An Act To Establish The Mississippi Bullion Depository; To Define The Term "legal Tender" As Specie Legal Tender And Electronic And/or Digital Currency Whose Entire And Exclusive Value Is Correlated Against The Market Value Of Gold Or Silver; To Define Other Terms Relating To The Depository; To Provide That Such Depository Is Established To Serve As The Custodian, Guardian, And Administrator Of Certain Bullion And Specie That May Be Transferred To Or Otherwise Acquired By The State Of Mississippi Or An Agency, Department, Institution, Instrumentality, Or Political Subdivision Of The State Of Mississippi; To Require That The Depository Be Administered As A Division Of The Office Of The State Treasurer And Under The Direction And Supervision Of A Bullion Depository Administrator; To Provide The Duties Of The Bullion Depository Administrator; To Authorize The Depository To Receive A Deposit Of Bullion Or Specie From Or On Behalf Of A Person Acting In The Person's Own Right, As Trustee, Or In Another Fiduciary Capacity, In Accordance With Any Rules Or Regulations Adopted By The State Treasurer; To Require That The Depository Record The Amount Of Precious Metals A Person Deposits, Regardless Of Form, In Units Of Troy Ounces Pure, And The Record Must Also Specify The Type And Quantity Of Each Precious Metal Deposited; To Authorize The State Treasurer To Restrict The Forms In Which Deposits Of Precious Metals May Be Made To Those Forms That Conveniently Lend Themselves To Measurement And Accounting In Units Of Troy Ounces And Standardized Fractions Of Troy Ounces; To Require The Depository To Deliver Any Precious Metal Held By Or On Behalf Of The Depository In Bullion, Specie, Or A Combination Thereof, On The Order Of A Depository Account Holder In A Quantity Of That Precious Metal As Is Available In Such Account Holder's Account; To Authorize A Depository Account Holder To Transfer Any Portion Of The Balance Of The Holder's Depository Account By Check, Draft, Or Digital Electronic Instruction To Another Depository Account Holder Or To A Person Who At The Time The Transfer Is Initiated Is Not A Depository Account Holder; To Require A Depositor To Contract With The Depository To Be Able To Establish A Depository Account; To Provide Certain Requirements For Such Contract Between A Depository And Depositor; To Provide That A Cause Of Action For Denial Of Deposit Liability On A Depository Account Contract Without A Maturity Date Does Not Accrue Until The Depository Has Denied Liability And Given Notice Of The Denial To The Depository Account Holder; To Provide That A Depository Account May Be Transferred On The Books Of The Depository Only On Presentation To The Depository Of Evidence Of Transfer Satisfactory To The Depository And An Application For The Transfer Submitted By The Person To Whom The Depository Account Is To Be Transferred; To Prohibit The Depository From Paying On A Depository Account Any Interest, An Amount In The Nature Of Interest, Or A Fee Or Other Payment For The Use Or Forbearance Of Use Of Money, Bullion, Specie, Or Precious Metals Deposited To A Depository Account; To Provide That The Depository Has A Lien On Each Depository Account Owned By A Depository Account Holder To Secure Any Fees, Charges, Or Other Obligations Owed Or That May Become Owed To The Depository In Connection With Any Of Such Account Holder's Depository Accounts As Provided By The Terms Of The Account Holder's Applicable Depository Account Contract; To Authorize The Depository, Without Notice To Or Consent Of The Depository Account Holder, To Transfer On The Depository's Books The Balance Of Such Account Holder's Depository Account To Pay Or Satisfy The Obligation Upon Default In The Payment Or In The Satisfaction Of Such Account Holder's Obligation, As Determined By Reference To The Exchange Rates Applicable At The Time Of The Transfer; To Authorize Certain Individuals And Entities To Invest Money In A Depository Account By Purchasing Precious Metals And Depositing Such Precious Metals With The Depository Or A Depository Agent; To Provide That Unless A Term Of The Depository Account Provides Otherwise, A Person On Whose Signature Precious Metals May Be Withdrawn From A Depository Account That Is Jointly Held In The Names Of Two Or More Persons May, By A Signed Pledge, Pledge And Transfer To The Depository Or To A Third Party All Or Part Of The Account; To Authorize The Depository Or A Depository Agent To Accept A Depository Account In The Name Of A Fiduciary, Including An Administrator, Executor, Custodian, Guardian, Or Trustee, For A Named Beneficiary; To Require The Depository To Recognize The Authority Of A Power Of Attorney Authorized In Writing By A Depository Account Holder To Manage Or Withdraw Precious Metals From The Depository Account Holder's Depository Account Until The Depository Receives Written Or Actual Notice Of The Revocation Of That Authority; To Require The Depository To Enter Into Transactions And Relationships With Bullion Banks, Depositories, Dealers, Central Banks, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Financial Institutions, International Nongovernmental Organizations, And Other Persons, Located Inside Or Outside Of Mississippi Or Inside Or Outside Of The United States, As The State Treasurer Determines To Be Prudent And Suitable To Facilitate The Operations Of The Depository; To Provide Certain Prohibitions For The Bullion Depository; To Require The State Treasurer To Establish The References By Which The Official Exchange Rate For Pricing Precious Metals Transactions In Terms Of United States Dollars Or Other Currency Must Be Established At The Time Of A Depository Transaction; To Require The State Treasurer To Establish Procedures And Facilities Through Which The Rates Are Made Discoverable At All Reasonable Times By System Participants, Both On A Real-time Basis And Retrospectively; To Require The State Treasurer To Establish Procedures And Requirements For The Depository And Depository Agents Designed To Minimize The Burden To System Participants Of Accounting For And Reporting Taxable Gains And Losses Arising Out Of Depository Transactions As Denominated In United States Dollars Or Another Currency; To Require The State Treasurer To Submit To The Governor And To The Legislature A Report On The Status, Condition, Operations, And Prospects For The Depository And Depository Participation Not Later Than September 30 Of Each Year; To Require That The Depository Use Private, Independently Managed Firms And Institutions Licensed As Depository Agents As Intermediaries To Conduct Retail Transactions In Bullion And Specie On Behalf Of The Depository With Current And Prospective Depository Account Holders; To Provide That The State Treasurer Shall Require A Depository Agent To Maintain Suitable Systems And Processes For Electronic Information Sharing And Communication With The State Treasurer And The Depository To Ensure That All Transactions Effected On Behalf Of The Depository Are Reported To And Integrated Into The Depository's Records Not Later Than 11:59:59 P.m. On The Date Of Each Transaction; To Require A Depository Agent To Submit Monthly, Quarterly, And Annual Reports Of All Depository Transactions No Later Than The 15th Day Of The Month Following The Expiration Of The Period With Respect To Which Report Is Submitted; To Provide That A Person May Not Engage In The Business Of Rendering Depository Agent Services Or Advertise, Solicit, Or Hold Itself Out As A Person That Engages In The Business Of Such Services Unless The Person Is Licensed, And Has Received The Requisite Certifications; To Provide That A Person Engages In The Business Of Depository Agent Services If The Person Renders A Depository Agent Service, Regardless Of Whether Compensation Is Sought Or Received For The Service, Directly Or Indirectly Or If The Service Is Incidental To Any Other Business In Which The Person Is Primarily Engaged; To Provide That A Person Solicits, Advertises, Or Holds The Person Out As A Person That Engages In The Business Of Depository Agent Services If The Person Represents That The Person Will Conduct Depository Agent Services; To Authorize A Depository Agent License Holder To Engage In Depository Agent Services Business At One Or More Locations In Mississippi Owned Directly Or Indirectly By The License Holder Under A Single License; To Require An Applicant For A Depository Agent License To Submit An Application To The State Treasurer And To Provide Certain Requirements For Such Application; To Require The State Treasurer To Investigate Such Applicant And Accept Or Deny Such Applications; To Authorize The State Treasurer To Issue A Temporary Depository Agent License To A Person That Is Engaging In Depository Agent Services, But Has Not Obtained A License Under This Act Under Certain Circumstances; To Provide That A Depository Agent License Holder Is Liable For The Delivery To Or For The Account Of The Depository Or Each Depositor, As Applicable, Of All Bullion, Specie, And Money Payable Or Deliverable In Connection With The Transactions In Which The License Holder Engages On Behalf Of The Depository; To Require A Depository Agent License Holder To Hold In Trust All Cash, Bullion, Specie, And Other Assets Received In The Ordinary Course Of Its Business Until The Time The Delivery Obligation Is Discharged; To Require That A Depository Agent License Holder's Name And Mailing Address Or Telephone Number Must Be Provided To The Purchaser In Connection With Each Depository Agent Services Transaction Conducted By The Depository Agent License Holder; To Bring Forward Sections 75-15-3, 75-15-5, 75-15-7, 75-15-9, 75-15-11, 75-15-12, 75-15-19, 75-15-23, 75-15-25, 75-15-29, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Relate To The Mississippi Money Transmitters Act, For Purposes Of Possible Amendment; To Bring Forward Section 7-9-9, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Relates To Powers And Duties Of The State Treasurer For Purposes Of Possible Amendment; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Be Known As The Mississippi Rural Regional Health Authorities Act Of 2024; To Declare The Legislative Intent Regarding The Purpose Of Regional Health Authorities; To Create The Delta Regional Health Authority; To Provide For The Appointment Of The Governing Board Of Such Authority; To Provide For Participation Agreements Between The Regional Health Authority And The Owners Of Community Hospitals For The Hospitals To Participate In The Regional Health Authority; To Provide That Participating Community Hospitals Will No Longer Be Governed By The Community Hospital Laws But Will Be Governed By The Authority Board; To Provide That The Authority Board May Appoint A Chief Executive Officer Of The Authority; To Specify The Powers And Duties Of The Chief Executive Officer; To Provide That The Authority Board Shall Have All Of The Powers, Authority, Rights, Privileges And Immunities Conferred On The Owners And The Boards Of Trustees Of Community Hospitals; To Prescribe Additional Powers And Duties Of The Regional Health Authority; To Provide That The Authority Shall Be Deemed A "governmental Entity" And "political Subdivision" For The Purpose Of The Tort Claims Act; To Authorize The Authority To Participate In The Public Employees' Retirement System As A Political Subdivision; To Provide That The Regional Health Authority Shall Be Treated As A Nonstate Governmental Hospital And Shall Have All Rights, Privileges And Entitlements Of A Nonstate Governmental Hospital For Purposes Of The Mississippi Medicaid Program; To Direct The Division Of Medicaid To Create And Implement A Supplemental Payment Program To Support The Essential Services And Operations Of The Delta Regional Health Authority; To Provide That Any Consolidation Or Collaboration Involving A Regional Health Authority And Other Public, Private Or Nonprofit Hospitals, Health Care Facilities Or Providers Shall Be Immune From Liability Under The Federal And State Antitrust Or Competition Laws To The Fullest Extent Allowed By Law; To Amend Sections 11-46-1, 41-7-173, 41-13-11, 41-13-15, 41-13-19, 41-13-35, 41-13-47 And 41-13-101, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform To The Preceding Provisions; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 41-29-113, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Include Seven Substances As Schedule I Controlled Substances Because These Drugs Have No Legitimate Medical Use And Have A High Potency With Great Potential To Cause Harm; To Amend Section 41-29-119, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Include Daridorexant And Zuranolone As Schedule Iv Controlled Substances Because These Drugs Have A Currently Accepted Medical Use And A Low Potential For Abuse That May Lead To Limited Physical Dependence Or Psychological Dependence Relative To The Drugs Or Other Substances In Schedule Iii; To Remove Fenfluramine As A Schedule Iv Controlled Substance; To Amend Section 41-29-121, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Include Ganaxolone As A Schedule V Controlled Substance; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 37-21-3, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Revise The Qualification For An Assistant Teacher To Include A High School Diploma/ged And A Child Development Associate Credential, A Montessori Certification Or An Equivalent Certification; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 71-5-353, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That The Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund Treasury Account, As Directed By The Mississippi Office Of Workforce Development, In Collaboration With The Mississippi Community College Board, May Be Used To Provide Training And Other Workforce Related Postsecondary Education Programs As Approved By Both The Office Of Workforce Development And The Institutions Of Higher Learning; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 47-5-26, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Remove Provisions Requiring That There Be A Deputy Commissioner For Workforce Development Who Shall Serve As The Chief Executive Officer Of Prison Industries And Director Of Prison Agricultural Enterprises; To Amend Section 47-5-541, Mississippi Code Of 1972, As Amended By Senate Bill No. 2445, 2024 Regular Session, To Replace The Executive Director Of Acceleratems With The Executive Director Of The Office Of Workforce Development, To Require The Chief Executive Officer Of The Corporation To Implement Workforce Development Programs Within The Corrections System, And To Describe The Duties Of The Chief Executive Officer Of The Corporation; To Amend Section 47-5-577, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Extend The Date Of Repeal From 2024 To 2027; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 27-31-1, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Revise Certain Provisions Regarding The Leasing Or Other Use Of Property Belonging To An Entity That Is Wholly Owned By And Controlled By An Education Foundation And Whether The Property Will Be Treated As Belonging To The Foundation; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 37-106-36, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Revise Provisions Of The "william F. Winter And Jack Reed, Sr., Teacher Loan Repayment Program" For The Purpose Of Allowing Individuals Pursuing An Alternate Route Licensure Pathway To Become Eligible To Receive Financial Assistance Under The Program; To Remove The Cap On The Number Of Applicants Eligible To Receive Assistance Under The Program In Any Fiscal Year; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Sections 17-3-3, 17-5-1, 17-5-7, 17-11-37, 17-11-45, 17-17-107, 17-17-109, 17-17-227, 17-17-237, 17-17-309, 17-17-311, 17-17-329, 17-17-337, 17-17-348, 17-18-17, 17-21-53, 19-3-1, 19-3-11, 19-3-19, 19-3-33, 19-3-35, 19-3-67, 19-3-79, 19-5-9, 19-5-21, 19-5-23, 19-5-81, 19-5-92.1, 19-5-155, 19-5-157, 19-5-189, 19-5-199, 19-5-207, 19-5-219, 19-5-221, 19-7-3, 19-7-21, 19-9-11, 19-9-13, 19-9-27, 19-9-111, 19-9-114, 19-11-7, 19-13-53, 19-15-3, 19-23-5, 19-27-31, 19-29-7, 19-29-9, 19-29-18, 19-29-33, 19-31-7, 19-31-9, 19-31-23, 19-31-39, 21-1-7, 21-1-15, 21-3-7, 21-5-15, 21-13-11, 21-17-1, 21-17-9, 21-17-11, 21-17-17, 21-17-19, 21-19-2, 21-19-13, 21-19-20, 21-19-25, 21-19-51, 29-19-61, 21-25-21, 21-27-33, 21-27-43, 21-29-203, 21-33-29, 21-33-47, 21-33-89, 21-33-207, 21-33-307, 21-33-553, 21-35-5, 21-35-25, 21-35-31, 21-38-9, 21-41-5, 21-41-13, 21-41-51, 21-43-9 And 21-43-117, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Modernize And Simplify The Notice Publication Process For Counties And Municipalities And To Require Publication Of Notice In A Newspaper For Instances Involving Levying Of Taxes; To Bring Forward Section 21-39-3, Mississippi Code Of 1972, For The Purpose Of Possible Amendment; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 73-15-5, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Delete Certain Definitions And Revise Certain Definitions In The Nursing Practice Law Regarding Advanced Nursing Practice; To Amend Section 73-15-20, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Revise Certain Provisions Relating To The Practice Of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses; To Provide That The Physician Or Dentist With Whom An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Has Entered Into A Collaborative/consultative Relationship Shall Not Charge Or Require Any Payment From The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse For Serving In That Capacity With The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse; To Provide That After An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Except A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Has Completed Not Less Than 5,000 Clinical Practice Hours In A Collaborative/consultative Relationship With A Physician Or With An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Completed Not Less Than 5,000 Clinical Practice Hours, The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Is Exempt From The Requirement Of Entering And Maintaining A Collaborative/consultative Relationship With A Licensed Physician Or Dentist; To Provide That After A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Has Completed Not Less Than 8,000 Clinical Practice Hours In A Collaborative/consultative Relationship With A Physician Or With An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Completed Not Less Than 5,000 Clinical Practice Hours, The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Is Exempt From Maintaining A Collaborative/consultative Relationship With A Licensed Physician Or Dentist; To Provide That Advanced Practice Registered Nurses May Apply Hours Worked Before The Effective Date Of This Act To Fulfill Their Respective Clinical Practice Hour Requirement; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Establish The Mississippi K-12 And Postsecondary Mental Health Task Force Drawing On Available Data To Determine Challenges In Mississippi As It Relates To The Mental Health Of Students Ranging From K-12 Through The Community College And University Systems, Assess The Public And Private Resources Currently Available To Youth Suffering From Depression, Trauma And Suicidal Ideation, And Determine Where Gaps Exist In Service Delivery And Treatment; To Provide For The Membership Of The Task Force; To Require The Task Force To Review And Make Recommendations To The Legislature Regarding Available Resources And Gaps In Resources To Address This Crisis; To Provide For The Goals And Responsibilities Of The Task Force; To Require The Task Force To Develop And Report Its Findings And Recommendations For Proposed Legislation To The Legislature On Or Before October 1, 2024; To Reconstitute The Early Intervention Task Force With A Goal To Collaborate With The State Agency Coordinating Part C Of Idea To Design A New Service Delivery Model And Make Changes To The Early Intervention Program; To Set The Task Force's Duties; To Require The Task Force To Prepare A Final Report To The Legislature; To Require The State Agency Coordinating Part C Of Idea To Prepare And Deliver A Report That Provides For Possible Solutions; To Dissolve The Task Force Upon Presentation Of The Report; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Create The Mississippi Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Program; To Provide That The Division Of Medicaid Shall Establish The Program To Provide Prescription Drugs Available Outside Of The United States To Consumers In The State At A Lower Cost; To Require The Division To Contract With One Or More Prescription Drug Wholesalers And Canadian Suppliers To Import Prescription Drugs; To Require The Division To Develop A Registration Process For Health Benefit Plans; To Require Providers And Pharmacies To Obtain And Dispense Such Drugs; To Require The Division To Comply With Certain Federal Laws Regulating Such Programs; To Provide That A Prescription Drug May Be Imported Into The State Only If The Drug Meets F.d.a. Standards And Does Not Violate Federal Patent Laws, Among Other Requirements; To Require The Division To Monitor Any Potential Anticompetitive Activities Affected By The Program; To Authorize The Division To Impose A Fee On Each Prescription Drug Sold Under The Program; To Require The Director Of The Division To Develop Auditing Procedures; To Require The Division To Submit A Report On The Program To The Legislature And Governor Each Year; To Create New Section 73-21-158, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require Each Drug Manufacturer To Submit A Quarterly Report To The Commissioner Of The Department Of Insurance With The Current Wholesale Acquisition Cost Information For The Prescription Drugs Sold In The State By That Manufacturer; To Set Certain Other Reporting Requirements, Including The Name Of The Drug And Aggregate Rebate Amounts; To Require Pharmacy Benefit Managers Providing Services For A Health Care Plan And Each Health Insurer To Submit Certain Reports To The Commissioner; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 77-3-16, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Authorize The Electronic Submission Of Bids For Public Utility Contracts; To Provide Certain Requirements For Construction Bids That Are Submitted Electronically; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 37-15-9, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Criminalize The Willful Enrollment Of A Child Without Establishing Domicile Within The State And District; To Provide Penalties; To Require The Department To Expel The Child Whose Enrollment Was The Basis Of The Conviction; To Require The Department, School District Or Any School Employee To Inform The Proper Law Enforcement Authority Of Violations Of This Provision; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Enact The Mississippi Organized Retail Theft Crime Prevention Act; To Define Terms; To Create The Crime Of Organized Retail Theft; To Provide Penalties For The Crime Of Organized Retail Theft Based On The Retail Value Of The Merchandise Stolen; To Provide That Any Proceeds, Property Obtained By Proceeds, Or Instruments Of The Crimes Of Organized Retail Theft May Be Subject To Forfeiture; To Require The Court To Order Restitution And Payment Of Investigative Costs; To Set Forth The Venue For The Criminal Proceeding; To State Certain Evidence That Shall Be Prima Facie Evidence Of Certain Elements Of The Crime; To Direct The Attorney General, The Department Of Public Safety And The Mississippi Judicial College To Coordinate Efforts To Train Prosecutors And Law Enforcement Agencies Throughout The State To Combat Organized Retail Crime; To Amend Section 41-29-153, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform; And For Related Purposes.