Title 43, Public Welfare

Blind persons, visually handicapped persons, deaf persons and other physically disabled persons shall have the same right as the able-bodied to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities, and other public places.

Blind persons, visually handicapped persons, deaf persons and other physically disabled persons shall be entitled to full and equal access, as are other members of the general public, to accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of all common carriers, airplanes, moto…

Every totally or partially blind person and every deaf person shall have the right to be accompanied by a guide dog or hearing ear dog on a blaze orange leash, especially trained for the purpose, in any of the places specified in Section 43-6-5 without being required to pay an ex…

A totally or partially blind pedestrian or deaf person shall have all the rights and privileges conferred by law upon other persons in any of the places, accommodations, or conveyances specified in Sections 43-6-3 and 43-6-5, notwithstanding the fact that such person is not carry…

The State Building Commission, the boards of supervisors of each county, the governing authorities of each municipality and the governing authorities of all political subdivisions of this state, pursuant to an order of the state board of health, shall cause to be constructed such…

(1) At least one (1) primary entrance to each building shall be accessible by individuals in wheelchairs from a point of vehicular arrival and such access shall be by means of a walk or walks at least forty-eight (48) inches wide and having a gradient not greater than five percen…

Where public parking is provided, at least one (1) parking area shall be made accessible to the building by either placing it at the grade level of one (1) floor of the building or providing ramps at curbs or steps between the parking area and the building.

(a) Where ramps are necessary or desired, they shall conform to the following specifications:(a) The ramp shall not have a slope greater than one (1) foot rise in twelve (12) feet of run, or eight and thirty-three one-hundredths percent (8.33%), or four (4) degrees fifty (50) min…

Steps in stairs shall be designed wherever practicable so as not to have abrupt (square) nosing. Stairs shall have handrails thirty-two (32) inches high as measured from the tread at the face of the riser. Stairs shall have at least one (1) handrail that extends at least eighteen…

Floors shall wherever practicable have a surface that is nonslip. Floors on the same story shall be of a common level throughout or be connected by a ramp in accord with Section 43-6-107.

(1) An appropriate number of toilet rooms shall be accessible to, and usable by, the physically handicapped and shall have space to allow traffic of individuals in wheelchairs. (2) Toilet rooms for each sex shall have at least one (1) toilet stall that: (a) is three (3) feet wide…

An appropriate number of water fountains or other water dispensing means shall be accessible to, and usable by, the physically disabled. Water fountains or coolers shall have up-front spouts and controls. Water fountains or coolers shall be hand-operated or hand-and-foot operated…

Where elevators are to be provided, at least one (1) bank of elevators, or one (1) single elevator if installed in single units, shall be accessible to, and usable by, persons with physical disabilities at all levels normally used by the general public. Such bank of elevators or …

Switches and controls for light, heat, ventilation, windows, draperies, elevators, fire alarms, and all similar controls of frequent or essential use shall be placed within the reach of individuals in wheelchairs, and not to exceed forty-eight (48) inches from the floor level.

Every effort shall be exercised to obviate all hazards to individuals with physical disabilities.

The State Board of Health shall be responsible for reviewing plans and specifications of the proposed building or improvements to determine whether the buildings referred to in Section 43-6-101 will be in compliance with this article. The board shall collect a fee from the state,…

All public buildings constructed or remodeled in accordance with the standards and requirements of Sections 43-6-101 through 43-6-123, or containing facilities that are in compliance therewith, shall display a symbol which is white on a blue background. The specifications for thi…

Sections 43-6-151 through 43-6-155 shall be known as and may be cited as the “Mississippi Support Animal Act.”

(a) The following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:(a) “Mobility impaired person” means any person, regardless of age, who is subject to a physiological defect or deficiency regardless of its cause, nature, o…

(1) Any blind person, mobility impaired person, armed services veteran diagnosed with PTSD or hearing impaired person who uses a support animal specifically trained as a guide, leader, listener or for any other necessary assistance in day-to-day activities shall be entitled to th…

(1) The Legislature recognizes that language used in reference to individuals with disabilities shapes and reflects society’s attitudes towards people with disabilities. Many of the terms currently used diminish the humanity and natural condition of having a disability. Certain t…

The Mississippi Legislature finds that the benefits of meaningful work have significance and importance to all working-age persons, including persons with disabilities. In order to achieve meaningful and competitive employment for persons with disabilities, employment opportuniti…

(a) As used in this article, the following words shall have the following meaning, unless the context otherwise requires:(a) “Competitive employment” means work in the competitive labor market that is performed on a full-time or part-time basis in an integrated setting and for wh…

It is declared to be the policy of this state that competitive employment in an integrated setting shall be, to the extent practicable, considered the first and priority option when planning or providing services and supports to persons with disabilities who are of working age. A…

(1) All state agencies that provide services to persons with disabilities and/or employment services shall coordinate efforts and shall collaborate within and among such agencies to ensure that state programs, policies, procedures and funding support competitive employment in int…

The Disability Resource Commission as described in Section 43-30-1 is directed to provide the monitoring and oversight of the implementation of this article by state agencies.

(1) Nothing in this article shall be interpreted to prohibit the appropriate use of programs known as center-based employment, employment centers, skill development centers, vocational rehabilitation centers, and/or other employment options. (2) Nothing in this article shall be i…

This article shall be known and may be cited as “Cole’s Law.”

(a) The Legislature finds that:(a) A mental or physical disability does not diminish a person’s right to health care;(b) The “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,” 42 USC Section 12101, prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities, yet many individuals with disa…

(a) For purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:(a) “Disability” has the meaning stated in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, at 42 USC S…

(1) The provisions of this section shall apply to all stages of the organ transplant process. (2) A covered entity shall not, solely on the basis of an individual’s disability:(a) Consider the individual ineligible to receive an anatomical gift or organ transplant;(b) Deny medica…

(1) Whenever it appears that a covered entity has violated or is violating any of the provisions of this article, the affected individual may commence a civil action for injunctive and other equitable relief against the covered entity for purposes of enforcing compliance with thi…

(1) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:(a) “Covered person” means a policyholder, subscriber, enrollee, member, or individual covered by a health benefit plan.(b) “Health benefit plan”…

The Legislature hereby declares that the life of a person with a disability who needs an organ transplant is as worthy and valuable as the life of a person with no disability who needs the same medical service.