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