New Year Brings New Laws

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A new law taking effect in the new year is designed to bring more transparency to financial operations of publicly owned hospitals in Mississippi.

Senate Bill 2407 (http://bit.ly/1M3GVSK) was filed in response to problems at Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula. The law requires boards of community hospitals to keep most of their meetings open to the public. The boards could hold closed meetings to discuss patient information, competitive business matters or employment contracts for physicians and other workers.

Other new laws:

– Provide pay raises to state troopers and narcotics agents.

– Create four new circuit judgeships and three new chancery judgeships.

– Require health insurance policies to cover diagnosis and treatment for autism.

– Create concealed-carry permits that will show if the holder is a retired law enforcement officer.