Advanced practice registered nurses; revise collaboration requirement.

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To: Public Health and
Welfare
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Blackwell

SENATE BILL NO. 2450

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
A CERTIFIED NURSE PRACTITIONER, CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE OR 9
CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF 10
ENTERING AND MAINTAINING A COLLABORATIVE/CONSULTATIVE RELATIONSHIP 11
WITH A LICENSED PHYSICIAN OR DENTIST AFTER COMPLETING 3,600 12
PRACTICE HOURS; TO PROVIDE THAT A CERTIFIED NURSE PRACTITIONER, 13
CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE OR CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST MAY APPLY 14
HOURS WORKED BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT TO FULFILL HIS 15
OR HER HOUR REQUIREMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 73-15-29, MISSISSIPPI 16
CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES IN 17
THE PROVISIONS RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS 18
AGAINST NURSES; TO AMEND SECTION 41-21-131, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 19
1972, TO CONFORM; 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, advanced practice 58
registered nurse or dentist. The foregoing shall not be deemed to 59
include acts of medical diagnosis or prescriptions of medical, 60
therapeutic or corrective measures, except as may be set forth by 61
rules and regulations promulgated and implemented by the 62
Mississippi Board of Nursing. 63
* * * 64
( * * *3) "Advanced nursing practice" means, in addition to 65
the practice of professional nursing, the performance of 66
advanced-level nursing approved by the board which, by virtue of 67
graduate education and experience are appropriately performed by 68
an advanced practice registered nurse. The advanced practice 69
registered nurse may diagnose, treat and manage medical 70
conditions. This may include prescriptive authority as identified 71
by the board. * * * 72
( * * *4) The "practice of nursing" by a licensed practical 73
nurse means the performance for compensation of services requiring 74
basic knowledge of the biological, physical, behavioral, 75
psychological and sociological sciences and of nursing procedures 76
which do not require the substantial skill, judgment and knowledge 77
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required of a registered nurse. These services are performed 78
under the direction of a registered nurse or a licensed physician 79
or licensed dentist and utilize standardized procedures in the 80
observation and care of the ill, injured and infirm; in the 81
maintenance of health; in action to safeguard life and health; and 82
in the administration of medications and treatments prescribed by 83
any licensed physician * * *, licensed dentist or an advanced 84
practice registered nurse authorized by state law to prescribe. 85
On a selected basis, and within safe limits, the role of the 86
licensed practical nurse shall be expanded by the board under its 87
rule-making authority to more complex procedures and settings 88
commensurate with additional preparation and experience. 89
( * * *5) A "license" means an authorization to practice 90
nursing as a registered nurse, an advanced practice registered 91
nurse or a licensed practical nurse designated herein. 92
( * * *6) A "registered nurse" is a person who is licensed 93
or holds the privilege to practice under the provisions of this 94
article and who practices nursing as defined herein. "RN" is the 95
abbreviation for the title of Registered Nurse. 96
( * * *7) A "licensed practical nurse" is a person who is 97
licensed or holds the privilege to practice under this article and 98
who practices practical nursing as defined herein. "LPN" is the 99
abbreviation for the title of Licensed Practical Nurse. 100
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( * * *8) A "registered nurse in clinical practice" is one 101
who functions in any health care delivery system which provides 102
nursing services. 103
* * * 104
(9) "Collaboration" or "collaborate" means the act of 105
communicating pertinent information or consulting with a licensed 106
physician or other licensed health care provider with each 107
provider contributing the provider's respective expertise to 108
optimize the overall care delivered to the patient. 109
( * * *10) An "advanced practice registered nurse" is a 110
person who is licensed or holds the privilege to practice under 111
this article as a professional nurse and who is * * * licensed as 112
an advanced practice registered nurse or specialized nursing 113
practice and includes certified * * * nurse midwives, certified 114
registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists and 115
certified nurse practitioners. "APRN" is the abbreviation for the 116
title of advanced practice registered nurse. As used in this 117
subsection (10): 118
(a) "Certified nurse midwife" means a registered nurse 119
who holds certification as a certified nurse midwife by a 120
nationally recognized certifying body approved by the board and is 121
licensed by the board to engage in advanced practice nursing in 122
this state. "CNM" is the abbreviation for the title of Certified 123
Nurse Midwife * * *. 124
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(b) "Certified registered nurse anesthetist" means a 125
registered nurse who holds certification as a certified registered 126
nurse anesthetist by a nationally recognized certifying body 127
approved by the board and is licensed by the board to engage in 128
advanced practice nursing in this state. "CRNA" is the 129
abbreviation for the title of Certified Registered Nurse 130
Anesthetist. 131
(c) "Clinical nurse specialist" means a registered 132
nurse who holds certification as a clinical nurse specialist by a 133
nationally recognized certifying body approved by the board and is 134
licensed by the board to engage in advanced practice nursing in 135
this state. "CNS" is the abbreviation for the title of Clinical 136
Nurse Specialist. 137
(d) "Certified nurse practitioner" means a registered 138
nurse who holds certification as a certified nurse practitioner by 139
a nationally recognized certifying body approved by the board and 140
is licensed by the board to engage in advanced practice nursing in 141
this state. "CNP" is the abbreviation for the title of Certified 142
Nurse Practitioner. 143
( * * *11) A "nurse educator" is a registered nurse who 144
meets the criteria for faculty as set forth in a state-accredited 145
program of nursing for registered nurses, or a state-approved 146
program of nursing for licensed practical nurses, and who 147
functions as a faculty member. 148
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( * * *12) A "consumer representative" is a person 149
representing the interests of the general public, who may use 150
services of a health agency or health professional organization or 151
its members but who is neither a provider of health services, nor 152
employed in the health services field, nor holds a vested interest 153
in the provision of health services at any level, nor has an 154
immediate family member who holds vested interests in the 155
provision of health services at any level. 156
( * * *13) "Privilege to practice" means the multistate 157
licensure privilege to practice nursing in the state as described 158
in the Nurse Licensure Compact provided for in Section 73-15-201. 159
( * * *14) "Licensee" is a person who has been issued a 160
license to practice nursing or advanced practice nursing in the 161
state or who holds the privilege to practice nursing in the state. 162
SECTION 3. Section 73-15-20, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 163
amended as follows: 164
73-15-20. (1) Advanced practice registered nurses. Any 165
nurse desiring to be * * * licensed as an advanced practice 166
registered nurse shall apply to the board and submit proof that he 167
or she holds a current license * * * as a registered nurse and 168
that he or she meets one or more of the following requirements: 169
(a) Satisfactory completion of a formal post-basic 170
educational program of at least one (1) academic year, the primary 171
purpose of which is to prepare nurses for advanced or specialized 172
practice. 173
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(b) Certification by a board-approved certifying body. 174
Such certification shall be required for initial state * * * 175
licensure and any * * * license renewal as a certified registered 176
nurse anesthetist, certified nurse practitioner, clinical nurse 177
specialist or certified nurse midwife. The board may by rule 178
provide for provisional or temporary state * * * licensure of 179
graduate * * * advanced practice registered nurses for a period of 180
time determined to be appropriate for preparing and passing the 181
National Certification Examination. Those with provisional or 182
temporary * * * licenses must practice under the direct 183
supervision of a licensed physician or * * * an advanced practice 184
registered nurse with at least five (5) years of experience. 185
(c) Graduation from a program leading to a master's or 186
post-master's degree in a * * * program of study preparing for one 187
(1) of the described advanced practice registered nurse roles. 188
(2) Rulemaking. The board shall provide by rule the 189
appropriate requirements for advanced practice registered nurses 190
in the categories of certified registered nurse anesthetist, 191
certified nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist and * * * 192
certified nurse practitioner. 193
(3) Collaboration relationship. Except as otherwise 194
authorized in subsection (4) of this section, an advanced practice 195
registered nurse shall perform those functions authorized in this 196
section within a collaborative/consultative relationship with a 197
dentist or physician with an unrestricted license to practice 198
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dentistry or medicine in this state and within an established 199
protocol or practice guidelines, as appropriate, that is filed 200
with the board upon license application, license renewal, after 201
entering into a new collaborative/consultative relationship or 202
making changes to the protocol or practice guidelines or practice 203
site. The board shall review and approve the protocol to ensure 204
compliance with applicable regulatory standards. The advanced 205
practice registered nurse may not practice as an APRN if there is 206
no collaborative/consultative relationship with a physician or 207
dentist and a board-approved protocol or practice guidelines. 208
(4) Collaboration relationship exceptions. Certified nurse 209
practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and clinical nurse 210
specialists licensed to practice advanced practice nursing in this 211
state, who have completed three thousand six hundred (3,600) 212
practice hours, are exempt from maintaining a 213
collaborative/consultative relationship with a licensed physician 214
or dentist as required by subsection (3) of this section. 215
Certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and 216
clinical nurse specialists may apply practice hours completed 217
before the effective date of this act to fulfill the three 218
thousand six hundred (3,600) practice-hour requirement. Certified 219
nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and clinical nurse 220
specialists who are exempt from the collaborative/consultative 221
relationship shall consult with other health care providers and 222
refer or transfer patients as appropriate. 223
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( * * *5) Renewal. The board shall renew a license for an 224
advanced practice registered nurse upon receipt of the renewal 225
application, fees and any required protocol or practice 226
guidelines. The board shall adopt rules establishing procedures 227
for license renewals. The board shall by rule prescribe 228
continuing education requirements for advanced practice registered 229
nurses * * * as a condition for renewal of * * * licensure. 230
( * * *6) Reinstatement. Advanced practice registered 231
nurses may reinstate a lapsed privilege to practice upon 232
submitting documentation of a current active license to practice 233
professional nursing, a reinstatement application and fee, * * * 234
any required protocol or practice guidelines, documentation of 235
current certification as an advanced practice registered nurse in 236
a designated area of practice by a national certification 237
organization recognized by the board and documentation of at least 238
forty (40) hours of continuing education related to the advanced 239
clinical practice of the advanced practice registered nurse * * * 240
within the previous two-year period. The board shall adopt rules 241
establishing the procedure for reinstatement. 242
( * * *7) Changes in status. For those subject to 243
subsection (3) of this section, the advanced practice registered 244
nurse shall notify the board immediately regarding changes in the 245
collaborative/consultative relationship with a licensed physician 246
or dentist. If changes leave the advanced practice registered 247
nurse without a board-approved collaborative/consultative 248
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relationship with a physician or dentist, the advanced practice 249
registered nurse may not practice as an advanced practice 250
registered nurse. 251
( * * *8) Practice requirements. The advanced practice 252
registered nurse shall practice as follows: 253
(a) According to standards and guidelines of his or her 254
respective professional organization and the National 255
Certification Organization. 256
(b) For those subject to subsection (3) of this 257
section, in a collaborative/consultative relationship with a 258
licensed physician or dentist whose practice is compatible, but 259
need not be identical, with that of the advanced practice 260
registered nurse * * *. Certified registered nurse anesthetists 261
may collaborate/consult with licensed dentists. The advanced 262
practice registered nurse must be able to communicate reliably 263
with a collaborating/consulting physician or dentist while 264
practicing. 265
(c) For those subject to subsection (3) of this 266
section, according to a board-approved protocol or practice 267
guidelines. 268
(d) Advanced practice registered nurses practicing as 269
certified registered nurse anesthetists must practice according to 270
board-approved practice guidelines that address pre-anesthesia 271
preparation and evaluation; anesthesia induction, maintenance, and 272
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emergence; post-anesthesia care; peri-anesthetic and clinical 273
support functions. 274
(e) For those subject to subsection (3) of this 275
section, advanced practice registered nurses practicing in other 276
specialty areas must practice according to a board-approved 277
protocol that has been mutually agreed upon by the * * * advanced 278
practice registered nurse and the collaborating/consulting 279
licensed physician or dentist whose practice or prescriptive 280
authority is not limited as a result of voluntary surrender or 281
legal/regulatory order. 282
(f) For those subject to subsection (3) of this 283
section, each required collaborative/consultative relationship 284
shall include and implement a formal quality assurance/quality 285
improvement program which shall be maintained on site and shall be 286
available for inspection by representatives of the board. This 287
quality assurance/quality improvement program must be sufficient 288
to provide a valid evaluation of the practice and be a valid basis 289
for change, if any. 290
(g) * * * Advanced practice registered nurses may not 291
write prescriptions for, dispense or order the use of or 292
administration of any schedule of controlled substances except as 293
contained in this chapter. 294
( * * *9) Prescribing controlled substances and medications. 295
Certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and 296
certified nurse practitioners may apply for controlled substance 297
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prescriptive authority after completing a board-approved 298
educational program. Certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse 299
specialists, and certified nurse practitioners who have completed 300
the program and received prescription authority from the board may 301
prescribe Schedules II-V. The words "administer," "controlled 302
substances" and "ultimate user," shall have the same meaning as 303
set forth in Section 41-29-105, unless the context otherwise 304
requires. The board shall promulgate rules governing prescribing 305
of controlled substances, including distribution, record keeping, 306
drug maintenance, labeling and distribution requirements and 307
prescription guidelines for controlled substances and all 308
medications. Prescribing any controlled substance in violation of 309
the rules promulgated by the board shall constitute a violation of 310
Section 73-15-29(1)(f), (k) and (l) and shall be grounds for 311
disciplinary action. The prescribing, administering or 312
distributing of any legend drug or other medication in violation 313
of the rules promulgated by the board shall constitute a violation 314
of Section 73-15-29(1)(f), (k) and (l) and shall be grounds for 315
disciplinary action. 316
SECTION 4. Section 73-15-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 317
amended as follows: 318
73-15-29. (1) The board shall have power to revoke, suspend 319
or refuse to renew any license issued by the board, or to revoke 320
or suspend any privilege to practice, or to deny an application 321
for a license, or to fine, place on probation and/or discipline a 322
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licensee, in any manner specified in this article, upon proof that 323
such person: 324
(a) Has committed fraud or deceit in securing or 325
attempting to secure such license; 326
(b) Has been convicted of a felony, or a crime 327
involving moral turpitude or has had accepted by a court a plea of 328
nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude 329
(a certified copy of the judgment of the court of competent 330
jurisdiction of such conviction or pleas shall be prima facie 331
evidence of such conviction); 332
(c) Has negligently or willfully acted in a manner 333
inconsistent with the health or safety of the persons under the 334
licensee's care; 335
(d) Has had a license or privilege to practice as a 336
registered nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse or a 337
licensed practical nurse suspended or revoked in any jurisdiction, 338
has voluntarily surrendered such license or privilege to practice 339
in any jurisdiction, has been placed on probation as a registered 340
nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed 341
practical nurse in any jurisdiction or has been placed under a 342
disciplinary order(s) in any manner as a registered nurse, an 343
advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse 344
in any jurisdiction, (a certified copy of the order of suspension, 345
revocation, probation or disciplinary action shall be prima facie 346
evidence of such action); 347
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(e) Has negligently or willfully practiced nursing in a 348
manner that fails to meet generally accepted standards of such 349
nursing practice; 350
(f) Has negligently or willfully violated any order, 351
rule or regulation of the board pertaining to nursing practice or 352
licensure; 353
(g) Has falsified or in a repeatedly negligent manner 354
made incorrect entries or failed to make essential entries on 355
records; 356
(h) Is addicted to or dependent on alcohol or other 357
habit-forming drugs or is a habitual user of narcotics, 358
barbiturates, amphetamines, hallucinogens, or other drugs having 359
similar effect, or has misappropriated any medication; 360
(i) Has a physical, mental or emotional condition that 361
renders the licensee unable to perform nursing services or duties 362
with reasonable skill and safety; 363
(j) Has engaged in any other conduct, whether of the 364
same or of a different character from that specified in this 365
article, that would constitute a crime as defined in Title 97 of 366
the Mississippi Code of 1972, as now or hereafter amended, and 367
that relates to such person's employment as a registered nurse, an 368
advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse; 369
(k) Engages in conduct likely to deceive, defraud or 370
harm the public; 371
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(l) Engages in any unprofessional conduct as identified 372
by the board in its rules; 373
(m) Has violated any provision of this article; 374
(n) Violation(s) of the provisions of Sections 41-121-1 375
through 41-121-9 relating to deceptive advertisement by health 376
care practitioners; or 377
(o) Violation(s) of any provision of Title 41, Chapter 378
141, Mississippi Code of 1972. 379
(2) When the board finds any person unqualified because of 380
any of the grounds set forth in subsection (1) of this section, it 381
may enter an order imposing one or more of the following 382
penalties: 383
(a) Denying application for a license or other 384
authorization to practice nursing, advanced nursing practice or 385
practical nursing; 386
(b) Administering a reprimand; 387
(c) Suspending or restricting the license or other 388
authorization to practice as a registered nurse, an advanced 389
practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse for up to 390
two (2) years without review; 391
(d) Revoking the license or other authorization to 392
practice nursing, advanced nursing practice or practical nursing; 393
(e) Requiring the disciplinee to submit to care, 394
counseling or treatment by persons and/or agencies approved or 395
designated by the board as a condition for initial, continued or 396
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renewed licensure or other authorization to practice nursing, 397
advanced practice registered nursing or practical nursing; 398
(f) Requiring the disciplinee to participate in a 399
program of education prescribed by the board as a condition for 400
initial, continued or renewed licensure or other authorization to 401
practice; 402
(g) Requiring the disciplinee to practice under the 403
supervision of a registered nurse or an advanced practice 404
registered nurse for a specified period of time; or 405
(h) Imposing a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars 406
($500.00). 407
(3) In addition to the grounds specified in subsection (1) 408
of this section, the board shall be authorized to suspend the 409
license or privilege to practice of any licensee for being out of 410
compliance with an order for support, as defined in Section 411
93-11-153. The procedure for suspension of a license or privilege 412
to practice for being out of compliance with an order for support, 413
and the procedure for the reissuance or reinstatement of a license 414
or privilege to practice suspended for that purpose, and the 415
payment of any fees for the reissuance or reinstatement of a 416
license or privilege to practice suspended for that purpose, shall 417
be governed by Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be. 418
If there is any conflict between any provision of Section 419
93-11-157 or 93-11-163 and any provision of this article, the 420
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provisions of Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be, 421
shall control. 422
(4) If the public health, safety or welfare imperatively 423
requires emergency action and the board incorporates a finding to 424
that effect in an order, the board may order summary suspension of 425
a license pending proceedings for revocation or other action. 426
These proceedings shall be promptly instituted and determined by 427
the board. 428
(5) The board may establish by rule an alternative to 429
discipline program for licensees who have an impairment as a 430
result of substance abuse or a mental health condition, which 431
program shall include at least the following components: 432
(a) Participation in the program is voluntary with the 433
licensee, and the licensee must enter the program before the board 434
holds a disciplinary action hearing regarding the licensee; 435
(b) The full cost of participation in the program, 436
including the cost of any care, counseling, treatment and/or 437
education received by the licensee, shall be borne by the 438
licensee; 439
(c) All of the procedures and records regarding the 440
licensee's participation in the program shall be confidential, 441
shall not be disclosed and shall be exempt from the provisions of 442
the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983; and 443
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(d) A licensee may not participate in the program more 444
often than one (1) time during any period of five (5) years or 445
such longer period as set by the board. 446
(6) A nurse practitioner who provides a written 447
certification as authorized under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis 448
Act and in compliance with rules and regulations adopted 449
thereunder shall not be subject to any disciplinary action under 450
this section solely due to providing the written certification. 451
SECTION 5. Section 41-21-131, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 452
amended as follows: 453
41-21-131. As used in Sections 41-21-131 through 41-21-143, 454
the following terms shall have the meanings as defined in this 455
section: 456
(a) "Crisis Intervention Team" means a community 457
partnership among a law enforcement agency, a community mental 458
health center, a hospital, other mental health providers, 459
consumers and family members of consumers. 460
(b) "Participating partner" means a law enforcement 461
agency, a community mental health center or a hospital that has 462
each entered into collaborative agreements needed to implement a 463
Crisis Intervention Team. 464
(c) "Catchment area" means a geographical area in which 465
a Crisis Intervention Team operates and is defined by the 466
jurisdictional boundaries of the law enforcement agency that is 467
the participating partner. 468
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(d) "Crisis Intervention Team officer" or "CIT officer" 469
means a law enforcement officer who is authorized to make arrests 470
under Section 99-3-1 and who is trained and certified in crisis 471
intervention and who is working for a law enforcement agency that 472
is a participating partner in a Crisis Intervention Team. 473
(e) "Substantial likelihood of bodily harm" means that: 474
(i) The person has threatened or attempted suicide 475
or to inflict serious bodily harm to himself; or 476
(ii) The person has threatened or attempted 477
homicide or other violent behavior; or 478
(iii) The person has placed others in reasonable 479
fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm to them; or 480
(iv) The person is unable to avoid severe 481
impairment or injury from specific risks; and 482
(v) There is substantial likelihood that serious 483
harm will occur unless the person is placed under emergency 484
treatment. 485
(f) "Single point of entry" means a specific hospital 486
that is the participating partner in a Crisis Intervention Team 487
and that has agreed to provide psychiatric emergency services and 488
triage and referral services. 489
(g) "Psychiatric emergency services" means services 490
designed to reduce the acute psychiatric symptoms of a person who 491
is mentally ill or a person who has an impairment caused by drugs 492
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or alcohol and, when possible, to stabilize that person so that 493
continuing treatment can be provided in the local community. 494
(h) "Triage and referral services" means services 495
designed to provide evaluation of a person with mental illness or 496
a person who has an impairment caused by drugs or alcohol in order 497
to direct that person to a mental health facility or other mental 498
health provider that can provide appropriate treatment. 499
(i) "Comprehensive psychiatric emergency service" means 500
a specialized psychiatric service operated by the single point of 501
entry and located in or near the hospital emergency department 502
that can provide psychiatric emergency services for a period of 503
time greater than can be provided in the hospital emergency 504
department. 505
(j) "Extended observation bed" means a hospital bed 506
that is used by a comprehensive psychiatric emergency service and 507
is licensed by the State Department of Health for that purpose. 508
(k) "Psychiatric nurse practitioner" means a registered 509
nurse who has completed the educational requirements specified by 510
the State Board of Nursing, has successfully passed either the 511
adult or family psychiatric nurse practitioner examination and is 512
licensed by the State Board of Nursing * * *. 513
(l) "Psychiatric physician assistant" means a physician 514
assistant who has completed the educational requirements and 515
passed the certification examination as specified in Section 516
73-26-3, is licensed by the State Board of Medical Licensure, has 517
S. B. No. 2450 *SS26/R159.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R159.1
PAGE 22 (baf\kr)
ST: Advanced practice registered nurses; revise
collaboration requirement.
had at least one (1) year of practice as a physician assistant 518
employed by a community mental health center, and is working under 519
the supervision of a physician at a single point of entry. 520
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from 521
and after July 1, 2026. 522