Bill > HB998

This bill makes several changes to Mississippi law regarding healthcare and law enforcement personnel. First, it amends the assault statute to explicitly include mental health care providers in the list of professionals who receive enhanced penalties when assaulted while performing their duties. The bill also requires all hospitals, both public and private, to establish a hospital police department, with officers who must meet specific training and certification requirements similar to traditional law enforcement officers. Additionally, it mandates that campus police and security personnel at mental health facilities receive the same training as law enforcement officers. The bill revises the legal definition of a hospital to include both public and private institutions and brings forward several existing sections of law related to law enforcement training academies and officer standards. These changes aim to provide greater protection for healthcare workers, particularly those in mental health settings, and establish more uniform standards for hospital and facility security personnel. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

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https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0998.xml