The Mississippi Senate adopted the conference report on House Bill 924 after floor debate that reviewed what language remained in the final conference document.

Senator Parker introduced the conference report, telling colleagues the House had agreed to concur with the Senate amendments and that the bill contained only previously agreed components. “The provisions in it were, the ability appear to review the state agency rules, the Medicaid non emergency transport provision, the little provision on the prison work program, the mental health task force recommendations, the peer subpoena enforcement, and a study on self insurance for state property were the only things that remained,” Parker said.

Why it matters

The conference report narrows the bill to a set of administrative and oversight measures affecting state agencies, Medicaid transport rules, corrections-related language, mental-health task force recommendations and investigatory powers for PEER — the state ethics/oversight body referenced during debate. Senators asked for clarity about PEER’s subpoena enforcement powers and potential penalties for noncompliance.

PEER subpoena enforcement and penalty discussion

Senator Hill asked what penalty would apply if a person failed to comply with a PEER subpoena. After conferees consulted, the chamber recorded that the chair of PEER said penalties could include up to six months’ incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000, but any enforcement would have to proceed through the courts. “So PEER would have to go through the court,” a senator said on the floor.

Other retained provisions

- Review of state-agency rules and a Medicaid non-emergency-transport provision remained in the conference report.
- The conference report included a small provision on a prison work program and the mental-health task force recommendations.
- The measure also required a study on self-insurance for state property.

Final action and vote

Senator Parker moved adoption of the conference report and requested a morning roll call. The clerk recorded several no votes (Chisholm and Hill were noted as voting no). The presiding officer declared the bill passed on the morning roll call; full yea/nay totals were not recorded in the transcript excerpt.

What the bill does not do

Senator Parker emphasized the conference agreement removed previously objectionable language that had been in earlier versions of the bill; a provision directing schools on bus operation that was discussed earlier in session was not part of the final report.

Next steps

With the conference report adopted by the Senate, the bill’s provisions as described will move forward for whatever remaining steps are required in the legislative process.