Community Hospitals

Miss. Code Ann. tit. 41, ch. 13
in effect

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-1 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws 1982, ch. 395, § 6, eff from and after July 1, 1982. § 41-13-1 . [Codes, 1930, § 291; 1942, § 2999; Laws, 1930, ch. 58] § 41-13-3 . [Codes, 1930, § 292; 1942, § 3000; Laws, 1930, ch. 58] § 41-13-5 . [Codes, 1930, § 292; 1942, § 3000; Laws, 1930, ch. 58] § 41-13-7 . [Codes, 1930, § 293; 1942, § 3001; Laws, 1930, ch. 58] § 41-13-9 . [Codes, 1930, § 294; 1942, § 3002; Laws, 1930, ch. 58] Editor’s Notes — Former § 41-13-1 authorized municipalities to create joint hospitals. Former § 41-13-3 authorized the creation of a hospital commission for joint hospitals. Former § 41-13-5 specified the powers and duties of the hospital commission. Former § 41-13-7 authorized monthly appropriation for hospital purposes. Former § 41-13-9 specified procedures for the implementation of a community hospital program.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-10 Definitions.

For purposes of Sections 41-13-10 through 41-13-47, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein, unless the context otherwise requires: “Administrator” shall mean the chief administrative official and executive officer of a community hospital selected by the board of trustees of such community hospital. “Board of trustees” shall mean the board appointed pursuant to Section 41-13-29, to operate a community hospital. “Community hospital” shall mean any hospital, nursing home and/or related health facilities or programs, including, without limitation, ambulatory surgical facilities, intermediate care facilities, after-hours clinics, home health agencies and rehabilitation facilities, established and acquired by boards of trustees or by one or more owners which is governed, operated and maintained by a board of trustees. “Owner” shall mean any board of supervisors of any county having an ownership interest in any community hospital or leased facility on behalf of the county or on behalf of any supervisors district, judicial district or election district of the county and shall also mean any governing council or board of any municipality having an ownership interest in any community hospital or leased facility. “Leased facility” shall mean a hospital, nursing home or related health facilities which an owner has leased to an individual, partnership, corporation, other owner or board of trustees for a term not in excess of fifty (50) years, conditioned upon the facility continuing to operate on a nonprofit basis. A leased facility shall not be deemed or considered to be a community hospital except for purposes of Sections 41-13-19 through 41-13-25, and shall not be subject to the statutory requirements placed on community hospitals except to the extent as may be specifically required by the terms of the applicable lease agreement. However, in situations where another community hospital, acting through its board of trustees, is the lessee of a leased facility, the leased facility shall remain subject to this chapter and other laws applicable to community hospitals, except that the owners of the lessee shall have sole authority to appoint the board of trustees for the leased facility, which shall be the same board of trustees as appointed under Section 41-13-29 for the lessee community hospital. “Service area” means that area in which a community hospital may provide services and perform the activities in Section 41-13-35(5), as determined by a board of trustees by its patient origin studies, and may include areas outside of the State of Mississippi.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-11 Community hospital liability and insurance.

[Repealed]. [Repealed]. Subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall stand repealed from and after October 1, 1993. From and after October 1, 1993, the board of trustees of any community hospital is hereby authorized, in its discretion, to obtain and pay for, out of operating funds of the community hospital, liability insurance of such kinds as said board of trustees deems advisable covering the operation of said community hospital, including trustees, employees and volunteers, and every department thereof, and all machinery, equipment, appliances and motor vehicles thereof or used in connection therewith so as to cover damages or injury to persons or property or both caused by the negligence of any member of said board of trustees or of any officer, director, agent, servant, attorney, employee or volunteer of such hospital while engaged in the performance of his duties or working in connection with the operation of said community hospital. Such insurance shall either be procured from a company or companies authorized to do business and doing business in the State of Mississippi or provided through a program of self insurance established pursuant to the provisions of Section 11-46-17, Mississippi Code of 1972. Such insurance shall be for such amounts of coverage and shall cover such trustees, employees, volunteers, departments, installations, equipment, facilities and activities as the board of trustees, in its discretion, shall determine. The board of trustees may likewise indemnify, either by the purchase of insurance or, directly, where funds are available, in whole or in part, any trustee, officer, director, agent, volunteer or employee of said facility or program for actual personal expenses incurred in the defense of any suit, or judgments resulting from said suit, brought against said trustee, officer, director, agent, volunteer or employee for alleged negligent or wrongful conduct committed while under the employment of or while providing service to a community hospital. Notwithstanding the authority to purchase or provide liability insurance as provided for in subsection (4) of this section, any community hospital, owner or board of trustees shall be subject to and shall be governed by the provisions of Section 11-46-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, for any cause of action which accrues from and after October 1, 1993, on account of any wrongful or tortious act or omission of any such governmental entity, as defined in Section 11-46-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, or its employees relating to or in connection with any activity or operation of any community hospital.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-13 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws, 1982, ch. 395, § 6, eff from and after July 1, 1982. [Codes, 1942, § 3002.5; Laws, 1956, ch. 309, §§ 1, 2]

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-15 Community hospitals and health facilities in counties and municipalities.

Any county and/or any political or judicial subdivision of a county and/or any municipality of the State of Mississippi, acting individually or jointly, may acquire and hold real estate for a community hospital either recognized and/or licensed as such by either the State of Mississippi or the United States Government, and may, after complying with applicable health planning and licensure statutes, construct a community hospital thereon and/or appropriate funds according to the provisions of this chapter for the construction, remodeling, maintaining, equipping, furnishing and expansion of such facilities by the board of trustees upon such real estate. Where joint ownership of a community hospital is involved, the owners are hereby authorized to contract with each other for determining the pro rata ownership of such community hospital, the proportionate cost of maintenance and operation, and the proportionate financing that each will contribute to the community hospital. The owners may likewise contract with each other, or on behalf of any subordinate political or judicial subdivision, or with the board of trustees of a community hospital, and/or any agency of the State of Mississippi or the United States Government, for necessary purposes related to the establishment, operation or maintenance of community hospitals and related programs wherever located, and may either accept from, sell or contribute to the other entities, monies, personal property or existing health facilities. The owners or the board of trustees may also receive monies, property or any other valuables of any kind through gifts, donations, devises or other recognized means from any source for the purpose of hospital use. Owners and boards of trustees, acting jointly or severally, may acquire and hold real estate for offices for physicians and other health care practitioners and related health care or support facilities, provided that any contract for the purchase of real property must be ratified by the owner, and may thereon construct and equip, maintain and remodel or expand such offices and related facilities, and the board of trustees may lease same to members of the hospital staff or others at a rate deemed to be in the best interest of the community hospital. If any political or judicial subdivision of a county is obligated hereunder, the boundaries of such district shall not be altered in such a manner as to relieve any portion thereof of its obligation hereunder. Owners may convey to any other owner any or all property, real or personal, comprising any existing community hospital, including related facilities, wherever located, owned by such conveying owner. Such conveyance shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon and may make such provisions for transfers of operating funds and/or for the assumption of liabilities of the community hospital as may be deemed appropriate by the respective owners. Except as provided for in subsection (11) of this section, owners may lease all or part of the property, real or personal, comprising a community hospital, including any related facilities, wherever located, and/or assets of such community hospital, to any individual, partnership or corporation, whether operating on a nonprofit basis or on a profit basis, or to the board of trustees of such community hospital or any other owner or board of trustees, subject to the applicable provisions of subsections (8), (9) and (10) of this section. The term of such lease shall not exceed fifty (50) years. Such lease shall be conditioned upon (i) the leased facility continuing to operate in a manner safeguarding community health interests; (ii) the proceeds from the lease being first applied against such bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness as are issued pursuant to Section 41-13-19 as and when they are due, provided that the terms of the lease shall cover any indebtedness pursuant to Section 41-13-19; and (iii) any surplus proceeds from the lease being deposited in the general fund of the owner, which proceeds may be used for any lawful purpose. Such lease shall be subject to the express approval of the board of trustees of the community hospital, except in the case where the board of trustees of the community hospital will be the lessee. However, owners may not lease any community hospital to the University of Mississippi Medical Center unless first the University of Mississippi Medical Center has obtained authority to lease such hospital under specific terms and conditions from the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. If the owner wishes to lease a community hospital without an option to sell it and the approval of the board of trustees of the community hospital is required but is not given within thirty (30) days of the request for its approval by the owner, then the owner may enter such lease as described herein on the following conditions: A resolution by the owner describing its intention to enter such lease shall be published once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in at least one (1) newspaper published in the county or city, as the case may be, or if none be so published, in a newspaper having a general circulation therein. The first publication of such notice shall be made not less than twenty-one (21) days prior to the date fixed in such resolution for the lease of the community hospital and the last publication shall be made not more than seven (7) days prior to such date. If, on or prior to the date fixed in such resolution for the lease of the community hospital, there shall be filed with the clerk of the owner a petition signed by twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever is less, of the qualified voters of such owner, requesting that an election be called and held on the question of the lease of the community hospital, then it shall be the duty of the owner to call and provide for the holding of an election as petitioned for. In such case, no such lease shall be entered into unless authorized by the affirmative vote of the majority of the qualified voters of such owner who vote on the proposition at such election. Notice of such election shall be given by publication in like manner as hereinabove provided for the publication of the initial resolution. Such election shall be conducted and the return thereof made, canvassed and declared as nearly as may be in like manner as is now or may hereafter be provided by law in the case of general elections in such owner. If, on or prior to the date fixed in the owner’s resolution for the lease of the community hospital, no such petition as described above is filed with the clerk of the owner, then the owner may proceed with the lease subject to the other requirements of this section. Subject to the above conditions, the lease agreement shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon and may make such provision for transfers of tangible and intangible personal property and operating funds and/or for the assumption of liabilities of the community hospital and for such lease payments, all as may be deemed appropriate by the owners. Owners may sell and convey all or part of the property, real or personal, comprising a community hospital, including any related facilities, wherever located, and/or assets of such community hospital, to any individual, partnership or corporation, whether operating on a nonprofit basis or on a profit basis, or to the board of trustees of such community hospital or any other owner or board of trustees, subject to the applicable provisions of subsections (8) and (10) of this section. Such sale and conveyance shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the owner and the purchaser that are consistent with the requirements of this section, and the parties may make such provisions for the transfer of operating funds or for the assumption of liabilities of the facility, or both, as they deem appropriate. However, such sale and conveyance shall be conditioned upon (i) the facility continuing to operate in a manner safeguarding community health interests; (ii) the proceeds from such sale being first applied against such bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness as are issued pursuant to Section 41-13-19 as and when they are due, provided that the terms of the sale shall cover any indebtedness pursuant to Section 41-13-19; and (iii) any surplus proceeds from the sale being deposited in the general fund of the owner, which proceeds may be used for any lawful purpose. However, owners may not sell or convey any community hospital to the University of Mississippi Medical Center unless first the University of Mississippi Medical Center has obtained authority to purchase such hospital under specific terms and conditions from the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. Whenever any owner decides that it may be in its best interests to sell or lease a community hospital as provided for under subsection (7) of this section, the owner shall first contract with a certified public accounting firm, a law firm or competent professional health care or management consultants to review the current operating condition of the community hospital. The review shall consist of, at minimum, the following: A review of the community’s inpatient facility needs based on current workload, historical trends and projections, based on demographic data, of future needs. A review of the competitive market for services, including other hospitals which serve the same area, the services provided and the market perception of the competitive hospitals. A review of the hospital’s strengths relative to the competition and its capacity to compete in light of projected trends and competition. An analysis of the hospital’s options, including service mix and pricing strategies. If the study concludes that a sale or lease should occur, the study shall include an analysis of which option would be best for the community and how much revenues should be derived from the lease or sale. After the review and analysis under subsection (8) of this section, an owner may choose to sell or lease the community hospital. If an owner chooses to sell such hospital or lease the hospital with an option to sell it, the owner shall follow the procedure specified in subsection (10) of this section. If an owner chooses to lease the hospital without an option to sell it, it shall first spread upon its minutes why such a lease is in the best interests of the persons living in the area served by the facility to be leased, and it shall make public any and all findings and recommendations made in the review required under proposals for the lease, which shall state clearly the minimum required terms of all respondents and the evaluation process that will be used when the owner reviews the proposals. The owner shall lease to the respondent submitting the highest and best proposal. In no case may the owner deviate from the process provided for in the request for proposals. If an owner wishes to sell such community hospital or lease the hospital with an option to sell it, the owner first shall conduct a public hearing on the issue of the proposed sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital. Notice of the date, time, location and purpose of the public hearing shall be published once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in at least one (1) newspaper published in the county or city, as the case may be, or if none be so published, in a newspaper having a general circulation therein. The first publication of the notice shall be made not less than twenty-one (21) days before the date of the public hearing and the last publication shall be made not more than seven (7) days before that date. If there is filed with the clerk of the owner not more than twenty-one (21) days after the date of the public hearing, a petition signed by twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever is less, of the qualified voters of the owner, requesting that an election be called and held on the question of whether the owner should proceed with the process of seeking proposals for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital, then it shall be the duty of the owner to call and provide for the holding of an election as petitioned for. Notice of the election shall be given by publication in the same manner as provided for the publication of the notice of the public hearing. The election shall be conducted and the return thereof made, canvassed and declared in the same manner as provided by law in the case of general elections in the owner. If less than a majority of the qualified voters of the owner who vote on the proposition at such election vote in favor of the owner proceeding with the process of seeking proposals for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital, then the owner is not authorized to sell or lease the hospital. If a majority of the qualified voters of the owner who vote on the proposition at such election vote in favor of the owner proceeding with the process of seeking proposals for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital, then the owner may seek proposals for the sale or lease of the hospital. If no such petition is timely filed with the clerk of the owner, then the owner may proceed with the process of seeking proposals for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital. The owner shall adopt a resolution describing its intention to sell or lease with an option to sell the hospital, which shall include the owner’s reasons why such a sale or lease is in the best interests of the persons living in the area served by the facility to be sold or leased. The owner then shall publish a copy of the resolution; the requirements for proposals for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital, which shall state clearly the minimum required terms of all respondents and the evaluation process that will be used when the owner reviews the proposals; and the date proposed by the owner for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital. Such publication shall be made once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in at least one (1) newspaper published in the county or city, as the case may be, or if none be so published, in a newspaper having a general circulation therein. The first publication of the notice shall be made not less than twenty-one (21) days before the date proposed for the sale or lease with an option to sell the hospital and the last publication shall be made not more than seven (7) days before that date. After receiving proposals, such sale or lease shall be made to the respondent submitting the highest and best proposal. In no case may the owner deviate from the process provided for in the request for proposals. A lessee of a community hospital, under a lease entered into under the authority of Section 41-13-15, in effect prior to July 15, 1993, or an affiliate thereof, may extend or renew such lease whether or not an option to renew or extend the lease is contained in the lease, for a term not to exceed fifteen (15) years, conditioned upon (a) the leased facility continuing to operate in a manner safeguarding community health interest; (b) proceeds from the lease being first applied against such bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness as are issued pursuant to Section 41-13-19; (c) surplus proceeds from the lease being used for health related purposes; (d) subject to the express approval of the board of trustees of the community hospital; and (e) subject to the express approval of the owner. If no board of trustees is then existing, the owner shall have the right to enter into a lease upon such terms and conditions as agreed upon by the parties. Any lease entered into under this subsection (11) may contain an option to purchase the hospital, on such terms as the parties shall agree.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-16 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws, 1980, ch. 456, eff from and after July 1, 1980. [Laws, 1972, ch. 321 § 1; Laws, 1972, 494, § 1; Laws, 1973, ch. 442 § 1]

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-17 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws, 1982, ch. 395, § 6, eff from and after July 1, 1982. [Codes, 1942, § 7129-50; Laws, 1944, ch. 277, § 1; Laws, 1946, ch. 412, § 1; Laws, 1948, ch. 435, § 1; Laws, 1954, ch. 294, § 1; Laws, 1958, ch. 356; Laws, 1960, ch. 353; Laws, 1962, ch. 401; Laws, 1966, ch. 461, § 1; Laws, 1968, ch. 442, § 1; Laws, 1981, ch. 484, § 17]

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-19 Issuance of bonds; election.

Such counties, cities and towns, supervisors districts, judicial districts and election districts of a county are authorized and empowered to make appropriations of the funds thereof for the purpose of Sections 41-13-15 through 41-13-51, and are hereby authorized and empowered to issue and sell the bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness thereof, for the purpose of providing funds with which to acquire real estate for and to establish, erect, build, construct, remodel, add to, acquire, equip and furnish community hospitals, nurses’ homes, health centers, health departments, diagnostic or treatment centers, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and related facilities under the provisions of such sections. Such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit, and resources of the issuing entity shall not be issued in an amount which will exceed the limit of indebtedness of the county, city, town, supervisors district, judicial district or election district issuing the same, as such limit is prescribed by Sections 19-9-1 et seq., and Sections 21-33-301 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972. Before issuing any such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit, and resources of the issuing entity, the board of supervisors, acting for a county or supervisors district, judicial district or election district thereof, or the mayor and board of aldermen, or city council, or other like governing body, acting for a city or town, shall adopt a resolution declaring its intention to issue the same, stating the amount and purposes thereof, whether such hospital, nurses’ home, health center, health department, diagnostic or treatment center, rehabilitation facility, nursing home or related facilities are to be erected, acquired, remodeled, equipped, furnished, maintained and operated by such county, city, town or supervisors district separately, or jointly with one or more other counties, cities, towns, supervisors districts, judicial districts or election districts of a county, and fixing the date upon which further action will be taken to provide for the issuance of such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness. The full text of such resolution shall be published once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in at least one (1) newspaper published in the county or city, as the case may be, or if none be so published, in a newspaper having a general circulation therein. The first publication of such notice shall be made not less than twenty-one (21) days prior to the date fixed in such resolution, as aforesaid, and the last publication shall be made not more than seven (7) days prior to such date. If, on or prior to the date fixed in such resolution, as aforesaid, there shall be filed with the clerk of the body by which such resolution was adopted a petition signed by twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever is less, of the qualified voters of such county, city, town, supervisors district, judicial district or election district, as the case may be, requesting that an election be called and held on the question of the issuance of such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, then it shall be the duty of the board of supervisors, board of aldermen, city council, or other governing body, as the case may be, to call and provide for the holding of an election as petitioned for. In such case no such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit, and resources of the issuing entity shall be issued unless authorized by the affirmative vote of a majority of the qualified voters of such county, city, town, supervisors district, judicial district or election district, as the case may be, who vote on the proposition at such election. Notice of such election shall be given by publication in like manner as hereinabove provided for the publication of the initial resolution. Such election shall be conducted and the return thereof made, canvassed and declared as nearly as may be in like manner as is now or may hereafter be provided by law in the case of general elections in such county, city, town, supervisors district, judicial district or election district. In the discretion of the board of supervisors, board of aldermen, city council, or other governing body, as the case may be, and after adoption of a resolution declaring its intention to issue such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit, and resources of the issuing entity, an election on the question of the issuance of such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness may be called and held as hereinabove provided without the necessity of publishing said resolution and whether or not a protest to the issuance be filed with the clerk of the governing body. In the event that the question of the issuance of such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit, and resources of the issuing entity be not authorized at such election, such question shall not again be submitted to a vote until the expiration of a period of six (6) months from and after the date of such election. In the event of any joint operation or proposed joint operation as provided by Section 41-13-15, there shall be separate bond issues, and the board or boards of supervisors acting for a county, supervisors district, judicial district or election district, the governing bodies of the municipality or municipalities, as the case may be, shall each issue the bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the county, town, city, supervisors district, judicial district or election district, or districts, in such amounts as having been agreed upon by the respective boards of supervisors and governing bodies of the towns or cities, and in so doing follow and comply with the provisions of Sections 41-13-19 through 41-13-23.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-21 Details of bonds; interest; sale.

Such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness as are issued pursuant to Section 41-13-19 shall bear such date or dates, shall be of such denomination or denominations, shall be payable at such place or places, shall bear such rate or rates of interest, and shall mature in such amounts and at such times, not to exceed twenty (20) years for general obligation bonds and not to exceed thirty (30) years for revenue bonds, as may be provided and directed by the board of supervisors, board of aldermen, city council, or other like governing body, as the case may be, consistent with the provisions of Sections 41-13-19 through 41-13-23. Any provisions of the general laws to the contrary notwithstanding, any bonds and interest coupons issued pursuant to the authority of Section 43-13-19 shall possess all the qualities of negotiable instruments. The bonds and the interest coupons shall be executed in such manner and shall be substantially in the form prescribed in the authorizing ordinance. In case any of the officers whose signatures or countersignatures appear on the bonds or interest coupons shall cease to be such officers before delivery of such bonds, such signatures or countersignatures shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes the same as if they had remained in office until such delivery. No bond shall bear more than one (1) rate of interest. Each bond shall bear interest from its date to its stated maturity date at the interest rate specified in the bid. All bonds of the same maturity shall bear the same rate of interest from date to maturity. All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually, except that the first interest coupon attached to any such bond may be for any period not exceeding one (1) year. No interest payment shall be evidenced by more than one (1) coupon and neither cancelled nor supplemental coupons shall be permitted. The lowest interest rate specified for any bonds issued shall not be less than seventy percent (70%) of the highest interest rate specified for the same bond issue. Each interest rate specified in any bid must be in multiples of one-eighth of one percent (1/8 of 1%) or one-tenth of one percent (1/10 of 1%). If serial bonds, such bonds shall mature annually, and the first maturity date thereof shall not be more than five (5) years from the date of such bonds. Such bonds shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries, and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi. The bonds and interest coupons shall be exempt from all state, county, municipal and other taxation under the laws of the State of Mississippi. All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit and resources of the issuing entity shall not bear a rate of interest in excess of that allowed in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, and shall be sold for not less than par plus accrued interest at public sale in the manner provided by Section 31-19-25. All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness not secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit and resources of the issuing entity shall not bear a rate of interest in excess of that allowed in Section 75-17-103, Mississippi Code of 1972, and shall be sold for not less than par plus accrued interest at public sale in the manner provided by Section 31-19-25. Bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness may be sold to the United States of America or an agency or agencies thereof at private sale upon such terms and conditions as the governing authorities of the issuing entity may determine, consistent with the provisions of Sections 41-13-19 through 41-13-23.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-23 Levy of ad valorem tax or pledge of revenues to pay bonds.

All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued under Section 41-13-19 may be secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit, and resources of the county, city, town, supervisors district, judicial district or election district issuing the same. There shall annually be levied upon all taxable property within such county, city, town, supervisors district, judicial district or election district, as the case may be, an ad valorem tax, in addition to all other taxes, sufficient to provide for the payment of the principal of and the interest on said bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit, and resources of the issuing entity as the same respectively matures and accrues. All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued under Section 41-13-19 may be secured by a pledge of all or a specified portion of the annual general or special revenues of the facility for which the same were issued to acquire, construct, expand, equip or furnish, or by a pledge of any unrestricted unencumbered income from an endowment or other trust funds available to the board of trustees of the facility for which the same were issued to acquire, construct, expand, equip or furnish. The security for such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness authorized and provided for by this subsection may be in addition to or in lieu of the pledge of the full faith, credit, and resources of the issuing entity as provided in subsection (1) hereof.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-24 Obtaining federal assistance.

Such counties, cities and towns, supervisors districts, judicial districts and election districts of a county are authorized and empowered to apply for, contract for, accept and receive grants and loans and loan guarantee agreements relating to assistance for the construction of hospital and medical facilities and to that end the governing bodies of such counties, cities and towns, supervisors districts, judicial districts and election districts of a county are authorized and empowered to enter into such contracts with the United States of America or the agencies or departments thereof as may be necessary to effectuate the purpose of Sections 41-13-15 through 41-13-51. Any such county, city and town, supervisors district, judicial district or election district, which shall have entered into a binding contract with the United States of America or any agency or department thereof as aforesaid for any such grant, loan or loan guarantee agreement, may borrow money from any private lender for the purpose of providing interim financing for the acquiring, constructing, expanding, equipping and furnishing of the facilities provided for in such contract with the United States of America or agency or department thereof and assign as security for such interim financing the proceeds of any such grant, loan or loan guarantee agreement. Such interim financing shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the issuing entity but shall not require payment of interest on the sums actually advanced and received at a rate of interest greater than that rate of interest authorized for interim financing by the state, counties, municipalities or political subdivisions thereof in Section 75-17-107, Mississippi Code of 1972.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-25 Imposition of ad valorem tax; retirement of debt.

The board of supervisors acting for a county, supervisors district or districts or an election district of such county, and the board of aldermen, city council or other like governing body acting for a city or town, are hereby authorized and empowered to levy ad valorem taxes on all the taxable property of such counties, cities, towns, supervisors district or election district for the purposes of raising funds for the maintenance and operation of hospitals, nurses’ homes, health centers, health departments, diagnostic or treatment centers, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and related facilities established under the provisions of Sections 41-13-15 through 41-13-51, and for making additions and improvements thereto and to pledge such ad valorem taxes, whether or not actually levied, for the retirement of debt incurred either by or on behalf of such facilities and/or pursuant to agreements executed under the authority of the Mississippi Hospital Equipment and Facilities Authority Act; however, any debt incurred by the pledge of taxes to retire debt incurred either by or on behalf of such facilities and/or pursuant to such agreements shall not be included in debt limits prescribed by Section 19-9-5 or Section 21-33-303, as the case may be unless and until such pledged taxes are actually levied. The amount levied for such purpose shall not exceed five (5) mills on the dollar in any one (1) year. Expenditures of said taxes for such additions and improvements shall not exceed in any fiscal year the total amount budgeted therefor by the board of trustees for the respective institutions affected. The tax levy authorized in this section shall be in addition to all other taxes now or hereafter authorized to be levied by such counties, cities, towns, supervisors districts or election district. It is further provided that any such supervisors district in a county with a land area of five hundred ninety-two (592) square miles, wherein Mississippi Highways 8 and 9 intersect, participating with a municipality under provisions of law by contracting to assist the cost of operation and maintenance of an erected hospital, may levy such ad valorem tax as is needed to operate and maintain such hospital as is provided herein.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-27 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws, 1982, ch. 395, § 6, eff from and after July 1, 1982. [Codes, 1942, § 7129-54; Laws, 1944, ch. 277, § 4; Laws, 1948, ch. 413, § 1; Laws, 1950, ch. 504, § 1; Laws, 1954, ch. 289, § 1; Laws, 1956, ch. 297, § 1; Laws, 1958, ch. 363, § 1]

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-29 Board of trustees for county hospitals or other health facilities.

The owners are authorized to appoint trustees for the purpose of operating and governing community hospitals. The owner of a community hospital may remove a trustee after appointment for good cause shown, upon a unanimous vote of all members of the governing board of the owner that appointed the trustee, or upon a majority vote of the governing board of the owner that appointed the trustee after a recommendation from the board of trustees of the hospital that the trustee be removed. To be eligible for appointment, an appointee must be an adult legal resident of the county which has an ownership interest in the community hospital or the county in which the municipality or other political subdivision holding the ownership interest in the community hospital is located. The authority to appoint trustees shall not apply to leased facilities, unless specifically reserved by the owner in the applicable lease agreement. The board of trustees shall consist of not more than seven (7) members nor less than five (5) members, except where specifically authorized by statute, and shall be appointed by the respective owners on a pro rata basis comparable to the ownership interests in the community hospital. Where the community hospital is owned solely by a county, or any supervisors districts, judicial districts or election district of a county, or by a municipality, the trustees shall be residents of the owning entity. Trustees for municipally owned community hospitals shall be appointed by the governing authority of the municipality. Trustees for a community hospital owned by a county shall be appointed by the board of supervisors with each supervisor having the right to nominate one (1) trustee from his district or from the county at large. Appointments exceeding five (5) in number shall be from the county at large. Trustees for a community hospital owned solely by supervisors districts, judicial districts or election district of a county, shall be appointed by the board of supervisors of the county from nominees submitted by the supervisor or supervisors representing the owner district or districts. Initially the board of trustees shall be appointed as follows: one (1) for a term of one (1) year, one (1) for a term of two (2) years, one (1) for a term of three (3) years, one (1) for a term of four (4) years, and one (1) for a term of five (5) years. Appointments exceeding five (5) in number shall be for terms of four (4) and five (5) years, respectively. Thereafter, all terms shall be for five (5) years. No community hospital trustee holding office on July 1, 1982, shall be affected by this provision, but the terms shall be filled at the expiration thereof according to the provisions of this section; provided, however, that any other specific appointment procedures presently authorized shall likewise not be affected by the terms hereof. Any vacancy on the board of trustees shall be filled within ninety (90) days by appointment by the applicable owner for the remainder of the unexpired term. From and after January 1, 2016, to be eligible for appointment, an appointee must have no felony convictions, possess at least a high school diploma or the equivalent, owe no outstanding debt to the community hospital, and not be a plaintiff in any pending lawsuit against the community hospital. The appointee may not own an interest in, or be an officer or employee of, a company or business that provides goods or services in direct competition with the community hospital, nor may the appointee’s spouse own an interest in, or be an officer of, such company or business. Any community hospital erected, owned, maintained and operated by any county located in the geographical center of the State of Mississippi and in which State Highways No. 12 and No. 35 intersect, shall be operated by a board of trustees of five (5) members who have the qualifications set forth in this section to be appointed by the board of supervisors from the county at large, one (1) for a term of one (1) year, one (1) for a term of two (2) years, one (1) for a term of three (3) years, one (1) for a term of four (4) years, and one (1) for a term of five (5) years. Thereafter all trustees shall be appointed from the county at large for a period of five (5) years. Any community hospital erected, owned, maintained and operated by any county situated in the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee District and bordering on the Mississippi River and having a population of not less than forty-five thousand (45,000) and having an assessed valuation of not less than Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000.00) for the year 1954, shall be operated by a board of trustees which may consist of not more than eleven (11) members who have the qualifications set forth in this section. Any hospital erected, owned, maintained and operated by any county having two (2) judicial districts, which is traversed by U.S. Interstate Highway 59, which intersects Highway 84 therein, shall be operated by a board of trustees which shall consist of seven (7) members who have the qualifications set forth in this section. The first seven (7) members appointed under authority of this paragraph shall be appointed by the board of supervisors for terms as follows: Each supervisor of Supervisors Districts One and Two shall nominate and the board of supervisors shall appoint one (1) person from each said beat for a one-year term. Each supervisor of Supervisors Districts Three and Four shall nominate and the board of supervisors shall appoint one (1) person from each beat for a two-year term. The supervisor of Supervisors District Five shall nominate and the board of supervisors shall appoint one (1) person from the beat for a three-year term. The medical staff at the hospital shall submit a list of four (4) nominees and the supervisors shall appoint two (2) trustees from the list of nominees, one (1) for a three-year term and one (1) for a one-year term. Thereafter, as the terms of the board of trustee members authorized by this paragraph expire, all but the trustee originally appointed from the medical staff nominees for a one-year term shall be appointed by the board of supervisors for terms of three (3) years. The term of the trustee originally appointed from the medical staff nominees by the board of supervisors for a term of one (1) year shall remain a term of one (1) year and shall thereafter be appointed for a term of one (1) year. The two (2) members appointed from medical staff nominees shall be appointed from a list of two (2) nominees for each position to be submitted by the medical staff of the hospital for each vacancy to be filled. It is the intent of the Legislature that the board of trustees which existed prior to July 1, 1985, was abolished by amendment to this section under Section 5, Chapter 511, Laws of 1985, and the amendment authorized the appointment of a new board of trustees on or after July 1, 1985, in the manner provided in this paragraph. Any member of the board of trustees which existed before July 1, 1985, who has the qualifications set forth in this section shall be eligible for reappointment subject to the provisions of this paragraph. Any community hospital erected, owned, maintained and operated by any county bordering on the Mississippi River having two (2) judicial districts, wherein U.S. Highway 61 and Mississippi Highway 8 intersect, lying wholly within a levee district, shall be operated by a board of trustees which may consist of not more than nine (9) members who have the qualifications set forth in this section. Any community hospital system owned, maintained and operated by any county bordering on the Gulf of Mexico and the State of Alabama shall be operated by a board of trustees constituted as follows: seven (7) members shall be selected as provided in subsection (1) of this section and two (2) advisors who shall be the chiefs of staff at those hospitals which are a part of the hospital system; the members must have the qualifications set forth in this section. The term of the chiefs of staff on the board of trustees shall coincide with their service as chiefs of staff at their respective hospitals. Any community hospital owned, maintained and operated by any county wherein Mississippi Highways 16 and 19 intersect, having a land area of five hundred sixty-eight (568) square miles, and having a population in excess of twenty-three thousand seven hundred (23,700) according to the 1980 federal decennial census, shall be operated by a board of trustees of five (5) members who have the qualifications set forth in this section, one (1) of whom shall be elected by the qualified electors of each supervisors district of the county in the manner provided herein. Each member so elected shall be a resident and qualified elector of the district from which he is elected. The first elected members of the board of trustees shall be elected at the regular general election held on November 4, 1986. At the election, the members of the board from Supervisors Districts One and Two shall be elected for a term of six (6) years; members of the board from Supervisors Districts Three and Four shall be elected for a term of two (2) years; and the member of the board from Supervisors District Five shall be elected for a term of four (4) years. Each subsequent member of the board shall be elected for a term of six (6) years at the same time as the general election in which the member of the county board of education representing the same supervisors district is elected. All members of the board shall take office on the first Monday of January following the date of their election. The terms of all seven (7) appointed members of the board of trustees holding office on the effective date of this act (Laws 1986, Chapter 462) shall expire on the date that the first elected members of the board take office. The board of trustees provided for herein shall not lease or sell the community hospital property under its jurisdiction unless the board of supervisors of the county calls for an election on the proposition and a majority voting in the election shall approve the lease or sale. The members of the board of trustees provided for in this subsection shall be compensated a per diem and reimbursed for their expenses and mileage in the same amount and subject to the same restrictions provided for members of the county board of education in Section 37-5-21 and may, at the discretion of the board, choose to participate in any hospital medical benefit plan which may be in effect for hospital employees. Any member of the board of trustees choosing to participate in the plan shall pay the full cost of his participation in the plan so that no expenditure of hospital funds is required. The name of any qualified elector who is a candidate for the community hospital board of trustees shall be placed on the ballot used in the general elections by the county election commissioners, if the candidate files with the county election commissioners, not more than ninety (90) days and not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the general election, a petition of nomination signed by not less than fifty (50) qualified electors of the county residing within each supervisors district. The candidate in each supervisors district who receives the highest number of votes cast in the district shall be declared elected. A board of trustees provided for herein may, in its discretion, where funds are available, compensate each trustee per diem in at least the amount established by Section 25-3-69 up to the maximum amount of not more than One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) for each meeting of the board of trustees or meeting of a committee established by the board of trustees where the trustee was in attendance, and in addition thereto provide meals at the meetings and compensate each member attending travel expenses at the rate authorized by Section 25-3-41 for actual mileage traveled to and from the place of meeting. The owner which appointed a trustee may likewise remove him from office by majority vote for failure to attend at least fifty percent (50%) of the regularly scheduled meetings of the board during the twelve-month period preceding the vote, or for violation of any statute relating to the responsibilities of his office, based upon the recommendation of a majority of the remaining trustees. For community hospitals located in a county having a population of less than one hundred thousand (100,000) according to the most recent federal decennial census, the members of the board of trustees, administrator and any other officials of the community hospital as may be deemed necessary or proper by the board of trustees shall be under bond in an amount not less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) nor more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) with some surety company authorized to do business in the State of Mississippi to faithfully perform the duties of his office. For community hospitals located in a county having a population of one hundred thousand (100,000) or more according to the most recent federal decennial census, the bond shall be in an amount not less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) nor more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00). Premiums for the bonds shall be paid from funds of the community hospital. The members of the board of trustees of a community hospital may, at the discretion of the board, choose to participate in any hospital medical benefit plan or health insurance plan, whether self-funded or otherwise, which may be in effect for hospital employees. Any member of the board of trustees choosing to participate in such plan shall pay the same amount for his or her participation in the plan as hospital employees are required to pay for their participation in such plan.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-31 and 41-13-33. Repealed.

Repealed by Laws, 1982, ch. 395, § 6, eff from and after July 1, 1982. § 41-13-31 . [Codes, 1942, § 7129-56; Laws, 1944, ch. 277; Laws, 1946, ch. 412, § 4; Laws, 1948, ch. 435, § 4; Laws, 1956, ch. 297, § 3; Laws, 1958, ch. 368, § 3; Laws, 1968, ch. 442, § 4; Laws, 1978, ch. 321, § 1] § 41-13-33 . [Codes, 1942, § 7129-56.5; Laws, 1958, ch. 363, § 4; Laws, 1966, chs. 460, 482; Laws, 1968, ch. 443, § 1; Laws, 1972, ch. 510, § 1; Laws, 1981, ch. 436, § 2] Editor’s Notes — Former § 41-13-31 established boards of trustees for hospitals other than municipal or county hospitals. Former § 41-13-33 authorized the payment of compensation to board members.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-35 General powers and duties of trustees; bonds; prohibited acts or behavior of trustees, individual trustee, or agent or servant of trustee.

The board of trustees of any community hospital shall have full authority to appoint an administrator, who shall not be a member of the board of trustees, and to delegate reasonable authority to such administrator for the operation and maintenance of such hospital and all property and facilities otherwise appertaining thereto. The board of trustees shall have full authority to select from its members, officers and committees and, by resolution or through the board bylaws, to delegate to such officers and committees reasonable authority to carry out and enforce the powers and duties of the board of trustees during the interim periods between regular meetings of the board of trustees; provided, however, that any such action taken by an officer or committee shall be subject to review by the board, and actions may be withdrawn or nullified at the next subsequent meeting of the board of trustees if the action is in excess of delegated authority. The board of trustees shall be responsible for governing the community hospital under its control and shall make and enforce staff and hospital bylaws and/or rules and regulations necessary for the administration, government, maintenance and/or expansion of such hospitals. The board of trustees shall keep minutes of its official business and shall comply with Section 41-9-68. The decisions of said board of trustees of the community hospital shall be valid and binding unless expressly prohibited by applicable statutory or constitutional provisions. The power of the board of trustees shall specifically include, but not be limited to, the following authority: To deposit and invest funds of the community hospital in accordance with Section 27-105-365; To establish such equitable wage and salary programs and other employment benefits as may be deemed expedient or proper, and in so doing, to expend reasonable funds for such employee salary and benefits. Allowable employee programs shall specifically include but not be limited to, medical benefit, life, accidental death and dismemberment, disability, retirement and other employee coverage plans. The hospital may offer and fund such programs directly or by contract with any third party and shall be authorized to take all actions necessary to implement, administer and operate such plans, including payroll deductions for such plans; To authorize employees to attend and to pay actual expenses incurred by employees while engaged in hospital business or in attending recognized educational or professional meetings; To enter into loan or scholarship agreements with employees or students to provide educational assistance where such student or employee agrees to work for a stipulated period of time for the hospital; To devise and implement employee incentive programs; To recruit and financially assist physicians and other health-care practitioners in establishing, or relocating practices within the service area of the community hospital including, without limitation, direct and indirect financial assistance, loan agreements, agreements guaranteeing minimum incomes for a stipulated period from opening of the practice and providing free office space or reduced rental rates for office space where such recruitment would directly benefit the community hospital and/or the health and welfare of the citizens of the service area; To contract by way of lease, lease-purchase or otherwise, with any agency, department or other office of government or any individual, partnership, corporation, owner, other board of trustees, or other health-care facility, for the providing of property, equipment or services by or to the community hospital or other entity or regarding any facet of the construction, management, funding or operation of the community hospital or any division or department thereof, or any related activity, including, without limitation, shared management expertise or employee insurance and retirement programs, and to terminate said contracts when deemed in the best interests of the community hospital; To file suit on behalf of the community hospital to enforce any right or claims accruing to the hospital and to defend and/or settle claims against the community hospital and/or its board of trustees; To sell or otherwise dispose of any chattel property of the community hospital by any method deemed appropriate by the board where such disposition is consistent with the hospital purposes or where such property is deemed by the board to be surplus or otherwise unneeded; To let contracts for the construction, remodeling, expansion or acquisition, by lease or purchase, of hospital or health-care facilities, including real property, within the service area for community hospital purposes where such may be done with operational funds without encumbrancing the general funds of the county or municipality, provided that any contract for the purchase of real property must be ratified by the owner; To borrow money and enter other financing arrangements for community hospital and related purposes and to grant security interests in hospital equipment and other hospital assets and to pledge a percentage of hospital revenues as security for such financings where needed; provided that the owner shall specify by resolution the maximum borrowing authority and maximum percent of revenue which may be pledged by the board of trustees during any given fiscal year; To expend hospital funds for public relations or advertising programs; To offer the following inpatient and outpatient services, after complying with applicable health planning, licensure statutes and regulations, whether or not heretofore offered by such hospital or other similar hospitals in this state and whether or not heretofore authorized to be offered, long-term care, extended care, home care, after-hours clinic services, ambulatory surgical clinic services, preventative health-care services including wellness services, health education, rehabilitation and diagnostic and treatment services; to promote, develop, operate and maintain a center providing care or residential facilities for the aged, convalescent or handicapped; and to promote, develop and institute any other services having an appropriate place in the operation of a hospital offering complete community health care; To promote, develop, acquire, operate and maintain on a nonprofit basis, or on a profit basis if the community hospital’s share of profits is used solely for community hospital and related purposes in accordance with this chapter, either separately or jointly with one or more other hospitals or health-related organizations, facilities and equipment for providing goods, services and programs for hospitals, other health-care providers, and other persons or entities in need of such goods, services and programs and, in doing so, to provide for contracts of employment or contracts for services and ownership of property on terms that will protect the public interest; To establish and operate medical offices, child care centers, wellness or fitness centers and other facilities and programs which the board determines are appropriate in the operation of a community hospital for the benefit of its employees, personnel and/or medical staff which shall be operated as an integral part of the hospital and which may, in the direction of the board of trustees, be offered to the general public. If such programs are not established in existing facilities or constructed on real estate previously acquired by the owners, the board of trustees shall also have authority to acquire, by lease or purchase, such facilities and real property within the service area, whether or not adjacent to existing facilities, provided that any contract for the purchase of real property shall be ratified by the owner. The trustees shall lease any such medical offices to members of the medical staff at rates deemed appropriate and may, in its discretion, establish rates to be paid for the use of other facilities or programs by its employees or personnel or members of the public whom the trustees may determine may properly use such other facilities or programs; Provide, at its discretion, ambulance service and/or to contract with any third party, public or private, for the providing of such service; Establish a fair and equitable system for the billing of patients for care or users of services received through the community hospital, which in the exercise of the board of trustees’ prudent fiscal discretion, may allow for rates to be classified according to the potential usage by an identified group or groups of patients of the community hospital’s services and may allow for standard discounts where the discount is designed to reduce the operating costs or increase the revenues of the community hospital. Such billing system may also allow for the payment of charges by means of a credit card or similar device and allow for payment of administrative fees as may be regularly imposed by a banking institution or other credit service organization for the use of such cards; To establish as an organizational part of the hospital or to aid in establishing as a separate entity from the hospital, hospital auxiliaries designed to aid the hospital, its patients, and/or families and visitors of patients, and when the auxiliary is established as a separate entity from the hospital, the board of trustees may cooperate with the auxiliary in its operations as the board of trustees deems appropriate; and To make any agreements or contracts with the federal government or any agency thereof, the State of Mississippi or any agency thereof, and any county, city, town, supervisors district or election district within this state, jointly or separately, for the maintenance of charity facilities. No board of trustees of any community hospital may accept any grant of money or other thing of value from any not-for-profit or for-profit organization established for the purpose of supporting health care in the area served by the facility unless two-thirds (2/3) of the trustees vote to accept the grant. No board of trustees, individual trustee or any other person who is an agent or servant of the trustees of any community hospital shall have any personal financial interest in any not-for-profit or for-profit organization which, regardless of its stated purpose of incorporation, provides assistance in the form of grants of money or property to community hospitals or provides services to community hospitals in the form of performance of functions normally associated with the operations of a hospital.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-36 Employment of administrator; administrator’s powers and duties.

A board of trustees may enter into a contract of employment with an administrator, the duration of which shall not exceed five (5) years, but which may periodically be renewed for additional years, provided that the duration of any such renewal contract shall not exceed five (5) years. The administrator shall be the chief executive officer of the community hospital. Subject to any conflicting bylaws, resolutions, rules or regulations adopted by the board of trustees, the administrator’s duties and powers shall include, but not be limited to, the following: To employ and discharge employees, as needed for the efficient performance of the business of the community hospital and prescribe their duties; To supervise and control the records, accounts, buildings and property of the community hospital and all internal affairs, and maintain discipline therein, and enforce compliance with, and obedience to, all rules, bylaws and regulations adopted by the board of trustees for the government, discipline and management of said hospital, and its employees and staff. To attend meetings of the board of trustees and to keep the trustees advised of hospital business. To exercise any of the powers of the board of trustees as described in Section 41-13-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, which have been delegated, by resolution or through the board bylaws, to the administrator.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-37 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws, 1982, ch. 395, § 6, eff from and after July 1, 1982. [1942, § 7129-56.5; Laws, 1958, ch. 363, § 4; Laws, 1966, chs. 460, 482; Laws, 1968, ch. 443, § 1]

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-38 Provisions of certain loans by hospital; financial assistance to nonprofit groups.

Any loan agreement entered into between a community hospital and a physician, employee or student pursuant to Section 41-13-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall contain a provision for repayment to the hospital no later than ten (10) years after the final date upon which any such payments are made, with or without interest. In the event of a default in repayment of a loan obligation, the community hospital shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees expended to collect the obligation and to all other rights and remedies of a general creditor. No loan agreement with a physician shall impose any condition of admitting a certain number or quota of the physician’s patients to the community hospital. The board of trustees may provide financial assistance or provide grants to nonprofit health-care provider groups and other recognized nonprofit entities and charities where it is determined by the board that such action will benefit the health or welfare of the citizens of the service area.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-39 Trustees may establish day care centers.

The board of trustees of any hospital provided for in Sections 41-13-27 through 41-13-31 shall have full authority in its discretion to operate a child care center for the benefit of its employees and other personnel. Such child care center shall be operated as an integral part of the hospital and, if not located on the premises dedicated for hospital purposes, shall be located on such other real property, whether or not adjacent to the hospital premises, that may be purchased, leased or otherwise provided as in the case of hospitals and other related facilities, by the governing authorities of the counties, cities and towns, supervisors districts or election districts jointly or separately interested in the operation of the hospital. If such child care centers be leased, the rental therefor shall be paid from hospital funds, and the hospital board of trustees may in its discretion make charges to its employees and other personnel for child care services. In the event that child care centers shall hereafter be subject to licensure by an agency of the State of Mississippi other than the licensing agency for hospitals, child care centers established hereunder shall nevertheless be subject to inspection, approval and licensure by the hospital licensing agency.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-41 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws, 1978, ch. 332, § 2, eff from and after July 1, 1978. [Laws, 1968, ch. 296, §§ 1, 4]

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-43 and 41-13-45. Repealed.

Repealed by Laws, 1982, ch. 395, § 6, eff from and after July 1, 1982. § 41-13-43 . [Codes, 1942, § 7129-55.6; Laws, 1968, ch. 296, § 2; Laws, 1978, ch. 332, § 1] § 41-13-45 . [Codes, 1942, § 7129-55.7; Laws, 1968, ch. 296, § 3] Editor’s Notes — Former § 41-13-43 specified additional powers of trustees in certain counties. Former § 41-13-45 authorized board of supervisors to provide facilities for expanded health care services.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-47 Proposed budget; reports.

On or before the first Monday in September of each year, the said board of trustees shall make, enter on its minutes and file with the owner or owners, separately or jointly interested in said hospital, a proposed budget based on anticipated income and expenditures for the ensuing fiscal year. Such budget, as submitted or amended, shall be approved by the said owner or owners, as the case may be, which approval shall be evidenced by a proper order recorded upon the minutes of each such owner. On or before the first Monday in March of each year, said board of trustees shall also make, enter on its minutes and file with such owner or owners, a full fiscal year report which shall contain a complete and correct accounting of all funds received and expended for all hospital purposes.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-49 Definitions of terms used in this section and Section 41-13-51; applicability of this section and Section 41-13-51; retirement plan administrator to provide certain information to the public, plan participants and plan beneficiaries.

As used in this section and Section 41-13-51, the following terms shall be defined as provided in this subsection: “Administrator” means the person primarily responsible for the management of the retirement plan or, if no person is clearly designated, the trustee of the retirement plan who has the ultimate authority to manage the plan; “Beneficiary” means a person, other than the participant, who is designated by a participant or by the retirement plan to receive a benefit under the retirement plan; “Defined benefit retirement plan” means a retirement plan other than a defined contribution retirement plan; “Defined contribution retirement plan” means a retirement plan that provides for an individual account for each participant and for benefits based solely upon the amount contributed to the participant’s account, and any income, expenses, gains and losses credited or charged to the account and any forfeitures of accounts of other participants that may be allocated to the participant’s account; “Governing law” means state and local laws establishing or authorizing the creation of the retirement plan and the principal state and local laws and regulations governing the management of the retirement plan or assets of either; “Nonforfeitable benefit” means an immediate or deferred benefit that arises from a participant’s service, is unconditional, and is enforceable against the retirement plan; “Participant” means an individual who is or has been an employee enrolled in the retirement plan and who is or may become eligible to receive or is currently receiving a benefit under the retirement plan, or whose beneficiaries are or may become eligible to receive a benefit. The term does not include an individual who is no longer an employee of the community hospital and has not accrued any nonforfeitable benefits under the retirement plan; “Retirement plan” means a plan of rights and obligations that a community hospital establishes or maintains and that, by its express terms or as a result of surrounding circumstances, provides retirement income to employees; “Trustee” means a person who has ultimate authority to manage a retirement plan or to invest or manage its assets. This section and Section 41-13-51 apply to any defined benefit retirement plan established or maintained by a community hospital for its employees, whether the membership of the retirement plan is open or closed to new members. This section and Section 41-13-51 do not apply to any community hospital that is a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System. The administrator of the retirement plan shall prepare and disseminate: A summary plan description of the retirement plan; A summary description of any material modification in the terms of the retirement plan and any material change in the information required to be contained in the summary plan description, to the extent the modification or change has not been integrated into an updated summary plan description; An annual disclosure of financial and actuarial status; and An annual report. The administrator shall make available for public examination in the principal office of the administrator and in other places if necessary to make the information reasonably available to participants: The governing law of the retirement plan; The most recent summary plan description; Summary descriptions of modifications or changes described in subsection (3)(b) of this section that have been provided to participants and beneficiaries but not yet integrated into the summary plan description; The most recent annual disclosure of financial and actuarial status; and The most recent annual report. Upon written request by a participant, beneficiary or member of the public, the administrator shall provide a copy of any publication described in subsection (4) of this section. The administrator shall furnish to each participant and to each beneficiary who is receiving benefits under the retirement plan: A copy of the most recent summary plan description, along with any summary descriptions of modifications or changes described in subsection (3)(b) of this section, within three (3) months after a person becomes a participant or, in the case of a beneficiary, within three (3) months after a person first receives benefits, or, if later, within four (4) months after the retirement plan becomes subject to this section; The summary description of any modifications or changes described in subsection (3)(b) of this section, within seven (7) months after the end of the fiscal year in which a modification or change has been made; A copy of an updated summary plan description that integrates all modifications and changes at intervals not exceeding five (5) years; and The annual report within seven (7) months after the end of each fiscal year. The administrator shall provide to a participant or beneficiary a statement containing information that would permit the participant or beneficiary to estimate projected benefits reasonably, to the extent the information is regularly maintained by the retirement plan. The information shall be provided with the annual report or upon written request of the participant or beneficiary. The information need not be provided to a participant or beneficiary who is currently receiving benefits. A participant who is not currently receiving benefits is entitled without charge to one (1) statement under subsection (7) of this section during any fiscal year. The administrator shall provide the statements within thirty (30) days after the participant’s or beneficiary’s request.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-51 Contents of summary plan description, annual disclosure of financial and actuarial status, and annual report.

A summary plan description and a summary description of modifications or changes under Section 41-13-49(3)(b) shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the average participant and be accurate and sufficiently comprehensive reasonably to inform the participants and beneficiaries of their rights and obligations under the retirement plan. A summary plan description shall contain: The name of the retirement plan; The name and business address of the administrator; The name and business address of each agent for service of process; Citations to the governing law of the retirement plan; A description of the retirement plan’s requirements respecting eligibility for participation and benefits; A description of the retirement plan’s provisions providing for nonforfeitable benefits; A description of circumstances that may result in disqualification, ineligibility or denial or loss of benefits; A description of the benefits provided by the retirement plan, including the manner of calculating benefits and any benefits provided for spouses and survivors; The source of financing of the retirement plan; The identity of any organization through which benefits are provided; The date the fiscal year ends; The procedures to claim benefits under the retirement plan and the administrative procedures available under the retirement plan for the redress of claims that are denied in whole or in part; and Notice of the availability of additional information under Section 41-13-49(4), (5), (7) and (8). An annual disclosure of financial and actuarial status shall contain: The name of the retirement plan; The name and business address of the administrator; The name and business address of each trustee and each member of a trustee board and a brief description of how the trustee or member was selected; The name and business address of each agent for the service of process; The number of employees covered by the retirement plan; Financial statements and notes to the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles; An opinion on the financial statements by a qualified public accountant in conformity with generally accepted auditing standards; Actuarial schedules and notes to the actuarial schedules in conformity with generally accepted actuarial principles and practices for measuring pension obligations; An opinion by a qualified actuary that the actuarial schedules are complete and accurate to the best of the actuary’s knowledge, that each assumption and method used in preparing the schedules is reasonable, that the assumptions and methods in the aggregate are reasonable, and that the assumptions and methods in combination offer the actuary’s best estimate of anticipated experience; A description of any material interest, other than the interest in the retirement plan itself, held by the community hospital or any employee organization representing employees covered by the retirement plan in any material transaction with the retirement plan within the last three (3) years or proposed to be effected; A description of any material interest held by any trustee, administrator or employee who is a fiduciary with respect to the investment and management of assets of the retirement plan, or by a related person, in any material transaction with the retirement plan within the last three (3) years or proposed to be effected; A schedule of the rates of return, net of total investment expense, on assets of the retirement plan overall and on assets aggregated by category over the most recent one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods, to the extent available, and the rates of return on appropriate benchmarks for assets of the retirement plan overall and for each category over each period; A schedule of the sum of total investment expense and total general administrative expense for the fiscal year expressed as a percentage of the fair value of assets of the retirement plan on the last day of the fiscal year, and an equivalent percentage for the preceding five (5) fiscal years; and A schedule of all assets held for investment purposes on the last day of the fiscal year aggregated and identified by issuer, borrower, lessor or similar party to the transaction stating, if relevant, the asset’s maturity date, rate of interest, par or maturity value, number of shares, cost and fair value and identifying any asset that is in default or classified as uncollectible. An annual report shall contain: The name and business address of each trustee and each member of a trustee board; The financial statements, but not the notes, required by subsection (3)(f) of this section; The actuarial schedules, but not the notes, required by subsection (3)(h) of this section; The schedules described in subsection (3)(l) and (m) of this section; A brief description of and information about how to interpret the statements and schedules; Other material necessary to summarize fairly and accurately the annual disclosure of financial and actuarial status; and Notice of the availability of additional information under Section 41-13-49(4), (5), (7) and (8).

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-53 Benefits with respect to ownership and operation of hospitals organized under other laws.

In any case where a hospital has been or is hereafter established under any provisions of law other than Sections 41-13-15 through 41-13-51, and is owned and operated separately or jointly by one or more counties, cities, towns, supervisors districts or election districts or combinations thereof, the respective governing authority of each such political subdivision or part of a political subdivision interested therein may, in its discretion, by adoption of the resolution hereinafter provided for, obtain for itself, its officers and members, the same authority, powers, rights, privileges and immunities with respect to establishing, erecting, building, constructing, remodeling, adding to, acquiring, equipping, furnishing, and operating and maintaining such hospital as if such hospital were originally established and organized under the provisions of said sections. The aforesaid resolution shall be duly adopted at any regular or special meeting, or any adjournment of a regular or special meeting, of the governing authority and shall be duly spread upon its minutes. Any such resolution shall be sufficient for the purposes hereof if it indicates an intention to obtain the benefits of this section or Sections 41-13-15 through 41-13-51. Multiple resolutions shall not be required in the case of a board of supervisors acting in behalf of more than one (1) supervisors district or election district or any combination of such districts. In the case of a hospital jointly owned and operated such resolution is to be adopted by the respective governing authority of each of the various counties, cities, towns, supervisors’ districts or election districts interested therein. The adoption of the aforesaid resolution shall have the effect of also conferring on and delegating to any board of trustees, board of commissioners or other governing board established for the operation and maintenance of such hospital, and the officers and members of such governing board, the same authority, powers, rights, privileges and immunities with respect to the operation and maintenance of the hospital as are conferred on the boards of trustees, and the officers and members thereof, of community hospitals established and organized under the provisions of Sections 41-13-15 through 41-13-51. The provisions of this section shall be supplemental to, and shall not restrict, supplant, amend or repeal any general or special authority, powers, rights, privileges and immunities with respect to hospitals heretofore or hereafter conferred on boards of supervisors, municipal governing authorities and hospital governing boards, or the officers and members of such boards or governing authorities, except as the same may delegate authority, powers, rights and privileges to hospital governing boards and the officers and members thereof. Adoption of the resolution provided for herein shall not amend the method of appointing or electing the officers and members of such hospital governing boards or their tenure of office. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to repeal any local and private law or any part or provision thereof authorizing or establishing a public hospital.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-101 Authorization of trust to insure participating hospitals against public liability claims.

There is hereby authorized the establishment, maintenance, administration and operation of any trust established by agreement of any hospitals or other health-care units licensed as such by the State of Mississippi, including without limitation, community hospitals established under this chapter (hereinafter referred to as “hospitals”) as grantors, with such hospitals as beneficiaries, for the purpose of insuring against general public liability claims based upon acts or omissions of such hospitals, including without limitation, claims based upon malpractice. Such hospitals may, by trust agreement among themselves and a trustee or trustees of their selection, specify the terms, conditions and provisions of such a trust.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-103 Trustees; powers; liability; investments.

The trustees of trusts established pursuant to Section 41-13-101 shall hold the legal title to all property at any time belonging to the trust. They shall have control over such property as well as the control and management of the business and affairs of the trust. Liability to third persons for any act, omission or obligation of a trustee of a trust, when acting in such capacity, shall extend to the whole of the trust estate or so much thereof as may be necessary to discharge such obligation, but no trustee shall be personally liable for any such act, omission or obligation. The trustees shall have such powers as to the investment of the trust estate as may be set out in the declaration of trust. However, the investments of the trust shall be limited to the same type, kind and quality as those required of a domestic casualty insurer. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the trustees shall have any powers, whether conferred upon them by the agreement of trust or otherwise, to perform all acts necessary or desirable to the conduct of the business of a public liability insurer.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-105 Liability of participating hospitals.

No hospital which is a participant in such a trust, as grantor, member, beneficiary or otherwise, shall be liable or obligated to the trust, to the trustee, to any other grantor, member or beneficiary, to any creditor of the trust or to any other person by virtue of its participation other than for the payment of its full agreed contribution to the trust in accordance with the trust agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no participating hospital shall incur any other liability of any nature whatever because of or arising out of its participation in such a trust.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-13-107 Trust not subject to insurance laws.

Neither the establishment of a trust under Section 41-13-101 nor the participation of a hospital in such trust shall constitute a “contract of insurance” within the meaning of Section 83-5-5, and the trust shall not be considered an “insurance company” or any other concern subject to the inspection and supervision of the Insurance Commissioner within the meaning of Section 83-5-1 or of the Insurance Commission within the meaning of Section 83-3-1 et seq.

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