House Bill 135

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 65-17-201, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE MONETARY THRESHOLD THAT REQUIRES A COUNTY TO EMPLOY A QUALIFIED ENGINEER ON PROJECTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OR RECONSTRUCTION OF COUNTY ROADS OR BRIDGES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 65-17-201, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

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65-17-201. The boards of supervisors of the several counties of the State of Mississippi are authorized and empowered at their discretion to employ, as county engineer, a civil engineer or person qualified to perform the duties of a county engineer, and such assistant engineers as may be necessary. On all projects for the construction or reconstruction of a bridge which will cost more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or for the construction or reconstruction of roads which will cost more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per mile, the employment of an engineer qualified under the chapter on engineers shall be obligatory, whether the work is being done by the county or by a separate district, and whether the work is to be done by contract or otherwise; however, in obligatory cases the employment may be for the particular work, rather than for a term.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.