HB 965 Summary

• Transfers sums from individual facility budgets to the Department of Mental Health's Service Budget, increasing Service Budget funding to $63,034,192.00 total ($15,791,284.00 general funds and $47,242,908.00 special funds).

• Authorizes the Department of Mental Health to contract with suitable entities to operate crisis intervention centers in Batesville, Brookhaven, Cleveland, Corinth, Laurel, Newton, and Grenada, with quarterly progress reports required to legislative committees.

• Creates exception to prohibition on closing mental health facilities without legislative approval, allowing the Board to close crisis intervention centers specifically for the purpose of contracting with private entities to operate them.

• Requires the Department of Finance and Administration to transfer special funds back to the Department of Mental Health upon request if those funds are not needed for previously incurred costs, regardless of when the original transfer was made.

• Amends budget allocations for the State Board of Public Contractors and the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, and repeals travel restrictions on Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Division staff.