MISSISSIPPI LAWS AND EXTRACTS OF LAWS DEALING 
WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND CERTAIN LAWS 
RELATING TO MEDICAL EDUCATION 
LICENSURE AND HOSPITALS 
NURSING EDUCATION AND 
RELATED LAWS 
SUPPLEMENT NUMBER ONE 
July 15, 1948 
Mississippi State Board of Health 
Jackson, Mississippi House Biel No. 164 
AN ACT to amend section 6 of chapter 363, laws of 1946, to include non-profit 
hospitals and facilities. 
WHEREAS, the public necessity requires that not only public, 
but other non-profit hospitals, nurses homes, health centers, clinics 
and related facilities shall be established and maintained in this 
state on as broad a basis as possible so as to adequately and proper- 
ly provide for the indigent sick and to encourage and promote the 
health and general public 'welfare of the people of the State of 
Mississippi: NOW, THEREFORE : 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
Section 1. That section 6 of chapter 363, laws of 1946, be and 
the same is hereby amended so as to read as follows: 
Section 6. Grants of aid, as specified in the preceding section, 
shall be made to the following hospitals, nurses homes, health cen- 
ters, clinics’and related facilities to-wit: (a) those which are publicly 
owned and operated by the state or by a political subdivision of 
the state, including a portion of a supervisor’s district in counties 
having two court districts, acting either jointly or severally, includ- 
ing- specifically all hospitals established under the provisions of 
chapter 277, laws of 1944, as now or hereafter amended; (b) those 
non-profit institutions owned and operated by a corporation or as- 
sociation no part of the net earnings of which inures, or may law- 
fully inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder, group or in- 
dividual. Such public and non-profit institutions shall be subject 
to and governed by all the provisions of this chapter in all functions 
which are a part of the state hospital plan, and no hospital which 
has changed its operation in management to a non-profit institution 
sineb December 31, 1946 shall be eligible for those benefits. 
Grants shall be made only when the commission shall find and 
determine that such hospital or other facility is reasonably necessary 
as a part of the long range state-wide hospital plan, that there exists 
in the area to be served by same a need for the hospital or other 
facility, that the proposed hospital or other facility will be located 
at a place' where it will best serve the needs of said area, that the 
funds available for the construction, erection and equipping of 
such hospital or other facility, including a site therefor, will be ade- 
quate for such purpose, that the hospital or other facility will be 
erected, equipped, and operated in accordance with the standards 
prescribed by the commission, and that sucji institution will be con- 
tinually publicly owned, operated and controlled, or privately own- 
ed, operated and controlled on a strictly non-profit basis, as defined 
by the commission. 
If any hospital or institution to which funds have been paid under 
this chapter shall, at any time within 20 years after-the date of such 
grant, (a) be sold or transferred to any person, agency, or organ- 
ization, (1) which is not qualified to receive a grant in aid under 
this chapter, or (2) which is not approved as a.transferee by the 
commission, or (b) cease to be a non-profit institution, a lien in 
favor of the state shall attach to the property thereof and the state 
1 shall be entitled to recover from either the transferer or the trans- 
feree (or, in the case of an institution which has ceased to be a 
non-profit organization, from the owners thereof), the amount of 
money advanced by the state to such institution less reasonable de- 
preciation as determined by agreement of the parties'or the chancery 
court of the county in wdiich such hospital or facility is located; 
subject, however; to any contractual relations such institution made 
prior to April 4, 1946, and which contractual relations shall be ap- 
proved bv the commission before such institution shall receive any 
benefits under this act. 
No payment of money shall be made by the commission unless and 
until the site, plans and specifications for the location, construction, 
and equipping of such hospital or related facility or the improve- 
ment, enlargement or expansion of an existing facility, shall have 
been approved by the commission. 
The commission shall satisfy itself completely that the sources of 
funds for the permanent maintenance of the hospital is adequate to 
insure the hospital’s continued efficient maintenance and operation 
on the basis of reasonable charges before a grant of aid from the 
state is made, and shall have the right to inspect the books of local 
hospitals and to counsel with local management in order to assist 
in maintaining sound accounting principals, efficient management, 
and a high standard of service, and in order to satisfy itself that 
such institutions are entitled to receive the benefits of this act. 
The commission shall require said hospitals to maintain at least 
ten per cent (10%) of its bed capacity if needed for charity patients 
who are eligible and qualify under the per capita fund for charity 
hospitalization. 
Section 2. That this act shall take effect and be in force from 
and after its passage. 
Approved February 18th, 1948. 
House Bill No. 3 
AN ACT to provide that the state building commission shall provide accom- 
modations for those suffering from senile dementia apart from idiots, 
fools, and other known incurables at the institution selected by the 
board of trustees of mental institutions and for those suffering from 
alcoholism and the use of narcotic drugs at the Mississippi State Hos- 
pital; and to repeal chapter 426, laws of 1946. 
Be it enacted hy the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
Section 1. That the state building commission is hereby author- 
ized, empowered and directed to provide suitable accommodations 
at such institution under the control and management of the board 
of trustees of mental institutions as shall be selected and designated 
by said board of trustees to care for those suffering from senile 
dementia, which accommodations shall be separate and apart from 
the accommodations provided for idiots, fools, and other incurables. 
When such accommodations have been completed, all persons suffer- 
ing from senile dementia now or hereafter confined in any institu- 
tion of the state shall be transferred thereto. 
2 Section 2. The state building commission is hereby authorized, 
empowered, and directed to provide suitable accommodations at 
such institution under the control and management of the board of 
trustees of mental institutions as shall be selected and designated by 
said board of* trustees to care for idiots, fools, and other known in- 
curables, which accommodations shall be separate from those pro- 
vided for persons suffering from senile dementia. When such ac- 
commodations have been completed, all idiots, fools, and other in- 
curables now or hereafter confined in any institution of the state 
shall be transferred thereto. 
Section 3. That the state building commission is hereby author- 
ized, empowered, and directed to provide suitable accommodations 
at the State Insane Hospital, or the East Mississippi State Hospital 
for the Insane, for all persons committed or transferred thereto 
suffering from alcoholism and the use of narcotic drugs. 
Section 4. That chapter 426, laws of 1946 be and the same is 
hereby repealed. 
Section 5. That this act take effect and be in force from and 
after its passage. 
Approved March 23rd, 1948. 
AN ACT to amend sections 1, 2, 3 and 6 of chapter 277 of the laws of 1944, 
as amended by sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of chapter 412 of the laws of 1946, 
to authorize political subdivisions of the state to acquire real estate for 
and construct, add to, equip and operate health centers or health depart- 
ments and to issue and sell bonds for such purposes; to change the 
limitations upon the issuance of bonds by counties and other local au- 
thorities for such purposes; to modify the method of appointment and 
the tenure of office of hospital trustees provided for in said act as 
amended: to provide for a president and vice-president of such a board 
of trustees, and for other purposes. 
House Bill No. 533 
Be it enacted hy the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
Section 1, That section 1 of chapter 277 of the laws of 1944, as 
amended by section 1 of chapter 412 of the laws of 1946, be and the 
Same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 1. Any county, city, town, supervisors district, or election dis- 
trict of a county, separately or jointly with one or more other counties, 
cities, towns, supervisors districts or election districts of the same or 
other counties, may acquire and hold real estate for hospital, health 
center, health department, and related purposes and thereon estab- 
lish, erect, build, construct, remodel, add to, equip, operate and main- 
tain community hospitals, nurses’ homes, health centers, health de- 
partments, and related facilities within the limits of any such political 
subdivision or parts thereof. Any such political subdivision, or parts 
thereof, acting hereunder may contract and otherwise cooperate with 
any department or agency of the United States government or of the 
state of Mississippi, or any other county, city, town or supervisors 
district or election district of the same or other counties in carrying 
out of any of the powers herein conferred or otherwise effectuating the 
3 purposes of this act and in so doing accept or contribute from or to 
the other, gifts, money, real properties, existing hospital, health cen- 
ter, health department or related facilities, or any other suitable prop- 
erty. 
In acting jointly hereunder the board of supervisors of any county, 
acting for the county, supervisors district or election district of a 
county, and the mayor and board of aldermen, or city council, or 
other like governing body of any city or town, acting for the city or 
town, are hereby authorized and empowered to contract with each 
other for and on behalf of the political subdivision or part thereof 
which each represents with respect to any and all things related to 
the matters and things herein authorized and particularly to appor- 
tion and prorate the ownership of the property acquired or to be ac- 
quired in such a joint undertaking; to determine the proportionate 
part of the cost of maintenance, support and operation to be assumed, 
contributed and paid by each, and the amount of money therefor each 
will raise from taxation; and to determine the amount of bonds to be 
issued by each in carrying out the joint undertaking and also the 
amount each will contribute in such undertaking. If an election dis- 
trict of a county, less than a supervisor’s district, is obligated here- 
under, the boundaries of such district shall not be altered in such a 
manner as to relieve any portion thereof of its obligation hereunder. 
Hospital, health center, or health department districts or areas may 
be formed under the provisions of this act which shall include a coun- 
ty, or one or more supervisors districts of a county, or > one or more 
election districts of a county, or a portion of a supervisors district 
jying within one court district in a county having two court dis- 
tricts, or any combination thereof; and bonds may be issued as pro- 
vided in this act and for the purposes stated in this act for any such 
district or area, whether such district or area be made up of a county, 
or one or more supervisors districts of the county, or one or more 
election districts of a county, or a portion of a supervisors district 
lying within one court district in a county having two court districts, 
or any combination thereof. 
Section 2. That section 2 of chapter 277 of the laws of 1944, <as 
amended by section 2 of chapter 412 of the laws of 1946, be and the 
same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 2. Such counties, cities and towns, supervisors districts 
and election districts of a county are authorized and empowered to 
make appropriations of the funds thereof for the purpose of this 
act, and are hereby authorized and empowered to issue and sell the 
bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness thereof, for the pur- 
pose 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, health centers, health departments and 
related facilities under the provisions of this act. Such bonds, notes 
or other evidences of indebtedness shall not be issued in an amount 
which will exceed the limit of indebtedness of the county, city, town, 
supervisors district or election district issuing the same, as such limit 
is prescribed by chapter 235, laws of Mississippi, 1932, as now or 
hereafter amended. Before issuing any such bonds, notes or other 
4 evidences of indebtedness, the board of supervisors, acting for a coun- 
ty or supervisors 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 inten- 
tion to issue the same, stating the amount and purpose thereof, wheth- 
er such hospital, health center, health department or related facilities 
are to be erected, acquired, remodeled, equipped, furnished, main- 
tained and operated by such county, city, town or supervisors district 
separately, or jointly with one or more other counties, cities, towns, 
supervisors districts or election districts of a county, and fixing the 
date upon which further action will be taken to provide for the is- 
suance 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 newspaper published in 
the county or city, as the ease may be, or if none be so published, in 
a newspaper having 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 publi- 
cation 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 per centum (20%) or more 
of the qualified voters of such county, city, town, supervisors 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 gov- 
erning body, as the case may be, to call and provide for the holding 
of an election as petitioned for, and in such case no such bonds, notes 
or other evidences of indebtedness shall be issued unless authorized 
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the qualified voters of such 
county, city, town, supervisors 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 here- 
inabove provided for the publication of the initial resolution, and such 
election shall be conducted and the returns 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 or supervisors district or election district. In the 
event that the question of the issuance of such bonds, notes or other 
evidences of indebtedness 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. 
Such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness 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 timek 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; provided, however, that such bonds shall bear interest at a rate 
or rates not exceeding six per centum (6%) per annum, and shall 
mature in not more than twenty-five (25) years from date thereof, 
and shall be sold for not less than par and accrued interest. 
5 All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued here- 
under shall be secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit and re- 
sources of the county, city, town, supervisors district or election dis- 
trict issuing the same, and there shall annually be levied upon all 
taxable property within such county, city, town, supervisors 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 prin- 
cipal of and the interest on said bonds, notes or other evidences of 
indebtedness as the same respectively matures and accrues. 
In the event of any joint operation or proposed joint operation, 
as by this act provided, there shall be separate bond issues, and the 
board or boards of supervisors acting for a county, supervisors dis- 
trict 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, super- 
visors district, or election district, or districts, in such amounts as 
have 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 foregoing provisions. 
Section 3. That section 3 of chapter 277 of the laws of 1944, as 
amended by section 3 of chapter 412, of the laws of 1946, be and the 
same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 3. The board of supervisors, acting for a county, supervis- 
ors district, or districts or an election district of such county, and 
the board of aldermen, city council, or other like governing body act- 
ing 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 purpose of 
raising funds for the maintenance and operation of hospitals, health 
centers, and other facilities established under the provisions of this 
act; provided that the amount levied for such purpose shall not ex- 
ceed five (5)'mills on the dollar in any one year. The tax levy au- 
thorized in this section shall be in addition to all other taxes now or 
hereafter authorized to be levied by such counties, cities, towns, super- 
visors districts, or election district. 
Section 4. That section 6 of chapter 277 of the laws of 1944, as 
amended by section 4 of chapter 412 of the laws of 1946, be and the 
same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 6. Any hospital erected, owned, maintained and operated 
hereunder other than those mentioned in sections 4 and 5 hereof, shall 
be operated by a board of trustees consisting of five members, to be 
appointed under such agreement as may be entered into between the 
governing authorities of the respective counties and cities or towns 
erecting, owning, maintaining and operating the said hospitals, such 
agreement to be made in the form of a contract and reduced to writing 
and spread upon the minutes of the respective governing bodies of 
said counties, cities or towns. Except as hereinafter provided, such 
trustees shall serve for a term of five years from the date of their 
respective appointments. The first board of trustees to be so appoint- 
6 ed (or the first such board of trustees to be so appointed after this 
act becomes effective) shall he appointed for terms as follows: one 
for a term of one year, one for a term of two years, one for a term 
'of three years, one for a term of four years and one for a term of 
five years. Thereafter, all such trustees shall be appointed for a term 
of five years. Vacancies on the board of trustees shall be filled in the 
same manner as hereinabove provided for the appointment of the 
board of trustees. Said board of trustees shall elect one of its mem- 
bers as president, who shall preside at the meetings of the board; 
provided, said board may elect another of its members as vice-presi- 
dent who shall preside at the meetings of the board in the absence or 
disability of the president. 
The said board of trustees shall have charge of the maintenance 
and operation of said hospital and shall have full power and author- 
ity to promulgate and adopt suitable rules and regulations and to 
employ such persons as may be necessary to properly maintain and 
operate the said hospital. 
Section 5. If any line, sentence, paragraph or part of this act be 
held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid such holding shall not af- 
fect the remainder of this act, but shall only affect such part so held 
unconstitutional or invalid. 
Section 6. That this act shall take effect and be in force from and 
after its passage. 
Approved, April 12th, 1948. 
House Bill No. 290 
AN ACT to provide a scholarship program of education in nursing; to pro- 
vide for recruitment of nursing students, counsel work with nursing 
students and prospective students; and establishment of special scholar- 
ships for advanced education in nursing. 
Be it enacted hy the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
Section 1. That the public health and welfare require a substantial 
increase in provisions and facilities for nursing education and in the 
number of qualified nurses in the state; that this condition is inten- 
sified by the present hospital building activities in the state, being 
carried on under or in connection with the functions of the Missis- 
sippi commission on hospital care. 
Section 2. There is hereby established a scholarship program for 
advanced study in nursing and a program for recruitment of nursing 
students and for counsel work with such students and prospective 
students to be administered by the school of nursing established under 
the auspices of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher 
learning in the manner and form provided for in the act creating such 
school of nursing. 
Section 3. There are hereby established and provided forty scholar- 
ships in advanced nursing education of the value and amount of not 
exceeding three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) each (or such other 
number of scholarships as may be made from funds appropriated for 
7 such purpose with no minimum amount being fixed on a scholarship, 
but with a maximum of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) for any 
one scholarship) which scholarships shall be allocated to students who 
(1) have graduated from an accredited high school and from a school 
of nursing and are licensed registered nurses in Mississippi; (2) are 
approved by the school of nursing and by the board of trustees of 
state institutions of higher learningand (3) enter into contract 
with said board of trustees and their successors in office, obligating 
themselves to pursue to completion the course of study, agreed upon 
and immediately following the completion of such work, spend a 
period of time equal to the period of study provided under the scholar- 
ship in teaching nursing in the school of nursing or another school in 
the state approved by said board of trustees or in performing other 
work in the interest of the public health in the state, to be approved 
by said board of trustees, such contract to be also in accordance with 
the other provisions of this a’ct with respect thereto; provided, how- 
ever, such period of service after completion of study under a scholar- 
ship shall in no event be less than one year. 
Section 4. The contract mentioned in the preceding section shall be 
in such form as said board of trustees of state institutions of higher 
learning shall prescribe; shall include suitable provisions giving ef- 
fect to the condition and provisions mentioned in the preceding para- 
graph of this act; and shall contain such other provisions as said board 
of trustees may prescribe with the view to carrying out the general in- 
tent and purposes of this act, including but not limited to provisions 
for delayed performance by the scholarship beneficiary if performance 
is rendered impossible or impracticable by temporary impairment of 
health or other conditions beyond the control of such beneficiary 
and provisions for refund by the beneficiary of advancement or such 
part of advancements as may be determined by said board to be equit- 
able and proper in the event of non-performance or partial perform- 
ance of the obligations of the contract on the part of the beneficiary 
of the scholarship. 
Section 5. The scholarships herein provided for shall be allocated 
for advanced study in institutions approved by the board of trustees 
of state institutions of higher learning and shall be for such terms 
and under such conditions and for such duration as may be deter- 
mined by said board of trustees and specified in individual contracts 
with students. 
Section 6. The said board of trustees shall, in its consideration of 
positions to be approved for students after their work has been done 
under scholarships, cooperate and work with the Mississippi commis- 
sion on hospital care with the view7 to reasonably coordinating the uti- 
lization of services of such persons with the work of said commission 
respecting schools of nursing, hospitals and other health facilities af- 
fected by said commission’s program and functions. 
Section 7. If any line, sentence, paragraph or part of this act be 
held invalid for any reason whatsoever, such holding shall not affect 
'the remainder of the act, but shall only affect such part so held in- 
valid. Section 8. That this act shall take effect and be in force from and 
after its passage. 
Approved, April 13th, 1948. 
House Bill No. 532 
AN ACT to amend sections 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9, chapter 363, Mississippi laws of 
1946, to provide for the payment of necessary subsistence expenses to 
the commissioners of the Mississippi commission on hospital care, to 
clarify the provisions thereof, to set forth certain powers of said commis- 
sion with respect to personnel and services, building of nursing schools, 
prescribing limitations on grants in particular areas, authorizing pur- 
chase of hospital equipment and the granting of same in lieu of cash; 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
Section 1. That section 1, chapter 363, Mississippi laws of 1946, he 
and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 1. That there is hereby created the Mississippi Commission 
on Hospital Care, hereinafter referred to as the commission, and which 
shall be composed of six members to he appointed by the governor. 
Each of said members shall be a qualified elector of the state of Missis- 
sippi, and one shall be appointed from each supreme court district 
thereof, and three from the state at large. The term of office of such 
commissioners shall be six (6) years, beginning April 1, 1946; how- 
ever, of the first commissioners appointed hereunder, one shall be 
appointed for a term of one year, one for a term of two years, one for 
a term of three years, one for a term of four years, one for a term of 
five years, and one for a term of six years; thereafter all members of 
the commission shall be appointed for a term of six (6) years, and 
all vacancies on said commission shall be filled by appointment by the 
governor for the unexpired term. The executive director of the state 
board of health shall be an ex-officio member of the commission. As 
soon as practicable after their appointment, the commissioners shall 
meet and organize by electing from their membership a chairman, 
vice-chairman, and secretary. Four members of the commission shall 
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the commis- 
sion shall meet at such time and place as may be fixed by it, and spe- 
cial meetings may be held on call of the chairman, vice-chairman, or 
three members of the commission. 
The commissioners shall each receive the sum of seven and 50/100 
dollars ($7.50) expenses for each day spent in the performance of 
their duties, and in addition, the sum of five cents (5</;) per mile for 
each mile traveled in their personal car, or actual cost if public con- 
veyance is used, for travel in the performance of their official duties 
and necessary subsistence. 
Section 2. That section 2, chapter 363, Mississippi laws of 1946, be 
and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 2. The commission shall adopt rules for the transaction of 
its business and keep permanent and complete records and minutes 
9 of its proceedings, meetings, hearings, resolutions, orders and decis- 
ions, which records shall be public. The commission shall have the pow- 
er to appoint and fix the compensation of an executive director, not 
to exceed $7500.00 per annum. The commission shall also have the 
power to employ such other employees and obtain the services of such 
consultants, attorneys, engineers, architects and other professional 
services as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this act, 
and to fix the compensation thereof and prescribe their powers and 
duties. The commission is empowered to rent office space, purchase 
necessary office equipment and supplies, and pay other expenses in- 
cident to the operation of its office. All such expenses, the salaries of 
all employees and the cost of all services shall be paid from any ap- 
propriation made for the purpose hereof. 
Section 3. That section 5, chapter 363, Mississippi laws of 1946, 
be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 5. It shall be the duty of the commission to utilize funds 
made available for such purpose by the state to make 'grants-of-aid, 
as herein provided, to properly constituted local authorities, to acquire 
real estate and to construct thereon' hospitals, nurses’ homes, health 
centers, clinics and related facilities throughout the state, including 
the reconstruction, remodeling, or addition to of any hospital or health 
facility which has been or may be acquired by such local authorities 
for use as a community hospital or health facility, each such struc- 
ture to be an integral part of the state hospital plan. Such local funds, 
supplemented by the grants-of-aid from the state, may be further 
supplemented by federal funds, if available. It shall be the further 
duty of the commission to enter into contracts with the local hospitals 
or hospital groups, or representatives thereof, to carry out the pur- 
poses of this act, so as to insure that such hospitals will be located, 
designed, constructed and operated in such a manner that the services 
thereof will be available to the people of Mississippi at the lowest pos- 
sible cost. 
The grant of state funds which the commission is authorized to 
make under the provisions of this act shall not exceed sixty per cent- 
um (60%) of the cost of acquiring real estate for and constructing, 
reconstructing or remodeling, erecting and equipping any hospital, 
nurses’ home, health center, clinic or related facility to which such a 
grant is made; provided, however, that in computing such costs there 
shall be excluded such portion thereof, if any, which is to be paid 
from any amounts made available from federal funds. All state grants 
shall be paid from any appropriation made for that purpose. 
Any hospital or related facility desiring a grant under the provis- 
ions of this act, including any county, city or town, or supervisor’s 
district, or portion of a supervisor’s district lying within one court 
district in counties having two court districts, separately or jointly 
with one or more of the other counties, cities, towns or supervisors’ 
districts, including those complying with chapter 277, laws of 1944, 
and amendments thereto, desiring to erect, build, construct, recon- 
struct, remodel, add to, acquire, maintain or operate a hospital, nurse’s 
home, health center, clinic or related facility, may make application to 
the Mississippi commission on hospital care for a grant-of-aid. The 
10 commission shall satisfy itself that the local group meets the require- 
ments of and will comply with the foregoing provisions and restric- 
tions, and that such medical facility will be a part of the state-wide 
hospital plan before making such a grant, and, after making such a 
grant, shall work with the hospital organization in developing plans 
for the location, construction, maintenance, equipping and staffing 
of the proposed local hospital. 
Notwithstanding any other provisions in this act contained, the 
commission is authorized and empowered, in its discretion, and in 
keeping with the aims and purposes of this act, to lay out a plan for 
the building and equipping of schools of nursing to be located in 
strategic points of the state, which in the opinion of the commission 
will best promote the advancement of nursing education in the state 
in keeping with needs therefor,.and to make grants for the acquisition 
of sites, construction and equipment of such schools in amounts, which, 
together with any available federal funds, will pay for the entire 
cost of the buildings and equipment of such schools; provided, as to 
each such school an eligible applicant applies for the grant agrees to 
take title and assumes all proper obligations with respect to ownership 
and operation of such school as in other cases of grants by the com- 
mission, and, provided further that the number of this type of grant 
by the commission shall not exceed seventeen. 
Section 4. That section 8, chapter 363, Mississippi laws of 1946, be 
and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 8. The commission shall give first consideration to areas 
of greatest need in making the initial grants-of-aid. Not over ten per- 
cent (10%) of any appropriation made for the purpose hereof shall 
be given as a grant-in-aid by the commission to any one locality or 
any one local hospital group in any biennium, but the commission 
shall seek to make grants-of-aid for the construction of hospitals of 
such size as to justify good management, efficient operation, and to 
attract competent doctors and to provide opportunity for nurse train- 
ing. 
At least ten per cent (10%) of all available state funds shall be 
allocated to each of the seven congressional districts of the state for 
the first year of the biennium following the appropriation; however, 
during the second year of the biennium, the commission may allocate 
any and all available money on a basis of need, regardless of the place 
of origin of the application. 
Section 5. That section 9, chapter 363, Mississippi laws of 1946, be 
and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 9. The commission is authorized to purchase hospital equip- 
ment, supplies or accessories, provided, in their judgment, such pur- 
chases will result in substantial savings in the development of the 
state hospital plan, and may grant such equipment, supplies or acces- 
sories to a hospital or related facility, at the cost value thereof plus 
the estimated expense of handling the same, in lieu of an equivalent 
amount of money. 
Section 6. If any line, sentence, paragraph or part of this act be 
held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such holding shall not 
affect the remainder of this act, but shall only affect such part so 
11 held unconstitutional or invalid. 
Section 7. That this act take effect and be in force from and after 
its passage. 
Approved, April 13th, 1948. 
House Bill No. 554 
AN ACT to amend section 4870, Mississippi code of 1930, as amended by 
chapter 270, laws of 1944, in reference to president and executive officer 
of the state board of health. 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
Section 1. That section 4870, Mississippi code of 1930, as amend- 
ed by chapter 270, laws of 1944, be and the same is hereby amended 
to read as follows: 
President and executive officer—how elected. 
4870. At the first meeting of the state board of health after 
organization the board shall proceed to elect a president from among 
its members, and an executive officer who shall be a physician 
versed in bacteriology, hygiene, sanitary science, and otherwise fit- 
ted and equipped to execute the duties incumbent upon him by law, 
and who shall not engage in the practice of medicine. The execu- 
tive officer shall be, by virtue of his election a member of the state 
board of health and shall be the secretary of the board and com- 
mitees appointed or created by the board. The term of office shall 
be six years and the salary of the executive officer and secretary 
shall be under the jurisdiction and determined by the state board of 
health, provided, said salary shall not exceed $8,500.00 a year. The 
executive officer shall be vested with all the authority of the board 
when it is not in session and subject to such rules and regulations 
as may be prescribed by the state board of health, and for cause 
may be removed on majority of the appointed members. 
Section 2. That this act take effect and be in force from and 
after its passage. 
Approved April 10, 1948. 
AN ACT to provide the procedure for committing persons to the mental 
institutions of this state; to provide for the payment of the expenses 
of the proceedings and the support and maintenance of persons so com- 
mitted and to repeal sections 6770 to 6776, code of 1942 and sections 
6905, 6909, 6910, 6912 and 6917, code of 1942; and for related purposes. 
House Bill No. 5 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
Section 1. From and after the effective date of this act no person 
shall be committed to any mental institution of the state of Missis- 
sippi or adjudged to be insane, lunatic, idiotic, or feebleminded or 
to be suffering from any mental or nervous condition, affliction or 
12 disorder except in the manner hereinafter provided by this act, but 
nothing herein shall be construed to repeal, alter or otherwise affect 
the provisions of chapter 176, laws of 1944, or to affect or prevent 
the commitment of persons to the veterans administration or other 
agency of the United States under the provisions of and in the 
manner specified in said chapter 176, laws of 1944. 
Section 2. If any person shall be insane, lunatic, feebleminded, 
idiotic or shall suffer from any other mental or nervous condition, 
affliction or disorder to such an extent that such person be in need 
of treatment, supervision or control or to an extent that such person 
be or is likely to become dangerous or a menace if left at large, any 
relative of such person, or any citizen of the state of Mississippi, 
may make affidavit of such fact and shall file such affidavit with 
the clerk of the chancery court of the county of such person’s resi- 
dence, or with the clerk of the chancery court of any county in 
which such person might then be found. Such affidavit shall re- 
quest that such person be adjudged to be suffering from a mental 
or nervous condition, affliction or disorder as herein set forth and 
that such person be committed to and confined in the proper mental 
institution for treatment, care and supervision. Such affidavit shall 
be filed in duplicate and shall, if filed by an affiant other than the 
nearest of kin or guardian of such person, contain a statement of 
the name and address of such nearest of kin or guardian, if same be 
known to affiant, and a copy of said affidavit shall forthwith be 
mailed, postage prepaid, to such nearest of kin or guardian, if same 
be known. 
Section 3. Whenever such an application shall be filed with the 
chancery clerk, the said clerk, or the chancellor of said court, shall 
issue a summons to the person alleged to be suffering from such 
mental or nervous condition, affliction or disorder to appear and 
contest the application, and said clerk or chancellor shall forthwith 
appoint two reputable, licensed physicians to condust an inquiry into 
the mental and nervous condition of such person in the presence of 
the clerk and to report their verdict and findings to said clerk of 
court. Neither of the physicians selected shall be related to such 
person in any way; nor shall such physicians have any direct or in- 
direct interest in the estate of such person. The physicians so ap- 
pointed shall be selected as having the best available qualifications 
in the field of mental medicine. 
Section 4. The physicians so appointed shall forthwith make a 
full inquiry into the mental and nervous condition of the person 
alleged to be suffering from such mental or nervous disorder and 
shall make a thorough mental and physical examination of such 
person, and shall make a report and certificate of their findings to 
the clerk of said court, which report and certificate shall be sub- 
stantially in the form hereinafter set forth. If any such person shall 
be unable or shall fail or refuse to present himself for such inquiry 
or to submit to such examination, such fact shall be reported by said 
physicians to the clerk of said court; whereupon, the said clerk shall 
issue an order to the sheriff of the proper county to take such 
person into custody for the purposes of such an examination, which 
13 order the said sheriff shall execute accordingly. In all cases, the 
said inquiry and examination shall be held and conducted in the 
presence of the clerk and in the courtroom of the county or the office 
of said clerk, unless the person alleged to be suffering from such 
mental or nervous condition is physically unable to appear in the 
court room or at the clerk’s office. At such hearing, any interested 
person shall have the right to present evidence and testimony as to 
the mental or nervous condition of the person involved. 
Section 5. When such inquiry and examination has been com- 
pleted, the said physicians, either together or separately, shall report 
their findings as to whether or not such person be suffering from 
a nervous or mental disorder or affliction and be in need of treat- 
ment, supervision or control or be or is likely to become dangerous 
or a menace if left at large, which certificate shall be substantially 
in the following form: 
To the Chancery Clerk of County, Mississippi: 
We, and , being licensed, 
practicing physicians and residents of county, 
Mississippi, do hereby certify that on the day of , 
19 , we conducted an inquiry and made a thorough mental and 
physical examination of , of , 
Mississippi, and that it is our opinion that said 
(is) (is not) suffering from a mental or nervous disorder, condition 
or affliction, more particularly described as , 
and that said (is) (is not) in need of treat- 
ment, supervision and control at a mental institution of the State 
of Mississippi. 
Witness our signatures this the day of , 19 
The said certificate shall be executed in duplicate and one copy 
thereof shall be filed with the clerk of the proper chancery court 
and the other copy shall be forwarded to the director of the Missis- 
sippi State Hospital at Whitfield, Mississippi, and shall be retained 
by him as a part of his official records. 
Section 6. If the certificate of either of said physicians be that 
such person is not suffering from a mental or nervous condition, 
disorder or affliction, then the clerk of the court, or the chancellor 
thereof, shall forthwith enter an order adjudging such fact and 
directing the discharge and release of such person, and if the certif- 
icate of either of said physicians be that such person is suffering 
from a mental or nervous condition, disorder, or affliction, but that 
such person is harmless and not in need of special treatment, the 
clerk of the court, or the chancellor thereof, shall appoint a guardian 
for such person and release such person to the care of the guardian. 
If, however, said physicians certify that such person is suffering 
from a mental or nervous condition, affliction or disorder as set 
14 forth above, the clerk shall enter an order adjudging such fact and 
such person shall be delivered forthwith to the director of the Missis- 
sippi State Hospital at Whitfield, Mississippi, who shall cause such 
person to be examined by the psychiatric staff of said hospital. If 
such person shall be unable, or shall fail or refuse, to present him- 
self or submit to an examination by said psychiatric staff, the said 
director shall report such fact to the chancery clerk who shall issue 
an order to the sheriff of the proper county to take such person into 
custody and to deliver such person to the said director for the pur- 
poses of said examination, and the sheriff shall execute such order 
accordingly. If, after an examination of the mental and physical 
condition of said person, it is the judgment of said psychiatric staff 
that such person is not suffering from a mental or nervous condi- 
tion, affliction or disorder, such person shall be forthwith discharged, 
and such fact shall be reported to the proper chancery clerk and 
such clerk, or the chancellor of said court, shall enter an order ac- 
cordingly. If, however, it is the judgment of such psychiatric staff 
that such person is suffering from a mental or nervous condition, 
affliction or disorder and be in need of treatment, supervision or 
control or be or is likely to become dangerous or a menace if left 
at large, then such fact, together with the type of mental or nervous 
condition, affliction or disorder from which such person is suffer- 
ing, shall be reported to the chancery clerk and said clerk, or the 
chancellor of said court, shall notify such person, relatives and other 
interested persons that there shall be a lunacy trial on a day certain, 
at which any and all evidence as to sanity of such person shall be 
permissible and that court shall issue its decree from the findings 
at such trial and if such person is adjudged insane, lunatic, idiotic 
or feebleminded or if suffering from some mental or nervous con- 
dition which necessitates his commitment to a mental institution, 
then the clerk or chancellor shall commit such person to the mental 
institution of Mississippi and shall send his commitment order to 
the director of the Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield, Missis- 
sippi. The director of the said Mississippi State Hospital, upon the 
finding of said psychiatric staff that such person is afflicted with 
or is suffering from such mental or nervous condition, affliction or 
disorder as provided herein, and on receipt of a certified copy of 
the order above referred to, shall assign such person to and cause 
him to be confined to the proper or appropriate institution to be 
selected by him for care, treatment and supervision. Nothing herein, 
however, shall prevent or prohibit the commitment of such person 
to the veterans administration or other agency under the provisions 
of chapter 176, laws of 1944. 
Section 7. The person so adjudged, or any relative or other per- 
son on his behalf, may at any time after such adjudication file a 
petition in writing and request a hearing before the chancellor of 
said court either in term time or vacation on the question of whether 
or not such person is insane, lunatic, idiotic, feebleminded or is buf- 
fering from some other mental or nervous condition, affliction or 
disorder as set forth above. Upon the filing of such petition the 
chancellor shall set a date for such hearing and shall give the direc- 
tor of the said Mississippi State Hospital notice of the time and place 
15 thereof by registered mail, arid may require that said director have 
such person present for said hearing. At the time specified, the 
chancellor shall- proceed to hear and dispose of said cause and shall 
enter his order,or decree accordingly. The person adjudicated, or 
anyone acting in his behalf, shall have the right to summon witness- 
es and present evidence as in other cases in chancery court. Any 
party aggrieved by the decision of said chancellor shall have the 
right to appeal to the supreme court as is provided in other cases. 
In addition to the above remedies, any person committed to an in- 
stitution, or any relative or other person acting on his behalf, shall 
have the right to apply for a writ of habeas corpus as is otherwise 
provided by statute. 
Section 8. In all such cases, the person involved shall be con- 
veyed to the director of said hospital and to the institution to which 
such person is committed by some suitable friend or relative who is 
willing to convey such person. In case no suitable relative or friend 
can be found to so convey such person, the chancery clerk shall 
issue a writ directed to the sheriff of the proper county, and it shall 
be the duty of such sheriff to see that such person is properly con- 
veyed and delivered. The expenses of the inquiry and of the convey- 
ance and removal to and from the director and the proper institution 
shall be borne by the estate of the said person, if he have any estate, 
and, if not, by the person legally required to support or maintain 
such person, except in case of no adjudication of insanity, idiocy, or 
need of medical care, in which cases expenses shall be paid out of 
the general county treasury. If such person have no estate and if 
there be no person required to support or maintain him, the expenses 
of maintaining and conveying such person shall be paid out of the 
county treasury, upon allowance by the board of supervisors, and 
the said board of supervisors may allow and pay same in the first 
place and thereafter ascertain whether such person have an estate, 
or whether any person be liable for his support and maintenance, 
and may direct suit to be brought, if necessary and proper, to reim- 
burse the county. The county of the legal residence of such person 
shall be liable for all expenses incurred and paid in connection with 
the inquiry and removal of such person and, if same have been paid 
by another county, the said county of the legal residence of such 
person shall reimburse the county paying same, and such county 
reimbursing another county may proceed, for reimbursement, in the 
same manner as if the expenses were paid by it. 
Section 9. Each of the two physicians making examinations and 
certificates as provided in sections 4 and 5 hereof shall be paid such 
reasonable fee therefor as may be allowed by the board of super- 
visors of the proper county, but if the county health officer be one 
of the examining physicians he shall be paid no compensation or fee. 
The chancery clerk, upon allowance by the board of supervisors, 
may be paid an amount not to exceed the sum of seven dollars and 
fifty cents ($7.50) out of the county treasury for each inquiry for 
all duties required of him under this act, including per diem, unless 
there be a hearing before the chancellor as provided in section 7 
hereof, in which case such clerk shall be entitled to his regular fees to be paid by the parties liable therefor. The sheriff shall be allowed 
the sum of three dollars ($3.00) for each order or writ executed 
under this act taking a person into custody, which sum shall be 
paid out of the county treasury upon allowance by the board of 
supervisors, and, in addition, such sheriff may be reimbursed for all 
actual expenses, including mileage at the rate of five cents (5e) 
per mile, incurred by him in conveying or removing such person to 
the physicians, the director or an institution for examination or com- 
mittal as provided herein. However, the estate, if any, of such person 
committed or the person legally liable for his support and mainten- 
ance, if any, shall remain liable for such fees and expenses as pro- 
vided in section 8 hereof. 
Section 10. In cases where a person is charged with a criminal 
offense and is acquitted on the ground of insanity or feeble-minded- 
ness the circuit judge shall have the authority to order such person 
conveyed and committed to a mental institution as provided in sec- 
tions 2575 and 6777, code of 1942, notwithstanding any provision of 
this act, and nothing in this act shall affect the procedure provided 
for in section 2558, code of 1942, when a person under sentence of 
death is found to be insane. In cases, under sections 2573, 2574, and 
6777, code of 1942, where a grand jury or conservator of the peace 
shall report a person charged with a crime to be insane or feeble- 
minded, such report shall be in lieu of the affidavit provided for in 
section 2 hereof, and the chancery clerk shall forthwith proceed in 
accordance with the provisions of this act. 
Section 11. In lieu of making an affidavit before the chancery 
clerk as provided in sections 2 and 3 hereof, any person who is 
suffering from a mental or nervous condition, affliction or disorder 
as herein provided or any relative of such person or any citizen of 
this state may cause a physical and mental examination to be made 
of such person by two reputable, licensed physicians as is provided 
in sections 4 and 5 hereof. If both of such physicians, after said 
examination, be of the opinion that such person is suffering from 
a mental or nervous condition, disorder, or affliction as provided 
herein, then such fact shall be certified to the director of the Missis- 
sippi State Hospital in the manner and in the form provided in sec- 
tion 5 hereof; whereupon the said director may cause such person 
to be examined by the psychiatric staff of said hospital. If after 
an examination of the mental and physical condition of the said 
person it is the judgment of said psychiatric staff that such person 
is suffering from a mental or nervous condition, affliction or dis- 
order and be in need of treatment or control or is likely to become 
dangerous or a menace if left at large, then the said director shall 
have the authority to admit the said person to the proper or appro- 
priate hospital for care, treatment, and supervision, but no person 
shall be admitted to any state mental institution under this section 
unless and until such person is examined by the said psychiatric 
staff and found to be suffering from a mental or nervous condition, 
affliction or disorder as provided herein. In a proceeding had 
under this section, none of the provisions of this act with regard 
17 to reports to and actions by the chancery clerk or chancery court 
shall be applicable except that the person who is committed to an 
institution hereunder or any relative, or any other, person in his 
behalf, shall have the right to an appeal and hearing before the 
chancery court and to apply for a writ of habeas corpus as is pro- 
vided in section 7 of this act. 
Section 12. If any patient who is a bona fide resident of this 
state, and who was not brought into this state insane, lunatic or 
feebleminded within five years, and who is admitted to the state 
hospital be found, upon examination, to possess an estate, over and 
above all indebtedness, more than sufficient for the support of his 
or her dependents, his or her natural or legally appointed guardian 
shall pay out of such estate into the office of the office manager of 
the state hospital, in advance, an amount equal to one month’s main- 
tenance, at a rate to be fixed by the board of trustees from time to 
time on the basis of maintenance costs, and in addition, shall supply 
the patient with sufficient and suitable clothing, and shall remove 
said patient when so required and notified by the director. If such 
patient remains in the state hospital more than one month, such pay- 
ments shall be made, monthly in advahce, for the whole period dur- 
ing which the patient remains in the state hospital. If the patient 
has no such estate of his own, then this obligation shall exist against 
any person who is legally bound to support such patient. Inability 
to pay shall not, however, cause any person to be refused admission 
to or discharged from the state hospital, if such person be a bona 
fide resident of this state and shall not have been brought into this 
state insane, lunatic or feebleminded within the last five years. All 
other persons shall be governed by section 6906, code of 1942. 
The office manager, following the admission of such patient into 
the state hospital, shall make an investigation to determine the ex- 
tent of the estate, if any, owned by the incompetent patient, and 
whether he has a duly appointed and acting guardian to protect his 
property interest. The office manager shall also make an investiga- 
tion to determine whether the patient has any relative or relatives 
legally responsible for the payment of maintenance, and shall ascer- 
tain the financial condition of such relative or relatives to determine 
whether in each ease such relative or relatives are in fact financially 
able to pay such charges. In case, after investigation, the office 
manager finds that the patient’s estate, or relatives, are not able to 
pay all of the maintenance, but can pay a portion, then the office 
manager shall collect monthly, an amount equal to the portion the 
patient’s estate or relatives are able to pay. All reports in connec- 
tion with such investigations, together with the findings of the office 
manager, shall be kept in the business office and may be inspected 
by interested relatives, their agents, or representatives at any time 
upon application. 
Section 13. That sections 6770 to 6776, inclusive, code of 1942, 
and sections 6905, 6909, 6910, 6912, and 6917, code of 1942, and all 
other laws and parts of laws in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. 
Section 14. That this act take effect and be in force from and 
after its passage. 
Approved March 23rd, 1948. 
18 House Bill No. 291 
AN ACT to create a school of nursing at the University of Mississippi, to 
provide for such school to administer scholarships in nursing education, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Legislature of the State of Mississippi-: 
Section 1. That the legislature hereby finds that there is great 
need of additional and better trained nurses in Mississippi and the 
purpose of this act is to meet that need to the extent herein provided. 
Section 2. That the board of trustees of state institutions of higher 
learning is hereby authorized and directed to establish a school of 
nursing at the University of Mississippi under the jurisdiction of the 
dean of the school of medicine, or such other authority as said board 
of trustees may determine, and other regularly constituted adminis- 
trative authorities of the university. 
Section 3. Said board of trustees shall provide for such school, 
such buildings and equipment and such teaching staff and other per- 
sonnel as may be deemed appropriate for the establishment and oper- 
ation of such school of nursing and for the performance of the other 
functions herein provided for, all of which shall, however, be done 
within the appropriations made for such purposes. 
Section 4. Such school of nursing shall, under the direction and 
supervision of the dean of the school of medicine and the other regu- 
larly constituted administrative authorities of the university and of 
said board of trustees and under curricula to be prescribed by said 
board, and beginning each of its functions at such time as may be 
determined by said board, carry on a teaching course, looking to the 
conferring of bachelor’s or master’s degrees in nursing. 
Section 5. Such school of nursing shall under the same direction, 
supervision, control and as set forth in section 4 hereof, 
have authority, in its discretion, to arrange and contract with hos- 
pitals, hospital schools of nursing or other similar institutions, for 
students in the school of nursing to take clinical training and practice 
in such institutions; and the further authority to contract with hos- 
pitals, hospital schools of nursing or other similar institution with 
respect to providing to any such institution instructors or in- 
struction services from the university school of nursing upon full or 
part time basis and upon such basis of compensation or reimbursement 
of costs as may be deemed reasonable and proper in view of the public 
interests involved. 
Section 6. That under the same supervision, direction, control and 
conditions as are set forth in section 4 hereof, said school of nursing 
shall also administer such scholarship programs in nursing education 
and such activities with respect to recruitment of nursing students and 
counseling work with such students and prospective students as may 
be provided for by the legislature from time to time. 
Section 7. If any line, sentence, paragraph or part of this act be 
held to be invalid for any reason whatsoever, such holding shall not 
affect the remainder of this act, but shall only affect such part so 
held to be invalid. 
19 Section 8. That this act shall take effect and be in force from and 
after its passage. 
Approved, April 14th, 1948. 
House Bill. No. 907 
Section 12. That the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,- 
000.00'). or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and the same is 
hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury of the fish and 
game commission, for the purpose of eradicating rabies among foxes 
in any county in the state of Mississippi, when the board of health or 
the games and fish commission shall determine that the disease is 
prevalent in any county or district. 
Approved, April 14th, 1948. 
House Bill No. 687 
AN ACT to require the licensing, inspection and regulation of hospitals as 
herein defined; creating a hospital licensing agency and prescribing its 
duties and powers; creating an advisory hospital licensing council and 
prescribing its duties and powers; providing for regulations, enforce- 
ment procedures and penalties; and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
Section 1. Definitions. As used in this act: (a) “Hospital” 
means a place devoted primarily to the maintenance and operation 
of facilities for the diagnosis, treatment and care of individuals suf- 
fering from physical or mental infirmity, illness, disease, injury or 
deformity or a place devoted primarily to providing obstetrical or 
other medical, surgical or nursing care of individuals, whether any 
such place be organized or operated for profit or not and whether 
any such place be publicly or privately owned. The term “hospital” 
does not include convalescent or boarding homes, children’s homes, 
homes for the aged or other like establishments where room and 
board only are provided, nor does it include offices or clinics where 
patients are not regularly kept as bed patients. 
(b) “Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, corpora- 
tion, company, association, or joint stock association, and the legal 
successor thereof. 
(c) “Governmental Unit” means the state, or any county, munic- 
ipality, or other political subdivision or any department, division, 
board or other agency rf any of the foregoing, excluding all federal 
establishments. 
(d) “Licensing Agency” means the Mississippi Commission on 
Hospital Care, provided said commission may by resolution entered 
on its minutes delegate such of its functions hereunder as it may 
20 determine to a committee of said commission composed of not less 
than three members thereof, and may by like procedure authorize its 
executive director, in its discretion, to issue temporary licenses under 
this act which shall be good for not more than six (6) months. 
Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of this act is to protect and 
promote the public health by providing for the development, estab- 
lishment and enforcement of certain standards in the construction, 
maintenance and operation of hospitals which will insure safe, sani- 
tary and reasonably adequate care and treatment of individuals in 
hospitals. The legislature hereby finds that the protection and pro- 
motion of the public health requires the measures provided for in 
this act. 
Section 3. License. After July 1, 1948, no person or govern- 
mental unit, acting severally or jointly with any other person or 
governmental unit shall establish, conduct, or maintain a hospital 
in this state without a license under this law. No license granted 
under this law shall permit, approve or allow child placement activi- 
ties by any person or governmental unit licensed hereunder. 
Section 4. Application for license. An application for a license 
shall be made to the licensing agency upon forms provided by it and 
shall contain such information as the licensing agency reasonably 
requires, which may include affirmative evidence of ability to com- 
ply with such reasonable standards, rules and regulations as are 
lawfully prescribed hereunder. Each application for license shall be 
accompanied by a license fee of ten dollars ($10.00), which must be 
paid into the state treasury. 
Section 5. Issuance and renewal of license. Upon receipt of an 
application for license and the license fee, the licensing agency shall 
issue a license if the applicant and hospital facilities meet the re- 
quirements established under this law. A license, unless sooner sus- 
pended or revoked, shall be renewable annually without charge upon 
filing by the licensee, and approval by the licensing agency, of an 
annual report upon such uniform dates and containing such informa- 
tion in such form as the licensing agency prescribes by regulation. 
Each license shall be issued only for the premises and persons or 
governmental units named in the application and shall not be trans- 
ferable or assignable except with the written approval of the licens- 
ing agency. Licenses shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the 
licensed premises. 
Section 6. Denial or revocation of license; hearings and review. 
The licensing agency after notice and opportunity for hearing to the 
applicant or licensee is authorized to deny, suspend or revoke a li- 
cense in any case in which it finds that there has been a substantial 
failure to comply with the requirements established under this law. 
Such notice shall be effected by registered mail, or by personal 
service setting forth the particular reasons for the proposed action 
and fixing a date not less than thirty (30) days from the date of 
such mailing or service, at which the applicant or licensee shall be 
given an opportunity for a prompt and fair hearing. On the basis of 
21 any such hearing, or upon default of the applicant or licensee, the 
licensing agency shall make- a determination specifying its findings 
of fact and conclusions of law. A copy of such determination shall 
be sent by registered mail or served personally upon the applicant 
or licensee. The decision revoking, suspending or denying the license 
or application shall become final thirty (30) days after it is so 
mailed or served, unless the applicant or licensee, within such thirty 
(30) day period, appeals the decision to the court, pursuant to sec- 
tion 14 hereof. 
The procedure governing hearings authorized by this section shall 
be in accordance with rules promulgated by the licensing agency 
with the advice of the Advisory Hospital Licensing Council. A full 
and complete record shall be kept of all proceedings, and all testi- 
mony shall be reported but need not be transcribed unless the deci- 
sion is appealed pursuant to section 14 hereof. Witnesses may be 
subpoenaed by either party. Compensation shall be allowed to wit- 
nesses as in eases in the chancery court. Bach party shall pay the 
expense of his own witnesses. The cost of the record shall be paid 
by the licensing agency provided any other party desiring a copy of 
the transcript shall pay therefor the reasonable cost of preparing 
the same. 
Section 7, Rules, regulations and enforcement. The licensing 
agency with the advice of the Advisory Hospital Licensing Council, 
shall adopt, amend, promulgate and enforce such rules, regulations 
and standards with respect to all hospitals or different types of 
hospitals to be licensed hereunder as may be designed to further the 
accomplishment of the purposes of this law in promoting safe and 
adequate treatment of individuals in hospitals in the interest of pub- 
lic health, safety and welfare. Any rule, regulation or standard 
adopted hereunder shall be considered as promulgated and effective 
from and after the time the same is recorded and indexed in, a book 
to be maintained by the licensing agency in its office in the city of 
Jackson, Mississippi, entitled “Record of Rules, Regulations and 
Standards” and said book shall be open and available to all hospitals 
and the public generally at all reasonable times; provided upon the 
adoption of any such rule, regulation or standard, the licensing 
agency shall mail copies thereof to all hospitals in the state which 
have filed with said agencies their names and addresses for this 
purpose, but the failure to mail the same or the failure of the hos- 
pital to receive the same shall in no wise affect the validity thereof. 
No such rules, regulations or standards shall be adopted or enforced 
which would have the effect of denying a license to a hospital or 
other institution required to be licensed hereunder, solely by reason 
of the school or system of practice employed or permitted to be 
employed therein. 
Section 8. Effective date of regulations. Any hospital which is 
in operation at the time of promulgation of any applicable rules or 
regulations or minimum standards under this act shall be given a 
reasonable time, under the particular circumstances not to exceed 
one year from the date of such promulgation, within which to com- 
ply with such rules and regulations and minimum standards. 
22 Section 9. Inspections and consultations. The licensing agency 
shall make or cause to be made such inspections and investigations 
as it deems necessary. The licensing agency may prescribe by regu- 
lations that any licensee or applicant desiring to make specified types 
of alteration or addition to the facilities or to construct new facilities 
shall, before commencing such alteration, addition or new construc- 
tion, submit plans and specifications therefor to the licensing agency 
for preliminary inspection and approval or recommendations with 
respect to compliance with the regulations and standards herein 
authorized. Necessary conferences and consultations may be pro- 
vided. 
Section 10. Advisory Hospital Council. The licensing agency 
shall appoint an Advisory Hospital Licensing Council to advise and 
consult with the licensing agency in carrying out the administration 
of this act. The council shall consist of the head of the licensing 
agency who shall serve as chairman ex-officio, and eight members 
and shall include representatives .of non-governmental organizations 
or groups, and of state agencies, concerned with the operation, con- 
struction and utilization of hospitals, including representatives of 
the consumers of hospital services. Each member shall hold office 
for a term of four years, except that any member appointed to fill 
a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which 
his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder 
of such term and the terms of office of the members first taking 
office shall expire, as designated at the time of appointment, two at, 
the end of the first year, two at the end of the second year, two at 
the end of the third year, and two at the end of the fourth year 
after the date of appointment. Council members while serving on 
the business of the council shall receive compensation at the rate of 
seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per day and shall also be en- 
titled to receive actual and necessary travel and subsistence expenses 
while so serving away from their place of residence. The council 
shall meet as frequently as the chairman deems necessary, but not 
less than once each year. Upon request by four or more members, 
it shall be the duty of the chairman to call a meeting of the council. 
Section 11.- Functions of Advisory Hospital Council. The Ad- 
visory Hospital Licensing Council shall have the following respon- 
sibilities and duties: 
(a) To consult and advise with the licensing agency in matters 
of policy affecting administration of this act, and in the development 
of rules, regulations and standards provided for hereunder. 
(b) To review and make recommendations with respect to rules, 
regulations and standards authorized hereunder prior to their pro- 
mulgation by the licensing agency as specified herein. 
Section 12. Information confidential. Information received by 
the licensing agency through filed reports, inspection, or as other- 
wise authorized under this law, shall not be disclosed publicly in 
such manner as to identify individuals or hospitals, except in a pro- 
ceeding involving the questions ot licensure. 
23 Section 13. Annual report of licensing agency. The licensing 
agency shall prepare and publish an annual report of its activities 
and operations under this law. A reasonable number of copies of 
such publications shall be available in the office of the licensing 
agency to be furnished free to persons requesting them. 
Section 14. Judicial review. Any applicant or licensee or the 
state acting through the attorney general aggrieved by the decision 
of the licensing agency after a hearing, may, within thirty days after 
the mailing or serving of notice of the decision as provided in sec- 
tion 6, file a notice of appeal in the chancery court of the county in 
which the hospital is located or to be located, and serve a copy of 
the notice of appeal upon the licensing agency. Thereupon the li- 
censing agency shall promptly certify and file with the court a copy 
of the record and decision, including the transcript of the hearings 
on which the decision is based. Findings of fact by the licensing 
agency shall be conclusive unless substantially contrary'to the weight 
of the evidence but upon good cause shown the court may remand 
the case to the licensing agency to- take further evidence, and the 
licensing agency may thereupon affirm, reverse, or modify its deci- 
sion. The court may affirm, modify dr reverse the decision of the 
licensing agency and either the applicant or licensee or the licensing 
agency or state may appeal from this decision to the supreme court 
as in other cases in the chancery court. Pending final disposition of 
the matter the status quo of the applicant or licensee shall be pre- 
served, except as the court otherwise orders in the public interest. 
Rules with respect to court costs in other cases in chancery shall 
apply equally to cases hereunder. 
Section 15. Penalties. Any person .establishing, conducting, 
managing, or operating any hospital without a license under this 
law shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be 
fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first 
offense and not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each 
subsequent offense, and each day of a continuing violation after 
conviction shall be considered a separate offense. 
Section 16. Injunction. Notwithstanding the existence or pur- 
sqit of any other remedy, the licensing agency, may in the manner 
provided by law upon the advice of the attorney general who shall 
represent the licensing agency in the proceedings maintain an action 
in the name of the state for injunction or other process against any 
person or governmental unit to restrain or prevent the establishment, 
conduct, management or operation of a hospital without a license 
under this law. 
Section 17. Severability. If any provision of this act or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be held in- 
valid, such invalidity shall not affect the provisions or application 
of this act which can be given effect without the invalid provision 
or application, and to this end the provisions of the act are declared 
to be severable. 
24 Section 18. That this act take effect and be in force from and 
after its passage. 
Approved April 13, 1948. 
Senate Bill No. 450 
AN ACT to amend section 8749 of the Mississippi code of 1942, as amended 
by section 1, chapter 276, laws of 1944, so as to provide for appointment 
of the state board of dental examiners by the governor from a list sub- 
mitted by the Mississippi dental association. 
Be it enacted hy the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
Section 1. That section ,8749, Mississippi code of 1942, as amend- 
ed by section 1, chapter 276, laws of 1944, be and the same is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 
Sec. 8749. State board of dental examiners.—The Mississippi 
state board of dental examiners, hereinafter called the board, whose 
duties shall be to carry out the purposes and provisions of chapter 
104, code of 1930 sections 8746-8775, code of 1942, and any amend- 
ments thereto, is hereby continued to consist of five regularly li- 
censed, registered and practicing dentists, each a graduate of Class 
A .or B dental college, and each a regularly licensed, registered and 
practicing dentist within the state of Mississippi, for a period of five 
or more years next preceding his appointment. No dentist shall be 
eligible for appointment who is connected in any way with any 
school of dentistry or the dental supply business. Except as herein- 
after provided, the members of the board shall hold office for a 
term of four years, and until their successors shall be duly appoint- 
ed and qualified. Upon the expiration of the term of office of any 
member of the board, the governor may appoint his successor and 
he shall appoint said successor from a list of fifteen names to be 
submitted to him, which list shall be submitted every four years, 
beginning in 1944, by the Mississippi dental association. Whenever 
any vacancy shall occur, caused by death, resignation, removal or 
otherwise, the governor shall fill the same by the appointment from 
the list submitted by the Mississippi dental association. The state 
board of dental examiners heretofore created, shall serve during the 
remainder of their respective terms, and until their successors have 
been appointed and qualified under the provisions thereof. 
Section 2. That this act take effect and be in force from and 
after its passage. 
Approved April 10, 1948. 
House Bill No. 312 
AN ACT to amend sections 8806, 8807, 8815, 8816, 8817, 8819. 8825, 8826. and 
to repeal 8821, of the Mississippi code of 1942 for the purpose of better 
regulating registered nurses in the state of Mississippi and to clarify 
the powers and duties of the board of nurses’ examiners for Mississippi. 
25 Be it enacted hy the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
Section 1. That section 8806 of the Mississippi code ,o£ 1942 be and 
the same is hereby amended so as to read as follows: 
8806. A board to be known as the Board of Nurses’ Examiners for 
Mississippi is hereby created and shall consist of five (5) members, 
each of whom shall be appointed by the governor. Three (3) of the 
members of said board shall be Mississippi registered nurses and mem- 
bers of the state league of nursing education, each of whom shall have 
practiced as a professional registered nurse not less than two years ex- 
clusive of preparation. One of said members of said board shall be a 
physician, who shall have been registered, licensed and of good stand- 
ing in his profession in Mississippi; and one of said members shall be a 
practicing physician who is connected with a hospital which maintains 
a recognized school of nursing. The term of each member of said board 
shall be for five years and until his or her successor is appointed and 
qualified. No member of said board shall serve more than two con- 
secutive terms. The governor shall appoint members of'said board 
from names submitted to him for that purpose by the Mississippi 
state nurses ’ association. The present members of the board of nurses ’ 
examiners for Mississippi shall remain as members of said board and 
serve until their term expires. 
Section 2. That section 8807 of the Mississippi code of 1942 be and 
the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
8807. Vacancies occurring in said board by reason of expiration 
of term, resignation, death, or otherwise shall be filled by appoint- 
ment by the governor from a list of three physicians, eight registered 
nurses. All of said names shall be submitted to the governor by the 
Mississippi state nurses’ association. The governor shall exercise his 
right of appointment within sixty days from the date when said names 
are submitted to him and if such appointment is not made within said 
sixty-day period, then the board of nurses’ examiners for Mississippi, 
by a majority of vote, may appoint a person from the list of names sub- 
mitted to the governor by the Mississippi state nurses’ association to 
fill the existing vacancy. 
Section 3. That section 8815 of the Mississippi code of 1942 be and 
the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
8815. Any person desiring to obtain a certificate of registration 
under this chapter shall make application to said board therefor, first 
paying to the treasurer of said board an examination fee of fifteen 
dollars ($15.00), and shall present himself or herself at a regular 
meeting of said board held for the purpose of examining applicants. 
Section 4. That section 8816 of the Mississippi code of 1942 be and 
the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
8816. Upon said board being satisfied that an applicant is more 
than nineteen years of age, of good moral character and has had at least 
a high school education and has graduated from a school of nursing, 
meeting the requirements of said board, the board shall then proceed 
to examine such applicant in such subjects, as may be designated from 
26 time to time by the board. The subjects in which such applicant shall 
be examined shall be in conformity with the curricula required in 
schools of nursing approved by the board. 
Section 5. That section 8817 of the Mississippi code of 1942 be and 
the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
8817. Upon any applicant passing the required examination to the 
satisfaction of the board of nurses’ examiners for Mississippi, such 
applicant’s name shall be entered in the register kept by the board 
for that purpose. The board shall cause to be issued to such person a 
certificate of registration authorizing such person to practice the pro- 
fession of nursing as a registered nurse. A registered nurse is one 
who possesses a blend of intellectual attainment, attitudes, and man- 
ual skills based on the principle of scientific medicines acquired by 
means of a prescribed course in a school of nursing affiliated with a 
hospital recognized for such purposes by the state and practiced in 
conjunction with curative or preventive medicines by an individual 
licensed to do so by the state. 
Section 6. That section 8819 of the Mississippi code of 1942 be and 
the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
8819. Each member of said board shall receive actual expenses and 
other compensation, not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) per day, while 
on official business of said board. 
Section 7. That section 8825 of the Mississippi code of 1942 be and 
the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
8825. Said board shall be authorized to waive in its discretion said 
examination and issue certificates of registration in favor of appli- 
cants who shall present to the board certificates of examination from 
a board of examiners from another state together with the registration 
fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) provided the standard of requirements 
for such other state are equivalent to the requirements set forth in 
this chapter. 
Section 8. That section 8826 of the Mississippi code of 1942 be and 
the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
8826. Each registered nurse practicing his or her profession in 
Mississippi shall be required to pay a fee of one and 50/100 dollars 
($1.50) on or before January 31st, 1949 for the year 1949 and on or 
before each succeeding January 31st of each year, as long as he or 
she continues to practice the profession of nursing in Mississippi. If 
any registered nurse shall not pay said fee of one and 50/100 dollars 
($1.50) on or before January 31st, then the charge for reinstatement 
shall be three and 50/100 dollars ($3.50), which shall include the 
registration fee for that year. Said fee of one and 50/100 dollars 
($1.50) shall be received by the board from and after November 1st, 
for the following year. 
Section 9. Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding the board 
of nurses’ examiners for Mississippi shall be and is hereby authorized 
to employ, discharge, fix the compensation of and compensate all nec- 
essary employees of said board. 
27 Section 10. That section 8821 of the Mississippi code of 1942 be 
and the same is hereby repealed. 
Section 11. That this act shall take effect and be in force from and 
after its passage. 
Approved, April 13th, 1948. 
AN ACT to authorize and empower the governor, when advised by the state 
livestock sanitary board that an emergency exists on account of foot 
and mouth disease, to declare a state of emergency and to quarantine, 
or order to be slaughtered any animals or materials infected with or 
exposed to foot and mouth disease; to provide for the payment of 
animals or materials ordered to be slaughtered under the provisions of 
this act; and for other related purposes. 
Senate Bill No. 659 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
Section 1. That the governor of the State of Mississippi, when 
advised by the state livestock sanitary board that an emergency 
exists due to the presence of foot and mouth disease among animals 
in this state, is hereby authorized to declare a state of emergency 
and to order all animals quarantined or slaughtered that may be 
affected with, or possible carriers of, foot and mouth disease. 
Section 2. The governor is hereby authorized and empowered to 
cooperate with any department of the federal government engaged 
in the combating and control of foot and mouth disease, and to this 
end the governor is authorized and empowered to do any and all 
things in cooperation with the federal government necessary to the 
control and extermination of foot and mouth disease among animals 
that may be affected therewith. 
Section 3. For the purposes of this act, the governor shall have 
full and complete police power, and shall exercise same anywhere in 
the State of Mississippi, and if an emergency should exist to such 
an extent that such becomes necessary the governor may employ 
such personnel to enforce such police powers and quarantine that 
may be necessary to control and prevent the spreading of foot and 
mouth disease among livestock in this state. Such personnel when 
appointed by the governor shall work under the direction of the 
state livestock sanitary board, or its representative, and shall be paid 
such compensation as the governor may determine out of any money 
made available for the enforcement of this act. 
Section 4. When any animals or materials are ordered to be de- 
stroyed, under the provisions of this act, the owner of same shall be 
paid for each animal or such materials destroyed an amount not 
exceeding the amount authorized to be paid by the federal govern- 
ment in matching funds expended for the destruction of each animal 
or such materials infected with foot and mouth disease. 
Section 5. That in the event of the happening of an outbreak of 
foot and mouth disease in Mississippi, the governor is hereby au- 
28 thorized to borrow not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars 
($200,000.00) to carry out the terms and provisions of this act. 
Section 6. That this act take effect and be in force from and 
after its passage. 
Approved April 14, 1948. 
AN ACT providing for the organization and operation of non-profit hospital, 
medical and surgical service corporations; making provisions for con- 
version of corporations organized under chapter 2, title 22, Mississippi 
code of 1942, to non-profit corporations under this act; and for other 
purposes. 
Senate Bill No. 453 
Be it enacted hy the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
Section 1. That the public health and welfare requires the adoption 
of this act providing for the organization and operation of non-profit 
hospital, medical and surgical service corporations. 
Section 2. That any seven or more persons, a majority of whom 
are residents of this state may form a non-profit corporation under 
this act for the purpose of providing hospital and/or medical and/or 
surgical services or benefits to such of the public as becomes subscrib- 
ers to said corporation under a contract which entitles each subscriber 
to certain of such services or benefits. All such corporations shall be 
governed by this act and shall be exempt from all other provisions of 
the insurance laws of this state unless otherwise specifically provided 
herein. Such a corporation may be formed under this act in the fol- 
lowing manner: 
(a) The proposed incorporators shall subscribe articles of incor 
poration in which shall be stated: 
(1) The proposed corporate name of the corporation which shall 
not so closely resemble the name of any other corporation already 
transacting business in this state as to mislead the public or lead to 
confusion. 
(2) The domicile of the proposed corporation. 
(3) The names and post office addresses of the incorporators. 
(4) The fact that application for charter is being made under 
this act and the corporation proposed to operate under and subject 
to the provisions of this act. 
(5) The purposes of the corporation, whether to provide a hospital 
service only, or hospitalization and/or medical and/or surgical 
services. 
(6) Such articles of incorporation shall be filed with the commis- 
sioner of insurance, who shall refer the same to the attorney general 
for his opinion as to whether the same meet the requirements of this 
act and are not otherwise violative ,of the constitution or laws of this 
state or of the United States; the attorney general shall examine the 
same and endorse his opinion thereon and return the same to the com- 
29 missioner of insurance for approval; the commissioner of insurance 
shall (if the same be approved by the attorney general) thereupon 
endorse his certificate of approval upon such articles of incorporation, 
record the same in his office and refer the same to the office of the 
secretary of state to be there recorded, whereupon said corporation 
shall become and be considered an existing entity, but shall not be 
authorized to begin business until licensed as hereinafter provided. 
The articles of incorporation as thus approved and recorded shall be 
and constitute the charter of incorporation of such corporation. It 
shall not be necessary that such charter be published nor shall it be 
necessary that it be recorded in the office of the chancery clerk. 
Section 3. Corporations organized under this act shall not have 
capital stock, but shall have members as prescribed and con- 
templated by the terms and provisions of this act and such mem- 
bers shall have the privileges provided for in this act. The subscribers 
to the articles of incorporation as the organizers of. said corpora- 
tion shall have power to elect the first board of directors who 
shall serve for the terms prescribed in the next sentence of this sec- 
tion or until their successors are elected and qualified. One-third 
of the members of said first board of directors shall be elected for a 
term of one year, one-third for a term of two years and one-third for 
a term of three years. Thereafterwards, directors shall be elected 
for terms of three years. Provisions shall be made for subsequent 
elections of directors including the time and place of such elections 
and notice thereof to the membership by (1) resolution of the direct- 
ors entered upon the minutes not less than sixty days before such 
election designating the time and place of such election, such min- 
utes to be open to the membership as hereinafter provided, or (2) by 
the time and place of such election being fixed by resolution of the 
directors and notice thereof being mailed to the members at least fif- 
teen days before the time fixed for such election. All minutes of the 
corporation with respect to the time and place fixed for any such 
election of directors shall be open to members at all reasonable times, 
but no notice of elections shall be necessary other than as herein pro- 
vided. Each member shall be entitled to one vote in the election of 
directors. It shall be the duty of the directors to provide for elections 
as the terms of office of directors expire and it shall be the duty of 
the commissioner of insurance as a part of his supervisory jurisdic- 
tion over such corporations to see that the directors faithfully per- 
form this duty. If such directors shall fail to so provide for the elec- 
tion of directors, it shall be the duty of the commissioner of insurance 
to report this fact to the membership of the corporation and himself 
call a meeting of the membership for the election of directors and 
the corporation shall forthwith, upon demand of the commissioner, 
reimburse him for all expenses incurred in the performance of these 
duties. A majority vote of the members present in person (or by 
proxy if proxy be provided for) and voting shall be required and 
shall be sufficient for the election of directors. Except for the right 
to receive benefits provided for under service contracts, death of a 
member or other loss of membership shall terminate all interest of a 
member in the assets of the corporation. 
The membership of the corporation shall consist of the subscribers 
or contract holders of the corporation, holding contracts providing 
30 for hospital and/or medical and/or surgical services or benefits to be 
provided by the corporation and the corporation shall issue to such 
contract holders, certificates of membership. 
The directors shall have power to adopt by-laws, elect officers and 
manage the affairs of the corporation. They shall also have the power 
to determine whether voting in the election of directors may he done 
by proxy and if so, the manner and method thereof. 
Section 4. A corporation subject to the provisions of this act shall 
accumulate a contingency or epidemic reserve as follows: (1) by set- 
ting aside not less than $5,000 in such fund before beginning business, 
(2) when five percentum of the net premiums received by the cor- 
poration, cumulative, equals the original sum so set aside, the corpor- 
ation shall thereafterwards set aside in such reserve a sum equal to 
two and one-half percentum of the net premiums received annually 
until such fund equals $75,000 or fifty-five percentum of the net an- 
nual premium income, which ever is higher, and (3) thereafterwards 
further accumulations may be discontinued for any length of time 
that they are not required to meet the foregoing requirements. 
Section 5. A corporation subject to the provisions of this act may 
issue contracts only when the commissioner has by formal certificate 
or license authorized it to do so. Application for such certificate of 
authority or license shall be made on forms to be supplied by the 
commissioner, containing such information as he shall deem necessary. 
Each application for a certificate or license shall be accompanied by 
copies of the following documents: (1) charter of incorporation, (2) 
by-laws, (3) proposed contracts between corporation and participat- 
ing hospitals showing terms under which hospital service is to be 
furnished to subscribers, (4) contracts to be issued to subscribers 
showing a table of rates to be charged and the benefits to which they 
are entitled and (5) financial statement of the corporation including 
the amounts of contribution paid or agreed to be paid to the corpora- 
tion for working capital and the name or names of each contributor 
and the terms of each contribution. 
Section 6. The commissioner shall issue a certificate of authority 
or license upon payment of a fee of ten dollars and upon being satis- 
fied as to the following points: (1) that the applicant is established 
as a bona-fide non-profit hospital and/or medical and/or surgical 
service corporation; (2) that the contracts between the applicant and 
the participating hospitals obligate each hospital party, for the con- 
siderations stipulated, to render service to which each subscriber may 
be entitled under the terms and conditions of the contract issued to 
the subscribers; (3) that the rates charged and benefits to be provided 
are fair and reasonable; (4) that the amounts provided as working 
capital of the corporation are repayable only out of earned income 
over and above operating expenses and such reserves as the commis- 
sioner deems adequate; (5) that'the amount of money actually avail- 
able for working capital be sufficient to carry all acquisition costs 
and operating expenses for a reasonable period of time from the date 
of the issuance of the certificate; (6) that contracts between hospitals 
and service organizations are adequate; and (7) that the foregoing 
requirement with respect to accumulating a contingency or epidemic 
reserve will be carried out. 
31 Section 7. Every such corporation shall annually or before the first 
day of March, file in the office of the commissioner, a statement veri- 
fied by at least two of the principal officers of said corporation show- 
ing its condition on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding 
year, which shall be in such form and shall contain such matters as 
the commissioner shall prescribe. 
Section 8. All licenses issued to every such corporation or its agents 
shall expire on the last day of the next succeeding February. 
In addition to the duties of the commissioner herein outlined, it is 
hereby required that he shall consider all contracts proposed to be 
issued to subscribers as to terms, forms, rates and benefits, and no 
such contract shall be issued or delivered until approved by him. The 
commissioner shall also fix a maximum number of subscribers for 
each plan based upon the facilities available and the utilization ex- 
perience. 
Section 9. The commissioner may appoint any deputy or examiner 
or other person who shall have the power of visitation and examina- 
tion into the affairs of any such corporation and free access to all of 
the books, papers and documents that relate to the business of the 
corporation and may summon and qualify witnesses under oath to ex- 
amine its officers, agents or employees or other persons in relation 
to the affairs, transactions and conditions of the corporation. 
Following examinations, the commissioner may hold hearings and 
issue orders relative to the conduct of the affairs of the hospital serv- 
ice organizations. If, upon examination or investigation it is found 
by the commissioner that such non-profit hospital service corporation 
is insolvent or has exceeded its powers or has failed to comply with 
any provisions of the law or that its condition and policy is such as 
to render its further proceedings hazardous to the public or its sub- 
scribers, he may apply to the appropriate court to issue an injunction 
restraining it in whole or in part from further proceeding with its 
business. The court or judge in vacation, in his discretion, may issue 
the injunction forthwith or upon notice and hearing thereon and after 
a full hearing of the matter may dissolve or modify such injunction 
or make it permanent and make all orders and decrees needful in the 
premises and. may appoint agents or receivers to take possession of 
the property and effects of the company and to settle its affairs 
subject to such rules and orders as the court may, from time to time 
prescribe according to the course of proceedings in equity. 
Section 10. All acquisition and administrative expenses in connec- 
tion with such corporation, shall at all times be subject to the ap- 
proval of the commissioner. Every agent of any corporation organized 
under this act shall be required to obtain annually from the commis- 
sioner of insurance a certificate under the seal of his office showing 
that the corporation for which he or she is an agent is licensed to do 
business in this state and that he or she is an agent of said corporation 
and duly authorized to do business for it. Every such agent on de- 
mand shall exhibit the said certificate to the person from whom he 
or she shall solicit contracts and every such agent shall annually pay 
privilege tax of five dollars. The commissioner of insurance may issue a duplicate certificate in case of loss or destruction of the original 
certificate and charge therefor a fee of fifty cents and the commis- 
sioner of insurance shall have the right to pass upon the qualifications 
of any such agent before issuing to him or her a license and for good 
cause shall have the right to cancel such license. 
Section 11. The funds of any corporation subject to the provisions 
of this act shall be invested only in securities permitted by the law of 
this state for the investment of assets of life insurance companies. 
Section 12. Any dispute arising between a corporation subject to 
the provisions of this act and any hospital with which such corpora- 
tion has a contract for hospital service may be submitted to the com- 
missioner for his decision with respect thereto. Any decision and 
finding of the commission made under the provisions of this act shall 
not be any bar to constituted legal procedure in a court of competent 
jurisdiction. 
Section 13. Any dissolution or liquidation of a corporation subject 
to the provisions of this act shall he conducted under the supervision 
of the commissioner of insurance who shall have all power with respect 
thereto under the provisions of law with respect to the dissolution 
and liquidation of insurance companies. 
Section 14. Every corporation subject to the provisions of this act 
is hereby declared to be a charitable and benevolent institution and 
its funds and property shall be exempt from taxation. 
Section 15. That any corporation heretofore or hereafter organized 
and operating under chapter 2, title 22, Mississippi code of 1942 
(chapter 177, laws of 1936) desiring to become a non-profit corpora- 
tion of the kind and charter described in this act and to operate 
under and pursuant to the terms of this act, may convert its organi- 
zation into such non-profit corporation under this act in the follow- 
ing’ manner, to-wit: 
(a) File a written application with the commissioner of insurance 
annexing thereto copies of (1) its articles of incorporation or new 
or amended articles of incorporation; (2) its by-laws; (3) its form 
of contract between the corporation and participating hospitals show- 
ing the terms under which hospital service is to be furnished to sub- 
scribers; (4) its contracts with subscribers showing a table of the 
rates charged and the benefits to which subscribers are entitued and 
(5) a financial statement of the corporation including the amounts 
of contribution paid or agreed to be paid to the corporation for work- 
ing capital and the name or names of each contributor and the terms 
of each contribution. 
(b) File with said application, a statement of its plan of operation 
in such detail as the commissioner may require. 
(e) File with said application, certified copy of resolution of stock- 
holders representing one huridred percent of all outstanding capital 
stock of said corporation approving the application to convert said 
corporation into a non-profit corporation under the terms of this act, 
and authorizing the filing of such application together with agree- 
ment of such stockholders to convey and surrender up to the eorpora- 
33 tion for cancellation their respective shares of stock therein for a 
specified consideration. 
(d) Submit any further data or evidence as may be required by 
the commissioner. 
(e) If the commissioner be satisfied from said data as to the fol- 
lowing points: (1) That the applicant is established as a bona-fide 
non-profit hospital and/or medical and/or surgical service corpora- 
tion or will be so established when its articles of incorporation are 
approved under this act; (2) that the contracts between the applicant 
and the participating hospitals obligate each hospital party for the 
consideration stipulated to render service to which each subscriber 
may be entitled under the terms and conditions of the contract issued 
to the subscribers; (3) that the rates charged and benefits to be pro- 
vided are fair and reasonable; (4) that the amounts provided as 
working capital of the corporation are repayable only out of earned 
income paid and payable for operating expenses and hospital ex- 
penses and such reserve as the commissioner deems adequate; (5) 
that the amount of money actually available for working capital be 
sufficient to carry all acquisition costs and operating expenses for 
a reasonable period of time from the date of such conversion; (6) 
that contracts between hospitals and the said corporation as adequate; 
and (7) that the requirements of this act with respect to accumulat- 
ing a contingency or emergency reserve will be carried out; then, 
the commissioner shall refer the corporation’s articles of incorpora- 
tion to the attorney general for his opinion as to whether the same 
meet the requirements of this act; the attorney general, shall if in 
order to do so, endorse his approval thereon and return the same to 
the commissioner of insurance; and the commissioner shall thereupon 
endorse upon said articles of incorporation his certificate of approval, 
whereupon said corporation shall be deemed to be converted under 
and existing and operating pursuant to the terms of this act; and the 
commissioner shall in addition, issue to the corporation a certificate 
of authority or license to do business under and pursuant to the 
terms of this act. The articles of incorporation bearing such approval 
of the attorney general and the commissioner shall be recorded in the 
offices of the commissioner of insurance and of the secretary of state 
in like manner as in this act provided for recording the articles of 
incorporation of a corporation organized under this act in the first 
instance. The corporation as so converted shall succeed to all the 
assets and liabilities of the original corporation, except liabilities to 
stockholders. 
(f) Immediately upon being so converted the corporation shall 
issue membership certificates to its subscribers or contract holders 
and take such other steps as may be proper to bring its operations 
under the provisions of this act as a non-profit corporation of the 
character herein described. 
Section 16. That all laws or parts of laws in conflict with this act 
are hereby declared inapplicable to any and all corporations chartered 
and operated under this act or to hinder any corporation from con- 
verting from its present status to a non-profit corporation under the 
terras of this act where authorized to do so by the terms of this act. 
34 Section 17. That if any word, line, section or part of this act should 
hereafter be declared unconstitutional by the courts, such decision 
shall not be construed so as to render invalid the remainder of same. 
Section 18. That this act take effect and be in force from and after 
its passage. 
Approved, April 14th, 1948. 
House Bill No. 531 
AN ACT to amend sections 4 and 5, chapter 277, Mississippi laws of 1944, to 
provide staggered terms for hospital trustees of community hospitals 
therein referred to; to provide for vice-presidents or hospital boards of 
trustees; to provide for filling vacancies in the office of trustee; to 
clarify the language of said sections; and for related purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
Section 1. That section 4, chapter 277, Mississippi laws of 1944, be 
and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 4. Any hospital erected, owned, maintained and operated 
hereunder by a city or town shall be operated by a board of trustees 
to consist of five members, one of which shall be the mayor, the other 
four shall be appointed by the mayor, and shall be citizens and resi- 
dents of the city or town and shall (except as hereinafter provided) 
(serve for a term of four years from the date of their respective ap- 
pointments. The first group of four appointed members of such a board 
of trustees (or the first group of four such trustees appointed after 
this act becomes effective), shall be appointed for terms as follows: 
One for a term of one year, one for a term of two years, one for a term 
of three years and one for a term of four years. Thereafter all such 
appointed trustees shall be appointed for a term of four years. Any 
vacancy in the office of an appointed trustee shall be filled by appoint- 
ment of the mayor for the unexpired term. The mayor shall be the 
president of the board and shall preside at its meetings. The board 
may, however, elect a vice-president to preside in the absence or dis- 
ability of the president. 
The said board of trustees shall have charge of the maintenance and 
operation of said hospital and shall have full power and authority to 
promulgate and adopt suitable rules and regulations and to employ 
such persons as may be necessary to properly maintain and operate 
said hospital. 
Section 2. That section 5, chapter 277, Mississippi laws of 1944, be 
and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 5. Any hospital erected, owned, maintained and operated 
hereunder by a county shall be operated by a board of trustees to con- 
sist of not less than five members, nor more than seven members, one 
to be appointed from each supervisor’s district, and one or more from 
the county at large, and to be appointed by the board of supervisors, 
and (except as hereinafter provided) shall serve for a term of five 
years from the date of their respective appointments. The first board 
of trustees to be so appointed (or the first such board of trustees to 
35 be appointed after this act becomes effective), shall be appointed for 
terms as follows: One for a term of one year, one for a term of two 
years, one for a term of three years, one for a term of four years, and 
one for a term of five years. In the event seven trustees are appointed 
the two members from the county at large shall be appointed for a 
term of four years from date of appointment and every four years 
thereafter. Thereafter all such trustees shall be appointed for a term 
of five years. Any vacancy on said board of trustees shall be filled by 
appointment by the board of supervisors for the unexpired term. The 
board of trustees so appointed shall elect one of their members presi- 
dent, who shall preside at the meetings of the board; provided, said 
board may elect another of their members as vice-president, who shall 
preside at the meetings of the board in the absence or disability of 
the president. 
The said board of trustees shall have charge of the maintenance and 
operation of said hospital and shall have full power and authority to 
promulgate and adopt suitable rules and regulations and to employ 
such persons as may be necessary to properly maintain and operate 
said hospital. 
Section 3. Provided, however, that any board of trustees hereto- 
fore appointed under the provisions of section 4, chapter 277, Missis- 
sippi laws of 1944, or section 5, of chapter 277, Mississippi laws of 
1944, shall remain in office until the term for which they were ap- 
pointed expires.. 
Section 4. That this act take effect and be in force from and after 
its passage. 
Approved, April 12th, 1948. 
House Bill No. 241 
AN ACT to create a state board of cosmetology; to prescribe its duties and 
powers; and to control and regulate the practice of beauty culture and 
hairdressing in the state of Mississippi. 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi: 
„ Section 1. State board—how appointed.—There is hereby creat- 
ed a state board of cosmetology composed of three (3) members, one 
from each supreme court district of the state, to be appointed by 
the governor, and whose term of office shall be four (4) years from 
the date of appointment. To be eligible for appointment as a member 
of the state board of cosmetology the person appointed shall be a 
licensed operator with not less than five (5) years active practice 
and experience as an operator. No member of the board shall be 
connected in any way with any school wherein beauty culture is 
taught or practiced as supervisor, instructor, operator, owner or 
manager. 
Section 2. Officers — employees — compensation.—The governor 
shall designate one of the members of the board as president and 
one of the members as secretary. The members of the board shall 
have authority to employ a full time stenographer whose salary shall be fixed by the board. The member designated as secretary shall be 
a full time employee whose salary shall be fixed by the board and 
who shall file with the secretary of state a bond in the sum of not 
less than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) payable to the State of 
Mississippi for the faithful performance of her duties. Said bond 
to be made in a surety company authorized to do business in this 
state, the premium on said bond to be paid out of any money on hand 
by the board. In the event monies in the hands of the board shall 
exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), then the bond herein re- 
quired shall be increased in a corresponding amount. 
The office of the board shall be located in the City of Jackson, 
Mississippi, and in the event office space cannot be obtained in any 
state owned building in the City of Jackson, the board is authorized 
to rent suitable office space in the City of Jackson and to pay there- 
for out of funds received by the board. The board shall employ 
inspectors as needed, not to exceed the number of five (5), who shall 
be full time employees and whose salaries and duties shall be fixed 
by the board. 
The salaries of all paid employees of the board shall be paid out 
of funds paid to the board as fees, as provided in this act. Bach 
member of the board, excepting the secretary and the inspectors 
provided herein, shall receive as full compensation for their service 
ten dollars ($10.00) per day, and for their expenses not to exceed 
six dollars ($6.00) per day while actually engaged in the perform- 
ance of their duties, to be allowed on expense accounts itemized and 
filed by them with the secretary. The inspectors herein provided 
shall, in addition to their salary, be paid a per diem for expenses 
not to exceed six dollars ($6.00) per day while actually engaged in 
the performance of their duties in any county other than the county 
of the residence of said inspector, to be allowed on expense accounts 
itemized and filed by them with the secretary. In addition to the 
paying of office rent the board is authorized to purchase necessary 
office furniture and equipment, stationery, books, certificates, and 
any other equipment necessary for the proper administration of this 
act. 
Section 3. Depository—reports.—Within thirty (30) days after 
this law becomes effective it shall be the duty of the board of 
cosmetology to select a depository in the same manner and form as 
now provided by section 4308, Mississippi code of 1942, and deposit 
all funds in the hands of said board of cosmetology and all funds 
thereafter collected shall be so deposited and maintained, and dis- 
bursements shall be so made on checks signed by the president and 
countersigned by the secretary of the board. On or before the 
fifteenth day of March each year the board shall file with the state 
auditor a report, attested by the affidavits of the- president and 
secretary of the board, of its transactions for the preceding year, 
covering all receipts and disbursements and showing the balance of 
monies on hand. The governor, in his discretion, shall have the power 
from time to time to require an audit of the accounts of the board, 
the same to be made by the state auditor upon request of the gov- 
ernor. The governor shall have the power to suspend any member 
37 of the board who shall be found in default in any account until such 
time as it shall be definitely determined whether such default was 
a result of an act of dishonesty on the part of said member and in 
the event it is found that such default is an act of dishonesty, mis- 
feasance or honfeasanee on the part of the member such member 
shall be immediately removed from office. 
Section 4. Powers of the board.—The board shall have authority 
to make reasonable rules and regulations for the administration of 
the provisions of this act. The board shall set up a curriculum for 
the operation of beauty culture schools in this state. The board may 
revoke the certificate of registration of any school, or may refuse 
to issue a certificate of registration to any school, that fails or re- 
fuses to comply with the provisions of this act and the rules and 
regulations of the board in carrying out the provisions of this act. 
The state board of cosmetology shall have authority to prescribe 
reasonable rules and regtilations governing sanitation of beauty 
schools and beauty shops for the guidance of registered cosmetologists 
in the operation of a beauty school or beauty shop, and in the prac- 
tice of cosmetology, provided, however, that any and all rules and 
regulations relating to sanitation shall, before adoption by the board 
of cosmetology, have the written approval of the state board of 
health. Any member of the state board of cosmetology, or any of its 
authorized inspectors, shall have authority to enter upon and in- 
spect any beauty school or beauty shop at any time during business 
hours, provided, however, that the privacy of patrons shall be 
respected by any person making such inspection. 
Section 5. Certificate of registration required.—From and after 
thirty (30) days of the passage of this act no person required by 
this act to have a certificate of registration shall conduct a beauty 
parlor or school, or practice hairdressing or cosmetology unless ap- 
plication for a certificate of registration has been made, and all 
persons required by this act to obtain a certificate of registration 
must file application therefor within thirty (30) days after this act 
becomes effective. 
Section 6. Display of certificate of registration.—Each owner of 
a certificate of registration issued by the state board, pursuant to 
the provisions of this act, shall display said certificate of registra- 
tion in a conspicuous place in his or her principal office, place of 
business or employment, at all times. 
Section 7. Examinations to be held—licenses issued.—The board 
shall hold examinations at least twice a year, and at such other times 
as the boaTd may have as many as twenty-five (25) applicants to 
take the examination. Any student who has completed the equivalent 
of fifteen hundred (1500) hours in an accredited beauty school in 
this or any other state, or has had at least two (2) years actual ex- 
perience in a beauty shop under an experienced cosmetologist, is 
eligible to take the examination. The board may, in its discretion, 
issue to any student who has completed the prescribed hours in an 
accredited school, temporary permit as an operator until such time 
as the next examination may be held, provided, however, a student 
38 shall be issued only one temporary permit. Applications for an 
examination and license shall be accompanied by two (2) recent 
head photographs, and a health certificate of a duly licensed phy- 
sician. The board shall accept for examination an operator from any 
other state upon proof that such operator is a duly licensed operator 
of that state. No temporary permit will be issued an operator from 
any other state to operate a beauty shop or school in this state unless 
in case of an emergency. 
Any person over the age of sixteen (16) years who shall present 
to the board an affidavit to the effect that he or she has been actively 
and continuously engaged in the practice of hairdressing and cos- 
metology in this state prior to the date this act becomes effective 
shall be entitled to a license without taking the required examina- 
tion. Accompanying the application for a license without an exam- 
ination must be two (2) recent head photographs of the applicant, 
the required registration fee of three dollars ($3.00), and a health 
certificate of a duly licensed physician, on a form to be prescribed 
by the board of cosmetology. The health certificate shall certify that 
the applicant is free from any infectious or communicable disease, 
and shall be dated within thirty (30) days prior to the date of the 
applicant’s application. 
Section 8. Certificate of registration for schools and instructors. 
—Any person practicing as an instructor, prior to the effective date 
of this act, in a beauty school, shall be granted an instructor’s certif- 
icate to practice as such without examination. Any person applying 
for an instructor’s license after the effective date of this act must 
have had two (2) years experience as an operator, or the equivalent 
training as an instructor, and pass the examination prescribed by 
the board for instructors. All applications with or without examina- 
tion for an instructor’s license must be accompanied by two (2) recent 
head photographs, the required fee for examination, and a health 
certificate from a duly licensed physician on a form prescribed by 
the board showing the applicant to be free from any infectious or 
communicable disease, which certificate shall have been issued with- 
in thirty (30) days prior to the date of the filing of the application. 
Section 9. Shop certificate of registration.—All beauty shop or 
parlor owners shall have a shop certificate of registration and shall 
pay to the board a registration fee of five dollars ($5.00) therefor. 
Section 10. Renewal of certificate of registration.—All certifi- 
cates of registration issued under the provisions of this act shall 
expire one (1) year from date. Applications for renewal of certif- 
icates of registration must be accompanied by a health certificate, 
and the required renewal fee. A sixty (60) day grace period will be 
given in which to renew the certificate, and upon the expiration of 
the sixty (60) day grace period any applicant for the renewal of a 
certificate of registration will be required to take the required exam- 
ination. 
Section 11. Manicurists certificate of registration. — A person 
applying for a manicurists certificate of registration must have had 
39 two hundred fifty (250) hours practice in an accredited beauty 
culture school wherein manicurists are taught and trained, or have 
had at least six (6) months actual experience as a manicurist under 
the supervision of an experienced manicurist. 
Registered manicurists desiring to pursue additional hours to be 
eligible for a certificate of registration as an operator may be credit- 
ed with the two hundred fifty (250) hours acquired in studying and 
training to be a manicurist, which may be applied to the number of 
hours required by an operators examination. 
Section 12. Reciprocity provisions.—The state board shall, upon 
application, issue a certificate of registration by reciprocity, to any 
operator over the age of sixteen (16) years from any other state 
who has satisfactorily completed the required number of accredited 
hours in that state, provided the state board from which the Appli- 
cant comes issues to operators from the State of Mississippi, a certif- 
icate under the same conditions. Applications must be accompanied 
by a health certificate stating that the applicant is free of any con- 
tagious disease, said certificate to be within thirty (30) days before 
application and prove, satisfactory to the board, that the required 
hours have been completed. 
An instructor from any other state may be issued a certificate of 
registration by reciprocity provided that instructor has had two (2) 
years or more of experience as an instructor, or an operator in a 
beauty shop. Such application must be accompanied by two (2) 
recent head photographs, a medical certificate showing the applicant 
to be free from contagious disease and the required fee. 
Section 13. Demonstrator’s permit.—Every demonstrator in the 
field of beauty culture shall, before making demonstrations in a 
beauty shop, apply for and obtain a permit from the board of cos- 
metology, and each such application shall be accompanied by a health 
certificate of the applicant; and for such permit which shall be for 
one (1) year a fee of five dollars ($5.00) shall be paid to said board. 
This section shall be construed to apply to demonstrators in beauty 
shops only. 
Section 14. Suspension or revocation of certificate of registra- 
tion.—A certificate of registration to engage in the practice of hair- 
dressing or cosmetology, or to conduct a beauty parlor or beauty 
school, may be suspended or revoked by the state board of cos- 
metology for any one or more of the following causes: refusal to 
submit to a physical examination when directed to do so by the state 
board of cosmetology; practice by a person having an infectious or 
communicable disease; fraud or bribery in securing a certificate of 
registration or permission to take an examination therefor; failure 
to display the license as provided in this act; violation of any of 
the provisions of this act, or of any rule or regulation adopted here- 
under, or of any applicable sanitary code. 
Whenever the certificate of registration is revoked, such certifi- 
cate shall not be reinstated, or reissued, until after the expiration of 
40 the period of thirty (30) days from the date of such revocation. 
Provided, however, that in cases involving infectuous, communicable 
or contagious diseases, operator in question shall be suspended until 
a health certificate from a reputable doctor is presented showing 
that such operator does not now have such disease and is not a 
menace to the health of patrons. 
The board of cosmetology may neither refuse to suspend or revoke, 
nor revoke or suspend any certificate of registration, either as a 
registered operator or instructor, for any cause specified in this act, 
or for the violation of any rule or regulation promulgated by the 
board, unless the holder of such certificate has been given at least 
thirty (30) days notice, in writing by registered mail, and notice 
signed by the president and secretary of the board of cosmetology, 
setting forth the charges against such holder of such certificate and 
naming the time and place for a hearing upon said charge or charges, 
and a public hearing thereof by the board of cosmetology. 
Upon the hearing of any such charge or charges the board may 
issue subpoenas for all necessary witnesses for and against the ac- 
cused, and require their attendance upon such hearing, may adminis- 
ter oaths, and may procure, by process, the production of all neces- 
sary books and papers, bearing or touching upon such charges 
against the accused. 
Any person aggrieved by the action of the board of cosmetology 
in revoking their certificate of registration may appeal direct from 
the decision of the board of cosmetology to the circuit court of the 
first judicial district of Hinds County, Mississippi. 
Section 15. Fees.—The fees to be paid by an applicant for an 
examination to determine their fitness to receive a certificate of 
registration as an operator is ten dollars ($10.00) as examination fee, 
and three dollars ($3.00) as registration fee. 
The fees to be paid by an applicant for an examination to deter- 
mine their fitness to receive a certificate of registration as an in- 
structor in a school of beauty culture or cosmetology is fifteen dollars 
($15.00) as examination fee, and twenty-five dollars ($25.00) as 
registration fee. 
The fee for a renewal of a certificate of registration is three dollars 
($3.00). The fee of an applicant from another state desiring a certif- 
icate of registration to practice beauty culture or cosmetology in this 
state under the reciprocity provisions of this act is fifteen dollars 
($15.00). The fee of an instructor of another state desiring to obtain 
a certificate of registration to instruct in a school of beauty culture 
or cosmetology under the reciprocity provisions of this act is twenty- 
five dollars ($25.00). 
Section 16. What constitutes the practice of beauty culture, hair- 
dressing and cosmetology.—Any person who engages in any one or 
any combination of the following practices to-wit: Arranging, dress- 
ing, curling, waving, cleaning, bleaching, coloring, cutting, and 
shaping or any kindred work upon the hair of any person by any 
41 means shall be construed to be practicing the occupation of a hair- 
dresser. Any person who with hands or mechanical or electrical 
apparatus or appliances or by the use of eosmetologieal preparation, 
antiseptic, tonifes, lotions or creams engages in any one or combina- 
tions of the following practices for remunerations or pay, to-wit: 
cleansing, beautifying or any kindred work of the scalp, face, neck 
or bust, or upper part of the body or manicuring the nails of any 
person shall be construed to be practicing the occupation of a cos- 
metologist. Provided, however, that nothing in this act shall apply 
to hair dressing, manicuring, or facial treatments, given in the home, 
to members of family or friends for which no charges is made. Pro- 
vided, further, that nothing in this act shall apply to barbers or 
affect the jurisdiction of the board of barber examiners. 
Section 17. Sanitation rules and regulations.—In addition to the 
rules and regulations that may be prescribed and promulgated by 
the board under authority of this act, the following rules and regu- 
lations shall be observed: 
Every establishment must be kept sanitary, including all utensils 
and equipment; must be well ventilated and properly lighted. Each 
shop must be provided with hot and cold water. Electrical appliances 
must be properly installed and grounded. Anyone having an infec- 
tious or contagious disease shall not practice in any establishment. 
Shop owners will be held responsible for knowingly permitting one 
with such disease to practice in his or her shop. No work shall be 
performed on any patron having a visible disease, unless the patron 
shall produce a certificate from a practicing physician stating that 
the patron is free from infectious, contagious or communicable dis- 
ease. A beauty culture license does not authorize an operator to treat 
or prescribe for an infectious, contagious or any other disease. 
A home beauty shop must have a solid wall to the ceiling with an 
outside entrance, or if a door exists between the beauty shop and the 
remainder of the house, same shall be kept closed at all times while 
service is being rendered. A period of ninety (90) days from the ef- 
fective date of this act will be given to prepare this outside entrance. 
Section 18. Penalty for violations.—The violation of any of the 
provisions of this act shall constitute a misdemeanor, punishable in 
any court of competent jurisdiction, and any person or firm con- 
victed of the violation of any of the provisions of this act shall be 
fined not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than five 
hundred dollars ($500.00). 
Section 19. Constitutionality.—If any portion of this act is de- 
clared unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall 
not affect the validity of the remainder of this act, which can be 
given effect without the invalid portion. 
Section 20. That this act take effect and be in force from and 
after its passage. 
Approved April 13, 1948. 
42 INDEX 
A 
Animals to be slaughtered certain conditions 28 
Appointment — Dental Examiners 25 
B 
i 
Board of Cosmetology 36 
Board of Examiners to clarify duties — Nurses 26 
Board of Health — President and Executive Officer 12 
c 
Centers health or health departments 3 
Community hospital trustees . 35 
Cosmetology, State Board of 36 
County health officer — may be appointed as a physician 
to pass on mental condition of persons 12 
D 
Dental Examiners, State Board of 25 
E 
Education — Nursing scholarship 7 
F 
Foot and Mouth Disease — Animals 28 
G 
Game and Fish Commission — Rabies (foxes) 20 
H 
Health, Board of — President and Executive Officer 12 
Health centers or health department grants 1 
Hospital, non-profit — and medical service corporations 29 
Hospitals, non-profit and facilities 1 
Hospital licensing — powers and duties ' 20 
Hospital Trustees — community 35 
L 
Licensing, inspection and regulations of hospitals — how obtained 20 
License to practice Cosmetology. 36 
Lunacy — how committed to mental institutions 12 
M 
Medical and Surgical service corporations 29 
Mental institutions — insane — how committed 12 
N 
Nurses, Board of Examiners to clarify duties 26 
Nursing scholarship program of education. 7 
Nursing — to create school at University of Mississippi ..,—19 o 
Organization and operation of non-profit, medical and surgical 
service corporations 29 
P 
Patients suffering from certain conditions to be separated from those 
suffering from certain other conditions 2 
Payment provided for animals ordered to be slaughtered 28 
President and Executive Officer, State Board of Health 12 
R 
Rabies — (foxes) — Game and Fish Commission 20 
Regulations governing Cosmetology 36 
s 
Slaughtering animals infected with or exposed to foot and mouth disease... 28 
T 
Trustees — community hospitals 35 
u 
University of Mississippi — School of Nursing 19