Advanced practice registered nurses; revise certain provisions related to, including the collaboration agreement requirement.

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

By: Representative Ford (54th)

HOUSE BILL NO. 40

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 73-15-20, 6
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO 7
THE PRACTICE OF ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE NURSES; TO PROVIDE THAT 8
CERTIFIED NURSE PRACTITIONERS, CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIVES, AND 9
CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALISTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF 10
MAINTAINING A COLLABORATIVE/CONSULTATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH A 11
LICENSED PHYSICIAN OR DENTIST AFTER COMPLETING 3,600 PRACTICE 12
HOURS; TO PROVIDE THAT CERTIFIED NURSE PRACTITIONERS, CERTIFIED 13
NURSE MIDWIVES, AND CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALISTS MAY APPLY HOURS 14
WORKED BEFORE JULY 1, 2026, TO FULFILL THE HOUR REQUIREMENT; TO 15
AMEND SECTION 73-15-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE 16
ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES IN THE PROVISIONS RELATING TO 17
GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST NURSES; TO AMEND SECTION 18
41-21-131, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS 19
OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 20
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 21
SECTION 1. Section 73-15-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 22
amended as follows: 23
73-15-3. In order to safeguard life and health, any person 24
practicing or offering to practice as a registered nurse, an 25
advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse 26
in Mississippi for compensation shall hereafter be required to 27
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submit evidence of qualifications to practice and shall be 28
licensed or hold the privilege to practice as hereinafter 29
provided. It shall be unlawful for any person not licensed or 30
holding the privilege to practice under the provisions of this 31
article: 32
(a) To practice or offer to practice as a registered 33
nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed 34
practical nurse; 35
(b) To use a sign, card or device to indicate that such 36
person is a registered nurse, an advanced practice registered 37
nurse or a licensed practical nurse. 38
Any person offering to practice nursing in Mississippi must 39
be licensed or otherwise authorized to practice as provided in 40
this article. 41
SECTION 2. Section 73-15-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 42
amended as follows: 43
73-15-5. (1) "Board" means the Mississippi Board of 44
Nursing. 45
(2) The "practice of nursing" by a registered nurse means 46
the performance for compensation of services which requires 47
substantial knowledge of the biological, physical, behavioral, 48
psychological and sociological sciences and of nursing theory as 49
the basis for assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and 50
evaluation in the promotion and maintenance of health; management 51
of individuals' responses to illness, injury or infirmity; the 52
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restoration of optimum function; or the achievement of a dignified 53
death. "Nursing practice" includes, but is not limited to, 54
administration, teaching, counseling, delegation and supervision 55
of nursing, and execution of the medical regimen, including the 56
administration of medications and treatments prescribed by any 57
licensed or legally authorized physician, * * * dentist or 58
advanced practice registered nurse. The foregoing shall not be 59
deemed to include acts of medical diagnosis or prescriptions of 60
medical, therapeutic or corrective measures, except as may be set 61
forth by rules and regulations promulgated and implemented by the 62
Mississippi Board of Nursing. 63
(3) * * * "Advanced nursing practice" means, in addition to 64
the practice of professional nursing, the performance of 65
advanced-level nursing approved by the board which, by virtue of 66
graduate education and experience are appropriately performed by 67
an advanced practice registered nurse. The advanced practice 68
registered nurse may diagnose, treat and manage medical 69
conditions. This may include prescriptive authority as identified 70
by the board. Except as otherwise authorized in Section 71
73-15-20(4), advanced practice registered nurses must practice in 72
a collaborative/consultative relationship with a physician or 73
dentist with an unrestricted license to practice in the State of 74
Mississippi and advanced nursing practice must be performed within 75
the framework of a standing protocol or practice guidelines, as 76
appropriate. 77
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( * * *4) The "practice of nursing" by a licensed practical 78
nurse means the performance for compensation of services requiring 79
basic knowledge of the biological, physical, behavioral, 80
psychological and sociological sciences and of nursing procedures 81
which do not require the substantial skill, judgment and knowledge 82
required of a registered nurse. These services are performed 83
under the direction of a registered nurse or a licensed physician 84
or licensed dentist and utilize standardized procedures in the 85
observation and care of the ill, injured and infirm; in the 86
maintenance of health; in action to safeguard life and health; and 87
in the administration of medications and treatments prescribed by 88
any licensed physician, * * * licensed dentist or advanced 89
practice registered nurse authorized by state law to prescribe. 90
On a selected basis, and within safe limits, the role of the 91
licensed practical nurse shall be expanded by the board under its 92
rule-making authority to more complex procedures and settings 93
commensurate with additional preparation and experience. 94
( * * *5) A "license" means an authorization to practice 95
nursing as a registered nurse, and advanced practice registered 96
nurse or a licensed practical nurse designated herein. 97
( * * *6) A "registered nurse" is a person who is licensed 98
or holds the privilege to practice under the provisions of this 99
article and who practices nursing as defined herein. "RN" is the 100
abbreviation for the title of Registered Nurse. 101
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( * * *7) A "licensed practical nurse" is a person who is 102
licensed or holds the privilege to practice under this article and 103
who practices practical nursing as defined herein. "LPN" is the 104
abbreviation for the title of Licensed Practical Nurse. 105
( * * *8) A "registered nurse in clinical practice" is one 106
who functions in any health care delivery system which provides 107
nursing services. 108
(9) "Collaboration" or "collaborate" means the act of 109
communicating pertinent information or consulting with a licensed 110
physician or other licensed health care provider with each 111
provider contributing the provider's respective expertise to 112
optimize the overall care delivered to the patient. 113
* * * 114
( * * *10) An "advanced practice registered nurse" is a 115
person who is licensed or holds the privilege to practice under 116
this article as a professional nurse and who is * * * licensed as 117
an advanced practice registered nurse or specialized nursing 118
practice and includes certified registered nurse midwives, 119
certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse 120
specialists and certified nurse practitioners. "CNM" is the 121
abbreviation for the title of Certified Nurse Midwife, "CRNA" is 122
the abbreviation for the title of Certified Registered Nurse 123
Anesthetist. "CNP" is the abbreviation for the title of Certified 124
Nurse Practitioner. "CNS" is the abbreviation for the title of 125
Clinical Nurse Specialist. "APRN" is the abbreviation for the 126
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title of advanced practice registered nurse. As used in this 127
subsection (10): 128
(a) "Certified nurse midwife" means a registered nurse 129
who holds certification as a certified nurse midwife by a 130
nationally recognized certifying body approved by the board and is 131
licensed by the board to engage in advanced nursing practice in 132
this state. 133
(b) "Certified nurse practitioner" means a registered 134
nurse who holds certification as a certified nurse practitioner by 135
a nationally recognized certifying body approved by the board and 136
is licensed by the board to engage in advanced nursing practice in 137
this state. 138
(c) "Clinical nurse specialist" means a registered 139
nurse who holds certification as a clinical nurse specialist by a 140
nationally recognized certifying body approved by the board and is 141
licensed by the board to engage in advanced nursing practice in 142
this state. 143
(d) "Certified registered nurse anesthetist" means a 144
registered nurse who holds certification as a certified registered 145
nurse anesthetist by a nationally recognized certifying body 146
approved by the board and is licensed by the board to engage in 147
advanced nursing in this state. 148
( * * *11) A "nurse educator" is a registered nurse who 149
meets the criteria for faculty as set forth in a state-accredited 150
program of nursing for registered nurses, or a state-approved 151
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program of nursing for licensed practical nurses, and who 152
functions as a faculty member. 153
( * * *12) A "consumer representative" is a person 154
representing the interests of the general public, who may use 155
services of a health agency or health professional organization or 156
its members but who is neither a provider of health services, nor 157
employed in the health services field, nor holds a vested interest 158
in the provision of health services at any level, nor has an 159
immediate family member who holds vested interests in the 160
provision of health services at any level. 161
( * * *13) "Privilege to practice" means the multistate 162
licensure privilege to practice nursing in the state as described 163
in the Nurse Licensure Compact provided for in Section 73-15-201. 164
( * * *14) "Licensee" is a person who has been issued a 165
license to practice nursing or advanced practice nursing in the 166
state or who holds the privilege to practice nursing in the state. 167
SECTION 3. Section 73-15-20, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 168
amended as follows: 169
73-15-20. (1) Advanced practice registered nurses. Any 170
nurse desiring to be * * * licensed as an advanced practice 171
registered nurse shall apply to the board and submit proof that he 172
or she holds a current license * * * as a registered nurse and 173
that he or she meets one or more of the following requirements: 174
(a) Satisfactory completion of a formal post-basic 175
educational program of at least one (1) academic year, the primary 176
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purpose of which is to prepare nurses for advanced or specialized 177
practice. 178
(b) Certification by a board-approved certifying body. 179
Such certification shall be required for initial state * * * 180
licensure and any * * * license renewal as a certified registered 181
nurse anesthetist, certified nurse practitioner, clinical nurse 182
specialist or certified nurse midwife. The board may by rule 183
provide for provisional or temporary state * * * licensure of 184
graduate * * * advanced practice registered nurses for a period of 185
time determined to be appropriate for preparing and passing the 186
National Certification Examination. Those with provisional or 187
temporary * * * licenses must practice under the direct 188
supervision of a licensed physician or * * * an advanced practice 189
registered nurse with at least five (5) years of experience. 190
(c) Graduation from a program leading to a master's or 191
post-master's degree in a * * * program of study preparing for one 192
(1) of the described advanced practice registered nurse roles. 193
(2) Rulemaking. The board shall provide by rule the 194
appropriate requirements for advanced practice registered nurses 195
in the categories of certified registered nurse anesthetist, 196
certified nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist and * * * 197
certified nurse practitioner. 198
(3) Collaboration relationship. Except as otherwise 199
authorized in subsection (4) of this section, an advanced practice 200
registered nurse shall perform those functions authorized in this 201
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section within a collaborative/consultative relationship with a 202
dentist or physician with an unrestricted license to practice 203
dentistry or medicine in this state and within an established 204
protocol or practice guidelines, as appropriate, that is filed 205
with the board upon license application, license renewal, after 206
entering into a new collaborative/consultative relationship or 207
making changes to the protocol or practice guidelines or practice 208
site. The board shall review and approve the protocol to ensure 209
compliance with applicable regulatory standards. The advanced 210
practice registered nurse may not practice as an APRN if there is 211
no collaborative/consultative relationship with a physician or 212
dentist and a board-approved protocol or practice guidelines. 213
(4) Collaboration relationship exceptions. Certified nurse 214
practitioners, certified nurse midwives and clinical nurse 215
specialists licensed to practice advanced practice nursing in this 216
state who have completed three thousand six hundred (3,600) 217
practice hours are exempt from maintaining a 218
collaborative/consultative relationship with a licensed physician 219
or dentist as required by subsection (3) of this section. 220
Certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and 221
clinical nurse specialists may apply practice hours before July 1, 222
2026, to fulfill the hour requirements. Certified nurse 223
practitioners, certified nurse midwives and clinical nurse 224
specialists who are exempt from the collaborative/consultative 225
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relationship shall consult with other health care providers and 226
refer or transfer patients as appropriate. 227
( * * *5) Renewal. The board shall renew a license for an 228
advanced practice registered nurse upon receipt of the renewal 229
application, fees and any required protocol or practice 230
guidelines. The board shall adopt rules establishing procedures 231
for license renewals. The board shall by rule prescribe 232
continuing education requirements for advanced practice registered 233
nurses * * * as a condition for renewal of * * * licensure. 234
( * * *6) Reinstatement. Advanced practice registered 235
nurses may reinstate a lapsed privilege to practice upon 236
submitting documentation of a current active license to practice 237
professional nursing, a reinstatement application and fee, * * * 238
any required protocol or practice guidelines, documentation of 239
current certification as an advanced practice registered nurse in 240
a designated area of practice by a national certification 241
organization recognized by the board and documentation of at least 242
forty (40) hours of continuing education related to the advanced 243
clinical practice of the * * * advanced practice registered nurse 244
within the previous two-year period. The board shall adopt rules 245
establishing the procedure for reinstatement. 246
( * * *7) Changes in status. For those subject to 247
subsection (3) of this section, the advanced practice registered 248
nurse shall notify the board immediately regarding changes in the 249
collaborative/consultative relationship with a licensed physician 250
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or dentist. If changes leave the advanced practice registered 251
nurse without a board-approved collaborative/consultative 252
relationship with a physician or dentist, the advanced practice 253
registered nurse may not practice as an advanced practice 254
registered nurse. 255
( * * *8) Practice requirements. The advanced practice 256
registered nurse shall practice as follows: 257
(a) According to standards and guidelines of the 258
nurse's respective professional organization and the National 259
Certification Organization. 260
(b) For those subject to subsection (3) of this 261
section, in a collaborative/consultative relationship with a 262
licensed physician whose practice is compatible with, but need not 263
be identical to, that of the * * * advanced practice registered 264
nurse. Certified registered nurse anesthetists may 265
collaborate/consult with licensed dentists. The advanced practice 266
registered nurse must be able to communicate reliably with a 267
collaborating/consulting physician or dentist while practicing. 268
(c) For those subject to subsection (3) of this 269
section, according to a board-approved protocol or practice 270
guidelines. 271
(d) Advanced practice registered nurses practicing as 272
certified registered nurse anesthetists must practice according to 273
board-approved practice guidelines that address pre-anesthesia 274
preparation and evaluation; anesthesia induction, maintenance, and 275
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emergence; post-anesthesia care; peri-anesthetic and clinical 276
support functions. 277
(e) For those subject to subsection (3) of this 278
section, advanced practice registered nurses practicing in other 279
specialty areas must practice according to a board-approved 280
protocol that has been mutually agreed upon by the * * * advanced 281
practice registered nurse and the collaborating/consulting 282
licensed physician or dentist whose practice or prescriptive 283
authority is not limited as a result of voluntary surrender or 284
legal/regulatory order. 285
(f) For those subject to subsection (3) of this 286
section, each required collaborative/consultative relationship 287
shall include and implement a formal quality assurance/quality 288
improvement program which shall be maintained on site and shall be 289
available for inspection by representatives of the board. This 290
quality assurance/quality improvement program must be sufficient 291
to provide a valid evaluation of the practice and be a valid basis 292
for change, if any. 293
(g) * * * Advanced practice registered nurses may not 294
write prescriptions for, dispense or order the use of or 295
administration of any schedule of controlled substances except as 296
contained in this chapter. 297
( * * *9) Prescribing controlled substances and medications. 298
Certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists and certified 299
nurse practitioners may apply for controlled substance 300
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prescriptive authority after completing a board-approved 301
educational program. Certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse 302
specialists and certified nurse practitioners who have completed 303
the program and received prescription authority from the board may 304
prescribe Schedules II-V. The words "administer," "controlled 305
substances" and "ultimate user," shall have the same meaning as 306
set forth in Section 41-29-105, unless the context otherwise 307
requires. The board shall promulgate rules governing prescribing 308
of controlled substances, including distribution, record keeping, 309
drug maintenance, labeling and distribution requirements and 310
prescription guidelines for controlled substances and all 311
medications. Prescribing any controlled substance in violation of 312
the rules promulgated by the board shall constitute a violation of 313
Section 73-15-29(1)(f), (k) and (l) and shall be grounds for 314
disciplinary action. The prescribing, administering or 315
distributing of any legend drug or other medication in violation 316
of the rules promulgated by the board shall constitute a violation 317
of Section 73-15-29(1)(f), (k) and (l) and shall be grounds for 318
disciplinary action. 319
SECTION 4. Section 73-15-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 320
amended as follows: 321
73-15-29. (1) The board shall have power to revoke, suspend 322
or refuse to renew any license issued by the board, or to revoke 323
or suspend any privilege to practice, or to deny an application 324
for a license, or to fine, place on probation and/or discipline a 325
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licensee, in any manner specified in this article, upon proof that 326
such person: 327
(a) Has committed fraud or deceit in securing or 328
attempting to secure such license; 329
(b) Has been convicted of a felony, or a crime 330
involving moral turpitude or has had accepted by a court a plea of 331
nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude 332
(a certified copy of the judgment of the court of competent 333
jurisdiction of such conviction or pleas shall be prima facie 334
evidence of such conviction); 335
(c) Has negligently or willfully acted in a manner 336
inconsistent with the health or safety of the persons under the 337
licensee's care; 338
(d) Has had a license or privilege to practice as a 339
registered nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse or a 340
licensed practical nurse suspended or revoked in any jurisdiction, 341
has voluntarily surrendered such license or privilege to practice 342
in any jurisdiction, has been placed on probation as a registered 343
nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed 344
practical nurse in any jurisdiction or has been placed under a 345
disciplinary order(s) in any manner as a registered nurse, an 346
advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse 347
in any jurisdiction, (a certified copy of the order of suspension, 348
revocation, probation or disciplinary action shall be prima facie 349
evidence of such action); 350
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(e) Has negligently or willfully practiced nursing in a 351
manner that fails to meet generally accepted standards of such 352
nursing practice; 353
(f) Has negligently or willfully violated any order, 354
rule or regulation of the board pertaining to nursing practice or 355
licensure; 356
(g) Has falsified or in a repeatedly negligent manner 357
made incorrect entries or failed to make essential entries on 358
records; 359
(h) Is addicted to or dependent on alcohol or other 360
habit-forming drugs or is a habitual user of narcotics, 361
barbiturates, amphetamines, hallucinogens, or other drugs having 362
similar effect, or has misappropriated any medication; 363
(i) Has a physical, mental or emotional condition that 364
renders the licensee unable to perform nursing services or duties 365
with reasonable skill and safety; 366
(j) Has engaged in any other conduct, whether of the 367
same or of a different character from that specified in this 368
article, that would constitute a crime as defined in Title 97 of 369
the Mississippi Code of 1972, as now or hereafter amended, and 370
that relates to such person's employment as a registered nurse, an 371
advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse; 372
(k) Engages in conduct likely to deceive, defraud or 373
harm the public; 374
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(l) Engages in any unprofessional conduct as identified 375
by the board in its rules; 376
(m) Has violated any provision of this article; 377
(n) Violation(s) of the provisions of Sections 41-121-1 378
through 41-121-9 relating to deceptive advertisement by health 379
care practitioners; or 380
(o) Violation(s) of any provision of Title 41, Chapter 381
141, Mississippi Code of 1972. 382
(2) When the board finds any person unqualified because of 383
any of the grounds set forth in subsection (1) of this section, it 384
may enter an order imposing one or more of the following 385
penalties: 386
(a) Denying application for a license or other 387
authorization to practice nursing, advanced nursing practice or 388
practical nursing; 389
(b) Administering a reprimand; 390
(c) Suspending or restricting the license or other 391
authorization to practice as a registered nurse, an advanced 392
practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse for up to 393
two (2) years without review; 394
(d) Revoking the license or other authorization to 395
practice nursing, advanced nursing practice or practical nursing; 396
(e) Requiring the disciplinee to submit to care, 397
counseling or treatment by persons and/or agencies approved or 398
designated by the board as a condition for initial, continued or 399
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renewed licensure or other authorization to practice nursing, 400
advanced nursing practice or practical nursing; 401
(f) Requiring the disciplinee to participate in a 402
program of education prescribed by the board as a condition for 403
initial, continued or renewed licensure or other authorization to 404
practice; 405
(g) Requiring the disciplinee to practice under the 406
supervision of a registered nurse or an advanced practice 407
registered nurse for a specified period of time; or 408
(h) Imposing a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars 409
($500.00). 410
(3) In addition to the grounds specified in subsection (1) 411
of this section, the board shall be authorized to suspend the 412
license or privilege to practice of any licensee for being out of 413
compliance with an order for support, as defined in Section 414
93-11-153. The procedure for suspension of a license or privilege 415
to practice for being out of compliance with an order for support, 416
and the procedure for the reissuance or reinstatement of a license 417
or privilege to practice suspended for that purpose, and the 418
payment of any fees for the reissuance or reinstatement of a 419
license or privilege to practice suspended for that purpose, shall 420
be governed by Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be. 421
If there is any conflict between any provision of Section 422
93-11-157 or 93-11-163 and any provision of this article, the 423
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provisions of Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be, 424
shall control. 425
(4) If the public health, safety or welfare imperatively 426
requires emergency action and the board incorporates a finding to 427
that effect in an order, the board may order summary suspension of 428
a license pending proceedings for revocation or other action. 429
These proceedings shall be promptly instituted and determined by 430
the board. 431
(5) The board may establish by rule an alternative to 432
discipline program for licensees who have an impairment as a 433
result of substance abuse or a mental health condition, which 434
program shall include at least the following components: 435
(a) Participation in the program is voluntary with the 436
licensee, and the licensee must enter the program before the board 437
holds a disciplinary action hearing regarding the licensee; 438
(b) The full cost of participation in the program, 439
including the cost of any care, counseling, treatment and/or 440
education received by the licensee, shall be borne by the 441
licensee; 442
(c) All of the procedures and records regarding the 443
licensee's participation in the program shall be confidential, 444
shall not be disclosed and shall be exempt from the provisions of 445
the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983; and 446
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(d) A licensee may not participate in the program more 447
often than one (1) time during any period of five (5) years or 448
such longer period as set by the board. 449
(6) A nurse practitioner who provides a written 450
certification as authorized under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis 451
Act and in compliance with rules and regulations adopted 452
thereunder shall not be subject to any disciplinary action under 453
this section solely due to providing the written certification. 454
SECTION 5. Section 41-21-131, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 455
amended as follows: 456
41-21-131. As used in Sections 41-21-131 through 41-21-143, 457
the following terms shall have the meanings as defined in this 458
section: 459
(a) "Crisis Intervention Team" means a community 460
partnership among a law enforcement agency, a community mental 461
health center, a hospital, other mental health providers, 462
consumers and family members of consumers. 463
(b) "Participating partner" means a law enforcement 464
agency, a community mental health center or a hospital that has 465
each entered into collaborative agreements needed to implement a 466
Crisis Intervention Team. 467
(c) "Catchment area" means a geographical area in which 468
a Crisis Intervention Team operates and is defined by the 469
jurisdictional boundaries of the law enforcement agency that is 470
the participating partner. 471
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(d) "Crisis Intervention Team officer" or "CIT officer" 472
means a law enforcement officer who is authorized to make arrests 473
under Section 99-3-1 and who is trained and certified in crisis 474
intervention and who is working for a law enforcement agency that 475
is a participating partner in a Crisis Intervention Team. 476
(e) "Substantial likelihood of bodily harm" means that: 477
(i) The person has threatened or attempted suicide 478
or to inflict serious bodily harm to himself; or 479
(ii) The person has threatened or attempted 480
homicide or other violent behavior; or 481
(iii) The person has placed others in reasonable 482
fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm to them; or 483
(iv) The person is unable to avoid severe 484
impairment or injury from specific risks; and 485
(v) There is substantial likelihood that serious 486
harm will occur unless the person is placed under emergency 487
treatment. 488
(f) "Single point of entry" means a specific hospital 489
that is the participating partner in a Crisis Intervention Team 490
and that has agreed to provide psychiatric emergency services and 491
triage and referral services. 492
(g) "Psychiatric emergency services" means services 493
designed to reduce the acute psychiatric symptoms of a person who 494
is mentally ill or a person who has an impairment caused by drugs 495
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or alcohol and, when possible, to stabilize that person so that 496
continuing treatment can be provided in the local community. 497
(h) "Triage and referral services" means services 498
designed to provide evaluation of a person with mental illness or 499
a person who has an impairment caused by drugs or alcohol in order 500
to direct that person to a mental health facility or other mental 501
health provider that can provide appropriate treatment. 502
(i) "Comprehensive psychiatric emergency service" means 503
a specialized psychiatric service operated by the single point of 504
entry and located in or near the hospital emergency department 505
that can provide psychiatric emergency services for a period of 506
time greater than can be provided in the hospital emergency 507
department. 508
(j) "Extended observation bed" means a hospital bed 509
that is used by a comprehensive psychiatric emergency service and 510
is licensed by the State Department of Health for that purpose. 511
(k) "Psychiatric nurse practitioner" means a registered 512
nurse who has completed the educational requirements specified by 513
the State Board of Nursing, has successfully passed either the 514
adult or family psychiatric nurse practitioner examination and is 515
licensed by the State Board of Nursing * * *. 516
(l) "Psychiatric physician assistant" means a physician 517
assistant who has completed the educational requirements and 518
passed the certification examination as specified in Section 519
73-26-3, is licensed by the State Board of Medical Licensure, has 520
H. B. No. 40 *HR43/R1428* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1428
PAGE 22 (RF\KP)
ST: Advanced practice registered nurses; revise
certain provisions related to, including the
collaboration agreement requirement.
had at least one (1) year of practice as a physician assistant 521
employed by a community mental health center, and is working under 522
the supervision of a physician at a single point of entry. 523
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from 524
and after July 1, 2026. 525