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SB 2730

Mississippi Burn Care Fund; provide that SBH shall equitably divide funds among all certified health centers.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dennis DeBar

Creates the MS Burn Care Fund, raises specialty plate fee from $1 to $2.50, and equitably distributes revenues to UMMC, Baptist, and Level I burn centers via the Dept of Health.

Approved by Governor
#appropriations #appropriationsc
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Bill Summary · SB 2730

Summary — SB 2730: Mississippi Burn Care Fund; equitable distribution to certified burn centers

Status: Approved by Governor (enrolled bill signed April 7, 2025; approved April 10, 2025)
Introduced/Filed: March 13, 2025
Bill No.: SB 2730
Primary sponsor (as listed): Celina Villanueva (source record)

Note: The source packet includes extraneous text from an unrelated Illinois “Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act.” This summary focuses only on the Mississippi provisions that constitute SB 2730 as enacted.

Purpose / Intent

The bill revises and consolidates funding and administrative provisions for burn care in Mississippi by (1) formally establishing/renaming the Mississippi Burn Care Fund, (2) increasing a special license‑plate fee whose proceeds support the Fund, and (3) directing how Fund monies are to be allocated — specifically providing for equitable distribution among the State’s designated burn centers (University of Mississippi Medical Center, Baptist Medical Center, and any burn center affiliated with a Level I trauma center).

Key provisions

  • Creates/renames a trust in the State Treasury as the Mississippi Burn Care Fund (formerly Mississippi Fire Fighters Memorial Burn Center Fund). The Fund receives:
    • Proceeds from statutory increases in certain specialty license plate fees, and
    • Gifts, donations, bequests, grants, endowments, transfers, or other monies designated for deposit.
  • Increases the additional fee on distinctive or special vehicle license plates from $1.00 to $2.50, effective for registration years commencing on or after January 1, 2025. These fees are in addition to other tag fees and are deposited into the Mississippi Burn Care Fund. Certain plates (enumerated in statute) remain exempt.
  • The Fund’s principal is to remain inviolate and invested as provided by law. Interest and income credited to the Fund may be appropriated each fiscal year; such amounts are credited to the Fund (not the General Fund).
  • Appropriation and distribution: For fiscal years before the UMMC burn center is operational, appropriations are to the Mississippi Department of Health to carry out defined responsibilities. After the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s burn center is operational, appropriations from the Fund shall be made to:
    • University of Mississippi Medical Center (for operation of the Mississippi Burn Center),
    • Baptist Medical Center, and
    • Any burn center affiliated with a Level I trauma center in the Mississippi Trauma Care System. The statute directs that such funds “shall be equitably distributed” among those recipients.
  • The Department of Health is authorized to accept and deposit gifts/donations designated for the Fund.
  • The bill also contains conforming/related amendments to emergency medical services and trauma system statutes (State Board of Health / EMS responsibilities).

Who is affected

  • Motorists who purchase distinctive/special license plates — they will pay an additional $2.50 per registration year (for covered plates).
  • The Mississippi Burn Care Fund and its recipients: UMMC, Baptist Medical Center, and any Level I trauma‑affiliated burn centers — they become the designated beneficiaries of these fee revenues and donations.
  • Mississippi Department of Health (administration/receipt of gifts, initial appropriations, program oversight).
  • State Treasury and agencies responsible for specialty plate fee collection and transfers.

Fiscal and operational impact (practical effect)

  • Generates a dedicated revenue stream (special tag fee and donations) for burn care services and centers in Mississippi.
  • Provides an ongoing, earmarked funding source intended to support operation and maintenance of burn centers and to strengthen the statewide trauma/burn care system.
  • Shifts specified fee revenue into a restricted trust fund (principal protected; interest/earnings available for appropriation).

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Fee increase applies beginning with registration years commencing on/after January 1, 2025.
  • Enrolled and signed (April 7, 2025), approved by Governor April 10, 2025; effective dates follow standard enactment unless otherwise stated in the statute.

If you would like, I can:
- Extract the exact statutory sections changed (with current and new language), or
- Provide an estimate of expected revenue based on recent specialty plate sales data (if you supply plate counts).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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