Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Mississippi Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. This is the enrolled version. The official bill page.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2026 Regular Session To: Appropriations C; Appropriations A By: Representatives Deweese, Read, Bennett, Creekmore IV, Currie, McGee, Mickens, Scott, Turner House Bill 1908 (As Sent to Governor) AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the State Department of Health for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027........................................ ............................................ $ 61,633,807.00. SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in any special fund in the State Treasury to the credit of the State Department of Health which is comprised of special source funds collected by or otherwise available to the department, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the department for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.................................................. ............................................ $ 529,451,161.00. SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Sections 1 and 2, Seven Million Twenty-six Thousand One Hundred Two Dollars ($7,026,102.00) shall be derived from the State General Fund and Eleven Million Three Hundred Twenty-eight Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty-three Dollars ($11,328,783.00) shall be derived from the Health Care Expendable Fund, created in Section 43-13-407, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the support and maintenance of the State Department of Health. The funds provided in this section shall be allocated as follows: Magnet Community Health Disparity Program... $ 2,000,000.00 Early Intervention Program................. $ 2,000,000.00 Breast and Cervical Cancer Program.......... $ 100,000.00 Maternal and Child Health Care Program...... $ 1,242,943.00 Mississippi Health Care Alliance for the ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction Program (STEMI), Sepsis, and the Stroke System of Care Plan.......................... $ 250,000.00 Health Department Programs................. $ 12,761,942.00 SECTION 4. Of the funds appropriated in this act, Thirty-four Million Dollars ($34,000,000.00) is allocated to the Trauma Care System. Of the General Fund court assessments provided in Section 1, Thirteen Million Twenty-three Thousand One Hundred Ninety-seven Dollars ($13,023,197.00) shall be allocated for Trauma Care Systems and One Million Eight Hundred Five Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty-nine Dollars ($1,805,859.00) shall be allocated for Emergency Medical Services. All additional funds are appropriated in Section 2. The State Department of Health may transfer a portion of Trauma Care System funds to the Division of Medicaid for the development and implementation of an enhanced reimbursement fee program related to trauma care and services, used to match federal funds, under a cooperative agreement between the State Department of Health and the Division of Medicaid. It is the intention of the Legislature that none of the funds authorized herein for the Trauma Care System shall be expended to the benefit of any hospital located outside the boundaries of the State of Mississippi, unless otherwise excepted in this paragraph. Funds shall be expended by the Mississippi Department of Health for distribution to the Regional Medical Center or Le Bonheur Children's Hospital at Memphis, located in Memphis, Tennessee, or the University of South Alabama Medical Center located in Mobile, Alabama, or the Joseph M. Still Burn Centers, Inc., located in Augusta, Georgia, or any affiliates or any other Level 1 Trauma Center, or Tertiary Pediatric Trauma Center that participates in the Mississippi Trauma Care System, as determined by the Mississippi Department of Health. SECTION 5. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00) shall be derived from the Tobacco Control Program Fund, created in Section 41-113-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, and shall be allocated as follows: University of Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Institute............................... $ 4,250,000.00 Department of Education - Mary Kirkpatrick Haskell – Mary Sprayberry Public School Nurse Program........................... $ 3,060,000.00 Attorney General's Office - Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement Unit................. $ 680,000.00 University of Mississippi Medical Center – A Comprehensive Tobacco (ACT) Center.................................. $ 595,000.00 Mississippi Health Care Alliance - ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction Program (STEMI), Sepsis, and Stroke System of Care Plan... $ 595,000.00 Mississippi Qualified Health Center Grant Program.................... $ 3,400,000.00 Mississippi Health Department Programs........ $ 7,420,000.00 Of the funds appropriated in this section, the State Department of Health is authorized to expend funds to create and administer the Office of Tobacco Control within the department as outlined and created in Section 41-113-3, Mississippi Code of 1972. SECTION 6. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, One Million One Hundred Two Thousand Nine Hundred Fifteen Dollars ($1,102,915.00) shall be allocated as follows: Mississippi Health Care Alliance - ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction Program (STEMI), Sepsis, and Stroke System of Care Plan........... $ 279,400.00 Mississippi Qualified Health Center Grant Program........................... $ 600,000.00 Mississippi Health Department Programs........ $ 223,515.00 SECTION 7. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, not more than the following amount of funds, with the exception of the provisions in this section, shall be expended only for "Personal Services," which includes "Vacancy Funding," for the following authorized number of employment headcount: FUNDING: General Funds: $ 13,953,860.00 Special Funds: $ 138,036,972.00 Total Funds: $ 151,990,832.00 PERSONAL SERVICES: Employee Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits: $ 144,391,290.00 Progressions: $ 0.00 Vacancy Funding: $ 7,599,542.00 Total Personal Services: $ 151,990,832.00 AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: Permanent: 678 Time-Limited: 1,394 As used in this section, the term "Personal Services" shall mean funds provided under the major object of expenditure category Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits. Funds in this category shall not be transferred to any other category. It is the intention of the Legislature to ensure compliance with the Variable Compensation Plan, as outlined in Section 25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972. Payment from these funds shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. It is the Legislature's intention that no employee's salary falls below the minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. The State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the projected annual cost of "Personal Services" based on monthly and year-to-date payroll expenditures in compliance with the provisions of this act. With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency's responsibility to ensure that no single personnel action or combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for "Personal Services" with the exception of escalated funds. Further, it shall be the agency's responsibility to ensure that funds required to be appropriated for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2027 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the Mississippi Legislature. If, at the time the agency takes any action to change "Personal Services," the State Personnel Board determines that the agency has taken or will take an action that would cause the agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when annualized for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State Personnel Board shall process no salary actions until such time as the requirements of the provisions of this section are met with the exception of new hires determined to be essential for the agency. When used in this section, "Vacancy Funding" shall mean funds included in the Total Personal Services amount listed above and designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027. These funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled headcounts that were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of Fiscal Year 2026. If the agency fills additional headcounts after March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the amount of available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally adjusted to reflect the updated number of filled headcounts. The agency shall be responsible for ensuring that "Vacancy Funding" is used to increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, in-range salary adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing salaries for current employees. Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law or allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State Personnel Board shall not escalate positions or increase the Personal Services total without written approval from the Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to escalate any funds for salaries and/or headcounts without proof of availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated level. Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated headcounts have been accounted for and shall be converted to authorized time-limited headcounts. No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available. None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in violation of the Internal Revenue Service's Publication 15-A relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. If the agency's total authorized headcount decreases from Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it will be the agency's discretion as to what headcounts are removed. SECTION 8. It is the intention of the Legislature that the State Department of Health shall maintain complete accounting and personnel records related to the expenditure of all funds appropriated under this act and that such records shall be in the same format and level of detail as maintained for Fiscal Year 2026. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 2028 shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee in a format and level of detail comparable to the format and level of detail provided during the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request process. SECTION 9. In compliance with the "Mississippi Performance Budget and Strategic Planning Act of 1994," it is the intent of the Legislature that the funds provided herein shall be utilized in the most efficient and effective manner possible to achieve the intended mission of this agency. Based on the funding authorized, this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted performance measures provided below: FY2027 Performance Measures Target Health Services State Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 Live Births) 9.30 Percent of Women who Received Prenatal Care in First Trimester 74.30 Percent of Live Births Delivered Prior to 37 Weeks of Gestation 15.50 Teenage Live Birth Rate Age 15-19 Years (per 1,000 Women Age 15-19) 22.10 Percent of Newborns with Positive and Inconclusive Genetic Screens who Received Recommended Follow-Up 100.00 Percent of Adults who are Obese (Body Mass Index of 30 or More, Regardless of Sex) 39.10 Health Protection Percent of Mississippi Population Receiving Water From a Public Water Supply 95.00 Percent of Mississippi Population Receiving Optimally Fluoridated Water 40.00 Transfer Time of Level III and IV Trauma Centers to Appropriate Facilities for Treatment (Minutes) 140.00 Communicable Disease Primary and Secondary Syphilis: Case Rate per 100,000 27.60 Tuberculosis: Number of Cases 57 Tuberculosis: Case Rate per 100,000 1.94 HIV Disease: Number of Cases 540 HIV Disease: Case Rate per 100,000 18.30 Rate of Two Year Old Children Fully Immunized (National Immunization Survey: 4:3:1:3:3:1:4 series - 19 to 35 months) 75.00 Tobacco Control Percent of Current Smokers Among Public Middle School Students 1.50 Percent of Current Smokers Among Public High School Students 2.10 Percent of Current Smokers Among Adults 18 Years and Older 15.20 Public Health Emerg Prep/resp Time Required for Command Staff to Report to Emergency Operations Center in Response to a National or Man-Made Disaster (Minutes) 60.00 Admin & Support Services Percent of Mississippi Population Living in an Area Designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area: Mental Health 74.00 Percent of Mississippi Population Living in an Area Designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area: Dental 47.00 Percent of Mississippi Population Living in an Area Designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area: Primary Care 50.00 Medical Cannabis Number of Conditions Added to the List of Debilitating Medical Conditions 0 Number of Qualifying Patients Approved 31,700 Number of Designated Caregivers Approved 388 Number of Registry Identification Cards Revoked 25 Total Number of Patients with a Registry Identification Card 73,000 Number of Licensed Medical Practitioners 240 Number of Licensed Cannabis Cultivation Facilities 120 Number of Licensed Cannabis Processing Facilities 35 Number of Licensed Cannabis Testing Facilities 3 Number of Licensed Cannabis Waste Disposal Entities 6 Number of Licensed Cannabis Transportation Entities 19 Percent of Applications Approved 99.00 A reporting of the degree to which the performance targets set above have been or are being achieved shall be provided in the agency's budget request submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for Fiscal Year 2028. SECTION 10. It is the intention of the Legislature that with the funds provided herein, the State Department of Health may provide and administer without charge, Hepatitis B vaccinations to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel who are in need of such vaccinations through job related exposure. SECTION 11. In addition to all other sums heretofore appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated to the credit of the Local Governments and Rural Water Systems Emergency Loan Fund, and the Local Governments and Rural Water System Improvements Revolving Loan Fund as authorized in Chapter 521, Laws of 1995, to the State Department of Health for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Local Governments and Rural Water Systems Improvements Board, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027............................ $ 8,300,000.00. The purpose of these funds is to provide funds necessary to match projected federal funds available through the following federal fiscal year from the annual Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) appropriations and from the supplemental Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) appropriations. SECTION 12. In addition to all other sums heretofore appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Local Governments and Rural Water Systems Emergency Loan Fund, and the Local Governments and Rural Water System Improvements Revolving Loan Fund as authorized in Chapter 521, Laws of 1995, to the State Department of Health for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Local Governments and Rural Water Systems Improvements Board, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.......................... ............................................. $ 176,837,437.00. SECTION 13. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, not more than the following amount of funds, with the exception of the provisions in this section, shall be expended only for "Personal Services," which includes "Vacancy Funding," for the following authorized number of employment headcount: FUNDING: General Funds: $ 0.00 Special Funds: $ 2,670,477.00 Total Funds: $ 2,670,477.00 PERSONAL SERVICES: Employee Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits: $ 2,670,477.00 Progressions: $ 0.00 Vacancy Funding: $ 0.00 Total Personal Services: $ 2,670,477.00 AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: Permanent: 8 Time-Limited: 14 As used in this section, the term "Personal Services" shall mean funds provided under the major object of expenditure category Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits. Funds in this category shall not be transferred to any other category. It is the intention of the Legislature to ensure compliance with the Variable Compensation Plan, as outlined in Section 25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972. Payment from these funds shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. It is the Legislature's intention that no employee's salary falls below the minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. The State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the projected annual cost of "Personal Services" based on monthly and year-to-date payroll expenditures in compliance with the provisions of this act. With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency's responsibility to ensure that no single personnel action or combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for "Personal Services" with the exception of escalated funds. Further, it shall be the agency's responsibility to ensure that funds required to be appropriated for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2027 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the Mississippi Legislature. If, at the time the agency takes any action to change "Personal Services," the State Personnel Board determines that the agency has taken or will take an action that would cause the agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when annualized for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State Personnel Board shall process no salary actions until such time as the requirements of the provisions of this section are met with the exception of new hires determined to be essential for the agency. When used in this section, "Vacancy Funding" shall mean funds included in the Total Personal Services amount listed above and designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027. These funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled headcounts that were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of Fiscal Year 2026. If the agency fills additional headcounts after March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the amount of available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally reduced to reflect the updated number of filled headcounts. The agency shall be responsible for ensuring that "Vacancy Funding" is used to increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, in-range salary adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing salaries for current employees. Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law or allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State Personnel Board shall not escalate positions without written approval from the Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to escalate any funds for salaries and/or headcounts without proof of availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated level. Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated headcounts have been accounted for and shall be converted to authorized time-limited headcounts. No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available. None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in violation of the Internal Revenue Service's Publication 15-A relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. If the agency's total authorized headcount decreases from Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it will be the agency's discretion as to what headcounts are removed. SECTION 14. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) shall come from the Department of Human Services, Child Care Development Fund or other appropriate special funds for the purpose of child care licensure. These funds are to be transferred to the State Department of Health no later than July 31, 2026. The State Department of Health shall make a complete accounting of the uses of these funds to the Department of Human Services. SECTION 15. It is the intention of the Legislature that the State Department of Health shall expend not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) of the funds appropriated herein for providing the oil known as "Lorenzo's Oil" for the treatment of the genetic disorder adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), to children and Mississippi residents over the age of twenty-one (21) who have the genetic disorder adrenoleukodystrophy and for whom Medicaid does not reimburse the cost of providing the oil. The department may also provide needed pathology and biannual MRI exams. SECTION 16. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($700,000.00) are provided for the purpose of purchasing AIDS drugs and other necessary AIDS related medical services. SECTION 17. Of the funds appropriated herein, Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) is provided for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. SECTION 18. In addition to all other funds heretofore appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act at the Department of Health for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.... $ 7,787,845.00. SECTION 19. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, not more than the following amount of funds, with the exception of the provisions in this section, shall be expended only for "Personal Services," which includes "Vacancy Funding," for the following authorized number of employment headcount: FUNDING: General Funds: $ 2,410,715.00 Special Funds: $ 0.00 Total Funds: $ 2,410,715.00 PERSONAL SERVICES: Employee Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits: $ 2,410,715.00 Progressions: $ 0.00 Vacancy Funding: $ 0.00 Total Personal Services: $ 2,410,715.00 AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: Permanent: 0 Time-Limited: 34 As used in this section, the term "Personal Services" shall mean funds provided under the major object of expenditure category Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits. Funds in this category shall not be transferred to any other category. It is the intention of the Legislature to ensure compliance with the Variable Compensation Plan, as outlined in Section 25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972. Payment from these funds shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan promulgated by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. It is the Legislature's intention that no employee's salary falls below the minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. The State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the projected annual cost of "Personal Services" based on monthly and year-to-date payroll expenditures in compliance with the provisions of this act. With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency's responsibility to ensure that no single personnel action or combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for "Personal Services" with the exception of escalated funds. Further, it shall be the agency's responsibility to ensure that funds required to be appropriated for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2027 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the Mississippi Legislature. If, at the time the agency takes any action to change "Personal Services," the State Personnel Board determines that the agency has taken or will take an action that would cause the agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when annualized for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State Personnel Board shall process no salary actions until such time as the requirements of the provisions of this section are met with the exception of new hires determined to be essential for the agency. When used in this section, "Vacancy Funding" shall mean funds included in the Total Personal Services amount listed above and designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027. These funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled headcounts that were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of Fiscal Year 2026. If the agency fills additional headcounts after March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal Year 2026, the amount of available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally adjusted to reflect the updated number of filled headcounts. The agency shall be responsible for ensuring that "Vacancy Funding" is used to increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, in-range salary adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing salaries for current employees. Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law or allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State Personnel Board shall not escalate positions or increase the Personal Services total without written approval from the Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to escalate any funds for salaries and/or headcounts without proof of availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated level. Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated headcounts have been accounted for and shall be converted to authorized time-limited headcounts. No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available. None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in violation of the Internal Revenue Service's Publication 15-A relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. If the agency's total authorized headcount decreases from Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it will be the agency's discretion as to what headcounts are removed. SECTION 20. In addition to all other funds heretofore appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Burn Care Fund which is comprised of special source funds collected by or otherwise available to the department, for the purpose of funding reimbursement for uncompensated medical care to Mississippi burn victims through the trauma care system at in-state burn facilities including the Baptist Medical Center, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and any designated Burn Center associated with a Level I Trauma Center in the Mississippi Trauma Care System or for uncompensated aero medical transportation to out-of-state qualified United States Burn Care facilities, and such other provisions necessary to provide burn care for Mississippi residents, including reimbursement for travel, lodgings, meals and other reasonable travel-related expenses incurred by burn victims, family members and/or caregivers, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.......... $ 3,000,000.00. SECTION 21. It is the intention of the Legislature that whenever two (2) or more bids are received by this agency for the purchase of commodities or equipment, and whenever all things stated in such received bids are equal with respect to price, quality and service, the Mississippi Industries for the Blind shall be given preference. A similar preference shall be given to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind whenever purchases are made without competitive bids. SECTION 22. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Department of Health shall implement same day service to receive birth and death certificates. SECTION 23. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi State Department of Health shall provide the Joint Legislative Budget Committee a report of all grants received by September 15, 2026. This notification will consist of the name of the grant and agency or nonprofit making the award, the award amount, and a short list of goals to be achieved. SECTION 24. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi State Department of Health shall be the fiscal agent in all allowable grants awarded. SECTION 25. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($700,000.00) shall come from the Department of Education for the purpose of maintenance of effort for the Early Intervention Program. These funds are to be transferred to the State Department of Health no later than December 31, 2026. The State Department of Health shall make a complete accounting of the uses of these funds to the Department of Education. SECTION 26. The Mississippi Department of Health is authorized to obtain a line of credit through the State Treasurer from the Working Cash-Stabilization Fund or any other special source funds maintained in the State Treasury in an amount not exceeding Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) to fund shortfalls which, from time to time, may occur due to insufficient working cash spent in anticipation of receiving federal reimbursement. The length of indebtedness under this provision shall not carry past the end of the quarter following the loan origination. Loan proceeds shall be received by the State Treasurer and shall be placed in a Mississippi Department of Health designated special fund account. The division may pledge as security for such interim financing future funds that will be received by the division. Any such loans shall be repaid from the first available funds received by the department in the manner of and subject to the same terms provided in this section. SECTION 27. It is the intention of the Legislature that the funds herein appropriated shall be expended in compliance with Section 27-104-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, that no state agency shall incur obligations or indebtedness in excess of their appropriation and that the responsible officers, either personally or upon their official bonds, shall be held responsible for actions contrary to this provision. SECTION 28. With the funds appropriated herein, it is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Department of Health is authorized to set the compensation of all nurse PINs, Epidemiologists and Disease Intervention Specialist Series based on the education and experience of the incumbent not to exceed the end salary as established by the State Personnel Board. SECTION 29. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Chairman of the Board of Health may appoint an official replacement or representative with voting privileges to the Advisory Board of the Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce. SECTION 30. It is the intention of the Legislature that the State Health Officer shall have the authority to transfer cash from one special fund treasury fund to another special fund treasury fund under the control of the Department of Health. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the State Health Officer shall submit written justification for the transfer to the Legislative Budget Office and the Department of Finance and Administration on or before the fifteenth of the month prior to the effective date of the transfer. SECTION 31. Of the funds appropriated in Sections 1 and 2 of this act, One Million Three Hundred Eighty-two Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,382,250.00) is provided for the Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce as described in Section 41-123-5, Mississippi Code of 1972. SECTION 32. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, it is the intention of the Legislature that Eight Hundred Fifty-nine Thousand Nine Hundred Three Dollars ($859,903.00) shall be allocated to the Domestic Violence program that is supported from General Fund court assessments. SECTION 33. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Mississippi State Department of Health shall have authority to escalate the various budgets in both funds and positions, with the approval of the State Fiscal Officer, from any special funds collected or available for HIV medical or support services, clinical quality management, and administrative expenses not to exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00), to the agency for expenditure. Upon such approval, the Mississippi State Department of Health may expend such funds in the manner authorized by law. Funds may be made available to local HIV/AIDS service providers. The Executive Director of the Mississippi State Department of Health shall submit to the Department of Finance and Administration a certified statement providing a detailed explanation for any escalation, including a justification for the establishment of any new positions or reclassification of existing positions. SECTION 34. Notwithstanding any other provision, the Department of Health shall have the authority to escalate its headcount for any additional operational needs related to Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds, upon approval of the Department of Finance and Administration and the State Personnel Board. SECTION 35. It is the intention of the Legislature that the State Department of Health is hereby authorized to escalate, budget and expend funds for salaries and positions, with the approval of the State Fiscal Officer, from fund numbers 5331400000, 5331500000, and 5820130100, for the purpose of operating the State Department of Health programs as authorized by law, in accordance with rules and regulation of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds and when grant requirements have changed that result in staffing needs but do not result in new or additional funds. The Executive Director of the State Department of Health or designee shall submit to the Department of Finance and Administration a certified statement providing a detailed explanation for any escalation, including a justification for the establishment of any new positions or reclassification of existing positions. SECTION 36. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, Ten Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,300,000.00) is allocated for the purpose of providing reimbursable grants from the Office Against Interpersonal Violence as described in this section. The funds appropriated under this section shall be expended by the State Department of Health as a reimbursable grant. In determining reimbursable expenses, the State Department of Health shall use allowable costs as defined by the Office Against Interpersonal Violence. Of the funds in this section, up to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) may be used by the department for administration of these funds. SECTION 37. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2 of this act, Four Million Five Hundred Sixty Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty-five Dollars ($4,560,765.00) shall be derived from the Opioid Settlement Fund as created in Section 27-103-305, Mississippi Code of 1972. The abatement funds provided in this section shall be allocated as follows: Funding for the Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Program... ................................................ $ 4,500,000.00 Funding for Delta Health Center to implement a comprehensive Opioid Harm Reduction Program designed to prevent opioid-related deaths in six (6) counties in the Mississippi Delta........................... ............................................... $ 60,765.00. SECTION 38. As a condition of receiving and expending the funds appropriated to the Mississippi Department of Health under Section 37, a recipient designated under this section shall certify in writing and under oath to the Department that no contract of compensation dependent on the success or failure of legislation or executive action prohibited under Section 5-8-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, has been entered into by the recipient, with any individual or entity, in pursuance of such funding. None of the funds appropriated by this act shall be disbursed to a recipient or used by a recipient who fails to make such certification or is found to be in violation of such certification. SECTION 39. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is reappropriated out of any money in the Capital Expense Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the Mississippi Department of Health for the purpose of reauthorizing the expenditure of Capital Expense Funds as authorized in House Bill No. 46, 2025 First Extraordinary Session, to provide for the City of Jackson water litigation for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027 $ 3,770,690.00. Notwithstanding the amount reappropriated under the provisions of this section, in no event shall the amount expended exceed the unexpended balances as of June 30, 2026. In addition, this reappropriation shall not change the purpose for which the funds were originally authorized. SECTION 40. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) is provided by the Legislature with the intention of providing funds in order to develop capacity and infrastructure for the following public health priorities: obesity management, hypertension, heart disease, remote patient monitoring, cancer screenings for individuals without health insurance, and for the Obstetrical System of Care to address maternal and infant mortality. SECTION 41. The money herein appropriated shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the proper fund or funds as set forth in this act, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law. SECTION 42. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.
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