Senate Resolution 68

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL APPRAISER AND CERTIFIED DISTANCE EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR MELISSA BOND OF PICAYUNE, MISSISSIPPI, FOR DEVELOPING THE FIRST-IN-THE-NATION MISSISSIPPI PRACTICAL APPRAISER TRAINING (MPAT) PROGRAM AND COMMENDING THE STATE'S INNOVATIVE PATHWAY TO REAL ESTATE APPRAISER LICENSURE.

WHEREAS, on August 24, 2022, the Appraisal Subcommittee of the Mississippi Appraisal Board partnered with Mississippi Practical Appraiser Training (MPAT) for its first[1]in-the-nation MPAT Program completion ceremony for 17 aspiring real estate appraisers in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, this MPAT Program was designed, developed, and implemented by the leading Appraisal Educator, Melissa Bond of Picayune, Mississippi. The program is administered under the authority of the Mississippi Appraisal Board. It is fully funded by a federal grant from the Appraisal Subcommittee, the federal oversight committee for state regulatory agencies; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi is leading the nation with this innovative pathway to licensure. This MPAT Program is the pilot program for the nation and will help to alleviate barriers to entry. The program is designed to augment the current real property appraiser population within our state, specifically focusing on the areas of the state that have an insufficient number of appraisers. It is also the intention of this program to seek out individuals who will better reflect the state's overall population by actively recruiting a more diverse group of under-represented individuals; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board was enacted in 1990 to conform state law provisions concerning the regulation of real estate appraisers to the requirements instituted by the passage of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 by the Federal Government (Title XI); and

WHEREAS, this ceremony marked the celebration of the first State Appraiser and AMC Regulatory Program in United States history to accept a federal grant by partnering with the Appraisal Subcommittee to provide increased opportunities, especially for women and people of color. This partnership is the foundation of a deliberate activation for improving equity in the appraisal industry; and

WHEREAS, Melissa Bond developed the practicum training program (MPAT) and implemented the first-run class which had a higher national exam pass rate than the other 2 pathways to licensing. Now, due to this practicum, Mississippi is at the forefront of trailblazing. Melissa has been the guest speaker at national conferences regarding MPAT. She was the guest speaker in Washington, D.C., at The Appraisal Foundation Advisory Council meeting in February 2024 and is currently meeting with technical colleges regarding writing this practicum into a 2-year associate degree program. Multiple states are currently seeking legislative changes to allow this MPAT practicum program as a pathway to licensing in their state; and

WHEREAS, "I want to give a special thanks to Melissa Bond and the 17 individuals who took the leap and became the first in the country to create a lasting impact on a profession that is in need of new and diverse professionals," said Jim Park, Executive Director of the Appraisal Subcommittee; and

WHEREAS, we join licensed real estate appraisers in congratulating the first graduating class in the nation of this innovative program developed by a citizen of the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize certified residential appraiser and certified distance education instructor Melissa Bond for developing the first-in-the-nation Mississippi Practical Appraiser Training (MPAT) program and commend the state's innovative pathway to real estate appraiser licensure.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Appraisal Educator Melissa Bond, forwarded to the Mississippi Real Estate Appraisal Board and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.