May 3, 2004
TO THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE:
GOVERNOR'S
VETO MESSAGE FOR SENATE BILL 2771
I am returning Senate Bill 2771:
"AN ACT TO REENACT SECTIONS 73-13-1 THROUGH 73-13-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF
1972, WHICH PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF ENGINEERS AND LAND SURVEYORS; TO
AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT
ENGINEERS SHALL BE LICENSED; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-3, MISSISSIPPI
CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE DEFINITIONS; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-5,
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE BOARD OF LICENSURE FOR PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERS AND SURVEYORS; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE
OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE
OF 1972, TO REVISE BOARD MEETING TIMES AND THE QUORUM; TO AMEND REENACTED
SECTION 73-13-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE BOARD RULE-MAKING
AUTHORITY; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN
CONFORMITY; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO
DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT COPIES OF THE ROSTER OF ENGINEERS BE MAILED TO ALL
LICENSEES; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO
REVISE QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSURE; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-25,
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE APPLICATION FEES; TO AMEND REENACTED
SECTIONS 73-13-27 AND 73-13-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY; TO
AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE
REQUIREMENTS REGARDING EXPIRED LICENSES; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTIONS 73-13-33
AND 73-13-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY; TO AMEND REENACTED
SECTION 73-13-37, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE NOTICE REGARDING
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-39, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972,
TO REVISE PENALTIES; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-41, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF
1972, IN CONFORMITY; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-43, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF
1972, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTIFICATES OF AUTHORITY FOR CORPORATIONS, FIRMS AND
PARTNERSHIPS; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-45, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN
CONFORMITY; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-71, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO
DEFINE THE TERM "SURVEYING"; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-73,
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY DUTIES WITHIN THE PRACTICE OF SURVEYING
AND ENGINEERING; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTIONS 73-13-75 AND 73-13-77, MISSISSIPPI
CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION 73-13-79, MISSISSIPPI
CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE SURVEYOR APPLICATION FEES; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION
73-13-81, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTION
73-13-83, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE SEAL REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND
REENACTED SECTION 73-13-85, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE RENEWAL OF
EXPIRED LICENSE REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND REENACTED SECTIONS 73-13-87, 73-13-89
AND 73-13-93, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY; TO AMEND REENACTED
SECTION 73-13-95, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE PENALTIES; TO AMEND
REENACTED SECTION 73-13-97, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY; TO AMEND
REENACTED SECTION 73-13-99, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE REPEALER ON
THE BOARD OF LICENSURE FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND SURVEYORS; TO AMEND
REENACTED SECTION 73-13-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY; TO AMEND
SECTION 73-13-105, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR SURVEYING
CERTIFICATES OF AUTHORITY FOR CORPORATIONS, FIRMS AND PARTNERSHIPS; AND FOR
RELATED PURPOSES." without my approval and assign the following reasons
for my veto.
I am opposed to increasing state
fees or taxes as an attempt to dig out of our current state budget crisis. Senate Bill 2771 contradicts this position
by authorizing the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land
Surveyors to increase the registration and licensure renewal fees for
engineers, engineer interns, and surveyors.
It also creates a new registration fee for engineering and surveying
firms.
It is
my understanding that House Bill 792, which is currently pending before the
Mississippi Legislature, could be revised such that it extended the repealer on
the authorization of the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and
Land Surveyors without raising state fees.
I support this legislation.
I
urge the members to sustain the veto and reject Senate Bill 2771.
Respectfully
Submitted,
HALEY
BARBOUR
GOVERNOR