Advanced practice registered nurses; revise provisions related to APRNS/nurse anesthetists.

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To: Public Health and
Welfare
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Blackwell

SENATE BILL NO. 2545

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 73-15-9, 6
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE COMPOSITION OF THE 7
MISSISSIPPI BOARD OF NURSING TO INCLUDE A CERTIFIED REGISTERED 8
NURSE ANESTHETIST AS A MEMBER; TO AMEND SECTION 73-15-20, 9
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO 10
THE PRACTICE OF ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE NURSES; TO VEST THE 11
AUTHORITY TO REGULATE AND OVERSEE CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE 12
ANESTHETISTS, CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIVES AND CERTIFIED NURSE 13
PRACTITIONERS EXCLUSIVELY IN THE BOARD OF NURSING; TO PROVIDE THAT 14
CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED NOT 15
LESS THAN 8,000 CLINICAL PRACTICE HOURS ARE EXEMPT FROM 16
MAINTAINING A COLLABORATIVE/CONSULTATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH A 17
LICENSED PHYSICIAN OR DENTIST; TO PROVIDE THAT CERTIFIED 18
REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTS MAY APPLY HOURS WORKED BEFORE THE 19
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT TO FULFILL THE CLINICAL PRACTICE HOUR 20
REQUIREMENT; TO CONFORM CERTAIN PROVISIONS WITH THE MISSISSIPPI 21
MEDICAL CANNABIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 73-15-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE 22
OF 1972, TO INCLUDE ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES IN THE 23
PROVISIONS RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST 24
NURSES; TO AMEND SECTION 41-21-131, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 25
CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 26
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 27
SECTION 1. Section 73-15-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 28
amended as follows: 29
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73-15-3. In order to safeguard life and health, any person 30
practicing or offering to practice as a registered nurse, an 31
advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse 32
in Mississippi for compensation shall hereafter be required to 33
submit evidence of qualifications to practice and shall be 34
licensed or hold the privilege to practice as hereinafter 35
provided. It shall be unlawful for any person not licensed or 36
holding the privilege to practice under the provisions of this 37
article: 38
(a) To practice or offer to practice as a registered 39
nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed 40
practical nurse; 41
(b) To use a sign, card or device to indicate that such 42
person is a registered nurse, an advanced practice registered 43
nurse or a licensed practical nurse. 44
Any person offering to practice nursing in Mississippi must 45
be licensed or otherwise authorized to practice as provided in 46
this article. 47
SECTION 2. Section 73-15-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 48
amended as follows: 49
73-15-5. (1) "Board" means the Mississippi Board of 50
Nursing. 51
(2) The "practice of nursing" by a registered nurse means 52
the performance for compensation of services which requires 53
substantial knowledge of the biological, physical, behavioral, 54
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psychological and sociological sciences and of nursing theory as 55
the basis for assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and 56
evaluation in the promotion and maintenance of health; management 57
of individuals' responses to illness, injury or infirmity; the 58
restoration of optimum function; or the achievement of a dignified 59
death. "Nursing practice" includes, but is not limited to, 60
administration, teaching, counseling, delegation and supervision 61
of nursing, and execution of the medical regimen, including the 62
administration of medications and treatments prescribed by any 63
licensed or legally authorized physician, advanced practice 64
registered nurse or dentist. The foregoing shall not be deemed to 65
include acts of medical diagnosis or prescriptions of medical, 66
therapeutic or corrective measures, except as may be set forth by 67
rules and regulations promulgated and implemented by the 68
Mississippi Board of Nursing. 69
* * * 70
( * * *3) "Advanced * * * practice registered nursing" 71
means, in addition to the practice of professional nursing, the 72
performance of advanced-level nursing approved by the board which, 73
by virtue of graduate education and experience are appropriately 74
performed by an advanced practice registered nurse. The advanced 75
practice registered nurse may diagnose, treat and manage medical 76
conditions. This may include prescriptive authority as identified 77
by the board. Except as otherwise authorized in Section 78
73-15-20(3), advanced practice registered nurses must practice in 79
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a collaborative/consultative relationship with a physician or 80
dentist with an unrestricted license to practice in the State of 81
Mississippi and advanced nursing must be performed within the 82
framework of a standing protocol or practice guidelines, as 83
appropriate. 84
( * * *4) The "practice of nursing" by a licensed practical 85
nurse means the performance for compensation of services requiring 86
basic knowledge of the biological, physical, behavioral, 87
psychological and sociological sciences and of nursing procedures 88
which do not require the substantial skill, judgment and knowledge 89
required of a registered nurse. These services are performed 90
under the direction of a registered nurse or a licensed physician 91
or licensed dentist and utilize standardized procedures in the 92
observation and care of the ill, injured and infirm; in the 93
maintenance of health; in action to safeguard life and health; and 94
in the administration of medications and treatments prescribed by 95
any licensed physician * * *, licensed dentist or advanced 96
practice registered nurse authorized by state law to prescribe. 97
On a selected basis, and within safe limits, the role of the 98
licensed practical nurse shall be expanded by the board under its 99
rule-making authority to more complex procedures and settings 100
commensurate with additional preparation and experience. 101
( * * *5) A "license" means an authorization to practice 102
nursing as a registered nurse, an advanced practice registered 103
nurse or a licensed practical nurse designated herein. 104
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( * * *6) A "registered nurse" is a person who is licensed 105
or holds the privilege to practice under the provisions of this 106
article and who practices nursing as defined herein. "RN" is the 107
abbreviation for the title of Registered Nurse. 108
( * * *7) A "licensed practical nurse" is a person who is 109
licensed or holds the privilege to practice under this article and 110
who practices practical nursing as defined herein. "LPN" is the 111
abbreviation for the title of Licensed Practical Nurse. 112
( * * *8) A "registered nurse in clinical practice" is one 113
who functions in any health care delivery system which provides 114
nursing services. 115
* * * 116
(9) "Collaboration" or "collaborate" means the act of 117
communicating pertinent information or consulting with a licensed 118
physician or other licensed health care provider with each 119
provider contributing the provider's respective expertise to 120
optimize the overall care delivered to the patient. 121
( * * *10) An "advanced practice registered nurse" is a 122
person who is licensed or holds the privilege to practice under 123
this article as a professional nurse and who is * * * licensed as 124
an advanced practice registered nurse or specialized nursing 125
practice and includes certified registered nurse midwives, 126
certified registered nurse anesthetists and certified nurse 127
practitioners. "APRN" is the abbreviation for the title of 128
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advanced practice registered nurse. As used in this subsection 129
(10): 130
(a) "Certified registered nurse midwife" means a 131
registered nurse who holds certification as a certified registered 132
nurse midwife by a nationally recognized certifying body approved 133
by the board and is licensed by the board to engage in advanced 134
practice nursing in this state. "CNM" is the abbreviation for the 135
title of Certified Nurse Midwife * * *. 136
(b) "Certified registered nurse anesthetist" means a 137
registered nurse who holds certification as a certified registered 138
nurse anesthetist by a nationally recognized certifying body 139
approved by the board and is licensed by the board to engage in 140
advanced practice nursing in this state. "CRNA" is the 141
abbreviation for the title of Certified Registered Nurse 142
Anesthetist. 143
(c) "Certified nurse practitioner" means a registered 144
nurse who holds certification as a certified nurse practitioner by 145
a nationally recognized certifying body approved by the board and 146
is licensed by the board to engage in advanced practice nursing in 147
this state. "CNP" is the abbreviation for the title of Certified 148
Nurse Practitioner. 149
( * * *11) A "nurse educator" is a registered nurse who 150
meets the criteria for faculty as set forth in a state-accredited 151
program of nursing for registered nurses, or a state-approved 152
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program of nursing for licensed practical nurses, and who 153
functions as a faculty member. 154
( * * *12) A "consumer representative" is a person 155
representing the interests of the general public, who may use 156
services of a health agency or health professional organization or 157
its members but who is neither a provider of health services, nor 158
employed in the health services field, nor holds a vested interest 159
in the provision of health services at any level, nor has an 160
immediate family member who holds vested interests in the 161
provision of health services at any level. 162
( * * *13) "Privilege to practice" means the multistate 163
licensure privilege to practice nursing in the state as described 164
in the Nurse Licensure Compact provided for in Section 73-15-201. 165
( * * *14) "Licensee" is a person who has been issued a 166
license to practice nursing or advanced practice nursing in the 167
state or who holds the privilege to practice nursing in the state. 168
(15) "Clinical practice hours" include, but are not limited 169
to: clinical practice hours completed in an APRN program, CRNA 170
critical care nursing hours and practice hours completed as an 171
authorized APRN in this state or any other state. 172
(16) "Critical care nursing hours" means any nursing hours 173
received by a CRNA in a critical care setting required as a 174
prerequisite for admission to a Nurse Anesthesia program. 175
SECTION 3. Section 73-15-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 176
amended as follows: 177
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73-15-9. (1) There is * * * created a board to be known as 178
the Mississippi Board of Nursing, composed of thirteen (13) 179
members, two (2) of whom shall be nurse educators; three (3) of 180
whom shall be registered nurses in clinical practice, two (2) to 181
have as basic nursing preparation an associate degree or diploma 182
and one (1) to have as basic nursing preparation a baccalaureate 183
degree; one (1) of whom shall be a registered nurse at large; one 184
(1) of whom shall be a registered nurse practitioner; * * * three 185
(3) of whom shall be licensed practical nurses; one (1) of whom 186
shall be a certified registered nurse anesthetist; one (1) of whom 187
shall be a licensed physician who shall always be a member of the 188
State Board of Medical Licensure; and one (1) of whom shall 189
represent consumers of health services. There shall be at least 190
one (1) board member from each congressional district in the 191
state; * * * however, * * * the physician member, the consumer 192
representative member and one (1) registered nurse member shall be 193
at large always. 194
(2) Members of the Mississippi Board of Nursing, excepting 195
the member of the State Board of Medical Licensure, shall be 196
appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the 197
Senate, from lists of nominees submitted by any Mississippi 198
registered nurse organization and/or association chartered by the 199
State of Mississippi whose board of directors is elected by the 200
membership and whose membership includes registered nurses 201
statewide, for the nomination of registered nurses, and by the 202
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Mississippi Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses and the 203
Mississippi Licensed Practical Nurses' Association for the 204
nomination of a licensed practical nurse. Nominations submitted 205
by any such registered nurse organization or association to fill 206
vacancies on the board shall be made and voted on by registered 207
nurses only. Each list of nominees shall contain a minimum of 208
three (3) names for each vacancy to be filled. The list of names 209
shall be submitted at least thirty (30) days before the expiration 210
of the term for each position. If such list is not submitted, the 211
Governor is authorized to make an appointment from the group 212
affected and without nominations. Appointments made to fill 213
vacancies for unexpired terms shall be for the duration of such 214
terms and until a successor is duly appointed. 215
(3) Members of the board shall be appointed in staggered 216
terms for four (4) years or until a successor shall be duly 217
qualified. No member may serve more than two (2) consecutive full 218
terms. Members of the board serving on July 1, 1988, shall 219
continue to serve for their appointed terms. 220
(4) Vacancies occurring by reason of resignation, death or 221
otherwise shall be filled by appointment of the Governor upon 222
nominations from a list of nominees from the affected group to be 223
submitted within not more than thirty (30) days after such a 224
vacancy occurs. In the absence of such list, the Governor is 225
authorized to fill such vacancy in accordance with the provisions 226
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for making full-term appointments. All vacancy appointments shall 227
be for the unexpired terms. 228
(5) Any member may be removed from the board by the Governor 229
after a hearing by the board and provided such removal is 230
recommended by the executive committee of the affected group. 231
SECTION 4. Section 73-15-20, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 232
amended as follows: 233
73-15-20. (1) Advanced practice registered nurses. Any 234
nurse desiring to be * * * licensed as an advanced practice 235
registered nurse shall apply to the board and submit proof that he 236
or she holds a current license * * * as a registered nurse and 237
that he or she meets one or more of the following requirements: 238
(a) Satisfactory completion of a formal post-basic 239
educational program of at least one (1) academic year, the primary 240
purpose of which is to prepare nurses for advanced or specialized 241
practice. 242
(b) Certification by a board-approved certifying body. 243
Such certification shall be required for initial state * * * 244
licensure and any * * * license renewal as a certified registered 245
nurse anesthetist, certified nurse practitioner or certified 246
registered nurse midwife. The board may by rule provide for 247
provisional or temporary state * * * licensure of graduate * * * 248
advanced practice registered nurses for a period of time 249
determined to be appropriate for preparing and passing the 250
National Certification Examination. Those with provisional or 251
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temporary * * * licenses must practice under the direct 252
supervision of a licensed physician or * * * an advanced practice 253
registered nurse with at least five (5) years of experience. 254
(c) Graduation from a program leading to a master's or 255
post-master's degree in a * * * program of study preparing for one 256
(1) of the described advanced practice registered nurse roles. 257
(2) Rulemaking. * * * Notwithstanding any provision of law 258
to the contrary in any other Section, Chapter or Title of the 259
Mississippi Code of 1972, the authority to regulate and oversee 260
the profession and clinical conduct of advanced practice nursing 261
in the categories of certified registered nurse anesthetist, 262
certified registered nurse midwife and * * * certified nurse 263
practitioner shall be vested exclusively in the Board of Nursing. 264
(3) Collaboration. (a) Except as otherwise authorized in 265
paragraph (b) of this subsection (3), an advanced practice 266
registered nurse shall perform those functions authorized in this 267
section within a collaborative/consultative relationship with a 268
dentist or physician with an unrestricted license to practice 269
dentistry or medicine in this state and within an established 270
protocol or practice guidelines, as appropriate, that is filed 271
with the board upon license application, license renewal, after 272
entering into a new collaborative/consultative relationship or 273
making changes to the protocol or practice guidelines or practice 274
site. The board shall review and approve the protocol to ensure 275
compliance with applicable regulatory standards. * * * 276
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(b) Certified registered nurse anesthetists who have 277
completed not less than eight thousand (8,000) clinical practice 278
hours are exempt from maintaining a collaborative/consultative 279
relationship with a licensed physician or dentist as required by 280
paragraph (a) of this subsection (3). 281
(c) Certified registered nurse anesthetists may apply 282
hours worked before July 1, 2026, to fulfill the clinical practice 283
hour requirements under paragraph (b) of this subsection (3). 284
(4) Renewal. The board shall renew a license for an 285
advanced practice registered nurse upon receipt of the renewal 286
application, fees and any required protocol or practice 287
guidelines. The board shall adopt rules establishing procedures 288
for license renewals. The board shall by rule prescribe 289
continuing education requirements for advanced practice registered 290
nurses * * * as a condition for renewal of * * * licensure. 291
(5) Reinstatement. Advanced practice registered nurses may 292
reinstate a lapsed privilege to practice upon submitting 293
documentation of a current active license to practice professional 294
nursing, a reinstatement application and fee, * * * any required 295
protocol or practice guidelines, documentation of current 296
certification as an advanced practice registered nurse in a 297
designated area of practice by a national certification 298
organization recognized by the board and documentation of at least 299
forty (40) hours of continuing education related to the advanced 300
clinical practice of the * * * advanced practice registered nurse 301
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within the previous two-year period. The board shall adopt rules 302
establishing the procedure for reinstatement. 303
(6) Changes in status. * * * An advanced practice 304
registered nurse who is required to have a 305
collaborative/consultative relationship with a licensed physician 306
or dentist shall notify the board immediately regarding changes in 307
the collaborative/consultative relationship * * *. If changes 308
leave the advanced practice registered nurse without a 309
board-approved collaborative/consultative relationship with a 310
physician or dentist, the advanced practice registered nurse may 311
not practice as an advanced practice registered nurse. 312
(7) Practice requirements. The advanced practice registered 313
nurse shall practice as follows: 314
(a) According to standards and guidelines of his or her 315
respective professional organization and the National 316
Certification Organization. 317
(b) Except as otherwise authorized in subsection (3) of 318
this section, in a collaborative/consultative relationship with a 319
licensed physician whose practice is compatible with that of 320
the * * * advanced practice registered nurse. However, certified 321
registered nurse anesthetists may collaborate/consult with any 322
physician or licensed * * * dentist. The advanced practice 323
registered nurse must be able to communicate reliably with a 324
collaborating/consulting physician or dentist while practicing. 325
Advanced practice registered nurses who are not required to have a 326
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collaborative/consultative relationship with a licensed physician 327
or dentist shall collaborate with other health care providers and 328
refer or transfer patients as appropriate. 329
(c) According to a board-approved protocol or practice 330
guidelines, except as otherwise authorized in subsection (3) of 331
this section. 332
(d) Advanced practice registered nurses practicing as 333
certified registered nurse anesthetists must practice according to 334
board-approved practice guidelines that address pre-anesthesia 335
preparation and evaluation; anesthesia induction, maintenance, and 336
emergence; post-anesthesia care; peri-anesthetic * * *, clinical 337
support functions, and additional advanced nursing functions 338
outside of the peri-operative area as described by their national 339
professional nursing organization. 340
(e) Except as otherwise authorized in subsection (3) of 341
this section, advanced practice registered nurses practicing in 342
other specialty areas must practice according to a board-approved 343
protocol that has been mutually agreed upon by the nurse 344
practitioner and a Mississippi licensed physician or dentist whose 345
practice or prescriptive authority is not limited as a result of 346
voluntary surrender or legal/regulatory order. 347
(f) Each required collaborative/consultative 348
relationship shall include and implement a formal quality 349
assurance/quality improvement program which shall be maintained on 350
site and shall be available for inspection by representatives of 351
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the board. This quality assurance/quality improvement program 352
must be sufficient to provide a valid evaluation of the practice 353
and be a valid basis for change, if any. 354
(g) * * * Advanced practice registered nurses may not 355
write prescriptions for, dispense or order the use of or 356
administration of any schedule of controlled substances except as 357
contained in this chapter. 358
(8) Prescribing controlled substances and medications. * * * 359
Advanced practice registered nurses may apply for controlled 360
substance prescriptive authority after completing a board-approved 361
educational program. * * * Advanced practice registered nurses 362
who have completed the program and received prescription authority 363
from the board may prescribe Schedules II-V. The words 364
"administer," "controlled substances" and "ultimate user," shall 365
have the same meaning as set forth in Section 41-29-105, unless 366
the context otherwise requires. The board shall promulgate rules 367
governing prescribing of controlled substances, including 368
distribution, record keeping, drug maintenance, labeling and 369
distribution requirements and prescription guidelines for 370
controlled substances and all medications. Prescribing any 371
controlled substance in violation of the rules promulgated by the 372
board shall constitute a violation of Section 73-15-29(1)(f), (k) 373
and (l) and shall be grounds for disciplinary action. The 374
prescribing, administering or distributing of any legend drug or 375
other medication in violation of the rules promulgated by the 376
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board shall constitute a violation of Section 73-15-29(1)(f), (k) 377
and (l) and shall be grounds for disciplinary action. Advanced 378
practice registered nurses may issue written certifications for 379
medical cannabis in accordance with the provisions of the 380
Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act. 381
SECTION 5. Section 73-15-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 382
amended as follows: 383
73-15-29. (1) The board shall have power to revoke, suspend 384
or refuse to renew any license issued by the board, or to revoke 385
or suspend any privilege to practice, or to deny an application 386
for a license, or to fine, place on probation and/or discipline a 387
licensee, in any manner specified in this article, upon proof that 388
such person: 389
(a) Has committed fraud or deceit in securing or 390
attempting to secure such license; 391
(b) Has been convicted of a felony, or a crime 392
involving moral turpitude or has had accepted by a court a plea of 393
nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude 394
(a certified copy of the judgment of the court of competent 395
jurisdiction of such conviction or pleas shall be prima facie 396
evidence of such conviction); 397
(c) Has negligently or willfully acted in a manner 398
inconsistent with the health or safety of the persons under the 399
licensee's care; 400
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(d) Has had a license or privilege to practice as a 401
registered nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse or a 402
licensed practical nurse suspended or revoked in any jurisdiction, 403
has voluntarily surrendered such license or privilege to practice 404
in any jurisdiction, has been placed on probation as a registered 405
nurse, an advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed 406
practical nurse in any jurisdiction or has been placed under a 407
disciplinary order(s) in any manner as a registered nurse, an 408
advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse 409
in any jurisdiction, (a certified copy of the order of suspension, 410
revocation, probation or disciplinary action shall be prima facie 411
evidence of such action); 412
(e) Has negligently or willfully practiced nursing in a 413
manner that fails to meet generally accepted standards of such 414
nursing practice; 415
(f) Has negligently or willfully violated any order, 416
rule or regulation of the board pertaining to nursing practice or 417
licensure; 418
(g) Has falsified or in a repeatedly negligent manner 419
made incorrect entries or failed to make essential entries on 420
records; 421
(h) Is addicted to or dependent on alcohol or other 422
habit-forming drugs or is a habitual user of narcotics, 423
barbiturates, amphetamines, hallucinogens, or other drugs having 424
similar effect, or has misappropriated any medication; 425
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(i) Has a physical, mental or emotional condition that 426
renders the licensee unable to perform nursing services or duties 427
with reasonable skill and safety; 428
(j) Has engaged in any other conduct, whether of the 429
same or of a different character from that specified in this 430
article, that would constitute a crime as defined in Title 97 of 431
the Mississippi Code of 1972, as now or hereafter amended, and 432
that relates to such person's employment as a registered nurse, an 433
advanced practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse; 434
(k) Engages in conduct likely to deceive, defraud or 435
harm the public; 436
(l) Engages in any unprofessional conduct as identified 437
by the board in its rules; 438
(m) Has violated any provision of this article; 439
(n) Violation(s) of the provisions of Sections 41-121-1 440
through 41-121-9 relating to deceptive advertisement by health 441
care practitioners; or 442
(o) Violation(s) of any provision of Title 41, Chapter 443
141, Mississippi Code of 1972. 444
(2) When the board finds any person unqualified because of 445
any of the grounds set forth in subsection (1) of this section, it 446
may enter an order imposing one or more of the following 447
penalties: 448
(a) Denying application for a license or other 449
authorization to practice nursing or practical nursing; 450
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(b) Administering a reprimand; 451
(c) Suspending or restricting the license or other 452
authorization to practice as a registered nurse, an advanced 453
practice registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse for up to 454
two (2) years without review; 455
(d) Revoking the license or other authorization to 456
practice nursing, advanced practice registered nursing or 457
practical nursing; 458
(e) Requiring the disciplinee to submit to care, 459
counseling or treatment by persons and/or agencies approved or 460
designated by the board as a condition for initial, continued or 461
renewed licensure or other authorization to practice nursing, 462
advanced practice registered nursing or practical nursing; 463
(f) Requiring the disciplinee to participate in a 464
program of education prescribed by the board as a condition for 465
initial, continued or renewed licensure or other authorization to 466
practice; 467
(g) Requiring the disciplinee to practice under the 468
supervision of a registered nurse or an advanced practice 469
registered nurse for a specified period of time; or 470
(h) Imposing a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars 471
($500.00). 472
(3) In addition to the grounds specified in subsection (1) 473
of this section, the board shall be authorized to suspend the 474
license or privilege to practice of any licensee for being out of 475
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compliance with an order for support, as defined in Section 476
93-11-153. The procedure for suspension of a license or privilege 477
to practice for being out of compliance with an order for support, 478
and the procedure for the reissuance or reinstatement of a license 479
or privilege to practice suspended for that purpose, and the 480
payment of any fees for the reissuance or reinstatement of a 481
license or privilege to practice suspended for that purpose, shall 482
be governed by Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be. 483
If there is any conflict between any provision of Section 484
93-11-157 or 93-11-163 and any provision of this article, the 485
provisions of Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be, 486
shall control. 487
(4) If the public health, safety or welfare imperatively 488
requires emergency action and the board incorporates a finding to 489
that effect in an order, the board may order summary suspension of 490
a license pending proceedings for revocation or other action. 491
These proceedings shall be promptly instituted and determined by 492
the board. 493
(5) The board may establish by rule an alternative to 494
discipline program for licensees who have an impairment as a 495
result of substance abuse or a mental health condition, which 496
program shall include at least the following components: 497
(a) Participation in the program is voluntary with the 498
licensee, and the licensee must enter the program before the board 499
holds a disciplinary action hearing regarding the licensee; 500
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(b) The full cost of participation in the program, 501
including the cost of any care, counseling, treatment and/or 502
education received by the licensee, shall be borne by the 503
licensee; 504
(c) All of the procedures and records regarding the 505
licensee's participation in the program shall be confidential, 506
shall not be disclosed and shall be exempt from the provisions of 507
the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983; and 508
(d) A licensee may not participate in the program more 509
often than one (1) time during any period of five (5) years or 510
such longer period as set by the board. 511
(6) * * * An advance practice registered nurse who provides 512
a written certification as authorized under the Mississippi 513
Medical Cannabis Act and in compliance with rules and regulations 514
adopted thereunder shall not be subject to any disciplinary action 515
under this section solely due to providing the written 516
certification. 517
SECTION 6. Section 41-21-131, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 518
amended as follows: 519
41-21-131. As used in Sections 41-21-131 through 41-21-143, 520
the following terms shall have the meanings as defined in this 521
section: 522
(a) "Crisis Intervention Team" means a community 523
partnership among a law enforcement agency, a community mental 524
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health center, a hospital, other mental health providers, 525
consumers and family members of consumers. 526
(b) "Participating partner" means a law enforcement 527
agency, a community mental health center or a hospital that has 528
each entered into collaborative agreements needed to implement a 529
Crisis Intervention Team. 530
(c) "Catchment area" means a geographical area in which 531
a Crisis Intervention Team operates and is defined by the 532
jurisdictional boundaries of the law enforcement agency that is 533
the participating partner. 534
(d) "Crisis Intervention Team officer" or "CIT officer" 535
means a law enforcement officer who is authorized to make arrests 536
under Section 99-3-1 and who is trained and certified in crisis 537
intervention and who is working for a law enforcement agency that 538
is a participating partner in a Crisis Intervention Team. 539
(e) "Substantial likelihood of bodily harm" means that: 540
(i) The person has threatened or attempted suicide 541
or to inflict serious bodily harm to himself; or 542
(ii) The person has threatened or attempted 543
homicide or other violent behavior; or 544
(iii) The person has placed others in reasonable 545
fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm to them; or 546
(iv) The person is unable to avoid severe 547
impairment or injury from specific risks; and 548
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(v) There is substantial likelihood that serious 549
harm will occur unless the person is placed under emergency 550
treatment. 551
(f) "Single point of entry" means a specific hospital 552
that is the participating partner in a Crisis Intervention Team 553
and that has agreed to provide psychiatric emergency services and 554
triage and referral services. 555
(g) "Psychiatric emergency services" means services 556
designed to reduce the acute psychiatric symptoms of a person who 557
is mentally ill or a person who has an impairment caused by drugs 558
or alcohol and, when possible, to stabilize that person so that 559
continuing treatment can be provided in the local community. 560
(h) "Triage and referral services" means services 561
designed to provide evaluation of a person with mental illness or 562
a person who has an impairment caused by drugs or alcohol in order 563
to direct that person to a mental health facility or other mental 564
health provider that can provide appropriate treatment. 565
(i) "Comprehensive psychiatric emergency service" means 566
a specialized psychiatric service operated by the single point of 567
entry and located in or near the hospital emergency department 568
that can provide psychiatric emergency services for a period of 569
time greater than can be provided in the hospital emergency 570
department. 571
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ST: Advanced practice registered nurses; revise
provisions related to APRNS/nurse anesthetists.
(j) "Extended observation bed" means a hospital bed 572
that is used by a comprehensive psychiatric emergency service and 573
is licensed by the State Department of Health for that purpose. 574
(k) "Psychiatric nurse practitioner" means a registered 575
nurse who has completed the educational requirements specified by 576
the State Board of Nursing, has successfully passed either the 577
adult or family psychiatric nurse practitioner examination and is 578
licensed by the State Board of Nursing * * *. 579
(l) "Psychiatric physician assistant" means a physician 580
assistant who has completed the educational requirements and 581
passed the certification examination as specified in Section 582
73-26-3, is licensed by the State Board of Medical Licensure, has 583
had at least one (1) year of practice as a physician assistant 584
employed by a community mental health center, and is working under 585
the supervision of a physician at a single point of entry. 586
SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from 587
and after July 1, 2026. 588