Senate Bill 2433

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 37-113-55, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AT MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SHALL ONLY ADMIT APPLICANTS WHO HAVE BEEN BONA FIDE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THEIR APPLICATION; TO PROVIDE THAT IF ANY POSITIONS IN THE INCOMING FIRST-YEAR CLASS ARE OPEN AFTER THE FIRST ROUND OF ADMISSIONS AND SUBSEQUENT RESERVATIONS BY RESIDENT APPLICANTS, THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE MAY ADMIT NONRESIDENT APPLICANTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 37-113-55, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-113-55. (1) For purposes of this section, "resident" shall be defined and determined in the same manner as resident status for tuition purposes as set forth in Sections 37-103-1 through 37-103-29, with the exception of Section 37-103-17.

(2) The College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University shall only admit applicants who have been bona fide residents of the State of Mississippi for three (3) consecutive years immediately preceding the date of his or her application. These applicants shall also meet any other requirements set forth by the College of Veterinary Medicine in its admission standards.

The College of Veterinary Medicine may accept class seat reservations from such applicants.

(3) If any positions in the incoming first-year class are open after the first round of admissions and subsequent reservations by resident applicants, the College of Veterinary Medicine may admit nonresident applicants who meet the requirements set forth by the College of Veterinary Medicine in its admission standards.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.