March 30, 2001

TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE FOR HOUSE BILL 1618

I am returning House Bill Number 1618: "AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FROM SPECIAL FUNDS IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE STATE BOARD OF REGISTRATION FOR FORESTERS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2002." partly approved and partly not approved pursuant to the authority of Section 73 of the Mississippi Constitution and assign the following reasons for partial veto of this bill:

Section 2 usurps the general statutory authority placed with the State Board of Registered Foresters to interpret and apply the standards and qualifications pertaining to its certification process. Section 2 is severable from the appropriation for the Board of Registered Foresters and if approved would establish a precedent of conferring special benefits or imposing penalties on named individuals to the detriment of responsible administration and sound public policy. For these reasons I hereby veto Section 2 of House Bill No. 1618 and approve Sections 1 and 3 thereof.

Respectfully submitted,

RONNIE MUSGROVE
GOVERNOR