Appropriation; Health, Department of.

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To: Appropriations C;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Deweese, Read, Bennett,
Creekmore IV, Currie, McGee, Mickens, Scott,
Turner

HOUSE BILL NO. 1908
(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING 1
THE EXPENSES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2
2027. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 4
SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 5
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General 6
Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of defraying the 7
expenses of the State Department of Health for the fiscal year 8
beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.................. 9
............................................... $ 61,633,807.00. 10
SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 11
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in any special fund in 12
the State Treasury to the credit of the State Department of Health 13
which is comprised of special source funds collected by or 14
otherwise available to the department, for the purpose of 15
defraying the expenses of the department for the fiscal year 16
beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.................. 17
............................................... $ 529,451,161.00. 18
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SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions 19
of Sections 1 and 2, Seven Million Twenty-six Thousand One Hundred 20
Two Dollars ($7,026,102.00) shall be derived from the State 21
General Fund and Eleven Million Three Hundred Twenty-eight 22
Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty-three Dollars ($11,328,783.00) shall 23
be derived from the Health Care Expendable Fund, created in 24
Section 43-13-407, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the support and 25
maintenance of the State Department of Health. The funds provided 26
in this section shall be allocated as follows: 27
Magnet Community Health Disparity Program.... $ 2,000,000.00 28
Early Intervention Program................... $ 2,000,000.00 29
Breast and Cervical Cancer Program........... $ 100,000.00 30
Maternal and Child Health Care Program....... $ 1,242,943.00 31
Mississippi Health Care Alliance for the ST 32
Elevated Myocardial Infarction Program 33
(STEMI), Sepsis, and the Stroke System 34
of Care Plan............................ $ 250,000.00 35
Health Department Programs................... $ 12,761,942.00 36
SECTION 4. Of the funds appropriated in this act, 37
Thirty-four Million Dollars ($34,000,000.00) is allocated to the 38
Trauma Care System. Of the General Fund court assessments 39
provided in Section 1, Thirteen Million Twenty-three Thousand One 40
Hundred Ninety-seven Dollars ($13,023,197.00) shall be allocated 41
for Trauma Care Systems and One Million Eight Hundred Five 42
Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty-nine Dollars ($1,805,859.00) shall be 43
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allocated for Emergency Medical Services. All additional funds 44
are appropriated in Section 2. The State Department of Health may 45
transfer a portion of Trauma Care System funds to the Division of 46
Medicaid for the development and implementation of an enhanced 47
reimbursement fee program related to trauma care and services, 48
used to match federal funds, under a cooperative agreement between 49
the State Department of Health and the Division of Medicaid. 50
It is the intention of the Legislature that none of the funds 51
authorized herein for the Trauma Care System shall be expended to 52
the benefit of any hospital located outside the boundaries of the 53
State of Mississippi, unless otherwise excepted in this paragraph. 54
Funds shall be expended by the Mississippi Department of Health 55
for distribution to the Regional Medical Center or Le Bonheur 56
Children's Hospital at Memphis, located in Memphis, Tennessee, or 57
the University of South Alabama Medical Center located in Mobile, 58
Alabama, or the Joseph M. Still Burn Centers, Inc., located in 59
Augusta, Georgia, or any affiliates or any other Level 1 Trauma 60
Center, or Tertiary Pediatric Trauma Center that participates in 61
the Mississippi Trauma Care System, as determined by the 62
Mississippi Department of Health. 63
SECTION 5. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, Twenty 64
Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00) shall be derived from the Tobacco 65
Control Program Fund, created in Section 41-113-11, Mississippi 66
Code of 1972, and shall be allocated as follows: 67
University of Mississippi Medical Center Cancer 68
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Institute................................. $ 4,250,000.00 69
Department of Education - Mary Kirkpatrick Haskell – 70
Mary Sprayberry Public School 71
Nurse Program............................. $ 3,060,000.00 72
Attorney General's Office - Alcohol and 73
Tobacco Enforcement Unit.................. $ 680,000.00 74
University of Mississippi Medical Center – 75
A Comprehensive Tobacco (ACT) 76
Center.................................... $ 595,000.00 77
Mississippi Health Care Alliance - ST Elevated 78
Myocardial Infarction Program (STEMI), 79
Sepsis, and Stroke System of Care Plan.... $ 595,000.00 80
Mississippi Qualified Health 81
Center Grant Program...................... $ 3,400,000.00 82
Mississippi Health Department Programs......... $ 7,420,000.00 83
Of the funds appropriated in this section, the State 84
Department of Health is authorized to expend funds to create and 85
administer the Office of Tobacco Control within the department as 86
outlined and created in Section 41-113-3, Mississippi Code of 87
1972. 88
SECTION 6. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, One 89
Million One Hundred Two Thousand Nine Hundred Fifteen Dollars 90
($1,102,915.00) shall be allocated as follows: 91
Mississippi Health Care Alliance - ST Elevated 92
Myocardial Infarction Program (STEMI), Sepsis, 93
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and Stroke System of Care Plan............ $ 279,400.00 94
Mississippi Qualified Health Center 95
Grant Program............................. $ 600,000.00 96
Mississippi Health Department Programs......... $ 223,515.00 97
SECTION 7. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of 98
this act, not more than the following amount of funds, with the 99
exception of the provisions in this section, shall be expended 100
only for "Personal Services," which includes "Vacancy Funding," 101
for the following authorized number of employment headcount: 102
FUNDING: 103
General Funds: $ 13,953,860.00 104
Special Funds: $ 138,036,972.00 105
Total Funds: $ 151,990,832.00 106
PERSONAL SERVICES: 107
Employee Salaries, Wages and 108
Fringe Benefits: $ 144,391,290.00 109
Progressions: $ 0.00 110
Vacancy Funding: $ 7,599,542.00 111
Total Personal Services: $ 151,990,832.00 112
AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: 113
Permanent: 678 114
Time-Limited: 1,394 115
As used in this section, the term "Personal Services" shall 116
mean funds provided under the major object of expenditure category 117
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Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits. Funds 118
in this category shall not be transferred to any other category. 119
It is the intention of the Legislature to ensure compliance 120
with the Variable Compensation Plan, as outlined in Section 121
25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972. Payment from these funds 122
shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan 123
promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. It is the 124
Legislature's intention that no employee's salary falls below the 125
minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel 126
Board. 127
The State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the 128
projected annual cost of "Personal Services" based on monthly and 129
year-to-date payroll expenditures in compliance with the 130
provisions of this act. 131
With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency's 132
responsibility to ensure that no single personnel action or 133
combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds the 134
Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for "Personal Services" with the 135
exception of escalated funds. Further, it shall be the agency's 136
responsibility to ensure that funds required to be appropriated 137
for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal 138
Year 2027 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or 139
positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the 140
Mississippi Legislature. 141
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If, at the time the agency takes any action to change 142
"Personal Services," the State Personnel Board determines that the 143
agency has taken or will take an action that would cause the 144
agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when 145
annualized for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for "Personal 146
Services" for Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State 147
Personnel Board shall process no salary actions until such time as 148
the requirements of the provisions of this section are met with 149
the exception of new hires determined to be essential for the 150
agency. 151
When used in this section, "Vacancy Funding" shall mean funds 152
included in the Total Personal Services amount listed above and 153
designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027. These 154
funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled 155
headcounts that were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of 156
Fiscal Year 2026. If the agency fills additional headcounts after 157
March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the amount of 158
available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally adjusted to 159
reflect the updated number of filled headcounts. The agency shall 160
be responsible for ensuring that "Vacancy Funding" is used to 161
increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, 162
in-range salary adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing 163
salaries for current employees. 164
Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with 165
the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law or 166
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allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State 167
Personnel Board shall not escalate positions or increase the 168
Personal Services total without written approval from the 169
Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of 170
Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to 171
escalate any funds for salaries and/or headcounts without proof of 172
availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated 173
level. Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated 174
headcounts have been accounted for and shall be converted to 175
authorized time-limited headcounts. 176
No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be 177
used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for 178
salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are 179
withdrawn and no longer available. 180
None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in 181
violation of the Internal Revenue Service's Publication 15-A 182
relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as 183
interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. 184
If the agency's total authorized headcount decreases from 185
Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it will be the agency's 186
discretion as to what headcounts are removed. 187
SECTION 8. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 188
State Department of Health shall maintain complete accounting and 189
personnel records related to the expenditure of all funds 190
appropriated under this act and that such records shall be in the 191
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same format and level of detail as maintained for Fiscal Year 192
2026. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the 193
agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 2028 shall be submitted to 194
the Joint Legislative Budget Committee in a format and level of 195
detail comparable to the format and level of detail provided 196
during the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request process. 197
SECTION 9. In compliance with the "Mississippi Performance 198
Budget and Strategic Planning Act of 1994," it is the intent of 199
the Legislature that the funds provided herein shall be utilized 200
in the most efficient and effective manner possible to achieve the 201
intended mission of this agency. Based on the funding authorized, 202
this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted 203
performance measures provided below: 204
FY2027 205
Performance Measures Target 206
Health Services 207
State Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 208
Live Births) 9.30 209
Percent of Women who Received Prenatal 210
Care in First Trimester 74.30 211
Percent of Live Births Delivered Prior 212
to 37 Weeks of Gestation 15.50 213
Teenage Live Birth Rate Age 15-19 Years 214
(per 1,000 Women Age 15-19) 22.10 215
Percent of Newborns with Positive and 216
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Inconclusive Genetic Screens who 217
Received Recommended Follow-Up 100.00 218
Percent of Adults who are Obese (Body 219
Mass Index of 30 or More, Regardless of 220
Sex) 39.10 221
Health Protection 222
Percent of Mississippi Population 223
Receiving Water From a Public Water 224
Supply 95.00 225
Percent of Mississippi Population 226
Receiving Optimally Fluoridated Water 40.00 227
Transfer Time of Level III and IV Trauma 228
Centers to Appropriate Facilities for 229
Treatment (Minutes) 140.00 230
Communicable Disease 231
Primary and Secondary Syphilis: Case 232
Rate per 100,000 27.60 233
Tuberculosis: Number of Cases 57 234
Tuberculosis: Case Rate per 100,000 1.94 235
HIV Disease: Number of Cases 540 236
HIV Disease: Case Rate per 100,000 18.30 237
Rate of Two Year Old Children Fully 238
Immunized (National Immunization Survey: 239
4:3:1:3:3:1:4 series - 19 to 35 months) 75.00 240
Tobacco Control 241
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Percent of Current Smokers Among Public 242
Middle School Students 1.50 243
Percent of Current Smokers Among Public 244
High School Students 2.10 245
Percent of Current Smokers Among Adults 246
18 Years and Older 15.20 247
Public Health Emerg Prep/resp 248
Time Required for Command Staff to 249
Report to Emergency Operations Center in 250
Response to a National or Man-Made 251
Disaster (Minutes) 60.00 252
Admin & Support Services 253
Percent of Mississippi Population Living 254
in an Area Designated as a Health 255
Professional Shortage Area: Mental 256
Health 74.00 257
Percent of Mississippi Population Living 258
in an Area Designated as a Health 259
Professional Shortage Area: Dental 47.00 260
Percent of Mississippi Population Living 261
in an Area Designated as a Health 262
Professional Shortage Area: Primary 263
Care 50.00 264
Medical Cannabis 265
Number of Conditions Added to the List 266
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of Debilitating Medical Conditions 0 267
Number of Qualifying Patients Approved 31,700 268
Number of Designated Caregivers Approved 388 269
Number of Registry Identification Cards 270
Revoked 25 271
Total Number of Patients with a Registry 272
Identification Card 73,000 273
Number of Licensed Medical Practitioners 240 274
Number of Licensed Cannabis Cultivation 275
Facilities 120 276
Number of Licensed Cannabis Processing 277
Facilities 35 278
Number of Licensed Cannabis Testing 279
Facilities 3 280
Number of Licensed Cannabis Waste 281
Disposal Entities 6 282
Number of Licensed Cannabis 283
Transportation Entities 19 284
Percent of Applications Approved 99.00 285
A reporting of the degree to which the performance targets 286
set above have been or are being achieved shall be provided in the 287
agency's budget request submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget 288
Committee for Fiscal Year 2028. 289
SECTION 10. It is the intention of the Legislature that with 290
the funds provided herein, the State Department of Health may 291
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provide and administer without charge, Hepatitis B vaccinations to 292
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel who are in need of such 293
vaccinations through job related exposure. 294
SECTION 11. In addition to all other sums heretofore 295
appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be 296
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General 297
Fund not otherwise appropriated to the credit of the Local 298
Governments and Rural Water Systems Emergency Loan Fund, and the 299
Local Governments and Rural Water System Improvements Revolving 300
Loan Fund as authorized in Chapter 521, Laws of 1995, to the State 301
Department of Health for the purpose of defraying the expenses of 302
the Local Governments and Rural Water Systems Improvements Board, 303
for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending 304
June 30, 2027..................................... $ 8,300,000.00. 305
The purpose of these funds is to provide funds necessary to 306
match projected federal funds available through the following 307
federal fiscal year from the annual Clean Water State Revolving 308
Fund (CWSRF) appropriations and from the supplemental 309
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) appropriations. 310
SECTION 12. In addition to all other sums heretofore 311
appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be 312
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury 313
to the credit of the Local Governments and Rural Water Systems 314
Emergency Loan Fund, and the Local Governments and Rural Water 315
System Improvements Revolving Loan Fund as authorized in Chapter 316
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521, Laws of 1995, to the State Department of Health for the 317
purpose of defraying the expenses of the Local Governments and 318
Rural Water Systems Improvements Board, for the fiscal year 319
beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.................. 320
................................................ $ 176,837,437.00. 321
SECTION 13. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions 322
of this act, not more than the following amount of funds, with the 323
exception of the provisions in this section, shall be expended 324
only for "Personal Services," which includes "Vacancy Funding," 325
for the following authorized number of employment headcount: 326
FUNDING: 327
General Funds: $ 0.00 328
Special Funds: $ 2,670,477.00 329
Total Funds: $ 2,670,477.00 330
PERSONAL SERVICES: 331
Employee Salaries, Wages, and 332
Fringe Benefits: $ 2,670,477.00 333
Progressions: $ 0.00 334
Vacancy Funding: $ 0.00 335
Total Personal Services: $ 2,670,477.00 336
AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: 337
Permanent: 8 338
Time-Limited: 14 339
As used in this section, the term "Personal Services" shall 340
mean funds provided under the major object of expenditure category 341
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Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits. Funds 342
in this category shall not be transferred to any other category. 343
It is the intention of the Legislature to ensure compliance 344
with the Variable Compensation Plan, as outlined in Section 345
25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972. Payment from these funds 346
shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan 347
promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. It is the 348
Legislature's intention that no employee's salary falls below the 349
minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel 350
Board. 351
The State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the 352
projected annual cost of "Personal Services" based on monthly and 353
year-to-date payroll expenditures in compliance with the 354
provisions of this act. 355
With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency's 356
responsibility to ensure that no single personnel action or 357
combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds the 358
Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for "Personal Services" with the 359
exception of escalated funds. Further, it shall be the agency's 360
responsibility to ensure that funds required to be appropriated 361
for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal 362
Year 2027 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or 363
positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the 364
Mississippi Legislature. 365
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If, at the time the agency takes any action to change 366
"Personal Services," the State Personnel Board determines that the 367
agency has taken or will take an action that would cause the 368
agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when 369
annualized for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for "Personal 370
Services" for Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State 371
Personnel Board shall process no salary actions until such time as 372
the requirements of the provisions of this section are met with 373
the exception of new hires determined to be essential for the 374
agency. 375
When used in this section, "Vacancy Funding" shall mean funds 376
included in the Total Personal Services amount listed above and 377
designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027. These 378
funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled 379
headcounts that were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of 380
Fiscal Year 2026. If the agency fills additional headcounts after 381
March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the amount of 382
available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally reduced to reflect 383
the updated number of filled headcounts. The agency shall be 384
responsible for ensuring that "Vacancy Funding" is used to 385
increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, 386
in-range salary adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing 387
salaries for current employees. 388
Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with 389
the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law or 390
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allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State 391
Personnel Board shall not escalate positions without written 392
approval from the Department of Finance and Administration. The 393
Department of Finance and Administration shall not provide written 394
approval to escalate any funds for salaries and/or headcounts 395
without proof of availability of new or additional funds above the 396
appropriated level. Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 397
2026 escalated headcounts have been accounted for and shall be 398
converted to authorized time-limited headcounts. 399
No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be 400
used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for 401
salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are 402
withdrawn and no longer available. 403
None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in 404
violation of the Internal Revenue Service's Publication 15-A 405
relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as 406
interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. 407
If the agency's total authorized headcount decreases from 408
Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it will be the agency's 409
discretion as to what headcounts are removed. 410
SECTION 14. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, One 411
Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) shall come from the Department of 412
Human Services, Child Care Development Fund or other appropriate 413
special funds for the purpose of child care licensure. These 414
funds are to be transferred to the State Department of Health no 415
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later than July 31, 2026. The State Department of Health shall 416
make a complete accounting of the uses of these funds to the 417
Department of Human Services. 418
SECTION 15. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 419
State Department of Health shall expend not more than Fifty 420
Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) of the funds appropriated herein for 421
providing the oil known as "Lorenzo's Oil" for the treatment of 422
the genetic disorder adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), to children and 423
Mississippi residents over the age of twenty-one (21) who have the 424
genetic disorder adrenoleukodystrophy and for whom Medicaid does 425
not reimburse the cost of providing the oil. The department may 426
also provide needed pathology and biannual MRI exams. 427
SECTION 16. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, Seven 428
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($700,000.00) are provided for the 429
purpose of purchasing AIDS drugs and other necessary AIDS related 430
medical services. 431
SECTION 17. Of the funds appropriated herein, Two Hundred 432
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) is provided for the Breast 433
and Cervical Cancer Program. 434
SECTION 18. In addition to all other funds heretofore 435
appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be 436
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General 437
Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of defraying the 438
expenses of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act at the Department 439
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of Health for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending 440
June 30, 2027..................................... $ 7,787,845.00. 441
SECTION 19. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions 442
of this act, not more than the following amount of funds, with the 443
exception of the provisions in this section, shall be expended 444
only for "Personal Services," which includes "Vacancy Funding," 445
for the following authorized number of employment headcount: 446
FUNDING: 447
General Funds: $ 2,410,715.00 448
Special Funds: $ 0.00 449
Total Funds: $ 2,410,715.00 450
PERSONAL SERVICES: 451
Employee Salaries, Wages, and 452
Fringe Benefits: $ 2,410,715.00 453
Progressions: $ 0.00 454
Vacancy Funding: $ 0.00 455
Total Personal Services: $ 2,410,715.00 456
AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: 457
Permanent: 0 458
Time-Limited: 34 459
As used in this section, the term "Personal Services" shall 460
mean funds provided under the major object of expenditure category 461
Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits. Funds 462
in this category shall not be transferred to any other category. 463
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It is the intention of the Legislature to ensure compliance 464
with the Variable Compensation Plan, as outlined in Section 465
25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972. Payment from these funds 466
shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan 467
promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. It is the 468
Legislature's intention that no employee's salary falls below the 469
minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel 470
Board. 471
The State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the 472
projected annual cost of "Personal Services" based on monthly and 473
year-to-date payroll expenditures in compliance with the 474
provisions of this act. 475
With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency's 476
responsibility to ensure that no single personnel action or 477
combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds the 478
Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for "Personal Services" with the 479
exception of escalated funds. Further, it shall be the agency's 480
responsibility to ensure that funds required to be appropriated 481
for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal 482
Year 2027 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or 483
positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the 484
Mississippi Legislature. 485
If, at the time the agency takes any action to change 486
"Personal Services," the State Personnel Board determines that the 487
agency has taken or will take an action that would cause the 488
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agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when 489
annualized for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for "Personal 490
Services" for Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State 491
Personnel Board shall process no salary actions until such time as 492
the requirements of the provisions of this section are met with 493
the exception of new hires determined to be essential for the 494
agency. 495
When used in this section, "Vacancy Funding" shall mean funds 496
included in the Total Personal Services amount listed above and 497
designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027. These 498
funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled 499
headcounts that were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of 500
Fiscal Year 2026. If the agency fills additional headcounts after 501
March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the amount of 502
available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally adjusted to 503
reflect the updated number of filled headcounts. The agency shall 504
be responsible for ensuring that "Vacancy Funding" is used to 505
increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, 506
in-range salary adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing 507
salaries for current employees. 508
Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with 509
the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law or 510
allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State 511
Personnel Board shall not escalate positions or increase the 512
Personal Services total without written approval from the 513
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Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of 514
Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to 515
escalate any funds for salaries and/or headcounts without proof of 516
availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated 517
level. Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated 518
headcounts have been accounted for and shall be converted to 519
authorized time-limited headcounts. 520
No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be 521
used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for 522
salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are 523
withdrawn and no longer available. 524
None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in 525
violation of the Internal Revenue Service's Publication 15-A 526
relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as 527
interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. 528
If the agency's total authorized headcount decreases from 529
Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it will be the agency's 530
discretion as to what headcounts are removed. 531
SECTION 20. In addition to all other funds heretofore 532
appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be 533
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury 534
to the credit of the Mississippi Burn Care Fund which is comprised 535
of special source funds collected by or otherwise available to the 536
department, for the purpose of funding reimbursement for 537
uncompensated medical care to Mississippi burn victims through the 538
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trauma care system at in-state burn facilities including the 539
Baptist Medical Center, the University of Mississippi Medical 540
Center, and any designated Burn Center associated with a Level I 541
Trauma Center in the Mississippi Trauma Care System or for 542
uncompensated aero medical transportation to out-of-state 543
qualified United States Burn Care facilities, and such other 544
provisions necessary to provide burn care for Mississippi 545
residents, including reimbursement for travel, lodgings, meals and 546
other reasonable travel-related expenses incurred by burn victims, 547
family members and/or caregivers, for the fiscal year beginning 548
July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027........... $ 3,000,000.00. 549
SECTION 21. It is the intention of the Legislature that 550
whenever two (2) or more bids are received by this agency for the 551
purchase of commodities or equipment, and whenever all things 552
stated in such received bids are equal with respect to price, 553
quality and service, the Mississippi Industries for the Blind 554
shall be given preference. A similar preference shall be given to 555
the Mississippi Industries for the Blind whenever purchases are 556
made without competitive bids. 557
SECTION 22. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 558
Mississippi Department of Health shall implement same day service 559
to receive birth and death certificates. 560
SECTION 23. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 561
Mississippi State Department of Health shall provide the Joint 562
Legislative Budget Committee a report of all grants received by 563
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September 15, 2026. This notification will consist of the name of 564
the grant and agency or nonprofit making the award, the award 565
amount, and a short list of goals to be achieved. 566
SECTION 24. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 567
Mississippi State Department of Health shall be the fiscal agent 568
in all allowable grants awarded. 569
SECTION 25. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, Seven 570
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($700,000.00) shall come from the 571
Department of Education for the purpose of maintenance of effort 572
for the Early Intervention Program. These funds are to be 573
transferred to the State Department of Health no later than 574
December 31, 2026. The State Department of Health shall make a 575
complete accounting of the uses of these funds to the Department 576
of Education. 577
SECTION 26. The Mississippi Department of Health is 578
authorized to obtain a line of credit through the State Treasurer 579
from the Working Cash-Stabilization Fund or any other special 580
source funds maintained in the State Treasury in an amount not 581
exceeding Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) to fund shortfalls 582
which, from time to time, may occur due to insufficient working 583
cash spent in anticipation of receiving federal reimbursement. 584
The length of indebtedness under this provision shall not carry 585
past the end of the quarter following the loan origination. Loan 586
proceeds shall be received by the State Treasurer and shall be 587
placed in a Mississippi Department of Health designated special 588
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fund account. The division may pledge as security for such 589
interim financing future funds that will be received by the 590
division. Any such loans shall be repaid from the first available 591
funds received by the department in the manner of and subject to 592
the same terms provided in this section. 593
SECTION 27. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 594
funds herein appropriated shall be expended in compliance with 595
Section 27-104-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, that no state agency 596
shall incur obligations or indebtedness in excess of their 597
appropriation and that the responsible officers, either personally 598
or upon their official bonds, shall be held responsible for 599
actions contrary to this provision. 600
SECTION 28. With the funds appropriated herein, it is the 601
intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Department of 602
Health is authorized to set the compensation of all nurse PINs, 603
Epidemiologists and Disease Intervention Specialist Series based 604
on the education and experience of the incumbent not to exceed the 605
end salary as established by the State Personnel Board. 606
SECTION 29. It is the intent of the Legislature that the 607
Chairman of the Board of Health may appoint an official 608
replacement or representative with voting privileges to the 609
Advisory Board of the Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce. 610
SECTION 30. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 611
State Health Officer shall have the authority to transfer cash 612
from one special fund treasury fund to another special fund 613
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treasury fund under the control of the Department of Health. It 614
is further the intention of the Legislature that the State Health 615
Officer shall submit written justification for the transfer to the 616
Legislative Budget Office and the Department of Finance and 617
Administration on or before the fifteenth of the month prior to 618
the effective date of the transfer. 619
SECTION 31. Of the funds appropriated in Sections 1 and 2 of 620
this act, One Million Three Hundred Eighty-two Thousand Two 621
Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,382,250.00) is provided for the Office 622
of Mississippi Physician Workforce as described in Section 623
41-123-5, Mississippi Code of 1972. 624
SECTION 32. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, it is 625
the intention of the Legislature that Eight Hundred Fifty-nine 626
Thousand Nine Hundred Three Dollars ($859,903.00) shall be 627
allocated to the Domestic Violence program that is supported from 628
General Fund court assessments. 629
SECTION 33. It is the intent of the Legislature that the 630
Mississippi State Department of Health shall have authority to 631
escalate the various budgets in both funds and positions, with the 632
approval of the State Fiscal Officer, from any special funds 633
collected or available for HIV medical or support services, 634
clinical quality management, and administrative expenses not to 635
exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00), to the agency for 636
expenditure. Upon such approval, the Mississippi State Department 637
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of Health may expend such funds in the manner authorized by law. 638
Funds may be made available to local HIV/AIDS service providers. 639
The Executive Director of the Mississippi State Department of 640
Health shall submit to the Department of Finance and 641
Administration a certified statement providing a detailed 642
explanation for any escalation, including a justification for the 643
establishment of any new positions or reclassification of existing 644
positions. 645
SECTION 34. Notwithstanding any other provision, the 646
Department of Health shall have the authority to escalate its 647
headcount for any additional operational needs related to 648
Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds, upon approval of the 649
Department of Finance and Administration and the State Personnel 650
Board. 651
SECTION 35. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 652
State Department of Health is hereby authorized to escalate, 653
budget and expend funds for salaries and positions, with the 654
approval of the State Fiscal Officer, from fund numbers 655
5331400000, 5331500000, and 5820130100, for the purpose of 656
operating the State Department of Health programs as authorized by 657
law, in accordance with rules and regulation of the Department of 658
Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the 659
escalation of federal funds and when grant requirements have 660
changed that result in staffing needs but do not result in new or 661
additional funds. 662
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The Executive Director of the State Department of Health or 663
designee shall submit to the Department of Finance and 664
Administration a certified statement providing a detailed 665
explanation for any escalation, including a justification for the 666
establishment of any new positions or reclassification of existing 667
positions. 668
SECTION 36. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, Ten 669
Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,300,000.00) is 670
allocated for the purpose of providing reimbursable grants from 671
the Office Against Interpersonal Violence as described in this 672
section. 673
The funds appropriated under this section shall be expended 674
by the State Department of Health as a reimbursable grant. In 675
determining reimbursable expenses, the State Department of Health 676
shall use allowable costs as defined by the Office Against 677
Interpersonal Violence. Of the funds in this section, up to Three 678
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) may be used by the 679
department for administration of these funds. 680
SECTION 37. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions 681
of Section 2 of this act, Four Million Five Hundred Sixty Thousand 682
Seven Hundred Sixty-five Dollars ($4,560,765.00) shall be derived 683
from the Opioid Settlement Fund as created in Section 27-103-305, 684
Mississippi Code of 1972. The abatement funds provided in this 685
section shall be allocated as follows: 686
Funding for the Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Program.... 687
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................................................... $ 4,500,000.00 688
Funding for Delta Health Center to implement a comprehensive 689
Opioid Harm Reduction Program designed to prevent opioid-related 690
deaths in six (6) counties in the Mississippi Delta............... 691
.................................................. $ 60,765.00. 692
SECTION 38. As a condition of receiving and expending the 693
funds appropriated to the Mississippi Department of Health under 694
Section 37, a recipient designated under this section shall 695
certify in writing and under oath to the Department that no 696
contract of compensation dependent on the success or failure of 697
legislation or executive action prohibited under Section 5-8-13, 698
Mississippi Code of 1972, has been entered into by the recipient, 699
with any individual or entity, in pursuance of such funding. None 700
of the funds appropriated by this act shall be disbursed to a 701
recipient or used by a recipient who fails to make such 702
certification or is found to be in violation of such 703
certification. 704
SECTION 39. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 705
necessary, is reappropriated out of any money in the Capital 706
Expense Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the Mississippi 707
Department of Health for the purpose of reauthorizing the 708
expenditure of Capital Expense Funds as authorized in House Bill 709
No. 46, 2025 First Extraordinary Session, to provide for the City 710
of Jackson water litigation for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 711
2026, and ending June 30, 2027................... $ 3,770,690.00. 712
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ST: Appropriation; Health, Department of.
Notwithstanding the amount reappropriated under the 713
provisions of this section, in no event shall the amount expended 714
exceed the unexpended balances as of June 30, 2026. In addition, 715
this reappropriation shall not change the purpose for which the 716
funds were originally authorized. 717
SECTION 40. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, One 718
Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) is provided by the Legislature 719
with the intention of providing funds in order to develop capacity 720
and infrastructure for the following public health priorities: 721
obesity management, hypertension, heart disease, remote patient 722
monitoring, cancer screenings for individuals without health 723
insurance, and for the Obstetrical System of Care to address 724
maternal and infant mortality. 725
SECTION 41. The money herein appropriated shall be paid by 726
the State Treasurer out of any money in the State Treasury to the 727
credit of the proper fund or funds as set forth in this act, upon 728
warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal 729
Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the 730
proper person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law. 731
SECTION 42. This act shall take effect and be in force from 732
and after July 1, 2026. 733