(1) There is created the Infant Mortality Reduction Collaborative, to be composed of eleven (11) members as follows:

(a) The Chairman of the House Medicaid Committee or the designee of the chairman;

(b) The Chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee or the designee of the chairman;

(c) The State Health Officer or the designee of the health officer;

(d) The Director of the Division of Pharmacy of the State Department of Health;

(e) The Executive Director of the Division of Medicaid or the designee of the executive director;

(f) The Pharmacy Director of the Division of Medicaid;

(g) Two (2) licensed physicians who are certified in obstetrics and gynecology appointed by the State Health Officer;

(h) One (1) representative of the pharmaceutical industry appointed by the State Health Officer;

(i) One (1) representative of private insurance providers appointed by the Governor; and

(j) One (1) representative of the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs of the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

(2) The State Health Officer shall be the chairman of the Infant Mortality Reduction Collaborative. The collaborative shall adopt bylaws and rules for its efficient operation, which may include designation of its organizational structure including other officers and committees, duties of officers and committees, a process for selecting officers, quorum requirements for committees, provisions for special or ad hoc committees, staff policies and other such procedures as may be necessary. The collaborative may establish committees responsible for conducting specific collaborative programs or activities.

(3) The Infant Mortality Reduction Collaborative shall be assigned to the State Department of Health for administrative purposes only, and the department shall designate staff to assist the collaborative.

(4) The Infant Mortality Reduction Collaborative shall meet and conduct business at least quarterly. All meetings of the collaborative and any committees of the collaborative shall be open to the public, with opportunities for public comment provided on a regular basis. Notice of all meetings shall be given as provided in the Open Meetings Act (Section 25-41-1 et seq.) and appropriate notice also shall be given to all persons so requesting of the date, time and place of each meeting.

(5) The Infant Mortality Reduction Collaborative may apply for and expend grants or other contributions for the purpose of promoting maternal and infant health in Mississippi.

(6) The Infant Mortality Reduction Collaborative shall annually make policy recommendations to the Legislature and recommendations for regulatory changes to state agencies on the following matters:

(a) Ensuring the availability, accessibility and affordability of a hormonal supplement that is used to prevent preterm deliveries in pregnant women;

(b) Ensuring access to preconception health care;

(c) Reducing the number of early elective deliveries; and

(d) The development of perinatal regions of care.

(7) In developing its recommendations, the collaborative may consult with experts and shall examine actions taken in other states.

(8) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2020.