requirements specified in paragraphs (a) through ( * * *f) of 273
subsection (1) or (2) of this section, in order to qualify for a 274
license to practice practical nursing as a licensed practical 275
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nurse, an applicant must have successfully been cleared for 276
licensure through an investigation that shall consist of a 277
determination as to good moral character and verification that the 278
prospective licensee is not guilty of or in violation of any 279
statutory ground for denial of licensure as set forth in Section 280
73-15-29 or guilty of any offense specified in Section 73-15-33. 281
To assist the board in conducting its licensure investigation, all 282
applicants shall undergo a fingerprint-based criminal history 283
records check of the Mississippi central criminal database and the 284
Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history database. Each 285
applicant shall submit a full set of his or her fingerprints in a 286
form and manner prescribed by the board, which shall be forwarded 287
to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (department) and 288
the Federal Bureau of Investigation Identification Division for 289
this purpose. 290
Any and all state or national criminal history records 291
information obtained by the board that is not already a matter of 292
public record shall be deemed nonpublic and confidential 293
information restricted to the exclusive use of the board, its 294
members, officers, investigators, agents and attorneys in 295
evaluating the applicant's eligibility or disqualification for 296
licensure, and shall be exempt from the Mississippi Public Records 297
Act of 1983. Except when introduced into evidence in a hearing 298
before the board to determine licensure, no such information or 299
records related thereto shall, except with the written consent of 300
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the applicant or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, be 301
released or otherwise disclosed by the board to any other person 302
or agency. 303
The board shall provide to the department the fingerprints of 304
the applicant, any additional information that may be required by 305
the department, and a form signed by the applicant consenting to 306
the check of the criminal records and to the use of the 307
fingerprints and other identifying information required by the 308
state or national repositories. 309
The board shall charge and collect from the applicant, in 310
addition to all other applicable fees and costs, such amount as 311
may be incurred by the board in requesting and obtaining state and 312
national criminal history records information on the applicant. 313
The board may, in its discretion, refuse to accept the 314
application of any person who has been convicted of a criminal 315
offense under any provision of Title 97 of the Mississippi Code of 316
1972, as now or hereafter amended, or any provision of this 317
article. 318
(4) Licensure by examination. (a) Upon the board being 319
satisfied that an applicant for a license as a practical nurse has 320
met the qualifications set forth in subsection (1) or (2) of this 321
section and subsection (3) of this section, the board shall 322
proceed to examine such applicant in such subjects as the board 323
shall, in its discretion, determine. The subjects in which 324
applicants shall be examined shall be in conformity with curricula 325
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in schools of practical nursing approved by the State Department 326
of Education. 327
(b) The applicant shall be required to pass the written 328
examination selected by the board. 329
(c) Upon successful completion of such examination, the 330
board shall issue to the applicant a license to practice as a 331
licensed practical nurse. 332
(d) The board may use any part or all of the state 333
board test pool examination for practical nurse licensure, its 334
successor examination, or any other nationally standardized 335
examination identified by the board in its rules. The passing 336
score shall be established by the board in its rules. 337
(5) Licensure by endorsement. The board may issue a license 338
to practice practical nursing as a licensed practical nurse 339
without examination to an applicant who has been duly licensed as 340
a licensed practical nurse under the laws of another state, 341
territory or possession of the United States, the District of 342
Columbia, or a foreign country if, in the opinion of the board, 343
the applicant meets the qualifications required of licensed 344
practical nurses in this state and has previously achieved the 345
passing score or scores on the licensing examination required by 346
this state at the time of his or her graduation. The issuance of 347
a license by endorsement to a military-trained applicant, military 348
spouse or person who establishes residence in this state shall be 349
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subject to the provisions of Section 73-50-1 or 73-50-2, as 350
applicable. 351
(6) Licensure by equivalent amount of theory and clinical 352
experience. In the discretion of the board, former students of a 353
state-accredited school preparing students to become registered 354
nurses may be granted permission to take the examination for 355
licensure to practice as a licensed practical nurse, provided the 356
applicant's record or transcript indicates the former student 357
completed an equivalent amount of theory and clinical experiences 358
as required of a graduate of a practical nursing program, and 359
provided the school attended was, at the time of the student's 360
attendance, an accredited school of nursing. 361
(7) Requirements for rewriting the examination. The board 362
shall establish in its rules the requirements for rewriting the 363
examination for those persons failing the examination on the first 364
writing or subsequent writing. 365
(8) Fee. The applicant applying for a license by 366
examination or by endorsement to practice as a licensed practical 367
nurse shall pay a fee not to exceed Sixty Dollars ($60.00) to the 368
board. 369
(9) Temporary permit. (a) The board may issue a temporary 370
permit to practice practical nursing to a graduate of an approved 371
school of practical nursing pending the results of the examination 372
in Mississippi, and to a qualified applicant from another state, 373
territory or possession of the United States, or the District of 374
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Columbia, pending licensing procedures as provided for elsewhere 375
in this article. The fee shall not exceed Twenty-five Dollars 376
($25.00). 377
(b) The board may issue a temporary permit for a period 378
of ninety (90) days to a licensed practical nurse who is currently 379
licensed in another state, territory or possession of the United 380
States or the District of Columbia and who is an applicant for 381
licensure by endorsement. Such permit is not renewable except by 382
board action. The issuance of a temporary permit to a 383
military-trained applicant, military spouse or person who 384
establishes residence in this state shall be subject to the 385
provisions of Section 73-50-1 or 73-50-2, as applicable. 386
(c) The board may issue a temporary permit to a 387
graduate of an approved practical nursing education program or an 388
equivalent program satisfactory to the board pending the results 389
of the first licensing examination scheduled after application. 390
Such permit is not renewable except by board action. 391
(d) The board may issue a temporary permit for a period 392
of thirty (30) days to any licensed practical nurse during the 393
time enrolled in a nursing reorientation program. This time 394
period may be extended by board action. The fee shall not exceed 395
Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00). 396
(e) The board may adopt such regulations as are 397
necessary to limit the practice of persons to whom temporary 398
permits are issued. 399
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(10) Title and abbreviation. Any person who holds a license 400
or holds the privilege to practice as a licensed practical nurse 401
in this state shall have the right to use the title "licensed 402
practical nurse" and the abbreviation "L.P.N." No other person 403
shall assume such title or use such abbreviation, or any words, 404
letters, signs or devices to indicate that a person using the same 405
is a licensed practical nurse. 406
(11) Licensed practical nurses licensed under a previous 407
law. Any person holding a license to practice nursing as a 408
practical nurse issued by this board which is valid on July 1, 409
1981, shall thereafter be deemed to be licensed as a practical 410
nurse under the provisions of this article upon payment of the fee 411
prescribed in Section 73-15-27. 412
(12) Each application or filing made under this section 413
shall include the social security number(s) of the applicant in 414
accordance with Section 93-11-64. 415
SECTION 4. Section 73-15-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 416
amended as follows: 417
73-15-29. (1) The board shall have power to revoke, suspend 418
or refuse to renew any license issued by the board, or to revoke 419
or suspend any privilege to practice, or to deny an application 420
for a license, or to fine, place on probation and/or discipline a 421
licensee, in any manner specified in this article, upon proof that 422
such person: 423
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(a) Has committed fraud or deceit in securing or 424
attempting to secure such license; 425
(b) Has been convicted of a felony, or a crime 426
involving moral turpitude or has had accepted by a court a plea of 427
nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude 428
(a certified copy of the judgment of the court of competent 429
jurisdiction of such conviction or pleas shall be prima facie 430
evidence of such conviction); 431
(c) Has negligently or willfully acted in a manner 432
inconsistent with the health or safety of the persons under the 433
licensee's care; 434
(d) Has had a license or privilege to practice as a 435
registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse suspended or 436
revoked in any jurisdiction, has voluntarily surrendered such 437
license or privilege to practice in any jurisdiction, has been 438
placed on probation as a registered nurse or licensed practical 439
nurse in any jurisdiction or has been placed under a disciplinary 440
order(s) in any manner as a registered nurse or licensed practical 441
nurse in any jurisdiction, (a certified copy of the order of 442
suspension, revocation, probation or disciplinary action shall be 443
prima facie evidence of such action); 444
(e) Has negligently or willfully practiced nursing in a 445
manner that fails to meet generally accepted standards of such 446
nursing practice; 447
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(f) Has negligently or willfully violated any order, 448
rule or regulation of the board pertaining to nursing practice or 449
licensure; 450
(g) Has falsified or in a repeatedly negligent manner 451
made incorrect entries or failed to make essential entries on 452
records; 453
(h) Is addicted to or dependent on alcohol or other 454
habit-forming drugs or is a habitual user of narcotics, 455
barbiturates, amphetamines, hallucinogens, or other drugs having 456
similar effect, or has misappropriated any medication; 457
(i) Has a physical, mental or emotional condition that 458
renders the licensee unable to perform nursing services or duties 459
with reasonable skill and safety; 460
(j) Has engaged in any other conduct, whether of the 461
same or of a different character from that specified in this 462
article, that would constitute a crime as defined in Title 97 of 463
the Mississippi Code of 1972, as now or hereafter amended, and 464
that relates to such person's employment as a registered nurse or 465
licensed practical nurse; 466
(k) Engages in conduct likely to deceive, defraud or 467
harm the public; 468
(l) Engages in any unprofessional conduct as identified 469
by the board in its rules; 470
(m) Has violated any provision of this article; 471
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(n) Violation(s) of the provisions of Sections 41-121-1 472
through 41-121-9 relating to deceptive advertisement by health 473
care practitioners; * * * 474
(o) Violation(s) of any provision of Title 41, Chapter 475
141, Mississippi Code of 1972 * * *; or 476
(p) Failure to meet the requirements of Section 1 of 477
this act. 478
(2) When the board finds any person unqualified because of 479
any of the grounds set forth in subsection (1) of this section, it 480
may enter an order imposing one or more of the following 481
penalties: 482
(a) Denying application for a license or other 483
authorization to practice nursing or practical nursing; 484
(b) Administering a reprimand; 485
(c) Suspending or restricting the license or other 486
authorization to practice as a registered nurse or licensed 487
practical nurse for up to two (2) years without review; 488
(d) Revoking the license or other authorization to 489
practice nursing or practical nursing; 490
(e) Requiring the disciplinee to submit to care, 491
counseling or treatment by persons and/or agencies approved or 492
designated by the board as a condition for initial, continued or 493
renewed licensure or other authorization to practice nursing or 494
practical nursing; 495
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(f) Requiring the disciplinee to participate in a 496
program of education prescribed by the board as a condition for 497
initial, continued or renewed licensure or other authorization to 498
practice; 499
(g) Requiring the disciplinee to practice under the 500
supervision of a registered nurse for a specified period of time; 501
or 502
(h) Imposing a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars 503
($500.00). 504
(3) In addition to the grounds specified in subsection (1) 505
of this section, the board shall be authorized to suspend the 506
license or privilege to practice of any licensee for being out of 507
compliance with an order for support, as defined in Section 508
93-11-153. The procedure for suspension of a license or privilege 509
to practice for being out of compliance with an order for support, 510
and the procedure for the reissuance or reinstatement of a license 511
or privilege to practice suspended for that purpose, and the 512
payment of any fees for the reissuance or reinstatement of a 513
license or privilege to practice suspended for that purpose, shall 514
be governed by Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be. 515
If there is any conflict between any provision of Section 516
93-11-157 or 93-11-163 and any provision of this article, the 517
provisions of Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be, 518
shall control. 519
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(4) If the public health, safety or welfare imperatively 520
requires emergency action and the board incorporates a finding to 521
that effect in an order, the board may order summary suspension of 522
a license pending proceedings for revocation or other action. 523
These proceedings shall be promptly instituted and determined by 524
the board. 525
(5) The board may establish by rule an alternative to 526
discipline program for licensees who have an impairment as a 527
result of substance abuse or a mental health condition, which 528
program shall include at least the following components: 529
(a) Participation in the program is voluntary with the 530
licensee, and the licensee must enter the program before the board 531
holds a disciplinary action hearing regarding the licensee; 532
(b) The full cost of participation in the program, 533
including the cost of any care, counseling, treatment and/or 534
education received by the licensee, shall be borne by the 535
licensee; 536
(c) All of the procedures and records regarding the 537
licensee's participation in the program shall be confidential, 538
shall not be disclosed and shall be exempt from the provisions of 539
the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983; and 540
(d) A licensee may not participate in the program more 541
often than one (1) time during any period of five (5) years or 542
such longer period as set by the board. 543
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(6) A nurse practitioner who provides a written 544
certification as authorized under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis 545
Act and in compliance with rules and regulations adopted 546
thereunder shall not be subject to any disciplinary action under 547
this section solely due to providing the written certification. 548
SECTION 5. Section 45-33-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 549
amended as follows: 550
45-33-23. For the purposes of this chapter, the following 551
words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context 552
clearly requires otherwise: 553
(a) "Conviction" means that, regarding the person's 554
offense, there has been a determination or judgment of guilt as a 555
result of a trial or the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo 556
contendere regardless of whether adjudication is withheld. 557
"Conviction of similar offenses" includes, but is not limited to, 558
a conviction by a federal or military tribunal, including a 559
court-martial conducted by the Armed Forces of the United States, 560
a conviction for an offense committed on an Indian Reservation or 561
other federal property, a conviction in any state of the United 562
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 563
Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianna Islands or the United 564
States Virgin Islands, and a conviction in a foreign country if 565
the foreign country's judicial system is such that it satisfies 566
minimum due process set forth in the guidelines under Section 567
111(5)(B) Public Law 109-248. 568
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(b) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of 569
Public Safety unless otherwise specified. 570
(c) "Jurisdiction" means any court or locality 571
including any state court, federal court, military court, Indian 572
tribunal or foreign court, the fifty (50) states, the District of 573
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, 574
the Northern Marianna Islands or the United States Virgin Islands, 575
and Indian tribes that elect to function as registration 576
jurisdictions under Title 1, SORNA Section 127 of the Adam Walsh 577
Child Safety Act. 578
(d) "Permanent residence" means a place where the 579
person abides, lodges, or resides for a period of fourteen (14) or 580
more aggregate days in a six (6) month period. 581
(e) "Registration" means providing information to the 582
appropriate agency within the timeframe specified as required by 583
this chapter. 584
(f) "Registration duties" means obtaining the 585
registration information required on the form specified by the 586
department as well as the photograph, fingerprints and biological 587
sample of the registrant. Biological samples are to be forwarded 588
to the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory pursuant to Section 589
45-33-37; the photograph, fingerprints and other registration 590
information are to be forwarded to the Department of Public Safety 591
immediately. 592
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(g) "Responsible agency" is defined as the person or 593
government entity whose duty it is to obtain information from a 594
criminal sex offender upon conviction and to transmit that 595
information to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. 596
(i) For a criminal sex offender being released 597
from the custody of the Department of Corrections, the responsible 598
agency is the Department of Corrections. 599
(ii) For a criminal sex offender being released 600
from a county jail, the responsible agency is the sheriff of that 601
county. 602
(iii) For a criminal sex offender being released 603
from a municipal jail, the responsible agency is the police 604
department of that municipality. 605
(iv) For a sex offender in the custody of the 606
youth court, the responsible agency is the youth court. 607
(v) For a criminal sex offender who is being 608
placed on probation, including conditional discharge or 609
unconditional discharge, without any sentence of incarceration, 610
the responsible agency is the sentencing court. 611
(vi) For an offender who has been committed to a 612
mental institution following an acquittal by reason of insanity, 613
the responsible agency is the facility from which the offender is 614
released. Specifically, the director of the facility shall notify 615
the Department of Public Safety before the offender's release. 616
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(vii) For a criminal sex offender who is being 617
released from a jurisdiction outside this state or who has a prior 618
conviction in another jurisdiction and who is to reside, work or 619
attend school in this state, the responsible agency is both the 620
sheriff of the proposed county of residence and the department. 621
(h) "Sex offense" or "registrable offense" means any of 622
the following offenses: 623
(i) Section 97-3-53 relating to kidnapping, if the 624
victim was below the age of eighteen (18); 625
(ii) Section 97-3-65 relating to rape; however, 626
conviction or adjudication under Section 97-3-65(1)(a) when the 627
offender was eighteen (18) years of age or younger at the time of 628
the alleged offense, shall not be a registrable sex offense; 629
(iii) Section 97-3-71 relating to rape and assault 630
with intent to ravish; 631
(iv) Section 97-3-95 relating to sexual battery; 632
however, conviction or adjudication under Section 97-3-95(1)(c) 633
when the offender was eighteen (18) years of age or younger at the 634
time of the alleged offense, shall not be a registrable sex 635
offense; 636
(v) Section 97-5-5 relating to enticing a child 637
for concealment, prostitution or marriage; 638
(vi) Section 97-5-23 relating to the touching of a 639
child, mentally defective or incapacitated person or physically 640
helpless person for lustful purposes; 641
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(vii) Section 97-5-27 relating to the 642
dissemination of sexually oriented material to children; 643
(viii) Section 97-5-33 relating to the 644
exploitation of children; 645
(ix) Section 97-5-41 relating to the carnal 646
knowledge of a stepchild, adopted child or child of a cohabiting 647
partner; 648
(x) Section 97-29-3 relating to sexual intercourse 649
between teacher and student; 650
(xi) Section 97-29-59 relating to unnatural 651
intercourse; 652
(xii) Section 43-47-18 relating to sexual abuse of 653
a vulnerable person; 654
(xiii) Section 97-3-54.1(1)(c) relating to 655
procuring sexual servitude of a minor and Section 97-3-54.3 656
relating to aiding, abetting or conspiring to violate Section 657
97-3-54.1(1)(c); 658
(xiv) Section 97-29-61(2) relating to voyeurism 659
when the victim is a child under sixteen (16) years of age; 660
(xv) Section 97-29-63 relating to filming another 661
without permission where there is an expectation of privacy; 662
(xvi) Section 97-29-45(1)(a) relating to obscene 663
electronic communication; 664
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(xvii) Section 97-3-104 relating to the crime of 665
sexual activity between law enforcement, correctional or custodial 666
personnel and prisoners; 667
(xviii) Section 97-5-39(1)(e) relating to 668
contributing to the neglect or delinquency of a child, felonious 669
abuse or battery of a child, if the victim was sexually abused; 670
(xix) Section 97-29-51 relating to procuring or 671
promoting prostitution when the victim is a child under eighteen 672
(18) years of age; 673
(xx) Section 97-1-7 relating to attempt to commit 674
any of the offenses referenced in this paragraph (h); 675
(xxi) Section 97-3-54.1(1)(a) relating to human 676
trafficking where commercial sexual activity, as defined in 677
Section 97-3-54.4, is involved; 678
(xxi) Any other offense resulting in a conviction 679
in another jurisdiction which, if committed in this state, would 680
be deemed to be such a crime without regard to its designation 681
elsewhere; 682
(xxii) Any offense resulting in a conviction in 683
another jurisdiction for which registration is required in the 684
jurisdiction where the conviction was had; 685
(xxiii) Any conviction of conspiracy to commit, 686
accessory to commission, or attempt to commit any offense listed 687
in this section; 688
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ST: Nurses; require to receive training on
human trafficking and certify such receipt when
applying for or renewing their licenses.
(xxiv) Capital murder when one (1) of the 689
above-described offenses is the underlying crime. 690
(i) "Temporary residence" is defined as any place where 691
the person abides, lodges, or resides for a period of seven (7) or 692
more aggregate days in a six (6) month period which is not the 693
person's permanent residence. 694
(j) "Address" means the actual physical street address 695
of a person's permanent or temporary residence. For a person who 696
is homeless but is subject to registration under this chapter, the 697
address information must provide a specific description of where 698
the person habitually lives; the term "homeless" or similar 699
description does not constitute an address within the 700
contemplation of this chapter. 701
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from 702
and after July 1, 2026. 703