Mississippi House Bill HB573

Mississippi 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/15/25
• Refer: 1/15/25
• Failed: 2/4/25

Caption

Mississippi Helping Ensure Alternative Law Enforcement Transportation for Healing (MissHEALTH) Pilot Program; establish for mental health crisis.

Impact

The bill requires that the implementation of the MissHEALTH program be subject to appropriation and outlines that it will be jointly administered by the Department of Finance and Administration, Department of Mental Health, and Division of Medicaid. Funding will support a minimum of three law enforcement agencies, which will be selected based on their applications and past transport volume. Each agency will be required to provide a 25% funding match for the grant funds received. This financial structure intends to promote accountability and sustainability within the program.

Summary

House Bill 573 establishes the Mississippi Helping Ensure Alternative Law Enforcement Transportation for Healing (MissHEALTH) Pilot Program. The primary goal of this legislation is to provide financial assistance to law enforcement agencies for the transportation of individuals experiencing mental health or behavioral crises to appropriate hospitals or treatment facilities. This initiative aims to improve the response to mental health emergencies and ensure that individuals in crisis receive timely treatment in a supportive environment.

Contention

A notable aspect of the bill is the provision allowing local law enforcement agencies to contract with third parties for transportation needs. While this aim is to ease the burden on law enforcement during mental health crises, there are concerns regarding the oversight and audit of these contracts to ensure accountability and proper use of public funds. Additionally, the bill grants civil and criminal immunity to hospitals and mental health professionals involved, which may prompt discussions about the balance between necessary protections and accountability in the case of misjudgment or negligence related to patient transport and care.