Mississippi legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1551: Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board; create within Department of Health.
Status: Failed, March 4, 2025
AN ACT TO CREATE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITY REVIEW BOARD WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO REVIEW THE DEATHS RESULTING FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS AND ESTABLISH STRATEGIES TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITIES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO BE APPOINTED BY THE STATE OFFICER; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BOARD AND SHALL EMPLOY OR CONTRACT WITH A COORDINATOR AND DESIGNATE OTHER STAFF AS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR THE BOARD; TO PRESCRIBE THE DUTIES OF THE COORDINATOR; TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD TO INVITE OTHER INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE BOARD ON AN AD HOC BASIS FOR A PARTICULAR INVESTIGATION; TO PROVIDE WHAT THE REVIEW OF A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITY BY THE BOARD WILL INVOLVE, INCLUDING THE TYPES OF RECORDS THAT ARE TO BE REVIEWED; TO DIRECT THE BOARD TO SUBMIT A REPORT EVERY TWO YEARS TO THE HOUSE AND SENATE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEES CONCERNING ITS ACTIVITIES AND THE INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITIES WITHIN THE STATE, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE THE NUMBER, CAUSES AND RELEVANT DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITIES IN MISSISSIPPI, IDENTIFIABLE TRENDS IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITIES IN THE STATE, AND APPROPRIATE POLICY AND SYSTEMS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE ON HOW TO MOST EFFECTIVELY DIRECT STATE RESOURCES TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PREVENTABLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITIES IN THE STATE; TO PROVIDE THAT DATA FOR THE BOARD'S REVIEW AND REPORTING SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE BOARD BY AGENCIES, OFFICIALS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS HAVING INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR THE BOARD TO CARRY OUT ITS DUTIES; TO REQUIRE PHYSICIANS, HOSPITALS AND PHARMACIES TO PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCESS TO THE BOARD TO ALL RELEVANT MEDICAL RECORDS ASSOCIATED WITH A CASE UNDER REVIEW BY THE BOARD; TO PROVIDE IMMUNITY TO PHYSICIANS, HOSPITALS AND PHARMACIES PROVIDING ACCESS TO THOSE RECORDS IN GOOD FAITH; TO REQUIRE ANY PERSON HAVING RECORDS OR OTHER INFOR
What the bill says
An act to create the domestic violence fatality review board within the state department of health to review the deaths resulting from domestic violence incidents and establish strategies to prevent domestic violence fatalities; to provide for the members of the board to be appointed by the state officer; to provide that the department shall be responsible for the general administration of the activities of the board and shall employ or contract with a coordinator and designate other staff as necessary to provide administrative support for the board…