Chiropractors; extend repealer on licensure law.

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

By: Representative Shanks

HOUSE BILL NO. 942
(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO REENACT SECTIONS 73-6-1 THROUGH 73-6-19 AND 73-6-23 1
THROUGH 73-6-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH CREATE THE STATE 2
BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS AND PRESCRIBE ITS DUTIES AND 3
POWERS; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-6-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 4
1972, TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT CHIROPRACTORS MUST PRACTICE 5
UNDER THE DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE SUPERVISION OF A VETERINARIAN WHEN 6
RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR ANIMALS REQUIRING THEIR PROFESSIONAL 7
SERVICES PROVIDED THAT THE CHIROPRACTOR IS A CERTIFIED ANIMAL 8
CHIROPRACTOR; TO AMEND SECTION 73-6-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 9
TO EXTEND THE DATE OF THE REPEALER ON THE REENACTED SECTIONS; AND 10
FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 11
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 12
SECTION 1. Section 73-6-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 13
amended as follows: 14
73-6-1. (1) The practice of chiropractic involves the 15
analysis of any interference with normal nerve transmission and 16
expression, and the procedure preparatory to and complementary to 17
the correction thereof, by adjustment and/or manipulation of the 18
articulations of the vertebral column and for the restoration and 19
maintenance of health without the use of drugs or surgery. 20
(2) The chiropractic adjustment and/or manipulation of the 21
articulations of the human body may include manual adjustments 22
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and/or manipulations and adjustments and/or manipulations by means 23
of electrical and/or mechanical manual devices. Chiropractors 24
licensed under this chapter may also use in conjunction with 25
adjustments and/or manipulations of the spinal structures 26
electrical therapeutic modalities which induce heat or electrical 27
current beneath the skin, including therapeutic ultrasound, 28
galvanism, diathermy and electromuscular stimulation and other 29
procedures taught by a chiropractic college approved by the 30
Council on Chiropractic Education, its successor or an equivalent 31
accrediting agency. 32
(3) Chiropractors licensed under this chapter may utilize 33
those electric therapeutic modalities described in subsection (2) 34
of this section only after the chiropractor has completed a course 35
of study containing a minimum of one hundred twenty (120) hours of 36
instruction in the proper utilization of those procedures in 37
accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Council on 38
Chiropractic Education, its successor or an equivalent accrediting 39
agency, and is qualified and so certified in that proper 40
utilization. 41
(4) Chiropractors shall not prescribe or administer medicine 42
to patients, perform surgery, practice obstetrics or osteopathy. 43
Chiropractors shall be authorized to recommend, dispense or sell 44
vitamins or food supplements. 45
(5) Chiropractors shall not use venipuncture, capillary 46
puncture, acupuncture or any other technique which is invasive of 47
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the human body either by penetrating the skin or through any of 48
the orifices of the body or through the use of colonics. 49
(6) A person professing to practice chiropractic for 50
compensation must bring to the exercise of that person's 51
profession a reasonable degree of care and skill. Any injury 52
resulting from a want of such care and skill shall be a tort for 53
which a recovery may be had. If a chiropractor performs upon a 54
patient any act authorized to be performed under this chapter but 55
which act also constitutes a standard procedure of the practice of 56
medicine including, but not limited to, the use of modalities such 57
as those described in subsection (2) of this section and x-rays, 58
under similar circumstances, the chiropractor shall be held to the 59
same standard of care as would licensed doctors of medicine who 60
are qualified to and who actually perform those acts under similar 61
conditions and like circumstances. 62
(7) Chiropractors licensed under this chapter are authorized 63
to refer patients to licensed physical therapists for treatment. 64
(8) Doctors of chiropractic medicine may respond on a 65
referral basis * * * from a Mississippi licensed veterinarian to 66
calls for animals requiring their professional services provided 67
the chiropractor has a current license from the State Board of 68
Chiropractic Examiners and the chiropractor * * * is a Certified 69
Animal Chiropractor certified by the Animal Chiropractic 70
Certification Commission (ACCC) of the American Veterinary 71
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Chiropractic Association (AVCA) or the International Veterinary 72
Chiropractic Association. 73
SECTION 2. Section 73-6-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 74
reenacted as follows: 75
73-6-3. There is hereby created a State Board of 76
Chiropractic Examiners. This board shall consist of six (6) 77
members; one (1) of whom shall be the executive officer of the 78
State Board of Health, or his designee, and one (1) from each 79
congressional district as presently constituted, to be appointed 80
by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Each 81
member except the executive officer of the State Board of Health 82
shall be a qualified elector of the State of Mississippi having 83
been continuously engaged in the practice of chiropractic in 84
Mississippi for at least five (5) years prior to appointment. No 85
member shall be a stockholder in or member of the faculty or board 86
of trustees of any school of chiropractic. Each member appointed 87
to the board shall serve for five (5) years and until his 88
successor is appointed and qualified; except the terms of the 89
initial members appointed by the Governor shall expire one (1) 90
each for five (5) years or until their successors are appointed 91
and qualified. The members of the board as constituted on January 92
1, 2011, whose terms have not expired shall serve the balance of 93
their terms, after which time the membership of the board shall be 94
appointed as follows: There shall be appointed one (1) member of 95
the board from each of the four (4) Mississippi congressional 96
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districts as they currently exist, and one (1) from the state at 97
large, and the Governor shall make appointments from the 98
congressional district having the smallest number of board members 99
until the membership includes one (1) member from each district as 100
required. Vacancies on the board, except for the Executive 101
Officer of the State Board of Health, or his designee, shall be 102
filled by appointment of the Governor only for unexpired terms. 103
Any member who shall not attend two (2) consecutive meetings of 104
the board shall be subject to removal by the Governor. The 105
chairman of the board shall notify the Governor in writing when 106
any such member has failed to attend two (2) consecutive regular 107
meetings. 108
SECTION 3. Section 73-6-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 109
reenacted as follows: 110
73-6-5. (1) The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners shall 111
select by election from its membership a chairman and vice 112
chairman who shall hold their respective offices for a period of 113
one (1) year. A majority of the members of the board may select 114
an executive secretary; and may hire such other employees, 115
including an attorney, needed to implement the provisions of this 116
chapter. The board shall hold regular meetings for examination 117
beginning on the second week of January and July of each year; and 118
may hold additional meetings at such times and places as it deems 119
necessary, but not to exceed twelve (12) times during its initial 120
calendar year and at least four (4) times during any subsequent 121
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calendar year but may hold meetings at such times and places as it 122
deems necessary. The July meeting shall be held in the Jackson 123
Metropolitan area. A majority of the board shall constitute a 124
quorum, and the concurrence of a majority of the members of the 125
board shall be required to grant or revoke a license. The board 126
shall make such rules and regulations as is necessary to carry out 127
the provisions of this chapter; however, the board shall not adopt 128
any rule or regulation or impose any requirement regarding the 129
licensing of chiropractors that conflicts with the prohibitions in 130
Section 73-49-3. A copy of these rules and regulations as well as 131
all changes thereto shall, upon passage, be sent to all 132
practitioners licensed under this chapter. 133
(2) The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners shall be 134
authorized to certify to the State Department of Health those 135
chiropractic assistants who are exempt from registration under 136
Section 41-58-3(7)(d) as having completed continuing education 137
requirements and charge a fee of not more than Fifty Dollars 138
($50.00) annually to each individual whom the board certifies, as 139
required under Section 41-58-5(4)and (6). The board shall be 140
authorized to establish educational qualifications and continuing 141
education requirements for chiropractic assistants that 142
participate in direct patient care. This section does not 143
prohibit a chiropractic assistant from rendering ancillary 144
services or procedures used in chiropractic practice, other than 145
the adjustments or manipulative techniques, if those services are 146
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rendered under the supervision and control of a licensed 147
chiropractor as long as the chiropractic assistant has 148
successfully completed a training program recognized by the board. 149
"Supervision and control" may not be construed as requiring the 150
personal presence of the supervising and controlling chiropractor 151
at the place where those services are rendered, unless physical 152
presence is necessary to provide patient care of the same quality 153
as provided by the chiropractor. This section does not prohibit a 154
chiropractor from delegating to a chiropractic assistant certain 155
activities relating to patient care and treatment when those 156
activities are under supervision or direct order of the 157
chiropractor. The chiropractor delegating those activities to an 158
employee, to a program graduate, or to a participant in an 159
approved training program is legally liable for those activities 160
performed by such a chiropractic assistant and that chiropractic 161
assistant is considered to be the chiropractor's agent. The board 162
shall charge a fee not to exceed Fifty Dollars ($50.00) annually 163
for this certification and annual renewal. Likewise, a late fee 164
of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) shall be charged on all 165
chiropractic assistants and chiropractic radiological 166
technologists not renewing on or before July 1 of each year. 167
Chiropractic radiological technologists are not exempt from these 168
continuing education requirements. 169
SECTION 4. Section 73-6-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 170
reenacted as follows: 171
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73-6-7. Before entering upon the discharge of the duties of 172
his office, the Executive Secretary of the State Board of 173
Chiropractic Examiners shall present a bond, approved by the 174
board, to the state in the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars 175
($10,000.00), conditioned upon the faithful discharge of the 176
duties of his office. The premium for such bond shall be paid 177
from the funds paid into the State Treasury by the secretary of 178
the board. Such bond, with the approval of the board and oath of 179
office endorsed thereon, shall be deposited with the Secretary of 180
State. 181
Each month, monies received by the secretary of the board 182
shall be paid by him into the State Treasury and deposited in a 183
fund to be known as the "State Board of Chiropractic Examiners 184
Fund" for the use of the board in carrying out the provisions of 185
this chapter. The board shall receive no appropriation from any 186
state funds for its support, except from the special fund 187
deposited into the State Treasury by the board. 188
SECTION 5. Section 73-6-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 189
reenacted as follows: 190
73-6-9. Each member of the State Board of Chiropractic 191
Examiners shall receive the per diem authorized under Section 192
25-3-69, for each day actually discharging his official duties, 193
and shall receive reimbursement for mileage and necessary expense 194
incurred, as provided in Section 25-3-41. The executive secretary 195
shall receive an annual salary to be fixed by the board in 196
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addition to reimbursements for necessary expenses incurred in the 197
discharge of his official duties. 198
The expenses of the board in carrying out the provisions of 199
this chapter shall be paid upon requisitions signed by the 200
chairman and secretary of the board and warrants signed by the 201
State Auditor from the fund in the State Treasury for the use of 202
the board. Said expenses shall not exceed the amount paid into 203
the State Treasury under the provisions of this chapter. 204
SECTION 6. Section 73-6-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 205
reenacted as follows: 206
73-6-11. The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners shall 207
adopt an official seal and shall keep a record of its proceedings, 208
persons licensed as chiropractors, and a record of licenses which 209
have been revoked or suspended. The board shall keep on file all 210
examination papers for a period of at least ninety (90) days after 211
each examination. A transcript of an entry in such records, 212
certified by the secretary under the seal of the board, shall be 213
evidence of the facts therein stated. The board shall annually, 214
on or before January 1, make a report to the Governor and 215
Legislature of all its official acts during the preceding year, 216
its receipts and disbursements, and a full and complete report of 217
the conditions of chiropractic in this state. 218
SECTION 7. Section 73-6-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 219
reenacted as follows: 220
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73-6-13. (1) Any adult of good moral character who has (a) 221
graduated from a school or college of chiropractic recognized by 222
the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, preceded by the 223
successful completion of at least two (2) academic years at an 224
accredited institution of higher learning, or accredited junior 225
college, and (b) successfully completed parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 and 226
the physical modality section of the examination prepared by the 227
National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, shall be entitled to 228
take the examination for a license to practice chiropractic in 229
Mississippi. The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners shall keep 230
on file a list of schools or colleges of chiropractic which are so 231
recognized. No chiropractic school shall be approved unless it is 232
recognized and approved by the Council on Chiropractic Education, 233
its successor or an equivalent accrediting agency, offers an 234
accredited course of study of not less than four (4) academic 235
years of at least nine (9) months in length, and requires its 236
graduates to receive not less than forty (40) clock hours of 237
instruction in the operation of x-ray machinery and not less than 238
forty (40) clock hours of instruction in x-ray interpretation and 239
diagnosis. 240
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the State 241
Board of Health shall prescribe rules and regulations for the 242
operation and use of x-ray machines. 243
(3) The examination to practice chiropractic used by the 244
board shall consist of testing on the statutes and the rules and 245
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regulations regarding the practice of chiropractic in the State of 246
Mississippi. 247
(4) Reciprocity privileges for a chiropractor from another 248
state shall be granted at the board's option on an individual 249
basis and by a majority vote of the State Board of Chiropractic 250
Examiners to an adult of good moral character who (a) is currently 251
an active competent practitioner for at least eight (8) years and 252
holds an active chiropractic license in another state with no 253
disciplinary proceeding or unresolved complaint pending anywhere 254
at the time a license is to be issued by this state, (b) 255
demonstrates having obtained licensure as a chiropractor in 256
another state under the same education requirements which were 257
equivalent to the education requirements in this state to obtain a 258
chiropractic license at the time the applicant obtained the 259
license in the other state, (c) satisfactorily passes the 260
examination administered by the State Board of Chiropractic 261
Examiners, and (d) meets the requirements of Section 73-6-1(3) 262
pertaining to therapeutic modalities. The issuance of a license 263
by reciprocity to a military-trained applicant, military spouse or 264
person who establishes residence in this state shall be subject to 265
the provisions of Section 73-50-1 or 73-50-2, as applicable. 266
SECTION 8. Section 73-6-14, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 267
reenacted as follows: 268
73-6-14. (1) The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners is 269
hereby authorized to establish a preceptorship and extern program 270
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whereby chiropractic students enrolled in their last year at a 271
board-approved chiropractic college accredited by the Council on 272
Chiropractic Education, its successor or an equivalent accrediting 273
agency, and recent chiropractic graduates of such schools may be 274
issued a limited license to practice chiropractic in the State of 275
Mississippi under the direct on-premises supervision of a 276
sponsoring licensed chiropractor, and in the case of chiropractic 277
students, also under the general supervision of the student's 278
school. The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners shall prohibit 279
the use of more than one (1) such limited license student or 280
graduate to one (1) sponsor licensed to practice chiropractic. 281
The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners is empowered to 282
establish rules and regulations for the implementation of this 283
subsection (1), including, but not limited to, providing academic, 284
professional and character requirements for eligible participants, 285
defining the permitted scope of practice of the limited licensee, 286
and prescribing fees for participation. 287
(2) The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners is hereby 288
authorized to establish a Travel to Treat temporary license 289
whereby nonresident chiropractors traveling with nonresident 290
entities, including, but not limited to sports teams, will be able 291
to practice chiropractic on members of their entities while in the 292
State of Mississippi. The board is empowered to establish rules 293
and regulations for the implementation of this subsection (2), 294
including, but not limited to, providing professional requirements 295
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for eligible participants, defining the permitted scope of 296
practice of the traveling chiropractors, and prescribing fees for 297
participation. 298
(3) The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners is hereby 299
authorized to establish an emergency license to nonresident 300
chiropractors to practice in the place of a chiropractor licensed 301
in the State of Mississippi. Such emergency license shall remain 302
in force for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days, unless 303
extended for an additional period of ninety (90) days by the board 304
or until the licensed resident chiropractor is able to resume his 305
practice. The board is empowered to establish rules and 306
regulations for the implementation of this subsection (3), 307
including, but not limited to, providing professional requirements 308
for eligible participants, defining the scope of practice for 309
emergency licensees, and prescribing fees for participation. 310
SECTION 9. Section 73-6-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 311
reenacted as follows: 312
73-6-15. Every applicant shall file with the secretary of 313
the board an application, verified by oath, setting forth the 314
facts which entitle the applicant to examination under the 315
provisions of this chapter. The State Board of Chiropractic 316
Examiners shall hold at least two (2) examinations each year. In 317
case of failing to pass such examination, the applicant, after the 318
expiration of six (6) months and within two (2) years, shall have 319
the privilege of taking a second examination by the board with the 320
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payment of an additional fee equal to that charged the State Board 321
of Chiropractors by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. 322
An applicant who fails the examination twice shall not be 323
permitted to retake the examination until completion of further 324
course of study to be outlined by the board and payment of the fee 325
for further examination. Every applicant who passed the 326
examination and otherwise complies with the provisions of this 327
chapter shall receive from the board, under its seal, a 328
certificate of licensure which entitles him to practice 329
chiropractic in this state; however, such certificate does not in 330
any way qualify a chiropractor to make application to practice on 331
the medical staff of any hospital licensed by the State Department 332
of Health. Nothing in this chapter may prevent a chiropractor 333
from making application to any hospital for chiropractic staff 334
privileges or as an allied health provider as outlined under the 335
Minimum Standards of Operation for Mississippi Hospitals. Such 336
certificate shall be duly registered in a record book which shall 337
be properly kept by the secretary of the board and which shall be 338
open to public inspection. A duly certified copy of said record 339
shall be competent evidence in all courts of this state to 340
establish licensure. 341
Each application or filing made under this section shall 342
include the social security number(s) of the applicant in 343
accordance with Section 93-11-64, Mississippi Code of 1972. 344
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SECTION 10. Section 73-6-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 345
reenacted as follows: 346
73-6-17. The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners shall 347
charge the following fees for application, examination and 348
issuance of certificates: application, One Hundred Dollars 349
($100.00); examination and issuance of certificate, Two Hundred 350
Dollars ($200.00) for all applicants; provided, however, that 351
resident and nonresident applicants shall have first successfully 352
completed parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the physical modality section of 353
the examination prepared by the National Board of Chiropractic 354
Examiners. 355
Except as provided in Section 33-1-39, every registered 356
chiropractor in order to continue the practice of chiropractic 357
shall pay annually to the secretary of the board a registration 358
renewal fee of not more than Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) and, 359
in addition to such renewal fee, shall be required to file with 360
the secretary of the board a certificate, certified by a state 361
chiropractic board and state chiropractic association, verifying 362
his attendance at a course of study approved by the board 363
consisting of not less than twelve (12) hours of instruction in 364
the latest developments in the practice of chiropractic of which 365
at least three (3) hours shall be instruction in the subject of 366
risk management. Provided, that any chiropractor who has reached 367
the age of seventy-five (75) years and is not participating in an 368
active practice shall not be required to pay said renewal fee or 369
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submit the twelve (12) hours of continuing education. Any 370
chiropractor who has received a certificate of licensure in this 371
state under the provisions of Section 73-6-13(4) shall be in good 372
standing in the state of his original licensure in order to renew 373
his certificate in this state, and the board shall refuse to renew 374
the certificate of any such chiropractor whose license has been 375
suspended or revoked for cause in the state of his original 376
licensure. In case of failure to pay the renewal fee, the board 377
may revoke such certificate after giving sixty (60) days' notice 378
to the holder who, within such period, may renew such certificate 379
upon payment of the delinquent fee with a special processing 380
charge of not more than Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00). Lack of 381
participation in active practice for a period of less than two (2) 382
years, except when a doctor is in active military duty, shall not 383
deprive the holder of the right to renew such certificate, without 384
examination, upon the payment of all lapsed fees and proof of 385
required continuing education hours. 386
SECTION 11. Section 73-6-18, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 387
reenacted as follows: 388
73-6-18. These standards apply to all licensed chiropractors 389
and chiropractic assistants. These standards also apply to those 390
consultations and examinations advertised as a reduced fee or free 391
(no charge) service: 392
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(a) The chiropractor shall maintain records for 393
patients which accurately, legibly and completely reflect the 394
evaluation and treatment of the patient. 395
(b) All patient records shall include patient history, 396
symptomatology, examination, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. 397
If abbreviations or symbols are used in daily record keeping, a 398
key must be provided. 399
(c) In the event that the board takes disciplinary 400
action against a chiropractor for any reason, these minimum record 401
keeping standards will apply. It is understood that these 402
procedures are the accepted standard(s) and anything less than 403
this shall be considered unprofessional conduct in the practice of 404
chiropractic. 405
SECTION 12. Section 73-6-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 406
reenacted as follows: 407
73-6-19. (1) The board shall refuse to grant a certificate 408
of licensure to any applicant or may cancel, revoke or suspend the 409
certificate upon the finding of any of the following facts 410
regarding the applicant or licensed practitioner: 411
(a) Failure to comply with the rules and regulations 412
adopted by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners; 413
(b) Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter 414
or any of the rules and regulations of the State Board of Health 415
pursuant to this chapter with regard to the operation and use of 416
x-rays; 417
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(c) Fraud or deceit in obtaining a license; 418
(d) Addiction to the use of alcohol, narcotic drugs, or 419
anything which would seriously interfere with the competent 420
performance of his professional duties; 421
(e) Conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of 422
a felony, other than manslaughter or any violation of the United 423
States Internal Revenue Code; 424
(f) Unprofessional and unethical conduct; 425
(g) Contraction of a contagious disease which may be 426
carried for a prolonged period; 427
(h) Failure to report to the Mississippi Department of 428
Human Services or the county attorney any case wherein there are 429
reasonable grounds to believe that a child or vulnerable adult has 430
been abused by its parent or person responsible for such person's 431
welfare; 432
(i) Advising a patient to use drugs, prescribing or 433
providing drugs for a patient, or advising a patient not to use a 434
drug prescribed by a licensed physician or dentist; 435
(j) Professional incompetency in the practice of 436
chiropractic; 437
(k) Having disciplinary action taken by his peers 438
within any professional chiropractic association or society; 439
(l) Offering to accept or accepting payment for 440
services rendered by assignment from any third-party payor after 441
offering to accept or accepting whatever the third-party payor 442
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covers as payment in full, if the effect of the offering or 443
acceptance is to eliminate or give the impression of eliminating 444
the need for payment by an insured of any required deductions 445
applicable in the policy of the insured; 446
(m) Associating his practice with any chiropractor who 447
does not hold a valid chiropractic license in Mississippi, or 448
teach chiropractic manipulation to nonqualified persons under 449
Section 73-6-13; 450
(n) Failure to make payment on chiropractic student 451
loans; 452
(o) Failure to follow record-keeping requirements 453
prescribed in Section 73-6-18; 454
(p) If the practitioner is certified to provide animal 455
chiropractic treatment, failure to follow guidelines approved by 456
the Mississippi Board of Veterinary Medicine; or 457
(q) Violation(s) of the provisions of Sections 41-121-1 458
through 41-121-9 relating to deceptive advertisement by health 459
care practitioners. 460
(2) Any holder of such certificate or any applicant therefor 461
against whom is preferred any of the designated charges shall be 462
furnished a copy of the complaint and shall receive a formal 463
hearing in Jackson, Mississippi, before the board, at which time 464
he may be represented by counsel and examine witnesses. The board 465
is authorized to administer oaths as may be necessary for the 466
proper conduct of any such hearing. In addition, the board is 467
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authorized and empowered to issue subpoenas for the attendance of 468
witnesses and the production of books and papers. The process 469
issued by the board shall extend to all parts of the state. Where 470
in any proceeding before the board any witness shall fail or 471
refuse to attend upon subpoena issued by the board, shall refuse 472
to testify, or shall refuse to produce any books and papers, the 473
production of which is called for by the subpoena, the attendance 474
of such witness and the giving of his testimony and the production 475
of the books and papers shall be enforced by any court of 476
competent jurisdiction of this state in the manner provided for 477
the enforcement of attendance and testimony of witnesses in civil 478
cases in the courts of this state. 479
(3) In addition to any other investigators the board 480
employs, the board shall appoint one or more licensed 481
chiropractors to act for the board in investigating the conduct 482
relating to the competency of a chiropractor, whenever 483
disciplinary action is being considered for professional 484
incompetence and unprofessional conduct. 485
(4) Whenever the board finds any person unqualified to 486
practice chiropractic because of any of the grounds set forth in 487
subsection (1) of this section, after a hearing has been conducted 488
as prescribed by this section, the board may enter an order 489
imposing one or more of the following: 490
(a) Deny his application for a license or other 491
authorization to practice chiropractic; 492
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(b) Administer a public or private reprimand; 493
(c) Suspend, limit or restrict his license or other 494
authorization to practice chiropractic for up to five (5) years; 495
(d) Revoke or cancel his license or other authorization 496
to practice chiropractic; 497
(e) Require him to submit to care, counseling or 498
treatment by physicians or chiropractors designated by the board, 499
as a condition for initial, continued or renewal of licensure or 500
other authorization to practice chiropractic; 501
(f) Require him to participate in a program of 502
education prescribed by the board; or 503
(g) Require him to practice under the direction of a 504
chiropractor designated by the board for a specified period of 505
time. 506
(5) Any person whose application for a license or whose 507
license to practice chiropractic has been cancelled, revoked or 508
suspended by the board within thirty (30) days from the date of 509
such final decision shall have the right of a de novo appeal to 510
the circuit court of his county of residence or the Circuit Court 511
of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi. If 512
there is an appeal, such appeal may, in the discretion of and on 513
motion to the circuit court, act as a supersedeas. The circuit 514
court shall dispose of the appeal and enter its decision promptly. 515
The hearing on the appeal may, in the discretion of the circuit 516
judge, be tried in vacation. Either party shall have the right of 517
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appeal to the Supreme Court as provided by law from any decision 518
of the circuit court. 519
(6) In a proceeding conducted under this section by the 520
board for the revocation, suspension or cancellation of a license 521
to practice chiropractic, after a hearing has been conducted as 522
prescribed by this section, the board shall have the power and 523
authority for the grounds stated in subsection (1) of this 524
section, with the exception of paragraph (c) thereof, to assess 525
and levy upon any person licensed to practice chiropractic in the 526
state a monetary penalty in lieu of such revocation, suspension or 527
cancellation, as follows: 528
(a) For the first violation, a monetary penalty of not 529
less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than One 530
Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each violation. 531
(b) For the second and each subsequent violation, a 532
monetary penalty of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) 533
nor more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) for 534
each violation. 535
The power and authority of the board to assess and levy such 536
monetary penalties under this section shall not be affected or 537
diminished by any other proceeding, civil or criminal, concerning 538
the same violation or violations. A licensee shall have the right 539
of appeal from the assessment and levy of a monetary penalty as 540
provided in this section to the circuit court under the same 541
conditions as a right of appeal is provided for in this section 542
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for appeals from an adverse ruling, or order, or decision of the 543
board. Any monetary penalty assessed and levied under this 544
section shall not take effect until after the time for appeal has 545
expired, and an appeal of the assessment and levy of such a 546
monetary penalty shall act as a supersedeas. 547
(7) In addition to the grounds specified in subsection (1) 548
of this section, the board shall be authorized to suspend the 549
license of any licensee for being out of compliance with an order 550
for support, as defined in Section 93-11-153. The procedure for 551
suspension of a license for being out of compliance with an order 552
for support, and the procedure for the reissuance or reinstatement 553
of a license suspended for that purpose, and the payment of any 554
fees for the reissuance or reinstatement of a license suspended 555
for that purpose, shall be governed by Section 93-11-157 or 556
93-11-163, as the case may be. Actions taken by the board in 557
suspending a license when required by Section 93-11-157 or 558
93-11-163 are not actions from which an appeal may be taken under 559
this section. Any appeal of a license suspension that is required 560
by Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163 shall be taken in accordance 561
with the appeal procedure specified in Section 93-11-157 or 562
93-11-163, as the case may be, rather than the procedure specified 563
in this section. If there is any conflict between any provision 564
of Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163 and any provision of this 565
chapter, the provisions of Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the 566
case may be, shall control. 567
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SECTION 13. Section 73-6-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 568
reenacted as follows: 569
73-6-23. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as 570
conferring upon the holder of such certificate the right to 571
practice medicine and surgery as a physician or osteopathic 572
physician as defined by statute, to engage in the practice of 573
physical therapy as defined by statute, to advise or prescribe the 574
use of drugs by his patients, or to advise a patient not to use a 575
drug prescribed by a licensed physician or dentist. 576
SECTION 14. Section 73-6-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 577
reenacted as follows: 578
73-6-25. (1) The members of the chiropractic profession, 579
licensed or unlicensed, are hereby prohibited from: 580
(a) Making use of any public statement of a character 581
tending to mislead the public in regard to the health services of 582
the chiropractic profession or of an individual chiropractor, or 583
use of any other professional designation other than the term 584
"chiropractor," "doctor of chiropractic," "D.C." or "chiropractic 585
physician"; however, the use of the title "chiropractic physician" 586
authorized in this paragraph (a) shall not be construed as 587
conferring upon the holder of a license to practice chiropractic 588
any right or responsibility given to a "physician" by any other 589
Mississippi statute, unless the statute specifically confers the 590
right or responsibility on a "chiropractor" or a "chiropractic 591
physician"; 592
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(b) Offering discounts or inducements to prospective 593
patients by means of coupons or otherwise to perform professional 594
services during any period of time for a lesser or more attractive 595
price without providing a disclaimer to the public indicating the 596
usual price for other services; 597
(c) Advertising or promising to guarantee any 598
professional service or to perform any operation painlessly; 599
(d) Violating any of the provisions of this chapter or 600
any of the rules and regulations of the State Board of Health 601
pursuant to this chapter with regard to the operation and use of 602
x-rays. 603
(2) Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit a licensed 604
practitioner of chiropractic from allowing or causing his name, 605
address and telephone number to be inserted in the classified 606
section of a telephone directory under a classification denoting 607
the practitioner's profession. Nothing herein shall be construed 608
to prohibit a licensed practitioner from mailing letters to his 609
clients, but such letters shall otherwise be subject to the 610
provisions of this section. 611
SECTION 15. Section 73-6-26, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 612
reenacted as follows: 613
73-6-26. It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation or 614
association to, in any manner, make claim, verbally, in writing, 615
or by way of advertising, that they perform chiropractic 616
adjustments/manipulation to the articulations of the human spine 617
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unless they hold a valid license to practice chiropractic (D.C.) 618
in the State of Mississippi. 619
SECTION 16. Section 73-6-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 620
reenacted as follows: 621
73-6-27. Any person who has graduated from a college 622
approved by the International Chiropractors Association or 623
American Chiropractic Association and who was engaged in the 624
full-time practice of chiropractic in Mississippi prior to January 625
1, 1970, or was engaged in the full-time practice of chiropractic 626
in Mississippi for a period of eight (8) years prior to April 16, 627
1973, shall be entitled to a license hereunder by making 628
application to the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners without 629
being required to take the examination of the State Board of 630
Chiropractic Examiners, provided he applies for such license 631
within ninety (90) days after the appointment of the initial 632
board, submits reasonable evidence to the board establishing his 633
eligibility for such exemption, and pays a Twenty-five Dollar 634
registration fee. All other persons practicing chiropractic 635
within the State of Mississippi on April 16, 1973, shall be 636
eligible to take the approved examination. 637
SECTION 17. Section 73-6-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 638
reenacted as follows: 639
73-6-29. Anyone failing to comply with the provisions of 640
this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction 641
thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than Five Hundred 642
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Dollars ($500.00) nor more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars 643
($2,500.00), and/or by imprisonment in the county jail for not 644
less than thirty (30) days nor more than one (1) year. 645
All subsequent offenses shall be separate and distinct 646
offenses, and punishable in like manner. 647
The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners or the district 648
attorney or county attorney of the county in which the defendant 649
may reside or the Attorney General of Mississippi may institute 650
legal action as provided by law against any person violating the 651
provisions of this chapter, and the chancery court of the county 652
in which any such violation occurred or in which any such person 653
resides or practices shall have jurisdiction to grant injunctive 654
relief against the continuation of any such violation. 655
SECTION 18. Section 73-6-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 656
reenacted as follows: 657
73-6-31. No person shall engage in the practice of 658
chiropractic from and after January 1, 1974, unless he has a valid 659
license issued pursuant to this chapter. 660
SECTION 19. Section 73-6-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 661
amended as follows: 662
73-6-33. Sections 73-6-1 through 73-6-31, Mississippi Code 663
of 1972, which create the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners 664
and prescribe its duties and powers, shall stand repealed as of 665
July 1, * * * 2029. 666
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ST: Chiropractors; extend repealer on licensure
law.
SECTION 20. This act shall take effect and be in force from 667
and after July 1, 2026. 668