House Bill 698

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-13-81, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO HAS SERVED AS A DULY ELECTED COUNTY SURVEYOR FOR 20 YEARS SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO TAKE EXAMINATIONS FOR ENROLLMENT OR RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION AS A PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR; TO AMEND SECTIONS 73-13-77 AND 73-13-85, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 73-13-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

73-13-81. (1) Examinations shall be required for enrollment as a land surveyor intern and registration as a professional land surveyor. The examinations shall be held at such time and place as the board may determine.

The scope of the examinations and the methods and procedures shall be prescribed by the board with special reference to the applicant's ability to exercise direct control and personal supervision of all land surveying functions.

The board shall cite applicants to examinations in accordance with its rules and regulations.

(2) Any person who has served as a duly elected county surveyor under Section 19-27-1 for at least twenty (20) years, regardless of whether such service has been consecutive or not, shall not be required to take or pass an examination or reexamination prescribed by the board for a professional land surveyor.

SECTION 2. Section 73-13-77, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

73-13-77. (1) The following shall be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is qualified for registration as a professional land surveyor:

(a) The successful completion of a curriculum of two (2) scholastic years or more from a school or college approved by the board as of satisfactory standing, including the completion of approved courses in surveying and related subjects; a specific record of three (3) years of qualifying land surveying experience indicating that the applicant is competent to practice land surveying; and successfully passing examinations in surveying prescribed by the board, except as otherwise provided in Section 73-13-81(2); or

(b) A specific record of seven (7) years' or more experience in land surveying work of a character satisfactory to the board and indicating that the applicant is competent to practice land surveying; and successfully passing examinations in surveying prescribed by the board.

No person shall be eligible for registration as a professional land surveyor who is not of good character and reputation.

(2) The following shall be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is qualified for certification as a land surveyor intern:

(a) The successful completion of two (2) scholastic years or more from a school or college approved by the board as of satisfactory standing, including the completion of approved courses in land surveying and related subjects, and successfully passing an examination in the fundamentals of land surveying; or

(b) A specific record of three (3) years or more of qualifying land surveying experience, and successfully passing an examination in the fundamentals of land surveying.

SECTION 3. Section 73-13-85, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

73-13-85. Certificates of registration shall expire on the last day of the month of December following their issuance or renewal and shall become invalid on that date unless renewed. It shall be the duty of the board to notify every person registered under Sections 73-13-71 through 73-13-105 of the date of the expiration of his certificate and the amount of the fee that shall be required for its renewal for one (1) year; such notice shall be sent by first class mail to the last known address of the registrant at least one (1) month in advance of the date of the expiration of said certificate. Renewal may be effected at any time during the month of December by the payment of a fee not to exceed Fifty Dollars ($50.00). A person who is registered as a professional land surveyor and as a professional engineer may effect both renewals by the payment of a single fee not to exceed Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00). The failure on the part of any registrant to renew his certificate annually in the month of December as required above shall not deprive such person of the right of renewal, but the fee to be paid for the renewal of a certificate after the month of December shall be increased ten percent (10%) for each month that payment of renewal is delayed; however, the maximum fee for delayed renewal shall not exceed five (5) times the normal renewal fee.

If the registrant shall fail to renew his certificate within five (5) years from the date of expiration, he must pay the back fees and be reexamined by the board in principles and practice before his certificate will be reissued. The reexamination may be waived by the board provided the applicant has continued to practice under another jurisdiction from the date of expiration of his certificate. The reexamination shall be waived by the board if the applicant is exempt from reexamination under Section 73-13-81(2).

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.